What’s my favorite way to get through a scorching summer afternoon? Floating on a raft while listening to an audiobook or podcast. And now I’ve found a way to do that without disturbing the neighbors.
I pop in my Sixpipes waterproof earbuds and listen in privacy. The buds have an IPX-5 waterproof rating, which makes them perfect for pool use. And they will run for 6-8 hours on a full charge.
The Sixpipes buds can be set up to play in full stereo when you use both buds or mono if you only want one. They come in a small charging case along with a variety of rubber tips to help users get the best fit.
The Sixpipes in-rear headphones cost about $40 on Amazon.
Those voices in my head? They’re not signals from space or instructions from the CIA. More likely, it’s probably my wife calling with dinner plans, the folks on the Freakonomics podcast, or a song from my James McMurtry playlist.
And although the sound arrives over a Bluetooth channel, it’s not coming through headphones, it's piped into my ears through hearing aids.
Yes, I’m one of the estimated 30 million Americans who have some level of hearing loss. I blame mine on years of loud rock ’n roll concerts.
Wearing hearing aids make headphones problematic: there's no room for earbuds and over-the-ear pads can cause feedback and muffle nearby sounds, some of them potentially dangerous. Why, I often wondered, haven’t the brainiacs in the electronics industry come up with a way to build Bluetooth technology into hearing aids?
That marriage finally took place a couple of years ago. Now there are several medical-grade hearing aids that that can be controlled and customized from a mobile app and deliver streaming audio. For the past two months, I’ve worn a pair of Halo 2 hearing aids provided by Starkey Hearing Technologies, a Minnesota company with a 50-year history of making hearing aids. In 2014, Starkey launched a Made for iPhone hearing aid with a mobile app and streaming capability.
Earlier this month at CES, I checked out offerings from two other hearing aid makers: ReSound and Oticon. ReSound shares an ownership umbrella with Jabra headphones and Oticon was a pioneer in using digital processors in hearing aids.
Unlike the Bluetooth hearing boosters that are sold through retail outlets, the Starkey, ReSound and Oticon aids are meant to be provided by an audiologist, a licensed dispenser or a doctor. When I got the Halo 2 aids, they came with professional assistance that included a hearing check and specific tuning for my personal hearing profile.
But once the devices were in place, I could use a Starkey app called TruLink to control the devices. The app will raise or lower volume levels or cycle through default settings for different listening environments such as a restaurant, a car or for music.
Custom settings can also be created and stored as Memories for additional situations. For example, I might want a very wide and sensitive setting for a quiet walk in the woods, or one that focuses on the voice that is closest to me. That’s helpful at a party or public event.
A few days ago, I used the app to focus on the speaker at the a business conference. He was standing at a podium about 30 feet away at the front of the room. I heard an immediate improvement. Another way to tune in to a speaker or a conversation is to turn the iPhone into a remote microphone. At a group dinner at a noisy restaurant, I put my phone closer to my wife, who was sitting two seats away. That trick worked pretty well, though I wasn’t thrilled about putting my phone out of reach.
The sound amplification I get with the Halo 2 is as good and often better than my experience with the digital hearing aids that I bought a few years ago. I’ve had fewer situations where I’m unsure of the direction a sound is coming from or straining to adequately hear a someone who speaks softly.
Starkey says their aids incorporate technology that tackle both of those issues. It automatically compresses frequencies that are not usually generated with speech, and it says the Halo 2 aids communicate better with each other, which helps the wearer more easily identify the direction a sound is coming from.
The Bluetooth streaming has been an added bonus. My iPhone 7 paired smoothly with the hearing aids using the Accessibility option for hearing devices. Now Hearing Aids appears as a listening option when I get a phone call, play music, watch a video or listen to an audio book or podcast. I’ve had a few complaints from callers who said they couldn’t hear me very well when I’m talking through the hearing aids, but most people couldn’t tell any difference.
One feature on my Bluetooth headphones that I sometimes miss is the ability to accept an incoming call by pressing a button on one of the ear pads. The Halo hearing aids don’t have a similar button, but they do cooperate nicely with the Apple Watch, so I can accept a call by tapping my wrist.
The TruLink app has an extension for the watch, but its feature list is pretty short. I can cycle through the Memories settings or adjust the hearing aid volume, but only if the companion app on the phone is open.
ReSound LiNX2
ReSound and Oticon have also linked their smart hearing aids to mobile apps and other accessory devices. The ReSound Smart app is available for both Apple and Android devices and the iOS version works with the Apple Watch.
The app contains default settings for different environments, including restaurants or outdoors, and it allows users to create and store custom settings. It will also help users find misplaced hearing aids.
Other ReSound accessories include two wireless microphones. One is a clip-on mic that you would give to a family member, teacher or anyone you want to hear clearly. The other is a multi-directional mic that you might place on a table to tune in a group of people. ReSound also makes a streaming box that can be connected to a TV set or music source.
Like the other hearing aid apps, Oticon’s ON app for Apple devices will control volume levels and switch settings for its Opn model hearing aids. It also helps find lost hearing aids and it offers some controls through the Apple Watch.
Oticon Opn
But Oticon dives a bit deeper into the Internet of Things, the networks that that link everything from light switches to kitchen appliances. Oticon says its Opn model is the first hearing aid that will also interact with smart home devices such doorbells, thermostats and security systems.
The Opn hearing aid supports connections made through an Internet service called IFTTT (If This Then That) where users create simple scripts to send orders to smart devices.
For example if an event occurs (someone rings the doorbell or a smoke detector goes off), that triggers a response (a verbal message to your hearing aids or a text alert to a caregiver).
The IFTTT option is one more step toward a good example of how modern hearing aids are evolving well beyond the tiny amplifiers that our grandparents wore. Today they are miniature computers that keep us plugged into the digital world around us.
I’m no fan of earbuds. I’ve tried at least a dozen different ones and none of them ever felt comfortable in my ears. Give me real headphones any time.
That’s why I was happy to find the special deal at Encore Data Products where they’re selling stereo headphones for $2.99.
At that price I could afford to buy several pair to stash in my nightstand, car, travel bag and any other spot where they could be handy to have.
Encore says these phones have a four-foot cable with volume control with leatherette earpads and a volume control wheel built into the cable.
The ENC-CCV model headphones would be a good fit for schools, libraries, training centers and similar situations where multiple headphones are needed. The earpads can be wiped clean after each use.
The headphones come in bags that could be labelled and assigned to individual students.
When I take our dogs for a walk through the neighborhood, I’d love to be able to also listen to high-fidelity music or to recorded podcasts. But I have one significant issue that has made that almost impossible: I wear hearing aids.
That means there’s no room in my ears for earbuds and if I wear full-sized headphones with ear pads, I won’t hear ambient sound, like and approaching car, or hear my mobile phone ring.
Lucid Audio is the first headphone company that has developed a set of Bluetooth headphones designed for me and an estimated 35 million other Americans who have some level of hearing loss and the many of us who also wear hearing aids.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been wearing and evaluating the Lucid’s Amped headphones. They are full-sized headphones that fit comfortably over your ears so they can deliver high-quality sound from a portable Bluetooth audio player without the inconvenience of a connecting cable and while also allowing you to hear whet’s going on around you.
In addition to Bluetooth technology, the the Amped headphones also monitors and adjusts ambient noise levels. While I’m walking the dogs, I can listen to my favorite music or podcast when also hearing the sound of activity nearby. In in the background, I hear cars on the nearby street, a dog barking in a neighbor’s yard and voices.
Once I installed two AAA batteries, the Amped headphones were easy to pair with my iPhone. I pressed a BT button that’s built into the right ear cup to enter pairing mode, then selected Lucid BT from the phone.
A double-duty wheel on the ear pad controls the volume for both the audio source and the ambient sound. When you’re in a quiet area, you can turn up the outside sound level with a thumb or finger and turn it down if you’re near a busy street or other noisy environment. The Amped headphones are the first headphones I’ve found that let me listen to an audiobook while I’m using a leaf blower or other power equipment when I work outside around the house.
With Bluetooth, the headphones also let me pause the audio stream to make or accept a phone call. Conversations are clear and crisp and the headphones have a built-in omni-directional microphone to pick up my voice. Nobody I’ve talked to has complained that they couldn’t hear my voice or understand what I’m saying.
Another handy feature is an input jack on the right ear pad. That means I’ll be able to watch a movie on my next flight while blotting out the roar of the airplane engines.
For someone like me who has hearing loss, the Lucid Amped headphones cover all the bases. They let me listed to music of spoken word audio at a comfortable volume level without sealing me off from the outside world.
The Amped model sells for about $120 and is available with free shipping at the Lucid Audio website. You can also keep up with news about Lucid products on the company’s Facebook page and @lucidamped on Twitter.
What’s the missing element in virtual reality video? It might be VR sound? A French company called 3D Sound Labs says it has figured out how to bring fully immersive audio to any headphones.
The key is the company’s 3D Sound One Module, a device with built-in motion sensors that can be attached to any conventional headphones. The technology was first developed for the 3D Sound One headphones and now available for other headphones.
The company says the 3D Sound One Module will “realistically deliver a multipoint sound similar to last generation cinema halls and to the most sophisticated home cinema equipment.” Using the application or a driver, the 3D Sound One Module virtualizes in space several acoustic sources, like the multichannel sound of a movie. Its head-tracking sensors are able to read slight movements to render a three-dimensional sound that is very precisely localized, like the sounds we perceive in our everyday life.
In the world of first-person games, sound cues has give a player a competitive advantage. That’s why I always use headphones when I play. With a clear acoustic representation of his own environment, the user is more focused and can act quicker.
The 3D Sound One Module is available for $99 at the 3D Sound Labs website, which also offers the free driver for PCs running Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. The company also offers a developer’s kit so we are likely to see new apps based on 3D Sound Labs technology.
I’ve never been a fan of bone conduction earphones. I always felt that to get good sound, you needed phones that fit over your ears.
But that was before I got to test drive the Trekz Titanium headphones at the Aftershokz booth at CES. These are lightweight headphones designed to wrap around the back of your head with the speakers nestled in front of your ears.
The sound was crisp and loud enough to cut through the buzz of a noisy convention hall. The headband is extremely light and flexible and so comfortable that I forgot I was wearing it. And, because it left my ears exposed, I could still hear everything that was going on around me.
I especially like having my ears out because I want to be a be able to hear approaching cars when I’m booking or walking the dogs in the street because there aren’t many sidewalks in my neighborhood.
At $129.99, the Titanium is a little spendy, but it has a lot to offer. You can get a closer look or order a pair at the Aftershokz website.
Trying to ratchet up my productivity metric, I often conduct phone conversations and conference calls while I’m walking the dogs. I conduct business while getting a bonus of fresh air and exercise.
But too often ambient noise from passing cars or nearby lawn mowers intrudes on the conversation. That’s why I’m also looking for an earphone/microphone combo that can do a better job of blocking unwanted noise.
A new device called RippleBuds promises to do just that. The developers of the wireless RippleBuds say the key to effectively blocking outside noise while transmitting clear sound it to build the mic inside the buds.
Dusik Shin, the founder and CEO of RippleBuds, said he designed the buds because he was often frustrated trying to talk on his phone in public areas like concerts, sporting events, or airports.
“With RippleBuds, you can talk on the phone in a normal voice even while riding a motorcycle or attending a rock music concert, as well as control your connected home and car devices using voice commands,” he said.
The company plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter in November where early supporters an opportunity can pre-order the device with prices for the stereo version starting at $99. You can get more information at the RippleBuds website.
If you are still searching for the perfect ear buds, some angels would like to whisper in your ear. They’re called Cherubs and they’re made with space-age materials in a quest for the best combination of style,, fit and sound.
Cherubs are made with a Zr02 ceramic casing with silicone ear inserts. The creators say the design produces buds that stay comfortable in your ears for longer periods of time - like a long flight - without causing pain or discomfort.
The ceramic material is used in the aerospace and medical industries because it’s durable and highly scratch resistant. It has properties that act as a natural noise isolator while the silicone molds to your ear to block out external sound.
The Australian developers who created the Cherubs are currently raising production capital with a campaign on Indiegogo. The group hopes to raise $30,000 US over the next month. Early contributors who pledge $40 will get a pair from the first batch, expected to be available in late October of 2015.
I've never been a big fan of earbuds for workouts or other physical activity. Most of the buds I've tried feel invasive and uncomfortable, plus they tend to slip out of my ears.
That's why I prefer pads like the SWAGE Sport Bluetooth Headphones from Rokitboost. They sit on the ears and are connected by a thin and flexible band that wraps around the back of your neck. And I think on-the-ear headsets deliver better sound.
These workout Bluetooth headphones are a good pick for hands-free listening while you're running, jogging, crossfit exercises or anything else in the gym. The phones have Bluetooth V4.0 technology for the best wireless connectivity and AtpX support for enhanced stereo audio quality.
Other features include A2DP support, which gives the user more control of the audio source from the headphones, and the ability to connect to two mobile phones. The headband for the SWAGE Sport folds up for easy travel.
The EDGE wireless headset from Red Fox appears to have found the sweet spot for Bluetooth headphones. It's smaller and lighter than large over-the-ears headphones but more secure and comfortable than tiny in-the-ear buds.
The EDGE is a single lightweight band that loops behind your neck to connect a pair of rubber-tipped speakers. It's made to stay in place while you're jogging or biking without feeling like the buds are jammed down your ear canal.
The headset has become my newest dog-walking companion because it stays in place, it doesn't interfere with my sunglasses and it delivers quality sound whether I'm listening to music, an audio book or taking a call on my mobile phone.
A set of three control buttons built into the left and right stems provide easy access to controls. The right buttons play, pause or change tracks, refuse incoming calls or launch your phone's voice commands. The left side has volume controls and a button to answer or end a call.
A rubbery flap on the back of the headset reveals a socket to recharge the unit with a mini USB cable. Red Fox promises up to eight hours of continuous use with a full charge.
The EDGE costs $119.99 on the Red Fox Wireless website and can be ordered with red, black, green or blue trim.
The maxim "One size fits all" never did apply to headphones. I have a Bluetooth set for dog-walking, an over-the-ear model for quiet music listening, and a noise-cancellation version that I always take along when I fly.
Now, thanks to Audio-Technica, I have a new sporty set of in-ear phones that are perfect for more active pursuits, like running, biking or workouts at the gym.
The SonicSport ATH-CKP500 are especially designed to stay put in your ears, even when you're working up a sweat. Instead of an earlobe hook, these phones use a shorter C-tip that nestles in the outer ear to hold the earphones in place.
The phone's cable also sits in an angled tube that directs them behind the neck. That helps keep them out of your way when you're using your hands. The phones are also IPX5 certified waterproof. That means you can wash them after a workout, but don't wear them underwater. The SonicSport phones have a list price of $75 but you can find at amazon.com and other online sources for about $10 less.
Earbuds might be just fine for a slow walk around the block, but wih serious exercise, the buds can hurt your ears or fall out. That was the problem that drove Seth Burgett to invent Yurbuds, a pair of soft silicone tips sculpted to fit snugly in the ear -- and stay there.
The original Yurbuds are built to slip over most ordinary earbuds, like the ones that come with MP3 audio players and some smartphones. They sell for $29.99 at yurbuds.com. To make sure they fit correctly, customers are asked to upload a photo of their ear along with their order. The company uses the image to calculate which tips would best fit your ears.
With the tips locked into place, the headphones deliver high quality
sound while keeping out perspiration and letting in enough ambient noise
to stay safe.
The Yurbuds Inspire series includes tips, earbuds, and cable controls. Prices range from $39.99 to $59.99 at the Yurbuds website, at specialty athletic stores, and at national chains such as Best Buy and Dick's Sporting Goods.
If the new Yurbuds don't fit as well as you think they should, owners can return them with a photo of their ear to get a different sized replacement.
Dr. Dre isn't the only music entrepreneur with a line of headphones that mix high performance with high style.
The M-80 Crossfade headphones from V-Moda deliver superior sound built on strong bass line that was crafted to enhance dance tunes and club mixes. But acoustic numbers are also treated well and even low bit rate MP3s come to life when heard through these on-ear phones.
V-Moda was launced by DJ Val Kolton and fashion designer Joseph Bucknall who wanted to create what Kolton called "the perfect 'fashion cymbal' of a true dance and DJ culture."
The Crossfade headphones are light enough to make them a great companion for listening with portable devices. They come with two cables, one with controls for Apple devices, and one for other portable gadgets.
The phones have a solid, industrial look with quality touches like a microfiber headband cover and fabric cable wraps. The brushed-metal plates on the ear cups can be replaced with one or a dozen different shields that V-moda sells for $25. For $50, the company will produce custom shields feature your name or logo. Why advertize Dr. Dre on your ears when you can can advertise your own brand?
My taste in movies runs toward the bombastic. If a DVD has
car chases, aliens, gunfire and explosions, count me in. And crank it up. Big,
loud movies call for big, loud audio and that doesn't always play well with the
other members of my household who might be another room reading a book or
watching another program.
We've discovered the key to maintaining a peaceful
coexistence: wireless headphones. When I'm wearing a pair, I get my fill of
raucous action, the house stays quiet, and I can wander into the kitchen for a
snack without getting untethered. I have one set of wireless phones connected
to the primary TV and another attached to the TV in the bedroom. The bedroom set has
proved to be just the ticket when she's ready to sleep and I'm ready for
another episode of "Breaking Bad."
Another reason I like wireless headphones is that after attending
too many loud rock concerts, my ears don’t tune in a movie’s dialog or other
quiet passages, particularly the high frequencies, as well as they used to. One
model that is especially good in that area is IR210T from Able Planet, a
company that makes a full line of headphones designed for people with some
level of hearing loss.
The IR210T have a pair of padded cups that rest comfortably
on your ears. The cups are connected to a headband by a unique swivel that
turns off the power to the headphones when they are removed or laid on a flat surface.
In other words, they automatically power down when they’re not in use and that
extends the life of the two AAA batteries that fit inside one of the cups. A
rechargeable battery would have been a nice addition, but the automatic
shut-off feature is the next best thing.
The stereo sound comes from an infrared transmitter that
connects to the headphone jack of a TV or another audio source. Infrared, by
its nature, delivers lower fidelity that what you would get from a cable
connection. But the Able Planet phones come pretty close. And their Linx Audio
technology, which boosts the higher frequencies to help people with hearing
loss, helps add clarity to speech and music. Even when I turn down the volume,
I can hear and understand all of the voices, even those in the commercials.
The Able Planet IR210T costs about $100 from online sources
such as Adorama.com.
The CordCruncher keeps your headphone cable out of your hear, your food, you bicycle handlebars - all those places that it seems to want to go.
The Cruncher is a flexible sleeve that wraps around the headphone cable and give you control over the cord's length. Pull on the earbuds and the cord expands out to 3 1/2 feet. Pull the ends of the sleeve and it collapses down to about 16 inches and ready for tangle-free storage.
The CordCruncher was developed by Jay Johnson who took his idea to this year's Consumer Electronics Show to look for financial backers. That led him to Kickstarter.com, a website that helps entrepreneurs get crowd-sourced funding for their projects.
Johnson hit his $20,000 target in April to start full production. CordCruncher in a variety of colors are scheduled to be available in June for $24.99 but you can pre-order one now for $19.99 at cordcruncher.com.
I started reporting on gadgets and gear when Atari ruled electronic games and computers used floppy disks. My weekly column ran in the The Louisville Courier-Journal and online at USAToday.com and ABC News.com. I was a regular at tech trade shows including COMDEX, CES and the CEDIA show for home theater. Follow @GizmoEditor on Twitter and on Facebook. Contact me at ricman@iglou.comI also create short videos for vendors to use on Amazon and YouTube. Click here to see a portfolio of my recent videos.
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What’s my favorite way to get through a scorching summer afternoon? Floating on a raft while listening to an audiobook or podcast. And now I’ve found a way to do that without disturbing the neighbors.
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