Search results matching tags 'Bose' and 'headphones'

Father's Day Gift Ideas-- Part 1: iPod and accessories

Chad — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:05:00 GMT

As a father, I can attest that nothing makes a better gift than a good piece of electronics. And as a Crutchfield advisor, I'm often asked for gift ideas along those lines.

One of my first questions is this: "Does your dad have an iPod® yet?" That's a good place to start. And if he does, no problem. A well-chosen accessory can make a great gift, too. Here are some of my recommendations (both as a Crutchfield advisor and a hopeful Father's Day gift recipient).

Apple iPod Touch $299.99
What makes the iPod® touch special is the multitude of applications available through Apple's App Store.Even if dad's just a little tech-savvy, he can easily mix and match apps (both free and paid) to expand the player's functionality to do what he wants it to do. And although it plays music and video like a regular iPod, the touch can do more.

For the younger (or young-at-heart) dad, the iPod touch's Wi-Fi® connectivity can give him some of the same entertainment he enjoys on his PC. He could stream music from sites like Pandora, check Facebook, play games, even just surf the Internet. Very handy if other family members are clamoring for their time on the computer.

Bose® in-ear headphones $99.99
If dad already has an iPod or another type of portable music player, one of the best things you can get him (and one of the most overlooked gift ideas) is a good pair of headphones. The earbuds that come with the iPod are serviceable, but they don't deliver the level of performance high-quality in-ear headphones can. The Bose in-ear headphones deliver on sound quality, and have extremely good dynamic range.

If your dad needs the functionality of in-ear headphones (as opposed to larger, over-the-ear headphones) but doesn't like the way most of them fit -- these may be just the ticket. The Bose in-ear headphones feature an ergonomic design and soft, silicone ear tips that hold the headphones comfortably in place without requiring insertion or earclips. And if he likes other Bose products, these in-ear headphones are almost a sure bet.

Sony ICF-C1IPMK2 Clock Radio With iPod/iPhone dock $99.99
Even if your dad has an iPod or iPhone™, chances are he's still waking up to the same old clock radio he's had for ages -- we dads tend to hold on to things a little too long. You can help him upgrade his nightstand with the 'C1IPMK2 clock radio.

This handy device features a built-in iPod dock, and a selectable alarm source. So iInstead of a harsh electric tone or an obnoxious DJ jolting him awake, dad can greet the day to his favorite music from his iPod. And of course the 'C1IPMK2 doubles as a powered speaker system, so he can enjoy his iPod's music any time of day.

Alpine CDA-105 CD Receiver with iPod Control $199.99
Is your dad still spending hours commuting, or shuttling other family members around to various activites? Why not give him a way to have a little quality listening time in the car, then? The Alpine CDA-105 lets him play his iPod or iPhone through the car's sound system -- and with a Alpine KCU-440i iPod cable, he can control his player straight from the receiver.

The receiver also displays text information from the iPod, so dad -- and his passengers -- can see what's playing. And of course it keeps his player while connected, so dad won't run out of his favorite music no matter how long the drive (sorry, kids).

If your dad already has an iPod and/or the various items he needs to go with it, no worries. I've got some other suggestions.

Is your dad a movie buff? In part 2 I'll offer up some Father's Day gift ideas for the dad who watches a lot of TV. And if dad travels a lot (or just has to spend a lot of time in the car), well, I have a few suggestions I'll share in part 3.

Lonely For My Headphones, Part 3: Sony Headphones

Gabrielle — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:10:00 GMT

One Thing Leads To Another

I've been auditioning a lot of headphones over the past several weeks, looking for a relatively inexpensive pair that would, nonetheless, give me great sound quality. I'm terrible at making shopping decisions, so I asked my family to go along and help me choose. I should have known better. Magically, they all needed new headphones too.

With my budget chopped, I decided to explore the low-to-mid end of the spectrum, where (happily) there's still a decent selection of headphones.

Take A Chance On Me

Sony’s MDR-110LP headphones are good, entry-level headphones designed as replacement headphones for portable CD and MP3 players. For me, they sounded adequate, but they didn’t have the level of sound quality I was looking for. And the cord length, while fine for a clip-on MP3 player, was a little too short for my needs.

On the plus side, these headphones were super-inexpensive — so inexpensive I had no problem in buying a couple sets for the kids. And because the price was so great, I also popped for a couple of the slightly higher level versions of these headphones (MDR-210LP) for comparison. I did get a better bass response, but the quality of sound still wasn’t quite what I wanted. It also had the short cord, but it did come with a nifty mini-to-standard plug adapter — that alone made them worth the slight increase in price.

Neither of these models were going to do for work. I need something with a significantly longer cord, and earcups that not only let me hear music, but would screen outside noise and were comfortable enough to wear all day. I also wanted better sound reproduction--since I wear headphones all day, great sound really is important.

Love The One You're With

So, I tried Sony's MDR-X200 model. These are mid-level home headphones in the lower price range: the kind you might purchase for late-night TV viewing. They include a much longer cord than I'm used to seeing. Some people may take issue with the extra length, but I'd rather have the length than not — it's a lot easier to zip-tie an extra-long cable than it is to wrestle with a too-short cord, and I don't have to add extensions that could potentially introduce noise into my signal.

I find the padded vinyl, over-the ear style distinctly more comfortable than the on-ear foam pads of the previous models. The fit (for me) is a little loose about the ear, even after adjusting. But because they fit over my ear I feel reasonably secure when I wear them, and I get a touch of natural noise isolation. It comes with a movie/music switch, which lets you choose how much bass you want to filter into your sound, and the sound is definitely decent — better, when I make the fit tighter on my head.

I admit, I'm totally spoiled by my Bose® QuietComfort® 2 headphones, so my long-term plan is to save up for a set of Bose QC® 2's and make the MDR-X200 my nice "at home" phones. Unless of course, I find something better.

Song title references:

One Thing Leads To Another — The Fixx
Take A Chance On Me — Erasure
Love The One You're With — Stephen Stills

Lonely For My Headphones, Part 2: Bose QuietComfort 2

Gabrielle — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:28:00 GMT

It Can't Come Quickly Enough

There's nothing like having your favorite pair of headphones kick the bucket to make you realize just what a difference these devices can make to one's work. Since my beloved Shure earphones died, it's been harder to concentrate: office noise creates distractions that make it difficult to think. For a writer — especially one in an office as busy as mine — that's not good.

I Want It All

There is a world of difference between a great pair of headphones and a merely adequate pair, and I want the best I can get. Actually, I don't just want them, I need them. Comfort, noise isolation and spectacular fidelity aren't a big deal during the hour I spend in the gym, but I wear headphones the same way I wear my glasses: they go on when I sit down to work, and they don't come off until it's time to drive home.

Rescue Me

Happily, I work for Crutchfield, home of excellent A/V equipment. My ultra-understanding boss lent me a pair of Bose® QuietComfort® 2 headphones (check out Chris and Ralph's video review). I've fallen deeply in love with them--they truly are comfortable, and while they don't screen out variable noise like talking, their noise cancellation ability does kill the constant roar of say, air conditioning, and reduces the intensity of general office noise so it gets pushed to the background.

When music is playing, I barely notice the rest of the office, but I get just enough outside bleed-through to keep me in the loop if say, a fire alarm went off. I can live with that. Life is easier when a coworker tries to get my attention. too. The noise cancellation works best screening out constant noise. So the sound of someone talking quietly a few feet away is pretty well muted, but someone speaking directly to you becomes curiously distinct, without being invasive. And the sound fidelity of the music is wonderful — easily as good as my Shure earphones. The mid-bass handles a little differently, so I had to change my EQ settings, but that's a minor consideration.

The Show Must Go On

Of course, a premium set of headphones like the Bose QuietComfort® 2 is something of an investment — in fact, the price for these is roughly the same as my poor Shures cost. Given how often I use headphones, the sound quality, and the sheer comfort of the Bose set, the investment seemed quite reasonable, and I was all set to plunk down my money... that is, until the starter on my ancient Trooper died, then the rear brake pads needed replacing, then the speedometer stopped working.

In short, I want these headphones, but I'm going to have to save up. In the mean time, I'm looking for a lower-budget set that'll still give me great sound. And so the quest continues...

Song title references:

It Can't Come Quickly Enough — Scissor Sisters
I Want It All — Queen
Rescue Me — Aretha Franklin
The Show Must Go On — Queen

Manufacturer??? Anyone?

just a mom — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:01:45 GMT

I'm desperately trying to find the bose Quiet Comfort 3 on- ear headphones manufacturer?? Anyone got any leads? it would be much appreciated. Do they make it themselves? or probably a factory in china?

thanks!