We review a lot of headphones, but the latest model from Urbanears stands out as one of the coolest we’ve sampled in a while.
The Zinken was developed with the professional DJ in mind but with an affordable price. The most unique feature involves the double-duty TurnCable that has a 3.5mm stereo plug on one end and a 6.3mm plug on the other. Basically you can easily plug into your phone and other devices but then flip the cable around and plug it into an amp.
The ZoundPlug is another great feature as it allows you to share music with a friend using a headphone jack in the right ear cup. So if you buy a set for your girlfriend and one for yourself you can easily listen to music together!
Like other Urbanears headphones we tested, the Zinken model produces excellent sound with superior comfort. The headphones fit snugly around your ears with just the right amount of padding. The Zinken features swivel ear caps and an adjustable headband so you can adjust them for maximum comfort. The collapse design also makes them easy to pack and store.
The Zinken also comes in a wide variety of cool colors as you can see in the promotional video below. With the holiday season upon, the Zinken headphones make for an excellent gift and you can choose a color that fits the person you’re buying for.
If you have a musician on your holiday shopping list, whether young or older, they’ll probably be thrilled with the VOX MINI3 portable amp.
It’s amazing all the features VOX was able to pack into the portable amp:
• Eleven on-the-money amp models, covering a broad range of authentic tones
• A new non-distorting clean model – ideal for acoustic-electric instruments and keyboards
• A broad palate of effects including compressor, chorus, flanger, tremolo; plus reverbs and delays
• Built-in tuner – never play out of tune!
• Dedicated mic input with separate volume and reverb/delay controls – ideal for vocals
• AUX input jack – connect your MP3 player or other audio source and jam along
• Headphone output for silent practice – any time, any place
• Dual power options (included AC adaptor or six AA batteries) for up to 30 hours of portable power
Everyone loves gadgets, but it’s still great to see people play real musical instruments. With this amp a kid with a guitar and really have a field day. Check out the video below for more information.
We tested out one of 50 Cent’s new SMS Audio headphones – the STREET by 50 over-ear headphones. As you can see from the photos we posted along with the video below, these headphones look very slick and they’re also durable. 50 Cent demonstrates in the video how you can twist the headphones without worrying about breaking them. We tried the same thing and they held up nicely.
With the new styles the headphone designs are getting bigger and these are no exception. Yet they aren’t too heavy and the extra padding makes them very comfortable. The headphones are equipped to deliver crisp clean sound and enhanced bass and we were very happy with the sound quality. The STREET model comes in black and the bright blue version pictured here. You’ll definitely make a fashion statement with these headphones.
The headphones also come in wireless versions so check those out as well.
With so many portable devices playing music, we’re seeing more and more options for portable speakers. We tested the new BRAVEN speakers and the sound was excellent. These units are loaded with other features and have a very slick design as you can see in the photos above, but sound quality is the most important feature and the Braven speakers deliver. The BRAVEN SIX Series speakers have two custom extended-range drivers and 3 watt speaker output providing high-fidelity stereo audio with left- and right-channel passive sub woofers.
You can take this speaker unit anywhere so you can share music with friends. It’s perfect for impromptu parties or just hanging out by the pool.
It’s also loaded with other cool features. Each device offers the ability to charge USB devices and daisy chain multiple speakers together through 3.5mm audio in and out jacks. The internal duplex microphone allows for hands-free speakerphone calls with most any Bluetooth cell phone as well as compatibility with FaceTime, iChat, Skype and other apps. Battery life ranges from 12 to 20 hours and the speakers allow continuous wireless play up to 33 feet away.
The line includes a rugged speaker built for durability in sporting and outdoor settings, as well as two striking aircraft-grade aluminum models. We tested the Stealth Black BRAVEN 625s which is encased in a rugged, shock-absorbing exterior with aluminum grills. The BRAVEN 625s is ideal for sport, travel, and outdoor experiences as it’s equipped with a waterproof bag, USB flashlight, and up to 16 hours of continuous play.
This also makes a great gift for music-loving dad on Father’s Day as well, or for anyone who is on the phone a lot and like to use the speaker phone option.
Father’s Day is coming up on Sunday, and in the gadgets section of our Father’s Day Gift Guide we’re focusing on stuff beyond the obvious choices like phones and iPads.
The Meteor Mic from Samson fits that criteria perfectly. It’s an incredible device that is chrome-plated and beautifully designed so that you can record great sound or use it as a speakerphone on services such as Skype. It looks like an old school mic, but it’s also portable as the three legs of the stand all fold up perfectly to make it easy to store in luggage or a briefcase.
Most importantly, the sound quality is so much better than what you’ll get from tiny mics or the mic built into computers. Features include:
– One of the largest condenser diaphragms (25mm) of any USB mic available to produce rich, CD quality recordings
– Fold-back leg design allows for the optimal positioning for any recording application
– A stereo 1/8-inch headphone output, no latency monitoring, and headphone volume knob give user complete control
– No drivers are required, allowing users to start recording right out of the box
It’s a great gadget for anyone and a great gift idea as well, so check it out online or at Best Buy.
