Are you looking for a stereo Bluetooth headset that works as well for music as it does for calls? After spending a week with Altec Lansing's $99 BackBeat 903, I think I've finally hit on a Bluetooth headset that can successfully juggle both tasks without breaking the bank or making me cringe.
It's hard not to be picky when it comes to technology you wear on your head. Some people can't stand headsets that pinch their ears or rub against the neck, or they hate designs that make them look like blinking Bluetooth cyborgs. There's no perfect stereo headset for everyone, but so far, the BackBeat is one of the all-around best-sounding, best-fitting models we've tested in this price range.
To read the full review on the Altec Lansing Backbeat 903, head over to CNET Reviews.
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CBS Interactive/Corinne Schulze)
Sometimes, working with a very specific type of tech product for so long will make one doubt whether anything truly unusual is ever going to flutter in through the mail slot. I was in just such a slump when I came across the CyFi Wireless Speaker while researching fitness-friendly tech. This unique, bicycle-mounting gadget seemed like just the ticket for active types who shun the gym in favor of hitting the streets on two wheels.
Far be it for me to look down my nose on anything that encourages cyclists to shun dangerous earbuds in favor of a safer way to enjoy tunes on the go, but the CyFi is not exactly the perfect solution. Don't get me wrong: it has plenty of things going for it, not the least of which is its weather- and shock-resistant design. Plus, the Bluetooth functionality and included iPod adapter are great for eliminating cord clutter.
However, the sound quality is decent but not great, and turning it up loud enough to hear over the sound of traffic was slightly embarrassing (I'm not much for foisting my musical tastes on others, though). I also discovered during testing that the mounts have a tendency to fall apart, as the washer from the screw handle permanently fell out during one adjustment. Despite these complaints, I still think the CyFi is a sweet idea, just one that could perhaps use a bit of fine tuning. It was certainly one of the more fun products to play around with, and the price of $160 for the iPod version is not too ridiculous, given the features. The gallery below includes some more information on the results of my testing.
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)
To put the word "audiophile" in the name of your product is a bold claim indeed, but that's exactly what Soundmatters did with its FoxL Personal Audiophile Loudspeaker. This travel-friendly speaker is among the most compact we've seen, and yet it manages to offer exceptional range and clarity, not to mention a tight low-end.
However, you'll need a wired connection to enjoy the speaker's audio capability. The FoxL comes in a Bluetooth model ($249) and a standard version ($199), but we don't recommend dropping the extra $50 for wireless connectivity.
Read the Soundmatters FoxL review.
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)
Fitness-friendly headphones come in a variety of shapes and styles--from earclip to behind-the-neck--and finding a pair that stays put on your head while you're active can take some trial and error. Once you get past fit issues, you may find yourself wanting some more advanced features, and built-in Bluetooth technology often tops that list, as it eliminates the need for cumbersome wires tethering you to your MP3 player.
The latest pair of active-style earphones to hit the market is Sony's DR-BT160 Wireless Stereo Headset, which comes in two models: the $130 BT160AS, which includes just the headphones, and the $180 BT160IK, which also throws in an iPod adapter. It's a pricey solution, but those who can get a good fit will be rewarded with good wireless sound quality. Read the Sony DR-BT160 review.
I don't often get excited about Bluetooth headsets, but Altec Lansing's BackBeat series is definitely worth a look. CNET's David Carnoy already reported the details of these Bluetooth beauties earlier in the week, but I thought I'd add some of my first-hand impressions, as well as a few photos. Hit up the Altec Lansing BackBeat slide show for all the details.
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Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
Blue Microphone's Mikey iPod accessory was a surprise find at Macworld 2009.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)The Macworld show floor can induce deja vu for habitual attendees. From a hardware perspective, often it's the same vendors offering the same products, with slight variations from year to year. Despite the gloomy economic outlook, however, I found a surprising amount of new products on the show floor (or, at least new to me). Here are the highlights.
The BS300 is truly pocketable.
(Credit: Samsung)You don't need much more than your MP3 player--whether it's a standalone device or an app built into your cell phone--to enjoy all your favorite tunes on the go, but certain accessories can up the entertainment factor.
For example, if you spend a lot of time in hotel rooms, a portable speaker is practically a necessity, allowing you to rock out without being tethered to your headphones. In fact, why not do away with the wires entirely? One of the more advanced features you can find in portable speakers on the market today is built-in Bluetooth technology. This wireless protocol lets you stream music from any device with integrated A2DP technology, which can be found in most media-centric cell phones (save the iPhone) and even a handful of dedicated MP3 players.
The speakers often include integrated keys for controlling music playback, and some even offer mics for use as a speakerphone--and, really, we see no reason not to kill two birds with one stone.
The Scosche TuneStream adds A2DP stereo Bluetooth to most recent iPods, but it has some quirks.
(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET Networks)When Apple was set to unveil its second-generation iPod Touch back in September, stereo Bluetooth was among the features rumored to be included. Hopefully, no one was holding their breath.
Apple may have dropped the ball on including stereo Bluetooth in its latest crop of iPods, but there are a few ways you can add Bluetooth streaming with accessories. One such accessory is the TuneStream from Scosche. It's one of the smallest Bluetooth adapters we've seen for the iPod.
The tuneStream doesn't work with every iPod, however, and when it does work it throws you a few annoying quirks. To find out if the TuneStream is right for you, read our full take over at CNET Reviews.
This morning saw the release of several new Sony audio products aimed at frequent fliers and other on-the-go users. The company announced a pair of ultracompact, travel-friendly speakers and three sets of headphones: one with noise-canceling, one with Bluetooth, and one with inline volume controls. You can find out all the details about the SRS-M50, MDR-NC7, DR-BT160AS, and MDR-EX36V in our photo gallery.
(Credit:
Sony)
Sony on Thursday announced the S-Airplay AIR-SA20PK, a multi-room wireless audio system for listening to iPod (including iPhone, Touch, Nano, Mini, and all versions of Classic).
Once you have your iPod connected to the system's main docking station, you can listen to audio from your iPod up to 164 feet away. This is accomplished through S-Air's wireless speakers that plug into power outlets.
According to Sony, the S-Air technology delivers audio wirelessly to the two included speakers without interfering with other household devices. However, the company did not make it clear how exactly it would achieve this. The system comes with one docking station and two S-Air wireless speakers, but it can transmit to up to 10 speakers simultaneously with additional speakers sold separately).
(Credit:
Sony)
The most impressive feature for me--other than the whole wireless thing, of course--is that the S-Airplay also includes an AM/FM tuner that allows you listen to radio and music from your iPod simultaneously. You can be in one room getting your '90s Oasis fix from downloaded music (sorry I've been craving Oasis music this week for some reason), while your sig other listens to NPR on the radio or something boring like that in another room.
If all that wasn't enough, the wireless speakers include remote control capability for the iPod player's music tracks. The speakers also incorporate sleep timers and an alarm clock function.
One more notch in the "here, please Sony take my money" column is that you can connect the station to an existing home theater system or television set, as it includes composite A/V outputs. Also, it charges the iPod while it's docked! I know I'm excited, but I just love when gadgets seem well thought out and practical like this.
As far as the whole giving Sony money thing goes, well as cool as this thing is, $400 is much more than I'm willing to spend on something like this. The AIR-SA20PK will be available in September from Sony Style both online and at retail, as well as at other select retailers. Additional wireless speakers will also be on sale then for $130 direct from Sony.
