Audio Video News

No one can deny that earbuds are everywhere. You can't see a walker or kid on the train without the ubiquitous white cords going up to their ears. Ever try to pass a jogger, announcing your presence behind them, only to realize they have no clue you're there, no matter how loud you shout?

Two new devices were recently reviewed in The New York Times that battle the noise-blocking problem, plus the problem that many people have with earbuds - they just don't fit in some folks' ears.

The first product is rather interesting. Audio Bones look like traditional headphones with small earbuds.  They have a wrap-around band that goes around the back of your head. But, instead of the attached earpieces fitting in your ears, they go against the bones in front of your ears, transducing the sound through the bones instead directly to the eardrum. Like we said . . . interesting.

How do they sound?

As you can imagine, not great. High-frequencies, in particular, just can't move efficiently through physical barriers. The reviewer from The Times said, "The sound quality isn't great. Compared with regular earbuds, the Audio Bones sound muffled, with less presence. They're also much quieter; you have to crank an iPod to its very top volume to hear what's going on. Serious audiophiles who already complain about the iPod's audio quality will be aghast."

However, since they don't block your ears, they're an interesting option, being safer in a variety of situations by keeping your ears open. Plus, they're less prone to wire-tangles, they're waterproof, and they can be used by people with eardrum damage, giving them a chance to also enjoy music. Available in orange, blue, black, or white for $190, or $220 for lime, tan, purple, or pink.

The other new option uses a similar concept, but instead of pressing directly against the bone and relying on conduction through bone, these attach to the cartilage outside of your ear. The Outi ($199) clip onto your outer ear, and actually vibrate with the music. Sounds kinda painful to me.

Both of these products are rather unique approaches to something that might not be a problem for many folks. If you don't care that you're completely isolated from the world, and they fit well into your ear, typical earbuds are just fine. But for others, especially those for whom safety is an issue, these might be worth a look. And listen. -Leslie Shapiro

The New York Times