Saturday, March 19, 2011

AKG K 840 Kleer-based wireless headphone reviews

This makes sense. As AKG (Harmon Karden) is a German company, the AKG K 840 wireless headphones that use Kleer wireless audio technology would be first available on the Amazon Germany website. Even though the reviews on Amazon Germany don't translate all that well to English (close enough though using Google Translate and Babel Fish), what does translate easily enough is that both reviewers have given these wireless headphones 5 out of 5 stars. 

However, my German is rusty to non-existent. So I have to really on Google Translate and Babel Fish. 

Here's the original German review of the AKG K 840 wireless headphones from February 10, 2011:

"Echte Spitzenklasse!

Es ist wirklich nicht viel, was AKG mit diesem Produkt verspricht: Musik (oder auch Filme) - ohne Kabel und die Anderen in der Wohnung stören zu müssen - bei sehr gutem Klang zu genießen. Meinen Wunsch, SACDs ungestört und in entsprechender Qualität anhören zu können, erfüllt dieser Kopfhörer vollkommen. Der kristallklare Ton - ebenso in Tiefen, wie in Hohen Bereichen - wird einwandfrei, störungsfrei und hörbar unkomprimiert wiedergegeben. Dabei werden Geräusche aus der Umgebung kaum noch wahrgenommen. Wenn ich damit das Wohnzimmer verlasse, kommen erste Aussetzer erst nach 8-9 Metern, je nach Wand dazwischen. Mehr als 13 Jahre lang habe ich den Hearo 777 gehabt und der Wechsel zum K 840 hat sich gelohnt! Der Preis ist vielleicht noch etwas überraschend, wenn man den Klang vorher noch nicht gehört hat. Alternativen wären zum Preis weit über dessen gewesen, kann also nicht klagen, schöner Klang ist halt seinen Preis wert. Zu mp3 Fans: Selbst mein Handy kling über diesen Kopfhörer fantastisch, meine selbstgedrehten älteren Filme noch mit mpeg2 Ton lassen sich wirklich genießen. Wer Interesse daran hat und es sich leisten kann, dem kann ich den AKG K 840 KL nur empfehlen. Viel Spaß damit!"


Here's the Google Translate version:

"Real Class!

It really is not much that AKG promises with this product: music (or movies) - without cable and disturb the others in the apartment to have - with very good sound to enjoy. My desire to listen to SACDs undisturbed and in qualitative met, these headphones perfect. The crystal-clear sound - just as in depth as in high areas - is perfect, trouble-free and listen to native played. It sounds from the environment are hardly noticed. If I use it to leave the living room, first come first misfire at 8-9 meters, depending on the wall in between. More than 13 years I have had the Hearo 777 and the change to K 840 has been worth it! The price is perhaps a bit surprising if you have not yet heard the sound before. Alternatives would be at a price far been on the can, so do not complain, beautiful sound's just worth the price. For mp3 fans: Even my cell phone sounding fantastic on these headphones, my old self-made video with MPEG2 audio can really enjoy. Anyone who is interested and can afford it, I can recommend the AKG K 840 KL only. Have fun!" 

And the Babel Fish version:

"Genuine Top Class!

It is not really much that promises AKG with this product: Music (or also films) - to have to disturb without cables and the others in the dwelling - to enjoy with very good sound. Mean desire to be able to listen to SACDs unimpaired and in appropriate quality fulfills to this headphone perfectly. The crystal-clear clay/tone - likewise in depths, like within high ranges - is audibly unkomprimiert shown perfectly, troublefree and. Noises from the environment are hardly still noticed. If I leave thereby the living room, first misfires interfere only according to 8-9 meters, depending upon wall. More than 13 years long I had the Hearo 777 and was worthwhile myself the changes to the K 840! The price is perhaps some more surprising, if one did not hear the sound before yet. Alternative ones would have been at the price far over its, can not complain, beautiful sound are thus not worth to stop its price. To mp3 fan: Even my mobile phone sound fantastisch over these headphones, my turned older films still with mpeg2 clay/tone can be really enjoyed. Who has interest in it and it can afford, to which I can only recommend the AKG K 840 KL. Much fun thereby!"


And here's the original German review of the AKG K 840 wireless headphones from March 2, 2011:

"Sehr guter Klang, Rauschfrei!

Plus: Sehr guter Klang, kein Rauschen. Empfang im Haus bis zu 10 Meter (auch durch Gipskartonwände und Holztüren) sind kein Problem. Guter Tragekomfort. Sendeeinheit fungiert am MP3/Radio-Player als Antenne (Radioempfang auch drahtlos möglich). Auch "funklos" mittels beigelegtem Kabel zu verwenden.
Minus: vielleicht der Verkaufspreis in Europa"

First up, the Google Translate version:

"Very good sound, noise free!

Plus: Very good sound, no noise. Reception in the house up to 10 meters (including through plasterboard walls and wood doors) are not a problem. Good fit. Transmitter acts as an antenna on MP3/Radio-Player (radio and wireless available). Also "funklos" means to use the enclosed cables.

Minus: perhaps the sale price in Europe"

And the Babel Fish version:

"Very good sound, intoxication freely!

Plus: Very good sound, no noise. Receipt in the house up to 10 meters (also by gypsum cardboard walls and wood doors) are no problem. Good stretcher comfort. Transmission unit functions at the MP3/Radio-Player as antenna (wireless reception also wirelessly possible). Also " funklos" to use by means of settled cable. 

Minus: perhaps the selling price in Europe"

And there we have it. The AKG K 840 wireless headphones look to be popular in Germany. Looking forward to further distribution of these excellent wireless headphones worldwide. 

Arcam rWand and rWave Kleer-based transmitters (dongles) available end of month

Arcam provides two types of Kleer-based transmitters (dongles). The rWand, is a 30-pin connector for iPods, iPhones, and iPads.  And the rWave, a USB transmitter, is ideal for your laptop/computer, Mac or Windows. (Watch a video to learn how to associate the rWave with the rCube speaker.) 


The Arcam rWand is expected to cost £70, and the rWave £80.
They're designed to connect to the Arcam rCube or rDac. And, as these transmitters are Kleer-based, you can also associate them with other Kleer-based receivers, such as the AKG K 840 wireless headphones, TDK WR700 wireless headphones, and Sennheiser RS 160, 170, 180 wireless headphones.


But here's the thing.

You can purchase the Opera S5+ for £79.95 from the WireFreeHiFi website (UK-based, ships to UK, Europe, and North America). Or from Amazon UK where they charge a little more. The Opera S5 also uses a 30-pin connector for the iPhone and iPad. 

This means you can purchase a Kleer-based iPod/iPhone/iPad transmitter AND wireless earbuds for like £10 (approximately) more than just the Arcam rWand.  

And since the Kleer-based transmitters are compatible with Kleer-based receivers, the Opera S5 transmitter should work with the Arcam rCube as well.


So that's my smart shopping tip for the day. 

And the USB Kleer-based transmitter, the Arcam rWave looks pretty sweet and doesn't have any competing products (yet). 


As I listen to the majority of music at work, I do enjoy hearing CD-quality music without the wires. I even miss the weight of the wires. You don't notice it until you don't use wires.  Here's a picture of the Arcam rWave. 
Oh yeah, one more thing. As these transmitters use Kleer wireless audio technology, that means you hear CD-quality, digital, stereo, lossless, uncompressed music. 

Arcam rCube Connection to Kleer-based rWand Video Tutorial

Pretty cool stuff. Watch a quick video from YouTube on connecting the Arcam rWand (a Kleer-based wirless audio dongle/transmitter) to an iPad, which streams music without wires to the Arcam rCube speaker.




And because the Arcam rCube and Arcam rWand use Kleer wireless audio technology, this means you stream uncompressed, lossless, CD-quality digital stereo audio. Without the wires. Now Bluetooth can also stream wireless audio, but it compresses the sound. Which means, with Bluetooth, you don't hear the music the way the artist intended it to be. But with Kleer, it's just as the artist wanted you to listen to their music.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Sleek by 50 Cent signup

So still not much information on the new Sleek by 50 Cent, but if you go to the website at sleekby50.com, you can signup for info.  



Review: AKG K840 Wireless Headphones on CrunchGear: Kleer version



Good review of the new AKG K840 wireless headphones that use Kleer wireless audio technology on CrunchGear from March 8, 2011. They're also available in Bluetooth, but as the reviewer mentions, if you're serious about audio, then go for the Kleer version (even though they cost a little more).

Read the entire review on CrunchGear >>

Kleer version comes with a dongle (transmitter) that connects to your music source using the headphones jack. Here's another image from CrunchGear.



And the headphones have volume control on them. But as the reviewer notes, "Once they’re going, you can adjust the volume by hitting the +/- buttons on the left earcup. I found these to be rather imprecise and overly “clicky.” I’d have much preferred pressing something along the rim of the earcup, or a cool dial like on Nox Audio’s headset. These buttons felt clumsy and clicked loudly in my ear. They worked, but I found myself reaching for the speaker or software volume instead. Set it to “75%” and forget about it is my advice."

The reviewer noticed what I noticed too. That these look very similar to the TDK wireless headphones that use Kleer technology. Nothing wrong with that, as I'm sure these use AKG technology. Still, looks like there is a cost difference and I wonder if these outperform the TDK so that the difference is worth it. Something tells me the price will come down. When, who knows.

Check out the price on Amazon UK >>

Looks like you can also purchase directly from the AKG (Harman Kardon) website

Purchase from Harmon Kardon >>