50 cents talks with TechCrunch about his new Kleer-based wireless headphones

Here's a photo of the new Sync by 50 (photo courtesy of TechCrunch).  Comes in three different colors: black, white, and blue. The article on TechCrunch just mentions white and black so who knows exactly what color options there'll be.

50 is releasing two new headphones, one wired, one wireless. The wired is called "Street by 50" for $299.95 and the wireless is called "Sync by 50" for $399.95.

Interesting to see the dongle (transmitter) using the 3.5 mm audio jack. I don't know why, but I was kinda hoping for some Apple iPod/iPhone integration. Oh well, maybe next rev.  But the good thing about the 3.5 mm jack is it is universal, plug it practically anywhere and listen to wireless goodness for up to 50 feet away. 

And by the look on the wireless headphones, you have audio and track control if I'm interpreting the symbols correctly. Now, the little bit I know, with the 3.5 mm audio jack, you have only local audio control, that is you're not changing the audio levels at the source (laptop, iPod, stereo system). But I don't think that you can have track control via a 3.5 mm audio jack. Maybe those symbols are for the wired? But that doesn't make sense either. I know the only wireless earphones/earbuds that have track control are iPod/iPhone certified and use the Apple-certified transmitter connected to an iPod/iPhone, etc. Who knows, maybe Kleer being bought out by SMSC introduced some new technology.

TechCrunch also has a video interview up with 50 as well. Great that he mentions Kleer wireless audio. And that's the big difference between any other rapper-based headphones: Sync by 50 wireless earphones offer uncompressed, lossless, CD-quality, digital stereo audio.

As 50 says in his interview, he wants people to hear music the way he hears it. Which is where Kleer wireless audio technology comes in as it streams it unchanged. You hear the music the way the musician intended it to be heard.

Read the rest of the article and watch the video interview on TechCrunch >>

"50 Cent" talks about his new Kleer-based wireless headphones on Fast Company

 Photo courtesy of Fast Company

Well, well, well. 

So 50 is still bringing out wireless headphones that use Kleer technology. Thank goodness. I thought when the deal feel through between 50 and Sleek Audio, that he would also not use Kleer wireless audio technology for his wireless headphones. Good to see I was wrong. I still wish he'd gone with Sleek Audio as they make awesome wired/wireless earphones. Oh well, something went down that I'm unaware of between them. 

So 50's has built his headphones using SMS Audio, which recently purchased KonoAudio to support its sound technology. All good. And he's delivering up two headphones: Street by 50 (wired) and Sync by 50 (wireless).

Here's an excerpt from his interview with Fast Company:

"It uses Kleer technology, which is a higher level of technology than what's presented with Bluetooth," he says. For his Sync headphones, for example, up to four headphones can be wirelessly synced to one single source, enabling users to hear CD-quality music as far as 50 feet away, be it from an iPhone or stereo system"

Funny to me how they don't mention that Kleer delivers wireless audio that is CD-quality, lossless, uncompressed stereo audio. Those are still the key value statements for me about Kleer wireless audio.

And, FYI, Kleer wireless audio technology is also used in the Sennheiser RS 180, RS 170, and RS 160 wireless headphones; in the Harman AKG K840KL On-Ear Wireless Headphones, the TDK WR700, and the Sleek Audio SA6 Wireless Earbud Bundle. Used in some wireless speakers too. 

Street by 50 and Sync by 50 headphones are available now for $299.95 and $399.95 respectively.

Can't wait for these 50 cans to hit the street. Should be a serious boost for Kleer technology.