MX W1 true wireless earbuds discontinued?

Can't find the Sennheiser MX W1 true wireless earbuds on Amazon.com anymore. Looks like they've been cancelled, that they're not making them anymore. The MX W1 wireless earbuds were a great concept piece for Sennheiser and Kleer as they demonstrated the ability to deliver wireless audio in stereo. The amazing part about the MX W1 wireless earbuds is that they were "true" wireless as there was no wire between the left and right earbud. And they were delivered CD-quality, lossless, uncompressed digital audio in stereo. So you heard the music designed for the left speaker through the left-designated MX W1 and the right speaker through the right-designated earbud. Pretty sure that the success of the MX W1 laid the groundwork for the Sennheiser RS 160, 170, and 180 wireless headphones. The earbuds could be charged connecting to a wire or you could charge the cradle and you could could charge the earbuds there as the cradle could charge them independently for a while. Was a pretty cool design.

Guess you could still probably find them on eBay.

Kleer-based Sennheiser RS 180 review: "It really delivered"

Hey, the price of the Sennheiser RS 180 wireless headphones is dropping in price on Amazon.com. Used to go for $389.95 USD, now $268.99 USD. That's a big drop, just in time for the holidays.

Here's a review of the RS 180 wireless headphones from Dec 7, 2011:

"I ordered these partly to be able to watch TV without disturbing others and partly in the hope of clarifying dialogue, particularly in the genre of dramas in which the characters tend to mumble or whisper in the background. It really delivered. Dialogue is crystal clear, even the background stuff. And the fidelity is stunning -much better than my surround sound speaker system and no noise at all. Unlike my speakers, they are absolutely silent during breaks between scenes. I did not experience any delay between the TV speakers and the headphones as some users have described. I suspect this problem may be more prominent with home theatre systems than with the TV speakers. My only quibble would be the tiny control buttons.

Setup was simple, except for a problem that was the fault of my home theatre system, not the headphones. There was no headphone jack on the back of the sound system! Moreover, while the home theatre setup had a setting for HDMI sound to go to the TV (and therefore out using the TV jacks), it automatically switched back to its own speakers and would not allow the HDMI setting to stay locked. After removing the system completely and plugging the headphones into the TV, I discovered a better workaround solution: connect the phones directly to the sound sources: The DVR/cable box and the DVD player. This worked like a charm, permitting the TV to be muted at will and still get sound through the phones. If you have more than one sound source, you will just need a couple of (1 female to 2 male) audio splitters from Radio Shack to plug into both sources. And you will never need a home theatre again!" 

The Sennheiser RS 180 wireless headphones were designed for watching TV as the latency is low enough on these wireless headphones so that you don't have any discrepancy between what you hear and what you see, i.e., what people say is timed properly with their lips. 

And, as the RS 180 use Kleer wireless audio technology, you hear uncompressed, lossless, CD-quality, digital stereo audio. 

Review: Kleer-based Harman AKG K840KL On-Ear Wireless Headphones

So the Harman AKG K840KL on-ear wireless headphones that use Kleer wireless audio technology are also coming down in price. From $359.00 USD to $198.36 on Amazon.com.

Here's a section of the review on Amazon.com:

"I decided to buy AKG for various reasons. Great product. Wireless connectivity is superb. Minimal hiss in idle mode. Once you start the movie or the music, you really cant notice the hiss. So far they feel solid. Comfortable on the ears. Everything is great, the sound quality is great but then I compared them to the QC sound and that is where QC wins. Specifically, Bose has more depth/Bass to it, while the K840 has a comparatively flat sound. Now that is highly subjective. I personally like slightly high bass (hence I prefer the QCs) but not everyone does. Besides this little difference, the sound quality of K840 is simply great. All frequencies are clear and crisp. I would buy them again if they last me longer than the QCs did. Never a Bose QC again."

The review's a little confusing, but he does like the AKG wireless headphones. And remember, these headphones use Kleer wireless audio so you get CD-quality, lossless, uncompressed, CD-quality audio. You hear the music the way the musician wanted you to hear it.

And the AKG transmitter uses a 3.5 mm audio jack so pretty universal and portable. You can also plug it into your laptop when you're at work. 

Check out the price on Amazon.com >>

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.

Review Harman AKG K840KL On-Ear Wireless Headphone: "Clean sound and portable too"

Positive review from 2 August 2011 on Amazon.com of the Harman AKG K840KL On-Ear Wireless Headphones that use Kleer wireless audio technology. 

Here's the review:

"Love the sound of the headphones. Very clean the bass is not over driven but deep and tight enough for Bach or Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The high crystal Clear not hissy and more volume then you can use. The phones are comfortable they sit on your ear not covering it I can wear them for hours. Ear bud headphones hurt my ears after a short time. AKG give you slew of accessories from the transmitter as small as a Bic lighter, cables for charging and listening three power adapters for any country and two black rubber band not listed in the manual. I found out they are to attach the transmitter to your iPod and they work with the touch screen.

Like I said in the title portable too most wireless headphones have large transmitters that need to be plug into power the transmitter for the AKGs is small and rechargeable like the headphones both charge fast and last a long time I had mine for three weeks now and only have recharged them once after the first time.

AKG....All Kinds of Great sound"

Always helps that the AKG uses Kleer wireless audio technology. This means you hear uncompressed, lossless, CD-quality wireless audio. 

View price on Amazon.com >>

So here's the crazy thing. As of 5 August 2011, the listed price of the AKG K 840 wireless headphones is $299.00. But if you go to Amazon UK, the cost listed today is £290.99 (current exchange rate, that works out to 465.15 USD). 

That is one whacked price difference. 

Buyer beware, do your research, look for best price. 

Sleek Audio And 50 Cent Break Up, Kill Wireless Headphone Dreams

Wohee, been a while since my last post. 

I think I got kind of down when I found out that Sleek Audio and 50 Cent weren't going to be working together on wireless headphones. I know that may sound a little weird, but I really like Kleer technology and was really looking forward to a new Sleek Audio product. And with Fiddy, it was hopefully going to be a more commercial product, available everywhere. Ah well, didn't work out.

But this also makes me question: Where are the new wireless audio products that use Kleer technology? Did the purchase by SMSC kill the technology?

Who knows. But all I know is that I'm looking forward to new products. It's just that I'm waiting and have been waiting for a long time.

Anyways, here's the press release from Sleek Audio:


"Sleek Audio and G-Unit Brands, Inc, 50 Cent's Licensing Company, Cancel Plans to Develop Products Under the "Sleek by 50" Brand

Palmetto, Fl. May 6th, 2011 – Sleek Audio today announced the termination of the Brand License Agreement between Sleek Audio LLC ("Sleek") and G-Unit Brands, Inc. ("G-Unit"), 50 Cent's licensing company. In addition, the Brand License Agreement, including video production, between TV Goods, Inc, Sleek and G-Unit has also been terminated.

"We will be re-evaluating our Wireless Hybrid over-the-ear headphones at a later date. Currently we are working to bring our new, U.S.-made in-ear products to the market," said Mark Krywko, CEO of Sleek Audio.

Sleek Audio is in production of the highly anticipated, U.S.-made SA6-R Wireless Hybrid earphone and award-winning SA7 earphone, which earned the Best of Innovations title in the headphone category at CES 2011. Sleek is also producing its acclaimed PRO Series comprised of hand-made, Wireless Hybrid custom earphones including the CT6 and all-new CT7."