Sunday, February 10, 2008

New Wireless Technology: the Sennheiser MX W1

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New wireless technology allowing for further miniaturization

You all know the drill with the wireless headphones: more or less, pretty much any headset has some point where something isn't exactly as it should be, whether we're talking poorer audio quality in certain conditions, lack of sufficient battery life, too much wiring involved in other places and the likes.

Well, it seems that Sennheiser have been quite busy lately (pretty much as ever) and their collaboration with the Cupertino, California company Kleer has fruited a most rewarding result, in the body of the MX W1 headset - truly wire-free headphones.

The biggest leap in wireless technology was made when the Bluetooth connectivity has been abandoned because it required complex audio compression
Small, with great sound and awesome looks

(a thing rather incompatible with the audiophile perspective) and it was also potentially interfering with the use of Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones or Wi-Fi communictions.

The new technology has been developed by Kleer and both companies claim it boasts a dramatically higher respect to the audio quality while at the same time being significantly less power-hungry. As a matter of fact, the new wireless communication tech is said to require five to ten times less power, thus critically increasing the battery life of the headset and any other device using it.

Matchbox-sized transmitter

These specs have founded the further miniaturization of the headset, allowing the same operation time with a much smaller body for increased wearing comfort, better looks and greater overall usefulness. The transmitter is the size of a matchbox and can be easily stowed away in a pocket near your player as it only needs a signal jack; even more, Sennheiser claims that up to four listeners can hook their headphones to the same transmitter and simultaneously enjoy the broadcast.

Exact specs and battery life, as well as pricing are due soon, as the hew equipment will be launched in May 2008.