4 pairs of headphones breaking new ground
The next-generation hardware changing the way you hear
No modern man worth his silicon wants to be caught with second-rate technology. But in a market flooded with competing products, it can be hard to pick out the innovators from the imitators. Keep an ear out for the names below – these are the headphone models driving change and raising the industry standard.
Sometimes the biggest innovations are the simplest – as evidenced by the new line of highly portable earphones from Steven Lamar, co-creator of Beats by Dr Dre. While the reliable Bluetooth and stylish round-the-neck design stops wires getting in a tangle, an additional companion app lets you tailor levels of “bass, warmth, body, clarity, and balance” to suit your own listening needs.
This crowdfunded model instantly calibrates to your head and ears, tracking your movements to create a sense of presence unheard of in portable audio. ‘3D’ isn’t a buzzword either: with the ability to project audio in 3-dimensional space, Ossic X are set to become the go-to headphones for virtual reality. Retailing at $499, they’re currently available for pre-order at a heavily discounted price.
Apple’s new wireless earphones are already a sellout success, predicted to triple Apple Watch sales by 2020. With biometric tracking on the horizon, these lightweight ‘hearables’ could dominate the wearable tech market just as the original iPod did in 2001.
Though these workout headphones might slouch in audio quality, they can zap your brain’s motor cortex to stimulate muscle memory and improve athletic performance. Halo Sport are backed by numerous trials and offer a choice of ten electric amplitudes: if you think it’s the stuff of science fiction, you’re in for a shock.
Become a Gentleman’s Journal Member?
Like the Gentleman’s Journal? Why not join the Clubhouse, a special kind of private club where members receive offers and experiences from hand-picked, premium brands. You will also receive invites to exclusive events, the quarterly print magazine delivered directly to your door and your own membership card.
