The weirdest audio innovations of the last five years
19/1/2023
Translation: Megan Cornish
In recent years, we’ve been able to try some imaginative audio innovations. A lot of things that seemed totally absurd at first glance still do in retrospect.
A lot has happened in the field of headphone development in recent years. Noise cancellation just keeps getting better. So does wireless transmission. In-ear headphones are not only wireless, but «true wireless» – stupid term, practical thing.
But some strange products have appeared in our editorial office over the last five years, the purpose of which we didn’t quite understand. Was that down to us or because of the products? In order to assess this better, I look into whether something has come of the ideas or not.
The neck speaker
Want to put speakers around your neck instead of wearing headphones? You can. There may even be situations where it makes sense. But it’s often just impractical. My colleague Livia was able to see this for herself in 2018 with the Bose SoundWear Companion.
What became of it: the SoundWear Companion languished in the shop for almost two years. As far as I know, there’s no follow-up model. Not very successful.
The return of the neck speaker
Long before Bose, Sennheiser had already failed with a neck speaker. Then JBL entered the fray with the SoundGear, and finally a new star burst onto the scene in the Sony Wearable Speaker. It didn’t make the initial idea any better, but apparently every manufacturer has to fail for themselves.
What became of it: nothing. It’s no longer available and there’s no follow-up model.
The hearing glasses
Bose Frames are a pair of sunglasses with integrated speakers aimed specifically at the ear, so you can listen to music with them. It’s technically interesting and well implemented, but with the best will in the world I couldn’t find any useful application for it.
What became of it: a year later, in 2020, Bose launched three new Frames models. None of them were big sellers, and nothing has happened since then.
The headphones you can’t listen to music with
Bose again. The Sleepbuds aren’t headphones. Because they can’t play music. They serve as a sleep aid that plays sounds. And then only predetermined ones. The whole thing cost over 300 francs or euros, which raised some eyebrows.
What became of it: a lot of people didn’t seem to care about the limitations. Despite the high price, the Sleepbuds sold reasonably well. But then they had to be withdrawn from the market due to battery problems. There was a follow-up model, which convinced Livia to some extent, and it sold well. Now, its successor doesn’t seem to be available anymore.
The intelligent in-over-ear headphones
The Nuraphone headphones are over-ear and in-ear at the same time. This should combine the advantages of both designs. I found the design very uncomfortable – almost painful. In addition, the headphones measure your individual hearing based on sound reflections and adjust the sound accordingly. Technologically interesting, but the result didn’t knock my socks off.
What became of it: the Nuraphone headphones are no longer available and there’s no follow-up model. Nura has released other products, though, such as the NuraTrue wireless in-ear headphones(/s1/product/nuraphone-nuratrue-anc-6-h-kabellos-true-wireless-kopfhoerer-16397967).
On-ear vibration
More headphones with an individual sound profile. And where something else stands out: a slider adds noticeable bass vibrations. Quite fun, but it doesn’t feel like a concert if only your skull vibrates. With daily use, I always set the vibration control to zero.
What became of it: the Crusher models are no longer available. But the idea of vibration lives on in the [Razer Kraken V3] headset(/page/dieser-krake-vibriert-auf-deinen-ohren-22832).
Air purifying headphones (cough)
We haven’t got our hands on this marvel of technology yet, because it’s only coming out this year. Still, it has to be on this list. The Dyson headphones and their associated visor are designed to filter pollutants and pathogens from ambient air. It seems to me that the best thing about the visor is that it’s detachable.
What’ll become of it? I think it’ll be a flop in Switzerland, but I’m not sure. The average Swiss person has a lot of money and buys a lot of unnecessary and expensive stuff. In China, where the headphones are being launched first, there could be a real need for them.
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
