Philips Headphones CES 2012

Philips has just announced a number of new audio products for 2012.

At $299, the Fidelio L1 Headphones are Philips most expensive headphones.

Next up is the CitiScape Collection, which is a collection of 4 versions of headphones: Underground, Metro, Downtown and Uptown.

The Underground is the only in-ear headphone unveiled by Philips at CES 2012. Price and release date have yet to be unveiled.

The Metro version has an on-ear design and is compact in size and has a minimalist style. They will be available in March 2012 and Philip's plans on releasing them in 5 color options. Retail price will be $49.99.

The Downtown model has that stylish fashiony look that perfectly encompasses the name. These headphones have MusicSteal technology, which is something that Philips created that prevents sound from leaking while listening to headphones. I can't wait to check out how well this works since sound leakage is becoming a big problem with many new headphones. Retail price will be $100 and they will be available in 3 colors.

At $149.99, the Uptown is the flagship model of the CitiScape Collection. It's much larger than any of the other headphones offered by Philips. The large ear cushions and air-filled headband are supposed to make these headphones one of the most comfortable on the market.

For more information and pictures click HERE.

Philips/O'Neill Covert Headphones

The Covert headphones are one of the two in-ear headphones in the Philips/O'Neill line. These earbuds have soft ear caps that are designed to fit directly in the ear, as apposed to the long earpieces which have to be forced deep into the ear. Like with all in-ear headphones, comfort depends on the individual. What could be extremely comfortable to one person, could cause major discomfort to another. With that said, most people would agree that this style of earbud is more comfortable than the extra long earpieces you find in some earbuds like the Tour Beats. One aspect I find strange is the fact that the Covert headphones are only offered in one color, a mint green with little white specks. Sound quality is good, but for $50, there are better and cheaper options. The tangle free cord features an in-line track, volume, and mic control designed for any Apple product. While the Philips/O'Neill Covert headphones offers a nice product in an eye-catching design, there a better options available for a similar price.

Price: $49.99
Available Now


Pros

• Small and discreet size
• Inline Controls
• Tangle Free Cord

Cons

• Average Sound Quality
• Pricey
• No Color Options

Overall Rating: 6/10

Philips/O'Neill "The Stretch" Headphones

Philips and O'Neill have partnered to create a line of stylish headphones for the younger demographic. This is not one of the first times that a consumer electronics company has teamed up with a surfing brand (see Roxy Reference 430 JBL Headphones). Today I will review The Stretch headphones. 

The O'Neil influence can be seen in the stylish design through the use of different color combinations. The Black Bordeaux edition of these headphones have a smoky black headband that I really like.  Since these headphones are called "The Stretch", they were created to be ultra-durable and impact resistant. Phillips has succeeded in that these headphones are one of the most durable headphones on the market today. They remain cool at all times and can take a beating in any bag or luggage. The tangle free cord is wrapped in fabric which is a nice touch. The best thing about the cord is the stress relief/breakaway feature that keeps it from breaking the cable in pulling accidents. Sound quality is nothing special, but also not terrible. Also, the amount of of bass in these headphones is sufficient, but nothing fantastic. The rugged construction and decent sound quality make the Philips Stretch headphones a good option for anyone looking for impact resistant and ultra-durable headphones. They come in 2 colors: Black Bordeaux & Powder White.

Price: $49.99

Available Now

Pros

• Extremely Durable
• Modern Design
• Detachable Cord

Cons

• Mediocre Bass
• Noise Reduction

Overall Rating: 8/10