Ableplanet Shows Off New Prototype Headsets, Speakers [Live At CES 2013]
CES 2013 is in full swing, and the team at Ableplanet is busily showing off their newest in audio, active noise cancellation, and bluetooth speaker technologies.
If you’re unfamiliar with Ableplanet, they are an audio technology company that focuses on the mid-to-high range markets (with some lower range items thrown in for good measure).
I stopped by the Ableplanet booth and was introduced not only to the company’s current line of devices but also to several prototype units expected to reach market by Q3 2013.
The Ableplanet prototype I found to be the most impressive was the company’s yet to be named foldable active noise cancelling headphones. The team at Ableplanet is simply calling the headphones their Clear Harmony Foldable Rechargeable Active Noise Cancelling Headphone. The incredibly compact unit (pictured above) run on a lithium ion battery and are expected to play back 6 hours of audio while cancelling out noise for a full 8 hours, good enough for most domestic flights. The Clear Harmony line is the flagship brand for the company, and the new prototype is the first to implement a folding design.
The headphones, despite their extremely compact design, were very comfortable and blocked out background noise even before the active noise cancellation option was turned on.
The Foldable Rechargeable Active Noise Cancelling headphones will retail for an estimated $299 to $329 and are reinforced with steal supports.
IR410 and IR410 Headphones
I was also lucky enough to get a hands-on with the company’s IR410 and IR410T (the IR 410 but with an included transmitter) headphones. A new product line for AblePlanet the headphones will retail for $129 without the transmitter and $149 with a transmitter. If you already use an IR transmitter, you can simply purchase the headsets by themselves.
Overall, the headphones were incredible comfortable. I admittedly have a large head, but the headphones fit snug without any unwanted pressure, a problem I often have with over-the-ear headphones.
Ableplanet Bluetooth Speaker
Also arriving at market in 2013 is the AblePlanet bluetooth speaker, which offers a lithium ion battery that can power the device for 6 hours on a single charge with a recharge time of just several hours.
The Bluetooth speaker is compact and lightweight and offers basic audio connectivity.
The company plans to release the AblePlanet Bluetooth Speaker system for around $100.
Ableplanet In Ear Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
If wrapping headphones around your ears isn’t your style, you’ll soon be able to reach top-of-the-line noise cancelling technology via in-ear headphones. The Ableplanet in-ear headphone runs on a single triple A battery for 20 hours and is expected to retail for $99.99.
Overall, the team at Ableplanet has taken their engineering know-how from the hearing amplification business, and they have turned it into headphones and speakers.
