Able Planet Clear Harmony Active Noise-Canceling Headphones
by ABLE PLANET, INC.
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Digital product summary information
Manufacturer: ABLE PLANET, INC.Format: CD
Model: Clear Harmony
Color: Silver
Product features:
- Patented LINX AUDIOTM technology provides award winning sound quality
- State-of-the-art active noise cancellation (ANC), to reduce undesirable sounds and background noise
- Hard shell protective carrying case with storage area
- Lightweight adjustable headband provides superior fitFull-size ear cups with soft cushions swivel for maximum comfort
- In-line volume control enables easy adjustment to safe listening levels for hearing preservation
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Digital camera reviews of Able Planet Clear Harmony Active Noise-Canceling Headphones
Digital camera Review: A favorite singer sounds like a stranger through these headphones
Summary: 2 Stars
Maybe it's the LINX technology, which is explained in detail on the product box. Or maybe it's my ears. But when I got these headphones and tried them out, I was disappointed. The active noise-canceling feature seemed to work very well, silencing the air conditioner and fans I had set going on "high" as a test. The sound from the TV that came through when the NC silenced the machinery, though, seemed high-pitched and tinny. I then hooked the headphones to my MP3 player and listened to different kinds of music. The instrumentals didn't sound very rich. And I was almost stunned when one of my favorite tracks by a favorite singer played - and her voice wasn't recognizable.
I did an in-home comparison this evening of the Clear Harmony headphones with the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones - which don't have the LINX technology. I found the Audio-Technicas to be as good or better as to active noise-canceling, and significantly better as to audio fidelity with the MP3 player. All the different kinds of music sounded rich and clear, and when I played the same vocal track that the Clear Harmony had made sound so strange, it sounded right, including the voice.
I'm looking for a reasonably-priced set of active noise-canceling headphones primarily to use when traveling, and I don't want to have to tweak the EQ settings of my MP3 player, notebook PC, etc., to get good sound through the phones.
The Clear Harmony headphones are being returned; I don't think the LINX technology is right for me. I did like the extra padding on the top area of the headset which I think would help reduce discomfort especially when being worn for a long time.
I paid attention to the review of this product by a sound engineer, when I decided to try it. I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying these headphones, I'm just relating my experience with them which was disappointing.
Summary of Able Planet Clear Harmony Active Noise-Canceling Headphones
Make Your Other Senses Envious! Award Winning Patented Technology designed for the music lover, sound critic and you. With fifteen International CES Awards, Able Planet is a company founded on the principles of hearing preservation, enhancement and superior sound performance. The secret behind the advanced sound quality is a patented technology called LINX AUDIO.¿ Originally developed for a new generation top-of-the-line hearing aids the LINX AUDIO technology alters the audio signal to increase the intensity of higher frequency harmonics. This makes it easier to hear words, music and sounds. The enhanced audio signal also increases the perception of loudness without increasing volume, providing full rich sound at lower volumes. Imagine being able to listen longer, fuller at lower volumes. Over 10 Million Americans have hearing loss because of excess noise exposure¿now you can do something about it!Able Planet made its mark in the portable audio field at the 2007 International CES trade show, where its Clear Harmony active noise-canceling headphones won an Innovations Design and Engineering award for high-performance audio. Since then, the Clear Harmony headphones have won wide acclaim from consumers and experts alike, who rave about the phones' ability to eliminate almost all background noise while offering superior sound quality. Released in tandem with a pair of sibling models--the True Fidelity and Sound Clarity--the Clear Harmony headphones are ideal for everything from iPods to home stereos to portable DVD players, with full, rich sound that shuts out such extraneous sounds as airplane engines, bus motors, and background conversations.
 The Clear Harmony headphones come with a hard-shell case and several audio adapters |
Linx Audio Technology
Although the speaker components differ, all three headphones share Able Planet's patented Linx Audio technology. Originally developed for a new generation of top-of-the-line hearing aids, Linx Audio technology alters the audio signal to increase the intensity of higher-frequency harmonics. This makes it easier to hear words, music, and sounds in the higher frequencies where clarity is often lost, while also ensuring that speech and other high-frequency sounds are not smothered by bass tracks. Able Planet compares the results to the difference between hearing a "C" note on a piano as opposed to a "C" chord. The "C" chord, which sounds richer and more complex, demonstrates the impact of adding harmonics to the audio signal.
Special Features
Clear Harmony headphones also reduce distortion at higher volumes by soft-clipping the sound wave rather than squaring it off, delivering a full-bodied frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and an industry-leading 18 dB of active noise cancellation. And as a bonus, the phones offer an inline volume control that makes it easy to turn the volume up or down without reaching for your portable audio device. Other features include a 5-foot removable cord with 1/8-inch, 1/4-inch, and two-prong airline adapters; a lightweight adjustable headband that provides a superior fit; full-size swiveling ear cups with soft cushions; and a hard-shell protective carrying case with a storage area for iPods and other MP3 players.
The headphones--which can be used at home as well as on the road with TVs, computers, portable DVD players, CD players, MP3 players, and assisted listening devices--fold flat for easy storage.
Note: The noise cancellation feature requires two AAA batteries (not included), but can also be turned off should the batteries run down. As a result, users can still listen to music without power, unlike many competing noise-canceling headphones.
What's in the Box
Clear Harmony headphones, removable cord, 1/8- and 1/4-inch stereo adapters, two-prong airline adapter, hard-shell carrying case, user's manual.
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