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Music Apple Hardware Technology

Apple's Rumored Over-Ear Headphones Feature Head and Neck Detection, Custom Equalizer Settings (9to5mac.com) 35

Posted by BeauHD from the what-to-expect dept.
9to5Mac has learned more exclusive details about Apple's upcoming over-ear headphones, dubbed the "AirPods Studio," including specifications and settings. From the report: One of the key features of regular AirPods is ear detection, which automatically pauses the song when you take the earphones off. We've learned that AirPods Studio will have a similar feature, but it will work in a different way. Instead of ear detection, Apple is working to include sensors that can detect whether the headphones are on your head or neck. Based on this, we assume that AirPods Studio will play or pause content when they detect being placed on your head. Neck detection can be used to keep the headset turned on while the music is paused, just like when you take just one of the AirPods out of the ear.

Another new sensor will be able to detect left and right ears to automatically route the audio channels. That means there's likely no right or wrong side to use AirPods Studio, whereas current headphones have fixed left and right channels. Just like the AirPods Pro, Apple's new headphones will have Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode. Users will be able to easily switch between the two modes to reduce external noise or to hear the ambient sound.

As AirPods Studio are expected to be mainly focused on professional users, pairing the earphones with a Mac or iOS device will unlock custom equalizer settings, with low, medium, and high frequency adjustments available, sources told us. According to a Bloomberg recent report, Apple's own-brand over-ear headphones will be available in at least two variations of the headphones -- one using leather fabrics and another with lighter materials to fitness use cases. Bloomberg also said Apple is testing a new modular design with exchangeable magnetic ear pads. [...] As for the price, rumors suggest that it will cost $349.
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Apple's Rumored Over-Ear Headphones Feature Head and Neck Detection, Custom Equalizer Settings More

Apple's Rumored Over-Ear Headphones Feature Head and Neck Detection, Custom Equalizer Settings

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  • OMG I'm so excited!!!!

    I haven't had so many fully customizable equalizer settings since 1930!

    Way to innovate Apple!!!!

  • That was the entire point of the beats and beats pro line.

  • Neck detection? (Score:3)

    by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 ) on Wednesday May 13, 2020 @09:50PM (#60058148)

    Is there a specific / over-ride setting for body-builders?

  • And now you know why Air Pod Pros are designed to fall out of your ears. Because Apple will sell you these as well, for even more money.

  • It seems like all headphone makers (including ironically Apple via Beats) seem determined to hide the L/R indicator as well as the possibly can...

    It would be great to just throw on headphones and not worry about examining for clues as to which way you should put them on.

    Also if the headphones can pair as reliably as AirPods do, that in itself will be a pretty large win...

    • It would be great to just throw on headphones and not worry about examining for clues as to which way you should put them on.

      If only there was a way to make non-symmetrical headphones that made it obvious from the shape. Or put somer visible markings on them.

      • If only there was a way to make non-symmetrical headphones that made it obvious from the shape

        Trouble is, there really isn't. I've had some of those headphones and I still had to think about which way they should go, rather than just putting them on.

        Any shape you make has to inherently be able to go over your head so no amount of asymmetry will make them not fit if you put them on the "wrong" way.

        • When you own the headphones in question you'll be able to learn the orientation if there's some cues in the shape.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by sjames ( 1099 )

          Wayyyyy back in the dark ages, headphones used to have an L on one and an R on the other. That seemed pretty effective. Perhaps Apple is concerned that their primary demographic will be confused about the funny squiggly lines?

    • All the headphones/headsets I have had (Focal, Sennheiser, Sony) had a physical notch on the left side for that exact reason. I can’t fathom how people can miss that.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dfghjk ( 711126 )

      Indeed, when I read this I knew that SuperKendall would post to say what an innovative and desirable feature this is. Apple is supreme again!

      Putting headphones on is trivial, how they sound and how comfortable they are is what matters. What's really funny is knowing that SuperKendall wouldn't even know if the L/R channels were properly directed or not.

      • post to say what an innovative and desirable feature this is.

        Well I just said side detection was nice, but I guess going forward I'll note that dfghjk said it was innovative. You certainly are generous in your praise for Apple!

    • It seems like all headphone makers (including ironically Apple via Beats) seem determined to hide the L/R indicator as well as the possibly can...

      Hide? Headphones have a non-symmetrical shape for a reason. What retarded uncomfortable things are you buying that can be put on backwards by a blind person!

  • Airpod Subwoofer (Score:5, Funny)

    by Cmdln Daco ( 1183119 ) on Wednesday May 13, 2020 @10:22PM (#60058234)

    This [igeek.com] is the hottest new Apple audio hardware.

  • Customer Service: "Try taking them off and putting them on again."

    I can't wait for the response to "The left and right channels seem backwards".

    Custom equalizer settings were on both my boombox and portable headphone stereo (it was not a walkman, another brand) back in the the 80s. What is old is new again. Will these have extra bass?
  • Maybe for purely casual use; for real, pro use? No one will use Bluetooth. Even AAC. Destroys the fidelity of cymbals and other treble-rich content. And since it works with iOS, it won't support AptX or LDAC - since iOS doesn't support either of those (which are the best of the worst, when it comes to BT codecs).

    • "Maybe for purely casual use; for real, pro use? No one will use Bluetooth"

      I'm sorry that you and the other pro can't use it, so it will be just for the other 7.5 billion people I guess.

  • Why did it take Apple so long to understand that a lot of people don't want to jam things in their ears?!

    Also, Bluetooth fucking sucks for audio. It degrades quality and adds lag. Then again it seems that most people can't hear the difference between CD audio and 128kbps MP3s and only listen to music in their car or while running, so it's normal to be heading toward bad audio quality in every technological domain.

  • Pro? (Score:2)

    by ktakki ( 64573 )

    Don't be like Radio Shack, Apple. Professionals do not use Bluetooth headphones.

    1. Latency: Bluetooth has circuitry that introduces a time delay. Wired headphones do not.

    2. Bandwidth: Bluetooth uses an audio codec based on AAC, which tops out at 350kb/sec, 1/4 the bandwidth of uncompressed 44.1kHz PCM digital audio. A ten foot wire has none of these limitations.

    Beats are shitty, overpriced headphones with zinc weights added to the earpiece to give them some heft. Stick with AKG; you can get a pair of K2

  • No left and right on headphones means they assume your ears are vertical and your head band sits perfectly above your ears, or they just make the cups insanely large. In any case I've never found a comfortable set of forward/backward symmetrical headphones.

    Dear Apple: THEY HAVE THAT SHAPE FOR A REASON.

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