Hottest 100 Christmas gadget guide
Christmas is not just a time for giving, but a time for gadgets. This is a compilation of the best technology from 2014 for you to wrap up for others, or yourself. Part 7: Mobile audio
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Christmas is a not just a time for giving, but a time for gadgets. The Hottest 100 Christmas gadget guide compiles the best technology of 2014 for you to wrap up for others, or yourself. In the seventh chapter, Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson and Rod Chester pump up the volume on high-end headphones and wireless speakers to keep the party season moving.
HEADPHONES
Parrot Zik 2.0
These wireless headphones will have users stroking their right ear for all the right reasons. Parrot’s second Philippe Starck headphones are controlled using a touch-sensitive panel on the right ear cup that controls volume, music playback and incoming calls with strokes and taps. They also feature plenty of active noise-cancellation technology, using six microphones to identify and cancel external sound, as well as a street mode that lets some sound back in for safety.
Parrot
$500
parrot.com.au
- Pros
- — Advanced noise cancellation modes
- — Unique touch-sensitive controls
- — Lighter, more colourful design
- Cons
- — Tight fit can hamper long listening sessions
- — Only deliver music when charged
- — No major style refinement
Bose QuietComfort 25
If you absolutely have to tune out the outside world, Bose delivers the technology for the job inside these headphones. The QuietComfort 25 headphones feature even more effective active-noise cancellation than past models, using an AAA battery to eliminate background humming or engine noise. The pair folds down into a travel-friendly pouch and their removable cord features an in-line remote control for taking phone calls.
Bose
$399
bose.com/au
- Pros
- — Industry-leading active noise cancellation
- — Comfortable to wear for long sessions
- — Fashionable look with new colours
- Cons
- — Less premium finish than price suggests
- — Sound quality falls when noise cancellation is turned off
- — Pricey
Sennheiser Urbanite XL
German audio experts Sennheiser appear to be taking on Dr Dre’s beats with these headphones and, on many counts, they win. The Urbanite XL headphones are subtly stylish, with a fabric top and tricoloured ear cups. They fold into a small form for travellers, and come with a flat cable that won’t tangle. Best of all, the sound quality is superb, with a focus on bass but a balanced delivery.
Sennheiser
$399
sennheiser.com.au
- Pros
- — Bass-focused, balanced, distortion-free sound
- — Comfortable, well-padded construction
- — Attractive, colourful finish
- Cons
- — Large headphones can slip off head
- — No active noise cancellation
- — Not booming bass, but refined bass
Beats Studio Wireless
Sports stars often walk around with unplugged Beats around their necks, but this model is the only version where that’s justified. The Studio Wireless headphones stream music from phones cord-free using Bluetooth, and hide volume and song controls so you don’t need to reach for a phone. Like other new Beats, sound is also more balanced than before, with more to hear in the mid-range rather than being all about the bass.
Beats By Dre
$479
au.beatsbydre.com
- Pros
- — First wireless Beats
- — Subtle and useful on-headphone controls
- — Comfortable on-ear design
- Cons
- — Noise cancellation not as effective as others
- — Significant price
- — Will not deliver sound without battery charge
Plantronics Backbeat Fit Case
If you’re sick of dealing with headphone cords that tangle when you’re not using them and jiggle when you do, then these could be the sports headphones you’re looking for. They have over-the-ear clips to keep them in place and the rubber strap that sits behind your head won’t get twisted when you’re carrying these in your pocket. They’re sweatproof, they have a reflective strip on the back to make you easy to spot and they come with a handy reversible carry case that doubles as a smartphone armband with key pocket.
Plantronics
$159.95
plantronics.com.au
- Pros
- — Won’t tangle
- — Clips keep them in your ears
- — Sweatproof with a reflective strip
- Cons
- — Controls can be hard to navigate.
- — Over-ear clips won’t suit everyone.
- — Not as compact as some wireless earphones.
WIRELESS SPEAKERS
Samsung M3 Wireless Multiroom Speaker
The baby of Samsung’s new wireless range of speakers delivers a lot of punch in a small package. The M3 Wireless Multiroom Speaker rivals Sonos speakers by offering wireless connectivity for easy music streaming, a Bluetooth connection to free songs from smartphones, and volume controls atop the unit to ensure everyone can turn it down or up as needed. It’s compatible with services including Pandora and Rhapsody, and can connect to other speakers from Samsung’s M range.
Samsung
$269
samsung.com/au
- Pros
- — Powerful unit in a small package
- — Attractive, triangular design
- — Supports many streaming services
- Cons
- — Lacks NFC, USB and auxiliary connections
- — Distorts at full volume
- — Lacks genuine stereo
Harman Kardon Nova
This sexy pair of see-through, spherical speakers look as good as they sound. They have NFC and Bluetooth connectivity, a touch-sensitive edge to control volume and input, and a 2.5-inch driver and 1.25-inch tweeter that deliver a surprisingly deep sound. Pair them to your smartphone or tablet or use the optical input to connect them to your TV or set-top device.
Harman Kardon
$399
ehifi.com.au
- Pros
- — Stylish look
- — Touch-sensitive controls
- — Wide range of input options
- Cons
- — No remote control
- — Wire length between the pair limits placement options
- — Not part of a wider system
LG Music Flow H3
With Music Flow, LG joins the group of companies offering a family of wireless speakers able to play music through your house. The LG Music Flow family includes the 30-watt H3, a device small enough to sit on a bedside table or bookcase but with enough power to fill a room with sound. The Music Flow system lets you play music from some streaming music services, such as Spotify Premium, and from smartphones.
LG
$249
lg.com.au
- Pros
- — Expandable system
- — Attractive unit
- — Play music from your smartphone
- Cons
- — Does not support all streaming music services
- — Investing in a family of speakers is expensive
- — No waterproof speaker in the family for outdoor use
Motorola Sol Republic Deck
This wireless speaker stands out for the way it turns playing music into a group experience. Set it in Heist mode and up to five people can connect to the speaker at once. If you don’t like the song someone is playing, hit Play to start your own tune. It’s a handy feature although you might want some ground rules for taking turns. The Motorola button on top controls volume and music play, as well as answering and ending calls. It has an outdoor mode that boosts volume and you can connect to it wirelessly from up to 100m away.
Motorola
$299
ehifi.com.au
- Pros
- — Lightweight
- — Doubles as a speaker phone
- — Long wireless range
- Cons
- — Heist mode won’t impress everyone
- — Not water-resistant
- — Expensive compared to some options
Soundmatters DASH 7
This cleverly designed speaker is an example of ensuring impressive performance despite a compact size. Measuring 19cm long, it can sit in front of an Apple iPad Air 2 without blocking the screen, with a wraparound case that doubles as a stand to improve directional sound. Small enough to fit in a pocket but with deep, rich sound it towers above many other small speakers.
Soundmatters
$259
foxl.com.au
- Pros
- — Extra compact size
- — Impressive sound quality
- — Versatile case
- Cons
- — Expensive compared to rivals
- — Not water-resistant
- — Proprietary power cable
Hottest 100 Christmas gadget guide
CHRISTMAS is not just a time for giving, but a time for gadgets. We've compiled the best technology from 2014 for you to wrap up for others, or yourself. Part 1: Cameras
Hottest 100 Christmas gadget guide
Christmas is not just a time for giving, but a time for gadgets. This is a compilation of the best technology from 2014 for you to wrap up for others, or yourself.