RadTech ProCable Sound Isolating iPhone Headphones

by Eric March on March 26, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Here’s a rather interesting design. RadTech have just released their ProCable iPhone in-ear monitors that are designed especially for the iPhone. They feature a slim jack hood so they can fit in that well they call a jack, something most other headphones need an adapter for. An inline control box contains the microphone with a mute switch. An interesting feature here are what they call “sound valves.” The monitors themselves are ported at the rear, and have valves that normally block the ports until you reduce or mute the volume, at which point the valves open up to let you hear the outside world better. It’s a bit like a purely mechanical version of Shure’s Push-to-Hear box.

Unfortunately there are a couple of design flaws I can see here.  First, there’s no clip for the control box, so it just dangles there. You can probably alleviate the tension on the earpieces by looping the cable around the back of the ears and inserting them from the top (like Shures are intended to be worn) rather than the more traditional way of just stuffing them in like buds, but you still might have to hold the mic closer to your mouth if the caller on the other end can’t hear you well. Second, the frequency response is a rather sub-par 20-17,000Hz pumped out through 10mm drivers backed by ordinary permanent magnets (as opposed to the stronger neodymium variety), so don’t expect premium sound quality. Still, for $24.95, you could do a lot worse. They are available in both black and silver, and you can score a 6-pack of extra silicone tips (one size only) for $4.95 from RadTech.

(Source: TUAW)

Posted in Accessories, iPhone Related