New Etymotic Earphones For Kids Make It Safe To Listen To iPods, iPhones And Other Apple Products

There’s been a lot of publicity about the damage iPhones, iPods and other MP3 players can do to your kids’ hearing but less about the many solutions. So it’s good to see Etymotic, the Illinois maker of earphones, headsets, high-fidelity ear plugs and other hearing assistance technologies promoting its “Safe-Listening Earphones for Apple products” at the annual International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year.

Etymotic’s new ETY*Kids3 earphones, featuring three-button control and a mic designed for use with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, will never exceed safe volumes. Even at the maximum setting on portable players, kids can listen safely for up to four hours per day. And because they provide high-definition sound quality while blocking environmental background noise with a set of snug, sound-blocking eartips, uses don’t complain that the volume is too low.

The new line of products will be available January 30 at BestBuy.com and select Best Buy stores, Amazon.com, Etymotic.com and authorized retailers worldwide. And visitors to CES in Las Vegas can try out the products at Etyotic’s Booth #4014.

ETY*Kids are available in two versions – the ETY*Kids3 headset that works with Apple products, with an MSRP of $79; and the ETY*Kids5 universal earphone that works with any portable device, with an MSRP of $49. The ETY*Kids3 headset will feature AWARENESS! for Etymotic, an app that “listens” to users’ surroundings and mixes any noise louder than normal background sounds directly into the earphones, so kids can hear traffic, announcements or any other important sounds while they are listening.

Able Planet’s Noise-Canceling Headphones Introduce True Hearing-Aid Technology To Consumer Electronics Industry

Able Planet has been around a long time developing assistive listening products for the hearing-assistance industry based on its Linx Audio sound processing technology. But recently it has taken on a new look with a high-profile branding campaign and a new, broad line of high-end noise-canceling headphones, earphones and accessories attacking the heart of the consumer electronics market. At the AudiologyNOW! conference they stood out with a booth promoting “I Am Able” professional athletes who endorse their products, and they were showing new headphones and headsets that are successfully competing head-to-head with Bose and other popular high-end brands.

I caught up with Able Planet’s CEO Kevin Semcken and Chief Audiology Officer Dr. Christoper Schweitzer. Both have vast experience in the health care, medical device and hearing-aid industries. But what stood out for me is their commitment and savvy about what high-end audio consumers are looking for, and how previously arcane hearing-aid technologies such as digital signal processing will play an essential role in consumer electronics. By integrating Linx Audio into all its headphones and headsets, and promoting the technology as its critical advantage, Able Planet is distinguishing itself as one of the very few companies driving high-end hearing technology into mainstream products. Read more

Feel Good Department: Super Bowl Heroes Drew And Brittany Brees Give Big Assist To Hearing Protection Advocacy

Credit Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees and his wife and partner-in-parenting Brittany with the biggest assist of the year for hearing protection advocacy. The feel-good story of the afternoon was when the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback shared a special moment with his year-old son Baylen just before hoisting the Lombardi trophy in front of 70,000 fans and millions of TV viewers. The first question out of many viewers’ mouths was, “What’s with the headphones?” Drew and Brittany let everyone who asked know that the huge hearing-protection headset covering little Baylen’s ears has been standard issue since their son attended his first game at the tender age of three weeks. The New York Times parenting blog captured the moment beautifully, giving both parents an A+ for putting their son’s precious hearing first. Now here’s a question: who was the manufacturer of that hearing-protection headset? I can’t tell the brand or model from the pictures. Whoever it is now has the world’s most valuable product endorsement!

02/11/2010 UPDATE: This just in–a Hearing Mojo reader named bob has identified Peltor as the maker of Baby Baylen’s hearing-protection headset. Inc. Magazine got on the story quickly. Peltor, located in the home town of the Indianapolis Colts, apparently had no idea their Peltor Junior Earmuffs would be getting such a great endorsement. For more on Peltor see our previous story on Peltor’s hearing protection headsets.

And Then There Were Six: GN Store Nord Puts GN ReSound On The Block

I wrote about the “seven sisters” of the global hearing aid industry a while ago, but now it appears there will be six. Consolidation among the largest manufacturers continues as GN Store Nord considers selling GN ReSound, the world’s third-largest hearing-aid brand, to one of the other majors. Read more