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Logitech UE Air Speaker brings AirPlay streaming in April for $400
The AirPlay market doesn't seem to be shrinking anytime soon, giving Logitech ample opportunity to tread on ground already marked by the likes of JBL and Klipsch. This morning, the outfit's introducing the Logitech UE Air Speaker with AirPlay technology, enabling uncompressed audio streams to flow from one's iTunes library, iPad, iPhone or iPod touch right to the home stereo. You'll need both the boombox and your AirPlay source connected to the same WiFi network, after which you can pipe sine waves to its pair of tweeters and woofers. Users will need to download the (gratis) Logitech UE Air app for setup, which will be infinitely more useful when the speaker itself starts to ship to Europe and the US this April for $399.99.
Ultimate Ears announces $999 In-Ear Reference Monitors and $19.99 Blue Robots, because it can
Ultimate Ears is pushing out a tag team of in-ear earphones that clearly demonstrates the heights (and depths) the Logitech-owned company is willing to scale. Starting at the extreme high end are the Ultimate Ears In-Ear Reference Monitors. The $999 price tag should help clarify the target audience here (hint: professional producers and recording / mixing engineers on the go). Each handcrafted monitor, developed in partnership with EMI Music's Capitol Studios, contains three individually tuned, balanced armature speakers with an extended wide band response from 5Hz to 18kHz. They provide up to 32dB of noise isolation with a low-distortion braided cable replacing the typical Y-joint connector. Dialing things down just a bit (uh hem) for consumers are the $19.99 Ultimate Ears 100 (pictured after the break). These "trendy" noise-isolating earphones offer 24dBs of noise isolation and ship in five styles, including our personal fave "Blue Robots." Look for each to ship to Europe and the US sometime in September.
Ultimate Ears 18 Pro headphones feature six drivers per ear
We've always had a soft spot for Ultimate Ears, but things are getting crazy now that it's flush with all that Logitech money: the headphone makers just introduced the Ultimate Ears 18 Pro custom monitors, which feature six drivers in each earbud. That's right, six drivers: two each for bass, mids, and treble, along with a four-way crossover and a three-channel design that keeps the low, mid, and high frequencies isolated until they reach your ears. Yeah, we want them -- too bad they cost $1,350. We'll stick with our Super.fi 5 Pros for now then, thanks.
Ultimate Ears 700 noise-isolating earphones for your iPod, not Apple's
Logitech's high-end Ultimate Ears division just announced these new Ultimate Ears 700 in-ear headphones. Weighing in at 11.6-grams, the dual-armature layout separates the 10Hz to 16.5kHz frequency response into two high-fidelity channels per ear while offering passive noise-isolation of up to 26dB. While the press release touts iPod compatibility in the boisterous headline there doesn't seem to be anything about these -- like Apple's proprietary in-line remote control (and chip) for the new iPod shuffle -- that's unique to the iPod... other than the price. Available in the US and Europe for $230 sometime this month.
Ultimate Ears adds in MetroFi 170 / 220 headphones
Ultimate Ears (by Logitech, we'll have you know) has introduced two new MetroFi earbuds here in Las Vegas, and both of 'em promise 16 decibels of noise isolation and offer up a single-driver, in-ear design. The 220 ups the ante with a swank titanium-coated speaker for more detail in the highs, though both sets are pushing a red-colored right earphone (so you don't get confused, or something) and three sizes of silicon ear cushions. We're also told that both sets will eventually be available in vi models ($10 extra) that boast an integrated microphone, but those uninterested in that can snag the vanilla versions for $50 (170) / $80 (220) next month.[Via iLounge]
Ultimate Ears intros Triple.Fi 10vi headphones with built-in mic
We've always drooled after the top end of the Ultimate Ears headphone line, and it looks like we've got a new lust-magnet -- the company just introduced the Triple.Fi 10vi in-ear buds with an iPhone and Blackberry-compatible mic / button. The triple-driver 'phones are said to have the same essential guts as UE's far more expensive custom monitors, and they'll kick out frequencies as low as 10Hz and top out at 17kHz. Yes, we want them. No, we can't justify spending $420 on them. Yes, we're totally thinking about it anyway.[Via iPodNN]
Ultimate Ears rolls out top-firing Super.Fi 5 earphones
It looks like those still on the hunt for that perfect pair of sub-$200 earphones now have a rather intriguing new option to consider from Ultimate Ears, which has just rolled out its new Super.Fi 5 and Super.Fi 5vi models that boast a top-fire-armature speaker design -- the first such buds on the market. In addition to that stand-out feature, both sets pack a frequency response range of 15 Hz to 15 kHz and a top sound pressure level of 115 dB, while the Super.Fi 5vi adds a mic to mix to let you use 'em with your phone of choice. You'll also get three interchangeable soft-silicone ear tips and two Comply foam ear tips with each to ensure just the right fit and, of course, a carrying case to keep 'em in pristine shape. If those sound like the buds you've been looking for, you can grab either the Super.Fi 5 or Super.Fi 5vi right now for $170 and $190, respectively.[Via I4U News]
Logitech snaps up Ultimate Ears, chasing this "portable audio" market we've heard so much about
Logitech is getting into the earbuds game, announcing today that it's buying privately-held Ultimate Ears. Historically focusing on spendy in-ear monitors for live musicians, Ultimate Ears has recently hit the earbud game with full force, and Logitech seems to want a piece of that action. Plus the acquisition price of $34 million is like, what, profits from your last seven minutes of iPod dock sales, Logitech? Logitech and Ultimate Ears expect the deal to close in August.
