Audio Euphoria - The Sequel

I don’t know if I’d go as far as to call it a trend of the CES show but one item I saw in abundance were headphones. I already talked about Audio Euphoria from home theater systems, it seems like the popularity of the Beats by Dre line has encouraged other companies to test the water and jump in the pool and my ears couldn’t be happier.

The Soul® by Ludacris booth was bumping with a really good DJ and a bounty of models showcasing the various products. Finding the quietest section of the booth, I was able to check out the SL300GG, which had a great sound for the low price of $300. The noise cancellation was amazing even blocking out the majority of music the DJ was playing only twenty-five feet away. Comfortable and ready for smartphones, this is a solid product.

Skullcandy had a number of styles also on display on their booth, but the Hesh model is what caught my eye…or rather my ear. Very consumer friendly for $50, this is a good, quality noise cancelling headset that’s available in various styles to best match your personality including Kobe Bryant Purple, or the Devil Julius by Paul Frank.

Not to be outdone, even Ecko Unltd is jumping into the mix launching a headphone line later this year. I was able to demo The Lux and found it had terrific sound without being too heavy on the base or too light on treble. The phones themselves were light and comfortable without feeling heavy on my head. Marc Ecko has always had his finger on the pulse of the urban market and with the various styles these headphones come in, no one should be surprised how visually stunning they are. Expect these bad boys to come in at around $140.

Regardless of your audio preference, you’ll have a lot of options in the next few months on what type of headset you’ll want to invest in. With the exception of the Marc Ecko line, most of these devices are available now. Pity, Christmas has already passed, right? Well there’s always your birthday.