Onkyo MHP-UW1 2.4GHz USB Wireless Headphones

[James Fee]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.techjapan.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=630&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0' target='_blank'>http://www.techjapan.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=630&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0</a><br /><br /></div>"<i>Onkyo will begin sales of the "MHP-UW1" 2.4GHz USB wireless headphones under its "WAVIO" brand from late November. There is no set retail price but the street price is expected to be approximately 10,000 yen. The MHP-UW1 is a wireless headphone system consisting of the headphones and a USB transmitter. The USB transmitter connects to a PC's USB port and operates as a bus-powered USB audio device. Supported operating systems are Windows 2000 and XP. Input from non-USB devices such as analogue audio is not supported. Music signals are transmitted from the USB transmitter to the headphones via the 2.4GHz band. Maximum usable range is approximately 10 m in a straight line. The USB transmitter has 8 selectable channels and can be used with up to 8 headsets at the same time. The open-air, dynamic headphones have a driver unit with a 30 mm aperture. They are powered by 2 NiMH AA rechargeable batteries, which are included, along with a USB battery charger. Approximately 6 hours of use is possible with the included NiMH batteries. If alkaline batteries are used, 8 hours of use is possible. The right headphone housing has a volume dial and power on/off switch. The earpads are designed to be "compact while delivering a superior fit, allowing for comfortable use over many hours." The length of the headband can also be adjusted.</i>"<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/Onkyo_USB_Headphone.jpg" /> <br /><br />They will retail for about $100 and have a wireless range of about 30 feet.

[groan]

[clears throat]

drool

those would be SWEET.
i hate wires.

[James Fee]

Sorry left off the link... :oops:

http://www.techjapan.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=630&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

[Filip Norrgard]

What? No Bluetooth Headset?? :? No buy from my side...

The sweet Logitech HP iPaq headphones are something that I'm waiting to see reviews on. Until that, my Bluetooth headset (http://www.filips.net/archives/2004/10/27/review-nokia-bluetooth-boom-headset-hs-4w/) will have to be enough for my wireless music listening. ;)

Hmmm... why did they choose MHP -- Multimedia Home Platform -- as the model number for this? Are they trying to intentionally confuse consumers looking for digital TV boxes, or? :roll:

[James Fee]

What? No Bluetooth Headset?? :? No buy from my side...Would BT have enough range in a house? Sure for personal devices its perfect, but I'm not sure about roaming around the house with one.

[Filip Norrgard]

Would BT have enough range in a house? Sure for personal devices its perfect, but I'm not sure about roaming around the house with one.
Naturally, that depends on the Bluetooth class of the device. If it is a Class 3, then you get around the same coverage as with WiFi at 100 meters. The normal Bluetooth radio, however, is class 2, with a range at around 10 meters. The Nokia headset that I have got (and written a review on) went over that range at 15 meters and could with a wall (out of wood) inbetween but only if I held the headset towards my Pocket PC or phone. Otherwise, the sound of popcorns popping got a bit too much... ;)

I suspect that the Bluetooth headphones will be class 2 devices but if you do a tweak and maximize the range of your sender, then you can certainly listen to your music anywhere. (Now where was that link to Popular Science's weld-your-Bluetooth-range-bigger link?)

As for privacy, the security of Bluetooth would be much more assuring than say, 100m FM headphones that is sold here.