So far CES 2012 has been absolutely amazing. Of course, it’s amazing every year. If you’ve never been to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas then it’s definitely something you’ll want to do at least once in your lifetime, especially if you’re a techie.
If you love working out and you love music, then you’re going to be in love with what we’re about to show you. It was workout headphones galore this year, with some manufacturer’s developing some absolutely amazing headphones and workout gadgets to go with them.
We’ll be doing a full review of as many of these new products that we can get our hands on over the next few weeks, but we wanted to give you a sneak peak of what you can expect to see in 2012. Keep in mind many of the products below aren’t yet released, but you can drool over the pictures and cool features until they are. Hope you enjoy as much as we did.
CES 2012 Workout Headphones
You recently saw our choices for the Best Sports Headphones of 2011, now take a look at their challengers for 2012.
Monster iSport LIVESTRONG
You may recognize these headphones as the LIVESTRONG (yellow) version of the Monster iSport Immersion. Radio Shack has teamed up with Monster to create the Monster iSport LIVESTRONG. So far we don’t know of any difference other than the color, and the fact that a portion of the sales will go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. They will be available February 2012 and will have a suggested retail price of $179.95.
>> Check out our review of the Monster iSport Immersion here <<
Sony XBA-65S Sports Headphones
Sony is bringing something brand new to the sports headphones scene: balanced armature. In the past balanced armature technology was specifically reserved for very high end audiophile headphones or hearing aids. Sony has found a way to make an affordable pair of sports headphones that will have a higher quality sound over a broader range. In addition, these headphones are expected to be 100% water resistant (not waterproof) and feature a comfortable an adjustable ear hook design similar to their still popular Sony MDR-A S20J Active Sports Headphones. The Sony XBA-65S is expected to retail at $89.95.
NB500 Behind-the-Neck Bluetooth Wireless Sport Earphones with Mic
New Balance didn’t exactly hit a home run with their first line of sports headphones, so it’s kind of surprising to see even more from them. Teaming up with iHome, New Balance releases the NB500 which they claim are “designed for extreme comfort, durability, and functionality.” The NB500 is expected to retail at $99.99.
iLuv iEP415 FitActive High-Fidelity Stereo Earphones with SpeakEZ Remote
iLuv Creative Technology is a well known manufacturer of accessories for smart phones. This is their first line of sports headphones tailored specifically for Apple products. As you can see from the picture below there’s a variety of colors and they’re utilizing an ear fin style ear bud for the active listener. The iEP415 will be available in May 2012 and is expected to have a suggested retail price of $19.99. We’re curious to see how these sports earbuds perform for such a low price.
>> Check out our review of the iLuv FitActive Headphones here <<
AfterShokz Sport Headphone
The AfterShokz are a sports headphone that has the potential to completely dominate the running headphones market. This is the second pair of headphones that we’ve seen to use bone conduction to transmit audio. The huge benefit to this is you get crystal clear sound without obstructing your ear canal, which means you also have the ability to be completely aware of your surroundings, something that runners and cyclists are always complaining about.
Now here’s the incredible part. These headphones come from a military technology and (according to CNET) the military version of these headphones were actually worn by the Navy SEALS who participated in the bin Laden operation. The suggested retail price is expected to be $59.99.
Yurbuds Ironman Series
The Yurbuds Ironman should look familiar. They were named on several of our Best Sports Headphones of 2011 lists. We were actually surprised to see these at CES 2012, but they were definitely a hit. Expect these sport earbuds to become quite popular in 2012.
>> Check out our review of the Yurbuds Ironman Series here <<
Audio-Technica ATH-CP500i Player’s Line Headphones
Audio-Technica is expanding on their Player’s Line, a line of headphones targeted towards those who are very active. As with nearly any sports headphone these days they include an in-line volume control and mic that integrates with the Apple iPhone. They claim a “comfortable fit during intense workouts.” They are expected to retail at $59.95 and we expect a very high sound quality out of those, hopefully they won’t disappoint.
Jabra Sport Bluetooth Stereo Headphones
The Jabra Sport is another pair of headphones that might look familiar. They’ve only been available since late in 2011 and are already becoming quite popular among those workout enthusiasts who prefer to go wireless.
Polk Audio UltraFit
We recently commented on Polk Audio’s announcement of their first sports headphones. They may have stole the show at CES 2012. Their booth not only displayed all 4 pairs of the new UltraFit series, but also sported a gymnast wearing the UltraFit 500. They had her bouncing 15-20 feet in the air on a large trampoline to show just how great of a fit these new sports headphones have.
>> Check out our review of the Polk Audio UltraFit 500 here <<
Iqua Beat
We mentioned several months back that you can expect to see a lot more features with some of the new sports headphones in 2012 and that’s exactly what the Iqua Beat brings to the table. The label as the “training solution for the iPhone.” It is a Bluetooth sports headset that also has the ability to track heart rate, pace, calorie consumption, and distance traveled, while providing audio feedback, encouragement, and guidance during the workout work out. One neat thing about this sports headset is the free iPhone App that comes with it showing real-time information about the workout and a live map view.
Summary
As you can see from above there are some pretty exciting headphones that are set to be released early in 2012. We’ll be reporting back on each and every one as soon as they’re released.
The question is, will any of these workout headphones make the list for Best Workout Headphones of 2012?
