Able Planet made its mark in the portable audio field at the 2007 International CES trade show, where its Clear Harmony active noise-canceling headphones won an Innovations Design and Engineering award for high-performance audio. Since then, the Clear Harmony headphones have won wide acclaim from consumers and experts alike, who rave about the phones' ability to eliminate almost all background noise while offering superior sound quality. Released in tandem with a pair of sibling models--the True Fidelity and Sound Clarity--the Clear Harmony headphones are ideal for everything from iPods to home stereos to portable DVD players, with full, rich sound that shuts out such extraneous sounds as airplane engines, bus motors, and background conversations.

As the high-end model in Able Planet's noise-canceling line, the Clear Harmony headphones offer slightly more sophisticated speaker components than the Sound Clarity and True Fidelity models. As a result, they're the best choice of the three for audiophiles who value a robust bass performance and aren't intimidated by the higher price tag. The Sound Clarity phones, by contrast, aren't quite as bass intensive but still boast the same rich clarity and noise-reducing performance as the Clear Harmony headphones. Price-sensitive listeners or people with hearing aids, meanwhile, will likely find the True Fidelity headphones more to their liking. Not only does the True Fidelity model cost less, but it also emphasizes the upper and mid-range frequencies more than the other two, helping hard-of-hearing listeners better enjoy the full audio spectrum while they listen to music or news radio.

Linx Audio Technology

Although the speaker components differ, all three headphones share Able Planet's patented Linx Audio technology. Originally developed for a new generation of top-of-the-line hearing aids, Linx Audio technology alters the audio signal to increase the intensity of higher-frequency harmonics. This makes it easier to hear words, music, and sounds in the higher frequencies where clarity is often lost, while also ensuring that speech and other high-frequency sounds are not smothered by bass tracks. Able Planet compares the results to the difference between hearing a "C" note on a piano as opposed to a "C" chord. The "C" chord, which sounds richer and more complex, demonstrates the impact of adding harmonics to the audio signal.

Linx Audio technology also fits into Able Planet's mission of creating audio solutions for people with hearing disabilities. By filtering undesirable sounds and noise via the state-of-the-art active noise cancellation (ANC) technology, Able Planet headphones encourage users to listen to music at lower volumes to reduce long-term hearing loss. The phones also provide crisp sound for people already suffering from moderate hearing problems, and even accommodate hearing aids thanks to a new technology that restricts electromagnetic interference. Our price: $129.00 Buy it now for $129.00 (List Price: $299.99) Shipping: FREE Category: Headsets (T5693)