Philips Unveils Lightning-Based Fidelio NC1L Noise Canceling Headphones With No Need for Batteries

[MacRumors]

Philips today added to its lineup of Lightning-equipped headphones with the new Fidelio NC1L. Similar to its predecessor the Fidelio M2L, the NC1L headphones use a 24-bit digital to analog converter to provide high-quality audio playback.

As detailed by The Verge, the Fidelio NC1L headphones plug directly into the Lightning port, providing a direct digital connection to the phone and a power supply for the headphone's onboard noise cancellation technology. The Lightning connector power allows Philips to provide a valuable feature like noise cancellation without requiring the additional bulk of a battery.

Digital Trends went hands-on with a prototype of the new headphones and found they offered solid performance.

As for the performance, our initial audition of the cans impressed, as they blocked out an immense amount of ambient noise even at low volume levels. The set we tried out is only a prototype, and the final version will undergo some interior and exterior design changes. But even at the early stages, we're excited about this technology.

Designed for usage in a variety of environments, the Fidelio NC1L headphones also include multiple noise profiles suitable for making phone calls and for allowing ambient noise when awareness of your surroundings is necessary. The Fidelio NC1Ls should launch in North America in April for $299.

Article Link: Philips Unveils Lightning-Based Fidelio NC1L Noise Canceling Headphones With No Need for Batteries

 

[rdlink]

So, instead of having their own batteries they run down the battery on your iPhone? Not sure that's quite an improvement.

 

[evansls]

So, how would you charge your iPhone when these headphones are using the lighting connector? It would be nice if the headphones came with some kind of pass-through connector.

 

[TobyKoch]

Hell yeah! Waiting so long for this kind of headphone! #stunning!

 

[bbeagle]

Maybe I'm just not an audiophile - but I absolutely hate people using the word 'cans' to describe headphones. Sounds so ghetto and disrespectful to me.

 

[Sunday Ironfoot]

So, instead of having their own batteries they run down the battery on your iPhone? Not sure that's quite an improvement.

How's that different from 3.5m jack headphones running down your iPhone's battery? Both types of headphones need power (electricity) to function.

The noise cancellation *would* drain more power, but you'd only have that on when you need it, and would save you having to replace AA batteries in the headphones all the time.

 

[benz240]

The Fidelio NC1Ls should launch in North America in April for $299.

And I'm out

 

[Boston007]

You will still look like an idiot on the subway wearing these.

 

[Sunday Ironfoot]

Maybe I'm just not an audiophile - but I absolutely hate people using the word 'cans' to describe headphones. Sounds so ghetto and disrespectful to me.

AFAIK "Cans' refer to the type of headphones that completely cover your ears (like putting a can over your ear I guess ), as opposed to in-ear headphones that go right inside your ear.

 

[Putzytart]

I guess the big question is: How much will this kill my iPhone battery?

Maybe it's swings and roundabouts, because it's either the AAAs in the headphones or your iPhone battery, but at least AAAs bring additional power into the equation. And maybe they won't be that bad on the iPhone battery. We'll have to wait and find out.

Other questions exist such as: Can I use them with other devices? Will they work in a mode without NR? (i.e) no battery drain?

 

[Jessica Lares]

Cool! I'd love these for my iPod Touch!

 

[foobarbaz]

So, instead of having their own batteries they run down the battery on your iPhone? Not sure that's quite an improvement.

It is. These head phones usually don't need much power. (The Bose QC 15 run like 20 hours on a single AAA battery), so running down the battery isn't much of an issue.

But handling the battery is something of a hassle. You can't read how much percent battery you have left, so you end up always carrying a spare. You can't just plug it in to charge, you have to take the battery out and put in into a charger. And the battery makes the head phones bulkier.

 

[Hirakata]

I very rarely use headphones with my iPhone, but these will work nicely with my MBA.

 

[Gusjasso]

How do you think to plug these to your MB?

 

[macaron95]

mini/micro USB is from middle ages, i can't wait to see other brands using lightning for their headphones

Bose should really make this move

 

[Blorzoga]

I very rarely use headphones with my iPhone, but these will work nicely with my MBA.

Too bad your MBA doesn't have a lightning port.

 

[kanselmo]

Maybe I'm just not an audiophile - but I absolutely hate people using the word 'cans' to describe headphones. Sounds so ghetto and disrespectful to me.

That term has been commonly used in recording studios for decades.

 

[rixax]

Noise Cancelling

I never fly on a trip that takes over 3 hours without my noise cancelling headphones. Air Canada has great (currently free) movie screens in each seat. These headphones won't help with that. However, on some AC flights, you can use your iPad or iPhone to access a wireless entertainment system. Then OK. But my current headphones work for both, batteries required.

 

[Rogifan]

No need for batteries? What about the iPhone/iPad battery that drains every time you use this?

 

[M-O]

So, how would you charge your iPhone when these headphones are using the lighting connector? It would be nice if the headphones came with some kind of pass-through connector.

don't worry, there will be adapters. there are always adapters.

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No need for batteries? What about the iPhone/iPad battery that drains every time you use this?

the iPhone/iPad battery drains anytime you use anything with it.

 

[Freyqq]

out of curiosity, do these also have an analogue input? Who would spend $299 on a product that only lets you use them on an ios device that has sufficient battery power remaining?

 

[Karma*Police]

So, instead of having their own batteries they run down the battery on your iPhone? Not sure that's quite an improvement.

Yeah, a slight inconvenience but considering how quickly iPhones charge, not a major one, and charging one device is clearly preferable to charging two. And with inductive charging, future iPhones will be able to get around this limitation.

 

[BruiserB]

I bet the battery drain will be pretty small. My noise cancelling headphones run for a very long time on a single AAA battery which has a trivial amount of energy compared to the iPhone or iPad battery. This seems like a pretty elegant solution to reduce bulk on the headphones themselves. It would be nice if there was a pass-through charging option, but not 100% necessary.

 

[a0me]

Maybe I'm just not an audiophile - but I absolutely hate people using the word 'cans' to describe headphones. Sounds so ghetto and disrespectful to me.

I'm not an audiophile but "cans" has been a broadcast term for decades.

 

[rhoydotp]

You will still look like an idiot on the subway wearing these.

only idiots think like this about other people's choices and looks