Sony and audio innovation have always been a
perfect fit. Nowadays, the pace might have slowed down a bit, but the Japanese
giant still has some interesting concepts to offer from time to time, like the
new N headphones.
The device more or less follows the neck bracelet form factor,
like on the LG Tone or the Samsung Level U. However, the band itself holds
speakers that are specifically designed to direct sound upward to the listener.
This produces an interesting effect, where the wearer hears the music and also
his or her surroundings, while advanced acoustics help keep splash out noise at
a level that Sony claims will generally be drowned out easily in most every
environment.
This
seems to be the primary goal of the Concept N headphones - providing some
background music, while still allowing you to be aware of your surroundings on
the street, where is is most important or even during a conversation - a
personal soundtrack for your life! As an added bonus, Sony has also included a
pair of more traditional ear buds that connect to the main device and take the
music a little closer to your ears. However, traditional might not be the best
term here, as the ear buds feature an odd cone shape with a hole in the middle.
The end goal is the same - retain awareness for the surroundings.
