Bose is a brand that is renowned for its superior sound quality, sleek lines, and almost entirely black, white, and silver product lineup. But with an increasing number of competitors stepping up to the plate to appeal to the mass of consumers who are driven by the visual, Bose has done something unexpected – they’ve introduced a trio of new headphones that deliver the quality audio consumers have come to expect, but in a range of style options for the aesthetic appeal that have come to enjoy. The new players in the market are the FreeStyle™ earbuds, SoundTrue™ on-ear headphones and SoundTrue™ over-ear headphones.
The FreeStyle™ earbuds and SoundTrue™ on-ear and around-ear headphones all feature the same proprietary TriPort® acoustic headphone structure found in their predecessors, which delivers full, deep lows with clear high-frequencies and smooth vocal and instrumental reproduction with no artificial bass boosting needed. In layman’s terms? All music, regardless of genre, sounds as it was intended to sound when recorded in studio.
All three also come with the much-coveted and ridiculously convenient in-line remote with a built in microphone that works seamlessly across iOS devices, allowing the user to talk hands-free and switch between calls, music, and mobile content effortlessly.
SoundTrue™
The new Bose SoundTrue comes in both an around-ear and on-ear style and replaces the existing AE2 and OE2 products in the company’s headphone line (with a much catchier product name, might I add). Both models come in Bose’s go-to black or white, but the over-ear model also comes in mint or black with mint accents that look like laser beams lining the ear cup. The on-ear model skips the black with mint accents and instead offers consumers a purple with mint version with a white headband.
Weighing in at less than a third of a pound, the SoundTrue line comes standard with memory-foam cushions and reinforced headbands and foam earcups for a comfortable fit. As far as storage is concerned, both models come with a matching carrying case; the on-ear model can fold up for travel, while the around-ear version folds flat.
FreeStyle™
Bose’s FreeStyle™ earbuds have been introduced as a complement to the existing IE2, MIE2, and MIE2i in-ear headphones but are not meant to replace them, and come in indigo or ice blue with two-tone contrasting cords and earbuds with different patterns.
Featuring Bose’s proprietary StayHear technology, the FreeStyle earbuds are designed for maximum comfort. With StayHear, a small silicone wing-like tip helps each earbud spread its contact across the ear and conforms to the natural contours of every unique ear for a more comfortable and less pressure-intensive feel. Each pair of FreeStyle earbuds comes with three sizes of StayHear tips to accommodate a range of ear sizes.
Plus, like the SoundTrue, a matching carrying case is included so you can protect your FreeStyle earbuds wherever you might take them.
In a press release, Bose’s Vice-President of the Bose Noise Reduction Technology Group, Sean Garrett said: “We’ve researched headphone audio for over 30 years for one reason: to offer a better experience. Now, that renowned Bose experience includes new looks – another chapter in the Bose headphone story. We sweat the details on color, fit and finish, just as we did our audio engineering, to make the SoundTrue headphones and FreeStyle earbuds an extension of you. Put them on, find your playlist, and listen for yourself.”
Challenge accepted Mr. Garrett! I’ll take one of each! Jokes aside, Bose’s classy take on the “hip and funky” headphone trend is a breath of fresh air and I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what they come up with next.
