Sony launches three new stylish headphones

Sony announced the availability of three new earpad headphones, the MDR-370LP, MDR-570LP and MDR-770LP. While all three feature 30mm driver units, the 570LP is the only closed-back offering, while the other two are open-back. In theory, closed-back headphones are more taut-sounding, while open-back variants sound more airy.

The 370LP is the most striking with four bright colors on offer. The 570LP features swiveling ear cups for fold-flat storage. Not skimping on the looks department, the 770LP appears the sleekest of the lot since the ear cups are adjusted along the headband's length.

The MDR-370LP, MDR-570LP and MDR-770LP headphones are available at all Sony retailers for S$49 (US$35.36), S$68 (US$49.07) and S$89 (US$64.22) respectively. They will ship Asia-wide by end 2009.

Kelvin Low is CNET Asia's very own freelance writer for Music & Play. When he's not fiddling with gadgets or out cycling, he can be found memorizing lecture notes at Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore. Email Kelvin.

Thanko's new headphone pays homage to nekomimi fans

In Japan, nekomimi is the term given to "catgirls" who are usually found roaming around in the quirky anime and manga universe. We aren't against the spontaneously creative nature of these artists out to make a hard-earned dollar--and we, too, enjoy the sights of cosplayers who have put their efforts into making fictional characters come to life.

Japan has a very good history of producing some of the world's maddest creations. We already have oddball MP3 players, but Thanko's nekomimi-inspired earphones are just a fine example of how creative the human race can be.



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Sony serves a slew of new A- and S-series Walkmans

Update: The new Walkman NWZ-S740 will come in 8GB and 16GB capacities and will be available in Asia Pacific from October 2009. Still, we are waiting for news of the A-840 series Walkman.


Not long after Apple announced the third-generation 64GB iPod touch, Sony has been quick to reveal its latest Walkman A-series lineup, and frankly, it bears some resemblance to the S-540 Walkman that we reviewed, but it looks more stunning.

The new A-series is only 7.2mm thin but packs a 2.8-inch OLED screen, noise cancellation, and capacities up to 64GB's. That's even more than the flagship X-series Walkman that maxes out at 32GB. According to Sony Insider, here are some specifications of the new Walkman:
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Convert physical music libraries with Creative's Sound Blaster Easy Record

Update: Creative has confirmed that the Asia-specific Easy Record will be available in other Asian regions (including Australia) in mid-October. It is already available in Japan.

Vinyl records and cassette tapes sound alien in a world that's almost overrun by digital music formats such as MP3 and AAC. For those who have been around to witness the shift from vinyl to cassettes and eventually the CD, chances are that you'll have a collection of cassettes and vinyl records left untouched in your physical music library.

Creative touts the Sound Blaster Easy Record as a simple way to convert vinyl records and cassettes into the MP3 format. All you need to do is to connect one side of the device to a working vinyl or cassette player (via the stereo RCA inputs or the 3.5mm line-in connector) and the other side to the PC's USB port. There's even a headphone jack for audio monitoring during recording. The Easy Record will only work with Windows 7, Vista or XP.
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Samsung announces the M1 and R1 "Beat" MP3 players for Singapore

The Samsung YP-R1, at least from the pictures, looks like a slimmed-down version of the YP-P3, measuring just 8.9mm thin. It is touted as the world's first DivX-certified MP3 player and comes with a 2.6-inch touchscreen and TV output (via USB). Available in only 8GB capacity, the Samsung YP-R1 is offered in black or silver (no pink, sadly) at a recommended retail of S$299 (US$215.74).

The R1's bigger brother, the YP-M1, is made from scratch-resistant metal. It features a 3.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen, DNSe sound enhancements, a microSD slot that supports up to 16GB capacity, built-in stereo speakers and Bluetooth capabilities. It also promises smooth HD video playback of up to 720p. It will be available with either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage capacity. The 32GB version we first saw on Samsung's Korean Web site will not be available in Singapore. The YP-M1 is slated for December, in only one color--black. We'll keep you updated with availability in Asia as well as the pricing for the music player.

Kelvin Low is CNET Asia's freelance writer for Music & Play. When he's not fiddling with gadgets or setting up new PC rigs, he can be found hitting the dirt tracks on his mountain bike. Kelvin is currently studying mass communications at Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore. Email Kelvin.

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