Kenwood USA Heads In a New Direction, Launches New Headphones
Kenwood USA, famously known for its multimedia system and car audio components, have ventured into a new category of products. The company has officially entered the headphone market and had invited a few selected retailers in an enclosed meeting area at the CES this year to give a glimpse of the new product.
The company debuted with three sets of headphones- two in-ear and one over-the-ear models, namely KH-CR500, KH-SR800 and the KH-KR900. All the headphones are designed for specific purposes. The in-ear KH-CR500 headphones have an $80 (Rs 5,104) suggested retail and come with three sets of memory-foam ear cushions and three sets of silicone. The waterproof KH-SR800 sports headphones cost $120 (Rs 7,656) and are designed to be worn without interfering with glasses, the cord and clip snaking behind the neck. They come with silicone and open-type ear pieces, the latter allowing ambient noise to flow in for runners and bikers. Both in-ear models have 10mm drivers. The third model, KH-KR900, has an over-ear, fold-flat design with 40mm drivers and a $200 (Rs 12,760) price tag. The housings feature four ports that are each tuned to specific frequencies, which Kenwood called its “Quad Duct Engine.” A detachable, 4-foot flat cord is included.
Each headphone is fitted with neodymium driver units and can be used with any Apple or Android devices.
Dave Hoag, Vice President of Sales, said
These headphones are part of a significant shift in our product philosophy, but it’s not the beginning of that shift. We understand that these days, on-the-go entertainment doesn’t always start or end in the vehicle. That’s why we’ve put so much into creating a connected in-vehicle environment, to allow consumers to enjoy streaming music services and digital downloads with a quality audio experience. These new headphones represent a continuation of that effort: letting drivers enjoy high-quality Kenwood sound wherever they go.
For now, the devices are available only in specific retail stores in the US and its availability in India isn’t known as yet.
