Do you hear what I hear?

Research by JVC indicates that consumers' biggest problem with in-ear headphones is their tendency to fall out--so the electronics company came up with the HA-FX66 model that tackles the problem by using a soft silicon rubber air cushion for the earpiece body. It comes in three different sizes for the best possible fit; the headphone stays in place while remaining comfortable. The design provides superior isolation from background noise, allowing the user to get the most out of the unit's 8.5 mm neodymium driver. Noise caused by cord movement is minimized as well because of the headphone's friction noise reduction cord, vibration-proof structure. Available in blue, black, red, and white, the HA-FX66 Air Cushion ($29.99) allows consumers to pick a color that matches their mood and their outfit.

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Meanwhile, Shure Incorporated, Niles, Ill., has a headset designed for music lovers looking to upgrade the earphones included with their MP3 players--the compact SE110 Sound Isolating Headphones. Evolved from earphone technology, road-tested by pro musicians, and perfected by Shure engineers, the SE110 ($99.99) features a Balanced MicroSpeaker that delivers optimized audio for a rich, lifelike listening experience. Assorted sleeves and a modular cable provide quality comfort and customization. Moreover, sound-isolating sleeves block more than 90% of ambient noise, so interruptions from the outside world are minimized, enabling listeners to focus on ... well ... what they're listening to--the music!

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In other headphone news, studies have revealed the rise of Noise Induced Hearing Loss in baby boomers. As part of the early rock 'n' roll generation, boomers were the first demographic to grow up listening to loud music at concerts and on personal stereo systems. Hoping that history will not repeat itself, concerned parents might want to check out the Guardian Wired Headphones from Hamilton Electronics, a division of the New Jersey-based VCOM International Multimedia Corporation, serving the education, professional audio and video, and corporate markets. The Guardian ($39.95) has sound level monitor (SLM) technology--green and red LED lights that allow parents (particularly of kids ages three to 12) to monitor listening levels visually. Green indicates a safe volume while red shows when the sound exceeds 90 decibels (comparable to a motorcycle engine), thus alerting parents that the child may have a hearing problem or is at risk of sustaining irreversible damage to his or her ears. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association estimates that nearly 10,000,000 Americans--including 13% of schoolchildren--suffer from some degree of NIHL. If hearing loss goes undetected and untreated, children may endure delays in language development, social problems, and academic difficulties.

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For more information, visit www.hamiltonelectronics.com.

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning