SMS Moves Closer To Wireless Bliss

Fifty feet. This is the maximum range you can expect from the SMS Sync by 50 Wireless Headphones. Most people will experience a little less, without any sizable degradation to sound quality. After about 30-35 feet, expect a few dropouts depending on where and how far away you are from the transmitter and depending on line of sight.

The sound quality is decent in comparison to similarly branded models, even if it is well under what audiophiles are listening for and don't have the booming bass associated with Beats Studio or Dr. Dre. What these do offer is a smoother response across the entire spectrum and two other considerations.

While SMS Sync by 50 has its share of shortcomings, the combination of wireless technology and durability makes them worth consideration. Having even one pair of wireless headphones you're not afraid to take out of the house can be a real plus. And the SMS Sync by 50 are also more comfortable (longer) than other headphones and almost ear buds.

SMS Sync by 50 is a solid wireless solution for headphones, mostly. 

The sound quality hinges on Kleer Technology, which is used in a number of wireless platforms that rely on low latency wireless distribution and deliver CD quality audio. The performance is notable because Kleer works in the 2.4 GHz range and can stream 44.1 kHZ, 16-bit audio with greater resistance to interference. (It is probably the only serious competitor to Bluetooth technology.)

Sure, the headphones still lean toward the highs and lows but not nearly as much. Overall, the sound quality is passable but not on par with headphones like Able Planet or Clear Harmony (which aren't wireless) or Sennheiser (which is the best wireless but not for rough and tumble usage). Even the  "THUMPP" bass boost only helps  moderate level (especially when it's cabled up). Expect more distortions at higher levels while using wireless.

There is another advantage to the Kleer Technology. Battery usage is minimal. A full charge can deliver uninterrupted performance for 17 hours (longer than most mobile devices). The 3.5mm tangle-free headphone cable, included among the accessories, allows them to work even without the charge.

Ironically, the cable adds functionality and more stable, distortion-free sound and includes a microphone, which will allow you to answer any incoming calls on your iPhone (or for gaming purposes). The same controls also adjust audio and skip tracks (forward or back).

Without the cable, the adjustments are all made on the ear cups. The left side includes sync or bass boost. The right side adjusts the volume and skips tracks. The track forward and reverse feature, however, only works when the headphones are connected via a USN or 30-pin transmitter. Go figure.

How the SMS Sync connects to almost everything.

The cable works with any 3.5mm audio source, including iPhones, iPods, iPads, tablet PCs, and some mobile devices, laptops, and gaming devices. Wireless works much the same way, but uses the 3.5mm dongle instead. Syncing is easy. It only takes a few seconds.

One of the better and more interesting features of SMS Sync by 50 is that you can sync up to four headphone sets to the dongle. This makes it passible for sharing music with a few friends or listening to the same playlist while working out.

Like the headphones, the dongle is charged using a USB port. While some people find it inconvenient that they have to charge them separately, it beats battery changes. And like any chargeable device, it's best to avoid charging them fully every 15 minutes or you'll notice significant battery draw over time.

I also suspect most owners will have a little more battery life if they turn off one of the most annoying features of SMS Sync by 50. The illuminated S symbol is annoying, especially when it blinks. For yourself and everyone around you, toggle the headset to airplane mode. (Don't confuse 'airplane mode' for noise cancelation. Sync by 50 has noise isolation, which means you'll hear less but still plenty.)

SMS Sync by 50 Clears The Bar At 2.8 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale. 

These aren't the best headphones in terms of sound quality, especially for the price. But where they do excel is delivering better-than-average wireless music from a model that is more durable, flexible, and least likely to break. (Trust me. You're not going outside with Sennheiser headphones.) In another year, given the progress SMS Audio has made on wired, its wireless will be even better, especially if it can clear up the sometimes muddy baselines.

You can find the wireless headphone (SMS Sync by 50) direct. The wireless model is priced at $400. The wired models (STREET by 50) range from $180 to $300. For people listening for sound quality over durability, check the Sennheiser RS 220 Headphones at Amazon. They retail for almost $200 more (Sennheiser does have other models), which makes the Able Planet models (wired) the best value.

Able Planet Headphones Have An Edge

The biggest holiday gifts this year were clearly Androids and iOS devices (iPads, iPhones, and iPods). More than 6.8 million devices (combined) were activated on Christmas Day, up from the 1.5 million activations a day during the rest of December. Apple alone saw 12 times the number of activations over the holiday weekend.

While it is almost impossible to guess how many of these activations are new devices or upgrades, one thing is for certain. Those little buds, as good as they are, tend to create ear fatigue over the long haul.

Headphones are a better choice for more comfort and clarity, especially for people who love music. And Able Planet is worth consideration.

Able Planet provides a richer, fuller sound.

Sure, there are dozens of headphone makers vying for attention. And many of them support celebrities or athletes like Ashely Fiolek, one of the toughest Motocross competitors out there. But when you narrow the field, there are only three names worth mentioning and one of those has the edge with music (it also makes gaming headphones).

Able Planet knows something about the way we hear music. Originally, it made hearing aids before headphones. But when it made the move to the mainstream, Able Planet brought its patented Linx Audio technology along too.

Linx Audio technology was specifically developed for people suffering from hearing loss, but you don't have to suffer to benefit from the tech. It focuses first and foremost on higher frequencies, which is usually the first range of hearing lost. Losing these frequencies is what causes certain letters or letter combinations to drop off or make music sound less lively and flat.

What Linx Audio does is add harmonics that open up higher frequencies, making music sound richer and fuller without having to increase the volume to drown out any white noise (which ear bud users usually do). The setback to drowning out background noise with volume, of course, is that it causes more distortion (and can eventually cause hearing loss). So Linx Audio enables you to turn it down.

Clear Harmony NC1000 is the company's premium headphones. 

While the retail price is steep at about $300, Clear Harmony is one of the better headphones on the market. The reason it sounds better is because it combines Audio Linx with advanced noise canceling technology (white noise, but not all noise).

It's this unique combination that makes them compete so well, along with other features like a detachable cord, in-line volume control, and a long battery life (it also takes two AA batteries that do not require a special charging unit).

Even better, if the batteries do run down, Able Planet headphones still function. While there is an impact to sound quality without noise reduction, most other headphones won't operate at all.

Two other names you are likely to hear while shopping for headphones. 

Sennheiser and Bose also make great headphones, but I still think the edge belongs to Able Planet. It comes down to specifics. Whereas the best Sennheiser models do compete or beat Able Planet in terms of frequency response and sound quality, Able Planet blocks out more white noise. And while Bose matches Able Planet on noise cancellation, Able Planet has better sound quality.

There is still that question of a higher price. So if price is important, it might be worth checking out the more stylish Extreme Foldable XNC230 (about $100), which comes in black and plaids.

It has many of the same features, but there are three noticeable differences. The construction is lighter, which is meant to add portability along with folding. The comfort is a noticeable compromise. And the battery is limited to one AAA (the company says about 50 hours of play time).

The Extreme does lose some sound quality when compared to the Clear Harmony, but not nearly as much as one would think. Considering the price and portability, the Extreme works well enough as an everyday workhorse or traveling companion. And, like all Able Planet headphones, the price includes two adaptors: one for airplanes and one for professional stereo equipment.

A few people might wonder why I didn't mention the recently-made popular Beats to the mix. To be honest, they really don't compare to any of the other three, except maybe in style. Even then, if style is your biggest concern, it might be better to find some earmuffs. They are more comfortable.

Clear Harmony Headphones Chime In At 6.8 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

When comparing consumer reviews or reviewers, you may notice some people giving higher marks to Sennheiser or Bose (or even Sony). That makes sense to me, but many of them miss the point.

Generally, reviewers compare headphones at the same levels of volume rather than optimal volume. I make the distinction here because Able Planet headphones sound better at a lower volume (as they were designed), well before any bass distortion. I will, however, concede to some audiophiles who don't appreciate the idea of adding harmonics via Audio Linx. So keep that in mind.

While the premium headphones generally list for about $300, you can find Clear Harmony NC1000 on Amazon for around $170 (the price fluctuates). There are other models are available for under $100, including the Extreme Foldable (about $70). Barnes & Noble carries Able Planet too, including a Sound Clarity mode bundled with an 8GB iPod Nano and the Extreme Foldable (about $100). Prices for Able Planet headphones from Buy.com start at around $60. Just pay careful attention to what model you order. Generally, the higher the number, the better the sound.