Music plays a very important part in the gaming experience, but sadly a lot of a soundtrack’s strengths can be ultimately lost when playing portable titles, especially whilst travelling in a noisy environment. Therefore, when it comes to choosing the perfect type of earphones or headphones, a lot of thought and consideration has to be put into achieving the right balance between cost and quality. US company thinksound has just released its new line, the ts02+mic and is hoping it has provided the best all-round solution.
thinksound is a company that started with one primary goal: create headphones of the highest quality, yet the lowest eco-footprint. That is why this new product, the ts02+mic headphones are made with real wood, creating, in the words of the creators, “a more natural resonance and unparalleled acoustics.” The company is so conscious of the environment that even the packaging comes from bleach-free recycled cardboard, along with PVC-free cables, plus the wood comes from renewable sources. The aim was to eliminate much of the elaborate plastic packaging normally associated with headphones. How many companies can lay claim to that? Maybe one day even Nintendo systems will be housed in recycled containers! Who knows.
Anyway, eco-friendly talk aside, the ts02+mic is classed as a pair of headphones, when in all honesty they slot in your ears why ‘earphones’ was not used is unknown. The official term is “in-ear 8mm high-definition headphone” but, whatever the case, these little babies pack a strong punch once wedged into the inner ear!
They also come with a very useful cotton carry pouch to keep them safe and it is big enough to house an MP3 player, iPod or iPhone — sadly not a Nintendo 3DS or XL, though! Those wanting to use them for gaming on the go will get the most out of various games’ soundtracks, far more so than with cheaper earphones. There is nothing better than delving into something like Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask and soaking up the gorgeous tunes that add to the atmosphere considerably. The same goes for anyone still carrying their Nintendo DS systems around nowadays, with the symphonies of Pokémon Black Version 2 / White Version 2 sounding crisper than ever when heard through the silver/cherry or black/chocolate earphones (those being the two styles they can be bought in).
Anyone concerned about squeezing them into their ears and the damn things falling out every five seconds can rest easy since the ts02+mic comes with four different-sized silicon earbuds to ensure a comfortable fit and passive noise isolation. There is also the added bonus of an integrated microphone and call/music control for those using with any iPhone devices, an iPad or iPod, as well as the majority of BlackBerry models and other Smartphones.For those wanting to know some of the technical specifications and extra details of the thinksound ts02+mic, here are some official details:
- Wooden housing for crisp, accurate music reproduction
- Passive noise isolation minimises ambient sounds
- Ultra lightweight design with PVC-free, tangle-resistant cable
- Dynamic driver featuring 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response
- 3.5mm gold plated stereo plug for increased sound clarity
- Four sized flexible silicon ear inserts for secure fit (s/m/l/xl)
- Cord clip and cotton carrying pouch;[li]Sensitivity: 99 3 dB @ 1KHz 1mW
- Impedance: 16 ohms;[li]Driver size: acoustically enhanced 8mm driver
- Weight (approximate): 10g Ultra-lightweight design
- Sweat-resistant design, perfect for the gym
- One-year limited warranty.
