Victor Company of Japan Ltd will launch the HP-FX500, inner ear headphones using wooden diaphragms, in early Feb 2008.
The company started the mass-production and sales of stationary speaker unit using wooden diaphragms in 2003. The latest headphone was developed utilizing the techniques used in the speaker unit. As of Dec 26, 2007 (date of announcement), it is the world's first commercial headphone with wooden diaphragms, the company said.
Explaining about the adoption of "wood dome diaphragm" manufactured by thinning a birch material into a dome shape, the company said that "it can quickly transmit sound and appropriately absorb excessive vibration." The housing, also made of wood, enables users to "enjoy a natural acoustic environment and reverberations of sound," the company said.
The headphone features a playback frequency zone of 8-25,000Hz, output sound pressure level of 100dB/mW and maximum permissible input of 200mW.
Although there is no manufacturer's suggested retail price, the initial retail price is expected to be about ¥15,000. According to Victor, headphone sales slightly increased from last year along with the spread of portable music players incorporating flash memory, etc.
"Users who are unsatisfied with the headphones that come with their player often buy replacement headphones even if they are rather expensive," a Victor PR said.
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