ONBOARD TECHNOLOGY
is estimated that people submitted to this kind of sound for more than two hours on a regular basis start experiencing auditory fatigue and hearing loss. No wonder then, that the headphone business is booming in an industry where comfort and added value is everything. Industry trends differ depending on what airline or class the headphones are aimed at and are driven by practical concerns such as weight and passenger demands in response to trends on the ground. Linstol’s president, Ole Bek, cites commercial headsets as a future trend and challenge. “Already we are seeing more and more passengers using their own headset on board,” he says. “Many commercial headsets are designed to provide excellent sound for music but that doesn’t always provide the best sound for movies. The challenge for us is simple – to provide airlines with headsets that can compete.” The following is a selection of new or top-selling headphones that are currently on the market or coming soon:
Headphones N
oise in an airplane cabin can reach dangerous levels of up to 100 decibels that can cause significant passenger discomfort on extended flights. In fact, it
Laura Gelder rounds up the latest headphones hitting the travel industry and the technology trends that they are following
Avid The Rhode Island-based company introduced three new noise- cancelling headphones to the airline industry this June. Avid’s new NC-306, NC-308 and NC-311 headphones claim “ergonomically optimised” noise-cancelling technology and are equipped with microphones that send out waves to cancel incoming noise. “The headphones feature tilted ear cups and snug fit leatherette ear pads for reduced sound leakage and long-wear comfort,” says Florence A. Montégu, Avid's director of product marketing. The NC-306 is an over-the-ear headset while the NC-308 and 311 are around-the-ear models that provide passive noise blocking due to the perfect sealing around the ear. The NC-306 and NC-308 provide noise reduction of -15 dB while the NC-311 provides -20dB for a more premium experience. They also include an on/ off switch. Montégu adds: “All three of these new NC products can be designed to increase brand awareness and reinforce brand strategy, utilising airline-specific graphics on the headset and/or packaging.”
Bose This April, Bose introduced three new headphone sets which aim to balance style and substance. According to them, the FreeStyle earbuds, SoundTrue on-ear headphones and SoundTrue around-ear headphones were engineered to offer 'deep and clear audio, superior durability and comfort, and more colours and designs.' Funky colours like mint, indigo and purple are offered in addition to classic black and white
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