Ashdown Engineering launches new Meters headphones at CES

Ashdown Engineering is a British audio firm best-known for constructing professional audio gear, together with the bass guitar amps utilized by artists akin to U2 and Foo Fighters. The corporate moved into private audio in 2021 with its Meters over-ear headphones in 2021 and is launching a raft of recent consumer-oriented merchandise at CES in 2022, together with its first in-ear headphones.

Meters Linx

The Ashdown Meters Linx ($175) are true wi-fi headphones that may be paired with a pair of desktop audio system, additionally known as Linx ($116). The headphones and audio system can be bought as a set (pictured above) for $289.

The Linx earbuds join through Bluetooth 5.0 and include a charging case that options Ashdown’s signature illuminated VU meter that responds in actual time to the music. The in-ear headphones characteristic Lithium-ion batteries and may play 6 hours on a cost with an extra 24 hours of charging energy from the case.

The Linx use a custom-designed balanced armature coupled with a 7mm dynamic driver. They use the identical Qualcomm aptX Adaptive codec because the Meters OVC-1-B-Join, Ashdown’s flagship over-ear Bluetooth headphone.

Contact controls on the left and proper earbuds permit the person to manage play/pause, quantity up/down and skip observe. An onboard movement sensor detects whether or not the earbuds are in use, serving to to protect battery life.

The Linx audio system join mechanically when the headphones are positioned of their case. The audio system have a variety of 10 meters (about 33 ft) and three hours of playback on a cost. Each the Linx in-ear headphones and audio system have an IPX5 waterproof ranking.

Meters Novu-M-Ear

Ashdown’s Meters Novu-M-Ear wired headphones ($29) make use of 10mm drivers rated at 32 Ohms inside their alloy enclosures. The corporate says they’re designed to emphasise bass with out sacrificing clear highs and detailed midrange. They arrive with a 1.2-meter (about 4 ft) tangle-free that options an adjustable leather-based clasp to maintain it from getting within the person’s manner. An in-line microphone with a press-to-talk button is supplied for answering and ending calls. There’s additionally a zippered arduous case for storage.

The producer can also be exhibiting three units of over-ear headphones at CES.

Meters OV-1-B-Join Professional

The Meters OV-1-B-Join Professional noise-cancelling headphones ($360) promise wi-fi 24-bit high-definition audio efficiency, because of Qualcomm’s aptX HD Bluetooth know-how.  Every earcup additionally options Ashdown’s signature working VU meters that reply to the music sign in actual time.

The headphones characteristic a 50mm dome driver and an impedance of 32 ohms. Sensitivity is rated at 94db/w/m. The Meters Join smartphone app options five-band parametric equalization so the listener can tune the expertise to the fashion of music and private preferences.

Battery life is 16 hours for listening and standby of twenty-two hours. The headphones include a protecting arduous case and a 1.5-meter cable with an in-line mic. The Meters OV-1-B-Join Professional can be found now in black or anthracite finishes.

Meters Novu-1

The Meters Novu-1 ($89) is a wired, closed-back headphone that Ashdown says is designed to take a beating in a pro-audio surroundings. They characteristic simply replaceable cables and ear pads.

The corporate touts the headphone’s correct sound replica in a studio surroundings. They characteristic 50mm drivers with an audio frequency bandwith of 16-20,000Hz and most energy enter of 200mW.

They arrive with a 3-meter removable cable with a 1/8-inch plug plus a 1/4-inch adapter. Photographs of Ashdown’s signature VU meters are printed on the facet of every earcup.

Meters OV-1-B Jamaica Soundsystem Artist Version

Lastly, Ashdown partnered with the report label Trojan Jamaica to create a {custom} Jamaica Soundsystem version of its closed-back OV-1-B headphone. Musicians Zak Starkey and Sharna “Sshh” Liguz are companions within the label, based in 2019 and now house to such traditional artists as Toots and the Maytals, Massive Youth, Freddie McGregor, and U-Roy.

The Jamaica Soundsystem headphones ($330) are a particular version restricted to a manufacturing run of simply 500 models. They incorporate all of the options from the usual Meters OV-1-B headphones. Every earcup has illuminated, working VU meters in-built. The Meters Join smartphone app permits customers to manage the colour and brightness of the meter illumination.

There’s a black-and-gold design for this version. Jamaica Soundsystem is printed on the left earcup and a Trojan Jamaica emblem subsequent to the headscarf. The suitable facet incorporates a Meters emblem.

The headphones embrace computerized noise cancelling and faucet buttons for controlling quantity, skipping tracks, and answering calls. They characteristic 16 hours of battery life. There are 40mm drivers, an impedance of 32 Ohm @ 1Khz and a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz.