Etymotic Research’s New hf2(TM) Premium iPhone(R) Headset Receives Two Best of Show Awards
The hf2 Wins Kudos From iLounge.com and iPhone Matters for Sound Quality and iPhone Compatibility. Etymotic Research Inc., the world leader in high-fidelity noise-isolating in-ear earphones, received two Best of Show awards for its recently introduced hf2(TM) premium iPhone(R) headset. The awards - from experts at iLounge.com and iPhone Matters - recognize superior products from among the thousands being introduced for iPhone and iPod(R) families.
“Awards from respected organizations such as iLounge.com and iPhone Matters are important because they validate all the hard work and research that goes into our products,” said Mead Killion, Ph.D., founder and president of Etymotic Research. “We are particularly pleased to receive these double Best of Show honors for our brand-new iPhone headset.”
The Etymotic hf2 high-fidelity, hands-free headset features a 3.5 mm stereo jack with a premium in-line microphone. When the headset is plugged into a device such as iPhone, the microphone works automatically. If the headset is plugged into a music player such as iPod, the microphone mutes automatically, sensing that it is not needed. As a result, users can talk and listen - to conversations as well as music - with greater accuracy, detail and noise isolation than previously possible with iPhone headsets, and without missing calls as they listen to music or surf the Web.
iPhone Matters Award Bestowed at Macworld Expo
In announcing its Macworld Best of Show awards, iPhone Matters had this to say:
“This year we went back and forth through the (show) floor to come up with 5 Best of Show for Macworld. We were specifically looking for products that were best of breed for iPhone users.
“The first award went to the always excellent Etymotic Research Inc. They have taken the great technology they use in their other earphones and made an iPhone specific product. The result is the easiest no-brainer replacement for the Apple earbuds that come with the iPhone. The jack works out of the box with the iPhone, and like the Apple earbuds it has a mic built into the cable. The mic also has a subtle music control button.
“The hf2 is worthy of iPhone Matters Best of Macworld 2008.”
iPhone Matters is known as “the first source on the web for the best blog about everything to do with Apple’s iPhone and includes a dedicated forum.” It is operated by the same group that runs Apple Matters and Macitt. For more information, please visit http://www.iphonematters.com.
iLounge.com Award Recognizes Etymotic’s Legacy of Quality
Before announcing its 2008 Best of Show awards, iLounge.com spent a month and a half judging submissions for products developed for iPod, iPhone and iTunes users. The iLounge.com awards highlight top upcoming hardware, accessories and software, focusing on innovative and breakthrough offerings at reasonable prices.
The iLounge.com awards listed “Etymotic Research’s hf2, a high-quality iPhone-ready mic and earphone set that blends the company’s awesome ER-4P earphones with a slightly better-than-Apple-quality microphone and a similar remote control button.”
iLounge expanded on its hf2 listing with the following commentary: “Etymotic makes great headphones - so great, in fact, that a small company made a business out of hacking together Etymotic’s least expensive ER-6i isolators with Apple’s iPhone Stereo Headset in an unsanctioned modification. Surprisingly, Etymotic rapidly came back with its own, superior alternative: hf2 ($180) blends the awesome, $330 ER-4P earphones with a slightly better-than-Apple-quality microphone and a similar remote control button. The new model is fully iPhone- and iPod-compatible, looks great, and sells at a very reasonable price given the sound quality of the ER-4Ps, which were long considered our reference standard for iPod in-canal phones.”
The Media LLC’s iLounge.com, with headquarters in Irvine, Calif., is described as the world’s leading resource for iPod, iPhone and iTunes information, not affiliated with or owned by Apple Computer or any other vendor of iPod accessories or services. Founded only days after Apple announced the first iPod in 2001, iLounge has exploded in popularity, today boasting millions of visitors and tens of millions of page views each month. For more information, please visit http://www.ilounge.com.
About Etymotic Research Inc.
Etymotic Research is the world leader in high-fidelity noise-isolating in-ear earphones. The company - whose name means “true to the ear” - designs, develops and manufactures products to measure, improve and protect hearing. For more than two decades, Chicago-based Etymotic Research has been creating products used by musicians and others who insist on superior sound quality. For more information, visit http://www.etymotic.com or call 888.389.6684.
Etymotic Research Inc. Gail Gudmundsen, Au.D., 001-847-228-0006 g_gudmundsen@etymotic.com or Martell Communications Lisa Figlioli, 001-203-625-0082 lfiglioli@martellpr.com
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