Gadgets are getting smaller all the time. A new pair of headphones has hit Indiegogo claiming to be the smallest ever incorporating its own amp and digital to analogue converter (DAC).
It’s called Z:ero, and despite the irritatingly-spelled name has garnered plenty of interest from backers. It’s raised more than twice its $20,000 funding goal, and still has 35 days left in the campaign.
The makers claim to have packed all the sonic goodness from a bulky external USB DAC into a tiny printed circuit board that fits into Z:ero’s control box. The control box also houses buttons for volume control, and to pause and resume playback.
The headphones don’t plug into the headphone port of your phone, but rather the mini-USB port. Which means it won’t work with an iPhone.
Inside, neodymium magnets give high sensitivity sound pressure levels in the 110-120dB range. The makers claim this translates to quicker response time and more vibrant-sounding audio.
Read more: Best USB headphone amps
Of course, we can’t verify these claims without having reviewed the product. Your tunes will only ever sound as good as the quality of audio files on your devices too, so go for higher resolution ones where possible.
There’s no word on how much they’ll cost when funded, but they’re being offered at a discounted rate of $25 for backers and should ship in April.
Here’s a video explaining more.
(YouTube)i44Sn1KrSD0(/YouTube)
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
