Jim Jamieson
Province
Korean company DigiFi claims its new technology called Kleer has similar capabilities to Bluetooth but superior sound and 10 times the battery life
What it is: Digifi Opera wireless headphones
Price: $98
Why you need it: You’re tired of being strangled by your MP3 player while working out at the gym or on a run.
Why you don’t: You’re happy to listen to the music on at the workout room and you don’t jog because you always seem to spill your drink.
Our rating:
T here is nothing new about wireless earphones for iPods and the other assorted ultra-portable digital music players commonly seen on the bus or at the gym.
The major change since these cool devices started appearing a few years ago is that the price points have come down to the $130-range — about half of what they used to be. They use the increasingly common Bluetooth wireless technology to get the job done.
But Korean company DigiFi is looking to add some momentum to a new technology called Kleer. It has similar capabilities to Bluetooth but claims superior sound and 10 times the battery life.
Called The Opera, the device is a pair of wraparound headphones with an ear bud on either side. All that’s needed is to plug the tiny Kleer wireless dongle into your iPod or other music player’s headphone jack and the earphones automatically link up and synchronize with the player.
The Opera is priced lower than much of the competition.
Digifi just launched the Opera headphones in Korea, but expects to have them available elsewhere in June. DigiFi is not first to come to market with this new Bluetooth competitor. Last fall, RCA offered its Jet Stream one-GB player that includes wireless earphones powered by Kleer technologies at an attractive price of about $130.
The Jet Stream got mixed reviews, however.
Opera, depending on how it’s received next month, could be the next step in market acceptance for Kleer.
© The Vancouver Province 2008
