Sennheiser Ambeo Smart Headset
RECORDING, RECORDING, BUT IS ANYONE LISTENING?
THE FIRST TIME you listen to a recording made by the Ambeo headset you’ll be startled by the small details. Sound travels and moves, clarity under the right circumstances is exceptional and the ambient noises that you don’t properly hear in your world are amplified. However, it’s a product that’s only compatible with iOS devices (for now) and is so limited in its function that it seems to answer a question nobody asked.
Sennheiser’s new headphones have twin directional microphones mounted in each earpiece, with the purpose of capturing what the front of the box euphemistically calls ‘3D video sound’. What that translates to is binaural stereo, the effect of hearing sound travel over and around your head and given real depth while recording video. This tester walked from the street filled with traffic, pedestrian crossing lights beeping, and then to the faint chatter of an office through the soft clunk of an elevator. All of this environmental noise moved around naturally on playback, although a gentle breeze roared more than it should’ve. The only way to capture this was through a video, and the effect of sound enveloping your senses is enhanced by watching the video. That file can then be replayed on any set of normal headphones — the binaural effect isn’t limited to the Ambeos.
While it’s a remarkable effect, it’s ultimately limited — and it’s also astronomically expensive. To use it, you’ll have to wear the (comfortable) earpieces and find a place to stash the large inline remote that houses volume, active noise cancellation and playback controls. Ultimately, we’re not sure how much merit we can apply to an idea that’s unlikely to find a home.