Share:
The sound is all around
These headphones feature 3D sound, so as you move, the audio reacts as if you were actually in the environment.
They're called Neoh, and are made by French company 3D Sound Labs. You don't need a virtual reality headset to experience the feature either. 3D Sound Labs claims it can produce immersive audio from any mobile device.
How is this possible? The company says it has virtualised multiple sound sources in the same way that multichannel film soundtracks give you a much more realistic listening experience. In other words, it's like you've strapped a 7.1 sound system to your head.
They also have their own head tracking sensor, just like a VR headset. As it detects movement, it tweaks the audio, so it's as if you were actually exploring a new environment. The audio processing is done via the app which connects over Bluetooth. The app uses advanced signal processing algorithms to determine where the different audio sources should be and position them correctly.
Without the app, they work as a normal pair of headphones. Despite packing gyroscopes, an accelerometer and magnetometer, they're not much bigger than a standard pair of studio cans.
They promise a battery life of at least 18 hours.
Read more: Best gaming headsets
We had a play with them at CES – you can read our initial report here.
They have enormous potential for gaming, as you would be able to hear where your enemy is shooting from, but would also make films and TV shows more immersive.
If you're quick, you can nab a pair for $199 (£131) on Kickstarter. They've raised over $36,000 of an $80,000 goal and still have 27 days to go.