Earphones can be a lot more convenient to wear than headphones, especially when on the move. But they do have their own set of problems. They can become uncomfortable sitting in your ear with extended use, they can cause your ears to heat up and sweat, and they tend to block ambient sounds and usually need to be removed to have a conversation.
According to Nikkei Technology, Japanese company Ambie aims to fix all of those problems with its new Ambie Sound Earcuffs. They are earphones, but they don't sit directly over and inside your ear canal.
Instead, the Earcuffs wrap snugly around the edge of your auricula (the exterior part of our ears) with the sound directed in to the ear canal, but without coming into direct contact with it. Sound leakage is at the same level as a standard set of earphones.
This new design uses a dome type 9mm dynamic driver unit and makes it possible to hear as normal while also listening to music or chatting with someone. The Earcuffs incorporate a microphone and remote control on the cable to allow for hands-free calls. They only weigh 5.2 grams meaning you'll probably forget you're wearing them.
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Ambie is actually a joint venture in Japan started by US venture capital company WiL and Sony Video & Sound Products. That suggests if the Earcuffs prove popular we could see Sony-branded versions appearing.
The Ambie Sound Earcuffs cost around $48 per pair and are available in six colors (gray, green, orange, blue, brown, and white). They've been on sale since February 9 in Japan and promptly sold out. The design suggests that adding a small battery and producing a wireless version is possible, but for now only wired versions are available (on back order). Hopefully they make their way to the US and Europe this year.