All-rounder gadgets are a dying breed. Even though the latest-generation gadgets pretend to do many things, they don’t always do them well enough to be entirely useful. Now, with the summer upon us, you may want to spend some lazy afternoons playing video games or listening to music. We tried out the Sennheiser RS headphones and the Tyler X-Rocker chair for just those moments.
Sennheiser RS headphones
RS 165 headphone: Rs.15,990
RS 175: Rs.19,990
RS 185: Rs.27,990
RS 195: Rs.31,990
These are headphones with a difference. While most earphones and headphones are designed to be used with a smartphone or a tablet for playing music, the RS headphones are actually meant to be plugged into a TV, media player or gaming console.
There are two components in this set-up, the base station and the headphone itself. There are two ways of connecting to the former, via the 3.5mm audio cable or optical audio—useful for hooking up smartphones, tablets and MP3 players. The latter is the real value-addition though, because you can directly hook it up to a set-top box, TV or gaming console and enjoy a match or movie, or play a game, without disturbing others.
For the wireless connection between the base station and the headphone, Sennheiser is using PurePath Wireless technology. This technology, developed by Texas Instruments, enables multi-channel streaming of high-resolution audio signals without any compression or loss of signal. The transmitter operates on the common 2.4 GHz band. Your Wi-Fi router, cordless phone and baby monitor also work on the same frequency. The wireless headphones are powered by two AAA Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries, and the ones Sennheiser bundles are the rechargeable variety.
Among the four variants available, the RS 165 has a maximum range of 30m, whereas the RS 175, RS 185 and RS 195 can be used up to 100m from the transmitter. This is the theoretical maximum range; actual performance is dictated, of course, by the layout of your home and the thickness of the walls. But considering that you’ll be in the same room as the TV, range should not be a problem. Range and connectivity are perfectly okay in small and big rooms alike.
The RS 165 are big over-the-ear circumaural headphones, which handle vocals extremely well; the optional bass boost adds a bit more to the experience when you need it. The RS 175 allows users to switch between virtual surround sound and switchable dynamic bass—the former could be better for gaming, the latter for music. The RS 185 includes controls to even out any differences in volume, very useful to protect against sudden volume spikes while flipping TV channels or playing a game.
The RS 195, the flagship model, comes with dedicated audio equalizer presets and noise suppression to improve the quality of the spoken word—something that is very useful across all the content being consumed.
Tyler X-Rocker chair
Rs.12,999
It is very easy to develop muscle and bone problems owing to a bad sitting posture. And if you spend hours on end playing video games or watching movies, the risk is greater. X-Rocker products are popular globally because they are designed to reduce stress on the spine. The Tyler also has a full-fledged music system built in.
The design is inspired by a racing-car seat—the backrest has an air-space headrest for ventilation. The curve is angled in accordance with the way you position yourself while seated in a chair—most of us tend to slide forward on a chair’s base, increasing the gap between the waist and the backrest, and then recline. The curve provides consistent support for the upper and lower back. There is also adequate padding and lumbar support, and it works well irrespective of a person’s height. The material used is good-quality leatherette.
The Tyler integrates a 2.1 channel audio system—two satellite speakers (2 watts each) and one subwoofer (4.5 watts) built in. The speakers sit just above the shoulders, facing outward in either direction. The subwoofer sits lower down, and you can feel the comforting bass vibration on the lower back and hips.
The Tyler needs to be connected to a power socket because there is no built-in battery. Apart from the RCA and 3.5mm jack, there is Bluetooth as well, for newer phones, laptops and tablets. If you plan to buy more than one Tyler, they can be hooked up together to play the same music too, for an enhanced and powerful stereo effect.
The audio is surprisingly crisp. At around 50% volume level, the two speakers and subwoofer are quite loud—always keep in mind the proximity of the speakers to your ears before pumping up the volume. The vocals are handled well, without sounding sharp or unnaturally enhanced. There isn’t a lot of detailing from these small speakers, but the low and high frequencies make up for the subdued mid-range. Push the volume higher than 60%, and the distortion in speech becomes noticeable. This lounge chair also has a headphone jack.
The Tyler X-Rocker, comfortable to sit in and meant for personal listening at moderate volumes, is available only on Urbanladder.com. It’s perfect for watching TV, gaming on your console or iPad, and for a leisurely afternoon spent reading a book.
