Wooden earbuds? Kind of. New earbuds from JVC Kenwood use African rosewood to produce what the company says are accurate-sounding vocals and music. The Wood Master wireless earbuds are set to debut in Japan this month under the Victor brand.
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According to the website, "original sound is faithfully reproduced across all frequency bands, achieving the beautiful and comfortable sound that the Victor brand aims for." The company uses a mix of rosewood and wood pulp for the diaphragm, a membrane within the earbud driver that vibrates to create sound.
The Bluetooth 6.0 earbuds feature noise canceling, spatial audio, and a playback time of 31.5 hours (including charging time with the case), and are rated IP55 for protection against rain and dust. You can charge their case wirelessly, and JVC Kenwood says there is a low-latency mode for gaming and video.
However, the most interesting feature may be what the company calls "self-repairing paint," which can eliminate minor scratches over time, much like the paint on some car models. They will be available in Sunburst Brown, featuring a guitar-like wood finish, or Piano Black, both of which include a picture of the iconic Victor dog, Nipper, and the inscription, "His Master's Voice."
There is no word yet on availability in the US, but the earbuds are set to launch for about $270 in Japan in November.