libratone puts speakers on top of sports headphones UP for wireless, open ear listening

Libratone’s open ear sports headphones at DESIGNART tokyo 2024

During DESIGNART Tokyo 2024, Libratone brings UP, its open ear sports headphones that have ample-sized speakers on top instead of on the side. There are no buds to push into the canal as the sports headphones’ speakers lie just outside the ears. Users may also use them as an accessory for their fashion style since the pastel colors, which range from purple and yellow to green, can add to the playful clothing flair of the wearers. The 15mm-large speakers come with UPPER BASS technology that the brand has developed.

It allows for a low-distortion sound even at high volumes, so the users can still blast the sound levels without causing ear irritation. Libratone also employs the use of AI to improve the speech technology of their open ear sports headphones. In this way, users who jog, run, or simply speed away while needing to talk to someone hands-free can still clearly speak and hear what the caller is telling them. They can also connect the headphones to up to five devices. The device is dust and splashproof, and it can last for up to eight hours of continuous playing. It weighs 23.5 grams, making it lightweight, and fits around heads like a snug headband.

the recyclable packaging is seemingly oblong-shaped and paper-like | all images courtesy of Libratone

UP headphones and other devices at cafe-style community space

The open ear style of the sports headphones UP may as well deserve an open-air presentation. In fact, that’s how it is during DESIGNART Tokyo 2024, when Libratone joins dotcom space Tokyo in a shared space to present their headphones. Out in the open, the cafe style community hub of dotcom space is positioned in a garden-like setting where the open ear device is in attendance together with the products of XEO and DYNAUDIO. In this shared space, Libratone also hangs the oblong-shaped and paper-like, recyclable packaging of UP on a wooden frame.

Roaming around, visitors then see XEO POD, a seat equipped with an immersive sound system and 20 high-quality speakers designed for various uses, including gaming and movie streaming. They also fin DYNAUDIO’s The Bookshelf speaker in collaboration with Keiji Ashizawa Design and Karimoku, as well as Ishinomaki Laboratory’s furniture. The latter is presented in two forms. The ‘Maker Pack’ displays flat-pack furniture, while the other, The Originals, demonstrates traditional handcraftsmanship and solid wood from the factory. Visitors to DESIGNART Tokyo 2024 have time to see all of these in dotcom space Tokyo’s cafe hub until October 27th, 2024.

Libratone also employs the use of AI to improve the speech technology