Apple’s removal of the headphone jack from the iPhone 7 was a truly divisive move. Some see it a company prescient about the longer-term industry trends while others label it a cash grab. No matter what it really is, consumers are left to figure out what to do next. With the Vinci smart headphones, the choice is pretty easy.
The Vinci over the ear headphone is an internet-connected pair of Hi-Fi cans embedded with an AI-powered personal assistant (ala Amazon’s Alexa) to help facilitate a wide array of functionality. Users can interact with Vinci using taps and swipes on either of its colorful screens on either side or by simply using voice. Musically, Vinci’s AI continually learns about user preferences to recommend new songs, fine tune old playlists, or add a soundtrack to a workout session based on heart rate and pace. No matter the situation, though, the Vinci produces high-quality, immersive 3D sound and pairs it with 28 db of intelligent active noise canceling that still lets in important sounds to keep users safe and aware.
And while the Vinci aims to shine musically, it also pairs with calendar and email accounts for useful reminders and notifications and works with mapping technology over 3G to make turn-by-turn navigation possible. With this wealth of data available to it, the Vinci is poised as an all-day companion for the movers and shakers of the tech world. The Vinci comes in two versions priced at $149 and $189 respectively, with the difference found in the more expensive Pro’s addition of larger storage, noise canceling and wireless charging capability. The Vinci Kickstarter campaign is looking to raise $50,000 by December 12th, 2016 to see its headphones shipped by March 2017.
The Vinci headphones are pretty impressive. Seemingly solid build quality coupled with a tight selection of connected features — all augmented by AI learning — makes this a pretty solid purchase for anyone looking for something a little different. The Vinci takes up the wireless audio challenge of the future and places its feet confidently in that realm. The only worrying thing? Its small 1500mAh battery, something that might get in the way of the truly all-day experience its touting.