Reclaim Your Peace and Tranquility in a Noisy World: Introducing Peacephones™ by Koss and Levenger

Many of us work in noisy, distracting environments—at airports, coffee shops, even our own offices with colleagues all around. It’s often a struggle to get enough peace and quiet just to think.

Fortunately, we can thank the Beats company, now owned by Apple, for making the wearing of over-the-ear headphones fashionable, or at least acceptable, even while walking in airports or sitting at desks. And fortunately for me, a few years ago Michael Koss asked me to join his board.

Hearing is believing

The Koss company, founded in 1958, invented the headphone industry. While the field  is now populated with giants, Koss still makes some of the finest professional-grade equipment available. During a break at one board meeting, I asked Michael what he would recommend as the best headphone to create peace and quiet while traveling. He thought for a moment and said, “Try our model for professional sound engineers.”

“But it’s not the sound quality I care so much about,” I said. “It’s the quiet.”

“I know, but first you’ll want the best sound isolation you can get, which is what these give you, with their D-shaped ear cups, and you want something comfortable, lightweight and foldable for travel.” 

‘But aren’t sound-canceling headphones better?’

That’s what I asked Michael, and was surprised by his answer.

“Sound-canceling ’phones, which we also make, are good for blocking out constant, droning types of noises, especially in the lower frequencies.” (That’s what makes them so good on long airplane trips.) “But they can’t counteract the variable, unpredictable sounds of human speech. For that, you want over-the-ear, passive sound isolation.”

And the special D-shape ear cups, he explained, are not only comfortable, they also minimize the volume of air inside the ear cup. That, along with the supersoft, conforming foam, produces something approaching recording-booth-like quiet, and also the comfort demanded by sound engineers who wear these babies all day.”

I was still looking doubtful. “Try ’em,” he said. “These are like a raincoat for sound.”

Peace and tranquility to go

So I did...and was blown away. Rather, I was whispered away—to a new land of peaceful productivity. The conversation in the row behind me, the PA announcing the airline’s latest credit card offer, the fussy baby somewhere, faded as if a block away. Before my plane touched down, I was hooked. Now I don’t leave home without them; it’s just so nice to be able to bring peace and tranquility with me wherever I go.

I told Michael he was right and that I was sold. Moreover, I felt pretty sure that Levenger customers—many of whom read and write on the go—would love these, too. So the teams at Koss and Levenger set about outfitting the ’phones and their pack case so that they’re optimized for peace-loving road warriors venturing forth in our cacophonous world. Their newest armour is now the Peacephones.

Add a pair to your Every Day Carry

 For peace and quiet, you don’t need a cord, so with Peacephones you don’t have to have one. Plug in only when you want to listen to music, a podcast or an audiobook. What’s more, Peacephones have two cord jacks, one on each ear cup, so the cord stays clear of your keyboarding or writing by hand.

And by the way, when you do listen to music, buckle up for a sound quality that will rock your Mozart; you’ll be listening the way audio professionals do. (That’s why the four of us who put the America the Bilingual podcast together, all use these, too.)

For the case, the Levenger team chose luxurious but durable full-grain black leather that matches the studio black of the Peacephones. And at only 6 x 9 x 2 inches, it tucks in most bags quite contentedly. Inside the case you’ll find a zip pocket that’s perfect for the extra cord (read on). And for heaven’s sake, slip a business card in there, too, so some Good Samaritan can return these to you. We designed this cuddly little leather calzone to earn a cherished position in your EDC.

An incentive to spread peace in the world

The Koss + Levenger product teams understand that in the real world, people have to take calls while in the middle of their peaceful productivity, so in addition to the studio coil cord, we include a cord with an onboard mic for making calls in new-found quiet.

Of all the tools Levenger sells for peaceful productivity, Peacephones have become one of the most valuable for me, and I think they just might become that for you once you slip on this raincoat for sound.

Comments

[thomas paciello]

Why no link to buy them?

[Margaret Moraskie]

An oversight on our part! We have updated the post and here is the link for your convenience.
https://www.levenger.com/tech-1262/tech-gadgets-22591/peacephones-by-koss-and-levenger-16692.aspx

[Brenda Shore]

Steve,

Interesting review; your honesty is appreciated with the note that you are a member of the Koss board. My husband ordered this product as a gift for me and honestly, this product is not worth the money if you truly want or need silence. As to sound booth quality of quiet, I would suggest that you go into a sound booth to discern the difference between one and the Peacephones. I am not usually negative in any response but found this product to not do what is intended. As to Levenger's participation, yes, the leather case is great, but please ask them to put something in the box that identifies the product and how to use it. The set I received did not have anything included except a small piece of paper with multiple language explanation of warranty. Are there no instructions or identification of the product available. Anyway, after reading your post I felt it was important for the readers to know that there is a least one opinion and experience that varies from your own.

[Steve]

Dear Brenda,

Many thanks for your thoughtful and honest review. I encourage you to write a review for everyone to see if you haven’t already.

You’re right that sound-booth quality is an exaggeration. I’m going to remove that. In truth, these kinds of passive sound-blocking headphones must be compromises in design. Just last week I had a long conversation with Michael Koss and Michael Koss, Jr. about whether we were providing the best compromise for our customers and how we could improve the PeacePhones.

You can go into Home Depot and buy ear protection devices that passively block more sound. Their downside is that they do this by clamping hard on your head, being bulky and heavy—not the kind of thing you’re going to want to wear around the house or when traveling. We also discussed alternative types of cushions, such as cushions made of fleece or softer cloths. These can indeed be more comfortable, but they allow more sound to come in. The special synthetic leather we use is the best compromise we can come up with yet for limiting sound, while still being super comfortable.

We are working on some more upgrades to the passive sound blocking quality of these phones, including different paints and plugging the unused cable port, among other things.

You’re also right about the lack of a sheet of instructions for the customer. Our mistake; we’ll fix it.

I do hope you’ll continue to try them for a while and I would value your further feedback. As I wrote, I can’t bear to travel on airplanes without them and frequently put them on at home, too.

Thank you for your business and your feedback,

Steve

Steve Leveen
Co-Founder
L E V E N G E R
420 South Congress Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33445
561-276-2436
SLeveen@Levenger.com
Skype: steve.leveen1