Philips' new on-ear headphones connect to your iPhone through the Lightning port

January 9, 2015

At CES 2015, Philips has unveiled a new set of on-ear headphones that connect to your iOS device through the Lightning port. The Fidelio NC1L feature 24-bit Digital to Analog Conversion, as well as amplification and noise cancellation, all done in the headphones themselves rather than on the phone.

The noise cancellation is active, and is calibrated to sound natural while making calls with the built-in microphone. The Fidelio NC1L headphones will be available in April, with an expected price of $299.

Press release:

Philips Fidelio world first: NC1L on-ear headphones with Active Noise Cancellation go battery-free with direct digital connection to your iOS device

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Philips Fidelio NC1L on-ear headphones are the first ever Active Noise Cancelling headphones to go battery-free with a direct digital connection to your iOS device via the Lightning™ connector. 24-bit Digital to Analog Conversion (DAC), amplification and noise cancellation take place in the headphones themselves, ensuring an immersive musical experience that enables you to hear every detail, just as the artist intended.

"The Philips Fidelio NC1L headphones combine advanced Active Noise Cancelling technology with all the advantages of a direct digital connection to your iOS device," said Wiebo Vaartjes, CEO of WOOX Innovations. "Following the launch of our first Lightning-enabled headphones, the Philips Fidelio M2L, we're proud to announce another world first. Now you can immerse yourself in authentic sound without distraction, no matter how long your journey."

Combining high-quality sound, sophisticated design and advanced technology, the headphones include three modes:

Active Noise Cancelling – for fully immersive noise cancellation Open-ear listening – lets in ambient noise so that you can hear what's going on around you when using the headphones Natural voice – a calibrated level of Active Noise Cancellation to enable a more natural and comfortable experience when making calls using the built-in mic The Philips Fidelio NC1L headphones use a hybrid Active Noise Cancellation approach, with four microphones detecting ambient noise before inverting the signal, effectively cancelling it out and converting background noise to silence. Two 'FeedBackward' microphones positioned next to the headphone drivers provide strong noise cancellation at low frequencies, whilst the two 'FeedForward' microphones positioned on the outside of the headphone extend the bandwidth of noise cancellation into the mid and high frequencies.

A full chain of audiophile-grade components – coupled with perfectly tuned high-bandwidth and high-precision neodymium drivers – ensures a truly exceptional sound experience on the go. Compact fully foldable and lightweight, the headphones' memory foam ear pads are designed to provide an ergonomic fit, great comfort and breathability – ensuring you can continue to enjoy the sound the headphones deliver, even over the long haul.

The announcement follows the September 2014 launch of the Philips Fidelio M2L headphones, the first Philips headphones – and one of the first on the market – to have a direct digital connection to your iOS device via the Lightning™ connector. The M2L headphones are now commercially available across Western Europe and will launch in North America in Spring.

The Philips Fidelio NC1L headphones will be available in North America in April with a suggested retail price of $299.

The NC1L will be on display at the Gibson Brands tent, Central Plaza One at the 2015 International CES.