On Wednesday, Samsung Mobile launched a premium family of audio products called Samsung Level. It includes three headphones – Level Over, Level On, and Level In -- and one Bluetooth speaker called Level Box. All four devices work with smartphones and tablets, and are designed to be highly portable and very stylish.
The $349.99 Level Over is an over-the-ear Bluetooth headphone that includes Active Noise Cancellation, using four microphones on the inside and outside to cancel external sounds. The headphone also uses technology that prevents resonance between the vibration plate and the frame. Smart Control Technology mounted on the side of the headphone allows the user to control volume, navigate tracks, pause or stop music, answer or end a call.
The $179.99 Level On model is an on-ear wired headphone featuring soft polyurethane cushioning and a foldable ergonomic design. Rather use the in-ear option? That’s the $149.99 Level In headphone that includes a three-way speaker system to control deep bass, mid-range and treble.
Finally the $169.99 Level Box is a premium, compact Bluetooth speaker that streams high quality audio from any Bluetooth compatible device. The overall design isn’t just for looks: Samsung reports that the form factor provides noise reduction and echo cancellation. A built-in rechargeable battery offers up to 15 hours of continuous playback.
"One touch Near-Field Communications (NFC) or the dedicated Bluetooth pairing button provides effortless synching," according to the Samsung press release. "Control buttons make it easy to adjust volume or play/pause music, and a high-quality HD built-in microphone makes it a great device for phone or conference calls."
As a price comparison, Beats Audio provides the Studio Wireless for $379.95, which seems to be a direct competitor to Samsung’s Level Over headphone. The Beats Audio Solo HD sells for $169.95, making it $10 cheaper than the Level On. The Beats Audio Tour costs $149.99, which is the same price as the Level In headphone. And then we have the Beats Audio Beats Pill, which is probably the Level Box’s closest rival, costing $199.95, slightly higher than the Samsung device.
Starting Thursday, this family of products will be a Gilt.com exclusive. The new line will then be available on Amazon.com on July 20, Samsung.com on July 21, and select Samsung Experience Shops at Best Buy stores on July 27.
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