Nov 25, 2015 | By Benedict
New York based fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff has teamed up with high-end earphone manufacturer Normal to produce a limited run of custom-fit 3D printed earphones cast in 14K rose gold. Customers can get fitted for the 3D printed accessories at a handful of U.S. stores.
At the turn of the millennium, an iPod-crazy generation abandoned the cheap metal-and-sponge headphones of the ‘90s in favor of Apple’s iconic white earphones. Is there a more era-defining image of early ‘00s culture than those classic iPod commercials featuring a silhouetted figure, white earphones plugged in, dancing in front of a block color background? Unfortunately, despite the cultural significance of those iconic earphones, they were a practical nightmare to wear. Terrible sound, always falling out, audible to everyone within a five mile radius and painful on the ears, it was only a matter of time before the mp3 generation sought an upgrade. Towards the end of the ‘00s, brands like Beats by Dre, Skullcandy and a handful of others saw their opportunity, and started producing chunky, high-quality, high-comfort over-ear and on-ear headphones. Where five years earlier commuters had worn the familiar uniform of the thin white wire and eardrum-bruising pearls, they now sported brightly colored plastic arcs; headgear that a construction worker might have worn to obscure the sound of drilling.
Headphones seemed to provide everything that earphones couldn’t. Better sound quality; better fit; greater comfort; an up-to-date style… The earphone seemed all but extinct. But then along came 3D printing. Perhaps the single most infuriating feature of in-ear accessories was their tendency to fall out at inopportune moments. After all, how could Apple or any other electronics manufacturer produce a universal earbud to fit all ears of the world? They couldn’t and they didn’t, and anyone whose aural anatomy differed from the Apple standard was left jabbing their earphones aggressively into their head, hopelessly willing them to stay put. 3D printed earphones and earbuds completely eliminate this problem. A 3D scan can be taken of a wearer’s ears, and the resulting data can be used to 3D print a pair of buds to perfectly fit that unique pair of ears.
Normal is one of a few brands to specialize in this very modern procedure. For $199, Normal customers can get their own personalized, high quality 3D printed earphones, and the company has now teamed up with Rebecca Minkoff to offer a product of even greater luxury. The collaborative 3D printed buds are printed in resin, before being cast in14K rose gold, making them an audio accessory fit for the catwalk. The earphones are equipped with a microphone, and their custom fit makes them extremely comfortable and secure.
Customers can get fitted for a pair of the limited edition, 3D printed earphones at the New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco Rebecca Minkoff outlets, or at the Normal flagship store in New York. Customers at the latter location even get to see the 3D printing process take place—sure sounds good to us!
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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