They might look like your typical pair of earrings, complete with pearls – rather large ones – but they’re more than just jewelry: they’re actually ultra-discreet headphones. The H1 Audio clip-on or stud earrings from Nova Audio feature two speakers behind each pearl (which are real, by the way) that use directional sound to send sound up and into your ears.
Nova says this technology adds a “layer of sound” to your surroundings, allowing you to hear what’s going on around you while you enjoy the audio, similar to Sony’s open-back LinkBud headphones ( their review ) or bone conduction headphones from Doposhokz . That means they don’t have noise-canceling capabilities, which can be useful for athletes who want to be aware of their surroundings, as well as anyone else who doesn’t want to tune out the whole thing .
Even though the speakers are out of your ear, Nova says their directional sound technology helps keep other people from hearing what you’re listening to. The earbuds offer up to 3.5 hours of music playback or 2.5 hours of talk time using four built-in microphones. The included charging case looks like a sleek earring case and provides up to three full charges, for a total of about 14 hours of listening time. The Nova H1 Audio earrings also have a built-in button that lets you control audio playback and phone calls. Additionally, the earrings weigh about 7.7g each, which is a bit heavy if you’re not used to wearing jewelry on your earlobes.
However, Nova H1 Audio earbuds can be an interesting option, especially if you’re looking for an all-in-one audio and style solution. Nova isn’t the only brand that’s tried to merge headphones and fashion. Planet Beyond has come up with a cute pair of shell-shaped earbuds that you can accessorize with, and there are even earrings that stylishly clip onto your AirPods.
The Nova H1 Audio earrings are available in gold and silver, priced at ~$753 and ~$645, respectively. While currently only available in Europe, Nova says they will be available in the US and Japan early this year.
