The Parrot Zik headphones, designed by Philippe Starck.The French technology company Parrot is known primarily for its hands-free systems for cars, but it has added to its lineup a pair of wireless headphones that blend design and comfort with some very clever features.
Designed by Philippe Starck, the $400 Parrot Zik is a luxurious combination of sleek chrome and soft, synthetic leather. But the design is not only visually appealing, it’s also smart.
For starters, the right ear cup has an integrated capacitive panel. So instead of fiddling with hard-to-reach buttons, you just touch the outside of the cup. A vertical finger swipe will increas or decrease the volume, and a horizontal swipe changes the track. A motion sensor detects when you’re wearing the headphones. Remove them, and the music pauses; slide them back on, and the music resumes. (These features can be a little quirky if you are simply adjusting the headphones for a better fit.)
The headphones integrate Bluetooth and NFC technologies, but also include a port for wired connectivity via a 35mm jack and a USB port for charging. The Zik also enables hands-free phone calls, thanks to microphones and jawbone sensors in the cups that focus on enhancing your voice while blocking other sounds.
But the best feature is the free EQ app for iOS and Android devices to accompany the Zik. The sound from the headphones is good, with an emphasis on the bass, but it can be tweaked with the app’s settings to provide better performance. The customizable equalizer includes seven settings like vocal, pop and club that open up a new world of listening. Adele takes heartbreak to new ! sonic heights with the vocal preset, whereas rock bands like Garbage sound punchier with the club setting, and the crystal preset was made for synth-heavy bands like Devo.
In addition to equalizer settings, the app has a spatializer feature called Parrot Concert Hall that mimics the acoustics in areas like a living room, jazz club or concert hall. The app also provides active noise cancellation for the headphones, a nice feature, but one that would be better if it were controlled by a tap to the headphones instead.
You can find better-sounding headphones at a cheaper price, but if you like to fine-tune your music, the Parrot Zik is hard to beat.
