Blue Microphones' Mo-Fi Headphones Bake In The Amp

If you want the best in personal audio, so the standard thinking goes, you need a standalone headphone amplifier, but Blue Microphones is hoping to change all that with its first set of consumer headphones. Mo-Fi may look like a typical set of over-the-ear headphones, but inside there's what Blue describes as an audiophile-grade amplifier and the rechargeable battery to power it, hooked up to 50mm hi-fi drivers.

The amp itself musters 240mW with a THD+N of 0.004-percent and a 10Hz to 20kHz frequency response. SNR is under 105 dB and noise under 20 uV, and it's all powered by a 1,020 mAh battery.

That battery is good for 12-15 hours of playback, and recharged via a regular microUSB connection. Mo-Fi spots when the headphones have been taken off, too, and shuts the amp down to save power.

Even if the battery is flat, however, you can still go on listening in passive mode. Mo-Fi has three settings – On, On+, and Off – which control the degree of amplification. "On" is the normal mode, with the amp in play, while "Off" turns Mo-Fi into a set of passive cans, handy if you're hooking them up to an existing amp.

Finally, there's "On+", which boosts the low-frequencies for heavier bass.

The headband, meanwhile, has a pressure dial to control how tight it sits, while the floating earcups are said to be more comfortable over extended wear. Altogether, they weigh 16.44 oz; Blue throws a 1.2m cable with in-line iPhone controls in the box, as well as a standard 3m cable, and a USB charging cable, along with a case.

The Blue Microphones Mo-Fi headphones are on sale now in the US, priced at $349.99, and will be launching in the UK "soon" for £279.99.