A few years ago, Bose released its Sport Open Earbuds, which were among the first ear-hook style true wireless buds to feature an open design with micro speakers that fired sound into your ears. Those buds were discontinued last year, but now Bose is back with a completely new set of open earbuds. They’re called the Kith for Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, and they’re set to be released on Jan. 22 for $300 in “extremely limited quantities” as part of a design collaboration with the fashion and lifestyle brand Kith.
As CNET reports, according to Kith and Bose, this is Bose’s first lifestyle partnership and the first time a Bose product features a collaborative logo. What’s interesting about the buds is that they appear to have a clip-on design, or as Bose says, “The Ultra Open Earbuds have a light-as-air grip with a flexible joint for easy on and off, making for effortless all-day wear. They don’t block your ears but rather attach to the side, making them appear more like a fashion accessory than a traditional audio wearable.”
Bose continues, “Music and fashion beautifully coexist as two of the ultimate forms of self-expression. That’s why Bose, world-renowned for its audio, and Kith, a leading fashion and lifestyle brand, are joining forces to debut an all-new, limited-edition product — the Kith for Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. The new buds are a breakthrough audio wearable that look as good as they sound and allow you to enjoy your music uninterrupted while still hearing the world around you.”
“In one of my first meetings with Bose, I told them about how I have never been able to find earbuds that fit me. They then showed me the Ultra Open Earbuds, gave me a demo, and I fell in love,” said Ronnie Fieg, Founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Kith. “I truly believe Bose to be the best-in-class when it comes to sound, so having them be Kith’s official sound partner and bringing this product to market with them for the first time are important notches in our timeline.”
“This is our first partnership with a fashion brand, and we couldn’t imagine a better choice than Kith. With this product launch, we’re bringing together two passionate communities that inspire one another — music lovers and fashion trendsetters — to show them they don’t have to sacrifice exceptional sound for fashion,” said Jim Mollica, Chief Marketing Officer at Bose. “The Kith for Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are an incomparable, all-day wearable that elevate your style and let you immerse yourself in music while staying connected to what’s around you.”
The all-new Bose Ultra Open Earbuds feature an innovative cuff-shaped design with polished, soft edges and a stunning finish. They don’t block your ears but rather attach to the side, making them appear more like a fashion accessory than a traditional audio wearable. You can wear glasses, hats, or jewelry and they won’t interfere with your style. The earbuds provide comfort for all-day wear, without making you choose between immersive audio and awareness. The Kith for Bose Ultra Open Earbuds come in a sleek matte black colorway co-designed by the two brands, with each earbud showcasing a uniquely altered Kith logo in Bose’s iconic block lettering.
The partnership with Kith marks a new product strategy for Bose as it possibly tries to become a bit hipper and appeal to a new audience. I could personally do without the Kith branding and would prefer some different color options (for now, they only come in a “sleek black matte hue”), but the Ultra Open Earbuds should eventually come out in a standard version that perhaps will cost a little less.
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