AIAIAI PACKAGING BY MUGGIE RAMADANI

Doesn't go as far as a rebranding, but Danish audio design company AIAIAI have entrusted Muggie Ramadani to create new houses for their beautifully made headphones and earphones of modern and minimalist designs. And what a great result. The brand's image remains unchanged, which I reckon has been successful from the start, but it now looks smarter and somewhat simpler, taking attention to the enlarged playback icons over the smaller ones scattered across the box. It's very effective and stands the brand at a refined and further developed stage of their design and quality orientated concept. I'm still representing with my Tracks headphones every day, and haven't noticed too many others being sported around, but this new packaging will for sure attract more eyes to the excellent product it holds.

AIAIAI CAPITAL HEADPHONES

Continuing their work with the designers at KiBiSi, AIAIAI yesterday unveiled their new headphone range, Capital, also on display at the Agenda trade show today. Adding to the lightweight Tracks and quality TMA-1s, this new model is set to conquer the harsh usage in the urban environment, inspired by the large cities of the world. And for sure, I use my headphones most when I'm on the tube in rush hour or walking through the rain. The Capital has been made to handle just that, flexible and rugged, made with fibreglass-strengthened nylon and rubber. It promises to provide crisp, clear sounds, whilst protecting it from damage in the city conditions. Sounds exactly like what we typical citygoers have been in need of. Its colour range will be released soon, which I predict will involve vivid combinations from a striking palette. Sounds great.

MONSTER BEATS BY DR DRE COLOUR

I know you love them and you know I loathe them. Either way, it's a fact they're a popular choice of headphones and for the Holiday season, Monster Beats Studios will be available in six new pop colourways as part of their Colour Campaign. A smart introduction for an ever-growing product. Still hate it though.

MONSTER BEATS x FRAGMENT DESIGN

fragment's latest collaboration is with the ever-popular Monster Beats headphones by Dr. Dre. Featuring a white fragment logo on the side, Hiroshi Fujiwara has given the headphones some stripes, which I'm afraid just looks tacky. But then again, the headphones are tacky so I suppose it works. I do love the colourway though, a nice solid blue on grey, with the silver lining around the earpads adding some much needed sleekness. fragment design need to work on a pair of Bose I think, then we are properly talking sound and style.

AIAIAI x FOOL'S GOLD LIMITED EDITION

DJ A-Trak's music label Fool's Gold has launched their collaboration piece with AIAIAI. They've worked on one of my favourite sets of headphones around, the TMA-1, which has been growing in hype of late, and rightly so. The all matte black look has been refined and dashed with Fool's Gold colour through the slick yellow cable. Also with some added technical features, it's a great-looking piece of kit. The TMA-1 was designed with DJs and other professionals in the first place, so sound is assured to be amazing too. What's more, the item is limited to a worldwide number of 2000, and we love a bit of exclusivity.

MONSTER BEATS CHROME

Oh my.. Talk about impact.

Colorware have produced 50 units of this super limited edition set of Monster Beats. They use some next patented method of chroming up the product to give this scratch-proof metallic finish. Just can't really imagine having this around your neck on the streets though. At least not for long anyway!

And regarding the Beats itself, I've got a pair of Solo HDs but they're so so overrated and overpriced. I hear the original Beats are indeed better, but I had still expected them to be of top sound quality. Instead, the bass is so huge it doesn't sound like anything, and overall it just lacks any clarity. Also, I used to like its aesthetics but now I find it chunky and cheap. Waste of money really.

But this chrome is fucking ludicrous!