better living | technology

GREAT SOUND IN VIEW

BY REDMOND CAROLIPIO

EVERY DAY, we see all kinds of sharply dressed and edgy-looking men and women listening to MP3 players while effortlessly gliding through the day. That is, until the earphone cords catch on something and the listener is yanked out of a blissful musical existence.

That’s where the Split THUMP series from Oakley comes in. If you’re into sunglasses, then you probably know the Oakley name. What sets Split THUMP sunglasses apart is that they also function as a music player, with the earphones built right into the frame.

The concept is freedom of movement without the worry of cords getting in the way. Sounds cool, but does it really work? The sunglasses I checked out were thick, black-rimmed and imposing. When I put them on, I looked like either someone from “The Matrix” or a futuristic member of the Secret Service. Not the best look for me.

My main concern was functionality and music. I used a USB cable to charge the sunglasses for about an hour. Then I used the cable to hook it up to my computer at home, a Mac laptop with iTunes.

Getting songs into the sunglasses was relatively seamless. I was able to simply drag-and-drop music files into the onscreen window. Songs were arranged in the order I loaded them.

Then came the field test. It took me a while to find the ideal comfort level for the earbuds in the sunglasses. They are fully articulated, so once you find that ideal “snug” zone, you’re good ... that is, until you take them off and have to do it all over again.

The music quality was excellent and the earbuds managed to stay lodged in my ears.

The Oakley logos on the sides of the sunglasses function as the controls for volume and track selection. It’s a cooler alternative than just buttons with arrows and icons on them. It was a little disorienting at times randomly pushing on my temples for a different song and slightly jiggling the position of the glasses.

They’re light, so it’s possible to almost forget they’re there if you leave them alone. Then you decide the volume is too high, and you have to end up readjusting everything. Again.

Like a lot of gadgets, you can probably integrate Split THUMP sunglasses into your stylish, everyday life with a little time. Just know that it’s not quite as “get-up-and-go” as you might expect.

Split THUMP sunglasses
$249-$399
www.oakley.com

- PHOTO BY THOMAS R. CORDOVA