By Kira Grunenberg

When it comes to products for audio playback and headsets, everyone has different preferences for what is both most effective in function and most comfortable for use. Even the most sophisticated studio headsets are no good if they become painful on a person’s ears after only 20 minutes.

The everyday consumer usually doesn’t go in search for these high end products though. Those who are busy multi-tasking their lives with kids, work, exercise… these activities are not like the environment of a stationary commute where there’s all the time in the world to look at one’s device. Max Virtual LLC, an independent audio/video tech company, has recently designed a discrete device that will be both functionally and comfortably ideal for those who have their hands full; making music and phone calls less of a distracting labor.

Currently up and active on indiegogo.com, Cynaps, the bluetooth, bone conduction headset in a hat, is the young company’s first major project. Bluetooth has been around for a while, so what is the big improvement about Cynaps? The difference being promoted by Max Virutal is a completely wireless experience that also removes hardware from the ears, “giving you back all of your senses,” as described in the campaign. The physical premise is quite ingenious. If one purchases a fully outfitted Cynaps hat, all that is required to do is sync the hat with your device and wear it to be able to hear music or calls. There are no wires and no ear pieces of any kind. Aptly named Cynaps, as a play on “synapse” –a type of connector in the human brain–  the hat is designed like an average baseball cap and delivers sound to the ear using vibrations against your bone, hence the full product name.

The package Max Virtual is offering seems quite reasonable given the time and research that was needed to make the Cynaps functional. Backing levels go from $15 for mini headlights and a regular hat, to $150 for a total backing package of all the products and accessories. Basic purchase of the tech needed to outfit any existing hat is only $50 and that includes three months of “warranty” coverage, lest anything breaks. Other rewards among the donations include USB battery backups, (the initial battery life of Cynaps is 6-10 hours depending on volume use) extension cables, longer warranty coverage and desktop vibration speakers for a little extra experimentation with sound.

The only physical interaction needed after putting on the hat is the gesture of a single or double touch on the controls under Cynaps’s hat bill. Playlist navigation, volume control and phone call receiver in a few flicks that are probably no different than when anyone has ever adjusted a hat while wearing it.

The most fascinating promotional aspect in the Cynaps campaign is the connection made to those who live with less hearing:

Bone conduction has been used for years in hearing aid technology. One very cool advantage of Cynaps is that many people who cannot hear well enough to talk on the phone now have a good chance of hearing clearly on a phone or being able to listen to some good music!  Check with your doctor to find out if Cynaps can help.

Cynaps might not be a major medical breakthrough but, if it works well for some and enhances or eases their everyday use of the phone or music listening experience, it is hard to see the downside in getting one. Even the aesthetic look of the caps can be overlooked because this tech is available for self-installation. Cynaps seems to take the lead in style and safety that doesn’t involve the compromise of one’s senses in a way not seen through major competition.

The Cynaps indiegogo campaign will run until February 2, 11:59PM and has a goal of $20,000.

Like the NewKube reported on earlier this week, Cynaps will also be showing at CES 2013 in Las Vegas.

See the Cynaps promo video below.

Kira is an old school music nerd with a love for all things creative; always searching for music’s common ground. She graduated with an M.A. in Performing Arts Administration from New York University. Drop her a tweet @shadowmelody1

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