Announced earlier in February, Pioneer's Rayz Plus Lightning earphones allow Apple users to simultaneously listen to music or make a phone call while also charging their iPhone, thanks to the inclusion of an inline charging node. Today, the company announced a new feature called "Smart Mute" coming to the earphones as well as two new Rayz Plus colors launching exclusively on Apple.com and in Apple retail stores.

Rayz Plus and the basic Rayz earphones (the latter do not include an inline Lightning port) are both getting the new Smart Mute ability, which automatically mutes the microphone when a user is not speaking and unmutes it when they begin talking. Pioneer said that this will be perfect for any Rayz wearers who often find themselves taking calls on the earphones in noisy environments.

pioneer rayz update
The update will be available through the Rayz app on the iOS App Store [Direct Link]. Pioneer worked with Avnera Corporation in developing Smart Mute, and Avnera CEO Manpreet Khaira said that it is "one of several smart technologies" being developed by the company.

"Rayz appcessories were launched with a commitment to deliver new compelling experiences for our customers through future software updates using the Rayz companion iOS app" said Munenori Otsuki, CEO of Pioneer and Onkyo Corporation. "In keeping with this commitment, we are pleased to announce Smart Mute today, a feature that will enable truly compelling call experiences."

Customers are also now able to buy Rayz Plus earphones in new Black and Rose Gold color options only on Apple.com and in Apple retail locations around the world. Currently, the Rayz earphones are available in Onyx Black and Ice White, while the Rayz Plus are available in Graphite and Bronze.

Existing features of the Rayz and Rayz Plus earphones include AutoPause technology so music starts and stops automatically when the buds are placed in or removed from the user's ear, HearThru noise cancelling, Smart Button controls, and dynamic audio adjustment via the iOS app.

The pricing on the earphones remains unchanged, with the Rayz available for $99.95 and the Rayz Plus available for $149.95. Those interested can purchase Rayz Plus in Black and Rose Gold exclusively on Apple.com beginning today.

Top Rated Comments

moxxham Avatar
98 months ago
After having AirPods since launch, the look and thought of wired earphones just seems so dated now. People think AirPods look strange, but after so long with them, seeing people connected to their phones with wires just looks strange to me now haha.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
one more Avatar
98 months ago
After having AirPods since launch, the look and thought of wired earphones just seems so dated now. People think AirPods look strange, but after so long with them, seeing people connected to their phones with wires just looks strange to me now haha.
While being convenient, the sound quality of AirPods is not rated high, that's why some people might still choose the wired gear:

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-true-wireless-headphones/
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleRobert Avatar
97 months ago
Picked this up in an Apple Store yesterday on a whim.

All I have done so far is installed the app and calibrated the earphones. I did not go any further with the app and earbuds for their functionality BECUASE I cannot stop listening to my music.

Run don’t walk if you are in the least bit interested, they are returnable so no risk.

I have the AirPods, they sound nothing like the Pioneer trust me. And the AirPods offer zero isolation and noise reduction. And the Pioneer go much louder.

I also have the Beats X, I like the sound quality of those BUT grow tired of the wiring around the neck and they also aren’t noise cancelling.

Back to the music. Viola.
[doublepost=1499442392][/doublepost]
I like what they're doing but at these price points why would you not just get beats X? :(
Read above, that’s why. And they have a wire so they aren’t completely wireless anyway.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Munch Avatar
98 months ago
I just wish there was a "dumb" mute button on headphones. It's incredibly difficult using the Apple supplied headphones on a conference call. On a locked screen it takes time to unlock, unmute on the screen and start talking. A typical work conference call is:

- Someone asks a question
- Dead silence
- Someone else starts talking
- An interruption with someone saying, "sorry I was trying to get off mute"
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
v0lume4 Avatar
98 months ago
While being convenient, the sound quality of AirPods is not rated high, that's why some people might still choose the wired gear:

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-true-wireless-headphones/
No doubt it. I listened to AirPods at the Apple Store and was floored by the technology ("It just works," Apple style), yet the sound quality was only "good enough." And to be fair, I think that's the point.

I've just been too spoiled by my Audio Technica ATH-M50 cans. Once you know, you know. ;)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nikicampos Avatar
98 months ago
After having AirPods since launch, the look and thought of wired earphones just seems so dated now. People think AirPods look strange, but after so long with them, seeing people connected to their phones with wires just looks strange to me now haha.
I'm with you on that one, bought a pair of Plantronics Backbeat Fit about 3 years ago, they broke and a year ago bought the PowerBeats 2, its been 3 years now and never went back to connect a pair of earphones.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

20 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2

Monday December 16, 2024 8:55 am PST by
Apple released iOS 18.2 in the second week of December, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. Apple has added a handful of new non-AI related feature controls as...
iphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Drops Plans for iPhone Hardware Subscription Service

Wednesday December 18, 2024 11:39 am PST by
Apple is no longer planning to launch a hardware subscription service that would let customers "subscribe" to get a new iPhone each year, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman first shared rumors about Apple's work on a hardware subscription service back in 2022, and at the time, he said that Apple wanted to develop a simple system that would allow customers to pay a monthly fee to gain...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Rumored to Stick With 'Triangular' Camera Design

Wednesday December 18, 2024 2:36 am PST by
Contrary to recent reports, the iPhone 17 Pro will not feature a horizontal camera layout, according to the leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post on Weibo, the leaker said that a source has confirmed that while the appearance of the back of the iPhone 17 Pro has indeed changed, the layout of the three cameras is "still triangular," rather than the "horizontal bar spread on the...
elevation lab airtag battery

Your AirTag's Battery Will Last for Up to 10 Years With Elevation Lab's New TimeCapsule Enclosure

Wednesday December 18, 2024 10:05 am PST by
Elevation Lab today announced the launch of TimeCapsule, an innovative and simple solution for increasing the battery life of Apple's AirTag. Priced at $20, TimeCapsule is an AirTag enclosure that houses two AA batteries that offer 14x more battery capacity than the CR2032 battery that the AirTag runs on. It works by attaching the AirTag's upper housing to the built-in custom contact in the...
apple tv 4k yellow bg feature

New Apple TV Rumored to Launch Next Year With These Features

Tuesday December 17, 2024 9:02 am PST by
The current Apple TV 4K was released more than two years ago, so the streaming device is becoming due for a hardware upgrade soon. Fortunately, it was recently rumored that a new Apple TV will launch at some point next year. Below, we recap rumors about the next-generation Apple TV. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last week reported that Apple has been working on its own combined Wi-Fi and...
blackmagic vision pro

Blackmagic Debuts $30K 3D Camera for Capturing Video for Vision Pro

Monday December 16, 2024 4:17 pm PST by
Blackmagic today announced that its URSA Cine Immersive camera is now available for pre-order, with deliveries set to start late in the first quarter of 2025. Blackmagic says that this is the world's first commercial camera system designed to capture 3D content for the Vision Pro. The URSA Cine Immersive camera was first introduced in June, but it has not been available for purchase until...
mac pro creativity

Apple Launched the Controversial 'Trashcan' Mac Pro 11 Years Ago Today

Thursday December 19, 2024 7:00 pm PST by
Apple launched the controversial "trashcan" Mac Pro eleven years ago today, introducing one of its most criticized designs that persisted through a period of widespread discontentment with the Mac lineup. The redesign took the Mac Pro in an entirely new direction, spearheaded by a polished aluminum cylindrical design that became unofficially dubbed the "trashcan" in the Mac community. All of ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature

'iPhone 17 Air' With 'Major' Design Changes and 19-Inch MacBook Detailed in New Report

Sunday December 15, 2024 9:47 am PST by
Apple is planning a series of "major design" and "format changes" for iPhones over the next few years, according to The Wall Street Journal's Aaron Tilley and Yang Jie. The paywalled report published today corroborated the widely-rumored "iPhone 17 Air" with an "ultrathin" design that is thinner than current iPhone models. The report did not mention a specific measurement, but previous...