Category: #Reviews

Tech Review – Tronsmart Apollo Air ANC earbuds #Tronsmart #ApolloAir #Tech

Tronsmart have sent us some of their latest tech and the first in is the Apollo air which we have been testing out the past while and these are an excellent pair of earbuds to own. They do have another version of these but we will come back to them at a later date. The Apollo Air will run you around 60 euro which is not bad and the sound quality here with these are excellent and to top it off they now have an app which enhances the soundstage even more and also these a nice and loud.

They come with a nice sized case too and fits in any pocket giving you around 20 hours in total playtime with case and around 5 hours with one charge this is less when you use ANC and high volumes, there is no wireless charging here which is fine but would have made these more a sweeter deal but still great value for money.

The earbuds are a comfortable fit but slight protrude from the ears with a long chamber but this is normal and there is others out there that stick out much more and this to be honest doesn’t bother me. For calls these are also good but it is the music and how it sounds is what is most important. When it comes to modes we have three options here and they are ideal for indoors outdoors and commutes and so on giving you ambient mode ANC on/off.

These really do get loud highs lows and mids are good, listening to music is great and also for films You Tube and Netflix etc they really shine in action movies with great direction and they give a near like headphone experience. The app as mentioned above really enhances the overall experince here with choices like 3d,deep bass,vocal,rock and much more to chose from you will see the full details in the video review. There is no lag latency to be noted either during my testing.

Controls are a breeze to use here given you might find them sensitive to begin with, everything is here from skip and reverse tracks .volume control and voice assistant and you can adjust the settings to your requirement in the app.

For the money here you cant go wrong and they come in two colours.

  • 35dB full frequency hybrid active noise cancelling.
  • Industry-leading Qualcomm QCC3046 chip.
  • High-quality Qualcomm® aptX™ audio decoding.
  • Customized graphene driver for better sound quality.
  • Three modes switching designed for different usage scenarios.
  • Six mics with cVc 8.0 technology for crystal-clear calls.
  • TWS+ binaural synchronous transmission technology.
  • Bluetooth 5.2.

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Tech Review – Soundpeats T2 true wireless earbuds. #Tech #SoundpeatsT2

The Soundpeats T2 earbuds are an affordable pair of earbuds in a now crowded market but bringing ANC into the mix at this price is where we are at now and when it comes to choice the consumer is now spoiled for choice which is not a bad thing and now even cements more what I have been saying for a while now there is no need to spend silly money on Airpods and so on.

These are on the large side but fit well and comfortable but stick out a little so if you are one to like earbuds that remain unseen from the front you might want to look elsewhere. The controls are quite good and not overly sensitive here with most of the features in board though you are missing the previous track which is quite common on earbuds but you can ask your assistant to do that anyway so it is no huge deal for me. You can skip tracks, play and pause take calls and of course access your voice assistant we go through all this in the video review below anyway.

The timing on the controls is rather odd with 1.5 seconds and so on when 1 or two is the norm and can make you take a different task at times until you get the hang of them but overall they well when you get the hang of it and for me with big hands and fingers it was fine after a few hours of use.

There is no app here but they could use one in fairness and to be honest the sound that comes out of them is not bad at all considering the price you pay here which is 35 quid at the time of the post so what do you expect, you will not get the best quality seen in more expensive earbuds but overall a decent audio experience it has to be said and you cant really complain here for the price with ANC on board which is decent enough and you also get hybrid ANC/ Transparency mode.

You will get around 30 hours of use with ANC off and around 22 with ANC on so depending on your use case this is something to take note which still is not bad at this pricepoint. Another good factor to take note is they can be used individually too which is left out of many earbuds including ones you pay a pretty penny for so this is a nice inclusion here.

Overall the sound is good they are loud with a balanced approach with highs lows and mids and a level of bass thrown in for good measure they performed well watching You Tube Netflix and on music with my usual test loop..

See the video below for more..

Features

  • [Active Noise Cancelling & Hybrid ANC] – Hybrid noise cancellation relies on microphones to seek out ambient noises and then cancel them out. With 2 noise cancelling mics in each earbud, one of them works for both noise reduction and phone calls, the SoundPEATS T2 wireless earbuds can effectively suppress ambient noise in a large range by up to 30dB.
  • [Transparency Mode & Touch Control] – This mode supports picking up and amplifying the surrounding sound through the mics. It lets the outside sound in and allows you to talk to people nearby and be aware of things happening around you without taking off the earbuds. The sensitive touch control ensures your easy switch between ANC and transparency modes.
  • [Bluetooth 5.1 & Unbreakable Connection] – Adopt advanced chip to provide stable, fast and reliable connection without distortion. Simply open the charging case and turn on the Bluetooth to build connection. The T2 wireless earbuds support working with either one earbud separately or both earbuds together.
  • [30 Hours & LED Indicators] – Ultra long playtime up to 10 hours with single charge (8 hours with ANC mode on), and another 2 recharges provided by the charging case to ensure your daily or weekly use. Equipped with Type-C charging port for your convenience with wide applicability. The LEDs on the charging case tells you clearly the power left.
  • [Pleasant Sound & Large Driver] – While focusing on noise reduction performance, the T2 earbuds also value your experience on sound. It adopts 12mm large driver and advanced audio processing technology to provide you incredibly high quality sound and deep bass with rich details while immersing yourself in the quiet private world.

BUY HERE

 

 

Tech Review – Creative Pebble V3 USB-C bluetooth speakers. #Creative #PebbleV3

Speakers in general on your pc or laptop are not the best and the same applies to your TV and in that instance most of us opt to buy a nice big soundbar but what about your laptop etc. The Pebble V3 are an affordable solution and they can connect to anything with Bluetooth and they are charged with USB-C which is great and not lagging behind there.

These are angled at 45 degrees which is also better than your traditional set up which most of us have and thats either upwards or out the sides depending on what you might have so there is better direction of sound, the shape and design is kept simple here and they are well built with rubber feet underneath to stop them from moving and even in my testing at full blast they did not budge nor vibrate and also to note no real sound distortion when maxed out either.

pebble v3 speakers techbuzzireland

They are solid and built with plastic with a gain button on one side and that is it quite a simple affair just plug and play and job done. I like the overall design here which blends in anywhere really which brings me to my next point.

These can be used anywhere and not only for your home pc etc they can be used with your mobile phone or tablet which is practical for the user and having said that they sound great, tested both on pc and mobile my end they sound perhaps better from a mobile phone than they did on my chromebook which I use now as I switched away from windows and the results you will see in the video review below will let you hear the difference and the benefits of having these speakers at hand to enhance the sound quality over the dull pc/laptop speakers you get though my speakers on my chromebook are quite good these make it sound much better.

Overall these are ideal for your pc for music gaming and more and the same for your mobile phone and the price you pay it is a no brainer really.

BUY HERE 

Review – The cordless MeacoFan 260c Air Circulator. It is cool. #Meaco #Fans

I have always had a fan of some sorts be it in the bedroom,office or sitting room and recently reviewed a smartfan here which has been valuable to me in during the hot weather and this fan fits into the mix quite well too given it is not smart, Yes you have to use a physical button but so what, It solves many problems in one swoop and simple to use..

This has no retail box as it is a review sample but lets check it out. First up it is portable it is light well made and robust and has one switch to control the lot now it does not get much easier than that compared to some fans I have had in the past with buttons all over the place and looking more like a 1980s retro keyboard.

This also comes with a light on the base which circles the whole base and acts as a nice warm reading light which will not disturb anyone in the same room or blind you if working on your laptop at home or if it is beside you on your bedside locker it is ideal.The one button you have does the rest for speed settings and the ring has a light which changes on the speed status which you will see in the video below.

This is portable and cordless and can charge with micro USB and plugged into a mains or even your PC /Laptop and you will get around 10- 14 hours on one charge depending the speed you have it on so for hot nights it will last throughout so it is ideal for those muggy nights. Again this is something that is so portable it can be put anywhere in the home or office and it is quite, One thing people complain about is the noise this is quite enough and will not disturb you..

This has 4 speed settings which is great too and here there is something for all and the cool air flow from it is excellent too it works really we,someone like me would have it on full blast to get the maximum effect but it is powerfull enough to use on half power, I have been using this all over the house and found it very usefull and a must have, There is one caveat even if it is one for those who like and use fans, whilst we do have the option to move the head angle vertically you cant adjust horizontally but hey it is that small and light you just have to turn it on its base as is and same job done. I would like to see one in Black too as white tends to go off colour over time but again this depends on how you treat like any other white products.

Features

  • Small, lightweight cordless fan
  • Quiet and energy-efficient
  • Four fan speeds
  • Runs for 14 hours on a single full charge
  • USB charging allows you to plug into laptop, wall socket or any charging point
  • Simple controls on fan base
  • Cools in temperatures up to 40°C
  • 1.2m USB cable included

Available from Meaco web site MeacoFan 260c Air Circulator

Available from Amazon; https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08B9GKH8R?ref=myi_title_dp

Tech Review -Tp-link Kasa Smart Light Strip Multicolour KL430

The Kasa Smart Light Strip does what it states on the box been 2.1 meters long with the option to cut shorter or add an extension. (Sold separately) The design is of silicone coating material which allows the light strip to bend or cut to allow maximum flexibility in its use with a double-sided sticky tape on the back to stick to a surface. Once configured or set up this Light Strip via an app allows various lighting effects and customisation in terms of colours, levels of brightness and various scenes. This can be controlled by the app or via Alexa, Google Assistant or SmartThings

 

In the box:

  •         (1) Smart Light Strip (6.6 ft./2 m)
  •         (1) Smart Light Strip Controller
  •         (1) Power Adapter
  •         (1) Quick Start Guide

 

 

Features

  •       Endless Lighting Effects over a dozen animated lighting effects
  •       16 Individual Addressable Colour Zones for combinations built to suit your mood. 
  •       Scene’s customisation scenes creation for your lights and accesses them with a single click.
  •       Grouping allows the light strip Combine with other devices, such as plugs, cameras and other lights via the Kasa Smart home ecosystem.
  •       Voice Control the Kasa Light Strip hands-free with Alexa and Google Assistant. Turn it on and off, and change colours with voice control.
  •       Extendable and Flexible Connect up to 10 sections for a total length of 33ft and watch lighting effects span the entire strip. Cut into the indicated segments to add lighting in tighter spaces.
  •       Schedules Use the Kasa Smart app to schedule when your light strip on/off with the brightness, hue, and affects you set and coordinate your lighting with any event you host.

 

Specifications

  •       Depth: 2.1 MM
  •       Lighting Effects – Choose from a wide array of colours, even dim to any brightness you desire for the perfect atmosphere.
  •       Schedules – Use your Kasa Smart app to schedule your light strip to automatically turn on and off to fit around any event you’re having.
  •       Groups and Scenes – Combine your light strip with other Kasa Smart devices for seamless control with a single tap on your mobile devices.
  •       Extendable – Connect up to 10 sections for a total length of 33ft and watch lighting effects span the entire strip.
  •       Made for Everyday Wear and Tear – your strip’s durable silicone coating prevents moisture and dust intrusion.
  •       Works with Voice Assistants – Control smart light strips using the leading voice assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant and SmartThings.
  •       Pick from dozens of animated lighting effects, from soothing ‘raindrop’ to the dazzling ‘rainbow’.
  •       Auto White – Automatically adjust the colour temperature of your Kasa Smart light strip to match natural light patterns from dawn to dusk.
  •       Height: 2000 MM
  •       Width: 12 MM

 

Warranty:  2-years

 

Setup:

Setup is easy by scanning the QR code on the box and download the Kasa Smart app to your phone. The app has got a rating of 4.7 out of 5 on the play store with over 1 million downloads. On the setup and use of the app, this cannot be faulted in terms of ease of use and functionality. The brand experience of Tp-link (founded in 1996) has years of experience to provide an app that works as intended.

 

Overall:

The product is designed for indoor use to connect to a standard mains socket, while once cut this cannot re-join again. The 3m tape on the back allows this to be connected to a surface and replaced should a decision be made to move the location at some stage.

The features in terms of connection to the app are great, but after initial setup, 90% of the use was through voice-controlled Alexa (albeit this can be used via Google Assistant or SmartThings also) The scheduled app to allow the light to be set as a morning alarm clock light or from a security perspective putting random lights on when no one is around admirable. This model is slightly more expensive than some other brands but on a personal note., the feel of the material quality may not have much of a difference.  in terms of the software use, and future updates is a certain winner for me. The multitude of colours, scenes available and brightness options have an abundance of possibility for various occasions. The quality in terms of long terms use with a Lifetime of 22.8 years (Based on 3hrs/day) is remarkable with an A+ rating. Overall a lovely easy to use and setup light strip, complemented by a trusted brand to give a multi functional lighting experience tailored to suit the individual requirements.

 

 BUY HERE 

Tech Review – The JBL Charge 5 Portable Waterproof speaker with powerbank. #JBL #Charge5 #Tech

Need a new speaker and one that is suitable for outdoors well this one in my book is certainly one to look at and if you have the money I would suggest picking up a pair of them, One on its own is more than adequate to get the sounds pumping with the sounds being heard wide and far enough but two would really enhance the game and you can pump out the tunes with great sound too.

Built like a tank this speaker can be used indoors and outdoors but with most of us now in BBQ mode like me it has been tested in both scenarios and outdoors and has a great soundstage for all fans including a nice bass level here. This is well built and has simple to use controls up top which makes for easy commands and besides using this for music it is great for phone calls too should you wish to use it for them.  On the rear there is a USB-C port and a USB port which enables you to charge other devices on the go so it could save you some day if at the beach or out at a picnic and your smartphone runs low on juice.

 

Like I said earlier this comes with JBL boost which enables you to connect more JBL party boost compatible products together of these which would be some set up but for the most 2 would be enough, though I would love to see 4 in action it would be some sound experience. This is know as daisy chaining in the industry and many manufacturers use this today.

You will get around 20 hours of use with this speaker and of course it has got IP67 rating which means you can take it anywhere, Overall I was impressed with this speaker and can easily recommend it.

BUY HERE 

Tech Review. The Poly Voyager Focus 2 UC. #Poly #Tech #WFH #Office

The Poly Voyager Focus 2 comes in a distinguished colour with a leatherette ear cushion which has a soft memory foam with a metal headset cushioned for strength and comfort. This can be used for noisy environments connected to a Laptop or phone utilising the multipoint connectivity, which connects to two devices at the same time. This can be hardwired for connection if required albeit a step back from the wireless options. The supplied charging stand on the model gave a place to store the headset and charge at the same time.  This unit did not come with the team logo but functioned as expected for Zoom & Teams calls. Recently we also checked out the POLY 7320

Contents: (These vary subject to the model)

Battery:

  •       Talk time: Up to 19 hours (ANC off), Up to 16 hours (ANC On)
  •       Listening time: Up to 40 hours (ANC Off)   Up to 24 hours (ANC On)
  •       Charge time: Full charge 2 hours. Standby time: Up to 30 days

 

Headset weight:   175 g Warranty:  2-year warranty

Setup and use:

The manufactures recommend connecting the USB adapter directly to the laptop and then power on the handset, this worked seamlessly on various laptop tested. When used on a smartphone connection again worked via the Bluetooth option. 

The option to download the software via https://www.poly.com/be/en/support/downloads-apps gave additional features allowing the headset to auto-answer calls when picked up or ensure a ringtone was heard when a call came in, and the headset not close by. This free personalised software options have great features but involve various software for different poly models, this difference can be seen on the charging stand, Plantronics vs the Poly logo on the headset which would appear a standardised approach has not been agreed upon.  When only using one model this is not noticeable while a company with 5 or 6 different poly models could find a challenge to ensure the correct software is in use for the correct model.

The headset can be used on the left or right ear with the boom allowing movement both ways. When the boom is up, this mutes the call with the USB Bluetooth adapter changing colour to reflect this.

Compatibility:

Poly state – All Poly USB headsets and personal speakerphones are compatible with the most popular voice platforms.

poly compatible

Active Noise Canceling (ANC):

This has 3 settings, Off, which would be recommended for only when e.g., listening to music or podcast or similar. When making calls the ANC switch can be set to Low for general office use or High for noisy /loud environment to reduce the background. This is strongly recommended to be kept on as may drain the battery a bit but well worth it from this quality headset to reduce external noise.

Overall:

This is a multi-purpose handset which multipoint connectivity, which can connect to devices simultaneous and remember up to 8 devices. This is a key decision-maker for me when using a phone and a laptop during the day.  The option of using both left and right ear is a bonus with the optional software giving a personalised approach to its use. The options in terms of setting the headset to ring loud while not on your head is great to ensure calls are not missed.  The range at up to 50 m ensures taking the headset for a coffee while still connected is great with the ANC option a must in a noisy environment.

As always from the Poly family of the headset, build quality is excellent, audio quality excellent, battery life ok,  heads set controls in terms of call answer/end, mute, volume +/-, power ON/OFF/PAIRING, ANC OFF/1/2 is excellent and connectivity every time on-call was noted, ( many inferior headsets when not in use for a while often drop the connection required to power down and on again ) this was not the case with this model connected every time even when swapping between various laptops.

Overall, one of my favourite handsets sets this year with a slight personal niggle on the lack of a USB C connection and various software for different models, Overall quality, comfortable, voice alerts and work as they were designed, a stereo Bluetooth headset to give superior call quality every time. Starting at £267.95

https://www.poly.com/gb/en/products/headsets/voyager/voyager-focus-uc

 

Tech Review – One Odio A71 Fusion Wired headphones. #OneOdio #Headphones #Tech

One Odio makes a huge range of headsets at affordable prices and has a huge variety to pick from, these headphones are slated as DJ headphones and are wired with no Bluetooth or App it is a simple plug and play affair and if you have DJ equipment you can tune to your needs that way but for personal use they just plug in with either of the cables provided and you then use your phone to change the volume and tracks which is fine.

On looking at these on the website they look more premium than they do in the hand however they are really comfortable to wear even for long term use. So if you want a simple plug and play pair of comfortable cans these are ones to check out, the build is plastic they are very very light and come with a nice travel bag to keep them clean and out of harms way, there is also several colours available so this is also good for the consumer.

What is nice here is you can use these on your TV or tablet too alongside your phone so for movies they are really nice they do not have controls as mentioned but you can use the volume controls on the device or TV/ Music system you are connected to and you are good to go and the quality of the sound is not bad at all considered the price check out the video for more below.

one odio fusion dj headphones techbuzzireland.com

Features..

  • Unique design for DJ: We are passionate about DJ headphones, FUSION A71 headphones implements swiveling earcups, comfortable headband, hi-fi stereo sound, portability and features reversible housing and a rugged adjustable headband for free-style and single-side monitoring . Moreover, we also created a jack lock system, so no matter how much movement there is, the cable will not get off the headphones’ port. This is a great plus for DJs and musicians.
  • Dual-duty cable & adapter-free: This is a unique cable, one of the ends there is a 3.5mm jack and on the other end there is a 6.3mm jack. This great feature allows free exchange and most importantly: it’s adapter-free! Perfect for mixers, electric guitars, keyboards, and more.Dual-duty cable our solution for an adapter-free life— there are gold-plated 3 5mm & 6 3mm plugs on each end of the audio cable just simply plug in according to your needs and no more trouble finding a single adapter.
  • Superior Hi-Fi sound quality: Enjoy clear sound and powerful and stylish high definition stereo with FUSION A71 headphones. 40mm large-aperture drivers deliver riveting sound and a thumping bass. It is designed for stereo headphones. Offering clear, natural, and balanced audio quality that’s decent for most music genres.
  • Unmatched wearing Comfort & foldable design: The oval earpad design with pressure-relieving cushions has been engineered to match the shape of your ears, ensuring a secure fit with minimal sound leakage.The headband is adjustable and stretchable .Ultra thick earpads with seamless 3D sewing seal in sound, reflecting acoustics back towards your ears. As a result, you’ll hear more of your music with less outside interference. It is specifically suitables for monitor and DJ.

BUY HERE 

Tech Review – Konftel Ego bluetooth speakerphone #Konftel #Tech

Having the right tools be it in the office or on the move is an important factor for many folk including myself and being in the tech space I consider myself lucky to have that equipment and get to test such out. Over the years I have tried many conference speakers and as expected they are getting better, more compact and more features and of course the price is getting better too which is a win for the consumer.

The Konftel Ego is the latest to drop on my desk and this is ideal for home use and indeed the office and with the work from home trend boom it is an ideal kit to have for more than just work duties this can be used in a personal capacity too for playing music on so you are not just buying a product for one use case scenario but two and to top it off it is portable and it is one of the slimmest ones I have used and the shape and design of this speaker is something different compared to the circular models which are popular and it stands out, several people have asked what it is here in the house and they all agreed with my thoughts on it. You can see the unboxing over on our You Tube

You get a travel pouch to store it in and the required cable to connect to your pc/laptop to charge up then you have the bluetooth connection of course keeping things wireless which I like and if you are one to be doing lots of zoom calls etc and you have the Konftel Cam 10 you have the ideal kit be it at home or if you are travelling and so on you have the ideal kit right here. It also works with works seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, Zoom, Avaya IX Workplace and many other collaborative tools.

There is a cool LCD screen underneath the grille on top that shows status/function alongside the LEDs on the side in different colours to indicate the function and then you have the simple controls on the left and right which makes it a non complicated tool to have at your disposal.

You also can connect to a smartphone or tablet so it is not just a pc based product it can be used almost anywhere, the sound that comes from the speakerphone is omnidirectional so a meeting with up to six people in a room is a breeze for this and you can hear crystal clear and the sounds pack a punch too when playing music and if you want you can connect your headphones so overall it is a win win for both office and home use and then the portability factor just tops it off for having such a compact tool that looks good and gives a great audio experience for you or anyone in your meetings.

BUY HERE