Category: #Reviews

Review – The Groov-e SoundBuds true wireless earbuds. #TrueWireless #Earbuds

Groov-e are a brand that offer great tech products at affordable prices and from testing many out over the years I can stand by them and easily recommend if you are not in a position to shell out for more expensive brands which in some cases lack what cheaper products offer.

The Groov-e soundbuds are no different here and are an easy alternative to iPods coming in less than half price and don’t look stupid in your ears too. The soundbuds also come in a charge case which has a real LED battery indicator which is really cool and something I have not seen personally yet given the amount of true wireless earbuds I have tested and own personally and is a much better indicator to the typical 3/4/5 LED set up we see on most today which does not give you an exact indication as to whats left although some do give a level on your smartphone but that varies.

The Groov-e soundbuds are easy to set up and its the usual manner and you also get audio cues to let you know your connected on both sides and whats even more interesting here after testing you can use these individually ie left or right on their own even after popping them in your ears you can take either side out and the opposite side will stay connected in many instances in other earbuds you can have only one side work or if you plug one side out both turn off this is not the case here, Also if you do decide to remove on side and pop it back into your ear it will auto connect once powered on which is great.

Comfort level here is great and you will forget they are there after a while,they are very light and also they will not drop out of ear they give a pretty good seal too isolating a good bit of outside noise which is good,they are kind of similar to last years play buds in size but sound better in my option.

Sound quality is great given the price and they are plenty aloud hitting all sound stages and genres,bass ,treble,mids,highs and lows quite well and no distortion on max volume which is how I like it,many at this level get tinny and distorted at max volume but this is not the case with these and I was pleasantly surprised at how good they sound for their price point.No sync Latency watching videos or Netflix present either.

Call quality is also good and something new here I have not seen is they call out the phone number now if this is a new thing or update or something I have missed excuse me but I use many earbuds and this is the first time I have heard this happen yet its cool only if it called out the name that’s stored on your device would be a real bonus.

Using the earbuds is like any other the its the usual tap once,twice set up and each side and you also have your voice assistant available too (press for one second) which is handy for those who use them which is something I don’t use a whole lot to be honest. Play and pause is tap once,next track you double click the right and double click the left to reverse,volume up quickly press the right and left for volume down.

Battery life is not bad but on the low end of things but for the price you cant really complain you will easily get the manufacturers claim time of 4 hours on one charge.

My only real dislikes are is No EQ app,Micro USB and one colour selection but hopefully that will change in their next offering or new colours arrive later in their current guise,other than that for 65 quid they are worth it.

SEE MORE AND BUY

Review – The Skullcandy INDY true wireless earphones. #Skullcandy #TrueWireless

Over the last few weeks I have been using the Skullcandy PUSH and Venue and they have not disappointed me and delivered on quality and sound and they also look neat, Now I have had some time with the all new INDY true wireless and its time to talk about those.

Skullcandy Venue Review                 Skullcandy PUSH review  

The INDY are an approach to Airpods which are overpriced rubbish in my book even the newest pair from Apple are the same albeit they offer wireless charging and new chip but they dont deliver on sound or volume I have them out via a friend of mine and just like their last pair for the money they dont cut it.

The INDY are similar to the recent Urbansita Stockholm I  reviewed and work quite similarly to them in many ways keeping things simple and another thing they stay in your ears which is important and also coming in at half the price and looking minimalistic.

The charging case that comes with the INDY is on the larger side compared to others I own but this is no big deal plus it offers three extra charges for your convenience so for those on the go this is welcome plus I like the design and the branding on the lid. You also get some LED lights to let you know your charge status.

The fit is good, solid and should not fall out they did not for me the gels that come with them give a decent seal too from the outside world but nothing compared to overheads or like their VENUE  but these pencil shaped earbuds as they are dubbed are never quite going to match overheads anyway but when compared to others they do a good job on fit and comfort. You do not need to use these extra gels by the way but they are there if you want a more secure fit.

The sound on these would be considered on the bright side and not much bass in comparison to others but from a price point view they are on par with others the volume however is not overly loud which is how I like my music and it is hard to get earphones like this loud anyway given to what I have tested anyway plus I have other models on the way and will do a comparison test with them all in a few weeks time but I like them they do a good job overall but again remember the source of sound varies here and in particular with You Tube for example where I spend alot of time you can easily find 4/5 songs the same and the quality difference can be quite remarkable.

The controls are easy to use though you might take a while to get comfortable this is the same as many that offer the tap experience but they do work fine given the small area to touch you may end up missing them until you get familiar especially if its your first pair of such. Other than that you have the same as many offer now the volume up is on the right and down on the left with one tap,skip and reverse tracks is hold for 2 seconds either side for forward or reverse and play and pause is 2 taps on the right.

If you want to use just one as a headset or just to listen to music it will only be the right,it works on its on with the other placed in the charge case,the same does not apply for the left side this only works on the right side,calls work on both ears and pretty decent quality and that’s a win for many as calls only come through on one side with many similar offerings out there.

Overall are they worth the money? Well yes but there is better sounding ones out there but that’s just my personal taste compared to Airpods which are overpriced they are worth it. There is the cons of which is little with these one is NO EQ APP, DO NOT put them in the charge case without the gels on them because you will find it hard to remove being magnetic..Battery life shorter compared to some others but you still get around 16 hours on the go.

BUY  HERE  –  https://www.skullcandy.eu/shop/earbuds/bluetooth-earbuds/indy

 

 

Review – Jabra Elite Active 45e. #Jabra #EliteActive45e #earphones

The Jabra Elite Active 45e came in the standard Jabra box with key features clearly displayed on the box. This highlights the wireless music, calls, sport and waterproof. This had voice assistant enabled. The superior sound was highlighted in various places on the packaging, with the suggestion gained from 150 years’ experience.  The earphones felt solid, robust with no additional ear gel to lose on a busy workout. The buttons had larger buttons as compared to other Jabra products. The headset cable was strong and solid.

Waterproof.

The Jabra Elite Active 45e Wireless are IP67 rated which means they are completely dust tight and can be submerged up to 1 metre in water for 30 minutes. This, in theory, would mean you could use the earphones in the shower, but I would not recommend not having tested.

 

Setup

The Setup is standard, turn on the earphones via the multi-function button and the Jabra voice prompt advised to turn on Bluetooth on your phone and select. This took less than a minute. This gave the functionality to pause music, turn the volume up and down on the phone when listening to music.

The button on the earphone is large in comparison to many other earphones used, ensuring those with big fingers can easily make changes as required.

The app: Jabra sound+

The Jabra sound+ app got a rating of 3 out of 5 on the play store. the app, while not required for basic use, has a variety of great features. The app is compatible with most of the Jabra range Jabra Elite 45e, 65e, 65t, 85h, Active 45e, Active 65t and Jabra Evolve 65e, 65t The app allows you to set up configurations for each area or adjust your audio using the 5-band equalizer.
The voice assistance was set up for Amazon Alexa. (you can use Google, Siri also) this allowed one button pressed on the earphones to ask all the usual question of Alexa whether in the home or out and about. This worked great. (after a little setup variation) but will not allow music to be played via the free Spotify version, this required the subscription version. (This is not a Jabra query rather Amazon Alexa) Jim has a review of the App HERE with the Jabra 85h

Find my Jabra, Locate by sound

This app feature allows find the last location on the connection of the Jabra, then you can use “Locate by sound” This is a great cool feature saving time looking for them, whether left in a coat pocket. the back of the couch or n the office.

1 / 12

 

Sports earphones.

The design of the earphone has earwigs and ear hooks for a secure fit, this ensures if running or under harsh conditions, the earwigs help keep them in place over and in your ear preventing them falling out. The design also incorporates Open ear design which allows external sounds to be heard. This ensures you are aware of the external environment, This is listed as a Safety feature, for those on roads etc this is highlighted on the cover “Lets in ambient Sound “This should be compulsory for many cycles on our roads which can be oblivious to their surroundings,

 

Niggles

There are few niggles for these earphones while minor in that they don’t come with the newer c charger lead (instead the older USB-A to Micro-USB cable.) resulting in having to carry different charger cables. The earphones while strong and sturdy don’t come with a protective case which would be a nice to have.

 

Jabra Elite Active 45e vs Jabra Elite 45e

Jabra Elite Active 45e   is larger than the previously reviews Jabra Elite 45e and is slightly heavier at 29g and comes with an abundance of technology.Both have excellent build and audio quality with the Elite Active a better battery life.  The Elite Active 45e has up to 9 hours of battery life on a single charge, and 12 days of standby time

 https://techbuzzireland.com/2018/11/06/review-jabra-elite-45e-jabra-jabraelite45e-tech-headphones/

Verdict:

The Jabra is always a favourite from there 150 years of experience, the Jabra Elite Active 45e works as earphones are supposed to with the excellent build quality and waterproof and a warranty to go with it. The visual view of these earphones may be a personal choice but slightly bulkier and heavier than the others in the Jabra range.

These earphones do not fall out when used in challenging environments, nor have earbuds that can fall out after constant use. The design has big buttons, allowing the charger easily fitted without having to remove fiddle clips to insert. The battery life is good at 9 hours. The 2-microphone technology improved audio quality (wind-noise reduction on calls) to the person on the other end of the call even when used in a noisy environment.  The audio as expected can be adjusted to the situation allowing a customised audio experience via the 5-band equalizer. Overall the Jabra brand stands out for quality, a dedicated Alexa button ensures Jabra is keeping with the latest technology in functionally and audio quality. If looking for a set of quality earphones within this price range using the Jabra Elite Active 45e is an excellent choice.

 https://www.jabra.co.uk/bluetooth-headsets/jabra-elite-active-45e#/#100-99040000-60

£89.99

Review – The Hyper X QUADCAST mic. #Gaming #HyperX #Audio

This is now my second mic and I am a blow in with this territory but you can tell the difference in Audio. This mic however is compatible with PC AND PS4pro and MAC though I use with my phone that supports USB OTG and it yields the same result as if connected to PC.

You have 4 polar options on this bad boy which is Stereo,Omnidirectional,Cardiod and Bi Directional so its a mic for all occasions and many settings depending on the users setup.

Ease of use controls is great on this mic so no fussing about at all, you have one toggle on the rear which is easy to access and below it you have your power and headphone sockets which can be channelled through a gap to keep cable management in order for which you will need..On top you have the on/off switch which you just tap and on the bottom you have the gain control adjustment so all in all pretty simple to use…

Build quality is top notch also and this will last some time if you are a heavy user you also get amount adapter which I do no personally need right now but will soon. I plan to move to videos only going forward and this will be part of my kit. The mic looks really professional to and something you find in a high quality recording studio and it looks the part and with the illumination it looks really well and its not a real bright light but an ambient one which will made the mood a touch better.

Below is a sample from the HyperX Quadcast mic and let us know what you think. The unboxing above is obviously used without the mic and below is a full sample discussing it.

BUY HERE

AUDIO SAMPLE

https://techbuzzireland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/hyperx-mic-samples..m4a?_=1

Review – The Ringke Clear and smoked cases for the Google Pixel 3a. #Ringke #Pixel3a #TeamPixel

Ringke have sent us their new cases for the Google Pixel 3a which cases for are hard to find for the device in Ireland. These cases offer maximum protection yet clean and nothing too flashy and look well on your smartphone also giving you extra gripping power.

These cases will also give the screen some protection and there is a lip going around the front of the screen which means it can be placed face down whilst on the rear the camera lens,flash and fingerprint sensor is also protected,the backing on these cases is harder than the TPU edges but offer easy navigate keys with good travel and response with all ports accessible and nothing blocked.

2 / 22

The TPU bumpers give that bit extra protection and the anti scratch coat clear back offer all the protection you will need at an affordable price. Check the video for more.

BUY HERE  

Review – Sandisk Ultra Dual Drive USB-C #Sandisk #Storage #USBC

Storage is a key element with smartphones today especially for those who record 4K video take lots of image in high quality and music storage for example however we have plenty of devices out there offering little storage or none but we can use the cloud which is not everyone’s favourite choice.

USB-C of course is the way forward now but there is alternatives out there to cater for those folk who are still on Micro USB devices and of course Sandisk offer such products.

Today we are checking out the Dual Drive USB-C which is specifically for many folk today with current devices and want to remove files from your smartphone or USB-C devices and free up that valuable space to keep your phone running smoothly and not bog it down with heavy storage on board.

The package is simple it is small so no real need to go overboard with it anyway as once its removed you will most likely discard it. Compatibility is also key and this works with Android,PC and MAC Windows,7,8,10 and Vista.

First things first your smartphone must offer OTG which again some lack but now its becoming more a standard if you are on older devices you might be out of luck as even this spec is hardly listed in specifications.

This is a 32GB Dual drive which offers high speed transfer up to 150MB/s and you can also avail of the Sandisk Memory Zone app.  See images below of what you will expect to find within the app to get you started and how you can manage files.

3 / 11

 

To insert into your compatible device you slide the USB-C side out and the same for your PC with a simple slider switch on top. Nothing fancy or complicated here. Once inserted to phone you select the files you want to move or transfer from phone or SD card if you have one available and then you can copy or move to the Sandisk it is an easy process.

It took 1 minute 51 seconds as I timed it to copy my entire phone’s folder content onto the card (512 files,music,docs,images,video,PDFs) which is much quicker than some USB drives I have tested in the past..Now i did notice the drive was warm after removing it from my smartphone. It took 10 seconds to then copy the data to my PC depending on your processing power this will vary but I have a decent laptop and was more than happy with that transfer rate again compared to others I have tried in the past. Again the unit was warm but nothing OTT you can still pick it up.

This is a great little kit to have at hand as its small and portable the only one thing I would have liked to see was the option to add it to a keyring or the option to clip it somewhere other than that its fast easy to use and portable,perhaps too portable and could be lost but that’s up to how you manage your bits but the option to clip it to keys would be a great benefit however this is ideal for data movement and storage if you are on the go like me all the time and want to back up your information on the fly in speed.

Key Features

– The flash drive for USB type-C devices
– High-speed USB 3.1
– Dual USB type-C and USB type-A connectors
– SanDisk memory zone App for easy file management

Specification

Capacity: 32GB
Read Speed: up to 150 MB/s
Interface: USB Type-C and USB Type-A connectors; USB 3.1 (Gen 1)
Easily free up space or transfer files from your USB Type-C smartphones, tablets and computers.

BUY HERE MULTIPLE STORAGE OPTIONS AVAILABLE..

 

Review – The POW Audio (@powaudio) expandable bluetooth speaker POW Mo. #POWMo #POWAudio

Bluetooth speakers come in many shapes and sizes offering all you need for a portable sound experience but none quite like this but what is most important how good is the sound and does this speaker deliver on the format they give it to us in as this is the first of its kind they are pitching a product in a saturated market when it comes to choice and then you’ve the price to consider too and what you get for your money.

I will get straight to it rather than talk about speakers in general, This is great with sound,design and its something new and not the industry standard which is boring and its build quality is excellent too. How its executed is also great with a decent weight to the product which does not make it feel cheap its simple to use and the sound it delivers is quality and for the bass lovers you will not be disappointed at all.

The product though really shines if you have two of them which enables you to get stereo sound which for a speaker of its size is quite remarkable you will see in the video below tested with one on its own and then two paired together. The product also comes with a built in wallet which you do not have to use but the speaker can be placed anywhere so it is portable beyond your needs and can be used either with magnets and the adhesive covered backing so you can also be adventurous as to where you want to put it.

This packs better sound when placed on a solid surface and gives you extra punch very similar to how a speaker i covered two years the polk boom swimmer which amplifies the sound when attached to a hard surface,the speaker can be laid anywhere but will tend to move at max volume due to vibration,again you will see in the video.

The speaker uses waveboom which enhances the sound compared to other speakers on the market and for its size it does pack the loudest punch for a speaker of its size compared to others I have here or have tested. Portable and affordable with great sound it is an easy recommend from me.. You can also get a case to match some mobile phones but as its aimed at sticking it onto your phone or anywhere, the additional case option is up to the user. With being water resistant and up to 8 hours of battery life it will be ideal for camping,festivals travel alongside personal use.

BUY HERE

 

Unboxing and review the all new @instaxHQ Mini LiPlay #instax #liplay #instaxminiliplay

Just dropped the all new FUJIFILM INSTAX Mini LiPlay has arrived and a small disclaimer here this is my first camera as I typically use smartphones for all my shots/videos so I am looking forward to testing this guy out and seeing what it can do. Today is a first look and unboxing of the device and if you have any questions feel free to ask below or on our social channels as always.

 

INSTAX Mini Li-Play is available now in Fujifilm outlets nationwide, RRP €170.00, prices may vary by retailer. You can see more information from our blog HERE.

Update.. Hands on review. UI App and Instax Mini LI-Play

 

 

 

Review – The HyperX Cloud Alpha Pro Gaming Headset. #Gaming #Headphones #Tech

The first glance of the box for the HyperX Cloud Alpha Pro Gaming Headset has a concise layout giving clear prominence of compatible devices for this headset. The logo and the name of the brand on the box was clearly laid out with a brief description on the side of the contents in the box with a welcome warranty on the box. The red and white colours have a great contrast for the headset as the red and black headset catches the eye on the white background of the box.

Opening the box is a very easy and a quick process as the cover slides the box out very easily and reveals a nice glimpse of the symbol in silver on a black background box.

The headset other contents are under so first impressions are solid and contains a protection bag for travel in the box which is always good to have. It also comes with a detachable microphone, detachable headset cable (AUX cord), and detachable PC extension cable. So first impressions are very good leaving the user with the relevant accessories to get started to hook up to a  console/PC.

Box Contents:

HyperX Cloud Alpha Headset

  • Detachable microphone
  • Detachable headset cable
  • PC extension cable
  • Carry bag

Technical Specifications:

Headphone:

  • Driver: Custom dynamic, 50mm with neodymium magnets
  • Type: Circumaural, closed back
  • Frequency response: 13Hz–27,000 Hz
  • Impedance: 65 Ω
  • Sound pressure level: 98dBSPL/mW at 1kHz
  • THD: < 1%
  • Weight: 298g
  • Weight w/ mic: 336g
  • Cable length and type: Detachable headset (1.3m) + PC extension cable (2m)
  • Connection: Detachable headset – 3.5mm plug (4 pole) + PC extension cable – 3.5mm

Stereo and mic plugs

Microphone:

  • Element: Electret condenser microphone
  • Polar pattern: Noise-cancelling
  • Frequency response: 50Hz-18,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity: -43dBV (0dB=1V/Pa,1kHz)

Features:

  • HyperX dual chamber drivers
  • Signature award-winning HyperX comfort
  • Durable aluminium frame with expanded headband
  • Detachable braided cable with convenient in-line audio control
  • Detachable noise-cancellation microphone
  • Discord and TeamSpeakTM Certified
  • Multi-platform compatibility

HyperX Cloud Alpha Pro Gaming Headset performance:

HyperX Cloud Alpha Pro Gaming headsets has a double chamber driver designed to give clearer and reduce disturbance as they reduce the noise. The audio was had precise sounding during gameplay when things are going on in a game. They design and feel was comfortable after hours of use attributed to the red memory foam in the headband and also in the leather ear cushions. The dual chamber drivers gave a clearer smoother sound as they control a high, mid and low tempo of the bass in both gameplay and also just listening to music. The headset frame is made of aluminium where many others tested have been  made with weaker plastic, which wears down in time,  The  design of the aluminium frame headset  is a lot more durable and in certain cases, a lot of gamers would really call out for these as most gaming sets could fall or wear over time especially pro gaming competitors. The detachable cables are also braided which gives it that extra protection and a feel of quality and strength. The detachable cord also has a volume wheel and a switch for the detachable noise-cancellation microphone so if you want to talk to someone in the room instead of taking the mic out the user can just flick the switch to turn the mic on and off. This headset is great for many reasons as it is compatible with PC, PS4, Xbox One and also any device with an AUX cord attachment like a phone or iPod. The microphone works on a phone for possible office work and does not have flashy lights distracting others around.

The headset is not distracting rather functional with a style and mat shiny red sprayed aluminium frame along with the black leather makes them an eye-catching headset which a classic old-style gamer would love. This headset is a high rated headset with a lot of great assets which most pro-gaming headsets would highly recommend.

Positives:

  • Very comfortable during gameplay even after a long time.
  • Clear and smooth sound transactions also very accurate for when things are happening during gameplay.
  • The mic is detachable and is also noise resistant which can be turned on and off by turning a switch on the cable.
  • The mic is clear when talking to other players as other players have compared hearing with this headset and other  another headset  (most likely due to the mics noise resistance.)
  • Easy setup and also compatible with multiple gaming consoles, pc and any AUX device.
  • Noise cancellation is very good even in very noisy places also even without playing anything the headset keeps noise out very well.
  • Very light for the size of the headset.
  • The look and feel is good with a nice collage of colours to go with the gamers who stream online.
  • Durable aluminium frame and nice leather finish along with a braided cable so the headset is made to last.
  • Reasonably priced.

Slight niggles ( but not a showstopper)

  • If the detachable cord was pulled or stepped on it could come out of the headset.
  • Extensions are not very comfortable if they are put around your neck for too long as they are tight.

Compared to other models.

Overall

This HyperX Cloud Alpha Pro Gaming Headset is a premium rated headset which is comfortable after hours of demanding use, The headset is  full of handy features, for example, having an AUX cord so they can also be used in any sort of computer, console, and phone/iPod, they also have a volume wheel on the cord to higher and lower volume, a switch on the cord also to turn the mic on and off. Very high-quality frame made from aluminium along with a braided cable and comfortable leather with memory foam in the headband and ear covers reducing disturbing sounds and creating comfort. I have got a possible reaction from a variety of gamers on the look and feel of the handset.

This model stood out with pro gamer when streaming on the game and talking to his other gamers. They are clear when speaking through the mic and also a noise reduction mic. The headset is high quality and long lasting headset reasonable price under € 100  with the primary option for any type of gamer but could be used in an office environment. This is a recommended headset with a primary comfort feel after hours of use with excellent audio quality.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HyperX-HX-HSCA-RD-EM-Gaming-Headset/dp/B076GT6XJ9

Price:     £81.64