Category: #Reviews

Review – Groov-e Fusion Bluetooth Wireless Headphones. #Headphones @totalgroov_e

Another week and another pair of headphones drop in to techbuzz headquarters. This time around we have a set of cans called the Groov-e fusion wired or wireless headphones. Packed with all the features you will need for someone on the go these have what you will need, 10 hrs playback, 40 MM drivers Soft pads and folding design just to start with..

 

Front
Open
Rear

 

Build quality 

They do look a tad cheap if im honest but perhaps this is just the colour and Gold it is in this case. But having said that they perform well all around so we can forgive that Gold look. The headband is comfortable with leather and padding on the band which is great and one thing that did concern me where the joints are but they seem sturdy enough as you will see in the video. They do have adjustments each side to suit your needs and the cups swivel which again is a good point though this is common today but some still leave this little option out, Again the swivel do act as a function to store them in a neater fashion. The cups themselves have a really soft leather housing and a nice soft padding underneath with complements the leather well,they are comfortable and do not clamp onto your head.

 

 

 

Functions

We have just what we need.. We have all the physical buttons on one side whilst the other remains naked and boring. You can forgive this though because all functions are on one cup which is probably the best. We have one key to power on and off and to answer,end and we can also reject calls or pick the last dialled number so if you have a regular number on tap this is great. The keys are easy to navigate blindly and find. We also have an LED indicator for Bluetooth pairing and power status so this is handy to have,There is no audio notifications but just beeps which is fine your phone or tablet will tell you when the headphones are connected. Also on the same side we have a mic, calls here are OK too and where clear enough. Also there is the charge port. We dont need to elaborate on that its simple, Just plug and charge, Last but not least is the 3.5mm cable which you will connect to your chosen device this acts as a back up should you run dry on the headphones themselves quality here was fine and inline with a wireless connection.

 

 

Sound Quality

Surprisingly good considered the price, They are not going to WOW you by any-means or have a super bass too them but overall they sounded quite well as a whole and better than I thought, They are loud enough but those who know me with my cans I like really loud these do not hit that sweet spot for me but they are up there, Given having headphones to loud is not a good thing but for the average person you will be fine, the quality throughout was good with highs,mid and lows well balanced and not really any distortion when maxed out..

 

Overall conclusion

Good for the price I must admit given the cheap look, Good build quality,comfortable all the features the average person will need with decent sound all round. Any questions hit me up on social or comment below. Thanks and stay tuned for the next review coming soon of the Groov-e Motion..

These can be purchased in Tesco and on Amazon.   Prices subject to change now circa £20 – €28

 

 

 

 

 

#Review -The VR BOX – #VirtualReality #VR from Mobile Fun. (@mobilefun)

Over the last year the VR – Virtual Reality game has exploded and will probably continue to do so in the coming year, However another thing to watch out for is Augmented Reality. For now we shall stick to VR. We have tried and tested some 20 headsets to date or HMDs (Head Mounted Displays). We can of course opt for the cheap Google Cardboard or similar which we have covered quite a few off too if you dont want to go all out on the expense just yet but most people by now would have had some contact with either. The VR BOX is a common offering today and we see quite alot of them in retail but perhaps re-branded but thats no issue here unless we see some outlandish prices which we have done..

 

The VR BOX is a simple cheap effective way to begin the VR journey if you will after those flimsy cardboard units we see,saying flimsy does not mean they are weak by any means,most of what we have tried have been solid and last but only for so long they just look flimsy..

 

Packaging
Front view
Close up

 

The benefit of HMDs is you are hands free not having to hold the unit to your face because for long usage your arms get tired so with this type you have a nice headband to take the weight away and sit back and enjoy the experience. The VR BOX is basic though yet offers what you need to start off. Its got great padding and good head support too with adjustable elasticated bands so there is no issue here when it comes to comfort or adjusting to suit your needs or perhaps anyone else in your group when sharing the experience.

 

Strapping
Multifunctional controls

 

Adjusting focus is another are here where its kept simple but moving the multipurpose toggles placed atop of the headset it takes seconds to adjust and its a simple process,unlike real cardboard units where you have no focal adjustment at all this is where a headset like this will benefit  you more..

There is also quite a bit of breathing space for the phone itself too from the sides that also act as port inputs should you need to charge the phone or if you are using wired headphones for example, This is good because at time you can get carried away then you hear that dreaded “Low Battery Warning” they have this covered on the VR BOX. I like that most though for the best experience i normally go wireless all round but again not everyone has wireless buds or cans then again they can suffer low battery warning too.. You get the idea.

 

Left
Right

 

 

The headset is a tad on the bulky side but we have to start somewhere however its not heavy which is good, I have tried some that have been heavy and with long periods of usage can become annoying but thankfully this is not the case here its very light….

 

Retainer
Retainer in full
Slides in and out
AR or camera viewer

 

 

Simplicity is key here and this headset offers that with nice straps and cushioning and all the other options I have mentioned but check out the video below for a review. This kind of headset is a good way to begin the VR experience before you try the really immersive stuff on more expensive offerings like gear VR which though is the best priced option available offering real immersion and after that you may fork out hundreds for the PSVR if you happen to own a PS4. Beyond that its supercomputers and expensive hardware. The choice is yours.

 

Cushioning
View with AR/Camera viewer
Cushioning

 

Head over to HERE and check them out there and see what else thy have to offer in the meantime.. Any questions fire away below or get me on social.. Thanks for reading… And thanks again to Mobile For sending this over to check out, just search VR in our search bar for the countless reviews to date on other options available.

 

VIDEO REVIEW

 

 

Review – Samsung Galaxy S 7 Edge Evo Wallet from @Tech21Official #Review #Cases

Been a while since we checked out a case for the S 7 Edge so here is a new one we just received from Tech21.Com.

This is called the Evo Wallet and has all the features you would expect to find on a good case today. Even down to the presentation this case will certainly suit anyone hunting for a new case for the pricey S 7 Edge.

 

The packaging to begin with is quite nice and comes with plenty of information on both side and then you slide out the case via the tab on the side so overall presentation is good here an hats up for that, I hate lousy packaging. Also what is worth noting is the is a lifetime warranty which is excellent and not something you see everyday…

 

Click to enlarge images 

 

 

The case comes with all the requirements for today’s need with protection and functionality alongside serving the purpose its set out to do. Its got a good coating to begin with and adds that much more grip,this is throughout the case,even on its sides which is excellent as you know the device is slippy when naked and as I always say CASE UP..

 

 

There is a nice magnetic closure on the back which not only works fine it looks great too giving it that premium and robust look though not adding much bulk to the device,after some use you will not notice the difference, However these fold over cases are not for everyone as the same flip cases, Some prefer just back and sides protection having immediate access to the screen and so on but again we all have our own needs, Having said that there is a notification area atop so you will see any missed notifications there via the flashing LED. Buttons also worked fine throughout and the camera area is well protected so the case can be placed back down with nothing to worry about.

 

 

There is also a credit card slot built in here too and I know there is alot who like to don these kind of cases these days, personally I am not one of these but I do make exceptions for nice cases minus my credit cards. Not only do we have the wallet feature we can turn the device on its side and enjoy media consumption too without having to remove the case and just let it sit there, We all use our devices now more than ever for media consumption and having this feature is a welcome move for anyone.Also note ports. All are accessible and the speaker is not covered either, no snagging of cable’s and so on and a wide variety of cables seemed to work fine. Depending on case sometimes all cables may not fit depending on manufacturer and would have a thicker housing particularly with micro USB. 

 

 

Overall this case will suit anyone no matter how fussy,its got the protection where needed with good solid corners yet the material is soft around the edges with no hindrance to the keys which is important and not forgetting the camera protection too, It looks good and feels good to hold and offers good protection on the front for the screen as that is the most expensive worry should you drop it,there is a lip around the top and bottom and adequate side protection keeping in mind with a double edge its limited as to how high on the sides it goes, Regardless you can still access the Apps Edge if you use it or simply disable it..

You can buy the case in either Pink or Black over at tech21.com and check out their other huge range of cases available.. Thanks again to the guys there for sending this over for us to check out…

 

VIDEO REVIEW

 

 

#Review – Urbanista Seattle bluetooth wireless headphones with touch control. #urbanistalife

Over the last few days we have been trying out the latest instalment from Urbanista, This time round its the Urbanista Seattle Wireless Headphones.

Off the bat they look plain so to speak but the do sport some cool features we are all not custom to right now but will be pretty much the norm in the next year or two. They have just one physical switch and the rest then works by touch control via gestures which is pretty cool and for a pair of headphones costing circa €99 this is a nice feature to see. These come in a corded version from around €55

 

They come in several colours

 

Packaging and contents.

This company topically always have good packaging which is nice, I prefer to see an effort going into a product and that starts with the exterior. Urbanista shine in this department with the retail box giving lots of information on the outside and then when opened its presented quite well and looks premium. Inside we get the headphones themselves set in a moulded plastic and the the usual array of cables we would expect to find, The Micro USB to USB charging cable and the 3.5mm headphone cable. However this cable is not the typcial one we find but a better textured lace like one and it looks good, Also inside is the usual manuals I doubt anyone reads these days..

 

Contents
Box left
Back
Presentation
Front

 

Connectivity and battery life

These will work with more or less and smartphone or tablet supporting Andriod, iOS devices and Windows Phone so there will no shortage of device compatibility here, The battery life as stated is around 12 hours which seemed consistent throughout the testing process so easily a full day for anyone, especially those on a long commute to work, Also you can go wired too should you run out of juice sometime.

 

Build quality

The look plain and perhaps a tad cheap but overall the passed my expectations. They are fold-able first of all which is probably a requirement today for storage reasons but there is no travel bag included in the package,perhaps this is something for them to think about in the future as it is now becoming the norm. they are plastic all round but very light which is good and to be fair I think they will survive quite a few knocks. The headband is flexible with a rubberised cushion underneath and it was comfortable for me during my testing. The cups are VERY comfortable and more comfortable than what they may look. Very soft,not clamping your ears blocking external sound pretty well too.. Cups are clearly marked as you can see on the images and video. You can adjust the arms either side but thats all you get on the adjustment side of things. Given that as mentioned they dont clamp onto your head and are comfortable as a whole..

 

Folded
Front view
Overview
Overview
Left
Right
Top view

 

Controls and connections

Not bad at first look.. In fact just one switch to power on and connect via Bluetooth. We do have the usual’s like the 3.5mm headphone socket and the Micro USB port for charging. The rest is hidden under the same side mind you so all is on the one cup so we dont have to fiddle between both,this is a good idea. There is soft touch controls which allow you to use gestures to do the rest, You can tap to answer calls and play and pause,slide horizontally to skip tracks and slide horizontally to adjust the volume,this may take a while to get the hang of it but after a few minutes suing it you should be fine since most of us are custom to the physical keys we see on headphones, Overall its a good idea and how everything is place on one side rather than both..

 

Overall thoughts

Look.. They do look probably a bit plain but for the price you pay the sound is good and its clear with highs,mids and lows sounding good, Lets not forget the comfort hear and the external noise almost completely blocked with the soft cups. They are robust,light and have plain design but overall they are a good purchase at the price-point and probably on par or better than some offerings out there today.

You can purchase these from Urbanista direct or on Amazon. Any questions fire away on here or on social and check out our video below. Talk to you soon in our next review coming soon.

Dont forget to follow our Brand New Facebook page.  

 

 

Review – devolo WiFi ac Repeater, Extend your WiFi range! #WiFi #delovo

The best signal in an area is always the hard-wired approach, cable / fibre to your door, and then hardwired around your house / office, in an ideal world the lost would be minimal. On occasions when the signal is poor to an attic, outside shed, or thick old walls, a Repeater may be an option. (there are other options e.g.  powerline options) Depending on the property type, an old cottage may have extra tick walls, where as a new build may have excellent tin foil type insulation on the stud partitions, both will reduce the signal strength.

 

 

This devolo WiFi ac Repeater will not provide good broadband If you have poor internet speed at your router supplied by your Telecoms provider e.g., Virgin, eir BT Vodafone etc.  The WiFi ac Repeater will be of little use to you. This can be tested using a variety of speed test sites, e.g. www.fast.com

If its boosted WiFi strength in a home office to make video calls, stream a movie or are simply looking for interruption-free browsing in every room of your house, the WiFi ac Repeater may be your option.  Once the WiFi ac Repeater is set you should get similar speed close to the repeater. This will not increase the speed from the router, rather keep it at a similar rate to the router. The further you move from the router / repeater, you will see a loss in the signal.

The specification advised the repeater acts as a WiFi range extender and your entire home can now benefit from buffer-free browsing due to a boosted WiFi signal and increased network speed of an impressive 1200 Mbps. Realistically no one gets this speed, even half the speed, we don’t get 1200 Mbps., possible 25 Mbps to 250Mbps if you’re lucky, Speed test awards advise the top speeds for 2016

http://www.speedtest.net/awards/ie/isp/2016

 

 

How to Setup the Repeater:   

There was various options, (initially Place the Repeater in the same room as the router)

A: Configuration using WPS button, Press the WPS button on your devolo WiFi Repeater ac and then on your WiFi router within 2 minutes

B: Configuration in the web browser, Open the terminal device ‘s WiFi settings (desktop, laptop, Mac, tablet) and connect to the devolo Wi-Fi Repeater network.

Open your web browser and type http://devolo.wifi into the address bar. Follow the prompts of the installation wizard using your web browser.

 

 

 

 

When the signal indicator on the devolo WiFi Repeater ac is illuminated a steady white. The connection was successfully established.

I used option B: Configuration in the web browser, as many articles on the web did not have the WPS push-button set-up on their router. This was straight forward allowing options to boost both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, generally a Mac will operate on both frequencies, some other Laptop model operate only on the 2.4GHz frequency, (there is no harm in using both if your router allows).  Connection was quick and easy. This setup took less time than it did took to boil the kettle.

I liked the idea of setting up the devolo WiFi ac Repeater once on my network, other laptops, tablets and smart phones automatically connected to the original router, via the repeater, no additional setup was required for these individual units.

These are some of the LED status, if there is an issue holding the WPS for over 10 seconds’ results in a Factory default.

 

 

 

Does it work,

I placed the router in the back of the house. I then turned off mobile data on my phone, walked to the front of the house until I had no Wi-Fi connection. I then connected the devolo WiFi ac Repeater into a socket in the front of the house, again I walked away from the house checking the Wi-Fi signal, on this occasion walking onto an open green the Wi-Fi signal was strong at least 10 meters after I had previously lost the signal without the repeater. To ensure fairness of the test, the same was done with a laptop, walked as far away as possible in the front of the house until I got no signal, I then connected the devolo WiFi ac Repeater in the front of the house and again walked as far away as possible. Again, the range increased (this was in an open area). Speed test done & again walked to a range that would initial have no WiFi. The speed did appear to drop the further I went away from the repeater.

 

 

The Manufactures advised Benefits are,

  • Instant WiFi ac speed for browsing, HD streaming and chatting.
  • Entire home coverage with the WiFi range extender functionality.
  • Made possible with WiFi ac technology, up to 1200 Mbps transfer rate for maximum speed.

• Integrated gigabit LAN port for smart TVs, PCs, game consoles, streaming boxes etc.

 

  • Your choice of easy set-up by WPS, PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone.
  • Helpful LED signal strength indicator.
  • Compact, stylish design – versatile positioning anywhere in the home.
  • Compatible with WiFi standards ac/n/g/b/a.
  • Features alternative use as an access point for creating a new WiFi ac network.
  • 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.

 

Supported operating systems

Windows 7, from Mac OS X 10.6, from Ubuntu – Linux 14.04 If your using below Windows 7, its not a WiFi ac Repeater you need but a new PC / Laptop.

Box comes with

  • 1x devolo WiFi Repeater ac (W/H/D: 59 x 91 x 38 mm)
  • 1x installation guide

 

Costs, is it worth it?

This unit costs under stg 50 with a 3-year warranty, (Typical German efficiency) Many manufactures have a variety of general products costing 100 of euro / pounds with a 1 year warranty. This is not in any way a cheap product with some discount food chains selling similar products ranges for half the price.

How much is good Broadband worth?  Ask that to some that can’t get it in an attic, is it worth spending the extra for this Product? I know the Brand for years and feel this is a quality brand, and would expect this be reliable once set up. To me personally reliable broadband is more important than saving an amount on similar products that may/ may not work. If intending on using this product, it may be worth purchasing locally, testing the range in the property and if it works a job well done with the option to return if unsuitable. It may also be worth checking out the DEVOLO WiFi Powerline Adapters as these have other benefits if using a few PC / Laptops in a Property.

More information available at http://www.devolo.co.uk/article/devolo-wifi-repeater-ac/?gclid=CO-G7IrG9NACFc-_7QodIeAFkw    devolo WiFi ac Repeater   RRP: £ 49.99, or Argos /  http://www.maplin.ie/  

Review – The Polk Boom Swimmer Duo Bluetooth Speaker from @polkaudio #PolkAudio

Hook it,Loop it, Set it or Stick it.. Yes this new gadget that arrived is for the outdoor fans and more with all the functionality it offers The Polk Boom Swimmer Duo is what we are checking out today.. Traditionally we are all custom to perhaps the speaker we just turn on and connect to out devices and jut leave them sat wherever they maybe but this speaker offers much more and it becomes part of your routine because it offers more than one way to use it..

I have a countless amount of Bluetooth speakers here and to be honest they are all lacking something… Portability ??? NO.. They in fact are portable but limitations soon crop up due to them mostly being free standing ones and have to be left in a particular environment or position. This speaker has a hook and a suction cup which allows you to place it in an array of places and it will be safe..

 

Packaging 

The package to start with is pretty cool,not your typical box type but a bottled product which is a nice touch and complements the package as a whole and meaning outdoors but you are not limited to outdoor use.In fact there is no limitations at home..

In the package we get some instructions,cable and the speaker itself with two attachments that simple twist on/off. One is a suction cup and another is a hook type that is bendy and twisty which can move in any direction to latch onto something you might like to place it..

 

 

Build Quality

It is tough with a rubber housing all round.. This is built to last its solid its shockproof,its waterproof its dust proof and has an IPX 7 rating which means its good for 3 ft of water for 30 mins or thereabouts. There is two attachments which still remain sealed which you will further on below. While testing I did drop it twice purposely to see if it would remain intact and it did, the drops where from head height and arms length just to be sure. Its solid…

 

 

Functionality 

By no means this is a speaker thats restricted as to where it can be placed. Even in the house…This will stick to surfaces with no problem and with the hook thats on a separate attachment it can be place just about anywhere which is very useful,You could attach it to your jacket or bag or even your bike, canoe or boat, there is no limits as to where it can be placed which I like very much, I even tried this at home in my house just to be sure that the suction works, Now keep in mind this is not light for something to remain to a wall and then add vibration on top of that.. This sticks and stays put…

 

 

Features.

Its got what we should expect to find in such a product yet offers more as a whole. We of course have Bluetooth connectivity, Volume controls and a Pairing button and a small LED status light. You can actually link these together if you had another one,something which we have seen in several speakers before but its nice if you happen to own more than one and get real stereo sound and separation. On the bulk end of the speaker there is a USB port and an inline socket which means you can attach an 3.5 mm audio cable..

 

 

Connectivity 

You can take calls on this which is handy and calls are clear, Connecting is seamless and no loss of connection was seen during testing for around a week,the sound is excellent and it does get amplified for example when on glass or a wooden table and it gets better in these instances.

 

 

Overall this is a great little speaker and does what it says on the tin giving you no limits to where it can be placed, Its a clever idea and for such a small speaker the sound is quite good,better than I had anticipated to be honest and when amplied on wood or a window it sounds better,The buttons are tactile its easy to set up and jut works great even phone calls are good form the few I took when testing it out.. I can really fault it… Thats saying something.. Finally there is several colours to pipck from if you did not like our sample you can buy it in Sport Blue,Black Orange or Green see the link below.

PolkAudio

 

 

Review – The LINDY BNX – 60 Wireless Headphones. #tech #headphones @LINDYUK

We have been testing these cans out a good few days now and one thing that stands out here is how comfortable they are.Having tested out many cans over the year and still some here in testing at first i did not like the look of them but that changed after hours of use and I grew to like them…

One thing for me with headphones that is a must is comfort because I tend to wear them quite alot and these surpassed my expectations. Also with ANC built in they really stepped up my initial thoughts as this feature is quite good and as mentioned the comfort on offer here, your ears are completely covered though this may vary per person and the soft leather padding just makes it a snug fit and not clamped onto your ears like the case can be for some headphones..

 

The Packaging and Presentation

GOOD… You get a touch exterior box with plenty of information on board then you are presented with the package with its own case to house them when not in use. Also inside here we find some extra goodies was welcome packed nicely away in a separate pouch that can be moved anywhere within the case and sticks via Velcro.

 

 

Build Quality

At first I thought they looked cheap,especially around the Volume and ANC area. They are solid though with lots of nice movement on board.They however are made mostly from plastic which is not really an issue for me but they are comfortable no matter what..The headband is on the thin side but padded nicely on both sides with leather which made them nice to wear for long periods of time the band itself seems flexible enough too which is important.There is few joints visible throughout though which is fine and the only metal parts per-say is where the arms extend each side but again feels solid and one thing to note there is no visible wires like you often find on such cans..

The Cups can are held separate via an arm each side which allows a 180 degree swivel and this also is how they are stored by twisting them so they remain flat in the package which is quite nice and again the cups have an inward movement which ensures they nestle just nicely on your ears.The cups themselves again are housed in plastic but have a rubberised texture and dont seem to be a fingerprint magnet either and then that soft leather padding on the cups is just about right,They are really comfortable and really light..

 

 

Functionality 

The cups clearly marked L and R have functioning keys which are easy to navigate once you get use to wearing them,The left side will sport a 3.5mm socket for a wired connection which is good should you run out of juice, There is an indicator light which shows when you are connected to a device and then all our usual controls to skip/pause and play tracks and integrated mic etc which we would expect to find on wireless headphones today. The control buttons are on the small side but tactile though you will need to get used to where they are due to them being almost flush with the housing..Finally there is a port for Micro USB charging…

The right side hosts some features too.. I do like a balance on my  headphones and not everything cramped to one side. On this side we have a Volume control which was oddly a dial rather than a physical key but I was ok with this and it was a bit nostalgic if you will, Also we the ANC function which is very very good and works brilliantly and there is an indicator light here too to let you know if its on or off but you will know the difference when wearing them,Trust me…

 

 

Sound Quality 

Sound quality was rather good all round.. They for me where not the loudest cans I have used or own today but the balance all round seems just about right even for the real thoroughbred audiophile which is something I dont claim to be but owning around 20 sets of headphones alone now I can safely say the sound quality is great, Even when using at full volume there was not much distortion at all but this is down to how loud they can go from my point of view but regardless the sound was good with highs,lows and mids all round and enjoyable and the ANC function is excellent..  There is a lot a thought put into these and its really quite hard to believe how light and comfortable they are to wear and if you are the type to wear such cans for long periods of time these are something to check out ,At no stage did my ears sweat nor did they get annoying,in fact after a few minutes you would forget they are actually there. The only minor gripe I would have is the amount of joints and how long they will last but this would be down to the individual and how rough they are or if you where to swipe them off in a hurry but then again they are not the type that are clamped onto your head and I would expect they can take quite a few knocks too and should serve you a long time..

Buy Here 
 

Video Review

Review – The Jabra ROX Wireless Bluetooth Headset. #Jabra #Wireless #Review

We are big fans of Jabra here and today we will be reviewing the Jabra ROX Wireless Bluetooth headset. We have had many products from Jabra over the last two years so you can check them all out by searching Jabra..This particular headset has been out since 2014 but we where not around then and they kindly sent them over for us to check out until our requested products arrive. The ROX Wireless are ideal for the sports enthusiast and very robust, They actually are made with KEVLAR too which off the bat gives them a solid statement with build quality to say the least.. lets see how they are overall though..

 

The Package

The package comes well presented with a magnetised closure which seems to be the norm these days and it does look and feel well and not a lousy effort when it comes to packaging the product, One thing for those that know me is I detest cheap packaging.. Jabra dont let me down in this department. We get the ROX Wireless Headset – Carry Pouch – A selection of eargels – Stability Earwings – Cable and some instructions.

 

 

The Build Quality

Made with KEVLAR. Enough said… They are solid, The buds are on the large side an perhaps a little to large for me, They do sit in my ears but they tend not to stay in so long,However this has not been an issue with later Jabra earbuds. They also seem on the heavy side, they are big as you can see in the images. The buds themselves are made with metal and solid and the cable is quite tough and would not get tangled, it did not for me during a few days testing. These remember are life proof,Dust and Water resistant and they look and feel “PREMIUM”. These also have magnets which I think make them that bit heavier than what I am used to but I like this idea and it keeps them safe when not in use and nicely stowed together.. This also acts as an on/off feature and saves power..

Functions

On opening the package first thing I notice was the little multi-function button which has  a Volume Up/Down button, the centre button brings Play-Pause, Track Forward, Call Answer End control.These are small however but tactile enough and you can navigate blindly easily enough once you get the feel for it. How do you charge these?? This was something that had me lost for a moment because there is no visible port to charge but on the earbud the cap comes off which when you think of it is clever, Also there is an LED on the same side to give you visual indicators being the usual Blue,Red and Green not only that you do have voice notification as per norm with Jabra products.

 

 

Sound and battery life.

Jabra say you will get around 5-6 hours of usage and you will need a 2.5 hr charge time which is not bad,This can be charged via your PC or typical wall charger but if you are the type to be at your PC/Laptop all day this would do when you are not using them to keep them topped up. Sound was surprisingly good even at the louder end with little or no distortion and the bass is good and dont forget Jabra has their own “Jabra Sound App” which effectively gives you DOLBY sound which is rather good and the app is free… Pairing these was also an effortless task as with any other Jabra product I own and again there is audible notifications which helps..

 

Overall for me personally they worked fine, However they are a bit on the big side, Aside that with all the earwings and gels they did not fully suit my ears but when resting at home they worked a treat but not something for training with, With magnetised buds and the optimum construction in these they will take a few knocks and would last a long time with your average user..

See more at Jabra 

 

Review – The Polk BOOM Bit: The First Truly Wearable Speaker by @Pat_Seery

Being out and about a lot I tend to use earphones to listen to music and take calls from my phone however it’s not

always possible to have in-ear or even over ear earphones as its not always a safe thing to do so when I received this little speaker to review I was intrigued to how good it would fair out and about in the real world under normal and somewhat abnormal conditions we get here.

 

 

Features 

  • Wireless Micro wearable Bluetooth speaker that clips securely to your clothing, safely balancing your music with your immediate surroundings.
  • Ipx7 Waterproof enclosure keep water and dirt out and the tunes on full Blast
  • 3-Hour battery life ensures you’ve got tunes that go distance with you
  • Standard USB with Waterproof cap for a quick and easy on-the-go charging

Take hands-free calls and talk safely on any adventure whether on a bike, in the car or wherever the journey leads.

 

Build

It’s a small rubberised USB device probably twice the width of a thumb and a rubberised steel clip on the back which is integrated into the device itself. There’s very little else aside from two buttons along one side which control the volume track selection and pairing. Charging is done by a standard USB powered socket and is quite quick plug it in and off it goes.

 

 

Pairing And Compatibility

This took a minute to figure out as it isn’t really obvious at first what to do (and being a man the instructions were ignored as usual) But what you need to do is press the + and – buttons together and you get an audible indicator that it is now in pairing mode so you follow standard pairing.

 

 

Sound Quality

This is really good considering the size of this device, its loud enough that I could still clearly hear music through a motocross helmet while travelling at speed. Ok once again this isn’t going to be the same kind of quality as a home cinema system but you wouldn’t be wanting that while you’re out on a spin. Call audio quality was also quite good but again this is just something that you need to say a quick “I`ll call you back as I`m driving” as it’s really not safe to be concentrating on a call if you`re on the road.

 

 

 

Overall Verdict

This is a great little speaker and will fit the needs of people who are into fitness and cycling. It’s really small and fits into most pockets and cycling handbar bags or even on the strap of a shoulder bag or backpack. If you are out on the road a lot and either don’t find earphones comfortable or safe then I would say this is the device for you. It allows you to listen to music and take calls without making it too unsafe to do so.

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