Category: #Reviews

Tech Review – Poly Sync 20 conference speaker

The Poly Sync 20 is slim and portable, IP64 dust and water resistant,conference speaker  with up to 20 hours of battery life  This has clear buttons on the outside and a  programmable button which can be set to a favorite function. The box is bland in terms of the brown basics with limited information on the packaging.

Battery:

  • Battery Type: Lithium-ion
  • Battery Capacity: 3200 mAH
  • Talk time: up to 20 hours
  • Charge Time: 4 hours

Controls and lights 

Setup:

The setup can be used similar to a swiss army knife with  multiple options.  This can be used as 3 options of bluetooth , dongle, or cable connection. The setup is made easier as included with a non removable  USB cable to be plugged into a USB charger to charge or connect as required. Alternative used via bluetooth to a phone or Laptop. Or via the supplied usb dongle. Each option connection to a phone or windows laptop seamlessly worked as expected.  The setup works with voice control for Siri, Google Assistant, Cortana Press 

 

Compatibility

Slight niggle:

The kit comes with a USB dongle with a pouch inside the carry case, the dongle could fall out over time and would prefer to see a zip / fastener to prevent the loss on the USB dongle. 

Audio:

When used as a Loudspeaker, for your day to day music  the  frequency  response of the Poly Sync 20 is  80 Hz to 20 kHz, the low end on the frequency spectrum between 20Hz to 80Hz is ideal for music  but lacking  on this  unit . 

To give a comparison Amazon Alexa has  a frequency range of 30Hz to 24kHz while it does not have the features on this  multi unit kit . Overall the lower frequency is only observed by an avid music fan, but not pronounced on its primary use of a conference speaker / mic kit . 

Overall

The unit is a multipurpose speaker, conference unit which as expected from the Poly brand ( Previously Plantronics) has great audio and ease of use in connection. This unit came with minimum fuss in terms of accessories , carry case, USB dongle , carry strap with a hardwired USB cable resulting in a universal kit option for hybrid use in any environment . The features in terms of MS teams approved, various  colours, red on mute , green in use or light bar to view the volume level is practical in any meeting. The kit has been used in noisy environments with industrial machinery in the background and again the background was suppressed ensuring the conversations and accents were heard no matter where sitting in the room. The portable option to fit into a Laptop bag and carrier around gave  additional convenience in the use of this speaker. This is a kit which is highly recommended in terms of ease of use,  portability , multipurpose options , from a known quality brand, hard to fault this kit. 

BUY HERE  

VIDEO LINK

 

Tech Review – The Pamu Z1 True wireless earbuds

Pamu is a new brand that have been offering really good earbuds for an affordable price and I have tested them all over the last year or two and they have not disappointed me either and with their latest model now on offer people will of course ask the same thing and are they as good as the rest and I am delighted to report they certainly are indeed and have a totally new look and design too but there is no loss on audio quality either.

Design and build

These have a similar design to some newer earbuds out there now but there is not many that have this design, they are not a stem type earbud but one that will stick out slightly from the ears they twist and lock into place giving a secure grip and will not fall out of the ears either and look well in the colour options available they do have a smaller profile than others with this design and once the right tips applied you are good to go with a great seal to get the most beneficial audio experience.

Controls

The controls on these earbuds work really well with a touch area as it is on the larger side all the control functions you need are present and can be edited to suit your needs which is another bonus these have had no problems during my use and no repetitive taps required to execute the command you wish.

Sound

Once again the company has delivered another great sounding product at a great price and with the app you get that bit more than others offer even at a higher price,they are loud and punchy with nice bass thrown in too and overall a great pair of earbuds giving a decent audio experience even for those who want more for less.

Conclusion

If you do no want to spend silly money on earbuds there is no need too, I have been saying this some time now and the prowess of overhyped earbuds is long over there is better out there with great value to be had and these fit right in and they also look great too and move away from the industrial standard look. See more in the video review below..

Pamu Z1 charging on my Google Pixel 6

Main Features

  • Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, reduce noise up to 40dB
  • Dual-Mic Noise Reduction
  • Gaming mode, Low latency
  • In-App firmware update and customization to key functions
  • Dual Master, simultaneous transmission of both ears, both of them can be used separately
  • Compatible with Qi-certified wireless chargers
  • Replaceable shell design, customize your exclusive color
  • Water Resistance: IPX6

BUY

Video Link

Tech Review – Haylou GT7 TWS review

Recently here we reviewed the companies other earbuds the W1 true wireless which are a really nice affordable pair of earbuds which also look well but the latest on offer the GT7 came in for testing so how did they do over the last while is the question people want answered..

Design Build and Fit

These are a familiar shaped pair of earbuds with a small enough stem and have that airpod look for those who want it, they are light finished in matt white and fit really well and they will not fall out of the ears, as always the right tips matter when using earbuds to get the best seal and these have no problems there.

Controls

The controls work really well here as you will see in the video review below, there is some features missing here but it is not a huge deal, we have no volume control no auto play/pause and no reverse track but the rest is there, voice assistant, play and pause, skip tracks and call control.

Haylou GT7 earbuds techbuzzireland

 

Sound

These are for the bass lover, there is no app or EQ here however out of the box they are quite good and again better than I had anticipated they are loud and punchy well balanced and do not have any distortion at max volume there is no lag latency either,highs lows and mids are good and overall a really good listening experience we also have got AI noise cancelling for calls here and to top things off we have got low latency mode for gaming.

Conclusion

These are a really nice pair of earbuds that deliver on sound with some extra bass they are a clean looking pair of earbuds too and look well and not stansoutish looking and overall you cant complain even if some features have been omitted..

BUY 
VIDEO LINK

 

Tech Review – Airthings Mini Wave air quality monitor

Most people have plenty of tech in their homes like smart speakers,bulbs and so on and these are great but what protection do these give you in the home? ZERO protection to be frank about it and whilst there is tech out there and we will be touching on a few products that do so and the first up is the Airthings Mini Wave air quality monitor which is a simple easy to use and set-up product that can be placed anywhere in the house.

This is a simple small puck shaped device in which you simply download an app set up then just leave it sat in the best placed position you might find it in your own home this can be put anywhere and you will see this in the app set-up as you go through the process, you can also have more than one of these in your home too, you can also get pollen levels thrown in for good mix in the app, the app is simple to use too which is great and that is all there is to it.

In the app you will see in the video below is what you will be given and what the app does for you, on the top you will see 4 icons then further down you can get a daily breakdown and more and the activity feed will be across the bottom. The product measures air quality VOC, temp and mold risk which is really important.

You can simply wave across the front of the device too if you like to get a quick idea of what the air quality is like and you get a light on the bottom of the unit this indicates the current status there and then, the app has a dashboard which is easy to understand and here is where you can get all the stats in one place.

Notifications on your smartphone for Airthings.

About the product

Airthings Wave Mini is your indoor air quality companion, allowing you to visualize the health and comfort levels of the indoor air quality in every room. Monitor mould risk, temperature, humidity and airborne chemicals (VOCs) to help with asthma, allergies, sleep and overall health.

When a room’s environment becomes less than optimal, Wave Mini will provide insights into the VOCS, chemical’s and odor levels in your air. The Wave Mini is the perfect, cost-effective first step into understanding your indoor air quality. Air quality and temperature vary drastically from room to room and the only way to reach optimal comfort and health is to measure in every room, luckily this lightweight device is wireless and portable so you can move it freely around your home getting the most from your wave mini.

BUY 

Video Link

 

 

Tech Review – Jabra Evolve 2 75

The Jabra Evolve 2 75 came in the Jabra typical box with the usual colours and clearly defined the features on these earphones visible on the box, The Box came as 100% recyclable and sustainable ink.   The On-ear headband comes in ultra soft foam covered in colour-matched leatherette, this has a  metal slide arm to adjust for the individual head size and comfort of the user. This is similar to the Jabra Evolve2 65 reviewed last year but the 75 has a discrete mic that can be folded away. 

 

Contents :

  • Headset, 
  • Jabra Link
  • 380 Bluetooth adapter, 
  • USB  C cable 
  • Carry pouch
  • User documents

 

Warranty:  2 years 

It’s great to see manufactures confidence  in their products with a 2 year warranty 

 

Battery :

  • Corded charging USB-C
  • Sleep mode Yes
  • Charging time Up to 160 minutes
  • Battery status % after 30 min / 60 min 30% after 35 min and 60% after 70 min

 

Setup:

Setup is easy and works,  this can be connected to a phone and a laptop, the unit can be paired to 8 devices with 2 Simultaneous Bluetooth connections, utilising  Bluetooth version 5.2 with a range of  Up to 30m,

Alternative when connected to a laptop the 380 Bluetooth adapter (AKA dongle ) can be plugged directly into the laptop and works.

  • Connectivity Bluetooth®, USB-C
  • Bluetooth profiles A2DP v1.3, AVRCP v1.6, HFP v1.8, HSP v1.2, PBAP v1.1, SPP v1.2
  • Bluetooth version 5.2

 

Simultaneous Bluetooth connections 2

  • This is a feature I would recommend strongly for me personally if earphones do not connect to multiple devices, walk away! These are typically connected to my Laptop and phone, for work / social music or taking calls leaving a free hand to take notes. 

 

Call quality,

As expected from Jabra the call quality is excellent due to the 8 microphones and Jabra beamforming technology. In essence, the background noise is filtered out with anyone standing beside the headset unable to hear the conversation. There is the option to change between Active Noise-Cancellation (ANC) or hear through to allow you to concentrate on the surroundings or ensure you are not shouting on an office call. The discreet microphone is required to be extended fully when in use, as the person on the other may hear a broken voice if not extended fully. 

To enhance the experience, the software /app can be used Jabra Direct, Jabra Sound+, Jabra Xpress ( software demo on the previous review  Jabra Evolve 2 65 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHj4gVUX93A&t=497s )

Overall:

This model has one major difference from the previously reviewed Jabra Evolve 2 65  which has been a workhorse of mine,as an on-ear headband due to,  it works on every call connects to the laptop or phone, with excellent battery life while the Evolve 2 65 is not used outside of an office environment due to the boom mic. The Jabra Evolve 2 75 has the same technology in terms of great battery life, ANC / hear through and connects each time but has a discreet mic folded away which can be comfortably used in an office environment or Gym setting or noisy environment. This model is not for everyone as the design allows the mic to only work on the right ear, this model comes with no charging stand ( optional extra )  albeit not required as charging via a standard USB C cables works,  

The features are approved for the MS Teams and work on other types of calls,  this has additional features in terms of  Busylight, Calls controls Voice guidance. A real positive for practical use is the discrete hide-away arm with built-in mute and auto-answer functions. The Jabra family of earphones has tried and tested software to allow a tailored experience for the user preference of audio.

The Jabra Evolve 2 65 has been one of my favourite earphones over the last year, with the Evolve 2 75  superseding this with the discrete mic, excellent battery and call quality, an excellent choice for the new hybrid options of lifestyle.

Key Features and Specifications:

  • 26% per cent more Noise Cancellation than Evolve 75 through Adjustable Jabra Advanced ANC, dedicated chipset and Jabra’s new Dual Foam Technology
  • Premium Open Office microphones with a 33 per cent shorter hide-away microphone boom arm than Evolve 75
  • 8 microphone technology
  • Superior quality calls
  • High quality audio with the boom arm retracted in discreet mode, or when fully down in performance mode. Optimised for a flexible worklife
  • Certified for all major UC platforms
  • Up to 30m/100 ft wireless range
  • Connect two devices with dual connectivity
  • Dedicated Teams button (on MS Teams variant)
  • Integrated 360° busylight
  • Up to 36h MusicTime, 24h TalkTime (without ANC and Busylight) 33% more TalkTime than Evolve75
  • Powerful music w/ 40mm speakers & AAC codecs
  • Device management with Jabra Direct and Xpress
  • Personalisation with Jabra Sound+ and Jabra Direct
  • Google fast pair* (*Android Only)

BUY

VIDEO LINK 

 

 

Tech Review – Creative Stage 360 soundbar with Dolby Atmos

Need to up the game in your home with some better sound well the Creative Stage 360 soundbar is one to look out for if you want better home entertainment, not only that this can be used for gaming and also connecting bluetooth devices too and more so if you are having friends over and want to pump out the tunes it is no problem.

The design and build is much the same as the previous model but only better when it comes to the sound element with many settings to pick from to get the exact fine tuning you need and this can be done via the remote control or there is some options via the keys placed on top of the soundbar itself, the subwoofer just plugs in beside it and then you can place where it suits you best.

With the integration of Dolby Atmos technology, the Creative Stage 360 allows users to enjoy three-dimensional, cinema-like audio with realistic surround and height reproduction by simply playing any supported Dolby Atmos content from popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video and many more. The latest soundbar also boasts all-new, custom-tuned racetrack drivers along with a dedicated long-throw subwoofer as well as a total peak power of up to 240W to deliver a stronger audio punch with every beat.

Adding to that, this soundbar is optimized for both near-field and far-field listening – regardless of whether it is placed in the living room or at the desktop, users can easily switch between either setting with the newly-designed IR remote control.

With the integration of Dolby Atmos technology, the Creative Stage 360 allows users to enjoy three-dimensional, cinema-like audio with realistic surround and height reproduction by simply playing any supported Dolby Atmos content from popular streaming platforms such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video and many more. The latest soundbar also boasts all-new, custom-tuned racetrack drivers along with a dedicated long-throw subwoofer as well as a total peak power of up to 240W to deliver a stronger audio punch with every beat.

Adding to that, this soundbar is optimized for both near-field and far-field listening – regardless of whether it is placed in the living room or at the desktop, users can easily switch between either setting with the newly-designed IR remote control.

Check out the video below for an unboxing and sound test where you can see what the Stage 360 offers and from where I sit and having tested it does an excellent job and gives you am more immersive feel to watching films and more and turning the volume up to the max.

BUY HERE

Video Link

Tech Review – Tronsmart Apollo Q10 ANC headphones

The Apollo Q10 are the latest headphones on offer from Tronsmart and come in at an affordable price, these cans are over ears and very comfortable to wear even long term and are light in comparison to other offerings out there. Tronsmart have been delivering great value tech for the consumer and this is no different here.

Build and design.

They are mostly plastic like most headphones to be fair but they are robust all round and they have a simple clean look not trying to be bigger than they are the headband is comfortable and overall a lightweight pair of cans that will be ideal for any listening experience the cups are soft and nestle nicely on the ears.

Controls

This is the good thing with the headphones as it is gestures rather than buttons and they work really well, on the right cup you have the Tronsmart logo and behind this is the gesture area for making your commands with simple swipes up/down left and right etc, we go through this in the video review below. There is an MFB button on the headset which one might confuse it for a power on/off but this gives you access to your voice assistant only. The power on/off button and USB-C port are hidden underneath the arm of the headphones which is a strange placement but they are there but even for me it took me a minute to find them.

Sound

Sound is great and better than one might expect also you have access to the Tronsmart app which gives you additional options with an EQ that is notably different in their standard setup you can also customise your own EQ setting highs lows and mids are clear and there is good bass here especially with the EQ and loud volume too, for music gaming films and more they pass the test for a really great experience for anyone who invests in them.

Tronsmart Apollo Q10 techbuzzireland

ANC and Mics

ANC works well here and will block out most if not all the outside world I recently seen the dumbest tech quote from a “tech journalist” who likes to also lash out stock image reviews with little context saying bloggers waffle on about ANC and who would use it then goes on to say who would use it, ANC is a feature most people want to block the outside world and be immersed in their music or whatever they might be doing with their headphones or earbuds and it is a feature that I would not live without and on these headphones it works well,there is 5 mics on this headset and two mic ports on top of the headphones.

Battery

Battery life is great with a max of 100 hours you will get less with ANC and high volume use which is the standard for me but overall a good battery life with a 10 minute charge giving you three hours of use which is nice.

Conclusion

Overall these are a worthy pair of headphones for their price and deliver on the audio experince if you are on a budget and need new headphones you perhaps should check these out.

Features

  • 5 Mics for 35dB Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling.
  • 40mm Dynamic Neodymium Speaker.
  • Patented Power-saving Technology.
  • Up to 100-hour of Playtime.
  • Three Modes Switchable for Different Scenarios.
  • Convenient Multifunctional Touch Control.
  • 360° Foldable Design for Comfortable Wearing.
  • Supports APP Function.

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Tronsmart 

VIDEO LINK

 

 

Tech Review – Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro

When you test as many earbuds as I do it is not often something comes along that just blow your mind and it is not often I would say that but fir the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro these without doubt are my number one earbuds moving into 2022 having said that there is still a going through the review process and up to where we are now these most likely fill the number one spot which is hard to fill and from their Liberty Air 2 Pro  we checked out earlier which have been in my top 5 all year the LIberty 3 Pro will be hard to beat I think.

Design,build and fit.

This is a new fresh design compared to their older model and one that is welcome with a really cool case to go with it that is like a large pebble it feels good to hold looks cool too in the colour we have in for review and will fit in any pocket. The earbuds themselves are a new design braking away from the common looks we see like stems etc are they stand out, the fit might not be for everyone but with the right tips you have a solid fit giving great isolation.

Soundcore Liberty 3 pro techbuzzireland

Sound

When it comes to sound these are simply great and with their own app you have some toying around with to get that perfect tuning you need and they also support LDAC ( download required for this) which is something you do not see much these days, they sound fantastic to put it simple and with the app features you are on a win here no matter what way you look at it, ANC works well and as mentioned before we have had tech reviewers bang on about who needs ANC most people do that’s why we have it present in many earbuds today and not forgetting you do also have transparency mode to should you wish to hear your surroundings. Great base to be found too loud, punchy highs lows and mids fine and in short no matter what you listen you are going to be impressed.

Battery Life

Battery Life is quite good here plus we have wireless charging thrown in for good measure which for me works, 15 mins of  charge will give you up to three hours up to 8 hours on the buds and the case in total gives you 32 with using ANC on and high volumes those numbers decrease and will vary per person and their personal settings.

Conclusion

Overall these are a win and for us here and now take the number one spot right now which is hard to declare considering we test the most range of earbuds here in Ireland with more to come from other known brands it will be interesting to see can they keep that spot and remember their Liberty Pro 2 are also up high on the list.. People can argue and which they are right to do so on an opinion as everyone’s ears differ but from testing so many earbuds for me these are top dog and for those who sniff ant ANC which is excellent hear are better off staying quite and post reviews with context rather than two paragraph reviews with stock images. People like to see that you actually have reviewed them and not just comment.

Features

 

  • ACAA 2.0 with Knowles Balanced Armature driver and 10.6mm dynamic driver.
  • HearID ANC for customizable usage scenarios
  • LDAC, AAC and SBC codec for best sounding music
  • Two transparency modes enhance the outside noises without removing earbuds.
  • Upto 8-hour battery in earbuds with ANC off / 6-hour battery with ANC on (at 60% vol.)
  • Wireless charging compatible case with 32-hour battery (with ANC off) and 24-hour battery (with ANC on) as well as USB-C charging.
  • Anker Fast Charging technology – 15 minutes charging earbuds = 3 hours of playtime
  • 6-mic AI uplink noise reduction helps minimize background noise during calls
  • Customizable user touch controls for play/pause, track advance, volume, etc.
  • Bluetooth version – 5.2
  • Waterproof rating – IPX4
  • Available in Four Colors: Midnight Black, Frost White, Fog Gray and Dusk Purple
  • Earbud size // Case size – 0.69″ x 1.11″ x 1.05″ // 2.79″ x 2.18″ x 1.10″
  • Earbud weight / Case weight – 0.21 oz // 1.55 oz

Check the video for more and what is on offer with their companion app.

BUY 

Video Link 

 

Tech Review – Fairphone 4

The Fairphone 4 is the latest phone on offer from the company and the big difference here between this phone and others is the ability to repair the device yourself and called a modular device, alone this also sparks another conversation which is the right to repair in which we are now seeing things happen whereby it will allow customers to repair their phones themselves or replace parts and this is where Fairphone stand out from the crowd here and not only recently either, the company have been doing this 7 years.. Fairphone are also known for sustainability too using 14 key materials from sustainable and fairer sources

Design and build

The phone itself is a pretty standard build and on the bigger side with a 6.3inch screen and a thickness of 10.5mm which is thicker than most however it feels solid in the hand and sturdy even though the back cover is plastic and removable which is a rare thing these days it but here is how you access the parts.. It has bezels all round with a slight teardrop up top which may annoy some folk but when you have bezels all round you get the full use of the screen estate and being a bigger phone it makes sense as for many it would be a two handed device but having said that it is a comfortable phone to hold with rounded edges and no sharp corners.

There is no headphone jack present here and on the right side is where all the action is with the volume toggles and power/on/off key which doubles as a fingerprint sensor, there is no tap to wake here or face unlock so you will be using this touch key to access the phone which some folk have complained about in the unboxing video below which has garnered much comments and thoughts on the phone.

On the bottom of the device you have a speaker and USB-C port and a mic so overall it is a clean to the point phone in my opinion though lacking in some other features at this pricepoint.

UNBOXING AND WALKTHROUGH THE FAIRPHONE 4

Under the hood

Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G, Fairphone OS based on Android 11, 6 GB/GB ram options, Storage comes at 128/256GB with micro sd card expansion, IP54 rated, Screen, 6.3in FHD+ LCD (410ppi) and cameras are a dual affair 48MP rear, 25MP selfie camera which is looks like many other offerings out there however there is a corner sliced off and no where near a bump like the others, there is a slight rock on a flat surface but only if you touch the far upper left hand side of the phone.

The cameras

OK they are not going to win awards here however this is not what the company wants to do either but give a fair price phone that just about does everything and they do this overall, the camera specs is what many people like and is the b all and end all of a phone which is polarising for me, I like a phone that gets the job done, I use an iPhone 13 Pro and Galaxy Z flip 3 as faily drivers but could use this phone too should I need too I am lucky to have access to many phones on the market and my current daily drivers change all the time and for the last while I have been using another smartphone alongside this and again the same applies, it is a cheaper handset and like I have said before the need to spend over a grand on a phone is long gone.

The camera performs better in the day and at times I have noticed shutter lag and again it is not the only phone to have seen this happen, once in bright well lit areas it will do well some images felt a bit washed or overexposed and you can tinker with image editors to get a better result, at night well its not great and I hate to say things like that but it is the case here and again the same is said about another device I am testing and it is part and parcel of phones priced similarly but it has to be said some more expensive phones can be worse off here, the video below will let you see and make your own call here anyway but  it does a decent enough job but more so in good lighting conditions.

IMAGE AND VIDEO SAMPLES

 

Performance

It performs pretty well there was some lag here and there on multitasking and scrolling but overall done fine for the tasks I use and I am a power user with any phone I use and test battery was decent easily getting me through a day no problem the 3,905 mAh battery is replaceable and can be charged to 50% in 30 minutes (with minimum 20W charger) two days was a push given I work with two phones normally but when testing just over a day was average using this phone as the main device for my work social media and more.

Conclusion

The phone is not out to set any records and the company has a different approach than others but want to get a message across and save the planet whilst doing so and this is a good move and more should be doing it, e-waste is a huge problem and we are all guilty of it but they other main key thing is here is the option to repair the phone yourself. Look here for the price at the parts and see for yourself. To top things off you get 5G speed which requires a 5G sim but that is something I would stay away from for another year at least in Ireland,plus you get the additional 5-year warranty.

BUY