Tag: #review

Tech Review – Bose QC 45 headphones

Bose have been a popular brand here in Ireland and with a range of headphones and earphones there is a selection of products for everyone but the most prominent pair of headphones for the brand has been the QC 35 which many reviewers raved about, I have not owned a pair of the QC 35 but did try them for a day and they were quite impressive it has to be said so how does the latest pair of cans hold up and in general how are they and are they worth the money, well lets have a look..

The presentation is good so that is a good start and you can see the unboxing and full review below to see more but the product itself is really nice and feels solid and I do like the colour we have here although over time I would be interested to see if this fades or gets dirty but so far so good and I always take case of my earbuds and headphones using the cases provided which is probably why I get good distance with my huge collection..

They are comfortable very comfortable and light and can be worn for hours on end with no issues and for me that is great as I tend to watch alot of movies and listen to music at home and on the go and it is part of my daily routine with the amount of earbuds I test every day of the week.

The cups are super comfortable as is the headband and they sit nicely on the ears and block out pretty much all the outside world when on the head. there is a ratchet style extension arm each side which is made of plastic and metal the entire headset is mostly plastic but solid.

Ok so onto the app and here is where I get pissed off straight away with the amount of information they require however this is now becoming a common feature with headphones and earbuds and over time I can see this getting on peoples nerves and perhaps move to other products but it is common today and Bose are not the only ones looking for TMI to use a product you pay big money for as is..

 

The app is easy to use and all you require is present inside for you to use the headphones along with the physical buttons on the cans themselves. Again we go through this in the video review below it is a simple straight forward process overall and you will be up and running in no time, you can access your voice assistant, skip and reverse tracks, higher and lower the volume and control your calls, all is good here.

How do they sound then.. Well good as a whole and depending on your personal taste there was some overlapping in certain songs from my playlists overall good but the volume not the loudest for me, I like my music loud and have louder headphones but again this is personal. For music in general and movies they provide a decent balance and great vocals and direction so for anyone who is in the market and not an audiophile looking for new cans they are worth the look.

Are they worth the price? No in short, Bose like other brands have a fan-base but in this day and age there is great value costing less and more of it we have seen this with earbuds and headphones no different. The Bose QC 45 are widely available for 349 euros.

Video Review

 

Tech Review – Creative Pebble Pro speakers

The Creative Pebble Pro speakers are certainly something to look at if you are one to spend all day at your pc and more, they would also make an ideal gift for a tech fan in your life or even something just for you, The design is familiar and the colour in which we have to review is quite nice and neutral with the controls on one side which is handy and you can also pop in wired headphones if you wish but then again we have got Bluetooth 5.3 on board here which is the latest. The 45 degree angle delivers the sound where it should be going and unlike your TV which is mostly downward firing and your laptop up ward firing this sends the audio the right direction to make it more immersive and give you a better audio experience no matter if it is gaming music or even movies you might be doing on your PC.

Small and portable these can be moved into any room in the house which I like and the colour too as it is simple to keep clean, the build and design is robust and will last and overall looks well with simple controls on one side which allows you to change the volume the RGB lights and pair a new device so simplicity is another key factor here.

With the longer cable provided this can be used for almost any set up unlike mine which is on the small side but I do have two areas at home where I work. When it comes to the sound they sound great and better than before with more bass more volume and better direction but check the video below for more.

Features 

  • A wide array of connectivity options that include Bluetooth 5.3 wireless technology, 3.5mm AUX-in port, USB-C port for audio streaming and power

  • Headphone and microphone ports to transform the Pebble Pro as a convenient communications tool, or for late-night private listening

  • Series signature 45-degree elevated angle for optimal audio projection to users’ ears

  • Long wire (1.8m / 5.9 ft) connecting both speakers; offers more flexibility in placement

  • Long USB-C cable (1.5m / 4.92 ft) for connection to the computer

The Creative Pebble Pro is priced at € 79.99, £ 65.99, US$59.99 and is available at Creative.com.

Buy – www.creative.com/PebblePro.

Video Review

Tech Review – HHOGene GPods

The HHOGene Gpods are a first of its kind and it is what we like to do here and recently we have reviewed another brand which had a similar first of its kind product with their outer casing and sci-fi based and it gave consumers something different over the industry standard today which is boring but it is what it is and it is hard to come up with new ideas keeping the cost down and giving someone totally different. As is we have most manufactures of earbuds etc giving us a refreshed model each year with some design hues kept from previous iterations and it works for most and is fine with me being honest it is how the tech cycle works.

Yes we do get these random new products into market they either succeeded or fail and go on to make more products and again we have worked with companies before that have succeeded still today with new products each year and so on. We have worked with many kickstarter and indiegogo tech products and this latest one is something to take note of..

The presentation is great to start with as you would have seen here in the full unboxing experience so that gets a thumbs up to start with so how does it go after that is what people want to know and how they sound as well as look..

These are comfortable to wear and fit really well in the ears with small stems however the stems is where it is at with how they work and are controlled via an app which allows you to pick from a selection of colours or even create your own we go through all that in the video review below anyway..

Yes they are comfortable to wear with a good seal and as always ensure you have the right tips to get the best results. So how do they sound and is a light show enough to attract the buyers?

So lets talk about the app, the app is really well done it has to be said and again we look at this below in the review in detail and it has many features, there is some features lacking that hopefully can be added later such as an EQ setting and volume control however after that it is quite good and gives you a preview also of shell types and can adjust some settings for the controls, there is no voice assistant access present as yet.

Artificial Intelligence with algorithmic capabilities allow for arranging photos and analysing the colour ratios found in stored photo images. Colours for each pixel point in an image are sorted in order to calculate colour blocks. These blocks are transformed into light which is then projected in colorful style from each earbud.

How do they sound then. These are powered by 10 mm drivers, they are balanced well with some bass thrown in but with no EQ you cant control the music to your requirements but they sound good out of the box and this can be addressed with third party apps but I find them useless being honest, there is no volume control or voice assistant access and limited controls all of which can be changed by software which i would like to see but for a pair of earbuds thy sound good and overall do a good job and by no means sound cheap. The ANC is ok and there is many more settings to customise them to an extent. Battery life is around 3 hours even with the light show on and again this could be also used as a safety feature in the dark mornings and evenings. You also have fast charge where 10 mins will give you two hours use.

Overall here this is something new giving a complete new aesthetic look to earbuds which have become boring looking now and it is a new design that could and most likely will be repeated by others, combining great looks and a decent audio experience I hope to see more in the future from the company and some updates on their app.

BUY

Video review

 

Tech Review – Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2X soundbar

Creative over the years have had many soundbars which we have tried and tested and recently I have a private viewing of what other soundbars they have and they keep upping their game, A soundbar for me is essential as the speakers in your TV are in general rubbish and downward firing which still today is funny knowing it will not give the user the full effect unless hung on a wall, most have their TV sat on a unit and the sound goes nowhere nor gives you a real experience, now some TVs are good and do give you a decent audio experience but for the most it is rubbish and I have always had a soundbar regardless and mostly for Creative.

This bad boy is targeted for the gamer but lets not forget audio is important no matter be it a movie or a game session and this covers them all, not only that as a general speaker you can connect your phone and blow the floorboards out of it and enjoy superb sound too. So in short this latest package is not just restricted to the gamer but for the whole audio experience in general after my testing and audio has been a key feature for me many years now investing in home cinema packages before I got into the tech review scene and so on and most people will note this involves wires all over the place which is annoying.

Not the case today though with how tech has moved on, you do not need huge speakers or subwoofers and cables all over the place along with satellite speakers in all corners followed by wires things have advanced and there is also wireless options at hand for those who want them.

There are various connectivity options to choose from, including HDMI ARC and optical ports, wireless Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C port for USB audio support, 3.5mm AUX-in and SXFI-out for certified Super X-Fi products. This versatile soundbar is compatible with desktops and consoles alike, including PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

This soundbar retains the familiar sound signature of a high-end Sound Blaster, delivering hi-fidelity multichannel audio via the acclaimed tri-amplified Xamp technology, where Creative’s proprietary multi-core DSP controller powers the tweeters, mid-range and subwoofer drivers individually. Super X-Fi Headphone Holography, an award-winning technology which recreates the soundstage of a high-end multi-speaker system in headphones, is perfect for late-night game binges without disturbing the neighbors. If you do get your hands on one you should try it with headphones too as it is immersive and you have access to the app as mentioned

Overall this is a must have for the home be it for gaming movies music and more and check the video below on how it operates and sounds, go get one if you want superb sound with the RGB factor thrown in for good measure.

BUY 

Video

Tech Review – Tranya S2 smartwatch

The S2 smartwatch is the latest on offer from Tranya who are also known for their earbuds which have been featured here many times and great value for money, the new smartwatch on offer at first looks was solid and decent out of the box and has a great build quality to it too so how does if fair out after some testing..

You can treat this watch as a feature watch which is akin to smartphones yet it still does a good job an has one feature other watches do not have that I have seen which is outgoing messages from any app you use which is handy, the display is nice and clear even under the sun and the pushers work well and the build quality is great. You have plenty of smarts inside too and there is much to see on this which we show in the video review below.

It has all the other basics too like sleep and heart monitoring your social media notifications but no calls on the device or the ability to reply from the watch but other than that it still kept me away from my phone which is great and using other smartwatches besides this the steps and hear rate functions etc are on point which is good from an accuracy point of view.

The watch also looks good and can be customised which is great and there is a tonne of faces to pick from in their app which is good and not the usual handful of faces you often find in other watches on the same platform. With an always on display that lasts two days and that is pushing all notifications to it possible you cant complain at the price it asks and would make an ideal present this Christmas if you are stuck to buy something for someone or even for yourself I like it alot and for me offers good value and its not a cheap looking or built watch either. For the sports fan this is loaded with apps for over 25 sports which is more than enough for the average user or even first time users of a smartwatch.

Check the video below for more.

Features

  • 1.32” Wide Screen High-resolution Display with Super Lightweight
  • A Quick Check to All The Notifications on The Display
  • Monitoring Heart Rate and Blood Oxygen
  • 3ATM Waterproof, Water-resistant up to 30 meters
  • 200mAh Battery Capacity, Long 7-10 Day Battery
  • Modern Sleeping System to Optimize Sleeping Data Every day
  • 25 Unique Sports Modes to Cater to Different Fitness Needs
  • Check The Weather Display Anytime
  • 100+ & Custom Watch Faces
  • Exploring More Functions by “Glory Fit” App

Buy

Video review

Tech Review – Sony Linkbuds

The Sony Linkbuds are certainly a strange pair of earbuds when compared to the rest on the market today and it was quite the topic when I had them out in public, People seen them on the table be it out for breakfast or dinner or enjoying a few pints all asked “what the heck are they” and when i said earbuds the response was “no way” so I introduced them all to the new style of earbuds that perhaps was a risky move but for me a good one because you would get bored of the same design and styles that are out there today and you have to give Sony credit for that.

So I have been using these a few weeks and there is many reviews already and we go into more detail in the video review below so be sure to check out where we look at the design and their app and more. The first thing that would spring to mind does the quality of sound get less with a smaller product and the answer for the most part is no, I did find the volume a little on the lower side than I would prefer too but that is my personal choice here.

They lack other features too which I would expect but this is a new move by Sony and a completely new design from the norm so they had to give somewhere, they look like a small polo mint but do not let that put you off on how they fit and stay in your ears because they do both well and never fell out for me but for some others that tried they did, we all have different ears after all.

There is little noise isolation here either however this is the purpose of them I think to allow you to hear your surroundings which for some is a good thing, no ANC which again might be fine for some and I get the point here as these are to allow you listen to music and what is also going on around you so not for everyone considering we have passthrough now on most earbuds today.

When it comes to sound they do a decent job to be fair but again not as loud and I found the bass a bit lacking in comparison to other earbuds from Sony so for bass lovers you might pass on these but  they have their app which can allow you to tweak things a little and their app is decent to be fair. When it comes to an overall audio experience they do fine on highs lows and mids and all that good stuff and if you are watching movies or gaming the audio quality is decent yet you can still hear your surroundings at the same time.

Call quality is actually good but no multipoint connection which for some might be a problem however I do not see these as an earbud you would use in an office environment, given I test mine in both at my office and outside I see these more for those on the go or the gym for example or again those who travel on public transport but with earbuds today you can really use them anywhere you like and people will wear just about anything these days be it for show or just that I have the latest look at me kinda thing like Apple fanboys for example.

The price is where a problem may lie for some with the omitted features mentioned above but Sony has a loyal fanbase and will still buy into it and again to have something different than the rest and these certainly are that..

The Sony Linkbuds are now widely available and check the price in your region or online as they do vary quite a bit. Buy from Sony.ie

Video Review

Tech Review – Gravastar Sirius P5 combo earbuds

The Gravastar Sirius P5 have been a hit at home here with family and friends with how the package was presented and also the ability to change the skins which is a first and for me it is also a welcome option and other manufacturers should take note, we can change our phone cases anytime with options galore but why not with our earbuds and I do not mean by a skin or case I mean included in the package you buy. If you missed the unboxing see it here.

Ok so there is no app here again which is fine but I feel like one could come along soon from the company to ad some more to their already great line-up of products that also sound good but do these pass the test on sound like previous models? In short yes the are well balanced decently loud and more, highs lows and mids are fine, direction is great nice bass and overall the right balance has been made again with these earbuds and for me will be fine for anyone who is not an audiophile, having said that they are a cut above the rest for this price too and for gaming movies and YouTube music etc they done a great job for me with the 12 mm drivers inside, not only that battery life is great and the light that you can see through the case is also a battery indicator to give you an idea of when to recharge them, the battery life is also good here getting 7.5 hour mark for me on max volume. The controls are the same as before here and easy to use and again we demo this in the video review below.

An important feature to note here is they have got multipoint connection which is often left out on earbuds three times the price of these which is a great feature which makes them ideal for people who like to use either a PC or phone for example.

Overall here you are getting value for money something different and a product that sounds good too and most of all looks good so for aesthetics here shining through the sound is not cheap dull or boring and punchy and again these  make an ideal gift for yourself of the sci-fi lover in your life. Check the video for more below.

Additional Tech Specs 

  • Battery Type: Polymer lithium-ion battery
  • Earbuds Charging Time: 1.5 hours
  • Single Earbuds Battery Capacity: 45 mAh
  • Single Earbuds Weight: 5g
  • Charging Case Battery Capacity: 500 mAh
  • Charging Case Charging Time: 2 hours
  • Input: 5V–350mA
  • Output: 5V–150mA
  • Playtime: Up to 8 hours of listening time with full charge (50% volume) ● Standby time: Around 80 hours
  • Bluetooth: V5.2
  • Bluetooth Protocol: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP
  • Decoding Format: SBC/AAC/APTX
  • Bluetooth Distance: >10m
  • Sensitivity: 99dB+/- 3dB
  • Frequency response range: 20Hz – 20KHz

BUY

Video review

Tech Review – Sony Linkbuds S

The Sony Linkbuds S are the follow up to the Linkbuds which has a mixed reaction when launched but they sound good and move away from the traditional look and thus we have the usual looking earbuds this time around and perhaps for the better for some but at least Sony tried something new in a boring world of earbuds that either come with or without stems and not much room in between for design elements.

The earbuds are smaller than most and light and this is also fine with me they have a nice texture which again is new and this also applies to the case which is pocketable too and overall a decent package which you can see here in the unboxing experience. Yes the packaging is the same as before with the Linkbuds but fine and well thought out.

The Sony Linkbuds S of course come with app access which you can set up and be sure to use all the features at hand there is plenty on offer here in the app and that includes Adaptive sound control and a suite of EQ settings to get the desired tuning that you prefer, we go through the app in the video review below to show you more of what to expect but in general all is good here as expected.

The ANC works well and I had these on a flight recently and kept most of the outside world of crying babies and engine sound away, they are not as good as their headphones however we are getting closer to a headphones experience now with earbuds in the ANC department and this is a good thing.

I was impressed with how these sound and they are decently loud too which I like and again you can change settings in the app which also allows you to change sound compression with DSEE, highs lows and mids were fine nice bass but not the deepest bass but for watching movies listening to music and so on they do a great job overall.

Powered by 5mm drivers which are small in comparison to others out there they did well with audio in general and have been great on calls, also like many earbuds now you do not have to touch your phone as often with speak to chat and also have your messages read out to you and I like this implementation here and it works well as do the controls on the earbuds which have been on point every time unlike others can be.

Battery life is on the low side here with around 5 hours or so and less with max volume and ANC which is how I usually rock my earbuds and headphones, there is a quick charge feature that allows you an extra 90 mins on a 10 minute charge and the case gives you 12 hours and a feature omitted this time around is wireless charging which is fine but an option I prefer.

Overall for the price you pay they are decent but it is getting more competitive in the earbuds market and cheaper alternatives can be found with more features like wireless charging and aptX included but at the same time they fit well look good and do a decent job they have also got an IPX4 rating so for those into sports it is ideal and in general a well balanced product.

See more in the video review below.

 

Features 

The world’s smallest and lightest, noise cancelling, Hi-Res Truly wireless headphones 

Sony have engineered these remarkably small and light truly wireless headphones, approximately 4.8 grams in weight, with comfort in mind. LinkBuds S combine a shape that perfectly matches the human ear with an ergonomic design for a more stable fit, so you can steer clear of annoying ear pain that gets in the way of you and your entertainment.  

Keep all your worlds on with natural ambient sound   

LinkBuds S provide you with the best of both worlds. These headphones combine LinkBuds innovative ambient sound concept that lets you interact with the world around you, with high-quality noise cancelling allowing you to focus on the content you love and nothing else. You can step into a coffee shop and quickly order with ease, then just as quickly sit back and enjoy your favourite entertainment distraction-free. 

The headphones integrate Adaptive Sound Control, a smart feature that adjusts ambient sound settings depending on where you are, creating the ideal listening experience. With this, you can seamlessly move through your surroundings all while letting your favourite artists and entertainment play on. 

A new sound experience for AR gaming   

Sony is collaborating with its partner company Niantic in the area of audio AR by developing an AR game that can be enjoyed not only visually but also audibly. When you play their game “Ingress” using LinkBuds S, the sensor and spatial sound technology will enable players to enjoy a new experience in which sound is delivered according to the direction they are facing.

Read more HERE

Video review

Tech Review – Waatr PureMax 4D self cleaning bottle, The Porsche of water bottles

We all drink water we all carry bottles and water is good for us and this new gadget we have been testing takes it to the next level. I have seen water bottle reviews before with not one ounce of tech in them but it is what it is but this bottle has and it has had people asking me questions and curiosity is a good thing but when I explained what this is all about the people that did see where like sure Jim we believe you but when I gave them a demo and told them what is inside and how it works they changed their mind. Yes it is a regular thing here in my house and WTF is that you have now which is funny and great at the same time been able to test new things and have the opportunity to do so..

Ok so after testing this for a few weeks here at home and out and about people will want to know what is the difference here between this and other bottles out there we all use today, for example I have several branded water bottles here I have used over the years with no tech in them and just a nice logo representing brands I work with, they hold water have a nice build and look to them and that is as far as it goes there is no tech involved at all so your water could be warm or cold and you get what you sip in short and like it or lump it, yes the convenience of a bottle is great but it has its limits and no much more than the bottle you might buy in your local food store.

In our vital need for hydration, water is processed, packaged, and stored, and picking up germs along the way, essentially degrading from its purest state. At WAATR, we aim to bring water back to its most natural state with an innovative line of products.

The build quality is top notch to begin with, our test bottle is on the larger side and might be cumbersome for some to use but there is a nice handle on the top and the container itself is super strong and can see it lasting a long long time. To use the bottle is not difficult at all there is no app yet one switch on the lid to make one of two choices with an LED lamp too that serves as a status light..

You can simply twist the cap off refill the bottle, inside you have a choice of two filters and you can buy these from the company as times goes.. PUREMAX 4D filter cartridge system consists of a proprietary blend of coconut charcoal and ion-exchange resin. Coconut charcoal is a highly porous organic material designed to capture organic molecules and chlorine effectively. Ion-exchange resin is a spherical porous bead resin material designed to exchange ions (inorganics) in the water for other Ions fixed in the resin. This process is very effective in reducing the hardness of the water.

 

 

What is 4D Purification

Powered by cutting-edge 4D Purification technology that first treats your water by destroying bio-contaminants using two powerful UV-C LEDs. These UV-C LEDs are intelligently placed inside the cap to achieve 1000000X purification by minimising the shadow effect caused by microscopic contaminants. Second, a state-of-the-art multistage filter cartridge system further purifies your water by removing various chemical, metal, particulate, and micro-plastic impurities.

So does my water taste better you ask? Dam right it does and it is also cooler than a traditional bottle, in my case it allows me to carry more water too given the container size which suits me, as mentioned this one might be cumbersome but the lid helps and saves you carrying multiple bottles, and for a fresh tasting cooler sup of water each time it is certainly a win for me and anyone who is looking at picking this up.

But there is more than just drinking water here in this bottle, you can cleanse your phone your keys and other items that will fit inside with the UV-C LEDs so this makes it even better than you might think and serving your water up clean and fresh is great but with the ability to keep your goods in top shape it is an added bonus and for me I can see this been more widely used going forward.

See the video below for more and what it is all about.

 

Features

WAATR PureMax 4D

  • 4D Purification® technology: First destroys and then filters water as you sip for maximum purification
  • Pro self-cleaning bottle
  • 2x 20mW UVC LEDs
  • 1,000,000X purification against bio-contaminants
  • Modular filter cartridge system
  • Includes 1x ARTESIAN filter and 1x PURIST filter
  • Reduces a wide range of impurities
  • Triple insulation 25 oz bottle
  • 18/8 stainless steel
  • Smart hydration reminder
  • Spout design
  • Portless magnetic charger
  • TSA-friendly
  • Limited availability – First Edition Bottle

BUY

Video