Tag: #review

Tech Review – Auna Line A 100 2.0 tower speakers

Over the last few weeks I had some changes to the sound system in my sitting room and we got something different which is tower speakers, these speakers come in different colours and spec and also look great in the house, they can be moved around to even though they are on the large size but no matter where you place them you are going to get superb sound which is what you want when gaming or watching movies.

The speakers also give out a total of 160 watts which is loud,so loud in fact the floor and couch rattles akin to what you pay 20 quid for with a seat in your local cinema, these speakers bring the cinema experience to you sitting room or gaming set up and you will not be dissapointed, the style though may not be for all but for a change we went with the towers and I like them and they look well beside the main couch you can place them anywhere as mentioned but for the best experince you should perhaps place them centre of the room.

The system is excellent when it comes to use case, you have got a USB port MIcro Sd card slot and optical connections which is all you need, streaming music from your phone is great and when in use in other scenarios the sound is excellent overall..

The compact auna Line 100 A 2.0 features an 8″ (20 cm) OneSide Subwoofer, a 4″ (10 cm) midrange, and a 1″ (2.5 cm) tweeter per speaker. Musical content is reproduced with a power of 40 watts RMS / 80 maximum. The basic features include an SD slot and a USB port for reliable playback of MP3s. The Bluetooth function is capable of wirelessly connecting music to the speakers via a smartphone. A stereo audio input completes the connection repertoire of the stylish floor-standing speakers. The OneSide Subwoofer provides remarkably full bass and room-filling sounds. A clear LED display with smooth push buttons and an included remote control make handling of the line 100 A particularly comfortable. The floor-standing speakers, with their small footprint, take up very little space and fit easily into any living environment thanks to their clear design with a low-vibration bass reflex cabinet.

Check out the video review below and see what the sound is like but I can tell you it is great and worth the purchase..

 

Top features

  • Powerful sound: 2.0 speaker system with 80 watts of total power for high music enjoyment
  • Room-filling sounds: OneSide Subwoofer for remarkably full bass
  • Wireless: Bluetooth function for music streaming via smartphone, tablet or PC
  • Versatile playback options: including USB port, SD slot and stereo audio input
  • Simple operation: thanks to LED display with smooth push buttons
  • Elegant design: slim shape blends perfectly into any living environment

This package was purchased by TBI and we have no affiliation with the company no input or payment was received..

BUY 

VIDEO

Tech Review – Goodmans 30W compact bluetooth soundbar

We are all aware most speakers on our TV are not the best but they are getting better, still today we see some very expensive sets with the speakers firing down which is useless unless you have a home stereo system with it and then the additional cost on top of that is what would put some off buying,. Soundbars though have grown in popularity and come in several sizes and of course prices to suit all pockets, once they where and expensive kit but now relatively cheap however there is some that command huge money today and even more than a complete surround system..

This little guy is compact and clean with buttons on one side should you loose your remote control and this are tactile buttons too and work well, the unit is finished off with a glossy plastic and an aluminium grille which looks clean and will suit most compatible TVs.

This works well with your TV and not only this you can also use your smartphone to blast out the tunes too, with a HDMI port on the back it is the best way to connect to your TV as there is no optical present here, the speaker does sound good and does enhance the listening experience and plays music well via your smartphone or streaming service, it is not the loudest soundbar I have had here in for review but easily outperforms poorly placed speakers on older TVs and so on but you can check the sample sounds below for more. Goodmans also offer bigger sized soundbars here but they cost more but the fact there is sizes to pick from is a good one compared to others who do not offer this.

Features:

  • HDMI Input
  • 2.0 Channel Stereo Speakers
  • 30W
  • 41cm Width

Includes:

  • Remote Control
  • Power Adaptor
  • Wall Mount Fixings
  • 3.5mm Line-In Cable
  • 3.5mm Line-In to RCA Cable
  • RCA to RCA Cable

BUY

Video Link

Tech Review – Dottir Sports headphones.

Over the last while I have been testing out the Dottir Sports headphones which have had features specifically selected by two training partners and competitors — both two-time winners of the title “World’s Fittest Woman” at the CrossFit Games Katrin Davidsdottir and Annie Thorisdottir, On first appearance many said they look like Apple rivals but then realised by the branding they are not and again they are cheaper than said rival product which many still pay a hefty price for in my book. If you missed the first look see the video here 

Design Build and Fit

These are probably the best fitting hooked headphones I have tried in some time , they fit really well they give a good seal and will not fall off no matter what exercise you do and you can take that to the bank. They are not heavy you would almost forget they are there after a while and overall comfortable to wear too even for long periods.

They are well built and I do like the colour however the longevity of it holding up is another matter but they are easy to clean,on each side you have buttons which are raised and easy to use even blindly but when putting the headphones on you may accidently hit on them which is no huge deal to be honest but it does take two hands to fit them right but after a while the one handed approach is good if you are a user of such styled headphones which there is plenty of out there in the market aimed at fitness folk.

The housing is plastic with a matt finish to them and looks well in the colour we tested which is White and there is an Ash Grey option too which is nice, more colours would be nice and we might see that change down the road as we do with many brands out there now.

Controls

The controls are simple to use as mentioned and you also have a touch area too that you tap to execute play and pause and your voice controls, all of this we demonstrate in the video review below so do check it out, you have all the usual features there too such as volume control and skip/reverse tracks etc.

Sound

These unfortunately do not have an app to change the EQ but you can use one on your phone if you wish but they tend to be via third party apps and are not great but the thing is they sound pretty good out of the box as is with nice bass and volume and all testing that I normally do came back to be fine across the board, they also have auto play and pause, you have also got ANC whilst not the best I have heard it is fine and you also have transparency mode if you want to hear what is going on around you especially if you are out jogging on dark evenings etc.. Calls are fine and clear for the few I took whilst testing and that was both ends.

They do a great job overall to be fair and they are ideal for the fitness type and gym gurus and also come with an IPX7 rating with decent battery and the charge case is really cool to and also their choice of packaging is nice to see going forward with the environment in mind.

Dottir Audio headphones techbuzzireland

Specs

SOUND
Powerful 13mm dynamic drivers that provide strong bass and precision across the frequency curve.

Pump out amazing sound to keep you pumped throughout your workout. Up to 35dB noise reduction Hybrid ANC

DESIGN In-ear headphones/ IPX7 waterproof and ergonomic design for athletes/ Magnetic earbuds with in-ear detection for auto play and pause

Weight: 9.32g each earbud. Metal finish charging case for added durability

Compact sports true wireless headphone charging case

CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth 5.2 with Qualcomm 3040 chipset/ Bluetooth range over 10 meters (33 feet)

Compatible with iOS and Android, as well as laptops and tablets/ Audio codecs: SBC, PCM, AAC, APTX, APTX HD

POWER

Up to 72 hours of listening time (12 hours in earbuds and 5 full charges in the charging case). USB-C charge connector

Wireless charging compatible

CONTROLS

Volume Controls/ Multi-function button/ Three microphones on each headset for improved ANC and voice clarity/ Built in voice-assistant

BUY 

Video Link

 

Tech Review – Edifier W820NB wireless headphones with ANC

Over the last few weeks we have been testing some headphones at all price points which is great for the consumer and the latest from Edifier which come in under the 100 euro mark have been on my ears for two weeks now and it is time to talk about them and if they are worth your money and with Edifier we never expect a poor performance and indeed that is the case here again with their latest cans..

These are plain and to the point built mostly of plastic light and comfortable and comfort here is great even for long periods of use and as with all my headphones they get tested for hours as it suits me here in the house to try out everything they have to offer be it for work or leisure.

The controls on the headphones are all one one side here too which make it simple for the user with raised buttons, now they do look cheap but are easy to use blindly and tactile and do a great job every time you press them and this is something people prefer this over swiping or touch based headphones so overall you cant really complain.

Both side have the old ratchet arm extensions which solid and will not move once on your head, also there was no clamping feeling noted here during my time with them, this is something that can happen even with more expensive headphones but not the case here at all. The cups are soft and plush as is the headband so overall a really comfortable pair of headphones. Battery life is also decent enough here at this pricepoint and again this will differ between people and how they use them with volume levels and ANC etc, you can toggle between ANC modes and also a gaming mode in the app.

When it comes to sound these do a great job, to make it to the point they are decently loud, deliver on highs lows and mids with a nice bit of bass thrown in and for music movies and more anyone will be pleased with the listening experience that is not a real audiophile, coming from someone who has tested most of the companies products for the price they sound good is my point and you also get access to their Edifier Connect app which enhances the experience even more even though there could be more options in the app. Check the video review for more on the headphones and the app.

Edifier W820NB and Edifier Connect app

Main Features:

  • Hi-Res Audio standard for a rich listening experience
  • Active noise cancellation technology isolates unwanted noise
  • Ambient sound mode allows you to hear environmental sounds such as traffic or flight announcements
  • Built-in microphone with DNN (deep neural network) noise cancellation for clear phone calls
  • Large driver with titanium diaphragm delivers crystal-clear sound
  • Low latency for game mode gives players an immersive gaming experience
  • Up to 49 hours continuous playback
  • Lightweight headset assures comfortable fit

BUY

Video Link

 

 

Tech Review – Urbanista Los Angeles solar powered headphones

I love my earbuds and headphones and have a big collection and love to try things new and over the years we have seen new things come along and give more value to the customer, for example ANC and Hearthrough are two such technologies that have now become a staple feature and this have even creeped down to earbuds under the hundred euro mark whereas these where features you would pay much more for when they became a thing..

But what about solar powered headphones then you might ask and what is the benefit here over just plugging them in with a cable Thing is I have used these since launch and not ONCE have I had to use a cable to charge and this is just fantastic in my eyes and one less cable and socket to be worried about.

What is Powerfoyle

The patented Powerfoyle material harvests all forms of light, indoor and outdoor. It is commercially available used in the world’s first self-charging headphones, Urbanista Los Angeles and also the first self-powered bicycle helmet, POC Omne Eternal. So this basically means you can charge your headphones when you have light inside or outside as you will see demonstrated in the video below or you can see a snippet HERE from my headphones, this is really cool and I hope to see this implemented more in tech in the coming years.

 

 

Charging

Since I have got these headphones I have not had to charge my headphones once because of two things mainly then what happens naturally.. Seen HERE is my headphones on my bedside locker and then I have my window up top during the day and I work from my office table placed right beside my window which means the headphones are constantly getting a charged.

Urbanista now have an app

Finally Urbanista now have an app however it falls short on features which is a let down for me however I will let them off this time and hopefully they improve this over time and this for me will enhance the user experience and give them more qudos in the headphone space their products do sound great in general out of the box but having a better EQ experience would enhance the game altogether. The app is visually pleasing but that is as far as it goes and a start, so guys come on give us some more…

Build and fit

The Los Angeles take much of their design from the Miami only this time round the headphones have solar powered built in on top of the headband you can see both pairs side by side in the unboxing video. I felt these where a little tight to begin with however no seem fine and are a comfortable pair of cans to enjoy using for many hours.

Controls

Controls are clean and simple the main controls for me are small for my huge hands but I got use to them over time, all features are present for controls and we go through all this in the video review below everything is kept simple here and the fact I have big fingers should no affect most people who decide to buy these on my status overall they offer a clean experience with an easy tap to control your headphones.

Urbanista Los Angeles techbuzzireland

Battery

Not much to say here being frank, you are basically limitless on this which is just great

Sound

Pretty much the same as the Miami no complaints here and again the ANC works really well indoors and outdoors and from my usual test run they passed with flying colours, they do have some bass thrown in there too and for all my giving out about the app the listening experience is great to be fair they are loud, punchy and no distortion on max volume and no lag latency noted over testing for 3 weeks you will not be dissapointed.

Conclusion

If you liked the Miami you will like these but the thing is about upgrading from those to these, same design and similar audio experince but I have to say yes they are worth the upgrade with not having to charge them or worry about charging them at all and this not being biased it is embracing in the latest technology but Urbanista for me over the years I have been testing have always been a solid product and this puts them afront adopting new technologies and lets see who follows behind them, as of yet nobody has in the headphone space.

Urbanista Los Angeles Key Features

  • Virtually infinite playtime
  • Always charging when exposed to light, both outdoors and indoors
  • 80 hours of battery reserve
  • Hybrid active noise cancelling
  • Ambient sound mode
  • On-ear detection
  • USB type-C charging
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • Siri and Google Assistant
  • Compatible with iOS, Android and Windows
  • Urbanista Mobile App Compatible
  • Available in Midnight Black (Black) and Sand Gold (Gold) 

BUY

Video Link

 

 

Tech Review – Twelve South StayGo mini USB-C Hub

USB hubs are a plenty today and a welcome addition as ports become less on many computers today and this has been the case for some years in fact but depending on the brand this differs and over the years we have tested out many USB hubs, with USB-C mostly a standard now it is time to up your game with the latest accessories and Twelve South are no stranger to help out here.

This hub is well designed and well built and this is even down to the cable you get with it that allows you to hide cables behind your laptop or whatever you might be using, this is also compatible with the latest iPads too and home PCs which does not leave it restrained to ONE brand or product as some tend to do.

When it comes to hubs there is not much to say except they offer more convenience and also not forgetting portability, this hub sports a headphone jack USB A and USB-C port plus a HDMI port which is just the right amount most folk would need and also ideal to have in your travel bag..  What is important about such hubs is keeping everything neat and tidy and offering some more depending on the gadgets you have or the extras you need. You could also add a keyboard here too which is handy for iPad users. You can also use power banks and more and this also has USB-C passthrough power.

StayGo from Twelve South techbuzzireland

Twelve South also have a bigger option which is the Original StayGo and this is a must for those with a heavy workload and multiple gadgets to connect..

Features

  • USB-C hub connects peripherals to your iPad or MacBook
  • Four ports: USB-A, HDMI, headphone/audio out and USB-C power
  • Pass-through power to charge or power accessories 
  • Connects directly to iPad or below with the included cable

See the video below for more.

BUY 

Video Link

 

Tech Review – Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb Multicolor L530B

Smartbulbs are around pretty much years now at this stage with all kinds of everything on offer and the Tapo range is no stranger to this market the Tapo L530B is what we had in for review and it is an ideal piece of tech to change the mood in any room in the house, now it is just a bulb that changes color some might say but there is more smarts to it than you think it is not expensive and also has voice commands built in like Alexa and Hey Google, I am not one to speak to my tech at home that often to be honest but it is there and I know many who do.

The Bulb of course has an app which lets you control the bulb from anywhere, change the colour, turn it on and off and more, you can set up smart actions if you like such as schedules , if your away and a timer you can set the bulb to sunrise and sunset too if you wish which is pretty cool and some more..

With all this home tech and IoT it makes us lazy one might argue today but this is a nice extra to have in your home in any room in the house to change to mood of the boring standard lights many of us have and it is not complicated either to get on board with such tech,check out the video below and see how it works and decide for yourself.

Features

  • Multicolor – Easily design scenarios for your daily routine or activities by customizing brightness, light temperature, and colors–with 16,000,000 hues to choose from.
  • 60-watt equivalent – LED bulb produces up to 806 lumens white brightness and has a dimming range from 1% to 100%.
  • Preset for Convenience – Found your favorite lighting for watching movies? Save it as a setting you can simply select for future movie nights.
  • Schedule & Timer – Create schedules and count plans to turn on/off with the brightness/color you set.
  • Sunrise and Sunset Modes – Automatically activate your light according to your time zone.
  • No Hub Required – Connect the L530B light to your home wifi, then you are all set.
  • Voice Control – Manage the lights with your voice commands as Tapo works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
  • Remote Control – Take your phone out for the pocket and open the Tapo app to control your light remotely.
  • Away Mode – Automatically simulate someone being at home to frighten away, unwanted visitors.
  • Restore Last Light State – the bulb automatically returns to its previous power-off state.

BUY

VIdeo Link

 

Tech Review – GlobalLink Multipurpose solar charged lamp

Now that the dark evenings are in this could be one solution and the right piece of tech to carry with you as you can charge by day and party by night and not only that you can charge your phone or tablet on the go, this lamp by GlobalLink has many other tricks up its shirt too with three different light modes on the exterior torch and when it opens up it has an accordian style lamp ( 360 degree light) which also has three light modes both are standard light brighter and flashing which can be useful. You also get a strap which is heavy duty and can be used for whatever purpose you may find use for and it is ideal for those who go camping.

Night time sample of the GlobalLink multipurpose lamp techbuzzireland

 

This can also be used at home in the house or at a festival and charges by mains or solar which is great, there is an 800 mAh battery inside which is not the biggest in the world but the portability factor here is great as it folds down into a pocket size tub if you will and it also has a hook up top and the solar panels are underneath, the torch is on the opposite end and all in all makes a handy little gadget to have in your kit for going camping, to the beach and more. There is a carabiner and Survival Bracelet with Whistle Included – A whistle is for signal delivery, survival bracelets are prepared for any emergency, stretchy material makes it fit for small and large wrists. It is also handy to wear it on and off.

GET A DISCOUNT USING THE CODE – AGUQMOFW

BUY 

Video Link 

 

Tech Review – SHURE Aonic 40 wireless headphones

The Shure Aonic 40 are one of their latest new headphones to hit the market and the first pair of cans in 2022 and I have been testing these bad boys out and have been impressed with my findings, Shure who is a well know brand and deliver on Audio experience have a nice pair of headphones here and I think anyone who tries these out will be impressed. You can check out the full unboxing HERE

Comfort

Comfort is excellent here even over long periods of use which I tend to do with my headphones be it at home or out on a walk, the latter I tend not to do much but do so to test them out, no sweating head clamping or fatigue was noted even over 4 hour sessions and for some gaming and this is good to see, though the environment and temperature might differ for others.

Controls

Laid out simple, the keys might be a but small for those with bigger hands like me for example but got the muscle memory going rather quickly as I went straight in with these for a few days alongside my other review products, the keys work well and function as they are meant to and placed on the right side where you can control volume tracks and more there is a pairing key on the left side, the power key is multifunctional and you can get your battery status here and clear paired device list, I tested these on an iPhone 13 pro and Google Pixel 6 and all worked perfectly fine.

The center button plays a part here too which is in between the volume up and down keys where you can skip and reverse tracks and restart tracks if you wish, you can control your calls here too and activate voice assistant if you desire..

Sound is great on these even without the app however when you use the app this changes there is several profiles on the app to switch between and here you can clearly hear a difference unlike other headphones out there between these and especially between the ANC and Environment modes and is quite remarkable, again unlike subtle changes you might often find but here there is a clear definition between all.

As for the audio experience it is also great and with the enhancement of the app as mentioned they are a joy to listen to for hours on end with no lag latency and just select the profile that suits you best sit back and take it in whatever you prefer to pick but do test them all and hear the difference and that is what these are all about. Bass is great and so is highs lows and mids and direction.

Battery life is also quite good however this differs per person and the settings applied as we all know but a 15 minute charge commands you another 5 hours of with quick charge and overall you can expect around 25 hours in total which will again differ, there is more out there that offer more but again they may not offer the quick charge feature.

Conclusion

These are excellent simple as that,check the video review for more below.

 

  • Portable Design: The foldable, rugged design and carrying case are ideal for compact storage and durable enough to withstand your next adventure.

  • Adjustable Noise Cancellation: Block out surrounding noise and immerse yourself in the AONIC 40 listening experience with three digital ANC settings crafted to deliver users the best noise cancellation, wherever travels lead.

  • Long-Lasting Comfort: Made with premium materials, including glass-filled nylon and aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, the AONIC 40 offers quality comfort and durability made to last.

  • Premium Call Quality: Dial-in to video conferencing or phone calls with exceptional audio, thanks to dual beamforming microphones. Dual USB audio mode enables two-way mic communication with the included USB-C cable or connect with Bluetooth® 5 wireless technology for enhanced stability and a range of up to 30 feet.

  • Accessible Controls: Answer calls, adjust volume, and control Active Noise Cancellation and Environment Mode levels with the push of a button.

BUY
VIDEO LINK