explore42's stats
- Review count178
- Helpfulness votes611
- First reviewFebruary 26, 2016
- Last reviewSeptember 13, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
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- Answer count24
- Helpfulness votes239
- First answerFebruary 26, 2016
- Last answerDecember 23, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers8
Enjoy the vibrant sound of vinyl records with the Victrola Hi-Res Onyx turntable. Go wireless with the best-in-class aptX Adaptive Bluetooth connectivity or wired with switchable preamp standard RCA outs (RCA cables included), allowing you to listen to your favorite records with stunning clarity. The sleek aesthetic, simple setup, and quality construction result from a purpose-built design focused on the listener experience. The Hi-Res Onyx includes an Audio Technica AT -VM95E cartridge, metal components, and an aluminum tonearm featuring a custom-designed, removable headshell. With the Victrola Hi-Res Onyx, you can effortlessly lower the tonearm and enjoy listening to your records with exceptional quality; Connect wirelessly to any Bluetooth oraptX enabled speakers ,headphones, or wired to your favorite amplifier or powered speakers.
Posted by: explore42
Overall this Victrola Onyx Hi-Res turntable performs well playing LPs wirelessly. It lacks some features but if you are only interested in playing LPs wirelessly then its worth checking out.
Pros:
- Supports aptX Adaptive and HD Audio
- Built in Bluetooth
- RCA outputs with ground
- Able to Connect with Denon receiver, several sound bars and BT speakers
- Easy set up if you ignore the QR code which is incorrect
Pros:
- Supports aptX Adaptive and HD Audio
- Built in Bluetooth
- RCA outputs with ground
- Able to Connect with Denon receiver, several sound bars and BT speakers
- Easy set up if you ignore the QR code which is incorrect
Cons:
- Difficult to replace cartridge due to the lack of info on the counter weight
- Does not raise tonearm at the end of a side
- Pairing had to be close to be successful
- No indicators on the quality of the connection – HD or otherwise so its difficult to know how much compression is being used
- No USB connectivity
- Not compatible with Victrola’s app
- Difficult to replace cartridge due to the lack of info on the counter weight
- Does not raise tonearm at the end of a side
- Pairing had to be close to be successful
- No indicators on the quality of the connection – HD or otherwise so its difficult to know how much compression is being used
- No USB connectivity
- Not compatible with Victrola’s app
The wireless sound quality is good but not great and I am not sure if its due to the quality of the cartridge or the quality of the Bluetooth connectivity. The build quality of the table feels solid and looks nice. Your ability to adjust the counter weight and anti-skating is limited due to the lack of indicators on the counter weight and this will be an issue if you ever want to change the cartridge. The belt drive motor is quick to start and the platter does stop at the end of a side but the tonearm does not raise up so it stays on the record until you return it. When pairing I found the turntable and the speakers or receiver had to be close. I could not pair devices with the turntable when they were about 10 feet apart. Once they did pair I did not experience any drop outs or issues with connectivity when they were about 15 feet apart. Also this turntable is not compatible with the Victrola app so you have to rely on the led indicator on the front of the table to know whether its pairing or connected. This turntable supports aptX and HD audio over Bluetooth but you have no indicator whether the pairing with the speakers are connected using HD or lower quality audio. Lastly, many turntables these days include USB connectivity but that is not supported on this table.
Setup: The turntable comes well packaged and the setup of the hardware is relatively straight forward. You have to install the platter, connect the belt to the drive motor, install the counter weight and the cartridge. If you follow the video on YouTube the steps are well demonstrated and easy to follow. Once you get the turntable set up you have to pair a Bluetooth wireless speaker or receiver to it. I have found that the pairing needs to be relatively close for the pairing to succeed. Once I figured that out I was able to get the turntable to pair with my Denon receiver to play wirelessly with my home theatre. I was also able to connect to different soundbars and Bluetooth speakers that I own. Each time I had to reset the turntable so that it would pair with the new device. The included dust cover fits nicely and it has a low profile which is nice if you are putting the turntable on a shelf.
Setup: The turntable comes well packaged and the setup of the hardware is relatively straight forward. You have to install the platter, connect the belt to the drive motor, install the counter weight and the cartridge. If you follow the video on YouTube the steps are well demonstrated and easy to follow. Once you get the turntable set up you have to pair a Bluetooth wireless speaker or receiver to it. I have found that the pairing needs to be relatively close for the pairing to succeed. Once I figured that out I was able to get the turntable to pair with my Denon receiver to play wirelessly with my home theatre. I was also able to connect to different soundbars and Bluetooth speakers that I own. Each time I had to reset the turntable so that it would pair with the new device. The included dust cover fits nicely and it has a low profile which is nice if you are putting the turntable on a shelf.
Install issues: The issue with the install was tied to incorrect documentation and me thinking I needed to install an app to get it to work. When you first open the box there is a card that shows the basic set up of the turntable. On the corner of the card there is a QR code that you are supposed to scan to watch a setup video. The problem is when I scanned it the browser showed Victroal.com which doesn’t go anywhere. A simple typo on Victrola’s part so I opened a web page and browsed to Victrola.com. At the very bottom of the Onyx Hi-Res web page there is YouTube video that explains the setup in detail. Note that the Victrola mobile app does not apply to this turntable and if you go down that path you will be wasting even more time – learned from experience!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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From quick tweaks and trims to total transformations, Adobe Sensei AI* and automated options make editing easy, and you can learn tricks and techniques as you go with 88 step-by-step Guided Edits. Present your best pics and videos in beautiful templates for Photo Reels, video Highlight Reels, collages, slideshows, motion graphics, Quote Graphics, and animated social posts. Effortlessly organize everything. And do more on the go using web and mobile companion apps (English-only beta).
Customer Rating
5
Creative Editing Software for Everyone
on October 29, 2023
Posted by: explore42
I am not a professional blogger or photographer but I have a lots of photos and videos taken from my iphone, drone, GoPro and my HD and 4k video camcorders. All these devices with differing formats and resolutions make it challenging to do any editing. Each device has its own software and app to help process and enhance the photos/videos so things can get confusing quick. I have found that Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premier Elements allows me to use a single app for all my videos and photos and this saves me lots of time and energy. The best part of this software is that it has guides for the items that I don’t use often enough to be very proficient at but also includes an advanced level that allows me to delve into all kinds of possibilities. Best of all if you have used Photoshop Elements or Premier Elements in the past the software although updated still has the same look and feel so its very intuitive.
This new version has several features that are new or improved over my old 2021 version. The biggest changes that I have seen are in the Ai functions that make complex enhancements much easier. For example, I took a photo of our little one in his Halloween costume walking the sidewalk and merged it with the new free Adobe Stock photo included with the software of a forest. Then I used the new Color Match function to turn the forest from green to a fall brown. Lastly I used the Moving Elements to add leaves dropping all around him. So with a few guided steps I was able to take him from the sidewalk photo to an animated forest setting and the results were really good. Next up I am going to use the new Highlight Reels to enhance our beach vacation videos. Bottom line is there are so many features and options you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to enhancing your photos and videos.
Once the software is installed the home page allows you to select the Photo Editor, the Video Editor or the included Organizer. In both the video and photo editor the main page allows you to select from Quick, Guided or Advanced project pages. The Quick page allows you to make the simple and fast edits that most people are familiar with. The Guided page allows you to select from multiple edit functions that are fully guided and use Ai to help you through the project. The other benefit is that it gives you ideas of what is possible and shows you examples of before and after projects. I like it because it also gives some artistic options that I would not consider if I didn’t see the examples first. The Advanced page gives you full control over all the edit features within the software and its quite extensive. The good news is that Adobe has detailed help files and demonstrations on how to use the various features in the software so you can always find help either in the software or on the web.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Lightweight and designed for comfort, the INZONE H5 is ready for long gaming sessions. Coupled with immersive spatial sound and a crystal-clear microphone, victory is just a moment away.
Customer Rating
4
Good for Gaming but no Bluetooth or Voice Prompts
on October 21, 2023
Posted by: explore42
Overall these are a good headset but they lack features/functionality that more and more competitors are offering for mid-tier wireless gaming headphones. They don’t support Bluetooth connectivity or come with voice prompts or visual indications of their status. Even my cheapest earbuds do this! The fit, comfort and overall audio performance was good and what you would expect at this level. If you are into the Sony ecosystem this is one headset to consider but if you have extra budget I would recommend upgrading to the H7 if possible.
Pros:
- The headphones are very light, fit comfortably and have a low profile
- The Spatial Audio adds to the gaming experience
- InZone Hub equalizer lets you customize the sound quality
Cons:
- No Bluetooth
- No Noise Cancellation
- No voice prompts for battery level or connection status
- No storage case
- The USB receiver is 4 cm long which is not laptop friendly
Pros:
- The headphones are very light, fit comfortably and have a low profile
- The Spatial Audio adds to the gaming experience
- InZone Hub equalizer lets you customize the sound quality
Cons:
- No Bluetooth
- No Noise Cancellation
- No voice prompts for battery level or connection status
- No storage case
- The USB receiver is 4 cm long which is not laptop friendly
Performance: These headphones come with a long USB transceiver that pairs reliably and quickly. As mentioned above there is no Bluetooth support so using these wirelessly with other devices such as a phone or tablet is not possible. Sadly there are not any voice prompts to tell you the status of the headset or the connection. No “Hello Battery level is …” or “Pairing” or “Connected” or “Goodbye” status messages. Instead you get cryptic beeps in the headset that you have to differentiate to know what is going on. Also there is only a very small led on the side of the headset that blinks occasionally to give you any type of indication that they are on. On the front of the transceiver there is a led connection status indicator but if you are like most people your pc is on the floor and due to the length of the transceiver you most probably will have it in the back of the pc. Using the 4cm transceiver in the side of a laptop can be very problematic due to how far it extends out. Once you get the headset paired you can then access the configuration options in Sony’s InZone Hub app on your pc. The app allows you to set up Sony’s 360 Spatial audio which provides a much fuller sound stage. The Spatial audio adds directional separation to the sounds so in FPS games you know exactly where the sound came from. Also the InZone app allows you to set a custom equalizer or you can use one of the presets to personalize the sound quality. After adjusting the equalizer I was able to get the sound quality I expected from a Sony headset. There are openings on the sides of the ear muffs that are supposed to help with ear drum pressure from the bass sounds. This is helpful if you love deep bass or play games with a lot of explosions and bangs. The headset has a rotary volume control, a USB-C charging port, an audio cable port and the microphone on the left ear muff. On the right ear muff you have the on/off button and the Chat/Game switch. The microphone boon is flexible so you can configure it close to your mouth and it has a built in mute when you raise it. The microphone does have voice isolation to help enhance your voice quality. The headphones are charged via an included USB-C cable and the battery life is estimated at 28 hours.
Fit: These headphones have a low profile and are very light sitting on your head. The soft fabric foam rings allow your ear to sit inside the cups. The earcups are very supple so they conform to your head and provides some noise isolation. This is not nearly as good as true noise cancelling headphones but its enough to help isolate some fan and room noise. The support arms slide to fit unlike others that have stepped arms. Because of this the arm length is less likely to stay fitted when taken on and off. The pull down microphone arm is flexible so that you can bend it to pick up the best voice quality without it being in the way.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The PowerDetect robot vacuum is powered by 3 deep-cleaning technologies that enable the robot to maximize performance by sensing mess level, floor type, and edges & corners. DirtDetect sees even the hidden debris and automatically increases suction and cleaning passes to remove the mess on carpets and hardfloors. Now with NeverStuck technology~, this robot will navigate around obstacles AND lift itself up and over thresholds and onto thick carpets. Not only can the robot deep clean, but you also do not have to worry about it getting stuck. Detect Pro finishes the cleaning mission every time and with each clean will empty itself into its bagless base that contains a HEPA Anti-Allergen Seal trapping dust & allergens inside. The odor neutralizer technology will also ensure the odor is trapped in the base for a fresher smelling home and making it the ultimate end to end solution for pet hair pick up.
Customer Rating
5
Vacuum that Never gets Lost
on October 14, 2023
Posted by: explore42
Finally a robot vacuum that doesn’t get stuck or lost! The most annoying thing about robot vacuums is that they get stuck or lost and can’t find their base. I’ve spent way too much time looking under beds, under desk and behind doors trying to find my previous robot vacuums. This Shark Detect Pro has none of those issues. I start the cleaning and it always finds it’s way back to the base and fully docks to empty the dirt and recharge.
Pros:
- Creates maps quickly and accurately
- Doesn’t get lost or stuck and always finds the base
- Base dust bin is bagless – for those who don’t like to buy extra bags
- Dirt Detect provides extra cleaning in the dirtiest areas
- Good Object detection and Avoidance
- Shark App is easy to install and generally easy to use for simple tasks
Pros:
- Creates maps quickly and accurately
- Doesn’t get lost or stuck and always finds the base
- Base dust bin is bagless – for those who don’t like to buy extra bags
- Dirt Detect provides extra cleaning in the dirtiest areas
- Good Object detection and Avoidance
- Shark App is easy to install and generally easy to use for simple tasks
Cons:
- Base dust bin is bagless - for those who don’t like to clean out the inside of dust bin
- Shark App doesn’t send notifications to the phone when the vacuum is complete
- Base dust bin is bagless - for those who don’t like to clean out the inside of dust bin
- Shark App doesn’t send notifications to the phone when the vacuum is complete
Setup and Use: After unboxing and fully charging the vacuum I downloaded the app. The first step is to have the vacuum accurately map out the entire floor plan. It does this fairly quickly and I was impressed with how accurate the mapping was. Once the mapping is complete you can name your rooms and create go/no-go areas. Next I sent the vacuum out on several cleaning runs throughout the week. On the carpeting it leaves the typical robot vacuum markings so it is easy to verify that the rooms have all been vacuumed. This isn’t a bump and run style vacuum, it systematically vacuums in rows for the most part. When the vacuum detects higher levels of dirt it will re-vacuum the area until it no longer detects the dirt. You can also pick specific areas to power vacuum using the app. If you don’t like using the app you can also just press the Clean button on the top of the vacuum. There is also a Dock button if you want to send the vacuum back to the dock early. This vacuum has a charge and resume function where it will return to base to recharge if it hasn’t completed the entire cleaning project. When the vacuum completes the cleaning it finds the dock and then empties the dirt bin into the base. The base has two filters that need to be cleaned monthly. Emptying the dirt bin from the base is easy and straight forward however I did notice that some dirt builds up around the screens in the bin and have to be cleaned manually.
App: The Shark App is fairly easy to set up. After the first mapping you can go in and label the rooms and go/no-go zones. You can also set up a Matrix cleaning area where the vacuum will run on high which is especially useful if you have pets or specific areas that get extra dirty. From the app you can start the cleaning, monitor the job and select the cleaning power of the vacuum. It also stores the history of the cleaning jobs and also allows you schedule future cleaning projects. My one gripe about the app is that I don’t get notifications when the vacuum project is completed. Overall the app doesn’t wow me but it does provide the basic set up and control functions and is intuitive for the most part.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Ninja Detect Power Blender Pro with BlendSense Technology allows you to toss in any ingredients, press the dial, and watch them transform into a perfectly smooth output. The Ninja Total Crushing & Chopping blades give you perfectly crushed ice for your frozen drinks and will chopped veggies for a chunky salsa . The blender that automatically adjusts speed & time for perfectly smooth results.
Customer Rating
5
Stacked Blades & Blend Sense = Perfect Blend
on October 12, 2023
Posted by: explore42
We love the multiple blades on the stacked blade assembly and the auto sensing features in this Ninja blender. Whether we are pureeing vegetables or making frozen drinks we are getting the most consistent blend without having to do anything but push the start button. Due to the stacked blades I no longer have to stop blending and use a spoon to push the stuff sitting on the top down to the blades at the bottom before restarting the blender.
Pros:
- Multiple blades mounted on a center shaft that blend top to bottom
- Auto sensing that adjust speed, time and required pulses
- Locking lid with a pour spout
- Removeable blades for easy cleaning
- Multiple blades mounted on a center shaft that blend top to bottom
- Auto sensing that adjust speed, time and required pulses
- Locking lid with a pour spout
- Removeable blades for easy cleaning
Cons:
- Blade shaft is not locked into place and will fall out when you pour ingredients with the lid off
- At a little over 17 inches tall it may interfere with overhanging cabinets
- Blade shaft is not locked into place and will fall out when you pour ingredients with the lid off
- At a little over 17 inches tall it may interfere with overhanging cabinets
This is the first blender that I have owned that has blades mounted on a shaft that run up the center of the blender. The extra blades definitely move the ingredients throughout the pitcher much better than a bottom mounted blade system. This really becomes apparent when you are blending thicker or icier ingredients because the blades make sure the top ingredients are blended just as finely as the ingredients at the bottom. The 72 oz pitcher is plastic but it locks tightly into place when mounted to the base. The lid is a locking lid that keeps the center blade assembly centered in the blender. The lid does have a nice pour spout and you have to push a button to release the lid. If you remove the lid there is nothing that secures the blade assembly to the pitcher and it will come out when you attempt to pour something with the lid off. Even though we know this we still forget at times and end up with the blade assembly in our cup! The blender has suction cup feet that keep the blender sturdy on the counter.
The Blend Sensing on this blender makes most jobs simple, you just hit the start button and it senses whether the items are frozen or not and how much torque is required to give you a consistent blend. Its not perfect but for most things it does a much better job than I can do using the 10 speeds and manual settings. We pureed vegetables and made frozen fruit smoothies using the auto sensing and it did a fantastic job - much better than my older blender. This blade system handles ice and frozen fruit without an issue. The auto sensing feature displays information in the dial on what it is doing and how long it will take to complete the function. If you don’t want to use the autosensing you can select different blend modes and speeds as well as modes for large chop, small chop and mincing. You can also use the pulse mode to add some additional blending. All the features are easy to navigate and select. As I mentioned above the stacked blade assembly really does give you more consistency throughout the blender. This blender is more powerful than our previous one but its not much louder if at all.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Worx 4V ZipSnip Cordless Electric Scissors are designed to do everything traditional handheld scissors can~and more. Powered by a rechargeable 4V Max Lithium battery, this cutting tool spins a rotating blade that can cut through various materials up to ~~ thick~including tough plastic packaging, cardboard, fabric, rubber, leather, and wrapping paper. Its self-sharpening blade keeps the edges fine to deliver a precise cut with every use. While the cutting capabilities are powerful, the ZipSnip is optimized for safety. The safety switch works in conjunction with the trigger to prevent the blade from moving unintentionally. The blade guard also blocks the sharp edge to prevent accidental cuts. The cutting tool weighs only .86 lbs. and features a textured GRIPZONE handle to optimize comfort during extended projects. And with its compact and cordless design, the ZipSnip can be conveniently maneuvered in the home, kitchen, garage, and garden. While the battery maintains its charge for several months, it can be recharged in just a few hours using the included charger~so you~ll always have a cutting tool ready to use.
Customer Rating
4
Great for Craft Projects!
on October 10, 2023
Posted by: explore42
Overall we are happy with Worx ZipSnip and use it mostly on crafting projects and opening/cutting down packages. It can cut through clam shell plastic packaging, thin cardboard and thick paper without leaving any sign of tearing or rough edges. The maximum depth of the cutting material is 1/4 inch. It can also be used to cut through fabric but because the fabric isn’t taught its harder to get an exact cut. Cutting through corrugated cardboard is more difficult and takes more pressure to advance the cutter. Also the blade guard stops you about an inch from the bottom of a box due to its design. Whatever you are cutting needs to have an open area on both sides as well as in front of the blade guard. To start the cutting you have to press a safety lock and then press the power switch. Once it starts you can let go of the safety lock as long as you keep pressing the power switch. Using the safety switch with the start switch took some time to get used to because of the design of the grip handle. The blade is not round but rather has 10 multi-faceted edges and it rides on a sharping stone as its used. This keeps the blade sharp but increases the size and complexity of the blade guard. On a plus side the blade is held on with a single screw and is easy to replace when worn. This cutter doesn’t come with any type of case or bag for storage.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Jabra~s Elite 10 true wireless advanced earbuds for work and life. For the first time, revolutionary Jabra ComfortFit technology has been combined with Spatial Sound and Dolby Head Tracking, for a more immersive Dolby Atmos experience to create the clear-sounding earbuds that you can comfortably wear all day. Complete with 10mm speakers, you can immerse yourself in rich, life-like sound that puts you right inside your favorite tracks. We scanned over 62k ears to create our unique oval EarGels that sculpt to every ear shape, and a semi-open design that relieves any pressure. Unwanted background noise will be blocked by our Active Noise Cancellation even in challenging environments, and you can connect the earbuds to two devices at once for super simple switching between phone and PC. Time to comfortably sink into mind-blowing sound. Don~t get caught without charge again with up to 36 hours (ANC off) of battery life that lasts throughout the day. When your buds run out of juice, simply pop them into the wireless charging case for a fast charge of 1 hour worth of battery in 5 mins. Ready to support Low Energy Audio. Stream pristine audio to multiple pairs of earbuds for easy sharing or tune into public broadcasts.
Customer Rating
5
Balanced for Work and Play
on September 19, 2023
Posted by: explore42
If you use earbuds for taking conference calls you know how important it is to have a mute button. With these Jabra Elites you just tap the left earbud to mute the call when the kids scream or the dog barks and no one on the call hears it. No more trying to unlock the phone and find the phone app to mute the call with everyone wondering where all that noise is coming from! These earbuds make taking conference calls on the go or at home so much easier. And when you aren’t taking calls the ANC and Dolby Atmos/spatial audio built into these earbuds bring the music to life. I think these are a perfect balance between fit, function and audio quality.
Performance: The music quality especially using Dolby Atmos and spatial audio is quite impressive. In the Jabra Sound + app you can turn on spatial audio as well as a head tracking feature that adjust the sound as you move your head to give you a more live experience. The spatial audio really is amazing when you stream Dolby Atmos music. It definitely widens the sound stage and provides a more realistic rendition on most songs. While I am a fan of the spatial audio I found the head tracking a tad bothersome especially if I wasn’t sitting still. When playing my favorite music I felt the mids and highs were crisp and the bass was stronger than I expected. Also in the app there is a five point equalizer and six music presets so you can personalize how the music sounds. For calls the voice quality sounded good and everyone said I sounded fine. The noise reduction on the microphones worked reasonably well but I am quick to mute when things get loud. The Active Noise Cancellation ANC is good but not the best that I have used in earbuds. They seem to cut out the lower tones but don’t totally isolate you from the environment. I have a ceiling fan in my office and with ANC on I can still hear it running but the sound is reduced. They do a better job cancelling the lower tones than the mids or upper tones. I think that because the gel pads allow some relief from ear pressure there is slightly less of an isolation effect. They also have Hear Through options so you can listen to your music and still navigate your surroundings.
Fit and Function: These earbuds are slightly slimmer and more curved than previous versions of the Jabra Elite series. They feel much lighter in my ear and are less noticeable over time. The new gel pads are supposed to lessen the pressure on your ear and fit more comfortably and so far in my use I have to agree that they do. They list the pads as being gel but to me they are like the previous flexible rubber pads with a slightly different design. Jabra supplies three additional gels in various sizes so that you can match them to best fit your ear. The big difference is that these earbuds don’t feel like they are closing off your ear canal or that something is being stuffed into your ear. Because the earbuds feel so light in my ear I was concerned about their stability but they don’t fall out or move much even when I do. The new design also seems to cut down on the rubbing sensation and noise when I move my head or jaw. The earbuds are noticeable in the ear but they don’t stick out far and they don’t have any protruding extensions. To select a function these earbuds have a mechanical switch so you feel something engage when you tap the earbud. I like this because I know when its pressed. The Jabra Sound + app allows you to customize the buttons but the default features should meet most user’s needs. The earbuds have a built in pause if you remove one. Using the Sound + app you can configure them to work as a pair or as single earbud. They are IP57 rated so they can handle typical sweat and dust. The earbuds are charged via a usb-c cable and also can be charged wirelessly which is really nice.
Fit and Function: These earbuds are slightly slimmer and more curved than previous versions of the Jabra Elite series. They feel much lighter in my ear and are less noticeable over time. The new gel pads are supposed to lessen the pressure on your ear and fit more comfortably and so far in my use I have to agree that they do. They list the pads as being gel but to me they are like the previous flexible rubber pads with a slightly different design. Jabra supplies three additional gels in various sizes so that you can match them to best fit your ear. The big difference is that these earbuds don’t feel like they are closing off your ear canal or that something is being stuffed into your ear. Because the earbuds feel so light in my ear I was concerned about their stability but they don’t fall out or move much even when I do. The new design also seems to cut down on the rubbing sensation and noise when I move my head or jaw. The earbuds are noticeable in the ear but they don’t stick out far and they don’t have any protruding extensions. To select a function these earbuds have a mechanical switch so you feel something engage when you tap the earbud. I like this because I know when its pressed. The Jabra Sound + app allows you to customize the buttons but the default features should meet most user’s needs. The earbuds have a built in pause if you remove one. Using the Sound + app you can configure them to work as a pair or as single earbud. They are IP57 rated so they can handle typical sweat and dust. The earbuds are charged via a usb-c cable and also can be charged wirelessly which is really nice.
Cons: The battery life is only six hours which is less than I got with my prior Elites. The case has a round bottom which means it doesn’t stand up on its own when you are opening the lid to get them out.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Retro style and superior sound that go great together~anywhere. Enjoy retro style, amazing audio, and built-in dual voice assistants anywhere in your home. With the JBL Authentics 300 speaker~s leatherlike enclosure, convenient metal handle, and built-in rechargeable battery, you can take your music with you~from the kitchen for your dinner-prep playlist to the bedroom for your wind-down podcast. Its retro ~70s-inspired design featuring the iconic Quadrex grille makes a bold statement anywhere you set it down. And so do its wide soundstage, crystal-clear highs, and deep bass. With Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa available simultaneously, you can play your favorite music, control your smart home devices, and more, hands-free, using just your voice.
Posted by: explore42
The JBL Authentics 300 is a cross between the old style speakers and a boombox. The overall look is elegant and definitely different than the typical speakers sold today. While the outside may look from days gone by the internal components and features are what you would expect from a smart speaker today. Whether you are streaming music using a voice assistant or the app on your phone this speaker is easy to use. JBL built in enough power for this speaker to liven up any party whether its inside the house, tailgating at the game or outside by the pool. Overall I really like the sound quality and portability.
Pros:
- Alexa and Google assistants built in
- There is an easy to access Microphone switch with an led indicator
- Simple to operate dials with indicator lighting
- Clear Highs with a Strong Bass
- Wifi and Bluetooth Capabilities
- Rechargeable battery for portability
- Ethernet, usb-c and 3.5 aux input ports on the back
- Up to 8 hours battery life
- Well constructed, feels very solid
- Alexa and Google assistants built in
- There is an easy to access Microphone switch with an led indicator
- Simple to operate dials with indicator lighting
- Clear Highs with a Strong Bass
- Wifi and Bluetooth Capabilities
- Rechargeable battery for portability
- Ethernet, usb-c and 3.5 aux input ports on the back
- Up to 8 hours battery life
- Well constructed, feels very solid
Cons:
- You have to like the look and style
- Because of the down-firing speaker it needs to sit on a solid surface
- You cannot stand the speaker on its side due to the handle
- Its heavy
- You have to like the look and style
- Because of the down-firing speaker it needs to sit on a solid surface
- You cannot stand the speaker on its side due to the handle
- Its heavy
Setting up the speaker was easy. I downloaded the JBL One app to my iphone and followed the instructions to set up Bluetooth and wireless connectivity. I also set up the Alexa app following the steps provided. The JBL One app is fairly simplistic and easy to navigate. It allows you to control the speaker, set up a 3 point equalizer, set up a voice assistant and select from several different music streaming services. This speaker provides quite a punch with its 100w amplifier and down-firing speaker. The highs are clear and crisp and it provides lots of bass for such a small speaker. On top of the speaker there is a volume, bass and treble control knob and each has a lighted ring indicator for good feedback. The volume button also acts as a play/pause/forward/backward button. There is also a power button, a Bluetooth button and a “heart” button for accessing functions. The Alexa voice assistant worked without issue and I was able to stream music via Bluetooth and via Apple Airplay once the speaker was on my home network.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Show off that new powerful Predator PO5-650-UB11 gaming PC and illuminate your room in the multi-hued ambience of ARGB as fiery FrostBlade fans hum in an endless high-speed harmony giving constant cool to the Herculean hardware hidden away within. Powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core processor and high-performance NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics, the Predator Orion 5000 delivers an awe-inspiring gaming experience that's second to none! Get ready for an unforgettable gaming experience that ignites the senses and takes your passion to new heights!
Customer Rating
4
Powerful but CPU runs Hot
on September 15, 2023
Posted by: explore42
Bottom line: This Predator Orion 5000 is powerful and it can provide stunning graphics with high FPS and low latency. (see the performance numbers below) But playing CPU intensive games or applications on this system can create extreme heat in the cpu which the stock cpu cooler has a difficult time controlling even with all the fans roaring at high speed. This is one of the best prebuilt gaming desktops that I have used and for non-hard core gamers who don’t mind running the fans on high it should be meet their gaming needs. For hard core gamers however I would recommend swapping out the cpu cooler as I described below or look for a system with a better cpu cooler.
Here are things to know about this build’s performance and upgradeability:
- The only issue with this system is that the stock cpu cooler that is installed does not dissipate the cpu heat efficiently when the cpu is highly utilized. When playing War Thunder Arcade mode the CPU temps stayed in the 80 to 100 degrees Celsius even with the fans running in game mode. When playing Forza 4 the temps were in the 60 to 90 degree area. I consider these very hot especially since the fans were running high in gaming mode. When gaming I was using a 2560 x 1440 QHD monitor with G-sync enabled and running at 165 hz refresh rate. Note that the temperature of the RTX 3070 was not that high.
- The case is airy and has lots of ventilation in the top, front and rear. Acer includes two intake fans on the front, one on the cpu cooler and one exhaust fan and all of them are the RBG Frostblade-2 fans. The fans are very colorful and do a decent job moving the air through the case although they can be noisy at high rpms. There are two 120mm mounting areas in the top of the case if you want to add additional fans.
- It is possible to replace the cpu cooler with a Noctua NH-U12A or a water cooler that fits in the top mounting area. One thing to note is that the motherboard rear mounting plate is solid. There are not any cut outs to reach the rear of the motherboard so to install the Noctua you will have to remove the motherboard for installation which is Noctua’s recommendation anyway.
- The Ram memory consist of two 8gb DDR5 ram modules that are clocked at 4400 mhz and they have heat sinks which is good because of their proximity to the cpu heat sink. There are two open slots for ram if you want to install two additional modules. Note that the first slot is under the heat sink so to install the module you will have to remove the cpu cooling fan. It is possible to upgrade the Ram to higher speeds but you will have to remove the existing modules since only slots 2 and 4 can be used with XMP. The Motherboard/CPU will support up to 5600 mhz DDR5 in only two of the ram slots with XMP enabled in the bios. I upgraded my Ram by installing two 16gb of 5600 mhz DDR5 and it runs fine. Note that due to the height of the cpu heat sink you cannot install RGB ram modules unless you replace the existing cpu cooler with one that does not overhang the ram slots.
- The system has great specs in the i7 13700F processor, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 gpu, 1 tb NVMe Gen 4 drive and the DDR5 ram. It also has WiFi 6e and Bluetooth built in and 10 USB ports including four USB-A 3.2 and two USB-C 3.2. There are three Display ports and one HDMI.
- There are no Overclocking options in the Bios which is typical with prebuilt gaming pcs.
- There is a second NVMe slot that is available but it does not have a mounting screw. The slot is easy to access and I installed a 2 tb Samsung 980 Pro in my system. There is also a prewired HD/SSD bay for two drives as well as two SSD mounting brackets behind the motherboard.
- Acer’s Predator Sense allows you to monitor the system, set fans speeds and set RGB color options. The fan speed options are Auto which is generally quiet, Gaming which is fans on high and loud and Custom which lets you set the fan speeds individually. The software is intuitive to use and provides good monitoring.
- Acer includes a very nice RBG wired gaming mouse and keyboard with this system which by far better than the standard set up from most other prebuilt systems.
- The case is well constructed and one of the better prebuilt cases out there.
- The power supply is a LiteOn 800 watt 80 Plus Gold. It isn’t modular but the cables are routed cleanly and the spare cables are tucked out of the way.
- The only issue with this system is that the stock cpu cooler that is installed does not dissipate the cpu heat efficiently when the cpu is highly utilized. When playing War Thunder Arcade mode the CPU temps stayed in the 80 to 100 degrees Celsius even with the fans running in game mode. When playing Forza 4 the temps were in the 60 to 90 degree area. I consider these very hot especially since the fans were running high in gaming mode. When gaming I was using a 2560 x 1440 QHD monitor with G-sync enabled and running at 165 hz refresh rate. Note that the temperature of the RTX 3070 was not that high.
- The case is airy and has lots of ventilation in the top, front and rear. Acer includes two intake fans on the front, one on the cpu cooler and one exhaust fan and all of them are the RBG Frostblade-2 fans. The fans are very colorful and do a decent job moving the air through the case although they can be noisy at high rpms. There are two 120mm mounting areas in the top of the case if you want to add additional fans.
- It is possible to replace the cpu cooler with a Noctua NH-U12A or a water cooler that fits in the top mounting area. One thing to note is that the motherboard rear mounting plate is solid. There are not any cut outs to reach the rear of the motherboard so to install the Noctua you will have to remove the motherboard for installation which is Noctua’s recommendation anyway.
- The Ram memory consist of two 8gb DDR5 ram modules that are clocked at 4400 mhz and they have heat sinks which is good because of their proximity to the cpu heat sink. There are two open slots for ram if you want to install two additional modules. Note that the first slot is under the heat sink so to install the module you will have to remove the cpu cooling fan. It is possible to upgrade the Ram to higher speeds but you will have to remove the existing modules since only slots 2 and 4 can be used with XMP. The Motherboard/CPU will support up to 5600 mhz DDR5 in only two of the ram slots with XMP enabled in the bios. I upgraded my Ram by installing two 16gb of 5600 mhz DDR5 and it runs fine. Note that due to the height of the cpu heat sink you cannot install RGB ram modules unless you replace the existing cpu cooler with one that does not overhang the ram slots.
- The system has great specs in the i7 13700F processor, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 gpu, 1 tb NVMe Gen 4 drive and the DDR5 ram. It also has WiFi 6e and Bluetooth built in and 10 USB ports including four USB-A 3.2 and two USB-C 3.2. There are three Display ports and one HDMI.
- There are no Overclocking options in the Bios which is typical with prebuilt gaming pcs.
- There is a second NVMe slot that is available but it does not have a mounting screw. The slot is easy to access and I installed a 2 tb Samsung 980 Pro in my system. There is also a prewired HD/SSD bay for two drives as well as two SSD mounting brackets behind the motherboard.
- Acer’s Predator Sense allows you to monitor the system, set fans speeds and set RGB color options. The fan speed options are Auto which is generally quiet, Gaming which is fans on high and loud and Custom which lets you set the fan speeds individually. The software is intuitive to use and provides good monitoring.
- Acer includes a very nice RBG wired gaming mouse and keyboard with this system which by far better than the standard set up from most other prebuilt systems.
- The case is well constructed and one of the better prebuilt cases out there.
- The power supply is a LiteOn 800 watt 80 Plus Gold. It isn’t modular but the cables are routed cleanly and the spare cables are tucked out of the way.
Performance: When playing my games I also monitored the temperature during the game play. Even though the temperature showed that the cpu hit 100 and hovered around 90 degrees Celsius I did not notice any falter or impact on the game when it did. As stated above the cpu ran in the 90 degree range when playing War Thunder so I was not surprised to see it hit that level in some of the benchmark testing as well. Here are some of the estimated game performance scores I got while testing with 3DMARK as well as some Geekbench 6 scores.
3DMARK
Time Spy Score = 13392
Graphics Score = 12970
CPU Score = 16426
Battlefield V @ 1440p Ultra = 120+ FPS
Apex Legends@ 1440p Ultra = 135+ FPS
GTA V @ 1440p Ultra = 85+ FPS
Fortnite @ 1440p Ultra = 70+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2@ 1440p Ultra = 50+ FPS
Time Spy Score = 13392
Graphics Score = 12970
CPU Score = 16426
Battlefield V @ 1440p Ultra = 120+ FPS
Apex Legends@ 1440p Ultra = 135+ FPS
GTA V @ 1440p Ultra = 85+ FPS
Fortnite @ 1440p Ultra = 70+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2@ 1440p Ultra = 50+ FPS
Geekbench6
Single Core Score = 2444
Multi Core Score = 14274
Open CL Score = 126383
Single Core Score = 2444
Multi Core Score = 14274
Open CL Score = 126383
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Whether you~re filming or taking photos, don~t run out of memory in the middle of a shoot. Transfer and back up files with the Insignia NS-CRSA1, USB 3.0 to SD and microSD Memory Card Reader. Simply plug in the card reader to your computer, tablet or other device with USB-A female connector to quickly transfer data. It~s backward compatible with USB 2.0 device and wide variety of SD and microSD cards to keep your creativity flowing without having to pause and delete unwanted files. Its compact design and protective cap mean you can easily fit it in a pocket or bag and not have to worry about damaging your connector. Never let a full memory card stop you again.
Customer Rating
5
Handles all my SD and Micro SD cards
on September 10, 2023
Posted by: explore42
If you need a simple to use and easy to carry SD/micro SD card reader this Insignia version is definitely one to consider. I use a lot of 128 gb cards with my drone and digital cameras and using this reader allows me to quickly move the content off the device and into my computer for storage and processing. So far it has been able to read all my Samsung Pro and Sandisk Extreme Pro cards from 32 gb to 128 gb without issue. The reader has both a SD and a micro SD slot which is major plus for me because my GoPro and Drone use a micro SD whereas my DSLR and digital camcorder use SD cards. With two slots I don’t have to hunt down an empty SD adaptor card when I am connecting a micro SD card. Because this reader is about the size of a USB flash drive its easy to store and connect. It supports USB-A 3.2 so you should get decent upload speeds. I had been using a USB cabled reader that only supported USB-A 2.0 so this was an upgrade for me. The reader includes a cap to protect the connector when not in use.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy true high-definition surround sound from your home theater with this Definitive Technology speaker. With powerful left/right speaker dispersion and balanced surround sound, this speaker immerses you in an enjoyable audio experience. Sized to fit unobtrusively into home theater systems, this Definitive Technology speaker includes iconic design elements that enhance the visual aesthetic of your system.
Can I use them as atmos speaker setup
These are surround speakers. For full atmos sound you need speakers that bounce the sound off the ceiling. Def tech makes speakers specifically to do this. They attach on top of the tower speakers.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
explore42
This Danby Designer DDW1899BLS-1 built-in dishwasher's water-softener system helps eliminate select water-based minerals in locations where hard water is an issue. The 7 wash cycles provide versatile options to suit a wide range of cleaning needs.
Air Dry and Turn off Manually?
Can you confirm or clarify please. It says no heated dry so that means they have to air dry? One person said you have to manually hit button to turn off at end of cycle. Is this true?
Good question but not sure how to answer this. Its kind of magic because it uses some type of evaporation process. My old dishwasher had a heated dry and an air dry. If you used the air dry the dishes were still wet at the end of the cycle. With this unit the dishes are fully dry without using a heater element. The manual explains the technology but bottom line is works fine for me and uses less electric.
9 years, 6 months ago
by
explore42
Clean every inch of every dish. This Samsung appliance washes away heavy foods without the need for you to pre-rinse. Plus, the quiet operation mean you won~t be interrupted by loud noises while the dishwasher is running.
Is this hardwired or does it plug into an outlet?
Contractor needs to know: Is this hardwired or does it plug into an outlet?
Mine is hard wired. I would suspect it is whatever the installer chooses to do.
9 years, 6 months ago
by
explore42
Whirlpool Gold 24" Tall Tub Built-In Dishwasher: Ensure a deep and sanitized clean with this high-powered dishwasher. Its soil-sensing technology, along with a unique silverware spray mechanism, produces exceptionally clean dishes for a generous amount of family and guests.
Rotating spray arm?
Wondering if this dishwasher has a rotating spray arm that sits under the class rack? There are no photos that show the interior.