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    February 22, 2014
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    May 23, 2016
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nickcal's Reviews
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Take this pocket-sized DarioHealth LC WK kit on the go easily. Made to automatically record blood glucose measurements, this kit makes it simple to track important metrics for diabetes, such as carb counting, medication intake and physical activity. This DarioHealth LC WK kit only requires a tiny drop of blood and offers accurate, speedy measurements.
 
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4 out of 5
4
A good option for tracking glucose tests
on January 12, 2019
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
I’ve used many different glucose monitors over the years and while they typically are a 4-step process (power on - insert test strip - add drop of blood - read results), I’ve had difficulties with them in the past. This kit was fairly easy to set-up even with the additional steps involved. Because this kit works with a mobile app, you have to attach a transmitter to the Lightning port of your phone (if using an iPhone) in addition to inserting a test strip and lancet for producing a blood droplet. I felt that the steps were self-explanatory and easy to follow.
USER EXPERIENCE
Using the monitor is simple. You do have to download a mobile app in order to get your test reading, but I don’t see that as a problem. The testing equipment seemed to function normally for me, but I didn’t test it side-by-side with another system. It’s very portable. The main unit will store test strips and the transmitter dongle, but not the lancets. That said, it is small and can easily be carried in a pocket or a purse. It would be nice if a small pouch was included so that you could easily carry lancets along with the tester. I really like that this device is designed to track and store your glucose tests. That said, it does ONLY work with the mobile app. I didn’t see this is a problem because my main reason for wanting this model was to track my tests. I love smart medical devices that catalog information in an app to be shared with medical professionals. This is actually a fairly affordable option for doing that with glucose testing.
CONCLUSIONS
I’ve been asked by my doctor to watch my blood sugar levels periodically because I have hypoglycemia. I’ve used the drugstore glucose monitors and they just seem to be overly complicated and I’ve had a lot of trouble with those machines even capturing my data. The Dario tester has been easy to use and I’ve not had any issues with it reading my blood tests. I would recommend this to anyone who needs to carefully monitor their testing progress.
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Stay in contact on the job by using this 2-pack of Cobra Pro Business radios. They have 22 preset privacy channels to minimize external interference and a 20-floor/250,000 sq. ft. signal range to keep you connected. These Cobra Pro Business radios are voice-activated to free up your hands for other tasks.
 
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4 out of 5
4
Decent set of radios - range not what it should be
on January 12, 2019
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
I remember playing with walkie talkies when I was younger and getting the biggest kick out of making the static sound when responding to calls on it. These Cobra walkie talkies are nothing like that. They are the real deal. They are rechargeable, easy to use, and very lightweight. They arrived in a easy-open plastic blister package with lots of information included on the outside. The one thing that I noticed right off the bat was the range wasn’t listed on the package. The printed info states “Up to 250,000 square feet/20 floors” but not a mile range. I have been able to find online places where the walkie talkies are given a 23-mile range. I didn’t find that was quite the case. I tested them out a couple of different ways. First, I had my fiancé take one of the units to the back of our house, which is only 1500 sqft and we talked back and forth. While there were several walls between us, it worked very well. Next, I sent my daughter down our street with one of them. She was about half a mile away and we still had a clear signal. Finally, my fiancé took one to work with her, which is only 2.2 miles away. We were unable to get a signal to one another even though we were on the same channel. So, even though we discovered that 23 miles was not the maximum range for these radios, I was very happy to have a method of communication to depend on aside from our mobile phones. When we get into areas that are congested with people and cell signal becomes and issue, we can start relying on these a bit more.
Set-up and use of the radios is very simple. You actually only have to unscrew the battery door, insert the battery (provided), connect the battery wire, and then replace the battery door. At this point, the charging station only has to be plugged into a wall outlet and the walkie talkies placed in the charging cradle. This is one of the features I appreciate the most about these radios — the fact that they are rechargeable.
There are 22 channels to choose from and both radios have to be on the same channel in order to communicate with each other. It’s important to note that channels 8-14 are designated as ‘low’ power output while the others are ‘high’. This can be problematic for range so if you are trying to communicate with someone a farther distance away, make sure you’re on one of the other channels.
Overall, I really like these walkie talkies. They are much better than ‘consumer-grade’ models and as long as you keep the expectation where it should be, then you will certainly be happy with these radios. The only thing I think Cobra should be more precise about is the range. It should state what it is on the package and be the same thing you can find online about it.
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Say yes to travel, dining out, catered meals and packaged food. The Nima Peanut Sensor allows you to test your food for peanuts - anytime, anywhere, in minutes. It's portable and easy to use. Simply place food into the test capsule, insert the capsule into the sensor, and press start.Test capsule required for use and sold separately.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Test your food anywhere, anytime
on January 8, 2019
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
The Nima Peanut Sensor system includes the sensor unit, the testing capsules, and the companion app. To get started, you will download the app and then pair the sensor to it. Once it’s paired, all your tests will be saved in the app. Part of the reason you keep the data in the app is so that you can share with others when you find peanut sensitive foods. That way others in your community will know what to avoid. You can use the app without having the sensor and I think this is a very useful tool for parents of children who have peanut allergies. The map shows places where tests have been done with the results. In my area, There only ended up being one location that had been tested.
I found when it comes to testing foods, there is a very specific way it must be done. The first time I tried to test out a piece of food, the sample was too large. I ended up with an error. The sensor is very easy to read. If you have an error, an exclamation point will appear. If there is peanut present, a peanut image will show up and if a smiling face appears then there is no peanut detected. The first sample I used gave me the exclamation point. There were two issues with the sample. First, it was too large and the second was that the cap to the testing capsule was not tightened all the way. The guide for the samples shows the sample size should only be able to the size of a pea. I knew that the sample I used was too large, but I wanted to see what would happen with the test. After the first test, I used a much smaller piece of food and the testing was successful. I was actually surprised at how much vibration was caused by the testing device. It was louder than I expected, too. It wasn’t so noisy that it caused a disturbance, but it wasn’t silent.
I ended up testing three different foods. Two of them were fairly known as far as ingredients, while the third was a bit of an anomaly.
• Lentil Chips – The labeling indicated that it was produced in a peanut-free environment so the likelihood that peanut would be found in the food item was pretty low. TEST RESULT: NO PEANUT
• Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers – Given the fact that ‘peanut butter’ was in the name of the product, there was a high degree of confidence that peanut was present. TEST RESULT: PEANUT FOUND
• Sara Lee Honey Wheat Bread – This food item was the unknown. There are a lot of ingredients listed on the package (listed below), but peanut was not officially listed. TEST RESULT: PEANUT FOUND
Given that the first two tests included known elements of peanut or absence of peanut, I have a high degree of confidence that the bread testing is accurate.
Sara Lee Honey Wheat Bread ingredients: enriched bleached flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), riboflavin (vitamin b2), folic acid), water, honey, whole wheat flour, high fructose corn syrup, yeast, wheat gluten, contains 2% or less of each of the following: wheat bran, calcium sulfate, salt, soybean oil, dough conditioners (may contains one or more of the following: mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides, sodium stearoyl lactylate, calcium peroxide, datem, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, enzymes), calcium propionate (preservative), distilled vinegar, guar gum, yeast, nutrients (monocalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate and/or calcium carbonate), corn starch, vitamin d3, soy lecithin, milk, soy flour.
I think that the Nima Peanut Sensor is a very worthwhile device for parents of kids with allergies. It really does seem to work and work well. When you cook foods at home, it’s easy to know what the ingredients are, but when you go out to a restaurant, it gets much harder to regulate what your kids are eating. The Nima Peanut Sensor is an investment. The starter kit, which includes the sensor device and 12 testing capsules, retails for $289. The capsules can only be used once and refills cost $72. Since there are only 12 capsules, I would imagine that you could go through them fairly quickly and that’s a hefty ongoing expense. I think you have to weigh the expense versus the amount you would use it. The sensor does work and I can recommend it from that basis.
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Relax stiff muscles with this HyperIce Hypervolt cordless vibration massager. Quiet Glide technology keeps the rotating heads moving smoothly across your skin, and the lightweight ergonomic design makes it easy to use for myofascial release. Improve your range of motion and promote good circulation with this HyperIce Hypervolt cordless vibration massager.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A great option for pain management
on December 28, 2018
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
For nearly 20 years, I have suffered from severe leg pain due to an old injury. I tend to survive through it with the help of medication and pressure massages. I’m always on the lookout for personal devices that might be able to help me manage my pain without having to use medication. I have one such device that is a wearable item, but I can’t wear it 24/7. So, I typically have to supplement with massages — either from professional masseuses or from family members. Personal massage devices like shiatsu massagers just don’t do enough for me so when I heard about the Hypervolt Vibration Massage Device, I was thrilled beyond belief because I felt as though having a device like that at home would save me time and money going to masseuses.
The Hypervolt massager is rechargeable and has a long run-time (approximately 2 hours total). Most of the time, I was running it in 5-minute increments, but there were a few times that I had longer massage sessions. The massager comes with multiple attachments. I tested them all out and found that they had very different uses. The fork tool seemed to work best on my leg and back, but it caused too much of a ‘tickle’ effect when used on my foot. The round ball was the best all-around attachment and could be used anywhere effectively. The bullet was perfect for targeting problem areas and was great for ‘hot spots’. This was particularly effective for me on my leg where I have the most issues. The flat head attachment was also great on my back and foot.
I had some wonderful success with the Hypervolt. It relieved my pain — even when it was at its peak and I honestly don’t know how I’ve lived this long without it. It’s the perfect addition to my home pain management system. It is expensive, but when you consider that an hour-long massage typically costs between $50-60, the Hypervolt pays for itself in a very short period of time. I can use the Hypervolt on myself if no one else is around, or have someone help me with it. My family members that help me with it - particularly on my back where I can’t reach - say that it’s much easier than doing the massaging with their hands.
While the Hypervolt is an investment, it’s a wise investment because of the benefits of it.
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Combine productivity and entertainment with this Lenovo Yoga Chromebook. Its 8GB of RAM and Intel i5 processor supply power for apps and media, and the 128GB eMMC flash memory provides fast access to files. This Lenovo Yoga Chromebook has a 360-degree folding screen that lets you use it in laptop, tent, presentation or tablet configurations.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A fast, strong computer system
on December 9, 2018
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
I’ve been a steady macOS user for many years now. My main computer has been the 2016 MacBook Pro for the past couple of years now and while I end up using a Windows machine at work and sometimes a Windows machine at home for various tasks, macOS is my standard operating system of choice. With that said, I do enjoy learning other systems and exploring what different operating systems have to offer. I’ve been most intrigued with Chromebooks since that system makes you operate almost entirely ‘in the cloud’. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to use a Lenovo Yoga laptop and so when the option to try out the Lenovo C630 Chromebook, I jumped at it. Lenovo makes a solid machine and I was eager to test it out.
STYLE: The laptop feels awesome. The keyboard is responsive and the body of the computer is substantial. The laptop does have a bit of weight to it, but it looks sleek and it is still quite portable.
PERFORMANCE: I will typically run a benchmarking software with a new system, but because the Chromebook is web-based, I was unable to install anything to check any benchmarking scores. I did end up finding an online option for benchmarking called Octane. There was a note on the website that mentioned that Octane had been discontinued and even though I was able to get a score from it, I’m not sure how accurate the score is or where it makes the system stand up against other laptops. I ran several apps and used the cloud-based apps (Google Docs, etc.) for several hours and found that the Chromebook was blazing fast. The system was very responsive and didn’t hesitate to do anything I asked it to do.
BATTERY LIFE: I have been very happy with the battery’s performance. While I haven’t used the laptop for 10 hours straight yet, I have used it for several hours at a time and found that power wasn’t a problem.
TOUCHSCREEN: While I really enjoy having the touchscreen as an option, it is not very practical for tasks other than scrolling and drawing. It is quite responsive, and I would even liken it to an iPad’s touch screen, but typing on it just isn’t very practical.
Overall, the Lenovo Yoga C630 is a very capable laptop. I really love how the ChromeOS makes you rethink how your workflow is structured. I love utilizing cloud services and a Chromebook definitely makes you rethink that.
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Create hot, eye-opening cups of java with this Ninja coffee brewer. Its 60-oz. removable reservoir allows easy filling at the sink, and the Thermal Flavor Extraction technology ensures every batch is flavorful and never bitter. This Ninja coffee brewer has a Mid-Brew pause button that lets you snag a cup before the batch is complete.
 
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5 out of 5
5
An easy to use, affordable coffee maker
on December 3, 2018
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
My grandmother loves to drink coffee. She has it several times throughout the day and into the evening. For quite some time, she has been using a single-serve coffee pot and we decided to give her an upgraded system for the holidays this year. Since she drinks coffee multiple times per day, we wanted her to have a full size coffee pot and since we have used other Ninja products, we thought this 12-cup coffee maker would be a good investment for her long-term use.
This coffee maker is easy to use. There are easy to read labels on it and it’s fairly self-explanatory. I really like that all the components — including the filter — are washable. There are several brewing modes, which comes in handy since the members of our family all like their coffee just a little different. The small batch setting will work very nicely for my grandma as it will make 1-4 cups of coffee (approximately 1-2 large cups) which is perfect for her uses.
This coffee maker has a sleek, attractive design and it’s very sturdy. I love that this is easy to use since my grandma appreciates technology, but doesn’t always understand how it works. I like that this is a high quality coffee maker at an affordable price. I would recommend this to others.
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+3points
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Sear, brown, saut~, and slow cook all in one pot for maximum flavor with the Calphalon Digital Saut~ Slow Cooker. The cooking pot removes and can be placed on electric, gas, or induction cooktops to brown or sear ingredients before slow cooking. The LCD digital display provides intuitive control of multiple cooking modes, for tender pulled pork, curry chicken, paella, and more. The nonstick ceramic coating is easy to clean and delivers 11x more durability* than standard nonstick surfaces, plus it~s PTFE- and PFOA-free. The Calphalon slow cooker is perfect for one-pot family dinners with its 5.3-quart capacity. The cooking pot is also oven safe for further heating, cooking, and warming options. Gorgeous dark stainless steel will enhance any kitchen~s countertop and metal construction provides long-lasting durability.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Nice option for slow cooking
on November 27, 2018
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
One of my favorite ways to cook is using our slow cooker. The only issue I have is not having a wide variety of recipes to use with it. The slow cooker I have is a hand-me-down and I was very excited to get this Digital Saute Slow Cooker from Calphalon. It was a decent upgrade from the previous model I had been using, but it still provides the same conveniences and simplicity that other slow cookers do.
One of the things I noticed right away about this slow cooker was its size. First of all, it’s round in shape and not oblong like my previous device. The inside lining of the slow cooker can be used on a stovetop for sautéing or other prep work before you start the slow cooking process. This diameter of the inside liner is only about 7 inches, which isn’t very large for a family-size piece of meat like a roast. We usually cook a chuck roast in our slow cooker and it lays flat in my oval slow cooker, but in this case, the meat stuck up into the bowl more than I liked. I do really like that the insert can be used for cooking outside the slow cooker. That’s a new concept to me as in the past I’ve only used the insert as a part of the slow cooker and not a separate cooking utensil.
As a cohesive unit, the slow cooker looks very sleek. It’s lightweight, which is a welcome change from my previous cooker, which has a very heavy ceramic bowl insert. The handles are lined with a heavy rubber, which is also very nice because it’s easy to transport even after it’s been used to cook. Even though it’s not a snap-into-place lid, the lid is made from glass and has a rubber lining that holds it in place when it’s placed into the recess of the insert.
The Calphalon slow cooker does a great job of cooking meals. You do have to be aware of its size when you make plans to use it because you don’t want to end up with more food than it can properly handle. It’s perfect for soups and casseroles, but meat dishes like roast might need a different sized/shaped cooking surface. The name of the product is a little misleading as it makes you think that you will be able to sauté foods in the slow cooker when in fact you have to remove the insert and use it to cook on a stovetop before the slow cooking process. All in all, it’s a really nice device and it makes a great meal.
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Create tasty smoothies and frozen drinks with this Ninja smart screen blender. Its powerful 1000W motor base and 72-oz. Total Crushing pitcher transform ice and fresh ingredients into frozen treats, and four Auto-iQ programs offer preset preparations. This Ninja smart screen blender has a manual mode that sets exact specifications for customized recipes.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Powerhouse in a simple package
on November 25, 2018
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
When I was a little kid, my parents taught me how to make homemade milkshakes with our blender. The device wasn’t much to brag about — just a simple run-of-the-mill blender that they picked up from a department store. It has simple functions on it and it got the job done — for the most part. There were some things it just didn’t handle very well and that was because it was underpowered for what we were asking of it. Could we make milkshakes with it? Sure, but were they more milk than ice cream? Yes — the blender just couldn’t handle mixing up large scoops of the frozen treat. If you have the Ninja Smart Screen Blender (CT650), you don’t have to worry about that being a problem. Not only does it feature 1000 watts of power, it’s designed specifically for blending smoothies and frozen drinks.
As a matter of confession, I hadn’t even heard of Ninja as a brand until a few years ago. It just wasn’t something paid much attention to until a co-worker had complicated-looking smoothies everyday. I asked what she used to make them and she said her Ninja blender. She explained that it’s a bit pricier than other brands, but it’s totally worth it. My first experience with a Ninja on a personal level was with the Ninja Chef blender, which is a 1500-watt machine. The Smart Screen model is perfect for people who just want to blend simply with the power of a Ninja motor. It has 4 pre-set Auto-iQ programs for blending. So, the user doesn’t have any specific control over the blending time, but they can still do a low, high, or pulse setting for getting their drink just right.
I really like this blender for simplicity-sake. You can plug it in and be ready to blend within a few second after getting the blender unpackaged. The 1000-watt motor can tear through ice and fruit with no problems. The control panel is sealed and therefore it’s waterproof. That makes clean up a very easy process. That was always one thing that bothered me about other older blender models — the mess that would get into the button crevasses. The cap forms a nice seal, but can be a little tricky to align. Once you do, you shouldn’t have any issues with it coming loose or causing a mess.
I’ve made milkshakes, smoothies, and even some purees for holiday meals and the Ninja Smart Screen has handled it all like a champ. For the price, you won’t find a better option for an easy-to-use blender with the power of a Ninja.
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Whip up a smoothies, dips or side dishes with this Ninja blender. The FreshVac pump reduces oxygen to preserve flavor and nutrients, and the 20-oz. cup or 72-oz. pitcher makes it easy to create single or multiple servings. This powerful Ninja blender has crushing blades that power through ice cubes effortlessly.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A smoothie lover’s dream machine
on November 25, 2018
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
This blender is a substantial upgrade to standard blenders. First of all, it’s a Ninja system so it has a 1400-watt motor that can be used to blend anything. I’ve had a couple of Ninja systems and can’t say enough about having the more powerful motor than standard consumer blenders. What makes this system so unique is the Freshvac technology that’s employed to make smoothies have less foam and a richer taste.
The system consists of the 72-ounce blender pitcher, 2-20 ounce single serve Freshvac cups and the Freshvac pump. A couple of things to note about this system: the main pitcher and single serve cups are made out of heavy-duty plastic and the pump requires 4AA batteries in order to operate it. These are ‘cons’ in my opinion because if you want to blend hot liquids, you need to wait for them to cool down before blending them. I would be happy if at least the main 72-ounce pitcher was made from glass. The Freshvac pump needing batteries is more of an inconvenience to me. I would rather see it be a recharge able device than one that uses consumable batteries. You do have the option of using an optional AC power cord, but I’d rather it be a cordless, rechargeable device.
Aside from those small issues with the design, I think the Ninja Duo Blender does a great job with mixing and blending drinks, purees, and anything else you throw at it. The Freshvac technology was a new adventure for me as I’d never even heard of it before I got this system. That said, I definitely can tell a difference with the finished product when I remove the oxygen from a smoothie versus when I leave it in. The texture was much smoother than when you don’t use the vacuum. This is a big win for me as texture is something that really bothers me — especially when it comes to blended drinks.
Even though this is a sophisticated system with lots of parts (at least more than just a single blender), the Ninja Duo is well worth the time it takes to learn the system. I can recommend this system to anyone who likes to have blended drinks it can really enhance your experience. It’s easy to use with the pre-programmed modes and clean up is a breeze since the control panel is sealed and waterproof.
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Enjoy your favorite music alone or among friends with these wireless Rowkin Ascent earbuds. The Rowkin app is compatible with iOS and Android to let you share music or adjust audio settings, while WaterSafe technology provides water resistance for use during inclement weather. These Rowkin Ascent earbuds come with a slim charging case, which is also ideal for storage.
 
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4 out of 5
4
Nice features with a high-quality build
on November 15, 2018
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
The search for the perfect earbuds can be quite elusive. I have never been able to zero in on that ideal pair for my ear type and size. Somehow, earbuds just don’t fit me right. They can’t get far enough into my ear canal to form a tight seal for high-end sound and if they do have that tight fit, they get uncomfortable really quickly. So, when I happen to find that special blend of comfort, superior sound quality, and exceptional features, I like to talk about it.
The Rowkin Ascent Charge+ are a really special set of headphones. They are dubbed ‘true wireless’ because they pair together and act as one set of headphones rather than individuals. And, they don’t require any cable connection to the connected device. They have an impressive 50+ hour music/talk time (with the aid of its charging case) and are considered the smallest sport earbuds on the market. As I mentioned above, I really look for three specific areas in a set of headphones and it is these areas that I will discuss in this review.
SOUND QUALITY
For me, the sound quality fell flat with the Rowkin headphones. I have some trouble with the ‘fit’ of earbuds sometimes and because of that, I don’t know that I always get the ‘best’ sound possible from them. That said, I have gotten to be a pretty good judge of how earbuds sound even if they don’t fit. The Rowkin Ascent Charge+ earbuds are decent — maybe a 6 out of 10 — but I thought they lacked some depth and they were just so-so in terms of clarity. I listened to a variety of music and quite a bit of movie/TV audio, too and I found that there was just something missing for me.
COMFORT
This is another area where these earbuds didn’t meet the mark for me. They weren’t exceptionally well-suited to anything aside from being stationary. For me, they fit gently into my ears and a quick shift of the head caused them to dislodge and wiggle around a bit. I’m also not a big fan of this style of earbud in general. I don’t like how there is a cylinder that juts out away from the ear. It makes me feel like my ears are weighted down. I do like that Rowkin included several sizes of ear gels and I did swap out the default size for the smallest one. This helped a bit and I recommend that anyone trying out earbuds make sure you are using the right size ear gel because that can make a bit difference. Even though these were a bit subpar in the comfort department for me, I never had any earaches or headaches due to prolonged use of them. I was able to listen to music with them for several hours at a time without pain occurring.
FEATURES
This is one area where the Rowkin earbuds excelled. I don’t like that a manual is not included with the earbuds (you have to search it out online), but I do like that they can be charged (through the case) wirelessly. That is an awesome upgrade in my opinion. They also charge with USB-C, which is another plus in my book. I don’t think enough devices utilize USB-C as a connection option. I had some trouble with the touch controls. You should be able to single tap or double tap the earbuds for simple controls of the device. I attempted this and was never able to get them to work as they were supposed to. This is an issue with other touch-control devices, too. Sometimes if you don’t hit just the right place on the device, you won’t get the function to work properly. I would equate my issues to user error and not a fault of the device as I haven’t seen anything online where others have had the same issues.
I’m not sure that the Rowkin Ascent Charge+ are ‘bad’ earbuds, but they certainly weren’t for me. My fiancé tried them out and was more impressed with them than I was. I really love that Rowkin employed wireless technologies for charging these earbuds and I hope that more headphones designers start to follow suit.
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