nickcal's stats
- Review count323
- Helpfulness votes1,307
- First reviewFebruary 22, 2014
- Last reviewJuly 11, 2025
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- Average rating4.7
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- First answerMay 23, 2016
- Last answerSeptember 7, 2020
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Unlock 100+ game audio presets with Arctis Nova 5P and the Companion App. Switch detailed EQ profiles for games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, Minecraft, and more without leaving the game. With 60-hour battery life, and 2.4GHz/Bluetooth wireless, play longer on PS, PC, Switch, and mobile with a USB-C wireless dongle.
Customer Rating
5
Exceptional gaming headphones
on June 25, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
For the past three years, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect gaming headphones to accompany my Call of Duty: Mobile adventures. I’ve used just about every type of headphones and tried out different connection methods and until I used the Arctis Nova 5P gaming headset, I just didn’t find what I was looking for. Part of what’s tricky for me is that I’m hard of hearing and even premium headsets sometimes aren’t clear enough for me. But the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P are.
COMFORT
I’ve used these headphones for a little over a week now. I’ve had some incredibly long gaming sessions with the average probably being around 5-6 hours at a time. They have remained comfortable to me during even the longest sessions. I sometimes end up with a lot of heat around my ears, but these ear cups have a steady temperature that hasn’t ever seemed to hot to me. They are soft and cover my ears comfortably. The headband is flexible, but sturdy and I rate these among the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever used.
CONNECTIVITY
These headphones connect via Bluetooth or through a 2.4Ghz USB-C receiver. I’ve used both. In the past this has been problematic because the Bluetooth connection sometimes doesn’t give users the highest sound quality. In this case, I noticed that the sound quality was equally good using Bluetooth as it was using the receiver. Plus I was able to use the mobile app for the equalizer.
SOUND QUALITY
I’ve used SteelSeries gaming headsets before and I’ve always been impressed with them, but the Nova 5P actually surpass any other headsets I’ve used. One of the things that’s really important to me is clarity. My hearing impairment (high-end hearing loss) makes it difficult for me to understand certain sounds sometimes — especially if there are a lot of sounds happening all at once. This is why premium sound quality is essential for me to have in order to enjoy gameplay. I use Discord while I’m playing to be able to communicate with my teammates and other headphones (some very high-end quality) will lower the game volume while keeping the Discord chat high. The Nova 5P headset kept everything mixed really well so I wasn’t missing anything. In fact, the sound quality made it possible for me to hear incoming opponents more clearly than other headphones did.
BATTERY LIFE
As I mentioned I’ve used these headphones for long periods of time. I charge them up every night when I’m done playing, but I’ve not had an issue with them dying on me in the middle of a session. I do love the fact that they have a fast-charge option (6 hours of use in 15 minutes). The only thing that might make the battery life better is if the Nova 5P came with a spare battery that you swap out.
CONCLUSION
The SteelSeries Nova 5P is a great headset for gaming. I’ve also used it just for playing music and it’s been quite enjoyable for that purpose, too. The headset offers great sound quality and is comfortable to use even for longer periods of time. It’s a great choice — especially if you want to use it for multiple platforms.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The new GIGABYTE AORUS 16X sets a new standard for gaming excellence. Powered by Intel Core processor and AI-accelerated NVIDIA® GeForce RTX laptop GPU, it guarantees unparalleled performance. The integrated AI Nexus enhances power management, gaming, and generative-AI experiences for both gamers and creators. Empowered by WINDFORCE Infinity cooling technology, this laptop achieves a remarkable slim profile while asserting dominance in the gaming world with unparalleled performance.
Customer Rating
4
A very capable gaming laptop
on June 11, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
In the past few months I’ve had more experience with PC gaming laptops then I care to admit. I bounced from one to another trying to find the right fit. While many laptops have similar features, there is a lot to be said for the hardware build and branded software components as differentiators between brands. This is my first experience with a Gigabyte computer and for the most part, it has been a very positive one. Here are some of my main takeaways.
The fan kicks on frequently. I noticed this when I first setup the laptop, and then again every time I restarted the computer. While that is fairly normal, I also noticed it when the laptop was sitting idle and then again when I had closed the lid to put it into standby mode.
The power adapter is a barrel-style plug. It does not sit flush against the side of the laptop. I’m not a big fan of this because it can easily become detached or even broken.
The laptop case is hefty, but I really like the feel because it doesn’t seem as though it will get knocked around easily.
The screen looks amazing — even just with system tools running. I was even more impressed when I tried out a game and some videos on it.
The speakers sounded great — much better than the average laptop speakers.
When I started the laptop for the first time, there was a dialog box that read, “The computer goes to windows update, driver install and optimization settings; please be patient to wait the reboot after settings completing.” I assume this was part of the system software, but I’ve never seen something like this pop-up upon setup.
The Gigabyte Control Center is a basic operation dashboard, but it works really well. There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles — just the functions you need.
The keyboard is very nice to type on but the right-shift key is shorter than I’m used to and so I mistyped quite a bit while I was working.
One of the other observations I had was that even though I declined the OneDrive and Microsoft 365 free trials, those software packages were still installed on the computer — in multiple languages. Aside from that, I was impressed that there were only 70 background tasks running once the computer was up and running.
The power adapter is a barrel-style plug. It does not sit flush against the side of the laptop. I’m not a big fan of this because it can easily become detached or even broken.
The laptop case is hefty, but I really like the feel because it doesn’t seem as though it will get knocked around easily.
The screen looks amazing — even just with system tools running. I was even more impressed when I tried out a game and some videos on it.
The speakers sounded great — much better than the average laptop speakers.
When I started the laptop for the first time, there was a dialog box that read, “The computer goes to windows update, driver install and optimization settings; please be patient to wait the reboot after settings completing.” I assume this was part of the system software, but I’ve never seen something like this pop-up upon setup.
The Gigabyte Control Center is a basic operation dashboard, but it works really well. There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles — just the functions you need.
The keyboard is very nice to type on but the right-shift key is shorter than I’m used to and so I mistyped quite a bit while I was working.
One of the other observations I had was that even though I declined the OneDrive and Microsoft 365 free trials, those software packages were still installed on the computer — in multiple languages. Aside from that, I was impressed that there were only 70 background tasks running once the computer was up and running.
Because it’s a ‘gaming’ laptop, I did some real-world play tests with Warzone. The game ran smoothly and I didn’t experience any lag. In addition to the gameplay test, I ran two benchmarking tests — Geekbench and Novabench. The scores were 2609 Single Core / 15625 Multi-Core (Geekbench) and 4246 Overall / 2456 CPU / 1161 GPU (Novabench).
For casual gamers, this laptop will do just fine. It’s got enough CPU / GPU power to manage most gaming tasks as well as standard work/school tasks. The nicest feature about this laptop is it price as it is highly competitive and much more budget-friendly than other gaming laptops.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Homey Pro (Early 2023) is the next generation of smart home hub. It is packed with state-of-the-art technology to talk to and unify your smart home devices. It is compatible with WiFi, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, Z-Wave Plus, Infrared, Matter, and Thread technologies. So it works with over 50,000 devices from more than 1,000 brands—and counting. Use Homey Flow within the Homey app and make all your devices work together seamlessly, And when you use Homey Pro in conjunction with the Homey Bridge (sold separately), you can extend wireless coverage throughout your home.
Customer Rating
5
Helpful, easy to use smart home hub
on June 10, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
For the past decade, I’ve worked hard to integrate smart lighting into my home but I’ve struggled with finding the best app to control it all. I have tried using Apple’s Home but it just lacks something when it comes to the user interface. I love being able to set up automations for turning on and off lights but the Home app doesn’t exactly make it easy. So I like the idea of using a third-party option like Homey Pro.
The device itself is round and puck-like in shape. It is a bit larger than an Apple TV but it has an RGB ring light around the bottom of it. The instructions suggest that users should give the unit a little space because putting objects on top of it might block infrared signals that it needs to communicate with smart devices. I typically like to hide my device hubs inside a cabinet or under a shelf, but since this specifically suggested that you should keep it out in the open, I made a place for it in my office, which is close to our Internet router and centrally located in the house.
One of my concerns going into this setup was whether or not I could use the Homey Pro with my Home App. As it turns out, you can. The initial set up of the Homey Pro is very simple. You plug it in, set up an account, connect it to your network, and let it do its updates. After the unit has initialized, you can add your smart devices to it.
Starting out, I added one of our Nanoleaf installations to it. I didn’t want to migrated everything until I knew it worked with HomeKit. The Homey Pro app automatically detected the compatible devices on my network and to add the Nanoleaf installation to the Homey Pro, I only had to do a restart. I was concerned I would have to do a reset of the device, but I didn’t. That meant that the device stayed connected to my Home App, too!
When it came to setting up an automation, Homey Pro made it very, very easy. You go to Flows in the app and then complete a simple walk through of IF/Than statements. I set up the Nanoleaf to turn on and off at certain times of the day. To test the Flow I set the time the light would turn off for only a few minutes later and when that time came, the light turned off. It was a much easier process than setting up an automation in the Home App.
While I haven’t had this device very long, I’m very impressed by its performance. I love the app interface and how easy it is to connect devices and set up their automations. Even though Homey Pro is already compatible with many smart devices, I’m looking forward to seeing even more rolled out. Since I have a lot of devices I’m slowly migrating them into Homey Pro, which I would suggest if you are nervous about how it all will work. I’ve had many false starts with smart home apps and hubs so I’m just treading cautiously. So far, I’m very happy with it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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A perfect blend of form and function, the Lenovo IdeaCentre 3, powered by the latest Intel processors, has an ultra-compact design that fits seamlessly into any home. With blazing SSD storage and lightning-fast connectivity, you can connect, make, and share effortlessly with all your friends and family.
Customer Rating
5
Great PC for the right user
on June 4, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
I’m typically not a Windows person but I have been delving into the platform lately for gaming purposes and I’ve made an interesting hobby out of trying to make my PC machines as efficient as possible by eliminating bloatware from them. One of my favorite new machines has been the Lenovo Legion 9 gaming laptop. It’s powerful but the machine runs very efficiently — even before removing any programs from it. When I got this IdeaCentre mini tower, I was very excited to give it a whirl since I have a new found love of the Lenovo brand.
When I unboxed the tower, I was shocked to find such a small tower. It’s very space-efficient and could fit most places. I currently have it just sitting on my desktop and it doesn’t clutter up the space at all. The tower comes with a basic wired keyboard and mouse. They aren’t great, but they work. One thing I would suggest to anyone purchasing this computer is to upgrade these accessories to something that will last longer. In addition to the keyboard and mouse, the IdeaCentre comes with a power cable and some documentation. There are no other cables though. I had to use my own HDMI cable to connect it to my monitor.
After the computer updated and was up and running it only had 62 background processes running. There were 52 applications pre-installed including McAfee and Microsoft Office 365. Even if you decline the trial the applications are still installed on the machine. So that’s one of the first things I did — remove the unnecessary programs that I didn’t want.
Then I did a few benchmarking tests including — Geekbench and Novabench.
Geekbench gave it a rating of 2374 for single-core and 6754 for multi-core. The single-core score is in line with the benchmarks for the i5-14400 but the multi-core score was 41% lower than the benchmark shown by Geekbench’s data. The Novabench score was 2279. The report provided by Novabench showed that the IdeaCentre performed 82% betther than all systems that were tested. Relative performance of the CPU and GPU were below the expected range but the temperature, power, clock speed, bottleneck and stutter were all within normal range.
In addition to the benchmarking tools, I did a few real world tests. Since this computer is intended for basic users, I did some basic tasks like Internet browsing, word processing, and watching videos. Since there is only 8GB of RAM on this system, I didn’t feel that it could handle any advanced gaming but I did attempt to play Counter Strike 2. It loaded but very slowly and it had a horrible stutter. So, I immediately exited the game and uninstalled it.
The computer didn’t seem to have any problems playing videos through Netflix. I did have to connect it to external speakers though. I used a set of Bluetooth speakers that are set up on my desk. While they didn’t have any issue connecting, it did seem like the audio was slightly out of sync. The video quality was very good though — even blown up to full screen. The same was true of YouTube, but the audio didn’t seem as out of sync.
Word Processing and Internet Browsing were super easy with the IdeaCentre. It didn’t seem to take many processes at all. I’m a big fan of this tiny tower. It’s budget-friendly and very easy to use — as long as you use it for the right tasks. I think it’s great for school or basic office work but it might end up feeling sluggish if you attempt to do any photo/video editing. It might work with some basic games, but nothing too graphic intensive. All in all, it’s a solid PC.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Dreo Pedestal Fan with Remote, PolyFan 613S, 43'' Quiet Standing Fan for Home Bedroom, 120°+105° Smart Oscillating Floor Fans with Wi-Fi/Voice Control, Works with Alexa/Google, 6 Modes, 8 Speeds
Customer Rating
5
Powerful, affordable fan
on April 27, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
We struggle with climate control in our house quite a bit. The back room of our house gets a lot warmer while the front room is cooler. And when the back room is cooler, the front room is warmer. It’s a constant battle and I’ve been looking for a fan like this to help control the temperature in my office (the front of the house)since it’s where I spend a lot of my time.
This Dreo fan has a lot of things going for it. First, it’s very affordable. Even though you can get a decent oscillating pedestal fan for a lower price, this one is remote controlled AND has a companion app. The app has its limitations, but it does allow me to do the basic controls from my phone. For those added benefits, I am willing to invest more into a fan of this caliber. Plus, this fan doesn’t just oscillate side to side — it moves up and down, too. This makes a big difference in air flow.
Second, this fan is very powerful. Once I got it set up, the default power was 5. I turned it down to 1 and was still able to feel the cool breeze coming from it while I sat at my desk — approximately 10 feet away from the fan. I was impressed with the amount of air this fan can move in a room. It really did help to keep my office from feeling stuffy and stagnant.
Third, the Dreo fan is very quiet. This was a surprise to me considering how powerful it is. Could I hear the air pushed from the unit? Yes, but there wasn’t an annoying motor noise coming from it. Because this fan is so quiet it is ideal for workspaces because it doesn’t distract you or cause an inordinate amount of ambient noise.
The fan is very easy to assemble. I only had to attach the stand to the base and tighten one bolt in the bottom. I will say that the place where the power cable is inserted is a bit strange. It’s about halfway up the stand and I would have rather seen it be toward the bottom of the stand so that you could hide it better. In addition to that, the fan head is large. So, you need to plan for that when you are deciding where it is going to live.
All in all, this Dreo smart fan is a great option for living or work spaces. It’s affordable and really does make a difference in how an environment feels.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Roomba Combo Essential robot is a 2-in-1 vacuum and mop, loaded with cleaning essentials and powered by iRobot OS. It has 3 levels of powerful suction plus mopping for a custom cleaning in a single pass. With a sleek, low-profile design and our Edge-Sweeping Brush, dirt and dust can't hide in corners or under your couch. The easy-to-use iRobot Home App provides control over your clean with favorite cleaning routines, personalized suggestions, and intuitive smart home integrations. While you kick back or go out, it can go to work on your floors.
Customer Rating
2
Vacuum cleans well, but has to be watched
on April 15, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
One of my favorite innovations in recent years is the robot vacuum. There seem to be many variations these days and this vacuum/mop combo from iRobot is no different. From my experience, robot vacuums have essentially the same setup process. Unbox it, remove packaging, set the vacuum on its base, download the app, and connect the vacuum to your WiFi network. Within just a few minutes you are ready to start your first cleaning session. This Roomba Combo unit was the same type of setup. Since this device also incorporates a mopping function, you have the option to add the mop head or leave it off if you are going to vacuum only.
I didn’t have any issues with getting the robot set up or the app connected. What I did have issues with was getting the robot to actually finishing a cleaning session. The first time I sent it out, the robot ran for approximately 2 minutes and didn’t clean enough floor space to register in the app. In reality it was probably only about 2 feet away from the base.
The vacuum pulled out of the base station, rotated a few times, moved forward a bit, hit a transition strip between our dining room and living room and then I heard the chime indicating that cleaning was done. I was shocked. I immediately sent it back out. This time it ran for 3 minutes, ran into our dog dishes, which spilled water all over the floor (and the vacuum), and then returned to its base. Both times there were no errors that occurred. The vacuum just thought it was done cleaning.
Before I tried a third time, I moved the base out into the open. Originally, I placed it up against a wall, but it was underneath our rabbit’s cage. So, I thought the open floor space might help. Ironically enough, I placed the base directly in front of another robot vacuum. This time, the robot moved off the base, rotated a few times and then shot out across the kitchen floor. “Finally!” I heard the vacuum moved back and forth across the kitchen/dining room linoleum and then it came to the transition strip again.
The vacuum bumped the dog dish again, but there was no spill this time. The vacuum paused before attempting to move across into the living room and all of a sudden, the unit powered off. I’ve never seen that type of behavior from a robot vacuum — not even one with low battery. I looked a the app and saw that the vacuum lost its network connection. The app directed me to take steps to fix the issue because “this was not something that would resolve itself.” I did a reboot of the vacuum and then sent it off cleaning again.
The vacuum did make it into our living room, which is mid-thick carpet. The vacuum didn’t seem to have trouble moving across the floor, but it did get stuck in a corner three times. I had to pick it up and move it out of the corner each time and tell it to clean again. After about an hour of babysitting the vacuum, I called it quits and told the vacuum to go home. It could not do it. I tried three different times and the vacuum just spun and then got stuck in a corner again. It finally re-docked on the base once I physically moved it to be within about 1.5 feet of the base.
I like iRobot products in general, but I just don’t know about this one. I was genuinely surprised at the lack of functionality I experienced with this unit. In addition to the vacuum’s ineptness, the app also seems to lack something. It looks as though the app/vacuum should be recording map data, but I never saw any from my Roomba. I also noticed that there was a large gap of history on the app. As I mentioned, the vacuum tried to clean for about an hour before I stopped it. That cleaning session was not recorded at all.
I will say that the space the vacuum was able to clean seemed to be done well. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make up for the amount of babysitting I had to do while the vacuum was running. I feel as though that defeats the purpose of having a robot vacuum.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Take performance anywhere with the sleek, powerful and ultra-portable Dell XPS 13, our thinnest and lightest XPS.
Customer Rating
5
A great traveling companion
on April 2, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
TLDR - This is a really nice well-rounded laptop that can be used for many different purposes. It’s powerful enough for basic gaming and the Intel Core Ultra 7 can handle multimedia creation as well as multitasking.
Over the past couple of months, I’ve been building/specking out a gaming desktop and laptop. It’s been a painstaking process, but it’s also been a great learning process for me since I’ve been a Mac user almost exclusively for 15+ years now. Fortunately, I was able to take that new experience and apply it to this remarkable, pocket-sized laptop.
The first thing I noticed was its build quality and style. It is very reminiscent of the MacBook Air series of notebooks and it feel incredibly solid. While it’s still very lightweight, I feel that daily use is not going to wear out the laptop case easily. When I opened up the lid, I continued to be impressed with the touch bar, nearly invisible fingerprint reader/power button, and the hidden trackpad. All of these design features seem to be taken from 2016 MacBook series laptops and it looks amazing on the Dell.
The startup process is not surprising at all. You are taken through the standard set of Windows startup screens and a couple of Dell ones. After I walked through that, I immediately opened the resource monitor to see what type of drag there already was on the system. Sitting idle, the resource monitor showed a CPU usage range between 2% and 40%.
I performed the system update, which took 30 - 60 minutes and then noticed that the Task Manager was showing 2% CPU, 51% Memory, and 1% Disk usage. As it turned out, the largest part of the memory usage was taken up by MyDell, Service Host, SupportAssistAgent, and Windows Explorer. I point this out because of the 70 apps that were pre-installed, 10 of them were related to Dell’s system software.
At this point, I removed some of the pieces of software that I did not want on the system (Microsoft Office apps were still present even though I opted out of the Office 365 Trial) and then ran benchmark tests using Geekbench and NovaBench. The single-core and multi-core scores from Geekbench were 1465 and 9652 respectively.
In Geekbench’s database, there were 7 other Dell XPS 13 laptops with the same processor logged. My Dell ranked 6 out of 8 in the single-core score and 3 out of 8 with the multi-core score. The NovaBench test stated that my Dell system ranks higher than 78% of all systems tested and it had an overall score of 2062.
Aside from design and performance, I found that the keyboard was very easy and comfortable to type on and while the speakers aren’t the best I’ve ever used, they aren’t bad either. The screen is an LED and is listed as WUXGA, which is between Full HD and a 2K resolution. The brightness is rated at 500 nits and I had it turned to approximately 60% for the majority of my testing and it was more than sufficient in the brightness and clarity department.
One of the more impressive aspects of this mini-laptop is the battery life. I tried my best to work it hard with updates and benchmark testing and it still had quite a bit of battery life left. After several hours of work with it, the battery still shows 28% left.
While it may not be enough for heavy gaming activities, this Dell laptop is ideal for power users who travel. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for that purpose.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew brews everything from a single-serve cup, to a travel mug, to a carafe—no pods required. Plus, enjoy Classic, Rich, and Over Ice coffee, as well as fresh cold brew, now on your countertop. With a keep warm function and 24-hour Delay Brew option, you can wake up to hot coffee every morning.
Customer Rating
5
A Versatile Brewing Powerhouse
on March 17, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
As a long-time user of Ninja products, I'm consistently impressed by the quality and innovation they bring to the table. The Ninja XL Coffee Maker is no exception. Before we added this machine to our kitchen, we were mainly making coffee using a French Press. Now, this Ninja Coffee Maker has become an indispensable part of our daily routine.
Setting up the Ninja XL was a breeze. After removing the packaging and shipping tape, I rinsed the parts off and then ran a test cycle to make sure that my first brew was flavorful and not stale tasting. Ninja made sure the buttons were clearly labeled and provided the option for users to brew a single cup, a travel cup, or a pot. This type of versatility is something I really appreciate with a coffee maker.
One of the reasons I started using a French Press over a standard coffee pot was because I hate using filters. This Ninja Coffee Maker includes a ‘forever’ filter, which eliminates the need for disposable filters. It’s washable, reusable and makes the process so much easier in my opinion. I also really like that the coffee maker comes with its own scoop. I hate having to search for one after I lose it.
The coffee maker is programmable and allows users to pre-schedule brews. I also really like the removable water supply and the swing-out coffee ground holder because it makes it so much easier to clean. I haven’t been much of a cold brew person, but I did start using the included recipes to see how they worked and found that it was really good and I really enjoy having the option for either hot or cold coffee drinks at home.
The Ninja XL Coffee Maker offers a winning combination of versatility, convenience, and quality. Whether you're a coffee aficionado or simply looking for a reliable brewing solution, I wholeheartedly recommend this product.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience stunning performance with the vast 34” curved WQHD LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitor. Stay a step ahead of the competition with an ultra-fast refresh rate up to 240Hz and .03ms response time that will bring you into the game like never before¹. And with the steep and dramatic 800R curve, you’ll feel enveloped in the action from virtually all around you. This UltraGear's ultra-thin, bezel design, height, tilt and swivel adjustability along with impressive connectivity options and make this UltraGear, ultra-essential for your battlestation setup.
Customer Rating
5
A glorious gaming monitor
on March 17, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
I recently added a new PC to my setup and realized that my old monitor wasn’t going to cut it any longer. I had a 4K monitor, but it’s refresh rate was only 60hz. This LG monitor provides a 240hz refresh rate which makes everything smoother when I play Call of Duty. The only downside was that I was sacrificing the 4K resolution for 1440HD. When I sat this LG WQHD side by side with the 4K I already had, I was shocked at how good the picture is on the LG. It’s stunning. And the curve of the screen is superb for an immersive feel when you play games or watch any media.
The sheer size of the monitor commands attention. Transitioning from smaller screens may require an adjustment period, but the payoff is immense. The OLED display dazzles with vibrant colors and impeccable viewing angles, drawing you into the action. While the stand demands desk real estate, its minimal bezels contribute to an immersive visual experience.
Set up of the monitor was super easy. It is compatible with a VESA mount, but the stand is very cool, too. The control stick is at the center of the screen and a little tricky to use, but it is a minor complaint in an otherwise phenomenal screen. The monitor features 2 x HDMI ports and 1 x DisplayPort. I would have liked to see a USB-C port as well. Another things to be aware of is that this monitor uses 21:9 aspect ratio and some games may not go full screen because of this. This aspect ratio also comes with a higher price.
The LG UltraGear packs a punch with its array of features. From customizable RGB lighting to OLED technology, every detail is optimized for peak performance. Multitasking is a breeze with ample screen real estate, akin to having multiple monitors seamlessly integrated into one.
Overall this monitor is glorious. It is a game-changer in every sense of the word. While it may come with a premium price tag, the investment is well worth it for enthusiasts seeking the pinnacle of visual performance. From deep blacks to vibrant colors, every aspect of this monitor is meticulously crafted to elevate your gaming and multimedia experience. If you're ready to take the leap into OLED technology, the LG UltraGear belongs at the top of your wishlist.There are just a few minor things that would make this a PERFECT monitor — even at WQHD and not 4K.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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A50 X is made to play. The ultimate gaming headset is upgraded with breakthrough innovations in audio and connectivity. PLAYSYNC Multi-system switching between 3 platforms at once. PRO-G GRAPHENE audio drivers achieve unprecedented clarity and response critical for in-game performance. Pro-grade LIGHTSPEED wireless delivers the highest levels of wireless performance including broadcast-quality wireless boom mic and wireless dual-device mixing. HDMI 2.1 Passthru delivers Ultra HD resolution for the highest levels of console audio (24 bit) and visual fidelity (4K 120 Hz). Battery lasts for up to 24 hours of playtime with the ease of wireless charging. A50 X is a breakthrough in design and engineering for the ultimate gaming audio experience.
Customer Rating
5
Great for gaming
on March 11, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
I’ve used several different styles of gaming headsets and the Logitech A50X is among the best I’ve used.
Wireless gaming headphones have revolutionized the way we gamers experience our favorite titles, offering unparalleled freedom of movement and convenience. The A50X sleek and cutting-edge setup provides immersive sound quality that enhances the overall gaming experience, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the virtual worlds I'm exploring.
SETUP
In order to take advantage of the highest levels of audio, you do have to utilize the HDMI ports. There is no HDMI cable included and HDMI 2.1 is what is required for the ultra HD audio resolution. Logitech provides a USB-C to USB-A cable and a combo cable. That’s what I ended up using. The single USB-C cable end plugs into the back of the base station while the two opposite ends (a USB-A and a USB-C) plug into the AC adapter and your computer, respectively. My computer recognized the new device instantly, and I didn’t have any issues using the headset. Even without the HDMI connection, the sound quality is exceptional.
COMFORT
The A50X headphones are extremely comfortable. The ear cushions are covered with fabric so they are completely breathable and I didn’t notice my ears getting overheated at all. I thought the controls were in a manageable spot and that the boom mic reached my mouth easily. The headband was a little stiff, but not what I would consider uncomfortable.
AUDIO QUALITY
The audio quality is superb through these headphones. I primarily played using the PC function and thought that the audio quality was above average for fps games. The mic quality is equally as good as the game audio. My teammates could hear me easily, and communicating with them wasn’t difficult at all.
OTHER THOUGHTS
It’s a little disappointing that there is no noise-canceling option, but the ear cups provide quite a bit of noise isolation on their own. You do have to have the base station in order for the headphones to work, but you can use these headphones with Bluetooth-compatible devices or hardwire them in. I noticed that as long as the base station has power, you can utilize the Bluetooth connection.
SUMMARY
The Astro A50 X Gaming headset is available in white or black and provides a premium listening experience for gamers regardless of their platform. There are a couple of drawbacks, but overall, these headphones provide great functionality for gamers.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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