k1zit's stats
- Review count116
- Helpfulness votes405
- First reviewDecember 24, 2014
- Last reviewApril 29, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.5
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count13
- Helpfulness votes14
- First answerSeptember 25, 2016
- Last answerNovember 9, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers2
Stay on top of your game with impressively powerful, noise cancelling AZ80 wireless earbuds with reference-quality sound. Discover legendary recorded music as you've never heard it before with Technics' highest-resolution audio, giving you the feel of the arena, an exclusive club, or in-studio magic; hear all the incredible details, from the warm timbre of a singer's voice to the thrill of the beat drop. Like you, these bluetooth earbuds work as hard as they play, with state-of-the-art noise cancellation so you can focus on your critical business. A must-have for high-priority business calls, AZ80 earbuds ensure you voice comes through seamlessly on every call, with enhanced JustMyVoice technology using 8 MEMS microphones and an advanced noise-reducing algorithm to minimize outside interference. Now you can connect to more than two devices at the same time – Technics’ Multipoint technology allows you to connect to three Bluetooth devices simultaneously, keeping you connected to your computer, tablet and phone at once and giving you the ability to multitask with flow, whether you're on a plane or on the golf green. Charge wirelessly (Qi compatible) to keep your workspace and bedside table neat; supports wireless hi-res audio using state-of-the-art Bluetooth with LDAC compatibility. Noise cancellation, EQ, and more are customizable through the Technics audio app so you can always have sound just as you want it.
Customer Rating
5
My New Favorite Premium Earbuds!
on September 6, 2023
Posted by: k1zit
I've been using the Technics AZ80s everyday now for the past week and a half. Out of all flagship earbuds I've owned in the past, these are by far the best sounding earbuds I've had the pleasure of using. However, do bear in mind that if you're looking for headphones that produce loads of maximum volume, these AZ80s are not it. While they produce a respectable level of volume, these earbuds are more geared toward providing a premium Hi-Res wireless audio experience. What you end up with is a very balanced and optimally tuned soundstage. Not only do these sound great, but they're also feature packed. They have some of the best ANC I've ever used, multi-point connectivity, great battery performance, support for SBC/AAC/LDAC codecs, IPX4 water resistant (for earphones, not the case), a plethora of earpiece sizes and shapes to find the right fit, and a supported wireless Qi charging case.
In terms of the audio performance, on the default EQ setting (i.e. "Direct"), you get a very wide and open soundstage. Vocals are incredibly clear and rich, treble & mids sound crisp, and the bass is perfectly balanced (punchy bass with a decent level of depth). While the default EQ preset is perfectly suitable for most music genres, the Technics "Audio Connect" application is a must download on Android or iOS due to the copious amounts of customization options available. I've used these earbuds extensively with my Samsung S22 Ultra. If you're on Android, then you're in for a special treat; LDAC enabled audio! In order to enable the LDAC codec I did have to enable LDAC in the Audio Connect app first. Only then was an LDAC toggle option available under my "Bluetooth connection settings". Music with LDAC enabled on my S22 Ultra plus the Technics AZ80s is a match made in heaven. The music genres I've listened to the most while using these AZ80s has been electronic/techno, country, hip hop, metal, classic rock, jazz, and classical. The EQ presets "bass+" and "super bass+" complemented the electronic/techno and hip hops genres perfectly. For classical, country, and jazz, I loved the "dynamic" and "treble+" presets. The result was a a very clear, clean, and open sound stage that really allowed me to discern the different instruments. Of course, you also have the option to create your own custom EQ presets. I'm a huge fan of "Multipoint" feature with these AZ80s. They allow you to have up to 3 bluetooth devices paired at the same time. As far as I know, these are the only earbuds on the market that allow for up to 3 devices. Do bear in mind, however, that having LDAC enabled only allows for up to 2 devices. Switching between multiple devices was flawless for me. I noticed that for the most seamless transition, it helped to pause or minimize whatever content I was listening to between switching over to another device.
The fit of the Technics AZ80s on my average sized ear canals are very snug and comfortable. In fact, these might be the most comfortable in-ear headphones I've used. I was pleasantly surprised as they are fairly large earbuds in comparison to some other earbuds on the market. I've taken these to the gym and have done resistance training, I've ran with them, and I've also rowed with them. I'm happy to report that these are great workout companions that shouldn't fall out of your ears so as long you choose the correct earpiece size. Also, since they're IPX4 certified, getting sweat on them wasn't a concern. Technics includes 7 different earpiece silicone sizes all the way from various extra small sizes all the way to extra large so that you find the most comfortable fit as well as the best seal for ANC. Speaking of ANC, it is bar none the best ANC I've experienced on any in-ear headphones. Not only did it do a fantastic job of drowning out all the background noise around me, but it allowed me to customize the level of ANC that I wanted applied to my surroundings via a slider wheel on the Audio Connect app. The same goes for the Ambient Sound settings which allows the earbuds to detect natural voices around you and emphasizes those sounds over your music. This is such a useful feature for me at work as I tend to work with earbuds on. This allows me to hear my co-workers if they're trying to get my attention which also beats having to pause the music or take my earbuds off.
These Technics AZ80s have proven to be the complete package for me. Not only are they the best sounding earbuds I've heard, but they come packed full of premium features that are useful for my everyday life such as ANC, multipoint, and their versatility in the gym. They also have a long battery life providing up to 7 hours of life (real world use for me with LDAC enabled and high volume was more like 5 to 5.5 hrs) plus 24 hours of backup battery with the charging case. The charging case is also Qi certified so it can be charged wirelessly! A 15 minute "quick charge" session also provides an additional 70 minutes of playback! If you're looking for a premium audio experience in a portable form factor, I highly recommend checking these out.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Galaxy AI is here. Search like never before¹, let transcript assist² take the notes for you, format your notes into a clear summary,³ and effortlessly edit your photos⁴ -all from your tablet, all with AI. With great power comes great productivity. Backed by our mighty Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and a long-lasting battery that can keep up with your dynamic lifestyle, Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra redefines how you conquer your to-do list. With the ultra-large 14.6" screen, you can work like a boss. There’s enough space to open and toggle between multiple windows and collaborate with teammates over video chat. You can also pair Tab S9 Ultra with the rest of your Galaxy to reach even greater heights —quickly share files from your phone to your tablet or use it as a second screen with your PC.
Customer Rating
5
Samsung Knocks It Out of The Park!
on August 30, 2023
Posted by: k1zit
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra has made me fall in love with tablets all over again. Not only is it an absolute powerhouse with a gorgeous display, but it packs a ton of very useful features. It's also one of the most beautiful pieces of tech that I've had the opportunity to get my hands on lately. From a design and construction perspective, the S9 Ultra boasts a razer-thin chassis with beautifully chiseled edges. It houses a very sleek and premium aluminum frame and back that is very rigid with almost zero bend (even when applying a lot of pressure). The massive corning gorilla glass screen is a generous 14.6 inches with wafer thin bezels. The S-Pen neatly, and magnetically, nestles into a dedicated S-pen slot that's integrated into the back frame of the tablet. The entire package looks like a work of art.
I've used several tablets from both of the well known ecosystems and after using the S9 Ultra, in terms of the full package, I'm convinced that it's currently the best tablet on the market. The careful UI design that went into the S9's Android OS is simply on another level. For example, I love how Samsung has thoughtfully placed the navigation bar with the home, back, and recents shortcuts in a small footprint at the bottom right corner of the tablet. This makes it so that you can easily and effortlessly reach over as you're using the tablet. This seems like a small thing but it's a big deal in practice when using a screen of this size. I've also had a blast using the S-Pen on the S9 Ultra (I also like that the pen comes included and you don't have to buy it separately like with some other competitors). Since I already use an S22 Ultra as my primary phone, I'm happy to report that the S-Pen on the S9 Ultra brings all the same features we've come to know and love. Having the ability to instantly crop images or text using "Smart Select" or being able to instantly select an image to impose your own hand-written captions using "Screen Write" is something that has become part of my daily life. I think having these features on a tablet for productivity work is immensely valuable and has become a must for me at this point. Also, if you're already invested in the Android ecosystem, you're going to love some of the native features found on the S9 Ultra like "QuickShare". Quickshare allows you to seamlessly and instantly share images, videos, and files between your Samsung phone and the S9 Ultra. Another great feature is the "Call & text on other devices" option. This allows you to link the S9 ultra to your Samsung phone and allows you to send/receive calls and text messages directly from your tablet. However, this feature does not work with Verizon and AT&T phones which was a bit of a disappointment.
In terms of performance, the S9 Ultra with it's Qualcomm snapdragon 8 gen 2 processor has been flawless. The Qualcomm Adreno 740 GPU with ray tracing is also equally as impressive. I benchmarked it by running Wildlife on 3D Mark and it scored a whopping 14,656 with an average framerate of 87.76 (see screenshot). This is amongst the best scores that you can get on a flagship today. To test real-world performance, I fired up Alien Isolation and paired my PS5 dualsense controller via bluetooth to the S9 Ultra. The gaming experience was nothing short of amazing. Graphics looked stunning, there was no noticeable lag between the S9 ultra and my wireless dualsense controller, and the game ran at about 35-65 FPS with the highest graphical setting option selected. Considering that this is a very graphically demanding game, I was very happy with the performance. For more conventional tasks like browsing the internet, watching videos, listening to podcasts/music, etc., the S9 Ultra effortlessly devoured everything in it's path. Closing and opening applications is very snappy. Toggling between applications and navigating through different menus within the apps feels incredibly fluid thanks to the 120hz AMOLED 2X display. It's a bit difficult to describe but whenever I use the S9 Ultra, it's so fast and snappy that it almost feels as if it knows what you're going to do before you do it on the actual display. The touch registration on the display is just that fast.
The S9 Ultra has features that deservedly earn it the title of being Samsung's current flagship tablet. The display is by far my favorite part of the tablet. The 14.6 Dynamic AMOLED 2x 120 HZ truly is a display that must be experienced in person to truly appreciate it. It's the best display I've ever used on any mobile device. Being an AMOLED 2X with support for HDR 10 plus, you get true black levels that are deep and inky. Color accuracy has also been improved with the AMOLED 2X display over its predecessor whereby colors were a bit oversaturated. Colors are still vibrant and vivid but skin tones and warmer colors seem to be represented more accurately. The resolution is an extremely high 2960 x 1848 which makes 4k and QHD content look phenomenal. Images are crisp and crystal clear. I also love that unlike other flagship tablets currently on the market, videos take up the entire screen giving you an immersive experience. The sound on the S9 Ultra is also very impressive. The tablet comes with AKG tuned quad firing speakers with Dolby Atmos support. These things get loud! Not only that, but the highs and mids are very crisp with very minimal distortion. The low frequency has a bit of boominess to it without any distortion either. The only thing to watch out for is where you place your hands while holding the tablet. I have noticed that when I'm holding the tablet, my fingers will occasionally cover the speakers. When this happens the sound will distort due to your fingers trapping the sound. When I first noticed it, I thought it was maybe the volume level causing the distortion but then I quickly realized that it was due to my hands covering the speaker. If you notice any type of audio distortion, watch those fingers!
Overall, this is the best tablet I've ever used. Because of it's ability to function both as a productivity powerhouse and a top tier media content device, it will be accompanying me on all of my travel. I also haven't even mentioned how this S9 Ultra is IP68 certified (dust/water resistant), has an expandable microsd card slot, has a fantastic camera, and also has an incredible 11,200 mAh battery. I played a full hour long session of Alien Isolation and still had a whopping 87% of battery left! After my time using the S9 Ultra, I highly recommend picking up the smart cover accessory. Not only does it fit like a glove, but the built-in stand is really sturdy. The magnetic cover for the S-pen is also brilliant (see pictures). If you're looking for a high performance tablet with one of the best displays on the market, I highly urge you consider the S9 Ultra.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
Elevate your video editing experience with the Crucial X10 Pro SSD: the portable drive that packs a palm-sized punch. With sequential read and write speeds up to 2,100/2,000MB/s and 2TB of space, your X10 Pro can connect directly to your laptop or workstation via a convenient USB-C cable. Blaze through your multi-cam timeline and even edit, trim, and render directly from the drive. The Crucial X10 Pro works with Windows, Mac, Android devices, and more. Featuring Micron TLC NAND plus water and dust resistance (IP55), the Crucial X10 Pro is the perfect partner in the studio or in the field, giving you the raw performance, lasting durability, and generous capacity you need.
Customer Rating
5
The King of USB-C External Portable SSDs
on August 25, 2023
Posted by: k1zit
I am in LOVE with this high-performance portable SSD from Crucial! Performance wise it's amongst the best I've tried in the portable SSD space. The X10 Pro comes in a very compact form factor, it's super lightweight at only 42 grams, it's IP55 water & dust proof, drop proof (up to 2 meters), and is also shock and extreme temperature proof. With such robust and practical features, this has become my main travel drive that accompanies me and my laptop on any trips that require productivity work on the go.
This drive is rated for 2100 MB/s read speeds and 2000 MB/s write speeds which is extremely impressive for a portable USB Type-C SSD. Please bear in mind that in order to achieve these top rated speeds, you'll want to make sure that your laptop or your desktop's motherboard is equipped with a USB-C port housing the latest and greatest standard: USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 2x2. If you bought your computer sometime after 2019, chances are that it already has either a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 port or a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port. For reference, I have listed below the different speeds of the USB 3.2 standard that you should expect to obtain depending on what USB-C standard your laptop or desktop is equipped with:
-USB 3.2 Gen 2 2x2: Max transfer rate speed of 20Gbps (2,500 MB/s), Real-world estimate: Up to 2,100 MB/s
-USB 3.2 Gen 2: Max transfer rate speed of 10Gbps (1,250 MB/s), Real-world estimate: Up to 1,050 MB/s
-USB 3.2 Gen 1: Max transfer rate speed of 5Gbps (625 MB/s), Real-world estimate: Up to 500 MB/s
-USB 3.2 Gen 2: Max transfer rate speed of 10Gbps (1,250 MB/s), Real-world estimate: Up to 1,050 MB/s
-USB 3.2 Gen 1: Max transfer rate speed of 5Gbps (625 MB/s), Real-world estimate: Up to 500 MB/s
***Note: These are theoretical transfer rate speeds. Real-world estimated max transfer rate speeds will vary due to protocol overhead.
I tested the X10 Pro on my Alienware laptop which was manufactured in 2021 and boasts a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. This allows me to achieve a theoretical max transfer speed of 10Gbps. While I wasn't able to take full advantage of the the top tier 20 Gbps transfer speed, my results were still very impressive for an external portable SSD. I tested the X10 Pro with Crystal Disk Mark 8.0.4 (see screenshots) and I was able to achieve blazing fast speeds. While Crucial recommends formatting the drive to NTFS to achieve maximum performance, I tested both NTFS and exFAT. Both formats produced impressive results! I have listed them below:
-NTFS USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port:
SEQ1M Q8T1 Read: 1002 MB/s, Write: 859 MB/s
SEQ1M Q1T1 Read: 899 MB/s, Write: 813 MB/s
SEQ1M Q8T1 Read: 1002 MB/s, Write: 859 MB/s
SEQ1M Q1T1 Read: 899 MB/s, Write: 813 MB/s
-exFAT USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port:
SEQ1M Q8T1 Read: 995 MB/s, Write: 892 MB/s
SEQ1M Q1T1 Read: 889 MB/s, Write: 849 MB/s
SEQ1M Q8T1 Read: 995 MB/s, Write: 892 MB/s
SEQ1M Q1T1 Read: 889 MB/s, Write: 849 MB/s
These speeds are exactly in line with Crucial's performance claims on a USB 3.2 Gen2 USB-C port. It's also reassuring knowing that I'm future-proofed with this drive considering that it will effectively double my speeds when I upgrade to USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 2x2. I was curious how games would run off the X10 Pro so I installed Stray and Doom Eternal on it. I was very pleasantly surprised. Both games ran buttery smooth with no hiccups and fairly quick load times. I'm certainly not saying that the X10 Pro is an equivalent replacement for a proper internal gaming NVMe SSD, but in a pinch, this X10 pro is awesome! Transferring a 16GB file from the internal PCIe SSD on my Alienware laptop to this X10 Pro completed in less than 30 seconds!
Overall, the Crucial X10 Pro is the ideal and perfect travel companion for me. Whether it be for transferring large files, using it to edit and store content creation files, or running the occasional game off of it when on the go, I'm confident that this drive will handle all of my storage needs with ease. I love that it's small enough to fit in my pocket yet feels rugged and sturdy enough to take some abuse. If you're someone who demands the absolute highest storage performance on the go, the X10 Pro is the way to go.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Play your way with the ROG Ally gaming handheld. Access any game that runs on Windows across all game platforms, including Steam, GOG, Xbox Game Pass, cloud gaming services, Android apps and more. Play anywhere, anytime, using handheld mode or by connecting the Ally to a TV and linking multiple controllers to play with friends. The Ally even transforms into a gaming PC by connecting to ROG XG mobile eGPU and dock - supporting mouse, keyboard, monitor, and more of your favorite peripherals. Equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z1 extreme processor, a smooth 7-inch 1080p 120Hz touchscreen with AMD FreeSync technology, and ROG intelligent cooling, the ROG Ally takes handheld gaming on to a whole different level.
Customer Rating
5
Endless Gaming Library Possibilities!
on June 14, 2023
Posted by: k1zit
Imagine playing any game that has ever relased on Steam, Epic games launcher, GOG Galaxy launcher, EA games launcher, Battlenet, and virtually any other games launcher that runs on Windows, on a high performance gaming handheld. We're talking the classics like Portal 1 & 2, all the Resident Evil remakes, all the Diablos, the Bioshocks, and practically any game that has ever been ported to PC. The list is endless! This is what makes the Asus ROG Ally so special for me. Being a handheld console junkie, the Ally has reconnected me to nostalgic titles on Steam such as N2O:Nitrous Oxide (from the PS1 days) or NiGHTS Into Dreams (from the Sega Saturn days). Titles that I'd never thought I'd be able to play on the go in such a portable form factor and with incredible performance. Don't even get me started on the emulator possibilities! In my review below, I highlight some of the key details during my time using the ROG Ally.
Design & Construction:
==========================================================================
I love the shape and design of the ROG Ally. It feels very ergonomic and comfortable resting on my medium to large sized hands. At only 608 grams, I've been able to play with it for hours without hand or arm fatigue. I also love the thoughtful button placement. I get a much more natural grip with the position of the left raised thumbstick and the slightly lowered right thumbstick as opposed to some of the Ally's main competitors that have both thumbsticks parallel to each other.The Ally is constructed from a beautifully matted white plastic that feels "grippy" and premium in the hands. The buttons, triggers, and thumbsticks also feel well built. The buttons and triggers feel firm, have a very smooth actuation, and also have solid feedback when pressed and released. I'm also a big fan of where Asus placed the mini exhaust vents. They're nested on the top rear of the housing so that you never feel any hot air blowing anywhere near your hands or face. The shortcut keys next to the display are also incredibly convenient as they allow you to quickly access things like the Armoury Crate software or Command Center for on-the-fly power, performance, or lighting adjustments.
==========================================================================
I love the shape and design of the ROG Ally. It feels very ergonomic and comfortable resting on my medium to large sized hands. At only 608 grams, I've been able to play with it for hours without hand or arm fatigue. I also love the thoughtful button placement. I get a much more natural grip with the position of the left raised thumbstick and the slightly lowered right thumbstick as opposed to some of the Ally's main competitors that have both thumbsticks parallel to each other.The Ally is constructed from a beautifully matted white plastic that feels "grippy" and premium in the hands. The buttons, triggers, and thumbsticks also feel well built. The buttons and triggers feel firm, have a very smooth actuation, and also have solid feedback when pressed and released. I'm also a big fan of where Asus placed the mini exhaust vents. They're nested on the top rear of the housing so that you never feel any hot air blowing anywhere near your hands or face. The shortcut keys next to the display are also incredibly convenient as they allow you to quickly access things like the Armoury Crate software or Command Center for on-the-fly power, performance, or lighting adjustments.
Performance & Battery Life:
==========================================================================
The ROG Ally packs a huge punch in performance and it's currently the most powerful gaming handheld on the market. I have been extremely impressed with the performance of the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU in AAA games. I've also taken the liberty to list some of my performance results when playing a couple of these AAA games (this includes my preferred resolutions & settings when on battery versus when on charger):
==========================================================================
The ROG Ally packs a huge punch in performance and it's currently the most powerful gaming handheld on the market. I have been extremely impressed with the performance of the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU in AAA games. I've also taken the liberty to list some of my performance results when playing a couple of these AAA games (this includes my preferred resolutions & settings when on battery versus when on charger):
Dead Island 2:
ROG Ally Operating Mode: Turbo (30 watts) Plugged in
Screen Brightness: 75%
Resolution:1920x1080
Overall Quality: High
Low FPS: 27
Avg FPS: 40
High FPS:52
GPU Temp Average: 82°C
Screen Brightness: 75%
Resolution:1920x1080
Overall Quality: High
Low FPS: 27
Avg FPS: 40
High FPS:52
GPU Temp Average: 82°C
ROG Ally Operating Mode: Performance (15 watts) On Battery
Screen Brightness: 75%
Resolution:1280x720
Overall Quality: Medium
Low FPS: 35
Avg FPS: 47
High FPS:67
GPU Temp Average: 62°C
Screen Brightness: 75%
Resolution:1280x720
Overall Quality: Medium
Low FPS: 35
Avg FPS: 47
High FPS:67
GPU Temp Average: 62°C
Doom Eternal:
ROG Ally Operating Mode: Turbo (30 watts) Plugged in
Screen Brightness: 75%
Resolution:1920x1080
Overall Quality: Nightmare
Low FPS: 55
Avg FPS: 64
High FPS:76
GPU Temp Average: 81°C
Screen Brightness: 75%
Resolution:1920x1080
Overall Quality: Nightmare
Low FPS: 55
Avg FPS: 64
High FPS:76
GPU Temp Average: 81°C
ROG Ally Operating Mode: Performance (15 watts) On Battery
Screen Brightness: 75%
Resolution:1280x720
Overall Quality: Ultra
Low FPS: 51
Avg FPS: 62
High FPS:80
GPU Temp Average: 63°C
Screen Brightness: 75%
Resolution:1280x720
Overall Quality: Ultra
Low FPS: 51
Avg FPS: 62
High FPS:80
GPU Temp Average: 63°C
I love the different performance modes that Asus includes for the Ally in it's Armoury Crate software. When plugged into power, it automatically defaults to "Turbo" mode and utilizes a TDP of 30 watts for maximum performance. However, when you're on battery, it auto defaults to "Performance" mode and utilizes a TDP of 15 watts to increase battery life (yet still delivers solid performance). What's really neat though is that you can set a manual operating mode to your liking. For example, maybe you want to squeeze out a bit more performance while on battery at the expense of a little less battery life. Instead of using the default 15 watt "performance" mode, you can set it to manual mode. You can then choose a slightly higher TDP like 18 watts instead. I love having the ability to select these tradeoffs to my liking depending on the situation. During testing, I manually set my TDP to 18 watts when running Forza Horizon 5 (1920x1080 with Medium settings) and was getting an average of 89 FPS! For less graphically demanding games such as 2D, indie games, or platformers, you can easily hit upwards of 100 FPS to really utilize that 120hz refresh rate!
In terms of battery life, in "Performance" mode with a TDP of 15 watts, I got close to 2 hours of battery time. What I love about the Ally though, is that Asus includes a 65 watt power brick that charges it from 0 to 100 percent in just a little under an hour and a half.
Display/Sound/Overall Experience:
==========================================================================
==========================================================================
The dispay on the ROG Ally is gorgeous. It's a 7 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) glossy IPS display capable of 500nits peak brightness with an sRGB of 100%. While it may not be an OLED panel, colors still look very rich and vibrant and blacks don't look washed out. For such small speakers, the sound is INCREDIBLE on the ROG Ally. While the Ally is Dolby Atmos capable, even non Dolby Atmos content sounds really good given it's form factor. It gets pretty loud at maximum volume with no audible distortion. Even some of the lower frequency audio effects (such as explosions) have some bass behind them. I also love that the ROG Ally includes a 3.5mm headphone jack which gives you backup option if your bluetooth headset dies.
Aside from all of the praise I've given the ROG Ally, one must keep in mind that at the end of the day, it's still a Windows device. As a result, it will usually involve some level of tinkering with software and visual settings. A great comparison of a gaming handheld that a lot of people are likely cross shopping is " The Deck". While gaming handhelds like this may give you a slightly more seamless out of the box experience, due to their native OS and UI, I feel that a lot of PC gamers (including myself) will naturally gravitate toward the ROG Ally for it's versatility and performance. Just knowing that I can run virtually any Windows games launcher on the Ally opens up an endless gaming library possibility that is just simply not available on several other gaming handhelds on the market. And even if those handhelds are running Windows, the ROG Ally still has the most powerful hardware on the market. As you can tell by now, I'm absolutely floored with the gaming experience and performance that I've had on the ROG Ally and I can't wait to take this thing with me everywhere I go!!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
Zero in on a perfect aim with our first-ever glass gaming mouse mat—built to last with premium tempered glass. Optimized for optical sensors and specially treated for quieter swipes, stay in the zone with an ultra-smooth surface that makes your mouse feel like there is zero resistance.
Customer Rating
4
I Won't Be Going Back To My Cloth Pad!
on June 13, 2023
Posted by: k1zit
As you've probably heard by now, glass pads are definitely an acquired taste. After extensively using this glass pad over the past several weeks, I can certainly see why. What's the best way to describe my experience with the Razer Atlas? Think of a hockey puck on an ice skating rink whereby the puck is your mouse and the ice skating rink is the Atlas glass pad. The faintest nudge on the mouse sends it gliding away from it's previous location due to the ultra slick polished surface. With this incredible amount of glide comes great responsibility. This was a very steep learning curve for me when it came to precision. I'll be honest; I wasn't a fan at first. I'm glad I stuck with it though as now that my performance is at least on par with my previous cloth pad, I've been having a blast on this new surface.
One of the biggest challenges when it came to the learning curve was learning how not to overshoot my swipes due to how slick the surface is. At first, you'll likely want to immediately gravitate back to your cloth pad as you'll feel like you have more control due to the added friction on a cloth pad. However, if you stick with it for a few days, you'll get used to the nuances of the slicker surface and begin to develop the "muscle memory" required to consistently be precise. After a few days of use, I was back to the deadly accuracy I was used to when playing with Hanzo in Overwatch 2 or my AWP quick scopes in CS:GO. Am I better with this Atlas glass pad over my cloth pad? I'm not sure to be honest. After about 3 weeks of use, I would say that I'm certainly as good as I was on my cloth pad. It's arguable whether I'm actually more precise. After the initial week of use, I started to perform very close to what I was used to on my cloth pad. By now, since I feel that I can perform as well, I won't be going back to my cloth pad. So why choose this glass pad over a standard cloth pad then? If you've always slightly preferred gaming on a hard surface over cloth, you might love this. As someone who goes way back to using Ratpadz XTs (the true "OG" of hard pads) back in 2007, I've always had fun gaming on hard surface pads and I have typically preferred them if done right. The problem with hard pads from the recent past is that most of them were built out of plastic with coating that would wear down with use (much like the Ratpadz did back in the day). With the Razer Atlas being constructed out of tempered glass as well as having an extremely fine micro-etched coating, this thing seems like it's going to last for ages but only time will tell.
Overall, I've grown to like this glass mouse mat and have made it my main pad since I don't see a degradation in my performance from switching over from cloth. I'm really curious to see if I end up seeing a performance improvement in the long run. For now, this is just an extremely premium built mouse mat that I'm having tons of fun with. I must note that this is certainly the most premium and gorgeous mousepad that I've ever used. I also love the real estate that you get with this large slab of tempered glass. The pad measures 17.5" wide x 16" tall x 1/8" deep. This is more than plenty for me for most game genres. Temperature also hasn't had an effect on performance. Whether it's been hot or cold in my room, performance has been the same. Razer also uses a fantastic friction mat on the underside of the pad which does a great job of keeping it stationary as I game. As someone who uses a wireless Razer Viper Ultimate, I can attest to never having experienced any spin outs while gaming (which was one of my main concerns with gaming on a glass pad).
In terms of cons, I would say that the slightly larger depth of the glass makes this pad a bit taller than most of the cloth pads that you're probably used to. For that reason, depending on where you position the pad on your desk, I could see someone not liking their forearm being raised a bit more off their desk as they rest it on the pad. For me, this wasn't a big deal at all as I place my pad at the bottom edge of my desk anyway. I'm also able to adjust the height on my chair arm rests as necessary. I can also see portability being an issue if you're someone that likes to take your premium gaming peripherals with you on the go. Do bear in mind that this glass pad will definitely be noiser than your standard cloth pad. The "clicks" and "clanks" as you lift and rest the mouse back down on the surface will be a lot more audible due to the hard surface. The last con that must be mentioned is the learning curve. As mentioned previously, because of the extra smooth glide, you'll initially feel that you have less control when it comes to really precise shots in any type of sniper or headshot scenario. You'll probably become a bit frustrated as I did. Stick with it for at least a week. If you're experience is anything like mine, you'll be back to hitting all your shots once that muscle memory settles in.
Overall, I've really enjoyed using this Atlas glass pad so far. I'm loving the extra smooth and polished coating against my wrist, forearm, and fingers. I've also grown to like the extra slick glide it provides whilst also learning the discipline that it takes to control it. If you can get past the minor cons, and if you've always been open to gaming on a hard pad, I would highly recommend giving this a spin. You may end up falling in love with it!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Whether you love entertaining friends and family or just like to keep your favorite drinks chilled and ready to go, this 48 12-ounce can beverage cooler has the storage capacity to stock all your favorites. Its touch controls make it easy to keep drinks cool within a range of 34° F to 50° F. It has one removable shelf, letting you organize this cooler to your exact preference. If there’s a power outage, an automatic memory function restores the same settings. And automatic defrosting helps the cooler stay free of ice
Customer Rating
5
Beautiful Cooler That Keeps Your Drinks Ice Cold!
on May 29, 2023
Posted by: k1zit
Great little fridge! This mini fridge is a perfect companion for your office, bedroom, indoor work out area, or game room. It's really silent too. I've been stuffing this thing with all sorts of beverages from beers to sodas to seltzers. It has kept everything ice cold, even when full. I also love the look of the stainless steel fridge door with it's beautiful glass panel. For the pricing segment that this comes in at, you get a lot of bang for your buck. The included shelves and steel bar help keep your drinks nice and tidy. This mini fridge also has a neat mode called "Quick Cool" (hold down "Standby" and "Light" buttons together for 3 seconds) that will help with cooling down a large number of beverages after they've been added to the fridge. Within a couple hours of almost filling this thing to brim, most of my beverages were cold enough to drink. You can also adjust the temperature anywhere from 34° to 50° F. Since I've been really into Belgian pale ales lately, I like keeping this at around 40° F. While this only has the ability to keep the light on or off, it would have been great to have an auto light function that would turn on/off as you open and close the fridge door. This fridge also gives you the option to reverse the door in case you want it to open in the opposite direction. Overall, really happy with this fridge. The only minor improvement I would make is adding a handle on the top of the fridge door instead of just the side. Oh, if you hear a slight hum or some gurgling sounds from time to time this is completely normal. This happens when each cooling cycle ends (it's very subtle) or during the flow of refrigerant in the cooler. If you're someone like me who hates having to go downstairs every time you want a cold beverage (or just having to drag yourself to the kitchen), you're gonna love this beverage cooler!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Get hands-on cleaning control and hands-off debris removal with the All-in-One Tower that keeps your LG stick vacuum clean, charged and ready to go—automatically. Two quick release batteries and Kompressor technology combine for uninterrupted cleaning power, with multiple tools for cleaning all kinds of surfaces, both high and low. Done for the day? Return the vac to the tower to recharge, store tools neatly out of sight and let Auto Empty clean out the dust bin for you. Your hands, floor and air stay clean and your CordZero vac is ready to go when you need it next.
Customer Rating
4
A High-end Vacuuming Experience!
on May 29, 2023
Posted by: k1zit
It's products like this that can take a mundane task, such as vacuuming, and make me actually look forward to it. This LG CordZero is most certainly the most premium stick vac with one of the strongest motors that I've ever used. For starters, the build quality is excellent. The stick vac itself is constructed from beautifully finished aluminum and premium grade plastics that feel like they will hold up well over time. The thoughtfully designed tower is constructed from plastic which helps keep it light if you need to move it around. Although LG recommends situating the base on hard floors for optimal stability, I tested situating the tower in both hard and carpeted surfaces. In both scenarios the tower was very sturdy. This is due to a large base that LG includes which adds a great amount of stability. I love the way LG designed the grip on this stick vac. The handle is extremely comfortable for long sessions and I love that I don't have to hold down a trigger button to keep the vacuum powered on as you do with some other well known brands.
The performance and convenience that the CordZero stick vac offers is in a league of it's own. The CordZero vac has an incredibly powerful motor that provided some of the best suction I've ever seen for a stick vac. LG backs this motor with a 10 year warranty too! Dust and small debris was effortlessly picked up on both my carpeted and tiled surfaces. For some debris, like yarn or string that was deeply imbedded in my carpet, it did take a few passes to suction them up but eventually got them all. For larger debris, like chunks of cereal, I did have to lift the vacuum up a bit in order to pick them up. A really useful feature with this stick vac is the built-in obstruction sensor that immediately alerts you to any debris that may have gotten clogged in the body of the vacuum. While this only happened to me once (while I was testing vacuuming large chunks of cereal), placing the vacuum on the tower and utilizing it's auto-empty function removed the debris. However, you may need to manually disconnect the vacuum product body in order to manually clear the debris. This CordZero stick vac has three power levels; Normal, Power, and Turbo. I always run this vac on the "Power" mode as it provides the best balance between great suction and good battery life. I live in a two story 1300 sq ft townhome that is primarily carpeted but also has some tile surfaces. Therefore, vacuuming my entire home is usually pretty time consuming. I was able to thoroughly vacuum the entire downstairs and upstairs of my home in 30 minutes using the "Power" setting. With one battery, the "Power" setting lasts me 35 minutes and the "Turbo" setting lasts me 9 minutes and 30 seconds. I love that LG provides two batteries as it allows me to do additional vacuuming after my upstairs and downstairs has been completed. The combination tool attachment was great for cleaning my sofa, my air purifier sleeves, and dust from some of my wall art. The crevice tool was perfect for cleaning along the crown molding or along crevices in the bathrooms. Although I don't have pets, I tested the pet attachment on pillows that had some human hair and it did great!
I did also try the LG Thin Q app but aside from seeing my cleaning history and some cleaning guide tips provided by LG, I personally didn't find much use for it. However, there is a smart diagnosis feature if you do ever experience any issues with your vac. A quick note: the app will ONLY work with the 2.4Ghz wireless band. Since my home wireless router advertises both 2.4Ghz AND 5Ghz in a single SSID, it would not initially allow me to connect the stick vac. I had to manually create a 2.4Ghz SSID on my wireless router in order to be able to connect to it. For those wondering, manufacturers typically impose this restriction as the 2.4Ghz band allows for much better distance than the 5Ghz band. To be honest though, I don't think you're missing much by not using the app anyway (but your mileage may vary).
In terms of maintenance and convenience, I could not be happier with the features of the CordZero. Even though the CordZero is a beast of a stick vac, the all-in-one tower is the star of the show. The auto-emptying experience has been flawless for me. The auto emptying-tower has two modes with a press of a single button: auto-empty and manual empty. As the name suggests, auto-empty will automatically empty the dust bin every time you dock your vac in the tower. I personally prefer the manual mode as I like to sometimes temporarily dock my vac in the tower as I move objects around in my living room while I vacuum. This requires you to simply press a button when you dock the vac to start the emptying cycle. Every empty cycle I've had on the tower has been fantastic. This is due to it's incredibly strong suction. It leaves the dust bin looking like new. Replacing the bag is super easy. You simply open one of the side tower doors and pull on the neon green hinge which exposes the dust bag slider. As you grab and pull out the dust bin slider tab, it closes the fill hole automatically in order to prevent dust from spreading in the air. There's also a convenient little window that you can peek through to see how full the bag is. LG also includes a couple of free replacement bags to get you started.
Another feature I really like about the tower is the thoughtful storage considerations. Both sides of the tower have panels that open up to reveal storage areas where all of your attachments neatly clip unto. LG even thought about a storage hook for the included brush (love when manufacturers pay attention to the small things!). The tower also includes an integrated charging dock for the spare battery which is tucked away neatly at the top of the tower. I found the Kompressor feature on the stick vac to be very practical during my use. Since you don't get an oversized dust bin, the Kompressor lever allowed me to compress the dust and debris as I vacuumed throughout my home (freeing up extra space in the dust bin in the process). Cleaning the pre-filter (LG includes a free replacement) and mesh filter was a simple process. Simply remove the exhaust filter cap on the body of the vacuum to expose the pre-filter and you can then wash it under running water. LG recommends that this should be done once a month. The cyclonic mesh filter can also be removed with the crevice tool (by turning it counter clockwise) and then you simply rinse it under running water and let it dry for 24 hours.
Are there any things that I wish LG could have done better? Although I do consider this to be one of the best premium stick vacs currently on the market (if not the best) there's a few minor things that I think LG could still improve upon. I do wish that this stick vac was outfitted with an oversized dustbin. Due to the extremely powerful motor, the stick vac captures a ton of dust and debris very quickly. And although the Kompressor lever helps with compacting the debris, I still found myself having to empty the dust bin after finishing my downstairs before moving onto my upstairs. Not a big deal but worth mentioning. I would have also liked to have seen the addition of either some type of LED or laser guided light that could help illuminate my surfaces when vacuuming in more more dimly lit areas. The only other minor con I can think of is that sometimes debris can get stuck behind the Kompressor ring which will prevent the lever from going all the way up again (this was somewhat self-inflicted as I allowed the dustbin to get too full). If this happens, you simply have to manually remove the cyclonic mesh filter by using the crevice tool (the notches on the crevice tool will line right up with the notches on the bottom of the cyclonic mesh filter) and then turn the crevice tool counter clockwise. The mesh filter will come right off allowing you to freely reach in or shake out the debris. This is very easy to do and only happened once during my use. I highly recommend preventing the dustbin to get filled to the brim with debris in order to prevent this from happening.
Overall, I'm very impressed with the performance of the CordZero and the amazing convenience factor that the tower offers. It's also gorgeous enough to look like a center piece in my living room. If you're looking for one of the best stick vacs currently on the market, the LG CordZero and it's all-in-one tower delivers a premium experience that is really difficult to beat.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Game like a pro on Windows 11 with this ROG Zephyrus G14. Double up on AMD firepower with Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU and RTX 4060 GPU featuring exclusive AMD SmartShift and Smart Access Memory technology that dynamically boosts performance for any task. Be confident in screen quality with an ROG Nebula 165Hz Display. Leap into the next generation of memory and storage with 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and 512GB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.
Customer Rating
5
Powerhouse Performance in a Sleek Package
on May 10, 2023
Posted by: k1zit
This Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop packs a massive punch in such a portable form factor. I have put this gaming laptop through it's paces and it has impressed me on all fronts. From it's impressive gaming performance, to it's beautiful 1600p IPS display, to the top tier keyboard and trackpad, I could not be happier with the overall experience. In this review, I have laid out some of the key highlights that I think makes this one of the best offerings in the latest range of RTX 4060 gaming laptops.
**********PERFORMANCE************************************************
The RTX 4060 paired with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS on this ROG Zephyrus laptop results in some great performance; especially considering it's slim and portable form factor. There were some caveats that I had to consider though, in order to truly maximize the performance and potential of this powerhouse of a laptop. For starters, with default "out of the box" settings, there's a massive difference between playing with the AC power adapter plugged in versus on battery (about 20 FPS difference in my testing). This is due to the Asus ROG software toggling between "Silent" mode when running off battery and "Turbo" mode when connected to power. "Silent" mode results in a lower GPU memory clock of 6000 Mhz as opposed to 8000 Mhz on "Turbo" mode. I observed the differences in memory clocks in MSI Afterburner in both scenarios. Another thing to note is the default GPU power saving mode in the Asus ROG Armoury Crate software. By default it is set to "Standard" which basically switches back and forth between the RTX 4060 and the integrated graphics. Since I'm a big advocate of always leaving the laptop plugged in when gaming in order to maximize performance, I would highly recommend changing this to "Ultimate" mode which will result in the laptop utilizing more power to improve performance. A couple of other settings that I changed in order to maximize performance was setting the "Power management mode" to "Prefer maximum performance" in the Nvidia control panel settings as well as changing the "Display Mode" to "Nvidia GPU only" to ensure that the laptop is always running off the RTX 4060 (I normally change this back to "Optimus" when traveling in order to conserve battery life).
The RTX 4060 paired with the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS on this ROG Zephyrus laptop results in some great performance; especially considering it's slim and portable form factor. There were some caveats that I had to consider though, in order to truly maximize the performance and potential of this powerhouse of a laptop. For starters, with default "out of the box" settings, there's a massive difference between playing with the AC power adapter plugged in versus on battery (about 20 FPS difference in my testing). This is due to the Asus ROG software toggling between "Silent" mode when running off battery and "Turbo" mode when connected to power. "Silent" mode results in a lower GPU memory clock of 6000 Mhz as opposed to 8000 Mhz on "Turbo" mode. I observed the differences in memory clocks in MSI Afterburner in both scenarios. Another thing to note is the default GPU power saving mode in the Asus ROG Armoury Crate software. By default it is set to "Standard" which basically switches back and forth between the RTX 4060 and the integrated graphics. Since I'm a big advocate of always leaving the laptop plugged in when gaming in order to maximize performance, I would highly recommend changing this to "Ultimate" mode which will result in the laptop utilizing more power to improve performance. A couple of other settings that I changed in order to maximize performance was setting the "Power management mode" to "Prefer maximum performance" in the Nvidia control panel settings as well as changing the "Display Mode" to "Nvidia GPU only" to ensure that the laptop is always running off the RTX 4060 (I normally change this back to "Optimus" when traveling in order to conserve battery life).
Once all of my settings were locked into place, games ran buttery smooth and looked very fluid. I was able to run triple A titles at either fully maxed out graphical settings or at the second highest available tier. In my experience, usually playing at the second highest tier (usually "high" in most games) resulted in the best gaming experience. I would normally maintain 100+ FPS in most games without a sweat. Even with fully maxed out settings in certain titles such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Doom Eternal, I was able to easily maintain over 100 FPS. In some newer and more graphically demanding games like Dead Island 2, fully maxed out settings resulted in around 60 FPS. I have listed some of my benchmark results below in some of the titles I tested.
Turbo Mode on (Boost clock of up to 5.2 Ghz) - 2560 x 1440
3D Mark Time Spy Score:
Legendary: 10,032
Graphics Score: 9,841
CPU Score: 11,278
Max Temp: 88 C°
3D Mark Time Spy Score:
Legendary: 10,032
Graphics Score: 9,841
CPU Score: 11,278
Max Temp: 88 C°
Dead Island 2:
Resolution: 2560 x 1600 (16:10)
Graphics Settings: All settings on "High"
FPS High: 105
FPS Avg: 75
FPS Min: 60
VRAM Consumption (Highest): 6.8 GB
Max Temp: 86 C°
Resolution: 2560 x 1600 (16:10)
Graphics Settings: All settings on "High"
FPS High: 105
FPS Avg: 75
FPS Min: 60
VRAM Consumption (Highest): 6.8 GB
Max Temp: 86 C°
Dead Island 2:
Resolution: 2560 x 1600 (16:10)
Graphics Settings: All settings on "Ultra"
FPS High: 86
FPS Avg: 58
FPS Min: 42
VRAM Consumption (Highest): 7.2 GB
Max Temp: 88 C°
Resolution: 2560 x 1600 (16:10)
Graphics Settings: All settings on "Ultra"
FPS High: 86
FPS Avg: 58
FPS Min: 42
VRAM Consumption (Highest): 7.2 GB
Max Temp: 88 C°
Doom Eternal:
Resolution: 2560 x 1600 (16:10)
Graphics Settings: All settings fully maxed out "Ultra Nightmare"
FPS High: 150
FPS Avg: 115
FPS Min: 97
Resolution: 2560 x 1600 (16:10)
Graphics Settings: All settings fully maxed out "Ultra Nightmare"
FPS High: 150
FPS Avg: 115
FPS Min: 97
Shadow of the Tomb Raider:
Resolution: 2560 x 1600 (16:10)
Graphics Settings: All settings fully maxed out "Highest"
FPS High: 89
FPS Avg: 100
FPS Min: 120
Resolution: 2560 x 1600 (16:10)
Graphics Settings: All settings fully maxed out "Highest"
FPS High: 89
FPS Avg: 100
FPS Min: 120
**********DISPLAY********************************************************
This is a gorgeous display. We get the usual Asus ROG Nebula display as seen in previous flagship models. It's an IPS display so the color reproduction and contrast is excellent. You won't get the blacks of an OLED or a VA panel, but the black levels were more than acceptable. White uniformity was also very good on white backgrounds. Light bleed was very minimal on this panel with the only signs of bleed showing up on the lower left and right corners and were only noticeable in scenes with pure black all around the edges.
This is a gorgeous display. We get the usual Asus ROG Nebula display as seen in previous flagship models. It's an IPS display so the color reproduction and contrast is excellent. You won't get the blacks of an OLED or a VA panel, but the black levels were more than acceptable. White uniformity was also very good on white backgrounds. Light bleed was very minimal on this panel with the only signs of bleed showing up on the lower left and right corners and were only noticeable in scenes with pure black all around the edges.
I absolutely love the resolution and refresh rate that Asus chose for this display. Gaming at 2560x1600 resolution is probably a bit overkill for a 14-inch screen but it strikes the perfect balance between high pixel density and high framerates. Games look and run incredible with the added GSYNC module on this 165 Hz display. I never experienced any tearing or stuttering. I also love the flexibility that this display provides in terms of performance. If you want better performance and higher framerates, just drop the resolution to 2560 x 1440. It's a small visual fidelity loss (especially on a 14 inch screen) for the increase in performance. I wanted to test the rated "3ms" response time on the display so I fired up CS:GO. Comparing it to my main desktop display which has less than a 1ms response time, I really didn't notice a difference. It felt just as snappy and responsive as my main display.
One thing that I did wish that Asus added to this already great display is proper HDR support when playing games. This display is rated for Dolby Vision HDR support. What that really means though is that it supports "HDR video streaming". You'll quickly realize in the HDR settings in Windows that "Use HDR" shows up as "Not Supported". This means that you'll be able to play back HDR content from native Windows apps like the Internet Edge browser or the Netflix app, but won't be able to play games in HDR. I also haven't been able to get Dolby Vision to work properly as whenever I launch Dolby Vision content on Netflix or the Internet Edge browser, I get white snow. However, this could just be some type of codec issue that I'll need to look into further but thought it was worth mentioning.
**********DESIGN/BUILD QUALITY/FEATURES***********************************
Asus ROG laptops have always excelled when it comes to design and this new ROG Zephyrus laptop looks as stunning as ever. Nobody designs a laptop clamshell quite like Asus does. First of all, this laptop is only about a little over half an inch thick making it extremely portable for travel (let's not forget that it's packing an RTX 4060!). It's outfitted in a gorgeous white clamshell with very symmetrical and angled design cues giving it a bit of a futuristic aesthetic. It's flat and minimalistic body make it a pleasure to handle and carry. The construction feels very solidly built. There's no creaks or rattily noises when opening, closing, or handling the laptop like some of my previous high end gaming laptops have displayed. I love the hinge design on this laptop. When you open the display lid, it props up the lower body of the laptop which creates a slight angle. This makes the keyboard an absolute joy to type on as it allows your hands rest on it in a much more natural way.
Asus ROG laptops have always excelled when it comes to design and this new ROG Zephyrus laptop looks as stunning as ever. Nobody designs a laptop clamshell quite like Asus does. First of all, this laptop is only about a little over half an inch thick making it extremely portable for travel (let's not forget that it's packing an RTX 4060!). It's outfitted in a gorgeous white clamshell with very symmetrical and angled design cues giving it a bit of a futuristic aesthetic. It's flat and minimalistic body make it a pleasure to handle and carry. The construction feels very solidly built. There's no creaks or rattily noises when opening, closing, or handling the laptop like some of my previous high end gaming laptops have displayed. I love the hinge design on this laptop. When you open the display lid, it props up the lower body of the laptop which creates a slight angle. This makes the keyboard an absolute joy to type on as it allows your hands rest on it in a much more natural way.
There are two things that I think Asus does better than everyone else when it comes to gaming laptops; The keyboard and trackpad. The keyboard and trackpad continue to be the best I've used yet on any gaming laptop. The keyboard feels very responsive, comfortable, has just the right amount of spacing between the keys, very clean backlit font, and it's very thoughtfully laid out in terms of it's shortcut and function keys. I love the four shortcut keys on the top of the keyboard. This includes a quick volume adjustment, a quick mic mute key, and a ROG key. The ROG key launches the Armory Crate software in order to customize the keyboard lighting, speaker modes, gpu power saving options, resource monitoring, and a slew of other options to customize your entire gaming experience.
The trackpad is unrivaled. It has a sleek glass-like surface that allows your fingers to glide effortlessly. It's also very responsive. I like that neither one of the bottom corners have weird detents where one side depresses more than the other like I've experienced in other trackpads. I also love the large surface area!
In terms of the battery life, I was able to get a little over 2.5 hours when doing things like streaming music, web browsing, watching Netflix, using MS office, etc. This is to be expected from a high performance gaming laptop so I couldn't fault it much. I was also surprised with the relatively small power brick that comes included; I'm used to huge power bricks that are cumbersome to carry around.
The audio quality on this laptop is surprisingly good. Audio is very clear and crisp with no distortion even at max volume. I did notice that while content like YouTube videos and google music tended to get pretty loud, when it came to games, the max volume just wasn't as loud as I would have liked it to be. However, this is a minor gripe for me as I'll almost always use a good pair of headphones instead.
**********CONCLUSION***********************************
As you can tell by now, I'm extremely impressed with this Asus ROG Zephyrus laptop. Asus has thoughtfully and carefully considered different practical elements that truly make for an optimum gaming and productivity experience. Not only is it perfectly paired with a powerhouse of a GPU+CPU for performance, but is also excels at things like thermal performance (in all my tests I never saw it exceed 88 C°), software customizability, practical shortcut functions, ultimate build quality, and a perfectly sized form factor for on the go productivity. If you're in the market for a gaming laptop in the RTX 4060 range, you will love this ROG Zephyrus G14.
As you can tell by now, I'm extremely impressed with this Asus ROG Zephyrus laptop. Asus has thoughtfully and carefully considered different practical elements that truly make for an optimum gaming and productivity experience. Not only is it perfectly paired with a powerhouse of a GPU+CPU for performance, but is also excels at things like thermal performance (in all my tests I never saw it exceed 88 C°), software customizability, practical shortcut functions, ultimate build quality, and a perfectly sized form factor for on the go productivity. If you're in the market for a gaming laptop in the RTX 4060 range, you will love this ROG Zephyrus G14.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+16points
16of 16voted this as helpful.
Give in to your free-spirited side and turn every moment into a sensory frenzy. Introducing Devialet Mania, the first portable smart speaker from the acoustic engineering company behind Devialet Phantom. A mobile evolution of Devialet’s groundbreaking innovations, Devialet Mania ushers in a liberated approach to sound: more spontaneous, more adaptable, more obsession-inducing than ever. Cutting-edge Devialet technologies elicit expansive 360° stereo sound, augmenting every space and interaction and leaving an emotional imprint that lingers. Devialet Mania, metamorphic sound.
Customer Rating
4
Unrivaled Audio Quality in a Compact Form Factor
on May 1, 2023
Posted by: k1zit
Up until recently, I wasn't too familiar with the Devialet name brand. It wasn't until I got to experience a short audio demo at my local Best Buy that this name brand truly captured my attention. I've been using this Devialet Mania portable bluetooth speaker in various indoor & outdoor settings and the audio experience has been nothing short of impressive.
For starters, the build quality of the speaker feels very premium. This orb shaped speaker is covered in a sturdy, yet somewhat soft, grill mesh that envelops and protects all four speaker drivers. The speaker handle is made out of a very rigid plastic with some rubber lining for grip. Although the handle feels durable, it's minimalistic design cue only allows for two of my fingers to fit comfortably in the handle opening (three if I jam another one in there). Given the somewhat substantial weight of 5 lbs, I did find myself yearning for a more practical handle design that would allow my entire hand grip. If you'll be carrying this speaker with you on a bit of a longer walk or a short hike, I recommend carrying it in the included speaker pouch as it has two nylon handles that makes it much easier to carry. I do have to admit that while the handle isn't the most practical speaker handle I've ever used, it's design certainly contributes to it's gorgeous minimalistic and futuristic aesthetic. I also love the open dual woofer design which further compliments its visual appeal.
In terms of sound, this is the best sounding portable bluetooth speaker I've ever heard; by a landslide. It really is a device that needs to be heard to be truly appreciated. I tested it in various indoor settings, and no matter the room or area, it would fill the entire space with it's dynamic range. In outdoor settings, it also did an incredible job of dispersing the sound in all directions. Due to it's design with all four of it's aluminum drivers thoughtfully positioned all around it's ball shaped body, the sound truly envelops the room in a 360 degree fashion. No other flagship portable bluetooth speaker that I've tried (even those claiming 360 degree sound) has had this type of immersive multi-directional range. The soundstage itself is truly special. The mids and highs are perfectly balanced with the low end. Vocals have a lot of substance; they sound very clear, organic, and full. Instruments are easily discernable and sound naturally reproduced. The bass produced by the exposed dual woofers is tight and punchy yet has just enough resonance to give it a soothing bellowing rumble. I can't stress enough how beautiful it's sound signature sounds when it all comes together. While all genres of music that I played sounded phenomenal, it's default soundstage was really highlighted when I played back vocal tracks in the likes of Diana Krall and Sarah Brightman. Electronic music, hip-hop, jazz, and country are also perfectly complimented by it's default soundstage signature. Metal and rock music sounded great but didn't have quite the rich vibrancy of the aforementioned genres. One last thing to note regarding it's sound - this thing can get pretty loud at max volume! For me, around 80% volume level was more than enough in both indoor and outdoor settings. Bluetooth performance was also flawless. I tested streaming from about 25 feet away through walls and never experienced any disconnects or any type of interference.
While it's superb sound quality is the Devialet Mania's bread and butter, it does pack a few additional features worth talking about. The Devialet Mania's companion app (available on both iOS and Android) allows you to control the volume, launch a few music applications, and customize the EQ. I do have to mention that this somewhat of a bare bones app. The only built in music apps that are currently launchable are Spotify, Qobuz, Deezer, Tidal, Audirvana, and TuneIn Web Radios. The EQ is also very basic. You only get a "Low" and a "High" EQ slider which essentially seems to be a bass and a treble slider. The lack of additional EQ sliders in the various frequency ranges leads to only having two EQ presets: "Flat" and "Voice". However, because the default "Flat" soundstage is so perfectly tuned, this wasn't a big concern for me. While the speaker is not marketed as an "outdoor speaker" per se, it's IPX4 certification (making it resistant to water splashes only), does leave a bit to be desired. Since I absolutely love how this thing sounds, I would like to take it with me on all my adventures. As a result, I do hope that we see an IP67 implementation on future versions to make it a fully waterproof and dustproof product. At least the rubber lined physical buttons (i.e. pause, play, power, bluetooth, volume up/down, battery status button) do inspire some protective confidence whenever used around water related activities. In terms of battery life, Devialet claims 10 hours of playtime at "moderate volume levels" . I used this speaker extensively over the weekend, while working on projects around the house, and tested it upto 6 hours of continous playback at around 65%-70% volume levels. I still had plenty battery charge left so it sounds like their claims are right on par.
Overall, I'm extremely impressed with the high end audio quality experience that the Devialet Mania is able to provide in such a compact form factor. While it's additional features aren't anything groundbreaking, it delivers it's core functionality in strides. Given that this portable speaker is pretty much in a premium category of it's own, I would have liked to have seen some additional accessories included like the mania station charging dock or the devialet mania cocoon (which is a really stylish and robust hard cover carrying case). As for now, it only comes included with a standard 5 ft. USB-C power brick + charging cable and a cloth speaker bag. If youre looking for the best portable bluetooth speaker audio experience, and you don't mind not having the added ruggedness of IP67 certification, you will absolutely love the Devialet Mania.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
All hail the new king. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Multiplatform Wireless Gaming Headset brings the best premium features to your gaming multiverse for PlayStation, Windows PCs, Mac, Nintendo Switch and mobile. Featuring the most versatile noise cancelling system ever in a gaming headset, with the ability to control noise-cancelling levels from anywhere. Experience ultimate audio immersion with powerful, hand-selected 50mm Nanoclear drivers for a vast soundstage; and the TruSpeak noise-cancelling boom mic or dual built-in microphones offer ultra-clear comms. Our softest memory foam ear cushions enhance noise isolation and provide all-day comfort, and the Stealth Pro is built to last with a durable steel-reinforced headband and frame.
Posted by: k1zit
Turtle Beach has done it. They've managed to produce my current favorite flagship gaming headset for PC and PS5. Within the last year, I've had the opportunity to use flagship headsets from
Razer, Steel Series, Astro, and a couple of other companies. Up until now, my days of using Turtle Beach headsets were from a distant past. I used to own a few pairs throughout high school and even into my early college days due to their affordable prices and great audio quality. However, the great audio quality and affordable prices came at the expense of build quality and premium construction materials. I think that because of this, Turtle Beach become synonymous with, "the best gaming headset to get on a budget". What a change of pace these Stealth Pros are! These Stealth Pros not only deliver the best audio quality I've heard on any current flagship gaming headset (this goes for music too!), but their build quality and overall experience is equally as premium.
Razer, Steel Series, Astro, and a couple of other companies. Up until now, my days of using Turtle Beach headsets were from a distant past. I used to own a few pairs throughout high school and even into my early college days due to their affordable prices and great audio quality. However, the great audio quality and affordable prices came at the expense of build quality and premium construction materials. I think that because of this, Turtle Beach become synonymous with, "the best gaming headset to get on a budget". What a change of pace these Stealth Pros are! These Stealth Pros not only deliver the best audio quality I've heard on any current flagship gaming headset (this goes for music too!), but their build quality and overall experience is equally as premium.
In terms of audio performance, the default sound signature (i.e. "Signature Sound" in the eq) is incredibly balanced. It strikes the perfect balance of very crisp and detailed mids & highs while producing a low frequency that never tends to overpower the mids/highs. In the default sound signature, the bass is tight and punchy yet still produces full low frequency bass that tends to beautifully resonate whenever explosions or high action scenes are experienced. I used this headset on both my gaming PC and my PS5 and it performed flawlessly on both systems (complemented by the easy PS5/PC toggle button on the wireless transmitter). Using the Stealth Pros with the Dolby Atmos plugin in Windows while paired with a Dolby Atmos supported title (such as Overwatch 2) sounded incredible! It is by far the best virtual surround sound on any headset that I have experienced. Some of the magic of the Stealth Pros is the fully customizable EQ and EQ presets found in the Turtle Beach Audio Hub. If you prefer a deeper more sustained bass, select the "Bass Boost" or "Bass and Treble Boost" EQ preset. I highly recommend downloading the Turtle Beach Audio Hub V2 software. At a minimum, you'll want to download it to make sure you have the latest firmware installed on your headset. Luckily, mine came with the latest firmware already pre-installed. The EQ presets in the audio hub are fantastic. The Stealth Pros are also easily the best sounding gaming headphones that I've tried for music so far. Using them with the "Bass and Treble" boost EQ preset is a "must hear" especially if you listen to electronic or techno music. They produce a very deep pounding bass while maintaining very clean and crisp treble even at high volumes. Vocals in audio tracks also sounded rich and organic.
It seems like Turtle Beach took a page from the iconic Arctis Pro Wireless headset from Steel Series as they were the first to introduce a hot swappable battery system on a flagship wireless gaming headset. That feature alone made me daily drive the Arctis Pro when they were first released. I'm so glad that Turtle Beach has adopted this system as I currently prefer the sound signature on the Stealth Pros over anything else currently on the market. Yes, the Stealth Pros are my new daily drive! The battery swap system on these Stealth Pros performs flawlessly. You simply detach the boom mic and remove the housing on the left earcup to swap batteries. Each battery lasts about 8 hours and the swap is simple and seamless. You also get a low and soothing audible notification when the battery starts to run low to notify you that it's time to swap the battery.
A few other really impressive highlights about the Stealth Pros are its additional features, it's premium build quality, and the fit and comfort. The Stealth Pros are constructed with a combination of steel and high quality plastics. The headset feels very premium to the touch and they feel extremely well built. The included leatherette ear cushions feature memory foam that contoured perfectly to my head and ears. I love that Turtle Beach used steel adjustment sliders to increase durability. The headset hugs my head perfectly without feeling too tight or too loose. While the premium build quality does add a little bit of extra weight due to the metal components, these are still very comfortable and I never noticed any fatigue during long gaming sessions. Some of my favorite features of this headset are the Active Noise Canceling, the added bluetooth functionality, and the detachable boom mic. The Active Noise Canceling does a phenomenal job of significantly reducing background noise. It can be toggled by simply pressing the mode button on one of the side earcups. I typically just leave it on. Having the added bluetooth functionality is extremely convenient. I love having the option to switch to bluetooth on my phone during my gaming sessions in case I need to take a call or if I simply want to stream music from my phone while continuing to listen to the in-game audio from the wireless transmitter. I received great feedback on the mic boom during gaming sessions with friends. My voice sounded clear with no distortion or cut outs. I love having the option of a flip-up detachable mic as it makes for a very unobtrusive experience and provides for a very quick and convenient way to mute.
Based on my experience so far, there aren't many cons to the Stealth Pros that I can nit pick. The only feature that I really didn't find much practical use for was the "superhuman hearing" feature. I toggled this feature on and off during several first person shooter sessions to experiment with it. I found that while it did sustain certain sounds a bit more (such as footsteps or distant shots), it seemed to do so at the expense of the audio quality. I just wasn't a big fan of the sound signature of this mode. This may be useful in extremely competitive situations but it didn't make much of a difference for my playstyle. Overall though, Turtle Beach has managed to execute the best flagship gaming headset that I've tried so far on the market. Not only does it have the best audio quality I've heard on any gaming headset, but it does so while jam packing a ton of useful and convenient features. Turtle Beach also managed to address one of the areas that I felt they were always lacking in; build quality and a premium experience. These Turtle Beach Stealth Pros offer a full package when it comes to a high end audio gaming experience and in my opinion, these Stealth Pros are the new KING!!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
k1zit's Review Comments
k1zit has not submitted comments on any reviews.
k1zit's Questions
k1zit has not submitted any questions.
Unlock a world of crypto possibilities with the Ledger Nano S. The world’s most popular hardware wallet to securely start your crypto journey. Buy, secure, exchange, grow and manage your favorite crypto assets.
Does this wallet support Dogecoin?
Yes, it is officially supported by their Ledger Live application which you use with this wallet.
2 years, 5 months ago
by
k1zit
Listen to your favorite songs anywhere with these Bluetooth Audio Technica headphones. They fold inward, letting you conveniently store them when not in-use, and the fitted ear cups prevent outside noise from interfering with sound quality. These Audio Technica headphones run for up to 40 hours on a single charge and have 45mm large-aperture drivers for clear, powerful sound.
Can the 50XBT be charged using a wall adapter like an iPhone cube charger?
It sure can! You would simply need to connect the included USB cable to the wall charger and the other end (Micro-USB side) to the headphones. Just bear in mind that the cable that Audio Technica includes is extremely short!!! (1 ft) so you may want to purchase a longer one or use a longer one that you may already have at home.
5 years, 4 months ago
by
k1zit
Dive into your favorite games with this Alienware wireless gaming headset. A noise-cancelling microphone keeps your voice clear as you call out commands to teammates, and 7.1 virtual surround sound enhances the audio quality so you never miss a whisper. Featuring two custom lighting zones and 6.8 million colors, this Alienware wireless gaming headset lets you create a custom look that accents your signature gaming style.
This an awesome headset works great and it’s super cool looking
Acer 15 Chromebook: Enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life with this 15.6-inch Acer Chromebook. Its Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM load webpages quickly and provide lag-free streaming, and the 16GB of internal storage holds documents and photos. This Acer Chromebook has an HDMI port for connecting to a larger display.
Can I download app on this such as pandora netflix and twitch?
Dell Inspiron Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Experience games in a new way with this 15.6-inch Dell Inspiron notebook computer. Its Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM run programs efficiently, and its 4K display delivers high-quality images for realistic gaming. This Dell Inspiron notebook computer has an HDMI port to connect an HD monitor or television.
hi, ther is an option to upgred the video card to GeForce GTX 1050 TI and above ?
No, the MX series GPU is a dedicated laptop based graphics chip that is integrated and soldered into the physical motherboard.
5 years, 11 months ago
by
k1zit
Dell Inspiron Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Experience games in a new way with this 15.6-inch Dell Inspiron notebook computer. Its Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM run programs efficiently, and its 4K display delivers high-quality images for realistic gaming. This Dell Inspiron notebook computer has an HDMI port to connect an HD monitor or television.
Is it possible to upgrade the SSD?
Track your heart rate, listen to music or talk hands-free on these JBL in-ear headphones. The ergonomic ear tips twist into your ear and stay in place with TwistLock technology without causing discomfort. These durable, sweat-proof JBL in-ear headphones have a battery life of up to 5 hours and come with a one-year MapMyFitness premium membership.
How would these headphones work for boxing ?
I haven't boxed with these but I have put these through several crossfit workouts, weightlifting, runs, and they have yet to fall out.
7 years, 2 months ago
by
k1zit
Wake up to a delicious cup of java with this Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system. The 10-cup pitcher holds 50 oz. of coffee when entertaining or brews a single cup at a time, prepared at the infusion level of your choice. This Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system has a built-in frother for hot and cold drink creations.
How many oz does the XL cup and also travel cup make? Thank you.
The XL cup makes 11.5 oz and the travel cup makes 14 oz. There is also an XL travel cup size that makes 18 oz.
7 years, 4 months ago
by
k1zit
Wake up to a delicious cup of java with this Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system. The 10-cup pitcher holds 50 oz. of coffee when entertaining or brews a single cup at a time, prepared at the infusion level of your choice. This Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system has a built-in frother for hot and cold drink creations.
HOW TALL AND DEEP (FROM THE WALL) IS THE MACHINE? I AM TRYING TO SET UP A COFFEE BAR AND NEED TO KNOW IF IT WILL FIT UNDER A BUILT IN COUNTER WITH OVERHEAD SHELFS. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
I just measured mine. It is 15 inches in height to the highest point and 9 inches deep.
7 years, 4 months ago
by
k1zit
Wake up to a delicious cup of java with this Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system. The 10-cup pitcher holds 50 oz. of coffee when entertaining or brews a single cup at a time, prepared at the infusion level of your choice. This Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system has a built-in frother for hot and cold drink creations.
What accessories are included in the box
comes with a 10 cup glass carafe, a premeasured/prelabeled scoop, coffeehouse style recipe book for 20 different drinks, start guide and instructions, and the milk frother is attached to the machine.
7 years, 4 months ago
by
k1zit