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forkboy1965
 
 
 
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    March 9, 2011
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    March 19, 2014
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forkboy1965's Reviews
 
Enjoy your music with these Sony Extra Bass MDRXB950BT/B headphones, which feature Electronic Bass Boost circuitry for deep low-end sound. Bluetooth technology with AAC and aptX support allows easy wireless pairing with compatible devices.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
I am overly impressed
on December 2, 2014
Posted by: forkboy1965
from Dayton, Ohio
I just purchased these (Dec. 2014) from BestBuy.com after having seen that they were on sale from a consumer electronics website I follow. The reviews here (and elsewhere) were good to great and I had been thinking about a Bluetooth solution for a particular headphone need.
I've had these one day and I'm already well impressed. Actually, much more so than I had expected. I've been listening to them with my smartphone for the last 5-hours and here's my first impressions.
One, packaged nicely. Operating instructions were simple and clear. I was up and running in no time (they came partially charged so I charged them up first).
Second, they look good. They have a simple, conservative & understated design ("adult" - none of this flash and gaudy stuff) and feel reasonably solid in construction. My only concern/criticism is the volume and transport buttons feel a bit flimsy.
Third, they are comfortable. I've had them on for five straight hours and I haven't found them at all fatiguing. The earcups fit OVER my ears (I'm 6'4" so I don't have small ears) and block out sound well. The earcups are a little stiff right now, but I suspect they will soften with some use. The headband is padded and could be a tad wider to distribute weight across a larger area, but these aren't heavy and it's not a big deal.
Four, they feel reasonably secure on my head. A light shaking back and forth causes them to jiggle a bit because they don't have a high/large clamping force to your head. This may make them a bit loose for a more average sized person (this is an important factor for me as I'll be moving around a lot when wearing these).
And fifth and most important: sound quality... overall I'm quite satisfied. Clearly these aren't $300+ Sennheisers or Beyerdynamics, etc., but I find everything to be very competent, especially for the price. Bass, in particular, has been solid, punchy and without bloat (forget about the bass boost - it's nothing you want). Mids are clear and articulate and it's only the highs which sound laid back. Of course, I suspect this could have more to do with the nature of compressed Bluetooth transmission than the actual headphones. These do sound better with more recently released music (I noticed a marked increase in how forward are the highs when I compared a recording from the early 1990's with its re-mastered version from this year). In headphone/speaker parlance I'd say these are "warm".
I also made certain to use these on a phone call and it worked just as it should with good clarity from the caller. The only thing which was disconcerting was how muffled my own voice sounds, but this should be expected with an over-the-ear design. I just wasn't prepared for it, so it took me by surprise. You may find yourself, as I did, speaking a bit louder than necessary just so you can hear yourself.
Also, I have noticed some light background sound during quieter music passages, but it's really unobtrusive... almost unnoticeable. However, when I pause music there is a noise that is louder, but disappears after a few seconds. I don't know what is the cause or reason for the sound, but since it doesn't interfere with listening to music I'm not concerned about it.
Lastly, when using the volume or transport buttons there is a fair bit of noise transmitted through the plastic earcups from your hands touching the surface. It's plastic, so it cannot be helped, but be aware your hand will make some noises.
So I cannot compare these to any other Bluetooth-based headphones, but on their own I'm quite impressed. More so than I expected. So much so I felt compelled to post a review very quickly, which I'm usually loath to do. Thanks, Sony.
My Best Buy number: 322704785
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Apple MacBook Pro Pre-owned Laptop: Enjoy portable entertainment and productivity with this 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro laptop. Its Thunderbolt port and AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi provide for high-speed connectivity, and it has an HD FaceTime camera for live video chats. This Apple MacBook Pro laptop has 320GB of storage and 4GB of RAM to handle multiple simultaneous programs smoothly.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Offers quite a bit...
on March 9, 2011
Posted by: forkboy1965
from Dayton, Ohio
Having built my own desktops for years I took the plunge into the world of Mac in early 2009 with the purchase of a 24-inch iMac. I was impressed. Not blown out of the water or anything like that, but impressed. Perhaps I wasn't blown away only because my home-built desktops were very robust beasts made with quality components and only loaded with good software, well tended by yours truly.
Unfortunately my experience with laptops has not been the same seeing how I couldn't build them myself. Three laptops in nine years is disappointing in my opinion, especially when one considers I wasn't purchasing entry level devices from the cheapest of manufacturers. Always mid-level machines from quality manufacturers. But none lasted more than three years before some sort of hardware failure forced the contemplation of replacement or expensive repair.
And so it was with my last laptop when the optical drive gave up the ghost and the power port began to work only intermittently. Depressed with the idea of purchasing yet another 3-year laptop I elected to look at MacBooks. Already knowing and being familiar with OS X made the jump less daunting and I really, really love Apple's trackpad (I have the Apple Magic Trackpad on my iMac). However, the steep price of $1,200 for the entry level MacBook Pro was daunting.
But I thought about it for a minute. I often read of folks who keep their Apple laptops for five, six and more years. If I could get six years out of one Apple laptop that would be the same as having bought two Windows-based laptops over the same time period. Net result: no fiscal loss and the added benefit of not having to migrate to a new laptop during the six years. And so I waited for the update and pulled the trigger.
And I'm impressed.
The unit feels incredibly solid in one's hands. It doesn't flex and creak and pop like the plastic laptops. It feels substantial, but not heavy per se. Even though it sounds a bit silly you feel like you actually got your money's worth just in terms of build quality.
Mac OS X? A great operating system. I didn't really find the jump to OS X to be that difficult after having spent a lifetime in the Windows (both DOS and Windows) camp. It has it's own quirks, but on the whole I can't say I miss Windows in the slightest; even Windows 7, which is arguably the best Windows OS yet. And let me not forget that Apple computers include a lot of great software and applications which I paid good money for in the Windows-world.
The keyboard is nicely sized with full-sized keys and good spacing between each. This is not one of those slightly smaller keyboards you often find on 14-inch and smaller laptops/netbooks. And it's backlit, which is a great feature you don't realize you're missing until you've had it for a few days.
Battery life is quite exceptional. Brand new none of my previous laptops lasted more than 3.5 hours on a full charge just doing everyday b.s. (e-mail, web browsing - nothing taxing on the CPU). This MacBook Pro has gotten me to 7.5 hours. Simply awesome. And the magnetic connection technology is brilliant. I can't count the number of times I accidentally yanked the cord from my other laptops. In addition, Apple provides a two-part AC adapter. The first includes the adapter and a longish cord for plugging in your laptop. If this longish cord isn't enough there is an extension cord which can be attached to the AC adapter. Brilliant. A far more sensible solution than anything else I've encountered on laptops from any other manufacturer.
The specs themselves are a bit of a mixed bag. The processor (Core i5 at 2.3GHz) is more than enough for any everyday task and could easily work through intensive applications like Lightroom (which I use), Photoshop or video editing software. 4GB of DDR3 RAM is great too. Some say the video is actually a very minor step backwards from the previous generation's, but having played extensively with the previous generation model I can say I don't see the difference and I've yet to read any review which suggested the difference was noticeable.
However, there is one thing I don't like and another which leaves me a bit confused. The hard drive in this entry-level version is only 320GB and spins at 5,400rpm. Personally I think they should have dumped a 500GB unit into this laptop for the same price and that 7,200rpm should be the standard across the MacBook Pro line. I'd rather have the extra space than the faster spinning, but both make more sense to me at this price point. I know one can order from Apple with the 500GB hard drive for an additional $50, but I still think it's the wrong way to go about offering this product.
Second, much has been made in the press of how this MacBook doesn't have both the 16:9 ratio screen or the higher resolution (or even the option for it) compared to the 13-inch MacBook Air. This confuses me as much as it seems to confuse other reviewers and the press. That said, I have zero problems with the screen's quality or resolution as it is. Well... that's not completely true... I miss the larger screen I had on my previous two laptops; both 15.6-inch. At the end of the day when my eyes are more tired (ok.... I'm 46, but I'm still 20/20 without the need of glasses!) I find the smaller screen and the subsequently smaller images/print/etc. a bit difficult to read. Granted, there is CMD++ to enlarge fonts or the pinch out to zoom option, but I wish I could have gone with the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but that was simply too much computer and more importantly too much money for my budget. Mind you, this particular issue isn't the fault of the MacBook Pro as the same would be true of any 13.3-inch or smaller screen. I mention it only because it's worthwhile to consider if your needs might dictate a larger screen for the sake of easier reading.
It should be noted that the included two USB 2.0 ports are next to each other on the left side and if you need both you may run into a problem. If the USB devices you wish to connect include large-headed plugs they might not both fit next to one another. I see this as a design flaw by Apple. Granted, Apple usually keeps the head of their USB plugs pretty small so maybe they are seeing things through their design ideal, but that's hardly practical for the rest of the world.
In addition, their slot-loading optical drive means you cannot use mini-CDs if you have any. I know they're pretty rare, but I do have two software titles loaded on mini-CDs and now I have to make other arrangements to get that software onto this laptop.
Lastly, migrating files and such from my dying Windows-driven laptop is the usual fair of copying to an external hard drive and pasting over to the MacBook Pro. But I elected to use Migration Assistance to move my user profile on my iMac to the MacBook Pro and what a wonderful thing that is. I wish Migration Assistant had more options and more user-controls, but all-in-all it was a very quick and smooth way to migrate my iMac user profile (including software, documents, iTunes library and iPhoto library) to the MacBook. While not perfect it certainly made things a lot easier and quicker for me.
Bottom line: if you're already a Mac user there's no reason not to consider buying a MacBook Pro for your laptop needs. The price was hard on me as I walked out of the store, but now that I've had it up and running for a two weeks I haven't looked back once. If you're a Windows-laptop user and aren't certain about making the expensive change to Mac then it's a harder question. This product offers an awful lot and I'm really sold on the idea that this device should (at least according to everything I've read) last me at least as long as two cheaper laptops would so the break-even point is simply further down the road. Apple devices aren't perfect. Mac OS X isn't perfect. But let me sum it up this way: I have spent a lifetime of fiddling and tweaking and fooling around with my Windows-based laptops and desktops in an effort to keep them running lean and mean, and it has been a long and hard battle.
In my two years of iMac ownership I've done nothing and it still runs as quickly and reliably as the day I brought it home and plugged it in. If I can get the same from this MacBook Pro I may never go back to Windows. (he types wistfully while looking over his shoulder at his last home-built, XP-Pro running desktop).
What's great about it: fast processor and RAM; clear & sharp screen; rock-solid construction; OS X; trackpad
What's not so great: 320GB/5,400rpm hard drive; integrated graphics; 90-days tech support, USB ports too close together
I would recommend this to a friend!
Display
4 out of 5
4
Performance
5 out of 5
5
+293points
323of 353voted this as helpful.
 
forkboy1965's Review Comments
 
Canon PIXMA MX922 All-In-One Printer: Print, copy, scan and fax documents and create borderless photos with this all-in-one printer, which uses the ChromaLife100+ system to extend the lifetime of printed images. You can print directly from your smartphone using Google Cloud Print or Apple® AirPrint and add fun filters to your photos with the included My Image Garden software.
 
Overall4 out of 54 out of 5
A competent all-in-one with a small footprint
By forkboy from SW Ohio
Disclaimer: this review is made after only 3-weeks of ownership/use. Clearly future issues could arise which would influence this review if they were to be known in advance.
First, began researching for new inkjet all-in-one printer about 3-months ago to replace older HP 7520 (good printer by the way - didn't have issues with it). While my subscription to CU strongly suggested another HP (same model line as my outgoing printer, but a modern one) I opted to look beyond HP. The PIXMA 922 is a recommended printer in CU's ratings. What I found when I went looking for customer reviews was I saw more issues with things like jamming and ink issues with the HP and Epson printers that were in my final round of choices. I found less of these reports amongst consumers for the 922 and its predecessor.
Let's get the what's not so great issues out of the way first. I don't need a nightlight. Can anyone make an electronic device with a blue LED light that doesn't light up a whole room at night? It seems to be the nature of things these days with all sorts of consumer electronics.
Second, the software installation could have been better. While I like the idea of installing the latest software right up front (the included CD directs your computer to the Canon website and doesn't install software directly from the CD, which may then need to be updated) the installation process was a bit slow and less than enlightening. There were a number of separate applications which could be installed, but very little information provided about what they were, what they did and why I might need them installed. In the end I wound up searching the web for descriptions and taking a guess at whether or not I really wanted or needed the specific software. For me personally I only need the software/drivers that make the thing work.. I don't need picture software, etc. It would be nicer if they set-up the software installation into two groups: one that just makes the all-in-one work (print, scan, copy, fax, etc.) and another group containing 'extras'.
Third in the not so great section is a WTF moment... at the end of the installation it asked if I wanted to be part of a plan that would send to Canon user information to better help them understand my usage of the all-in-one. I normally don't opt into these things anyway, but I'm not opposed to them on principal. But this time they wanted to collect information for something like 10-years. Absurd. A real turn off. If they really want to get my opinion and usage information why don't they e-mail me for it on a regular basis? They have my e-mail after I register the product and that would seem to be a less intrusive route.
Lastly, the main paper tray seems flimsy to me. Like it should be treated carefully. And there isn't any real backplate to it so paper installed in the tray doesn't really sit squeezed into place. It may work just fine for all I know in the long-term, but it doesn't exude confidence.
However, there is plenty I find to like about this all-in-one and thus far I'm very happy with my selection. It was well packaged: safe and secure. Set-up of the physical device was easy, straight-forward and the printed guide clear and concise. Everything went together smoothly. The software, once my choices were made, has worked as it should and I really appreciate the ability to initiate a scan from my computer (one of those features my previous printer couldn't do).
Regarding the actual functions I have tried everything except the faxing part as I don't have a phone line for such. The copy, scan and print functions all work as they should. The document feeder works as advertised (both sides), but I haven't yet tried two-sided printing. A paper saver to be certain, but I think there is probably where folks run into the issue of jamming more than anywhere else.
Originally printing on standard copier paper (like I use with my HP laser printer) I found the quality of the text and graphics to be such as they usually are on standard copier paper: ok at best. I did run out and purchase a higher quality (HP brand - go figure) inkket-oriented paper, which I have used in the past to much better results; especially with text. This different paper helps keep the ink from bleeding into the little valleys that exist on paper. It helps keep the text more crisp looking and a 500-page ream for $8 is quite reasonable and I highly recommend purchasing such.
While I have a dedicated picture printer I will make use of this 922 as well for quick prints. My text prints show generally good quality, but I find the colors (especially red) a bit muted. However, there are plenty of possible adjustments which can be made via the software to help get prints to be where you want them. This was not possible on my previous HP printer and I very much welcome this addition. With some adjustments and fiddling I have every confidence I will be able to get the prints to match my expectations.
Lastly, time-to-print... via wi-fi (I have not made use of any other connectivity option at this time) the printer wakes up and receives the data quickly. However, the printer goes through all sorts of machinations before it actually prints the document. I know this is common with inkjet printers, but this 922 feels even slower than my much older HP. But after the first page is printed and the printer remains awake the time to print any subsequent pages is much, much quicker. Clearly quicker than was my older HP. The printer gods giveth and the printer gods taketh away....
Customer Avatar
forkboy1965
Dayton, Ohio
Reply for BKennyB
March 19, 2014
After almost another complete month I thus far stand by my original assessments. I've done more printing (text, not photographs) and some scanning and both continue to meet with my 4-star rating.
I can also say it stands up well to being walked across and sat upon by a variety of cats. Not certain that information is particularly helpful, but they seem to love the thing.
+9points
9of 9voted this comment as helpful.
 
Enjoy your music with these Sony Extra Bass MDRXB950BT/B headphones, which feature Electronic Bass Boost circuitry for deep low-end sound. Bluetooth technology with AAC and aptX support allows easy wireless pairing with compatible devices.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
I am overly impressed
By forkboy1965 from Dayton, Ohio
I just purchased these (Dec. 2014) from BestBuy.com after having seen that they were on sale from a consumer electronics website I follow. The reviews here (and elsewhere) were good to great and I had been thinking about a Bluetooth solution for a particular headphone need.
I've had these one day and I'm already well impressed. Actually, much more so than I had expected. I've been listening to them with my smartphone for the last 5-hours and here's my first impressions.
One, packaged nicely. Operating instructions were simple and clear. I was up and running in no time (they came partially charged so I charged them up first).
Second, they look good. They have a simple, conservative & understated design ("adult" - none of this flash and gaudy stuff) and feel reasonably solid in construction. My only concern/criticism is the volume and transport buttons feel a bit flimsy.
Third, they are comfortable. I've had them on for five straight hours and I haven't found them at all fatiguing. The earcups fit OVER my ears (I'm 6'4" so I don't have small ears) and block out sound well. The earcups are a little stiff right now, but I suspect they will soften with some use. The headband is padded and could be a tad wider to distribute weight across a larger area, but these aren't heavy and it's not a big deal.
Four, they feel reasonably secure on my head. A light shaking back and forth causes them to jiggle a bit because they don't have a high/large clamping force to your head. This may make them a bit loose for a more average sized person (this is an important factor for me as I'll be moving around a lot when wearing these).
And fifth and most important: sound quality... overall I'm quite satisfied. Clearly these aren't $300+ Sennheisers or Beyerdynamics, etc., but I find everything to be very competent, especially for the price. Bass, in particular, has been solid, punchy and without bloat (forget about the bass boost - it's nothing you want). Mids are clear and articulate and it's only the highs which sound laid back. Of course, I suspect this could have more to do with the nature of compressed Bluetooth transmission than the actual headphones. These do sound better with more recently released music (I noticed a marked increase in how forward are the highs when I compared a recording from the early 1990's with its re-mastered version from this year). In headphone/speaker parlance I'd say these are "warm".
I also made certain to use these on a phone call and it worked just as it should with good clarity from the caller. The only thing which was disconcerting was how muffled my own voice sounds, but this should be expected with an over-the-ear design. I just wasn't prepared for it, so it took me by surprise. You may find yourself, as I did, speaking a bit louder than necessary just so you can hear yourself.
Also, I have noticed some light background sound during quieter music passages, but it's really unobtrusive... almost unnoticeable. However, when I pause music there is a noise that is louder, but disappears after a few seconds. I don't know what is the cause or reason for the sound, but since it doesn't interfere with listening to music I'm not concerned about it.
Lastly, when using the volume or transport buttons there is a fair bit of noise transmitted through the plastic earcups from your hands touching the surface. It's plastic, so it cannot be helped, but be aware your hand will make some noises.
So I cannot compare these to any other Bluetooth-based headphones, but on their own I'm quite impressed. More so than I expected. So much so I felt compelled to post a review very quickly, which I'm usually loath to do. Thanks, Sony.
Customer Avatar
forkboy1965
Dayton, Ohio
Update to initial findings
December 8, 2014
Been using these Sony's here and there while doing chores and projects around the house, which is the reason I purchased them in the first place. Headphone cords simply get in the way and snagged on stuff too often.
I'm pretty much still in agreement with everything I outlined in my original post. The sound quality is still very good (keeping in mind these headphones price-point and that these are Bluetooth - they are not going to win any awards for sound quality - they are not made to). Bass still strikes me as mostly tight and punchy, with maybe some bloat in the upper bass (more noticeable on some tracks than others).
They remain comfortable. I don't really notice them on my head even after 2 or 3 hours. I will say that they get warmer than was my first impression. My initial post was while I had been sitting in front of the computer for hours. Not that I've worn them while actually engaged in physical activity my ears and the cups get a bit sweaty. And I sweat readily and easily, so your results may vary.
Still.... if I had to do it all over again I'd buy them. I don't know that I'd buy them for more than $125 or so, but the sale price of $99 was, in my opinion, a great deal/bargain.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
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