3Tcubed's stats
- Review count217
- Helpfulness votes1,609
- First reviewJanuary 3, 2014
- Last reviewSeptember 7, 2025
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- Average rating4.4
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- Answer count72
- Helpfulness votes46
- First answerJanuary 10, 2015
- Last answerJanuary 12, 2022
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Meet the Ninja FrostVault - the cooler with premium ice retention and fridge-temp dry storage. With FrostVault Technology, cold transfers into the Dry Zone to keep food cool, dry and separate at food-safe temperatures (under 40~ F) for days. 30-quart capacity fits up to 48 cans ~ plenty of room for all your favorite drinks. Streamline your outdoor adventures with heavy-duty construction and premium lid, latch and handles for easy access, storage, and transport.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
The Ninja Frost Vault 30Qt (48 can) cooler has one very unique feature, a dry drawer (which is about 10 Qt). The cooler itself weighs just over 20lbs. It has approximately 3" of insulation on the outer surfaces. They claim the dry drawer will keep the drawer's contents below 40 degrees, if there is 15 lbs of ice (or other frozen contents) in the main cooler. The top of the cooler is nearly perfectly flat (which I like). It has a single large (easy to open/close) latch. The drawer also latches. To test the cooler I put about 8 lbs of ice in the main container. I wanted to see how many days it would keep some of the ice solid. I've done this same test on other high end coolers. Anything over 2 days is respectable (4 days with 15lbs of ice). I put a single soda in the dry drawer, to test its temp (IR gun). After the first day about 1/2 the ice was left, and the can's temp was exactly 40 degrees. After the second day, maybe 10% of the ice was left and the can's temp was 40.9 degrees. It obviously would not make it another day, but I considered it to have passed my 2 day test. In a more fair test I would have cooled the cooler down before adding ice. I would have also used larger cubes. If I'd have filled the main compartment with a dozen or 2 cold cans, it would have better retained the cool. So I recognize the test was somewhat unfair. But I think the Ninja cooler did very well under the circumstances.
The inside of the cooler is black, which I think makes it harder to see into it (and harder to tell if it's clean). On the left side there is an insulated valve to drain the cooler. The Ninja design works very well, the valve drains almost all the water from the main container very easily, better than most. The lid also has two holes you could use with long locks, or you could wire ties around the handles to prevent it from being opened (no locking option on the drawer). Campers often want coolers that can be locked (bears often look for coolers that can't be locked). Based on my testing the drawer did a good job, with a fuller cooler and fuller drawer it would probably even do better. I have to say I really like the appearance of the Ninja Frost vault. Weighing in at 20 lbs empty, I kind of wish it had wheels and a handle (although there are times that I don't want wheels no matter what). But for vacations, moving it across a parking lot wheels would be most handy. The big single latch on the top works very easily, much better than other high end coolers latching mechanisms. Except for the interior color I really like this cooler's design and functionality.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make every event a truly epic experience by watching your favorite content on an immersive picture up to 150". Whether you~re binge-watching your favorite TV show, setting up a gaming event or hosting an outdoor movie night, the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF21 smart portable laser projector makes it easier than ever to bring your family and friends together to create memories that will last a lifetime. True 3-chip 3LCD technology produces an exceptionally bright and colorful display. And with laser-array projection technology, the Full HD picture with HDR color is simply amazing. Built-in Google TV (1) gives you access to over 10,000 streaming apps (2), including Netflix, Disney+ and even live TV (3) from apps like YouTube TV. So, it~s never been easier to discover what to watch. And with a compact design, proprietary EpiqSense technology (4) for easy setup and impactful internal audio, the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF21 is quite possibly the best portable streaming home entertainment projector available today.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I've had a projector in my family room since the '90s. It's a fairly large room (24'x 14') set up for my home theater(s) (with a 7.2 surround sound setup). My last 2 projectors were Epson's. My current projector is an Epson 8350. I've been planning to upgrade this projector once a true native 4K laser projector was available (for a reasonable price). I've been following/auditioning laser projectors for about 5 years. I auditioned the EF12 about 2 years ago. The zoom limitations really prevented me from using it in my family room. The new Epson EF21 now supports the Google TV OS which provides full access to the full Google Play store (including Netflix, Disney+, YouTube TV and Fandango), all missing from most Android based offerings. The EF21 has a greatly enhanced setup feature that Epson calls EpiqSense technology. This functionality is almost magic. The EF21 weighs 5lbs and is only 7.5"w x 7.5"d x 4.5"h. The Google TV interface is excellent, I'd not used it for years. Epson's implementation is superb, especially if you use multiple streaming services. It takes time to set each up, but once done, it is so simple to find and use any of them. The EF21 also supports HDR10 and HLG using a 3-chip LCD laser projection system.
Getting the projector unboxed and set up was straight forward. Plug it in, point it at a wall or screen, turn it on and within about 2 seconds it displays a Google TV logo that it autofocus on, then it determines screen size and then auto adjusts for keystone changes and refocus'. Within 6s a bright Google TV menu is displayed. I then set up the WiFi connection (the projector also has an Ethernet port which I won't use unless high speed WiFi has issues. I then checked for a firmware update (which existed, it was over 1GB) that took about 20m to install.
I found that if you turn it on/off and don't move it, it restarts within 2-3s; if it detects that its not positioned as it was previously (or its power is lost) it goes throught its auto set-up. The first time I did this I walked up to the screen amazed at the accuracy. I could see the pixel separation of the 1920x1080 HD output but it was so crisp and clear. I turned the projector off, moved it to the left about 3' and turned it back on. The projector auto adjusted for the change and made keystone corrections that were nearly perfect. I repeated moving it further off center, now about 6' off center. I didn't expect it to be able to correct this much. And I was right, it had a smaller screen image with a somewhat trapezoidal shape, but it was sharp. I went into the manual setup menu, and had the projector determine screen size. I then manually adjusted the keystone. The focus was a tad soft but a really decent picture, that from 15' away looked exceptional. The projector will perform the best when it's about the same distance from the screen as the screen width, but with its auto adjust for screen size, it's perfectly happy with a 16:9, 16:10 or even a 4:3 screen. The adjustments it makes to deal with screen size causes the razor clear sharpness to be slightly compromised, but barely noticeable. My screen has 1.3 gain, which actually makes the whites from the projector a little hot. From the remote I could easily turn down the brightness 30% and found the black/white contrast was greatly improved. I then hooked the projector up to my home theater via a 25' HDMI 2.1 HDR certified cable. I played a 'setup' Bluray to verify the screen setup (that I've always used to set up a new projector). The HD focus was spot on, the contrast still needed to be adjusted, a brightness set to 60% was spot on. I could not quite get the blacker than black to display perfectly.
I did a comparison between my Epson 8350 (with a new bulb) and the EF21 with the same source (different projector positions) projected to nearly identical sizes on the screen. The EF21's 1000 lumens (10' from screen) was brighter than the Epson 8350's 2000 lumens (19' from screen). The whites were a brighter white and the greens were greener. The reds and blues were pretty comparable. The gray scales both showed 64 discernible changes but the EF21's were somewhat lighter. The EF21 from the shorter distance had a sharper picture, with each pixel more clearly separated. The 8350's pixels with the longer throw distance, blended together more, the pixels were harder to visually separate. Seated from 16' text was clearly sharper with the EF21. The 8350's text had a bit of rainbow in their white text. When watching a football game the EF21 seemed faster. The playing field on the 8350 looked more worn. The brighter green's on the EF21 made the grass look more like artificial turf. But when moving from one to the other, both looked appropriate, both looked real, they were both great HD pictures. I then put in a Bluray of "The Batman" in 4K Ultra HD. It's one of the darkest filmed movies I could recall. Here the EF21 was the clear winner, even the darkest shadowy scenes popped more. It could be that the projector supports HDR10, which didn't exist when the 8350 was created. The EF21 made it much easier to watch this dark movie. Switching back and forth, the 8350 just did not output the same range of colors. I also watched Top Gun: Maverick 2. I turned down my home theater to see how the audio from the EF21 was. It was surprisingly well balanced. No real deep bass, but the voices were clear and reasonably loud (with the projectors built in 5w speakers). There was decent stereo separation. Probably adequate for a small meeting room or bedroom. Not that I'd trade my 7.2 surround sound for the projector sound. It was just adequate. A decent sound bar would be preferable.
The real star of the EF21 is its smart TV functionality (Google TV). It is exceptionally easy to use, the extensibility that is offered via Google Play is off the chart. I have an older Sony TV as well as a fairly new Hisense both with Google TV. Neither offers as much functionality as the version of Google TV in the Epson EF21. This is what we were promised when Smart TV first came about. The menu switching speed is outstanding, the organization of the menus is largely up to the user (easily changeable). I was able to add dozens of streaming services that I access regularly. I added a number of services that my wife also subscribes to. Using different accounts for different services was straightforward.
The real star of the EF21 is its smart TV functionality (Google TV). It is exceptionally easy to use, the extensibility that is offered via Google Play is off the chart. I have an older Sony TV as well as a fairly new Hisense both with Google TV. Neither offers as much functionality as the version of Google TV in the Epson EF21. This is what we were promised when Smart TV first came about. The menu switching speed is outstanding, the organization of the menus is largely up to the user (easily changeable). I was able to add dozens of streaming services that I access regularly. I added a number of services that my wife also subscribes to. Using different accounts for different services was straightforward.
I'm still looking for a reasonably priced, native 4K projector. I was not sure that the EF21 would be as big of a step up from my Epson 8350 as I found it to be. The 8350 consumes 272 watts of power when in normal use (and it produces some noticeable heat). The EF21 consumes 80-106 watts and it's nearly totally quiet (19/23 dB). I can hear my 8350's fan when it is on. I can't hear the EF21 when it's on. The 8350's contrast ratio was 50,000:1, the EF21 is 5,000,000:1 (what a difference 14 years makes). And the EF21's brightness might be quoted at 1000 lumens, but it seems much brighter. It could just be an honest number and not an overstated spec, or it could be measured differently today. But for me not needing to replace the bulb every 2000 to 4000 hours is the biggest deal. The laser LED's are quoted as having a 20,000 hour life. I've had 8350 bulbs which lasted less than a year and up to 2 years. 20,000 hours would allow me to use the projector 4 hours a day for 13.6 years. It supports WiFi 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (a, b, g, n, ac) with Bluetooth® 5.1 (I do wish it had BT 5.4, which has lower latency). I did test outputting sound through my theater's BT input and it worked very well, but the audio sent via the eARC was far superior. I could see using the projector outdoors with a decent BT speaker(s) providing excellent sound to a larger environment.
The Google Smart TV is superb. The EpiqSense functionality/flexibility is remarkable and very easy to use. The brightness is exceptional. I'm extremely impressed by every aspect of this projector.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Small but mighty, the Nextbase Piqo 2K delivers premium performance in an ultra-compact design. This dash cam captures every critical detail in stunning 1440p HD, whether you're driving in bright sunlight or on dark roads. With built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, the Piqo 2K offers seamless connectivity and real-time tracking, letting you easily access, edit, and share footage through the Nextbase App. The Piqo 2K goes beyond capturing footage~it's designed to be your complete driving companion. Smart Parking ensures your vehicle is monitored while you're away, automatically recording any knocks or bumps and notifying you via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Guardian Mode Lite allows you to set limits for anyone borrowing your car, so you're always in control. In emergencies, the Piqo 2K~s Emergency SOS system contacts services and sends your GPS location, while Witness Mode Lite alerts a loved one if something goes wrong. Piqo 2K doesn~t just provide protection~it offers peace of mind every time you~re on the road. With its powerful features, the Piqo 2K is more than just a dash cam~it~s a smarter, simpler way to safeguard what matters most.
Customer Rating
5
Nice compact Dashcam (great video quality)
on October 31, 2024
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I'm now on my 5th dashcam. Several of my previous dashcams went with the car when it was sold. In any case my first dashcam had a 640x320 sensor (it was impossible to read license plates on the video), but that was over 15 years ago. Oh, my how the quality of cameras has changed. About 8 years ago I had a Nextbase front/rear camera. So I'm familiar with the brand. My current/last dashcam (not a Nextbase) still operated, but it stopped writing (reliably) to its SD card. I was anxious to see what Nextbase's new "piqo" product offered. The biggest hassle of installing a dashcam is getting cables installed and hidden. I certainly wish auto manufactures would put a USB power output adjacent to the Mirror, it would simplify so much.
First I installed the Nextbase app on my iPhone. Then I installed the 32Gb micro SD card in the "piqo" (it supports up to a 256Gb micro SD card). Before moving to my car I connected the 'piqo's" USB cable to a USB power source. The 'pico' initially uses BT for the initial connection then uses a private WiFi network to display LiveView video to your phone. Here you want to have your phone in landscape orientation. Set up went smoothly, you need to accept the BT code displayed before moving on. The video "piqo" captures has a 145 degree field of view.
So I removed the old cable and installed the "piqo's" cable with the crevice tool provided. The cable has about 2' of additional unused length (tucked behind the dash with twist tie). I plugged the camera into a power brick so that I could use LiveView to tell where the camera was pointing when I mounted it. The included wet and dry swabs ensure it's done cleanly. By using LiveView I could make sure that the "piqo" had a clear view out the front window, without viewing the electronics dome behind my "smart mirror". I then removed the red protective cover over the adhesive that holds the camera to the electronics dome. The camera is very light and small (no rear display), with a single button on the back (displays red, blue, amber and green). The dashcam has a clip that allows it to be quickly removed. The dashcam offers either 1K (1080p) or 2K (1440p) resolution. I captured both, and either looked very good. But the 2K output allowed me to zoom in and see the detail of license plates much further ahead. It also looked better at dusk/night. Night view is captured in high res B/W but it requires very little light. But it takes up nearly twice the space. So if you want to keep larger quantities of video the 1k output might suffice. For now I left it 2k. The library feature shows you a single frame about once a minute. It optionally shows your speed with the time stamp. You can use their app to download videos from the dashcam to your phone, or you can remove the SD card and view it on your computer. On my phone it looked great, but once I moved the video to my computer's larger screen the true quality became much more apparent. Fine details, absent any motion trails, were viewable in each frame. Quite remarkable vs what I'm accustomed to. Most excellent quality.
A couple of other features are available. Emergency SOS, where if you're in an accident the "piqo" can send for emergency services (via your paired cell phone) including GPS based location. Witness Mode Light, where via a voice command you can send audio/video to up to 4 different registered numbers or lock a video file so that it can't be deleted. Smart Parking ("piqo" must have 24/7 power) to notify you if the vehicle is hit or moves when it's parked. And Guardian Mode Lite, where the unit can notify you if the car exceeds set speed limits or drives outside a predefined geofence definition (GPS). Related to these are Incident saving, where based on motion detection video footage is marked as significant (easy to find after an accident). With a Nextbase Protect subscription up to 180 days of cloud storage can be stored, and Emergency SOS is enabled.
Overall I'm quite impressed by the quality of the video captured. I don't plan to use the smart parking or the emergency SOS (as my phone has a similar functionality. The witness mode is interesting but I can't see using it very often. If I ever lent my car to a friend, the Guardian mode might be useful, but I've not done this for many years. I doubt I'll ever upload video to their server. But the basic functionality of the LiveView is very well executed. The Library functionality allows you to move throughout history reasonably well. With a 256Gb SD card it still might be cumbersome. I think I'd like to have dated "trips" (On/Off) at a higher level. Something other dashcams offered, but it's not that big of deal, as I so rarely review past information. Having a minute by minute indicator is sufficient.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Treat your family and friends (and yourself) to restaurant-level pizza (and so much more) at home with the bella PRO Blaze Oven+: Pizza, Broil, Bake & Roast. This versatile countertop workhorse heats up to 750~F and delivers fresh-from-the-pizza-oven flavor. Bake a crisp 12~ pizza, sear four tender salmon filets or make sizzling quesadillas for a crowd. The oven door has a large viewing window so you can keep an eye on your creations as they cook. The cool-touch handle and included pizza peel are there to ensure seamless pizza-making in your kitchen!
Customer Rating
4
A Great Indoor Pizza Oven
on October 25, 2024
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I have an outdoor propane/wood pizza oven now, so I've been practicing. But to be honest my outdoor oven is more than a little painful to set up and use. First to get it "up to temp" it takes about 15 minutes. In addition, getting a pizza peel in and out of it is quite difficult. This Bella Pro is electric and intended to be used outdoors. Because it uses forced air because of this my wife was quite worried it would be as loud as our convection oven. Once I unpacked and turned on here fears were allayed. The Bella Pro runs very quietly. The instructions that come with it easily get it set up and running (it weighs about 35 lbs). There are no recipes in the included book (disappointing). It comes in a very attractive Oatmilk color which is fingerprint resistant. I found it took a little over 4 minutes to preheat to 400 degrees, and about 8 to get to 750 degrees. When you first use it they recommend heating it up to 750 for 15 to remove any "build" residue. After 10 min I detected a "burnt" smell that quickly went away. The oven comes with a pizza peel which you really do need to get a flat pizza in and out fairly quickly.
My first time cooking, I found the back of the oven was somewhat hotter than the front, meaning that the back crust may burn if the pizza is not turned. This is essentially that same issue I have on my outdoor oven, so this was not unexpected. I find cooking the pizza for about 60% of the cooking time, then turning it 180 degrees for the remaining 40% gives me an evenly baked crust. My second pizza was more evenly cooked using this technique. To my surprise the exterior of the oven stays fairly cool, except for the edges by the front door which gets a bit warmer. As I said, it runs very quietly. You can set the timer up to 30 minutes. When running the timer and temperature alternate on the display. When finished it says End. I can also see using the oven to make pies, but the timer can't be set as long as I'd like. The timer cannot be set until the oven is preheated. I was thinking that I could bake cornbread and cookies in the oven but I was afraid that they would burn on the stone. I think that I could do so by adding a 1" rack to the bottom, come to think about it, I think it should come with such a rack, it would make it more of a multi-tasker.
Overall I'm pleased with it, it looks very nice, heats up quickly, the exterior stays cool and it cooks a pizza nearly perfectly. I do wish the timer went beyond 30 minutes and that it came with some oven tested recipes, especially for pizza dough.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Own the moment, online and offline, with an open ring design that~s comfortable for all-day wear. With convenient smart features, it~s easier than ever to access and enjoy your entertainment.
Customer Rating
4
Trade Offs, depends on your needs
on October 18, 2024
Posted by: 3Tcubed
Ok, these are my 10 or 11th Wireless Earbuds. I have more than one set of Sony's over the ear headphones. They are truly top of the line. But I can't use them when exercising or when working. I also have a eBike with a helmet that has "headphone" in them. They are at best so-so. I really don't expect open earbuds to have the quality of sound that over the ear headphones do. But I do expect them to be lighter. Sony's previous LinkBuds open has an over the ear loop. I tried them and found them uncomfortable, and bigger than was comfortable for my ear. This new version is smaller and a tad heavier, they have a fin up the top of the earbud that should fit into the larger groove of your ear. I found them much easier to get into my ear than the previous version. The silicone ear insert only comes in one size. Many other earbuds in this price range come with a choice of 4 or 5. I'd have liked to have tried a slightly smaller ear insert, but not possible. The earbuds are rated to get 8 hours of play time, and the case can charge them 2 more times. They claim that a 1 minute charge will add 1 hour play time. I did verify they got over 7 hours of playtime at a fairly high volume level. Sony has new software called Sony Sound Connect that is used to set up and configure the earbuds. I tried using them with the previous Sony Music Center app, and they were not recognized. This surprised me as all my other Sony headphones/earbuds/speakers were. So to get started you need to load the Sony Sound Connect app. This set up was easy, and the app allows you to connect to up to two input sources. The "Find your equalizer" walks you through setting up the 5 band equalizer where you choose the music. This works pretty well. There are 8 default settings and a manual setting that you can store as Custom 1 or Custom 2. During setup you can connect the voice apps: Alexa, Google. I set up Alexa, without issues. My first impression was it was difficult to get a proper stereo fit in both ears. One or the other ear sounded different, I spent quite some time tweaking the fit in my ear trying to get the same sound level in both ears. When I went to a totally silent area it was somewhat easier. A couple of more details, the earbuds when in the charging case, blinks when charging (green). When the case is being charged (USB C) the led is solid amber. The case does not support wireless charging.
I listened to several tracks from Boston's first album, and I was presently surprised by the quality and openness of the sound. The LinkBuds bass is actually better than I expected for an open earbud. It's very full but fails to deliver real depth. The highest highs are not as quiet there but still a well rounded sound. The mid-range was very good, at times exceptional. I listened under different circumstances, with and without background noise (outside with birds etc, and in my office with a computer hum). I went back and forth between "More than a feeling", "Foreplay" and "Smokin". The bass was almost deep and tight, it sounded nice but not exactly what I'd call exceptional, just lacking some punch. When outside with the volume at 60% during low passages I could periodically hear birds and street noise. In my office the humm of fans could be heard when low but not over louder volume. The external sounds rarely interfered with the music when it was loud enough. But when I heard my phone ring, it was easy to make out, one tap and I could pause/mute the music. At that point it was hard to tell that I had earbuds on. I could use my corded phone with the earbud in, it was a little awkward but doable (to my suprise). With my cell phone the sound from the LinkBuds was exceptional and I'm told I sounded very natural. The mic worked very well, with little background noise being picked up.
I then listened to Pink Floyd's DSOTM, and was quite impressed by the louder passages in "Time" and "Money". The quiet passages in "The Great Gig in the Sky" were better than I expected, very pleasant. Some subtleties in the girls' voices were more soft. Here was where better EarBuds excel. I wore the earbuds for over two hours and barely noticed I had them on; the fit on my head was very comfortable (but I still wish the ear insert was slightly smaller). Listening to the deep bass heartbeats at the end of Eclipse, I could feel the bass, but it was still thinner than a closed earbud would be. So the open design does have some tradeoffs. The balance of what Sony's done with these is quite nice. Nothings perfect but across the full frequency that is actually quite good from top to bottom.
I mentioned my eBike. I tried these earbuds in place of the "open headphones" on my helmet. Before turning them on I could hear the surrounding noises very clearly. As I moved down the road the helmet buffeted most of the wind noise. But I could still hear pretty clearly through the earbuds. Once the music was on it was still a nice balance, I could hear the ambient noise and still enjoy much higher quality music than my helmet headphones delivered. At a very loud level the ambient noise was harder to discern. I suspect a car's horn would still cut through. But as far as sound quality; a hands down winner. I don't think I'd feel safe at full volume. The same when walking, to stay alert, the sound level needed to stay below 60%. There I found an acceptable comfort level. The touch controls aren’t that responsive (or extensive), increasing the responsiveness too high in the Sound Connect app seemed to make them too sensitive, causing accidental touches. Using the head shake as a mute/pause was my best friend.
Like everything there are tradeoffs; if you want to hear ambient sounds you either have an open design or a closed design that amplifies external sound through the earbud. In terms of a 100% passive design the open earbud requires less interaction. So if you're using earbuds where you might be interrupted frequently, I think I'd prefer Sony's open LinkBud design. I think Sony can still make more improvements. There are not that many other open earbuds. I think this version is better than the previous. And they can improve upon these (multiple earbud tips to begin with).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the Anker SOLIX C300X: your ultimate companion for outdoor adventures and home backup. This compact powerhouse features 288Wh and 300W output, allowing you to charge up to 7 devices at once. It's 30% smaller than similar models, making it perfect for road trips, and recharges quickly~90 minutes via USB-C or 3 hours with solar. With robust LiFePO4 batteries for up to 10 years of use and smart control via the Anker app, the Anker SOLIX C300X ensures reliable power wherever your journey takes you and provides dependable backup for home emergencies.
Customer Rating
4
Pretty nice, but could be better (fixable)
on October 3, 2024
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I have a couple of portable power stations. One I use in my office to replace a UPS and provide backup power to a couple of computers, monitors and networking hardware. I plan to use this Anker to travel with and for home back-up. It only weighs a little over 9 lbs. It has 3 USB-C, 1 USB-A and 3 110V power outlets. It is a smart device, there is an app for it that connects via either Bluetooth or WiFi (2.4G only). Installation and setup was very easy. The charger arrived 87% charged, and charged to 100% in less than 15 minutes. The app allows you to find the quick start manual and full user manual very easily. I allowed it to charge to 100% before connecting any devices. I started by connecting my iPhone to charge, I could see it charging at 20W (fast charging), I connected another portable charger, it also charged at 20W, but backed off to 1 or two when it completed charging (good). I plugged a third power bank in, that was already fully charged, and it quickly blinked the wattage up and down, settling a 1W in just a few seconds. I plugged in a 110V device... nothing happened. You have to enable the 110 outlets via a button to the top right of the outlets, then it worked. I like the way the app tells you how much power is being used by each usb port; it does not do this for the 110 AC outlets (but the total goes up). You can tell the unit to disable any of the AC outlets: never, after 1,2,3 or 4 hours. Kind of nice if you only want to run a TV or something for a limited period of time (not to exhaust the power too quickly). There is a carport (12V lighter connector) but I did not have a connector and one does not come with the unit. The front of the Anker C300X has a led light which can be turned on with 3 levels and made to blink (SOS function). Nice if you are camping, but I wish it also had a red light output, this does not affect your eyes adjusting to light the same. I do some astrophotography, and you pretty much are not welcome unless you have red lighting. And this C300X would be perfect to take on night outings to power various accessories that we frequently use over night. I'll probably see if iI can find and affix a proper red filter, but the button being on the bar means I have to control the light from the Anker app (which is possible).
For testing I tried replacing my office power bank with this unit. The UPS switching worked perfectly, nothing shutdown when I disconnected power. After running about 10m I got an error saying the unit detected total output power being exceeded. I would have thought when everything got started would have been max power draw, but it's good to know the unit is self monitoring. My other unit was rated at 300W, 600 peak. This unit only specifies a max AC of 300W, nothing about a peak; but total output AC+DC of 360W. So I don't know what's different, but this is not a "replacement" for what I have, and the error message does not tell you what AC port caused the problem, or how much the exception wattage was (this would be most helpful).
At my home I also have a power bank about this size dedicated to some of my outdoor lighting. It's connected to a 100W solar panel, so I see it as an 12V extension to my other solar lighting. I would have loved to try connecting this C300X power station to my existing solar panel but the Anker uses a non-standard solar connector (which I could not get/find quickly - it's not included in the box). I'd like to tell you how well/quickly it recharges with solar. Their Anker app looks like it would show you the amount of power being delivered to recharge the unit via solar. I do have another minor gripe, the charging cord that comes with the unit is only about 2' long. I do think they should include the cable with their connector from their solar input port to a standard solar connector (possibly fused) in the box. After some digging into the online information I found the type of connector, I'd not call it common. I really do like the size/weight of the unit. It's pretty powerful and the smartness of the device is wonderful, BUT they needed better error/diagnostics information. The good news is the unit's firmware can be upgraded via your phone's connectivity. But for my needs I think that I need to get a unit just a little bigger, this does have a place, and for my Astronomy it might be nearly perfect (when minimum weight really matters).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Rank up to Premier Cross-Platform Performance. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 wireless multiplatform gaming headset for PC, PlayStation, Steam Deck and mobile is redesigned for a 3rd generation of premium gaming prowess. The all-new CrossPlay wireless system with dual USB transmitters and simultaneous Bluetooth connectivity deliver quick and easy connection to PC, gaming consoles & mobile devices. Huge, 60mm Eclipse Dual Drivers deliver 24-bit audio quality for unparalleled PC audio performance, and the Gen 3, flip-to-mute mic with high-bandwidth mic performance allows for exceptionally clear voice accuracy. Plus, using the Swarm II companion app, you can adjust your microphone & audio settings to your exact, customized preference. Dominate for hours in complete comfort with an 80-hour battery life, and memory foam ear cushions.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
These Turtle Beach 700 G3 headphones come in black and white and have a PS5 and Xbox version (I tested the Playstation version on my gaming PC. They are wireless in 2 ways, they support a 2.4Ghz connection and Bluetooth. I was easily able to connect to them directly from my PC and laptop via their BT. I could also use the included USB dongles (two) which support either BT or 2.4Ghz RF. When using the dongle set to RF you can also connect to the headphones via BT, so I was able to stream music from my phone and PC (using 'crossplay') to the headphones and still have them connected via 2.4Ghz. On the bottom of the headphone you can control the primary selection (RF or BT); you must connect to each independentlythe first time, after that they connect automatically. The boom microphone is turned on/off when it's pulled down. I used it with a phone call and intergame chat, and the sound quality was exceptional (I'm told). Their Stealth II App allows you to determine how you're connected and to update the headphones firmware (and dongles), if required (it was required when I unboxed). I have several other wireless headphones, but these Turtle Beach headphones claim to have 80 hrs of battery life, nothing else that I have has more than 30 hours. I had no problems getting them paired with either BT or RF.
The headphones are very comfortable, but a little on the heavy side, but how do they sound? I listened to several tracks from Boston's first album, and I was presently surprised by the quality and openness of the sound. I have other wireless headphones that cost much more (but do have with much better noise cancellation) but doing an A-B listen to the Turtle Beach 700's were quite similar. The TB700's bass is actually a little deeper, but the highest highs not as tight, but the higher low end thru mid-range was just as good. I went back and forth between "More than a feeling", "Foreplay" and "Smokin". The bass deep and tight, overall exceptional. The TB700's were every bit as good. I then listened to Pink Floyd's DSOTM, and was quite impressed by the louder passages in "Time" and "Money". The quiet passages in "The Great Gig in the Sky" were better than I expected. Some subtleties in the girls' voices were more subtle, but they were 95% as good as something costing much more. I wore the headphones for nearly two hours and except for being a tad heavy, the fit on my head and the cushioning was very comfortable. Then tried playing same music from my phone (BT) and from my PC (RF) using the "crossplay" functionality, I could tell there was a difference in the sound, but it was very difficult to say which was better, I think the RF's very highs and deepest bass wasslightly better. Listening to the deep bass heartbeats at the end of Eclipse, I could feel theimprovements from the RF transmissions. But it was hard tell the difference, and the crossplay does not cut over instantaneously, so a precise A-B is not possible.
I proceeded to do some racing on Forza Motorsport, and I was so impressed I started smiling (something I try to avoid) I was very happy with the effects I heard. I then tried listening for footsteps in BF 2042, were they mine or theirs? Which way were they coming from? Everything I needed to hear/discern, I could picture in my head in different directions. And the flying bullets sounded very realistic (I think) as they 'passed' by... impressive. And I'm still smiling.
With the chat mode (which TB claims uses AI to reduce background noise) the sound is very clear to listeners on the other end; here I really like flip-to-mute microphone, a very natural way to mute, and to then restart (much better than a key sequence). There are volume dials for both audio and mic on the sides of the left headphones, right next to the power switch and ‘mode’ button which features some audio presets. The headphones are charged via an included short usb-a to usb-c cable. Turtle Beach claims the low-latency 2.4Ghz has zero delay between the sound you’re hearing and what's on the screen. To be honest I could not tell the difference between Bluetooth and the 2.4Ghz RF link. One other feature in the Stealth II app is found under custom settings for both headphones, and microphone. This is the custom EQ setting for each. A 10 band graphic equalizer allows up to 5 named custom settings. This works very well and really elevates the perceived quality of the in/out sound. These are very nice gaming headphones.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Love real espresso but hate the hassle? Introducing the Philips Baristina Espresso Machine. It grinds, tamps, and brews coffee beans automatically - it's the barista who lives on your kitchen counter! Pour in your favorite beans, swipe the handle, and let Baristina do the rest. It grinds beans for a super fresh aroma, tamps perfectly into the portafilter, and brews with high pressure, so your coffee tastes just like a barista made it. It's that simple. Enjoy perfectly brewed espresso on its own, or craft caf~-style drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and americanos. Philips Baristina looks after the espresso, so you can simply appreciate a superb brew. So swipe the handle and get ready for real espresso.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
My wife has been collecting coffee mugs for many years, almost all are tall 13-14oz mugs. We are big coffee drinkers, we probably have not missed having a morning coffee for over 30 years. Back in the late 90's we frequented a big name coffee chain. But as they got more and more expensive, we decided to "invest" in an espresso machine and do it ourselves (ok I do it all the time). Our first machine was a starter completely manual machine and hand tamper. I probably took me 25-30m to make two tall cups of espresso (4 shots each). I put up with this for several years, before the machine's boiler failed. But I'd learned a lot, and found out how important it was to start with fresh beans that are ground right before making. Back then good burr grinders were quite expensive, but they produced a consistent grind which was also very important. I also found that using filtered water made a much better cup of espresso than tap water (for years I was not a believer, only when I started using a better coffee could I really tell the difference. Ok, over the past 20 yrs I've "invested" in 5 or 6 espresso machines. Most were more expensive, and more automatic than the last. For the last 4 years I've been using a pretty expensive "Semi-Automatic" espresso machine. For the first 3 years it was great, since then it's been a maintenance nightmare; getting parts from the mfg, impossible. Putting up with gasket leaks, drips etc.
So on to my new Philips Baristina (300). When unboxing the first thing I noticed was the weight of the box, it was only 14 lbs. Just by looking at the box you know how compact it is. It comes in six colors (Yellow, White, Black, Red, Green and Walnut). The Baristina operates much more simply than most "Semi-Automatic" machines (if it were fully automatic it would self empty the portafilter). But for a Semi-Automatic machine it grinds coffee directly into the portafilter and auto tamp the coffee into the portafilter, and then moves the portafilter back over the coffee cup. To turn the machine on you need to place the empty portafilter under the cup then slide it to the right, then select the espresso size (Espresso left button, Lungo right button, boost center button), and if you want it strong. Lungo is a coffee drink made by pulling more water through an espresso puck for longer with more water, making a larger less concentrated/milder coffee (cafe Americano uses the either brewing method plus some additional heated water). The machine has a 32-35oz water tank on the back (no water filter necessary/available). While grinding the machine is fairly quiet (<73db) and while brewing slightly quieter (<70db). As I said the machine is simple, no on/off button. Once the portafilter is empty, insert it over the cup, and slide it to the right, then select espresso or lungo. Grinding and brew time is very quick; ~42s for Espresso and ~65 for Lungo (this is faster than most "capsule" machines). The boost button does not affect the brew time. If you want to make coffee with pre-ground beans (or decaf) you can fill the portafilter with a teaspoon of ground coffee (~10g); about 1/2 full, and then press the boost button for 5 seconds. The default drink volume can be changed by holding the Espresso (1oz to 2.4oz) or Lungo (2.4oz to 6.75oz) button down for 5s, which will cause either to blink while filling the cup. Once you have the level you want press the blinking button to set the new drink volume. This is so helpful for me when I use a 14oz mug, to make a double. When brewing you can stop then brew by hitting the selected brew button when brewing. The brew temperature comes out a consistent 185F, which is ideal. The espresso crema that is produced is a little airy but significant in volume. It's better than any capsule machine I've used, but not quite as dense as the best machine I've owned. But for Lungos it's nearly ideal. Cleaning the portafilter is a breeze, just dump the puck out (it usually falls out in a single piece), if it does not drop immediately there is an ejection button on the bottom. The puck comes out fairly dry, a good sign. The machine looks nice, but it's obviously plasticy, it easy to move the machine when sliding the portafilter to the right. The grinder holds about 100g (3.5oz) of beans. Keep the lid on it, as the center turns while it grinds. How does it taste... Espresso 8 out of 10, Lungo 9 out of 10, color me surprisingly impressed for such a small machine. The TDS (total dissolved solids) is a little on the light side but far better than any capsule machines I've tried.
I'd love to see a stainless-steel version in the future, just to match what I've had and to add a little more weight. With this Baristina (300) machine I have two options for various cup sizes: either use it with or without a drip catcher, which is about 1" tall. Without the drip catcher (the base is 3"x4" wide) tall cups (4 1/2" to 4 5/8") fit fine under the portafilter (5.2" away) but the 3 1/4" cup base wiggles in the drip catcher cavity. And without the drip catcher I'm always cleaning up after I've made coffee (which I've had to do with many machines I've owned). If only the drip catcher was a 4" square or the narrow edge was 1/2" wider, larger cups would fit better in the drip catcher cavity. It would also be nice if the drip catcher lid fit into the drip catcher cavity or even better if the whole base had a removable/cleanable tray. And if you forget to empty the portafilter, it can (sometimes) be refilled and much of the new coffee gets scraped off when the portafilter slides to the left to start brewing, (another mess to clean up). If it runs out of water when brewing it stops and blinks at you until you refill the water canister. If it runs out of beans when grinding, it just stops, you're kind of stuck (something else they should correct). So, make sure there are enough beans in the grinder.
But at this price point and simplicity to use it's VERY impressive, I'm very happy to have it, it makes great coffee drinks easily.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Velox Mini Qi2 is a versatile dash & windshield phone holder that utilizes Qi2 technology for a powerful magnetic hold and fast wireless charge. Designed exclusively for Qi2-enabled devices including MagSafe compatible iPhones and cases, the Velox Mini Qi2 delivers up to 15W of power. Just tap your phone against the mount face and powerful magnets will hold it in place in perfect alignment. Securely install the Velox Mini Qi2 on your vehicle~s dashboard or windshield via a super strong, reusable suction cup base with sticky gel formula. A dashboard pad is included to protect you dash from any potential damage. The telescopic arm easily extends from 4~ to 6.75~ and pivots on a 260* arc to give you ultimate flexibility when installing the mount. A ball joint rotates and tilts so you can adjust the cradle for an ideal and safe viewing position in either portrait or landscape mode. A series of ventilation holes constructed around the mount help to dissipate heat and maintain airflow, while the anti-slip silicone finish offers added support and a gentle, scratch-free connection to your phone. Now it~s easier than ever to keep your phone powered up on the go!
Customer Rating
5
An excellent wireless charger
on August 24, 2024
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I'm actually getting this Velox Mini Qi2 wireless charger for passenger use. My wife and I both have iPhones and take numerous long trips. I thought I'd surprise her with her own wireless charging station. I actually have been using the iOttie Qi2 Wireless vent mount for quite some time now. I liked it so much I thought I'd get another, but not another vent mount. For her I wanted a dash or windshield mount (ultimately let her choose). We both use our phones with simple clear MagSafe compatible cases, Having used the iOttie MagSafe charger for some time now, I know the magnetic holding force is strong enough to be used with the cases we use. I first set up the dash mount indoors to verify it would do the trick before final car installation. The mount comes with a flat mounting plate for dash use (even if your dash is flat). It also has a washable sticky suction cup (think nano tape), that has superb adherence on its own, add the suction cup and it is an extra strong hold. The neck of the phone holder and also be extended out an additional 2" (the shaft is 3" long). This flexibility should assist in tricky mounting situations or if you have a large windshield (truck).
The Qi2 chargers supply 15W of wireless charging, meaning they charge twice as fast as the original Qi chargers (7.5W). This Dash/Windshield mount is quite clever. The Qi2 charging pad is a soft rubber, the back can be turned about +/-40 degrees, and then locked in place (this allows the cord to go any direction). The base also swivels and locks in place. The suction cup is controlled by lifting the fount up, and pressing it down (it takes some force to get to lock). But once in place it is very stable. The charger required a USB-C port (a USB-A to C adapter can be used to convert - not supplied). The charger works very well, but the phone does get warm when charging. But now I've simplified our long trips by having a second wireless charging point. Ready to hit the road.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed and engineered at our world-famous Acoustic Engineering Center of Excellence in Northridge, California, the Stage 260F is the midsize floorstanding loudspeaker of the JBL Stage Series. This floorstanding loudspeaker features a 2.5-way design with Next Generation patented High-Definition Imaging (HDI) waveguide geometry, 1-inch (25mm) Anodized Aluminum dome tweeter, and dual 6.5-inch (165mm) Polycellulose ribbed cone woofers that provide deep, signature JBL bass.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I currently have 4 full surround setup in my home (Family Room, Outside, Master Bedroom and Master Bath). I's either going to change the sound bar in my living rooms to a Dolby Atmos setup or upgrade/replace my Master Bedroom system or my Family Room setup. But if I can get my wife's approval I'd rather upgrade the living room. I'm testing these speakers with the new JBL MA710 which supports Dolby Atmos. First I have to convince myself that I like the sound of these speakers, that they are loud enough for the room (16x24 but open to the kitchen/dining area). Another big advantage of these speakers is they can be "upgraded to Atmos" speakers with the addition of a pair of 240H surround speakers (internal wiring exists inside of this speaker). The tone and appearance would match. I am impressed with Dolby Atmos; vs its predecessors and DTS:X. Although having all three is also an advantage. as it's up to the movie studios to what they will support/supply.
I'm using these speakers with JBL's EZ Set EQ app. This allows you to use your phone/tablet to equalize room acoustics (considering the speaker set up) you move around the room and tones come from the speakers in use. You can also indicate if you prefer more or less bass. This EQ functionality can also be tweaked via their 10 band "graphic" equalizer. Given that receivers today are primarily digital, this makes so much sense. This is a huge step up and done in the same way several other manufacturers deal with speaker tuning (which is really what the EQ is doing). I've used software like this to tune speakers or headphones before. And years ago my high end receivers had a microphone to do this, but it was not nearly as visual/easy to do. Not to mention it does a superb job. The curve that arrived with is pretty close to what I'd have expected (still very cool). The audio review will be done using this app.
I'll start by saying these speakers are darn efficient(read: is plenty loud). First I listened to Boston's first album. More than a Feeling, sounded very airy, the highs appeared to bounce arounds the room effortlessly, the speakers creating a superb soundstage. Quite nice. The bass was very tight (a little thin, nothing a sub would not fix), the bass complemented the rich highs. The mid's were rich and the vocals were elegant. As Boston's Foreplay switched to Long Time, and the rhythm picked up, the speakers sounded very sweet, excellent to listen to, excellent sound details. Except for some surround effects, they were nearly the same as my family room system (5x $). In fact the horn section brought a bit of a smile to my face, so realistic. Except to the bass depth I was very, very impressed. I then listened to Pink Floyd's Animals, also great, Dogs had a richness and overall smoothness throughout. The highs in Pigs were thrilling, again a little smile. I then listened to the new Top Gun in 4k, I had to set the surround to Stereo 2.0, but the quality of the sound still rocked the room, not quite chest thumping, and the center vocals were a bit deficient, but that was to be expected.
All and all I'm very impressed, I have some wiring issues to overcome, but I'm convinced that separate speakers still blow away what you can get out of a soundbar (and I have a good one). I now have to figure out how to hide some wires (or find a wireless method). If I don't use these in my living room they will replace some older (planar) speakers in my master bedroom. These with a set of 240H speakers placed on top of them to add height speakers would be a big step up to my bedroom system (My wife and I both watch movies and baseball games there frequently). These are very nice, punchy speakers. A very full rich sound, and quite efficient.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Shark Rocket Hand Vac: With 500W and 4.2 amps of power, this hand vac efficiently removes dust, dirt and debris from your home, car, boat or RV. The TruePet motorized brush allows you to pick up pet hair and loose debris.
WHEN WILL THIS ITEM BE AVAILABLE AT THE SALEM NH BEST BUY STORE?
Experience unreal picture quality with this 27-inch HP 27Q display. The modern, tilted design gives you the best angle to experience its lifelike colors and ultrarealistic Quad HD resolution, and an anti-glare panel lets you work or watch anywhere you want. This HP 27Q display's 2 ms refresh time provides crisp, latency-free media, ideal for multi-monitor setups.
Can you connect 3 monitors?
Listen to music while breaking a sweat with this LG TONE Active wireless headset, which features retractable earbuds to reduce tangling. The water-resistant, contoured design offers comfortable wear at the gym or on the track. This LG TONE Active wireless headset features advanced quad-layer speaker technology for smooth, clear sound.
Do these headsets have 4 MHz or higher my boyfriend had pair got ruined he bought from you guys and I couldn’t find that in any of the specs on any of them
Listen to music while breaking a sweat with this LG TONE Active wireless headset, which features retractable earbuds to reduce tangling. The water-resistant, contoured design offers comfortable wear at the gym or on the track. This LG TONE Active wireless headset features advanced quad-layer speaker technology for smooth, clear sound.
Do you know where i can purchase the stabilizer tip? the pointy piece by the ear buds? mine is missing
Call customer support (1.866.244.3399), I'm sure they'll send you what missing
7 years, 10 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Pair your morning jog with these Jaybird RUN wireless earbuds, and enjoy your music each step of the way. Bluetooth compatibility with multiple devices lets you share your playlist without the tangle of wires. These Jaybird RUN wireless earbuds are sweatproof and dirtproof to handle the worst of your workout.
Hi, can someone please tell me where they are manufactured? Thanks!
Malaysia, Jaybird is a Logitech company out of CA, customer support US based
7 years, 10 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Charge your Pixel smartphone quickly with this Google USB-C power adapter. This 18W adapter comes with a long detachable cable, so you can move around more easily while charging your device. Its sleek, minimalist design makes this Google USB-C power adapter a stylish addition to your tech setup.
Would this charge a Dell XPS 13, or is the power output not high enough?
Conquer virtual enemies with this Dell Inspiron desktop. It has an AMD Radeon graphics card with 8GB of dedicated video memory for fast image rendering, and its powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and 16GB of DDR4 RAM run multiple programs, games and browsers simultaneously. This Dell Inspiron desktop has a 1TB hard drive for plenty of long-term game storage.
Can u add another hard drive to it?
You can add one 2.5 one 3.5 and two m.2 (22x80mm)
8 years ago
by
3Tcubed
Harness the productivity of the Intel Core m3 processor with this Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Its 12.3-inch touch screen and 2736 x 1824 resolution are ideal for streaming your favorite movies and shows. This Microsoft Surface Pro 4 has 128GB of internal storage and a microSD slot for your music, photos and videos.
Would this work for someone that likes to download and save a lot of music?
only if you put Music on Micro SD card or external Drive; my Rock Library has 15K songs and occupies 111GBs.
So it depends in the size of your library, for me I have 256GB flash drive to store all music on; but main storage alone probably is not sufficient.
So it depends in the size of your library, for me I have 256GB flash drive to store all music on; but main storage alone probably is not sufficient.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Harness the productivity of the Intel Core m3 processor with this Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Its 12.3-inch touch screen and 2736 x 1824 resolution are ideal for streaming your favorite movies and shows. This Microsoft Surface Pro 4 has 128GB of internal storage and a microSD slot for your music, photos and videos.
Will this run Quickbooks Pro 2016? Is the keyboard included? If not, how much is that?
Yes, Keyboard is included. I recommend you purchase pen and get -$20 off Pen from BB. Pen really makes the package, well worth $39ish
8 years, 10 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Harness the productivity of the Intel Core m3 processor with this Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Its 12.3-inch touch screen and 2736 x 1824 resolution are ideal for streaming your favorite movies and shows. This Microsoft Surface Pro 4 has 128GB of internal storage and a microSD slot for your music, photos and videos.
Does it play d.v.d's and c.d.'s
With and external USB CD/DVD (or BluRay) drive (not included); need to have codecs for video (can purchase from MS, or get with drive or 3rd party)
8 years, 10 months ago
by
3Tcubed