aarondr's stats
- Review count184
- Helpfulness votes1,200
- First reviewOctober 22, 2014
- Last reviewApril 26, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.6
- Review comment count6
- Helpfulness votes10
- First review commentJuly 8, 2014
- Last review commentMarch 30, 2017
- Featured review comments0
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- Answer count16
- Helpfulness votes31
- First answerJuly 8, 2014
- Last answerDecember 11, 2021
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- Best answers4
The all-new Victrola Premiere T1 Turntable System is the perfect record player sound system for your home. Incorporating the T1 Turntable and M1 Bookshelf Monitors, the system’s design and user interface were created with meticulous attention to sound reproduction, design, and ease of use. The T1 Turntable System is sure to make lifelong music memories in your home. The Premiere T1 Turntable features a belt driven metal platter, wooden plinth, and aluminum tonearm with an adjustable counterweight and anti-skate knob to keep your favorite vinyl records in top condition. The T1 record player also includes Victrola’s first high-performance moving magnetic cartridge, creating detailed clarity from your record collection with a wider frequency response and specified downforce. The built-in preamp allows connectivity to any amplifier for a completely customizable audio system. The Victrola Premiere M1 Bookshelf Monitors are sonically designed to complement the Victrola Premiere T1 Turntable for a vinyl listening experience that will take your collection to new highs. As a stand-alone bookshelf speaker system, wirelessly stream your favorite tunes via Bluetooth® technology from your device. If you already have a turntable or any audio device you’d like to connect, the Victrola Premiere M1 monitor acoustic and aesthetic design will prove to elevate your overall listening experience. With beautiful design, proprietary technology, and high-end components, the Victrola Premiere T1 Turntable System delivers superior sound quality to create lifelong music memories in every home.
Customer Rating
4
A nice compact setup let down by middling speakers
on May 12, 2022
Posted by: aarondr
from Richmond VA
The Victrola T1 system is a combo of the M1 speaker system and their premier turntable. The system represents standalone monitors with line level inputs into a plate amp. It’s finished in a nice wood grain that matches making this quite the style statement. But does it have the sonic prowess to live up to its looks?
First of all, unboxing the product, everything is securely packaged, and the experience feels quite premium. From a brand that makes its money off of vintage looking products, it’s obvious they understand the experience required for this sort of product. The speakers were easy to remove and the turntable very carefully packaged. Setup was easy enough, with only the belt installation being anything that required using more than 2 neurons. Even that wasn’t difficult.
The design of the product is vintage and modern mixed. It harkens back to simple record/speaker setups of the 1970s and early 80’s but with modern minimalistic undertones. Instead of the record player also being the amplifier, it’s a complete separate with modern monitor style speakers. This is a nice blend of modern as it allows the speakers to be paired and positioned apart from the record player. The player itself could also be used with a different stereo, so you could technically split up the components if you wanted. While that may not be aesthetically pleasing, it might be worth doing.
The speakers themselves are handsome looking. The magnetic speaker grills are a nice touch, given that it removes the mounting holes of normal grills if you’re one that leaves the grills off. The woodgrain texture is pleasing, and the volume dial on the side feels good to use and the LED light ring on it doesn’t mar the look of the speakers. A press of the center button will swap inputs, which are announced (bluetooth, analog), and a long press will turn the system off. I got pairing mode enabled by swapping to bluetooth, turning off the unit, and then holding the button The speakers are composed of 2” tweeters and 4” woofers. The enclosures are sealed to improve accuracy and one speaker includes a plate amplifier with RCA, 3.5mm phono, and bluetooth inputs. There is a separate subwoofer RCA jack as well. The speakers are powered by a straight AC power cord, so no wall warts or ugly cables.
The record player similarly is powered by the same style cable. It includes a switch for playing 33 or 45 rpm records. There’s a 45 adapter if that’s your thing, but standard vinyl is probably what you’ll find on store shelves these days. The dial lights up similarly to the speakers and the record player is well engineered. The needle mechanism is well weighted and includes an adjustment weight that’s easy to balance. The release to float the needle to the record is smooth and gentle. The record won’t spin until you move the needle near the record and it will stop when you reach the inside of a record. Overall it’s simple, elegant, and appears to pick up well. I had to adjust the weight a bit to get the proper amount of balance on the needle, as it would produce some pops and skips when improperly adjusted. The needle would also start to get stuck in a groove, but most of this was my mal-adjustment of the counterbalance weight. The feet absorb vibrations well, and keep the record player’s needle in the groove.
It all comes together pretty well at the end. I played a bit of Miles Davis, and this music was smooth and pleasing, as if this set was made to play this sort of jazz. Moving to more modern titles, like Nora Jones, the genre worked well. Bass was accurate if a bit shallow. Highs weren’t harsh, but weren’t overly clear either. Part of this is the nature of vinyl though. Queen probably stressed out of the speakers the most, with a more dynamic punchy sound.
Switching over to a wider genre of music via bluetooth (I just have a small record collection), it’s obvious that we’re dealing with small woofers and mediocre sound quality. Victrola is a company that makes quite a bit of cheap retro kits, and while they shot for the stars here, it’s obvious that their speaker engineering is not living up to its price point. For $200 for the M1 monitors alone, they’re a complete disappointment. There are plenty of self powered speakers in the $100 range that blow these out of the water. Victrola doesn’t publish any detailed specs on the amplifier or speakers themselves, but the total power consumption is rated at 60W. Account for losses, at best we’re talking 20W speakers. Due to their sealed design, mids and lows are accurate, but understated. The rigidness of the enclosures helps, but the sound is just so so. I want to emphasize that it’s not bad by any means, but it’s not what I would expect when throwing $350 at a boutique audio problem. You’re better served by dedicated bluetooth speakers in this price range.
Switching over to a wider genre of music via bluetooth (I just have a small record collection), it’s obvious that we’re dealing with small woofers and mediocre sound quality. Victrola is a company that makes quite a bit of cheap retro kits, and while they shot for the stars here, it’s obvious that their speaker engineering is not living up to its price point. For $200 for the M1 monitors alone, they’re a complete disappointment. There are plenty of self powered speakers in the $100 range that blow these out of the water. Victrola doesn’t publish any detailed specs on the amplifier or speakers themselves, but the total power consumption is rated at 60W. Account for losses, at best we’re talking 20W speakers. Due to their sealed design, mids and lows are accurate, but understated. The rigidness of the enclosures helps, but the sound is just so so. I want to emphasize that it’s not bad by any means, but it’s not what I would expect when throwing $350 at a boutique audio problem. You’re better served by dedicated bluetooth speakers in this price range.
Victrola reached for the stars on this one and produced a very nice looking, and feeling product. The sounding part might be lacking for the price point. At MSRP, it’s a stretch, but find this on a decent sale, it does an amazing job with jazz and smooth music that doesn’t rely on heavier bass. Bluetooth is a nice touch, and the overall look and controls are on point. If the monitors had been class leading this would have been the perfect setup for a modern stereo that blends retro sound and modern capabilities.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Performance
4
Ease of Use
4
Features
2
Quality
4
Value
2
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With the Razer Huntsman Mini Analog, the highest level of control now competes on a different scale. Meet our first 60% gaming keyboard with Razer Analog Optical Switches—a compact, portable weapon that offers the finest degree of execution.
Customer Rating
5
A 60% that works extremely well!
on May 10, 2022
Posted by: aarondr
The Razer Huntsman Mini Analog is a mighty little 60% keyboard. 60% keyboards eschew all but the most necessary keys, hiding the more advanced functions behind Fn modifiers. These means 2 things: these are the smallest full sized key keyboards by far, and these require chords of keys to accomplish many normal functions that you might be used to. Is this keyboard for you? Are Razer’s analog switches any good? Read on!
Essentially Razer’s analogue keys feel like a mechanical “red” style switch. This suits their analog nature quite well. What exactly is an analog key switch? Well, it’s a switch that responds not with a simple on or off, but a range of activation. For instance, the Huntsman lets you set two distinct actions for various depths of a press, or even to bind the WASD quad to the left joystick on a controller (which works surprisingly well). This is a huge differentiator for Razer, as optical analog keys are still a pretty unique feature.
So in practice what does this 60% bring to the market vs others? Well, having owned a few 60% keyboards, I can tell you, I can’t get used to the Fn key’s location. I find 60% keyboards practically unusable because of it, as I use a lot of keys and combos in daily use. The allure of a 60% keyboard is the amount of desk space you can save, which is naturally ergonomic. Sure a TKL brings a lot of those benefits with very little compromise, there’s nothing smaller than a 60% keyboard. The ability to remap the Fn to another key is paramount to me for usability. The good news is you can remap the Fn key to caps lock, which is the perfect use of caps lock. You get a nice wide key, and it’s off hand of many of the functions (as most are associated on the right hand).
Speaking of, I love that the arrow keys are aligned with IJKL. Some other 60% I’ve had move them one key to the right and I find that awkward to align. Being able to hold caps lock and use the arrow keys from home row is so natural and quite easy for me. I’m a software engineer, so being able to use arrow keys + Alt to navigate by words is huge, and this keyboard aligns very well with that. PGUP/PGDN and Home/End are were things get a bit dicey (moving all the way to ] for Home), but the core keys are very accessible and I’m sure I’ll adjust quickly. It is surprising how fast you adjust to having most of your functions on home row - which is the beauty of a 60%.
Now, the keys, like stated before, are similar to mechanical Red in feel. The keycaps are PBT, which provides an excellent feel and durability. These won’t shine or look greasy in a month or two. Backlighting is superb - with per key control and layers. Honestly, I feel like it looks great in Razer Green, but obviously RGB per key is here.
Software to configure these features is surprisingly good. Razer Synapse was once kind of a joke, but it’s come a long way, and its ability to configure hardware is on par with other manufacturers. It no longer supports MacOS, so keep that in mind if you’re a Mac user. I have a KVM setup, and I can easily configure the keyboard in Windows, and have a majority of settings carry over. I like knowing that key assignments are hardware and not software based (for instance the Caps Lock assignment I talked about carried over perfectly) is comforting and shows the level of maturity Razer brings to the table these days.
So back to the real differentiator on this keyboard: Analog switches. Are they worth the premium? I think that’s a relative question. While you can emulate (very easily) the left hand joystick to the WASD cluster, keep in mind, this requires a soft touch. Overall the analog control is an interesting idea. I used it to play Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring, and I was surprised at how easy it was to modulate the keys. That said, it was an adjustment. In games like Flight Simulator, it does bring a degree of control you won’t get from a standard keyboard. This does beg the question, why not just buy a controller, because the keys aren’t quite as intuitive.
Finally, is it worth the extra cost over the Hunstman Mini non-analog? I think that’s up to you. The analog switches bring a very unique feel and unique capability. Having that option of both dual function and analog joystick is a nice to have. Overall the key feel and capabilities are unique. The execution of the keyboard is top notch, and I’m a huge fan of what Razer has done with this keyboard. Highly recommended.
Value
3
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The CORSAIR M65 RGB ULTRA WIRELESS Tunable Gaming Mouse boasts a durable aluminum frame and connects with sub-1ms SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS or low-latency Bluetooth®. Experience pinpoint accuracy powered by a 26,000 DPI MARKSMAN optical sensor and optical OMRON switches, while a six-axis gyro enables convenient tilt gestures for in-game actions. 2,000Hz Hyper-polling registers your actions up to 2x faster than other wireless mice. With customizable weight between 110g and 128g and CORSAIR QUICKSTRIKE buttons, all your movements and actions register with the utmost speed. Take control with iCUE software to program the M65 RGB ULTRA’s eight buttons, customize its dynamic RGB backlighting, and save your profiles to onboard storage to take on the go. With up to 120 hours of rechargeable battery life, the M65 RGB ULTRA WIRELESS makes all your clicks count.
Customer Rating
5
Amazing revision of a classic
on February 3, 2022
Posted by: aarondr
from Richmond VA
The M65 design has been a mainstay for Corsair’s mid-to-high end mouse for a long while now. The design is simple, and to the point. Well suited for FPS and RPG/RTS alike. This latest M65 RGB Ultra brings some of the best features of Corsair’s other high end mice, along with some very unique switches for the buttons to this excellent design.
If you’ve used any previous M65 this mouse will feel instantly familiar. I own a wired M65 RGB Pro from 4 or so years ago and the design is extremely similar. Compared to that mouse, the M65 Ultra has better button placement and textures. Overall it looks and feels the same, but more refined.
If you have any of Corsair's recent wireless mice, the experience is quite similar. The slipstream wireless dongle is small and capable. The mouse itself also pairs with bluetooth, making it easy to use it with your gaming PC and iPad. There is a small switch on the bottom to swap modes.
One of the more unique features of the mouse is the optical omron switches. These switches feel so nice and smooth. They differ from the normal clicking switch you find in other mice (most high end use omron). They use a beam of light to determine when the switch has been pressed. Having lost some great mice to bouncing (double clicking) switches, these seem like a boon. How they’ll last long term will be the real question.
Another unique feature I’ve not seen in previous M65 (or corsair mice in general) is gestures. The mouse can detect tilt and can trigger a key press or macro when tilted. I tried this in CS:GO to map a right tilt to “R” for reloading. I actually found that quite natural to use. I however did find that activating that profile and not setting it as a general profile is probably the way to go. Again iCue gives you tons of options here, but it was funny to type the letter R just by lifting and rotating the mouse.
Like all Corsair mice with RGB in the name, the M65 RGB Ultra has a single zone of lighting. I’m glad to see they didn’t overdo it here. Obviously it can be synced with the rest of your corsair accessories or disabled to increase battery life.
Speaking of battery life, so far I’ve been impressed. While this doesn’t offer the Qi wireless charging like some of Corsair’s mice (probably due to the aluminum frame), it seems to get great battery life. I haven’t had to worry about charging it yet and it still has over 75% battery life. It does come with a USB-C to A cable, and yet another device that can charge over USB-C - yay!
Unlike the M65 of yesteryear, the aluminum frame on this M65 is more of a natural aluminum color. I like this flair - and the toning down of some other plastic gamery flair. It honestly makes it feel more grown up. Beyond that, the scroll wheel and non-primary buttons feel good. I believe the primary buttons are the only optical switches, because the other buttons feel quite similar to the M65 wired I have.
The sensor is excellent. The Marksman 26k - which according to research is a rebranded Pixart 3393, is an amazing sensor. Corsair didn’t skimp on this mouse. This mouse is geared to be an FPS mouse, with its responsive sensor, well defined scroll wheel and sniper button (which changes the DPI to a higher setting on the fly by default). But obviously this makes a great all around mouse as well.
One feature that’s not unique, but is part of the M65 DNA is the adjustable weights. You can add or remove 3 weights to change the mouse’s overall weight. While the adjustment is only about 20 grams, you can feel the difference. Some people like more weight, but if you’re like me, the lighter the better. Still at 110g this isn’t the lightest mouse to start with - however I would assume most people would adjust well.
Overall there’s a lot to like about the M65 RGB Ultra. It’s a refined and upgraded version of an already excellent mouse. It feels great in the hand, and button placement is improved from earlier versions. Beyond that it combines an excellent sensor and what should be a very durable switch to keep this mouse gaming for years to come. I’m impressed and excited by this mouse.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5
Quality
5
Value
4
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Preserve little ears, muffle big noise. Protect your child’s hearing with our industry-leading noise reduction headphones. HearMuffs Wireless connects to phones and tablets while limiting maximum volume to preserve hearing. Designed for young ears, Hearmuffs have an adjustable headband and foam cushions for a snug fit. Whether it’s naptime or party time, your kids can safely have a good time!
Customer Rating
4
Good product for the price.
on February 1, 2022
Posted by: aarondr
from Richmond, VA
The Lucid Audio HearMuffs are an interesting product. They have a built in volume limiter, are suited for small to large heads, and have a bright color that pops for their target audience (kids). There's a lot of things to like here, but there are some misses too.
Overall the feel is all plastic. These are meant for kids, so it's hard to knock it for material, as plastics are durable, flexible, and handle drops better than many other materials. The construction isn't bad, as the head band must include some steel due to how it flexes, and is probably the most sturdy part. The plastic adjustments for head size give me pause; they're thin and probably are the weakest link in the design. I could see these splitting after a few months of heavy use, but who knows. The choice of material again at this price is probably correct. The memory foam in the headband is generous and comfortable. The earcups are a pretty hard vinyl but squishy enough for smaller heads. The headband can flex to allow even adult heads, but things get kind of tight at that point.
There are 3 pretty cheap feeling rubber buttons on the right earcup. They perform volume up, play/pause/on/off/pair, volume down. Below the buttons is a micro-usb connector - which while expected at this price, is disappointing (come on we're so close to USB-C only world!). Audio prompts describe what is happening (power on, pairing, power off) and in a kid voice even.
The noise isolation is mediocre at best. These aren't cancelling, and they certainly don't offer that much isolation given the ear pads material and minimal padding. They do dampen the outside world, but no more than most over the ear headphones. They are made of non-toxic material... at least I'm going to take their word at that, as consuming headphones isn't usually on my review. My 6 year old son is past eating headphones, so we're just going to trust that claim. As far as wearing these to sleep in... perhaps for some very still sleepers, but if I were you: get a sound machine and play some white noise if you have a light sleeper. That is less problematic, and more comfortable than trying to sleep in headphones.
The bluetooth pairing worked great, and I was able to pair to a Windows computer and my son's iPad. The volume limiting on the PC was interesting, as it would hard stop at 73 (out of 100). You could manually increase the volume on PC, but using the controller on the headphones would reset the max volume to 73 which I thought was interesting. Obviously the electronics in this with a micro-usb and simple buttons are pretty commodity setups. Sound is passable, but nothing to write home about. Bass is flat, and highs are muted - however nothing is harsh - which is important for kids headphones.
Overall for the price, these aren't a bad option. There are cheaper headphones, but despite my initial worry about long term durability for the price they seem solid enough. Making an affordable pair of kids headphones is not the easiest thing in the world to do. I hope these hold up, because my son does really like them (and red is his favorite color).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing G303 Shroud Edition—the remaster of our iconic mouse. Featuring LIGHTSPEED, it delivers ultra-low latency and reliable performance. Helping Shroud and you take aim. With HERO 25K Sensor, Shroud’s G303 is built for precision and speed, without sacrificing energy. G303 Shroud Edition weighs 75 grams, made for low-sensitivity DPI and faster aiming. Designed in collaboration with Shroud, the new G303 perfectly matches his specs and includes our latest pro-grade technology.
Customer Rating
5
G303 shape with G Pro features
on December 15, 2021
Posted by: aarondr
from Richmond, VA
The Logitech G303 Wireless Shroud is a mouse that’s molded to the hand of a person you probably haven’t met. This mouse’s namesake is a famous Counter Strike player who was involved in tuning this ‘classic’ mouse design. I put quotes, as still the G303 and it’s predecessor the G302 are 2015 and newer mice, back when we were all pining for the G9. Classic is in the eye of the beholder, and if you were a fan of the shape of the G302 or G303, you’ll find the G303 Shroud instantly familiar. Angles are sharper, some parts are slightly larger, but overall it’s quite similar. That said, it is an acquired taste, so regardless of the specs, try this mouse out before buying if you can.
Now onto specs. The G303 Shroud brings USB-C (YES!), Logitech's Lightspeed wireless tech, dedicated forward/back/DPI buttons on top of the standard 3 buttons, Logitech’s flexible HERO sensor, a nice little drawer for the receiver to live in when you’re on the move, and no RGB! (ok preferences abound, but in a performance wireless mouse, I’d prefer the battery life over RGB I won’t see) Couple all those features with a super light 75g weight, this mouse is definitely geared to a high end audience.
The mouse is semi-ambidextrous when ignoring the back/forward buttons due to it’s mostly symmetric design. The presence of a dedicated DPI button is welcome over what’s found on similar mice. While there’s something to be said about a simplified layout, I think the G303 strikes a good balance of providing the standard 5 buttons and the dedicated switching button. As previously mentioned, the back of the mouse has a small drawer for the receiver to live in when you’re on the go.
Inside the box is a pretty standard USB-A to C cable that plugs into the mouse. Also a receiver adapter that allows you to keep the cable around for charging and simply plug in the receiver when you’re using it wirelessly. The lightspeed receiver is a USB-A plug, so the adapter unfortunately needs a USB-A port natively. I’d love to see a USB-C adapter as more laptops move to USB-C only plugs.
If you’re familiar with the sensor, the HERO 25k is a beast. Tracking is accurate and it works well on most mousing surfaces. Overall the customizability of this sensor (DPI settings from 100-25k), and a consistent lift off distance make it suitable for FPS, RTS, or pretty much any mousing need. The sensor and processor are also pretty energy efficient, offering plenty of battery life. Logitech claims 70h, and that’s about accurate.
There are no lights or other superfluous features. What you will find are two very slick pads on the bottom of the mouse. The sensor position is more or less in the center and about in line with my clutch grip. I do find that this mouse’s angles are a bit on the over exaggerated side. Logitech’s G Pro series is probably more comfortable for a clutcher like me, but to each their own. I found the side buttons to be accessible, but out of the way for clutch grip, which isn’t always the case on the G Pro.
Where this mouse stands out is it’s design and feel. Compared to more traditional shaped mice, it has pros and cons. It boils down to personal preference, and at this price, be sure you like it. The G Pro is an excellent alternative that is more familiar for most mice users. The G303 wireless brings all its features and focus on weight reduction with the G302 design. It’s hard not to recommend Logitech’s excellent mice, and the G303 is no exception. From a mid-range humble unit, to this tech’ed up wireless model, the G30x series are great mice.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This Element 27" FHD 1080P LED Frameless Monitor provides simple connectivity to get straight to work. Whether you're adding to your current work from home set-up or purchasing a new monitor to stay in touch with loved ones, this full HD monitor will do the trick. This Element monitor offers a 1080P, full high-definition screen for a clear, vivid picture. Whether you're watching videos, video chatting, or playing basic games you'll find this full HD monitor provides a crisp viewing experience. Element's frameless monitor screens enable your monitor to blend in with your decor for a clean aesthetic. The thin bezel allows for a full-screen experience. Expand your view and get more done by adding a second or third monitor to your office set-up with easy HDMI and VGA connectivity. *No built-in speakers
Customer Rating
3
Basic panel with frustrating features.
on December 11, 2021
Posted by: aarondr
from Richmond, VA
The Element 27” class frameless monitor, technically named the EM2FPAB27B, is an entry level 27” 1080p monitor boasting an IPS panel and 75Hz refresh rate. For 2021, the monitor is about as inspired as its name, suffering from a low DPI, poor cable management, poor controls, screen door effect, washed out blacks, and just ok colors for IPS. However, at its budget price is it worth living with?
The first thing you’ll notice is that this monitor is definitely thin. The box itself is quite thin, and yet the panel is quite protected. Inside the box you’ll find a two part powder coated cast aluminum stand. It’s heavy and wide enough to keep the monitor stable, and connects to the monitor with 4 screws and gives 20 degrees of tilt. The base connects with a single screw, so unlike some of the upper level competition, you’ll need to bring a screwdriver to set up this monitor. Further, there is a 100x100 VESA mount found on the lower half of the monitor which is a plus at this price point. Bringing your own stand could be quite helpful given the limited adjustability of the included one.
Once set up, the panel sports both HDMI and VGA inputs. You’d be forgiven if you were born in the past 15 years if you didn’t know what VGA was. The lack of an included VGA cable won’t help its use. Ostensibly years ago the VGA and HDMI combo could be justified for a PC and game console to share a monitor. Of course if you have a recent vintage computer, it most likely doesn’t have a VGA output. Analogue video is so 90’s, but I suppose it’s better than a sharp stick in the eye. Dual HDMI really should be standard these days. The only other port on this monitor is for DC power input. Yes, the thinness of the design doesn’t afford an internal DC converter, so you’ll be stuck with a barrel jack and arbitrarily short power cord with a brick on the other end. This may be a concern to you if you’re looking at VESA mounting. Furthermore the cables plug in less than an inch from the bottom of the monitor, facing straight down. While normally straight down is an excellent way to hide connectors, here the cables themselves are directly visible below the monitor. Even the DC barrel jack sticks out below the monitor making clean cable management impossible. There is a small plastic clip that helps with cable management, but it’s position and height are inconsequential to the actual issues: cables are front and center sticking out of the bottom of the display.
There is no audio processing over HDMI here, so you can’t hook speakers up to the monitor. It’s just as well given the single HDMI port. The rest of the physical design is pretty basic. The frameless design is simple but handsome, with only a very small chin at the bottom. Bezel's are under a centimeter (0.9cm). A 5 way switch sits behind the right side that toggles the menu. Small red grills flank the VESA mounting holes and a stylized Element logo appear to give this monitor a very slight ‘gaming’ edge.
Speaking of the 5 way switch, it’s obvious whoever designed this monitor adapted it from flat buttons. While the switch is a common design, most un-intuitively pushing the center button toggles power, and pushing right does absolutely nothing. Pushing down starts to adjust the aspect ratio forcibly, and up will adjust brightness. Finally pushing left will open the menu, but god help you if you think following the direction of the on screen menu with the dial will work, in fact it is the opposite. Bring the menu up and pressing right to dig into a menu will close the entire menu. You need to keep hitting left to drop into a menu and up and down to adjust values. Right backs out of a menu. This is the WORST setup ever because it goes against the general usage of the 5 way button setup on every other monitor I’ve ever owned. It’s really just a small annoyance with this monitor, but definitely a symptom of the overall issue with this monitor.
So on to the actual display. In a word ‘basic’ comes to mind. This isn’t entirely all bad, as budget panels that are ‘good enough’ make perfect productivity monitors or even entry level gaming monitors depending on the genre. In fact, while a basic IPS, setting the monitor’s overdrive setting to ‘Weak’ produced relatively good motion handling at 75Hz. Very little inverse ghosting was present and ghosting was minimal. The default setting of ‘Medium’ produces some inverse ghosting I found distracting. Overall colors were fine, if a bit muted for IPS. sRGB color preset hits the gamma spot on, while “User” defaults to a decent 2.2 gamma. Viewing angles are ‘meh’ for IPS, with some shifting present in as little as 30 degrees. Colors and gradients are what they are - as this is an 8-bit monitor with SDR. Still on the plus side, text is clear, sub-pixel arrangement seems standard RGB, so no weird artifacts. Output in both Windows and MacOS were clear and pleasing. Sitting at least 2.5ft away meant that any screen door effect or other negative effects from the DPI weren’t as noticeable. Closer, and the DPI really starts to become a problem. One thing I liked about this monitor a lot was the uniformity of grays, perceived brightness, low IPS backlight bleed. Also if the monitor uses PWM for brightness control, it isn’t noticeable.
If you’re using this in an office environment, I’d suggest moving to QHD at 27” to get the most out of your investment. Still as an entry level gaming panel, extra small conference room display, or other tertiary concern, this isn’t a bad panel. Good color reproduction, and uniformity are highlights for me. 75Hz does make a difference in smoothing, but don’t think it makes it a gaming monitor. Sadly there is no freesync or other VRR technology here. Overall it’s a worthwhile display that is frustrating to use and sports a middling physical design. It’s attractive, but little details like cable management, and control layout really make it a compromise to live with.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Soundcore Frames can change the way you view sound. Using Bluetooth, you can listen to music/take calls-all from your sunglasses. With interchangeable frames, polarized lens, and IPX4 rating, Soundcore frames are the perfect surround-sound glasses for your life.
Customer Rating
5
Pleasantly surprised how amazing they are
on November 21, 2021
Posted by: aarondr
from Richmond, VA
Anker’s SoundCore Frames are part fashion statement, part Bluetooth audio, and part unabashed gadget. When I first saw them, and first started to use them, I was somewhat dubious of their value. But after a while, I fell in love with them. So what precipitated my amorous relationship with these secret agent level gadgets; read on!
I’ll start by saying the box they come in is quite stylish. You open it up to be presented with the frames and stems in separate boxes. The idea here is that you can separate the style from the device - and even switch out frames as it suits you. This is important, because my personal favorite use case is indoor use. Luckily Anker sells blue light blocking lenses for $50 more that you can swap out as necessary. You can build your own setup on Anker’s website - and buy additional frames. Also in the package is the charging cable, which uses magnets and two contacts on each frame for charging. It’s an excellent setup and makes it easy to top off. Besides that you’ll also find a handle little case with a magnetic clasp.
You connect the stems to the frame by simply pushing them in place. Instructions are clear that you need to place the SoundCore logos facing outwards. A little bit of charging later and you’ll be able to pair them. They automatically enter pairing mode, and pair just like any Bluetooth accessory. Each stem has 2 speakers and the right stem has 2 microphones. The speakers are positioned fore and aft of your earlobe with the front ones being the main contributors to audio. The Frames sport IPX4 water resistance, which should make them work for everything but the pool. They’re also made from a nice type of plastic called TR90, which is popular in eyewear. Obviously Anker did their homework here.
Once you get them connected, definitely download the SoundCore app, as it’ll help you update the firmware, turn on optimized audio options, and calibrate them to you. Especially interesting is the OpenSurround setting, which adds quite a bit of depth. I found the ‘3’ setting to be about right, as too much higher felt fake (it goes to7). The equalizer is also a good setting to tweak, as the SoundCore Signature is a good starting point, but I actually used the bass booster - which is unusual for my tastes, but it helps compensate for the lack thereof. One cool feature is that music will pause automatically if you take them off.
Now, as with any pair of headphones, I like to give a thought to audio quality. The SoundCore Frames are unique, in that they offer 0 noise isolation of any kind. These are literally speakers draped around your earlobe, so there are pros and cons. From a pure audio quality standpoint, even in quiet rooms, background noise can interfere with quality. Also, because the speaker elements are both small and away from your eardrum, the longer wavelengths (bass) dissipate before they hit your eardrums. That isn’t to say the bass isn’t present, in fact with bass boost they balance out ok for me. Most will find them lacking, but I’m satisfied for most genres with bass boost equalizer. Some bass frequencies are absolute trash though, so keep that in mind if you listen to bass heavy titles. Other sounds are quite satisfying. Mids/treble are clear and soft. There is a warmth and natural feeling being small speakers outside your ear canal. You can miss details but they aren’t fatiguing, which I find with the AirPods. If you want amazing fidelity go with open air headphones - same principle, but a much larger speaker suspended away from your head aimed directly at your ear. The Frames are a compromise that is quite unique and offer some of the same advantages. Volume is limited. Some environments these headphones will be next to unusable. Luckily, at their top volume they won’t damage hearing but they put up a good fight in noisy environments. Downside: at top volume the sound leakage is pretty bad. You’ll definitely want to adjust the volume down in quiet environments to avoid disturbing your coworkers.
One huge pro for me: I can be aware of my surroundings, so at work these are awesome. I don’t have to wear some silly headset or deal with the awkwardness of airpods in and out all day. I wore them during a few WebEx meetings for fun and giggles - but honestly it was a great way to do meetings. I did a few phone calls outside walking, and had excellent feedback on my audio quality. Wind noise was muted much better than other headphones I’ve used. Here the Frames shined, and here is their true value: a Bluetooth headset for those that don’t want earbuds or over the head headphones. It hit me having a conversation with my dad while waiting to pick up my daughter from school - these are really dang cool. Here I am talking to my dad and I don’t have an annoying earbud in, or holding my phone to my head, I’m just talking. When you are on a call they enter privacy mode automatically, although I don’t know if that was true with WebEx, but definitely for phone calls directly.
Battery life is about as stated - which is only 5.5h. This isn’t horrible, but definitely might leave you wanting an additional charging cable just in case. I’ve worn these glasses all day (and I have a relatively large head) well past the battery dying, and they have been super comfortable. Again props to Anker having properly designed glasses when making a sunglass wearable. The included Wanderer frames are oversized classic wayfarer style made of the same TR90 plastic. The lenses are polarized, so YMMV on their utility. I for one don’t have much love for polarized lenses due to the effects on different screen treatments. I have the blue light blockers on the way, which are the same wayfarer style, but slimmer and not sunglasses (and obviously aren’t polarized).
While I started to wear these with hesitation and to some degree I almost took these as a joke I am flabbergasted at their utility. I have kids, and the fact that I can enjoy soft music, fully interact with them when needed and hear my surroundings is great. Forget ‘transparency mode’ of other headphones/earbuds, these deliver a good enough experience for music, and a great experience for calls that are they worth trying. You can have the soundtrack to your life without disturbing others. They won’t replace your noise cancelling headphones on a plane or when dealing with a noisy environment, but in daily life they are actually pretty sleek. I highly recommend trying these - they have caveats, but also an amazing change in wearable technology. I can’t wait for my blue light blockers.
Mobile Submission: False
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Open two screens and discover limitless possibilities for apps, email, meetings, and calls that never leaves your side. Now with lightning-fast 5G,³ optimized audio in every mode, and new dynamic triple lens camera to capture, edit, and share moments. More than a phone, new dual-screen experiences for Microsoft 365 await, plus Xbox gaming, streaming, and every Android™ app in the Google Play store.¹
Customer Rating
4
Promising updates, fast, and useful
on November 19, 2021
Posted by: aarondr
from Richmond, VA
Dual screen phones are nothing new. In fact I had a flip phone with an outside facing color OLED screen in 2005. Of course that phone was nowhere near the current generation of dual screen phones out today. Microsoft comes offering their second generation dual screen device, the Surface Duo 2. Microsoft’s hardware division is definitely proud and capable in their designs, and the Surface Duo 2 is no exception to their prowess. However, it’s still the early days, and much like that flip phone, there are pain points to using a dual screen.
First of all, for $1600, the 256GB Surface Duo 2 gives you quite a bit of space in a pricey device. The 128GB is only $100 cheaper, but overall the same hardware. Inside the box you’ll find nary an additional accessory - only just a simple USB-C charging cable. It’s somewhat disappointing that the surface slim pen isn’t included out of the box. N-trig pens should work with this device, but only the Surface Slim pen is designed to attach magnetically and strongly enough for day to day use. Besides the cable, you have some quick guides and that’s about it.
However, the device is the star of the show here. For the price tag, you get a very unique form factor and device experience. Here you must weigh if it works for you. The convenience we’re used to with candy bar style slabs of glass is not present here. Muscle memory many of us have developed over the years is not applicable with this phone. In fact, taking the time to open up the device to check notifications, or even just google something quickly is easily doubled or tripled.
That isn’t to say the device isn’t a pleasure to use. It feels like a small notebook in the hand size wise. Materials feel top notch, and the glacier color hides fingerprints well. The iconic Surface Windows logo is handsome and the camera bump is mostly out of the way. Each slab is impossibly thin, making the total device thickness only slightly thicker than a current generation iPhone. The hinges are metal, and solid. The device itself is easy enough to open, but won’t ever accidentally come open. The device closes with a satisfying soft slap feeling. Folding the screen open all the way creates an 8.3” total screen size. Folding over the screen will default to using the right display, but you can quickly double tap the left screen to swap to it instead.
Enrolling my right index finger print during setup was easy and the fingerprint reader, which is located in the power button, has been absolutely flawless. It’s more reliable than my previous Android experience, the now antiquated Nexus 6p. The only other button on the device is the volume rocker. One nice trick is that the power button when double pressed will perform different actions: if the device is closed it turns on the flashlight, if open it turns on the camera. On the right slab you’ll find all the buttons and the USB-C port on the bottom. On the left slab you’ll find the nano SIM slot. The camera bump is large, holding 3 lens elements and it is angled slightly so that the screen when completely flipped over will be flush and stable.
When the device is open in dual screen mode, the largest advantage it has is that it allows basically dual app usage. While you can easily span almost any app across both screens, there is a gap between the screens where you’ll lose somewhere around 20-30 pixels. This means in videos, text, or other apps, you’ll be losing content. Now some apps (first and third party that MS obviously worked with) do a great job using both screens. For instance, the Kindle app is amazing, allowing you to treat the Duo 2 like a book. Xbox game pass is actually another great example, allowing you to orient the device at a different angle and use one screen as a controller and the other as the game display. Outlook smartly uses the left screen to list email, and the right screen for the reading pane. Not every app handles the dual screen very well. For instance, using a browser means that a gap between screens ruins the ability to read a webpage or even potentially miss click targets. You can’t use edge or chrome to open two different web pages one on each screen - basically you have to use edge on one screen and chrome on the other to have 2 web pages open.
Managing apps is very gesture based, with multitasking, screen management, and other needs being covered by grabbing an app bar and pulling it to the middle. Here you can release to manage multitasking, or continue to drag to either the other screen or between screens to go spanning across both displays. The back button is handled by side swiping from left to right. I found some app (especially those with contextual back buttons) would not recognize this gesture. You can enable soft back buttons in settings, so some users may want to do this. Other than that, most android users will find themselves at home here. There is a distinct Microsoft flavor here, but they haven’t strayed far from the successful Android UI.
The glance bar, which is basically formed by the curved glass (which is a feature allowing the screens to be so close) on the inner edges. This tiny bit of display can be used to see notifications, but only those which are allowed by MS. For now that is time, missed calls, SMS message notifications, and in the case of charging, battery charge. Really this is a difficult display to make out the content being displayed. I’m dubious on the glance bar’s usefulness - especially with the waning importance of SMS in a message client filled world.
The camera quality is passable, but easily outpaced by much cheaper phones. Photos have relatively natural colors, but in low light things get slightly dicey. Night mode does ok, but low light tends to get quite ‘warm’. Daylight photos are ok, but there is evidence of over sharpening, which at first can make the photo look clearer. Once blown up to a proper size, the photo sharpening effects are obvious and annoying/distorting. This is more evident in low light photos though.
The hardware in this phone is top notice. The Snapdragon 888 coupled with 8GB of RAM is no joke. Apps installed lightning fast, launched fast, and I felt nary a lag. Geekbench 5 gave me 1101 single core, and 3356 multicore. The larger battery compared to its predecessor probably helps balance out battery life, but the large OLED displays do seem to suck battery quickly. The battery seemed to last me all day, but most days I ended with less than 20% battery depending on my screen time. I didn’t use NFC payments, but that is a feature that did make it into this generation. Disappointingly there is no wireless charging. Interestingly the USB-C port worked flawlessly with my USB-C dock, giving me an external display, keyboard, mouse, and SD card reader. You could really use this phone for work.
And at the end of the day, that’s really what these dual screen phones are good at: work. You can use two apps at once, or apps optimized for both screens. Watch a live stock ticker while you’re in your day trading app, or keep youtube open and playing while you take notes. It’s definitely a productivity device, and as more people use their mobile devices for all their needs it’s a helpful transition to have two screens.
The ugly here is that Android still is buggier than its Cupertino cousin. That’s just as true here on a device pushing Android’s capabilities. While it ships with Android 11, there are a lot of enhancements coming for dual screen devices in 12 that promise to fix many of these issues. I found many times I could easily confuse the credential manager app, and gray out my entire app accidentally with no way to use it. There were instances where apps never finished setting up and other strange behavior. The core device is solid, but bugs do abound.
In many ways the Surface Duo 2 still feels like it's finding itself. There is a definite awesomeness to using this device. The screen real estate, form factor, and flexibility it brings give you a lot to work with. The same strength is also its biggest weakness - it’s a chore to use. I would almost say getting an android wear device would be a necessity to avoid having to check notifications by flipping open a literal book sized device. If you can live with this reality, it’s a pretty interesting package. The price makes it a bit of a tough sell, especially with limited phone protection (both cases available and lack of waterproofness). If you’re a Surface fan, then definitely take a look, but there is definitely a feeling that this device would have been more interesting with Windows on it. The software will continue to improve, and I’m sure we’ll see even more refined behavior and devices in the future.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Rewire the rules with the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma—a sleek, customizable hub that ushers in a new era of connectivity for your ideal setup. Packed with 10 ports, lightning-fast data transfer rates, and dual 4K or single 8K video output, you’ll always be primed to make the right connections.
Customer Rating
5
Amazing Support, great dock, and
on November 15, 2021
Posted by: aarondr
from Richmond, VA
The Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma is Razer’s entrance into the brave new world of Thunderbolt 4. Unlike Thunderbolt 3, whose almost entire existence was defined by Apple (and their collaboration with Intel), Thunderbolt 4 is starting to gain a wider adoption across computing. Razer’s dock combines essential ports, a card reader, 90w of power delivery and lighting into a solid aluminum package.
Unboxing the device reveals both a slender 135w power brick, and a just as slim Thunderbolt 4 dock. The dock is sheathed in aluminum, with a slew of ports exposed on the rear and a few on the front. On the rear, you’ll find 3 USB-A ports, 3 Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports (USB-C), gigabit Ethernet, and the barrel jack for power. On the front there is the Thunderbolt 4 upstream, 3.5mm combo headphone/microphone jack, and a SD card slot.
Setup is as easy as plugging in power, the Thunderbolt upstream and any accessories you want to use. One positive is that the included Thunderbolt cable is 2.5ft, which while short is longer than some I’ve seen. Once connected, I did have a blue screen of death on my Windows 10 laptop, but a reboot fixed it. Unlike my previous Thunderbolt 3 dock, I don’t get a bitlocker recovery screen when I boot up with it connected. After the initial boot, the Razer Synapse software was automatically prompted to be installed. The only real reason to install it (at this point) is for lighting control, which does have plenty of effects, and synchronizes to other Razer accessories.
I replaced my Thunderbolt 3 dock, and other than needing to swap out a DisplayPort cable to a USB-C to DisplayPort, the connections were the same. My keyboard, mouse, and other accessories worked immediately. Power delivery immediately worked and charged my laptop. My monitor is an HDR compatible 120Hz super ultra wide (5120x1440), and worked flawlessly. I connected my 4K as well, and it worked just as well.
Since Thunderbolt is more ubiquitous now, I was able to try several devices with this dock. Specifically the 2018 rMBP 15.6”, worked without any issues. In fact, my monitor seemed limited with the previous Thunderbolt 3 dock and my Mac, but worked with proper refresh rate and resolution. Finally, I tested my M1 iPad Pro. This also worked flawlessly, with keyboard, mouse, and monitor operating correctly, even with HDR support.
Even more surprising, the dock itself seems to be compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2 as well. I was able to hook up both a Surface Duo 2, and a Samsung Galaxy S6 tablet and use my keyboard/mouse/monitor successfully. Samsung’s tablet launched Dex and had dual screens going on while also being able to read the SD card. Previous Thunderbolt docks I’ve used have zero compatibility with USB-C devices, so this was a welcome surprise and adds to the flexibility of the dock.
So Razer has a device that has broad compatibility, strong power delivery, great port selection, great build quality, and RGB. Only one of those features seems superfluous, but really Razer has created a great package here. At the asking price, it is a bit premium, but if you’re all in on Razer accessories, or just want a jet black dock, Razer’s offering is quite compelling. Again, seeing a device support so many devices, with so many accessories is compelling, and finally giving us the promise that USB-C brought. Highly recommended!
Mobile Submission: False
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Extend your PC’s RGB lighting with the CORSAIR iCUE LT100 Smart Lighting Towers Starter Kit, part of the iCUE Smart Lighting Ecosystem. 92 RGB LEDs light up your room with ambient lighting that dynamically integrates with your games and media for a truly immersive experience. Cycle through 11 lighting profiles out of the box with push-button control or connect to CORSAIR iCUE software to synchronize your RGB lighting effects across all compatible CORSAIR devices in your system and all external iCUE Smart Lighting devices. The Starter Kit includes two lighting towers with 46 customizable LEDs each, housed in light-diffusing casing that softens and blends light. With an included removable headset holder, LT100 Smart Lighting Towers add convenient, versatile, and stunning RGB lighting to any setup.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent iCUE enabled ambient lighting
on October 31, 2021
Posted by: aarondr
from Richmond, VA
Corsair has long been known for not only quality components, but seriously embracing the RGB movement in PC gaming hardware. You can basically get almost any accessory they make with ARGB lights. Investments in Corsair lighting can be expensive, but overall they work extraordinarily well, and the ecosystem means you can really build a cohesive setup. Enter the new iCUE LT100 lights, which add towers of RGB to your desk (or really anywhere). They don’t just follow your programs in iCUE, they bring some unique features that actually are more than just aesthetics.
First of all, inside the box you’ll find 2 towers, bases, power supply, USB cable, and an interconnect cable for the towers. One of the bases is the controller, including the USB port, and power supply connector. It doesn’t matter which side you orient, as you can adjust left and right in the iCUE software. I started using iCUE 3, and everything worked as you would expect. I upgraded to the iCUE 4 series to see if there were any other unique features. Overall, either experience is good from a software standpoint.
Setup is easy enough. Each tower clicks into the base and is reversible. It’s a nice design, and it’s easy to work with. It’s interesting to see Micro-USB instead of USB-C in a new accessory from Corsair, but perhaps these were in the design hopper for a while. The interconnect cable is a tad on the short side. I use the full length to be able to position as ambient lighting with my 49” super ultrawide monitor. There is a hardware lighting button that allows you to swap effects and turn off the lights. I couldn’t get this button to work, but honestly, I have the towers pointed towards my wall and behind my monitor, so this wasn’t a big deal for me.
The towers themselves have 46 LEDs, and the base has a solid light that is also independently addressable. Each light can be set to a different color in iCUE by selecting them with your mouse. Obviously lighting effects can sync with the rest of your setup, but being able to layer and independently adjust lights is an added bonus. Rainbow wave unicorn vomit may be the default, but you’ll want to use some of the more advanced ambient features with these.
The towers themselves are well suited for ambient lighting at night. One of my favorite features is the ambient video lighting, where colors from the screen are sampled and reproduced on the towers. This is one of the big reasons I wanted these towers, as with a super ultrawide monitor, it adds even further immersion. Having ambient light match on screen in my peripheral vision is a great effect, and the towers are about the same height as a 27” monitor (or in my case a 49” super ultrawide). I also appreciate the audio visualizer when I’m just chilling with music. These effects are responsive and gorgeous in practice.
The LT100 set is a definite addition to anyone with an existing iCUE setup, or if you are simply looking to add ambient lighting to your setup. My current rig only has Corsair RGB memory, and the ambient capabilities of the towers is exactly what I was looking for. If you’re deep into the Corsair product stack, it’s definitely a no brainer.
Mobile Submission: False
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aarondr's Review Comments
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Tablet: The new Surface Pro 3 is in a category of its own. With a stunning 12" display in a sleek magnesium frame, Surface Pro 3 has all the power and performance of a laptop in an incredibly lightweight, versatile form. It may just be the ultimate device.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5STILL NO NATIVE MKV PLAYBACK???
By worknstiff
from NC
Why can't surface pro 3 play mkv's? I really wanted to like the Surface Pro 2 and now especially the new Surface Pro 3's bigger screen and higher resolution. I like that it is a laptop replacement and also can be used as a tablet, but without native MKV support I can't see it replacing my Samsung tablet anytime soon. What a shame that you have all this computing power and still can't watch HD video's on this excellent HD screen. Why is Microsoft so adverse to making this the "PERFECT" multimedia consumption device, especially since all the lower price tablets (using MX Pro Video Player) seem to handle 1080p mkv's with DTS audio and subtitles just fine. I guess Microsoft doesn't want my money, SIGH.
aarondr
Richmond, VA
Uh...
July 8, 2014
MKV is a container format. VLC or other apps can play those natively (just download from the marketplace). You can also install codec packs that will bring support to windows media player. Any Windows machine can do it, but for legal reasons they don't include the codecs. Android gets away with it since it's GPL2 to start with (meaning all the open source codecs that are GPL2 can be included without infringing on FSF license. MS on the other hand would have to open source all of windows to distribute GPL based codecs).
+4points
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This NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 4GB GDDR5 graphics card features multiple NVIDIA technologies, including CUDA and G-Sync, that ensure lush, realistic gaming visuals. NVIDIA SHIELD and GameStream allow you to stream portable and PC games.
Overall
2 out of 5
2 out of 5good gpu but false info. spec.
By kojisan
from nevada
i originally bought this card because of the 4GB memory and future 4k display usage but after having this for a month. the performance is very good, low wattage, low fan noise, led custom and heavy on weight. over all, i don't see a 4GB usage on this gpu in the future and nvidia gave a real spec. of a gpu memory of a 195GBPs on 3.5 and 20GBPS on 0.5 memory.
my setup is
-amd fx 6100
-samsung SSD 120
-wd 250 HDD
-2x wd 2TB HDD
-gtx 970
-seasonic 520W
my setup is
-amd fx 6100
-samsung SSD 120
-wd 250 HDD
-2x wd 2TB HDD
-gtx 970
-seasonic 520W
aarondr
Richmond, VA
February 5, 2015
I agree that the specs sent to reviewers were false. I'd even agree that Nvidia knew about this probably since the first public reviews went out (if I'm an engineer, I'm reading reviews of my work - and noticing the incorrect specs - hopefully sounding the alarm). But to be fair, the specs (save arguably the memory bandwidth) are accurate on the product page and always have been. The fewer ROPs, smaller L2 cache, and segmented memory all suck compared to the press reviews, but there's nothing on the product box or product page that's false here.
-1point
0of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Power your home theater with this Insignia™ NS-SB515 2.1-channel soundbar, which features Bluetooth technology for easy wireless streaming. The 6.5" subwoofer produces quality low-end sound to enhance your favorite films.
Overall2 out of 5
2 out of 5Good Sound, Poor Execution for the Price
By aarondr
from Richmond, VA
* Packaging
Unlike many sound bars, the box is actually a rectangular cuboid. The packaging is secure and quite nice. Everything is wrapped in standard plastic and the larger items in a foam padding. The package itself was surprisingly light considering its size. Expect this to arrive in great shape if you are having this shipped.
Unlike many sound bars, the box is actually a rectangular cuboid. The packaging is secure and quite nice. Everything is wrapped in standard plastic and the larger items in a foam padding. The package itself was surprisingly light considering its size. Expect this to arrive in great shape if you are having this shipped.
* Setup
Setup was really easy. Just plug all the included cables in the holes that fit and you’re pretty much done. The subwoofer paired automatically and the included RCA cables will get most people running in no time. A RCA to 3.5mm phono adapter adds the ability to plug in your phone or tablet directly to the RCA inputs, which is a handy addition. No optical cable was provided even though this unit features it, so that's a negative in my book.
Setup was really easy. Just plug all the included cables in the holes that fit and you’re pretty much done. The subwoofer paired automatically and the included RCA cables will get most people running in no time. A RCA to 3.5mm phono adapter adds the ability to plug in your phone or tablet directly to the RCA inputs, which is a handy addition. No optical cable was provided even though this unit features it, so that's a negative in my book.
* Build Quality
The main devices (bar and subwoofer) are not regular cuboid shapes, but rather both are tapered and the soundbar is chamfered on the front ends. For the sound bar, the exterior is a matte plastic with glossy plastic ends and a rubberish material over the buttons found on the left side. The speaker grill is covered in standard cloth, and is removable (see pictures in the video). The stereo speakers are acoustically suspended and seem to be made of paper with foam surrounds and shiny plastic dust covers. They measure in at 5.75” x 1.25” in size and are rectangular in shape. In the middle is a multi-function LED and IR receiver eye.
The main devices (bar and subwoofer) are not regular cuboid shapes, but rather both are tapered and the soundbar is chamfered on the front ends. For the sound bar, the exterior is a matte plastic with glossy plastic ends and a rubberish material over the buttons found on the left side. The speaker grill is covered in standard cloth, and is removable (see pictures in the video). The stereo speakers are acoustically suspended and seem to be made of paper with foam surrounds and shiny plastic dust covers. They measure in at 5.75” x 1.25” in size and are rectangular in shape. In the middle is a multi-function LED and IR receiver eye.
The subwoofer is also made of plastic of the matte texture variety. The back of the device has an amplifier section made of steel with no adjustments to be made, just an LED light and pair button in case it gets disconnected from the soundbar. A 120v power cord is the only protruding item. On the bottom can be found a 6.5” ported subwoofer. While 6.5” is on the small size for a subwoofer, the driver appears to be made from quality materials. A rubber surround and relatively tough cone material are used, which is good considering there is no protection for the driver. There are four feet on the bottom which provide separation from the floor and allow the subwoofer’s port to breath. The feet here are similar in texture to the soundbar only thicker, helping to isolate the subwoofer and prevent unwanted vibrations. Removing the driver reveals a decently sized magnet and room for excursion. Inside the cabinet a short board of MDF appears to be bracing the enclosure. This design touch may be to prevent plastic rattling common to plastic enclosure subwoofers. The sub unit weighs in at 8lb 2.5oz, and I’d say subjectively that more than half that weight is the driver itself.
* Sound
The soundbar itself is rated at a total power output of 15W a channel and the subwoofer at 30W. As far as estimates go, I’d say they are pretty close to reality. 60W total power @ 1%THD doesn’t sound like a lot, but it does the job and can get loud enough to start to become uncomfortable. I was easily able to hit 90dB at 8ft distance with minimal distortion. Don’t let the numbers fool you, this soundbar can get loud enough for smaller spaces.
The soundbar itself is rated at a total power output of 15W a channel and the subwoofer at 30W. As far as estimates go, I’d say they are pretty close to reality. 60W total power @ 1%THD doesn’t sound like a lot, but it does the job and can get loud enough to start to become uncomfortable. I was easily able to hit 90dB at 8ft distance with minimal distortion. Don’t let the numbers fool you, this soundbar can get loud enough for smaller spaces.
On the remote there are 3 equalizer settings (DSP). The 'Standard' setting, while implying a flat curve, appears to be V shaped as the bass seems over exaggerated. Theater adds a bit of reverb and attempts to create a 3 dimensional soundstage which it accomplishes to a varying degree. The sound in this mode tends to sound like it’s in a tunnel, so personally I’m not a fan. News flattens out the bass and pushes the mids up. I don’t watch a lot of news, but it does emphasize dialog at the expense of other sounds so it might be the way to go for some usage scenarios.
For movies and TV the soundbar does admirably, producing clear vocals and adding quite a bit more depth to the sound than built in TV speakers. It compared favorably to my trusty old HTIB setup for dialog and normal TV/Movie viewing. The subwoofer does get a bit boomy at higher volumes, but generally does a good job considering its size. Again placement is the key. Putting it in a corner significantly increased the perceived output, and placing it near the front of the room caused it to blend naturally with the sound.
* Inputs
The soundbar supports both RCA audio and optical audio. While it supports digital audio through optical connection, it seems a token feature at best. It’s limited to uncompressed PCM 2 channel audio (making it an obvious setup issue born out by the 2 different reminder stickers on the soundbar and no less than 6 reminders in the manual). That said, you may still want to opt to use the RCA inputs for 2 reasons: there is no optical cable in the box, and many TVs can vary the volume of the RCA outputs using the TV volume (for example the Vizio M502b1) which may be more convenient. In back to back comparisons, the Optical input sounded ‘brighter’, but that might just be my TV and the soundbar’s DACs differing.
The soundbar supports both RCA audio and optical audio. While it supports digital audio through optical connection, it seems a token feature at best. It’s limited to uncompressed PCM 2 channel audio (making it an obvious setup issue born out by the 2 different reminder stickers on the soundbar and no less than 6 reminders in the manual). That said, you may still want to opt to use the RCA inputs for 2 reasons: there is no optical cable in the box, and many TVs can vary the volume of the RCA outputs using the TV volume (for example the Vizio M502b1) which may be more convenient. In back to back comparisons, the Optical input sounded ‘brighter’, but that might just be my TV and the soundbar’s DACs differing.
The device supports A2DP bluetooth audio, and the fidelity is of decent quality. I had one or two dropouts when the device was not line of site, but generally it kept a good connection up to the designated 10m distance. Pairing is easy, as the device shows up as ‘NS-SB515 Soundbar’ (heaven help you if you have two of these soundbars). The device ‘remembers’ 8 paired devices and connects to the last previously connected device in range. Connections must be forcibly disconnected to be able to switch devices. If your iPad was the last device connected, and you switch to bluetooth it will connect to it automatically, even though it is sitting on the shelf charging and you really wanted to use your phone. The solution is to get the iPad and disconnect or turn off bluetooth. So much for wireless convenience.
* Remote and other thoughts
The remote is a credit card style with buttons nearly as thick as the remote itself. The larger buttons aren’t stabilized very well and thus don’t pick up every press consistently. Their overall thickness makes it more awkward than most. The use of a CR2025 button cell is startling. While thinner, they are more expensive, harder to come by, and put out much less power than standard AAA batteries. This bears out in usage, as the remote is hit or miss from 9’, which is a byproduct of the poor IR transmitter and button activation.
The remote is a credit card style with buttons nearly as thick as the remote itself. The larger buttons aren’t stabilized very well and thus don’t pick up every press consistently. Their overall thickness makes it more awkward than most. The use of a CR2025 button cell is startling. While thinner, they are more expensive, harder to come by, and put out much less power than standard AAA batteries. This bears out in usage, as the remote is hit or miss from 9’, which is a byproduct of the poor IR transmitter and button activation.
Call me picky, but the remote has about 7 too many buttons on it and adds yet another IR remote to the living room stack. Subwoofer volume is separately adjustable, and each DSP and input is available at one button press. While this is nice, the primary functionality of the remote will be to turn on/off and change the overall volume. Since this device has only an RGB indicator LED the remote must have these extra buttons to make everything ‘directly’ accessible. Not sure if it’s on Optical Audio input? “Press the button just to make sure”. Is the sub all the way up? “Don’t know push the up button 10 times just to make sure.” The volume keys are conveniently placed on the left side and thus easily used by a right hander. However, oftentimes I would find the sound bar missing my button presses or conversely detecting one press as two and step the volume up 2 steps. If you integrate this into your entertainment center and you don’t already have a universal remote, you’ll most likely want to invest in one to simplify things.
On the positive side, ambient power usage is really quite under control. My power meter read a pretty steady 4 watts idle on the soundbar and less than a half a watt on the subwoofer while idle. This means leaving this on all the time is an option (again, I’m trying to outsource remote control to the TV).
The LED is multi-function using all three of its primary colors. Solid red indicates the device is in standby mode. Press the power button, and it turns green for exactly 10 seconds before turning off. Press any function button or source button other than bluetooth and the led will flicker red indicating it is receiving the command. Press the bluetooth button the LED will flash blue until it connects and then it turns solid. Everything here is basic, but functional. That is until my unit developed an issue with its LED. About 36 hours after initially plugging it in, with most of its time on standby, the red LED ceased to function and the green LED stuck in an on state regaradless if the unit is on or off. At this point the LED ceased to function as an indicator, and became more of an annoyance. I contacted Insignia support and was promised an answer within 48 hours. I did hear back in about 8 hours with a very polite reply. One advantage of the Insignia brand is that since they are exclusive to Best Buy their warranty service is handled through Best Buy’s geek squad, so you have real human beings to work with. Again, I don’t want to be too harsh here, because bad units exist in every level of manufacturing, and hopefully my review unit was the exception, not the rule.
* Conclusion
At this MSRP I feel as though Insignia doesn’t have much to offer. On a sale around half that MSRP, it might be worth it for a secondary TV room, dorm, or smaller living room. It will beat built-in speakers on most flat panels any day, offering quite a bit more bass and depth, and great flexibility in installation and placement. For normal TV listening this is definitely an upgrade but for the price other manufacturers offer more all around and the potential inconveniences of the design prevent this from getting my recommendation.
At this MSRP I feel as though Insignia doesn’t have much to offer. On a sale around half that MSRP, it might be worth it for a secondary TV room, dorm, or smaller living room. It will beat built-in speakers on most flat panels any day, offering quite a bit more bass and depth, and great flexibility in installation and placement. For normal TV listening this is definitely an upgrade but for the price other manufacturers offer more all around and the potential inconveniences of the design prevent this from getting my recommendation.
aarondr
Richmond, VA
Full Review Here
November 20, 2015
I had to abbreviate my review to fit into the length requirements of Best Buy's review platform. Here is the full unabridged: http://aaronromine.tumblr.com/post/133564337421/bb-tech-insider-network-and-the-ns-sb515
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Choose this Sony television with Android TV for an immersive audio and video experience. Its 4K Processor X1 brings stunning Ultra HD to your home so you can enjoy crystal-clear images in spectacular color. Every frame is automatically upgraded to 4K quality by this Sony television with Android TV, complete with automatic contrast adjustment for lifelike detail.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5AWESOME TV
By Greg
This TV is awesome, 4K 120GHZ REFRESH RATE. Have connected my XBOX ONE as well as my iMac 5K and it performs awesome. Smart TV includes netflix, youtube, and many other apps. EXTREMELY THIN!!! very worth the price! LOVE IT.
DEFINETELY RECOMMEND
aarondr
Richmond, VA
August 3, 2016
The refresh rate of this model is 60Hz not 120GHz (that's like crazy high, I think you mean 120Hz). Just like the native 120Hz TVs they market as XR960.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Enjoy a compact tablet that fits neatly in your pocket with this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet. It includes a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM that deliver powerful processing to play all your games and apps, and the 16GB of flash memory ensure this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet and store your files.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Solid Tablets for the Price
By aarondr
from Richmond, VA
I received a 8" for my review for TIN, so my review is reflective more of the 8" device than the 10", however I did get a chance to play with the 10" in store for a bit, so I'll keep the review kind of high level. Essentially the device is a great google tablet. You get the play store, some junk icons on the homepage, but the cruft is kept to a minimum. So if you're experience is nexus devices, you'll feel at home at this device. You can even debloat it for the most part. The screen is lower resolution than some tablets in the past, but it's acceptable and gives the tablet's CPU/GPU a bit of wiggle room. Even with only 1GB of ram on the 8" model, I did not experience any slow downs in everyday browsing. Be certain you are not buying a premium device here - that said it's build quality is excellent, and I'd put it a notch above Amazon devices when it comes to overall software experience. I really enjoyed my 8" and I'm certain the 10" with it's larger RAM and Storage would be a great edition for those entrenched in Google's ecosystem.
aarondr
Richmond, VA
October 10, 2016
Yes, since it runs lollipop - that feature is out of the box w/ Android
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Enjoy immersive sound with these Bluetooth Sony EXTRA BASS over-ear headphones. The presets let you choose between arena, club, hall and outdoor stage sound, and the noise-canceling technology lets you block out the world while you listen to tunes. Listen wirelessly for up to 18 hours with these Sony EXTRA BASS over-ear headphones.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Incredible bass, but don't forget the mids & highs
By lambda100
The Sony MDR-XB950B1 is the latest update to the company's Extra Bass headphones replacing the original MDR-XB950BT headphones. The XB950B1 looks nearly identical to the original XB950BT and both weigh the same. (I happen to also own the XB950BT). The left ear cup has the power button, micro usb power connection, audio cord input, microphone, and the bass button which on the current generation is re-labeled as “bass effect” to highlight the ability for the user to adjust the bass settings on a scale of -10 to +10 using Sony's Headphones Connect app. The right ear cup has the volume control +/- button and the skip forward/reverse, play/pause/answer phone button.
The MDR-XB950B1 is an over-the-ear headphone with very thick, soft, and comfortable earpads. I wear eyeglasses and the headphones do not press my frames unduly against my ears. I was able to wear the headphones for hours without discomfort. The metal headband is also well padded and did not feel heavy over my head. The headphones appear to have very good build quality and stretches well to accommodate various head sizes.
Now onto why you're really here... my thoughts on the highly subjective sound quality. These headphones by their very nature, were tuned by the Sony audio engineers to not only emphasize the bass at their default settings right out of the box, but to kick it up a notch to knock you senseless when it's turned up. Audiophiles will hate the sound signature for its total irreverence for how the song was meant to be heard in the studio. Those who own the original XB950BT will recall the nearly identical sound signature which is deep bass with some mids, and muffled highs which don't seem to break through. However, I noticed in my testing of the XB950B1 that the vocals/mids were a little cleaner and that some of the highs did come through ever so slightly better.
As I mentioned above, the way they are tuned from the factory, these headphones are not for the user who demands balance in the audio experience. They were clearly aimed at those who enjoy bass and a lot of it. Those who are seeking the well balanced sound spectrum with crisp highs and mids will be disappointed at first pass with these headphones, until they use an equalizer app to fine tune the higher end frequencies to bring out the highs which these headphones are very capable of and will reward you for doing so. I admit that I was initially dismayed by the lack of clear mids and clean trebles, but I started adjusting the equalizers and virtualizations that brought these headphones to life. Sony also acknowledges that some of us want more punchy bass and others want less by introducing the Sony Headphones Connect app which is available for free download from the Google or Apple app stores to allow users to adjust the level of bass to suit their musical tastes. The ability to adjust the bass from -10 to +10 is a welcome feature, and is the primary distinguishing feature between this second generation XB950B1 and the original XB950BT which only had a “bass boost” that went from extra bass to an insane amount of bass with no settings in between. Now that Sony has included the bass adjustment as an app, it should appease those on either side of the bass spectrum. The +10 bass setting will make the bass sound silly crazy out of this world, and the -10 setting will mellow the bass out a bit and bring you back down to earth. Additionally, the Headphone Connect app also allows users to select presets for outdoor stage, club, hall, or arena-style sound settings. I tried the different presets. They sounded okay, but I prefer to make my adjustments on a third party equalizer app.
Here are some other things to take note of. I really wished Sony included a case to store the headphones. The headphones are bulky and the earcups only turn so that the headphones lay flat. Sony should have also designed the earcups to be foldable (like for the MDR-XB950N1) so that they can be easier to store and transport. The battery life is very good, lasting 18 hrs, which is the same as the original XB950BT. This latest iteration (XB950B1) of the headphones does not suffer from the faint, but audible rumbling/hissing noise that can be heard at low volumes that was found in the first generation XB950BT. This is a great improvement as I found the hissing noise be to very annoying. Finally, these are neither noise canceling headphones nor noise isolating. Don't let the thick padded ear cushions fool you into believing that they will eliminate any ambient noise. With no music playing, you will still hear your surrounding, albeit a little bit muffled.
So in summary, for those looking to upgrade from the original XB950BT to the current XB950B1, the only real change is the freedom to make adjustments the bass via the Sony Headphone Connect app. The sound is very similar between the two. For those those who love bass, these headphones are for you! For those who are seeking their first purchase in the Sony Extra Bass line up, the XB950B1 is a superb choice since the bluetooth connection allows you to lose the wires and the app allows easy adjustment to the bass. And finally for those who are wary that the sound signature is too heavily tuned toward the low end frequencies will be reassured to know that the highs and mids will come through with proper tuning with an equalizer app. I highly recommend these headphones!
aarondr
Richmond, VA
March 30, 2017
I really enjoyed your review, and had many of the same points. I still can't believe that setting the app to -10 actually makes these headphones sound more 'normal'. I'll try adjusting the equalizer a bit as you suggest. Thanks!
+3points
3of 3voted this comment as helpful.
aarondr's Questions
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This Element 27" FHD 1080P LED Frameless Monitor provides simple connectivity to get straight to work. Whether you're adding to your current work from home set-up or purchasing a new monitor to stay in touch with loved ones, this full HD monitor will do the trick. This Element monitor offers a 1080P, full high-definition screen for a clear, vivid picture. Whether you're watching videos, video chatting, or playing basic games you'll find this full HD monitor provides a crisp viewing experience. Element's frameless monitor screens enable your monitor to blend in with your decor for a clean aesthetic. The thin bezel allows for a full-screen experience. Expand your view and get more done by adding a second or third monitor to your office set-up with easy HDMI and VGA connectivity. *No built-in speakers
does it have a camera
Wow... I wish more monitors did, but sadly since the death of the Apple Thunderbolt display, camera's in monitors are are rarity. Definitely not in this monitor.
2 years, 4 months ago
by
aarondr
This Element 27" FHD 1080P LED Frameless Monitor provides simple connectivity to get straight to work. Whether you're adding to your current work from home set-up or purchasing a new monitor to stay in touch with loved ones, this full HD monitor will do the trick. This Element monitor offers a 1080P, full high-definition screen for a clear, vivid picture. Whether you're watching videos, video chatting, or playing basic games you'll find this full HD monitor provides a crisp viewing experience. Element's frameless monitor screens enable your monitor to blend in with your decor for a clean aesthetic. The thin bezel allows for a full-screen experience. Expand your view and get more done by adding a second or third monitor to your office set-up with easy HDMI and VGA connectivity. *No built-in speakers
What kind of ports are on this monitor?
VGA and HDMI one of each. Disappointing really. Give me dual HDMI with 3.5mm headphone jack out or death!
2 years, 4 months ago
by
aarondr
This Element 27" FHD 1080P LED Frameless Monitor provides simple connectivity to get straight to work. Whether you're adding to your current work from home set-up or purchasing a new monitor to stay in touch with loved ones, this full HD monitor will do the trick. This Element monitor offers a 1080P, full high-definition screen for a clear, vivid picture. Whether you're watching videos, video chatting, or playing basic games you'll find this full HD monitor provides a crisp viewing experience. Element's frameless monitor screens enable your monitor to blend in with your decor for a clean aesthetic. The thin bezel allows for a full-screen experience. Expand your view and get more done by adding a second or third monitor to your office set-up with easy HDMI and VGA connectivity. *No built-in speakers
What is the desktop resolution and refresh rate?
1920x1080@75Hz. You may need to push it to 75Hz in windows advanced display settings, but it works with no frame skipping
2 years, 4 months ago
by
aarondr
This Element 27" FHD 1080P LED Frameless Monitor provides simple connectivity to get straight to work. Whether you're adding to your current work from home set-up or purchasing a new monitor to stay in touch with loved ones, this full HD monitor will do the trick. This Element monitor offers a 1080P, full high-definition screen for a clear, vivid picture. Whether you're watching videos, video chatting, or playing basic games you'll find this full HD monitor provides a crisp viewing experience. Element's frameless monitor screens enable your monitor to blend in with your decor for a clean aesthetic. The thin bezel allows for a full-screen experience. Expand your view and get more done by adding a second or third monitor to your office set-up with easy HDMI and VGA connectivity. *No built-in speakers
Does it come with a built in speakers?
Negative. No speaker or sound output (like a headphone jack)
2 years, 4 months ago
by
aarondr
Soundcore Frames can change the way you view sound. Using Bluetooth, you can listen to music/take calls-all from your sunglasses. With interchangeable frames, polarized lens, and IPX4 rating, Soundcore frames are the perfect surround-sound glasses for your life.
Hello do you halve to charge both arms or just 1. Or is the frame the battery. And so there 4 you would charge the frame.
The arms are basically each separate ‘true wireless’ earbuds - each with their own battery. You charge both arms with the included magnetic charger which connects to both while they are folded in towards the frame. The frames themselves are just style, and thus relatively cheap (you can buy separate frames from Anker for $50).
2 years, 5 months ago
by
aarondr
Soundcore Frames can change the way you view sound. Using Bluetooth, you can listen to music/take calls-all from your sunglasses. With interchangeable frames, polarized lens, and IPX4 rating, Soundcore frames are the perfect surround-sound glasses for your life.
Are these frames polarized?
Definitely. I know this because I cannot see my work computer screen at all unless I tilt my head. Why am I trying to wear sunglasses to look at a monitor? Cause these make you that cool.
2 years, 5 months ago
by
aarondr
Open two screens and discover limitless possibilities for apps, email, meetings, and calls that never leaves your side. Now with lightning-fast 5G,³ optimized audio in every mode, and new dynamic triple lens camera to capture, edit, and share moments. More than a phone, new dual-screen experiences for Microsoft 365 await, plus Xbox gaming, streaming, and every Android™ app in the Google Play store.¹
can you make or take phone calls without having to open the giant screen? can you do ANYTHING without opening the screen all the way? it looks like you cant do a thing without it being completely open..seems crazy, especially with small hands
Yeah, you need to open it to do anything useful. You can use hands free to answer calls, etc. I'd recommend a Wear OS device (smart watch) to bridge the gap as this phone isn't super fast to check notifications or a quick photo/post. Its definitely got a focus on productivity when the screens are open, which is cool, but it makes it less than practical for most use cases. You really have to want this dual screen form factor. Past that it's immensely useful.
You can use the phone as a very very very expensive flashlight without opening it by double tapping the power button. So you can so SOMETHING without opening the screen :-). Maybe not that useful, but it's something right? haha
You can use the phone as a very very very expensive flashlight without opening it by double tapping the power button. So you can so SOMETHING without opening the screen :-). Maybe not that useful, but it's something right? haha
2 years, 5 months ago
by
aarondr
An elegant, all-weather streaming sound system that blends in with the natural landscape of outdoor spaces. Six satellite speakers and one in-ground subwoofer provide precision performance and even, balanced coverage, allowing for optimal music enjoyment that seemingly emanates from the surrounding landscape.
Is the Mag 4.1 and 6.1 identical in every respect except the 2 extra speakers? I.e. Is the amp identical? Are the speakers identical except for quantity? Is the subwoofer identical?
I believe every thing is identical except the MAG 4.1 has a XPRESS Audio Keypad, which is a $70 part. I'd rather have the 6 speakers personally given the price, but to each their own.
3 years, 1 month ago
by
aarondr
The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is a cordless handheld vacuum designed for powerful suction. It comes with a motorized self-cleaning Pet Power Brush that eliminates hair wrap, a lithium-ion battery, CleanTouch dirt ejector, and more, at only 2.8 lbs.
would this have the suction power to work well on a computer keyboard? some vacuums don't have the power to get deep into the keyboard. Thanks
Dust on keyboards is tricky. Suction - this would do fine. But channeling that suction and getting the appropriate ‘scrubbing’ bristles to get it moving is the challenge. The scrubbing attachment found here is pretty short - so if we’re talking about a laptop keyboard, maybe. Otherwise I’d recommend looking at something with the appropriate nozzle sizes. There are a lot of cheap options on amazon, but also Shark has sold attachment sets for its other standard upright vacuums in the past with hoses, and detail nozzles/brushes. Unfortunately those won’t work with this nozzle design, but if you have another shark vacuum search for “Shark Micro vacuum accessory kit” and you should be able to find a kit that will give you a small hose and detail brushes.
3 years, 9 months ago
by
aarondr
The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is a cordless handheld vacuum designed for powerful suction. It comes with a motorized self-cleaning Pet Power Brush that eliminates hair wrap, a lithium-ion battery, CleanTouch dirt ejector, and more, at only 2.8 lbs.