RedScorpion's stats
- Review count170
- Helpfulness votes1,523
- First reviewJune 21, 2012
- Last reviewMay 10, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.5
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- Answer count14
- Helpfulness votes42
- First answerMay 13, 2016
- Last answerSeptember 30, 2020
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- Best answers5
Rechargeable 3 Arm Adjustable 162 LED light. 2850mah Li-ion Battery. Provides up to 16 hours of continuous use. 162LEDs, 5 brightness settings & 3 color temperature modes. Includes magnetic wireless remote (works up to 30ft).
Posted by: RedScorpion
from Oklahoma City, OK
The Digipower Trimate video call vlogging light has been my gateway into a world of video lighting. It’s convenient, portable, bright, and has a long-lasting battery. The Trimate’s ease of use and portability makes it great for vlogging or video conferencing. It’s an easy recommendation provided you’re okay with a few finicky features. Also, I highly recommend a tripod for stability. I should say upfront that I received the Trimate for the purposes of providing a fair and unbiased review.
Included with the kit, you get the charging cable, the magnetic remote, and the light unit. I found that the device did not want to charge correctly unless I used the included USB-A to USB-C cable. Not sure why that is, but I wouldn’t recommend losing the cable.
The light is surprisingly customizable. With 162 LED lights, the Trimate gets very bright. For me, it was almost too bright on most settings. You’ll have to play around and find the settings that work best for you and your filming area, but by default it was too bright and would wash me out. I used it primarily as a key light, but you could probably easily use it for filler or backlighting.
Unfortunately, settings don’t save between power on and off. Every time I turned the Trimate on, I had to re-click through the various settings to get back to the setting I liked. The light really needs a good tripod so you can get the right height. It obviously works without a tripod, but a solid tripod really does wonders for stability and helping to achieve the right effect. I like the remote, but it's small. Not all the features can be controlled without the remote. So, make sure you don't lose that magnetic remote.
Battery life has been good. It took a few hours to fully charge, but I left it running for four hours on the default setting and it was still running when I came back. It doesn’t get particularly hot or warm.
In conclusion, I feel like this light is nice for vloggers and folks needing more illumination during video conferencing. The controls and the need to click through all the settings each time I turn it on are a bit annoying, but it’s functional. The whole thing works and it functions well enough for me to easily recommend it.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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ASUS ROG Gaming Laptop. Enjoy everyday gaming with this ASUS notebook PC. The 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM let you run graphics-heavy games smoothly, while the potent NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics produce high-quality visuals on the new fast 16-inch 144hz WUXGA display. This ASUS notebook PC has 512GB SSD that shortens load times and offers ample storage.
Customer Rating
3
A Frustrating Gaming Laptop
on August 7, 2021
Posted by: RedScorpion
from Oklahoma City, OK
I should say upfront that I received the ASUS - ROG 16" WUXGA 144Hz Gaming Laptop for the purposes of providing honest feedback and an unbiased review. I want to like this computer. It plays some games better than my current gaming desktop computer. But some games don't play well at all. And then, there are the bugs. I probably spent more time over the past month squashing bugs through updates and tweaks than I have gaming. When it's working great, I love this laptop. But when it isn't working, I am pretty frustrated with the machine. Right now, I am more frustrated.
The good: I like the build. I like the keyboard. I like the fast refresh rate of the display. I really like having a thunderbolt 4 port and WiFi6 built in. The trackpad is huge. The computer isn't a fingerprint magnet.
For gaming, this machine is a mixed bag. It has a solid i7 processor, but the 3050Ti with just 4GB of RAM struggles a bit. Some games like "Red Dead Redemption 2" and "Apex Legends" would average around 70FPS with nearly every setting cranked. I found that really impressive. But, some games like "Control" would barely play at all. And that performance on "Red Dead Redemption 2" came with a lot of graphical glitches that I am struggling to fix. The takeaway was that if the game was optimized for NVIDIA, it would probably run well. If it was optimized for AMD, all bets were off.
As a gaming computer, the machine isn't terribly practical. With a 500GB hard drive, you can only have one or two games loaded at any given time. The laptop gets hot and it gets loud. I ended up purchasing a riser with built in fans to keep the laptop cooler. The riser helps. Without it, the machine was getting too hot to touch.
Us gamers like our gaming headsets and this laptop makes gaming headphones a buggy experience. I have multiple USB headsets and the included Intel Smart Sound USB driver would mess them all up. On my Logitech headphones, I couldn't change lighting or surround sound settings. On my Corsair headphones, I couldn't set spatial audio. The only solution was to go into device manager and uninstall and delete drivers for the Intel USB device. Although, on reboot, I would have to run the process all over again. If you use 3.5MM headphones or Bluetooth headphones, this probably won't be a concern.
That bug was annoying. Then there was the audio popping over speakers when the laptop was on battery mode. That required a realtek driver update from within the "My Asus App". Then there was the windows key that did not work. That bug required an update from "Armory". Then other updates would run through Windows Updates. There have been a lot of updates over the course of the last five weeks and for every bug squashed, another seemed to take its place.
Armory could be annoying with various pop-ups. Built-in lighting software was a mixed bag. It also could be finicky and of course it isn't compatible with non-Asus hardware.
The laptop was advertised as VR ready. If you have an Oculus Rift or Quest 2, you should know that VR will not work for you. Oculus software will detect your machine does not meet the requirements. I thought that could just be a glitch with Oculus, but I forced performance mode within the applicable Oculus apps and I could get some VR apps to run, but they didn't run well. They were glitchy and stuttery.
The machine comes with some updates and features that I found impressive. For one it has a Thunderbolt 4 port. You could, in theory, hook this laptop up to an external graphics enclosure like the ones from Razer. That and hard drive and memory upgrades could keep this laptop working and gaming well into the future. I believe it comes with an extra NVME slot for additional storage.
The laptop has a thumbprint reader, but it only worked half the time. I had to rescan my thumb print several times and it never got any better.
But right now, it's a frustrating mess. I want to love this laptop and I have times where I do, but then I have times where I just want to throw it out the window. I see a lot of promise in this computer. But man has it been frustrating. If I told a friend or relative to buy this computer, I would be providing tech support 24/7. I can't recommend anyone go through that. It's possible this laptop will improve with updates. It's changed a lot just in the last month. But in its current state, I can't recommend this laptop.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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The WD_Black SN750 NVMe SSD delivers top-tier performance for gaming and hardware enthusiasts who are looking to build or upgrade their PC. This SSD rivals some of the best performing drives on the market to help give gamers that competitive edge. An integrated heatsink feature helps push consistent sustained performance. Read and write speeds of 3,470MB/s and 3,000MB/s enable fast loading of large applications. The SSD has an M.2 2280 form factor for minimal footprint in complex systems.
Customer Rating
5
Fast, Stable, and Compatible
on July 28, 2021
Posted by: RedScorpion
from Oklahoma City, OK
I should say upfront that I received the WD Black SN750 Solid State Drive w/ Heatsink for the purposes of providing an honest and unbiased review. I'll try to keep it honest, but my bias shows as I like this drive so much I now have three of them. It's great. It's stable. It's fast. It keeps cool. And, importantly for me, it runs on nearly every desktop computer I put it in. As such, I obviously recommend it. I've never gotten a bad one or had one fail. It will speed up your computer immensely. Startup times and game load times will decrease a lot.
Your mileage may vary, but I find that the heatsink does help cool down the SN750. It's hard to get a straight comparison, but it is consistently cooler. Now, whether or not that temperature difference truly matters in the long run, I can't say, but it does run cooler under load. What's more, in prebuilt machines by Lenovo and other manufacturers, I often find that there isn't much internal cooling. As such, the added heatsink really helps regulate the drive and minimize my fears of overheat. For me, the drive tended to sit at around 38C on idle. It got a bit hotter during game load, but it isn't near as hot as some of my other drives.
I mentioned compatibility. I put this drive in an AMD Ryzen based Lenovo desktop. As a way of upgrading that machine, this drive did wonders. It was out of the box compatible with the Lenovo computer. Now, I don't get the full 4 lanes on that AMD machine, but it's much faster than what had been in there before. On my newer machines, it runs great. I've included read right times in the photos.
For my machines, installation involved making sure there was an NVME slot on the motherboard. Because this drive comes with heatsinks, it won't be compatible with any motherboard heatsinks that may have come with your board. The heatsink doesn't come off the SN750 and I wouldn't try to pry it off.
I guess it goes without saying that the heatsink means this drive is relegated to desktops. I doubt most laptops would have the space for it.
Western Digital has their Western Digital Dashboard. It gives device stats, but could be more user friendly and useful. As is, it provides decent snapshots of temperature and drive health, but that's it. There's a game mode, but I couldn't tell that it did much. I downloaded Acronis True Image to clone an existing drive onto the SN750. You can get that software for free from Western Digital's website.
Installation took a matter of minutes. Because every computer manufacturer is different, there is no mounting screw included with the kit. My gaming desktop came with the screw built-in and my Lenovo system used a proprietary mounting bracket and clip.
Not sure what else I can really say about this drive. I really like this drive. I recommend Western Digital to my friends and family. I've been building computers with Western Digital drives for nearly 30 years. With or without heatsink, the SN750 is a solid drive. Even as PCIe Gen 4 drives begin rolling out, the SN750 remains a great value for the price.
5/5 Recommend
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The Ninja CREAMi transforms frozen solid bases into ice cream, sorbets, milkshakes, and more at the touch of a button. From healthy to indulgent, the Ninja CREAMi can create frozen treats as unique as you are!
Customer Rating
4
Fun Frozen Treats. One Pint at a Time
on July 18, 2021
Posted by: RedScorpion
from Oklahoma City, OK
I should say up front that I received the Ninja CREAMi for the purposes of providing a fair and unbiased review. And, I must say, I love reviewing items by Ninja. I always eat well when a Ninja product comes into the kitchen. For the past week and a half, I have had ice cream, sorbets, and a few milk shakes. The Ninja CREAMi is a fun way to make ice cream and frozen deserts at home. However, instructions can be a bit contradictory, and the device doesn’t always behave as you would expect. Limitations with the design meant frozen bits of fruit or undissolved bits of cocoa got stuck to the sides or the bottoms of the pints. My milkshakes were an outright disaster.
However, despite any setbacks, I still had a lot of fun with the CREAMi. Most of the deserts tasted great. For those reasons, I am recommending the Ninja CREAMi.
However, despite any setbacks, I still had a lot of fun with the CREAMi. Most of the deserts tasted great. For those reasons, I am recommending the Ninja CREAMi.
SETUP: The Ninja CREAMi comes with three pints and lids, the base unit, a creamerizer paddle, and an outer bowl and lid. Detailed instructions are hard to come by at the moment, but the quick start and recipe guide do a good job explaining set up. All the components except for the base are top shelf dishwasher safe.
EXECUTION: I started with a pint of the vanilla ice cream from the recipe guide and a mango sorbet. Both recipes were easy enough to execute. The sorbet was just placing canned fruit into the pint and topping with juice until you reached the predesignated fill line. Most recipes require the pint and their contents be frozen for 24 hours. You then remove the lid from the pint, lock the pint into the outer bowl and lid, place bowl onto the base, twist to raise the bowl up, and then select which frozen desert you want to make on the device.
I made up a few pints of vanilla and let them sit in the freezer. They still tasted great a few days after processing. It seemed most recipes could keep for up to two weeks in a freezer.
This device is loud. It sounds like you are running a blender or a garbage disposal. If you have any sensitive neighbors or pets, probably best to not run the CREAMi too late at night. When making ice cream, your ice cream may come out looking crumbly. If that is the case, you simply place the bowl back on the stand and select re-spin from the front panel.
This device is loud. It sounds like you are running a blender or a garbage disposal. If you have any sensitive neighbors or pets, probably best to not run the CREAMi too late at night. When making ice cream, your ice cream may come out looking crumbly. If that is the case, you simply place the bowl back on the stand and select re-spin from the front panel.
Over the course of the last week, I have made chocolate ice cream, plain vanilla ice cream, chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, strawberry ice cream, mango sorbet, mandarin orange sorbet, and two milk shakes. Most of those recipes came out well. I have another pint of vanilla freezing in the fridge right now. I followed the instructions that came with the device for each recipe because everything felt like it had to be extremely specific for risk of damaging the machine. Ninja warns against using pints that froze at an angle. They warn against using certain ingredients unless they are properly frozen in advance.
With rules against using unlevel pints, I found myself a bit surprised by the milk shake recipe which just uses store bought ice cream and milk. When I tried making milkshakes, the paddle would catch the ice cream at an angle and spin the CREAMi around on the cabinet. It made a mess. I am sure Ninja would just say my freezer is too cold, the ice cream was too hard, and that’s why the milkshake feature didn’t work very well. And that might be. But even if the milkshake feature had worked better, it still did not make very much.
In fact, that is probably one of my biggest complaints with this setup. It is great to be able to make your own pint of ice cream, but it’s just a pint. It was perfect for two or three people, but if you have a family of four or five, you best be ready to make several pints.
The other design flaw is that the paddle does not fully reach the sides of the pints. That makes sense as the paddle would then be scraping up the pint. But the result was, I had hard, icy mango pieces that froze to the side of the container. The outer sides of the sorbet were not near as creamy as the center.
Ninja has a promotion in the quick start guide offering a free pint container as a condition for registering the CREAMi online. A lot of the QR codes and offers were not quite live at the time of my testing, but I look forward to picking up more pints and trying my hand at more treats in the future. Individual pint containers sell on Ninja’s website for $14.95 a piece or $19.99 for two. You can also buy replacements for all the components from Ninja’s website.
SUGGESTIONS: If you want to make Strawberry, be sure to slice up and freeze some strawberry pieces to incorporate as mix-ins later. Also, if you make chocolate, I suggest straining out the mixture as you pour it into the pint. You know how you can have undissolved cocoa when you try to make hot cocoa? Well, that can happen with the chocolate ice cream recipe as well.
CONCLUSION: it is not a perfect execution, but I still really like the CREAMi. I probably would not use the CREAMi to make another milkshake when I have a perfectly good blender, but the pints of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate all tasted good. I wish the device had done a better job fully incorporating the edges of the pints, but as it is, I thought everything I made tasted good. The vanilla with chocolate chips and cookie dough tastes amazing. It is nice to be able to make ice cream and frozen deserts knowing full well what is going into it. Making sorbet is a simple and healthy way to make up a frozen desert. I am looking forward to trying out the gelato.
I recommend the CREAMi. I have had a lot of fun with it. Just make sure you are aware of the limitations of the device going into it.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Circadian Optics is a maker of bright light therapy lamps that mimic daylight. Our designer lamps allow you to get the light you need, right at your desk. Lumos is our slimmest lamp, measuring just 2 1/4" wide. Eminently adjustable, 3 hinges and a rotating light panel give this lamp excellent flexibility, allowing you to angle the light panel in a multitude of ways.
Posted by: RedScorpion
from Oklahoma City, OK
I should say upfront that I received the "Circadian Optics - Lumos Light Therapy Lamp" for purposes of providing an honest and unbiased review. As part of the review I agreed to use the lamp for a week and share my experience after using the lamp for that period. And you know what, this actually works. I say that somewhat surprised as I have reviewed a few devices that proved to simply be gimmicks, but this works. I'm planning on picking up a few more because mine is now on my wife's desk. She loves it, too. She's admitted that it's helped her feel more alert and energetic in the mornings.
Whether you are working from home or are still working in an office settings, the Lumos is a small light therapy box that can easily fit on most any desk. The ability to swivel and position the lamp make it incredibly versatile.
If I had a nitpick, it would be the brick AC adapter takes up a fair amount of space on a surge or outlet. But, that's really my only complaint. The lamp cable is long. The three lighting options work well.
I think this is an excellent lamp and highly recommend it.
5/5 Easy Recommend.
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Enjoy cleaner air in your personal space with the PureZone Halo True HEPA Air Purifier from Pure Enrichment. The sleek, modern design fits on any desk, nightstand, or tabletop while beautifully complementing your décor. Featuring a coverage area up to 100 square feet, it’s ideal to use in a dorm room, office, or small bedroom. The filters effectively eliminate 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns–making the air odor and dust-free for people with allergies or breathing issues. Product Features Activated Carbon Pre-Filter and True Hepa Filter The two filters work together to purify the air and capture 99.97% of dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, mold spores, and household odors. Covers Up To 100 Square Feet 3 fan speeds adjust to low, medium, or high depending on the room’s air quality. Automatic Timer The timer shuts off the unit after 2, 4, or 8 hours of continuous operation to conserve energy and extend the life of the air filter. Soft Glow Mood Light Offers two soothing levels of brightness Sleep Mode Turns off the soft glow night light and all control panel lights (except the Sleep Mode light). Intuitive Control Panel Includes responsive push buttons that let you determine fan speed, air treatment time, and more.
Posted by: RedScorpion
from Oklahoma City, OK
I should state upfront that I received the "Pure Enrichment - PureZone Halo 100 Sq. Ft 2-in-1 Air Purifier" for the purpose of providing a honest and unbiased review. I have tested a few small room air purifiers and, in my opinion, the Halo is one of the better ones. If you are looking for an air filter for a small bedroom or office, I highly recommend it.
Small air purifiers have come a long way from the bulky dust magnets of just a few years ago. The Halo comes with mood lighting, a carbon activated pre-filter, and a true HEPA filter. It all works very well while fitting easy on an end table, desk, or the top of a small bookshelf as I am using it.
This isn't the first air filter I have seen with blue mood lighting, but on the Halo, the blue lighting works well. I find the brightest setting a bit too bright for me, but the default lighting is nice. Just be prepared that there's no true off switch for the light. You can put the light into a sleep mode, but if you then bump a button or adjust a fan speed, it will kick back on. I think I would have preferred a simple off, light, or bright toggle.
Also, if you should lose power and later have power restored, the air purifier will stay off until you turn it back on. I would prefer if the purifier came back on automatically. As is, trying to use the unit with a smart outlet is probably pointless. It's storm season in Oklahoma, which means our power goes off a bit and the Halo is just another device I have to turn back on later.
As stated above, installing the 2-stage filter is pretty simple. Unlike other units with twist locks that require picking up the filter and turning it over, the front of the Halo simply snaps off allowing for the installation of the filter. Tabs on the filter make it easy to pull the filter out. PureZone says this filter should last 6 months. After that time, the replacement filter can be found on PureZone's website for $19.99.
Timers on the filter are a nice touch, but I prefer to keep my purifier running constantly. The first two fan settings are relatively quiet, but the third setting definitely produces a lot of white noise. Depending on your tolerance, you may prefer the lower fan settings at night.
Also, I should point out that the Halo comes with a 5 Year Warranty that begins on the date of purchase. I haven't had many air purifiers last that long (probably because I run them constantly, but still...). As someone who goes through air purifiers every few years, I found the 5 year warranty really impressive.
In conclusion, I like the Halo. A lot of air purifiers require a new filter every 3 months, a six month filter is definitely a step up. I wish the unit was a bit quieter on the highest fan settings and that there was a complete off toggle for the lighting, but those nitpicks aside, this is a nice air purifier.
5/5 Recommend
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Jam out to your tunes with these black JLab GO Air true wireless earbuds. Three sets of gel buds offer a comfortable and secure fit for all-day use, while the rechargeable 43 mAh lithium-polymer battery on each earbud offers up to 5 hours of use when fully charged. These JLab GO Air true wireless earbuds have a 30-foot Bluetooth connectivity range, letting you wander away from connected devices freely.
Posted by: RedScorpion
from Oklahoma City, OK
I should say upfront that I received the JLab - GO Air True Wireless In-ear Headphones for the purposes of providing an honest and unbiased review. And, at $30, I think they're good. I have way more expensive earbuds with fancy noise cancelling features, but, at the end of the day, I'll probably end up using these buds more. If they fall out or get lost, I'll just go to Best Buy and get another set. I had no connectivity issues; no static pops. I wish the buds put out a bit more volume, but at their current price, I think they're good earbuds.
The buds are small. I included some pictures for scale. The earbuds come with three different pads. I found the default worked the best and stayed neatly in my ear. There's a white light on each bud. If they are in your ears and you aren't playing music, other people can see the white lights.
There's a charging case. The earbuds are magnetically held into the case. However, I found that the case wasn't perfect. I accidentally knocked the case off the counter and the earbuds came out. The magnets do a pretty good job, but they aren't perfect. A lid for the case would have been a nice addition.
Also, I struggle with getting the touch buttons to work as advertised. I could get the volume to go up and down and answer calls or pause / play music, but it wasn't perfect.
But that's about all of my nitpicks. I wish the earbuds had fuller / louder sound, but at this price point, they sound pretty good. The touch controls are a bit frustrating and I wish the case had a lid, But outside of that, the earbuds worked well.
I struggled with what star review to give these. But, I think these buds do what they set out to do. They provide good, clear audio in a small package and are relatively inexpensive. They stay in my ears better than buds that are nearly seven times more expensive. I hope some of these nitpicks are addressed in future versions of the earbuds, but for what they are, I like them.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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The GO Work Wireless On-Ear Headset from JLab will be your new best friend at the office. Featuring 45+ hours of playtime to get you through a full work week and Bluetooth multipoint, you can connect to 2 devices at once so you can transition from mobile to laptop without tocuhing any settings. The GO Work Headset also features 2 microphones for clear calling, a retractable boom mic with LED quick mute indicator, multi-functional buttons for controls, and 2 EQ settings for Work or Music mode.
Customer Rating
5
Comfortable Headset with a Great Mic
on May 28, 2021
Posted by: RedScorpion
from Oklahoma City, OK
The JLab - GO Work wireless office headset is yet another well made headset from JLab. A lot of people are working from home right now, and this Bluetooth wireless headset makes it easy to clearly communicate with others. The microphone does a good job at picking up the voice of the speaker while keeping outside noise to a minimum. The mute indicator makes it easy to see if your mic is on or not. The padded cushions are comfortable. All-in-all, this headset has worked great over the last few days of testing it.
I should say up front that I received the JLab Go Work for the purpose of providing my honest thoughts and feedback.
Like many people, my wife and I found ourselves working from home most of this past year. My wife works as part of a support call center. They had her on a USB wired headset. We have been taking turns with the JLab Go Work and I think we are both quite impressed. We both like the wireless freedom. I have enjoyed the battery life and how easy it is to set up and use.
I had my wife call me with the headset and she sounded super clear. Not only that, but I only heard her and not the TV or the dog barking. The dual microphones do a good job at isolating the speaker's voice. The mute button was simple and the light indicator at the tip of the microphone was a nice touch. While the mic mute was activated, no audio came through the microphone. (I have tested headsets where that was unfortunately not the case.)
Also, the multipoint Bluetooth works as advertised. It was relatively easy to have the headset working on the phone and the computer. If I could make a suggestion, I would set it up with the phone first, then turn off Bluetooth on the phone, connect the headset to the computer, and then turn Bluetooth on the phone back on.
Some things to note:
The headphones come with a USB-C charging cable and a USB-C to 3.5mm aux. Important to note that according to the included documentation, the headset needs at least some charge to work with the wired 3.5mm cable.
Also, even when off, pressing the mute button will cause the microphone tip to turn red. Meaning, even when you think the headset is not active, it could still drain battery if the microphone light is pressed.
Finally, while the volume up buttons worked fine for the phone, they did not control speaker or microphone volume within Windows.
In conclusion, I think this is a good, comfortable work headset. The Bluetooth connectivity worked well. I had no static and neither my wife or I had any problems being understood. As a wireless work headset, I highly recommend it.
4.5/5
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Ready to go mechanical? Look no farther than the The ROCCAT® Pyro Mechanical (Linear) PC Gaming Keyboard with Per-Key AIMO RGB Lighting, Brushed Aluminum Top Plate and Detachable Palm Rest. Its linear switches boast an optimized 2.0mm actuation point for a keystroke that is both responsive and reliable. Switches are tested to 50 million keystrokes, with a reinforcing brushed aluminum top plate providing added durability. Advanced anti-ghosting technology ensures gamers can press virtually all of the most-used keys simultaneously, with each of them registering and reacting in the heat of battle without fail. The Pyro is equipped with a detachable palm rest to suit both relaxed typing and aggressive gaming styles. Also featured is ROCCAT Easy-Shift[+] technology allowing deep control customization, doubling the function of every button just by holding down the designated modifier key (Caps Lock by default). The Pyro features the AIMO lighting engine, ROCCAT’s proprietary technology, with per-key illumination in 16.8 million RGB colors. AIMO reacts organically to your usage with vivid lighting displays right out of the box – without the need for extensive configuration. It also syncs with compatible products with state-of-the-art illumination scenarios flowing from device to device.
Customer Rating
5
Another Solid Keyboard from Roccat
on May 26, 2021
Posted by: RedScorpion
from Oklahoma City, OK
I should say upfront that I received the Roccat Pyro gaming keyboard for purposes of providing an honest and unbiased review. This is my second Roccat keyboard and the Pyro is another good keyboard from Roccat. It’s a solid, well built keyboard held back by a lack of a few connectivity features and a clunky software interface. But, despite the software, it’s an easy to recommend keyboard.
Inside the box, you find the keyboard and a detachable stand. The keyboard doesn’t sit as high as I would like. Even with the legs extended, it doesn’t provide quite the arch I’m used to, but still, it feels comfortable. The grip on the wrist pad is especially nice. Gaming sessions have been fun and comfortable.
In terms of features, the keyboard comes with linear switches. The keys are not completely quiet, but they aren’t as loud as some mechanical keyboards. They keys are responsive and springy. The keyboard has a game mode function that disables the Windows key. The volume control dial makes it easy to turn up or down audio volume.
The keyboard comes with Easy Shift +. Using Roccat Swarm software, you can set up macros and alternate keys. It works. I didn’t find it to be the most intuitive tool to use during games, but with enough practice, I’m sure it could be useful for RTS and RPG gamers.
Speaking of Swarm, I still find the free software tool, Swarm, to be one of the weaker aspects of the keyboard package. The software is clunky. Lighting options work, but the customization options feel basic. Also, on high DPI displays, the font for the app looks incredibly tiny. It doesn’t scale well on 4K displays or on my Microsoft Surface.
If I had a nitpick, I wish there were USB ports built on the keyboard itself. As is, there is no USB port and no 3.5mm audio passthrough.
But Swarm works and the lack of a USB port is not a deal breaker. This is a very solid keyboard. The brushed metal, the springy keys, and the excellent wrist pad have me sold. RGB lighting and a volume control on the keyboard are just icing.
But Swarm works and the lack of a USB port is not a deal breaker. This is a very solid keyboard. The brushed metal, the springy keys, and the excellent wrist pad have me sold. RGB lighting and a volume control on the keyboard are just icing.
Easy to Recommend 5/5
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The CORSAIR VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT delivers a high-fidelity audio experience for the most discerning players, combining uncompromising sound quality with all-day, all-night comfort from its premium memory foam earpads and headband. Connect wirelessly to virtually any device with simultaneous SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS and Qualcomm® aptX™ HD Bluetooth®, or wired via 3.5mm or USB. Make yourself heard with superb vocal clarity thanks to a broadcast-grade, omnidirectional detachable microphone with wide dynamic range. Lightweight aluminum construction ensures long-term durability, while up to 15 hours of wireless battery life and 60ft of range give you absolute listening freedom. Micro-perforated aluminum on each ear cup allows RGB lighting to shine through for visual flair. With immersive Dolby Atmos® and CORSAIR iCUE software to enable custom audio equalizer settings, RGB lighting control, and more, you can be the maestro of your gaming experience.
Posted by: RedScorpion
from Oklahoma City, OK
The Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT Headset might be the first wireless headset I have had that gave me a wireless experience equal to a USB powered alternative. No pops. No distortions. The wireless audio performs just as you'd hope. In a home with numerous Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices, the Virtuoso Wireless XT provides amazing sound over wireless. The Slipstream Wireless Tech along with the 50mm neodymium audio drivers creates great sound. A battery that lasts fifteen hours, a travel case, simultaneous Bluetooth aptX HD phone connection, a USB cable, and a 3.5MM cable with inline volume controls for Nintendo Switch or X-Box controller makes this truly the only headset you need. This is a great headset. Minor quibbles aside, this headset is very easy to recommend.
I should say upfront that I received the Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT headset for purposes of providing a fair and unbiased review.
Setup: Wired connections are pretty straight forward. Make sure your headset toggle is switched from wireless to wired and then connect via USB or the included 3.5mm cable.
Pairing with a phone is pretty straight forward. On the second set of volume controls there is a pairing button. Once paired, you can take calls on your phone and adjust your phone's volume. The pairing button lights up and changes colors to indicate connection with the phone. You can pause / play music or answer phone calls from that button.
Pairing with a phone is pretty straight forward. On the second set of volume controls there is a pairing button. Once paired, you can take calls on your phone and adjust your phone's volume. The pairing button lights up and changes colors to indicate connection with the phone. You can pause / play music or answer phone calls from that button.
Set up on PC is easy. The first time you plug in the USB cable or the wireless USB dongle, Windows will install the Dolby Atmos spatial audio app / plugin. You can further configure Dolby Atmos settings from the Dolby Access app. Note, if Atmos Spatial audio is activated, you will be unable to change audio equalizer settings within iCue.
The headset will work without any additional software, but if you wish to change lighting, adjust equalizer, update firmware, or change a dozen other settings, you will need the latest iCue Software. I was provided iCue version 4.11.274 for purposes of testing this headset. I can speak from experience that early versions of iCue will not work or detect the headset. So far, lighting choices selected in iCue have synced between computers.
Dolby Atmos is a spatial audio toggle setup in windows. Easiest way to turn it on is to right click your volume icon in Windows taskbar, then left click spatial audio, then select Dolby Atmos.
Experience: Audio has been impressive with every device I have tested. As stated above, I never noticed any difference between audio quality of wireless or USB wired. Battery life has been very good. I keep switching back and forth between USB and wireless for purposes of testing the set, but so far, the battery has lasted quite a while. Corsair states that the headset should work for 15 hours and that would be consistent with my experience to date.
The spatial audio worked well. In FPS games like Titan Fall 2, I could easily pinpoint the location of enemies.
The omni directional microphone has done a good job during my calls and online chat sessions. People on the phone have said I sound very clear. Although, I did need to adjust the positioning of the mic more towards my face to keep from sounding a bit muffled to others. The microphone will glow green when on and red when off if you have iCue installed. You can turn the microphone light off in iCue if you find that light a distraction.
Speaking of lights, you will need iCue to set up the RGB lights to your liking. You can use color codes to match the RGB lighting to other devices. There are a few built-in lighting options and you can customize a few options within the app. I don't think the lights will wow anyone, but they work. I wish there had been an audio visualizer toggle, but so far I don't see one. I didn't have any problems or conflicts with other lighting software on my PCs.
Comfort: These headphones can start to feel a bit warm. The ear covers don't breath as much as a mesh material might. I never found it too distracting, but I wish it breathed a bit better. In USB mode, the USB cable connector keeps hitting my shoulder. It isn't awful, but I wish there was an angled USB-C connector instead of a straight connection. Also, while on the subject of the USB-C to USB-A cable, I wish the cable was a bit longer. Plugged into a USB hub on my desk or on my laptop, it wasn't a big deal, but if you tower is on the floor, you may find the USB cable a bit short.
But, these are nitpicks. The headphones adjust well to fit various head sizes. The cushions are pretty thick. they cover my ears well and create a good seal.
Other quirks / Bugs: I had problems with iCue on a laptop with a scaled font display. The app would over stretch the display space and was unusable. I tried running the app in compatibility mode, but I couldn't get it to work. This could just be a bug in the version of iCue I was using. I only encountered the problem on one laptop. But, it was a pretty annoying problem. Hopefully a fix is in the works.
Conclusion: Nitpicks aside, these have been really nice headphones. I can't get over how well the wireless audio works. No pops. No distortions. No interference. Hours of use and no pops. The added Blue-tooth phone connection is a feature I have only seen on a handful of headsets and I think the Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT is the first headset I have used that actually got it all working flawlessly.
Really impressed with the audio quality, the build quality, the battery life, and the compatibility with a wide range of devices. I have been enjoying this headset for a week now. Really want to thank Corsair and Best Buy for giving me the opportunity to review the Corsair VIRTUOSO RGB Wireless XT.
Easily Recommend: 5/5
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Will it fit my phone? I have the samsung s10e and I know it will work with the connection but I don't know if it will fit the s10e.
Yes, I am using it to play Halo on my S10e.
3 years, 7 months ago
by
RedScorpion
Hear all your games in high-quality sound with this JLab Play wireless gaming headset. With an increased mid to high frequency response and super-low 60 ms latency, this headset is able to deliver clear vocals and enhance spatial awareness without lag. JLab’s Play wireless gaming headset delivers over 22 hours of playtime and compatibility with PCs, consoles and mobile devices to handle every session.
where is the micro phone? can it be used for a call center?
The headset features a retractable boom mic on the right ear piece. In my opinion, the headset would work well in a call center or home based call center. There is a mute button built in to the headset and the mic works in either Bluetooth or the wired 3.5mm mode.
3 years, 9 months ago
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RedScorpion
Hear all your games in high-quality sound with this JLab Play wireless gaming headset. With an increased mid to high frequency response and super-low 60 ms latency, this headset is able to deliver clear vocals and enhance spatial awareness without lag. JLab’s Play wireless gaming headset delivers over 22 hours of playtime and compatibility with PCs, consoles and mobile devices to handle every session.
Is it compatible with ps4 & xbox?
Yes.
But it is not wireless on PS4 and XBOX. To use with your XBOX or PS4, you will neeed to use the included 3.5MM AUX console cord.
But it is not wireless on PS4 and XBOX. To use with your XBOX or PS4, you will neeed to use the included 3.5MM AUX console cord.
3 years, 9 months ago
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RedScorpion
Hear all your games in high-quality sound with this JLab Play wireless gaming headset. With an increased mid to high frequency response and super-low 60 ms latency, this headset is able to deliver clear vocals and enhance spatial awareness without lag. JLab’s Play wireless gaming headset delivers over 22 hours of playtime and compatibility with PCs, consoles and mobile devices to handle every session.
Will these headphones work with I buy power computers
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3 years, 9 months ago
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RedScorpion
Listen to your favorite albums and audiobooks on the go with this Memorex portable CD player. The 40-second anti-skip protection function for CDs ensures smooth, uninterrupted listening, while the dynamic bass boost system delivers rich sound. This Bluetooth Memorex portable CD player features an LCD screen and digital control buttons for conveniently choosing tracks and adjusting volume.
Can you play audio books on this CD player? And What accessories will I need to buy?
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4 years ago
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iS THIS AN MP3 CD?
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Can it be used with or without the earbuds?
Yes?
Without the included earbuds, you can use your own or connect via Bluetooth. There is no built in speaker on the player if that's what you are asking.
Without the included earbuds, you can use your own or connect via Bluetooth. There is no built in speaker on the player if that's what you are asking.
4 years ago
by
RedScorpion
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have a 2019 mazda cx3 w/bluetooth capability. Will this work? Is a usb power cord available?
It should pair with your car, but there is no USB power cord. It still relies on an older ac or dc adapter.
4 years ago
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RedScorpion
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Will this work with Apple Bluetooth earbuds?
I don't see why it wouldn't. I paired it with Bluetooth headphones from Samsung, Sony, and JVC without problems. The only quirk is you have to make sure to turn on the Bluetooth feature each time you start the CD player. Also, sometimes the devices have to be re-synced every time you power on. My headphones kept the connection, but some of my Bluetooth speakers did not.
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I am using Windows 10 ver. 1903. It works fine. It works on Windows 10 over Bluetooth and with the included USB light speed receiver.
4 years, 7 months ago
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RedScorpion