Share bd43274's profile
bd43274
bd43274's stats
- Review count115
- Helpfulness votes243
- First reviewJune 16, 2014
- Last reviewDecember 4, 2023
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.4
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
Answers
- Answer count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First answerNone
- Last answerNone
- Featured answers0
- Best answers0
Unlock your car’s smart potential with the latest Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam that’s always on duty. Predict threats and protect your car from anywhere using Live View, powered by 4G connectivity. See what your car sees and get custom alerts wherever you are. Park with confidence using Smart Sense Parking, as your iQ constantly scans the surrounding area of your vehicle, detecting potential intruders or vehicles backing up too close, allowing you to intervene using voice or an alarm.
Posted by: bd43274
the good:
- Outstanding Video Quality: The iQ 4K's standout feature is undeniably its impressive video quality. With a 4K resolution, the dash cam captures crystal-clear footage that excels in both daytime and nighttime conditions. The 140-degree wide-angle lens ensures that the entire scene is captured, reducing blind spots and providing comprehensive coverage.
- Outstanding Video Quality: The iQ 4K's standout feature is undeniably its impressive video quality. With a 4K resolution, the dash cam captures crystal-clear footage that excels in both daytime and nighttime conditions. The 140-degree wide-angle lens ensures that the entire scene is captured, reducing blind spots and providing comprehensive coverage.
- Intelligent Parking Mode: The Intelligent Parking Mode is a game-changer for users concerned about the safety of their parked vehicles. The dash cam automatically activates recording when it detects motion or impact, providing an added layer of security. Customizable sensitivity settings allow users to tailor the feature to their specific needs, striking a balance between capturing important events and conserving storage space.
- Seamless Connectivity and App Integration: The MyNextbase Connect app enhances the overall user experience by providing easy access to live footage, settings adjustment, and instant downloading or sharing of recordings. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity are reliable, ensuring a smooth and responsive connection. The app's user-friendly interface makes it accessible to both tech-savvy users and those less familiar with dash cam technology.
- Compact Design and Build Quality: The iQ 4K's compact design seamlessly integrates into the car's interior. The magnetic mount system adds convenience, allowing for effortless attachment and detachment. The dash cam's build quality is robust, instilling confidence in its ability to withstand various driving conditions. The 2.5-inch HD IPS screen provides clear playback and easy access to menu settings directly on the device.
- GPS and Speed Tracking : The built-in GPS accurately records the vehicle's location and speed, providing crucial information in the event of an incident. This feature is valuable for monitoring driving habits and staying aware of speed limits. The accuracy and reliability of the GPS functionality contribute to the overall safety and utility of the dash cam.
the bad:
- Premium Price: While the Nextbase iQ 4K offers a range of advanced features, its premium price tag may be a barrier for some potential buyers. The cost may be justified for users prioritizing top-tier video quality and intelligent features, but budget-conscious consumers may find more affordable options with adequate performance.
- Emergency SOS Effectiveness: The Emergency SOS feature, while a commendable addition, may have varying effectiveness depending on regional emergency service compatibility. The feature automatically alerts emergency services with your location in the event of a severe collision, providing an extra layer of safety. However, its utility may be limited in certain areas, affecting its overall impact.
- Voice Control Limitations: The inclusion of voice control is a welcome addition for hands-free operation. However, the functionality may have limitations in terms of commands and responsiveness. Users looking for extensive voice control capabilities might find the feature somewhat constrained.
- Emergency SOS Effectiveness: The Emergency SOS feature, while a commendable addition, may have varying effectiveness depending on regional emergency service compatibility. The feature automatically alerts emergency services with your location in the event of a severe collision, providing an extra layer of safety. However, its utility may be limited in certain areas, affecting its overall impact.
- Voice Control Limitations: The inclusion of voice control is a welcome addition for hands-free operation. However, the functionality may have limitations in terms of commands and responsiveness. Users looking for extensive voice control capabilities might find the feature somewhat constrained.
overall:
The Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam stands as a formidable choice for drivers seeking top-tier video quality, intelligent features, and user-friendly functionality. Its exceptional strengths, including outstanding video clarity, intelligent parking mode, seamless connectivity, compact design, and GPS tracking, position it as a leader in the dash cam market.
However, prospective buyers should carefully consider the premium price tag, especially if their budget is a primary concern. The Emergency SOS feature, while valuable, may not be universally effective, and users should be aware of its limitations. Additionally, the voice control functionality, while a positive addition, may not meet the expectations of users looking for more extensive voice command options.
In summary, the Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam excels in delivering an enhanced driving experience, and its positives far outweigh its drawbacks. It's a solid investment for those who prioritize video quality and advanced features, but potential buyers should weigh the pros and cons based on their individual preferences and budget constraints.
The Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam stands as a formidable choice for drivers seeking top-tier video quality, intelligent features, and user-friendly functionality. Its exceptional strengths, including outstanding video clarity, intelligent parking mode, seamless connectivity, compact design, and GPS tracking, position it as a leader in the dash cam market.
However, prospective buyers should carefully consider the premium price tag, especially if their budget is a primary concern. The Emergency SOS feature, while valuable, may not be universally effective, and users should be aware of its limitations. Additionally, the voice control functionality, while a positive addition, may not meet the expectations of users looking for more extensive voice command options.
In summary, the Nextbase iQ 4K Smart Dash Cam excels in delivering an enhanced driving experience, and its positives far outweigh its drawbacks. It's a solid investment for those who prioritize video quality and advanced features, but potential buyers should weigh the pros and cons based on their individual preferences and budget constraints.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Wireless Headphones, featuring a completely redesigned and optimized acoustic system, an angled ultra-high-resolution carbon drive unit, deliver detailed, rich audio performance with incredible clarity. With its proprietary active noise cancellation, the headphones are designed to block out unwanted external noise, ensuring clear, crisp playback of your favorite tracks. With the redesigned microphone arrangement with 2 external adjustable mics, the wireless headphones ensure exceptional call quality. Easy set up offered through the iOS/Android compatible Bowers & Wilkins Music App that allows you to control he sound and noise cancellation, enable voice control right from your phone. Offers 30 hours battery life from a 2-hour charge, plus quick charge support delivering 7 hours playback from a 15-minute charge. Comes with all round improvements to headband that ensure comfort across differing head-shapes, coupled with lightweight aluminum and fine leathers for a superior fit and finish.
Posted by: bd43274
the good:
construction - These definitely look and feel like a premium set of headphones. Supple leather, satin metal finishes, solid construction with no creaks or squeaks. The design itself may not be for everyone, but they are certainly upper level quality.
construction - These definitely look and feel like a premium set of headphones. Supple leather, satin metal finishes, solid construction with no creaks or squeaks. The design itself may not be for everyone, but they are certainly upper level quality.
comfort - *Significantly* more comfortable than previous editions of this same headphone. The clamping force, the padded headband and the leather quality feel much better, especially over longer listening sessions. You won’t necessarily forget that you’re wearing them, but previous versions of this model were very close to unusable because of comfort issues. They’ve made massive improvements in this area.
tactile buttons - So many wireless headphones use capacitive touch buttons, which are clumsy at best. The Px8 has tactile buttons, which are significantly easier to find and use, especially when not looking at them.
sound quality - I’m including sound quality in both good and bad for this review. To elaborate, the sound quality isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just not a very good mix. Highs are substantially rolled off, low end is slightly on the boomy side, and sound stage is essentially missing…but otherwise these carbon cone drivers deliver really nice clarity. With the right tuning, these could really sound fantastic which, sadly, isn’t necessarily all that easy to do. There’s no app EQ, other than a *very* basic bass and treble slider. You can certainly hear the quality, but there’s just no excitement to the sound...no crispness or dynamic softs and louds. To some, this will be appealing. Those who prefer a much warmer sound may enjoy these immensely. They’re not fatiguing in any way, very easy to listen to over long periods.
sound quality - I’m including sound quality in both good and bad for this review. To elaborate, the sound quality isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just not a very good mix. Highs are substantially rolled off, low end is slightly on the boomy side, and sound stage is essentially missing…but otherwise these carbon cone drivers deliver really nice clarity. With the right tuning, these could really sound fantastic which, sadly, isn’t necessarily all that easy to do. There’s no app EQ, other than a *very* basic bass and treble slider. You can certainly hear the quality, but there’s just no excitement to the sound...no crispness or dynamic softs and louds. To some, this will be appealing. Those who prefer a much warmer sound may enjoy these immensely. They’re not fatiguing in any way, very easy to listen to over long periods.
battery - Battery life has been outstanding, going beyond the 30 hours of usage in my testing. The quick charge is a nice tough as well.
connectivity - So many wireless headphones are limited to one device at a time. These connected to both my laptop and my phone, and could transfer back and forth seamlessly. The aptX codec is a nice touch as well.
ANC - Solid noise cancelling, though transparency was not great in my opinion. A bit of the dreaded ANC high pitched noise was still present.
the bad:
price - Significantly more expensive than most of their competitors.
price - Significantly more expensive than most of their competitors.
sound quality - See above…both good and bad, depending on your musical tastes.
call quality - Call quality was just ok. Others I spoke to said it sounded almost like they were on speaker phone.
app - The app isn’t quite ready for prime time yet. It is ok, but with headphones of this quality, an onboard EQ should be a no brainer, especially with the current tuning being so warm.
misc:
design - Some may find the “premium” design a bit over the top.
design - Some may find the “premium” design a bit over the top.
overall:
Overall these are *so* close to being 5 stars. With a proper EQ in the app I think they could be, even if things like sound stage can’t exactly be fixed, the sound signature certainly could be tweaked to take advantage of the quality and caliber of cones these actually possess. For that and the price point alone, unfortunately I have to go with 4.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Nugget Ice. Pellet ice. Drive-in ice. Whatever you call it, you know it's "the good ice." Now that chewable ice is available from the convenience of your countertop with the Opal 1.0 Ice Maker with side tank. It is capable of producing up to 34 lbs. of ice in 24 hours and stores up to 3 lbs. of ice at one time. The Opal 1.0 Ice Maker comes with the side tank attachment for 3x more ice production.
Posted by: bd43274
the good:
of course the ice - If you’re looking at purchasing one of these, then somehow the “good ice” is on your radar. And this makes exactly that, just like allll the other reviews mention. It really is fantastic ice, as much as ice can be fantastic. I will say, everyone in my house is constantly using it, instead of those giant-white-freezer-made-impossible-to-chew-rocklike slabs of ice from the refrigerator. These are awesome!
faster production than the previous model - If you’ve had a previous model of this ice machine (the naming convention makes no sense to me…my previous model was a 2.0, but this is a 1.0, available only at Best Buy…is it new? same but different? I have no idea. I do feel like it makes ice faster than my previous model did though.
flip top lid - Random, but since it’s a flip top lid, you can open it and it still captures the produced ice. The previous model, you pulled the basket out and while you were getting ice, any ice produced just falls behind the basket into the water reservoir. Certainly splitting hairs here, but kind of cool either way.
faster production than the previous model - If you’ve had a previous model of this ice machine (the naming convention makes no sense to me…my previous model was a 2.0, but this is a 1.0, available only at Best Buy…is it new? same but different? I have no idea. I do feel like it makes ice faster than my previous model did though.
flip top lid - Random, but since it’s a flip top lid, you can open it and it still captures the produced ice. The previous model, you pulled the basket out and while you were getting ice, any ice produced just falls behind the basket into the water reservoir. Certainly splitting hairs here, but kind of cool either way.
the bad:
no more included plastic tray - In previous models, there is a small plastic tray that sits in front of the unit, helps to collect water and a good place to lay the scooper. This tray seems to be missing in this design. Not a huge deal, but worth mentioning.
finish - The finish seems to be a little more susceptible to scratches and fingerprints than previous generations.
finish - The finish seems to be a little more susceptible to scratches and fingerprints than previous generations.
misc:
no wifi - Do we really need our ice machine to be connected? I’m not personally missing this feature.
modern design - A little more angular than previous generations. Again, not a huge deal.
modern design - A little more angular than previous generations. Again, not a huge deal.
overall:
Time will tell whether this design holds up long term. My previous gen Opal started slowing down a bit right at the 2 year mark….it hasn’t stopped yet, but it’s definitely getting slower in its old age (and yes I’ve cleaned/descaled it, doesn’t seem to matter.) In any case, I’d give it a solid 4.5 stars, but since we can’t rate 1/2 stars…5 stars it is.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Orbi Wi-Fi 7 is in a class of its own, designed for a new era of entertainment, hybrid work, and smart home convenience. The Orbi 970 Series unlocks the power of Wi-Fi 7 with speeds up to 27Gbps, 2.4X faster than Wi-Fi 6. Exclusive, patented Quad-Band technology with Enhanced Dedicated Backhaul ensures Wi-Fi stays fast across all devices simultaneously. In addition, the Orbi 970 brings exceptional 360° Wi-Fi coverage across every corner of your home, regardless of the layout, from the front door to the back yard and the basement to the rooftop. It includes a 1-year subscription of NETGEAR Armor, all-in-one internet security protection.
Posted by: bd43274
the good:
Though we can certainly gush over the stated numbers, true speed for the 970 is difficult to quantify yet, with wifi 7 yet to be made available. Otherwise, the tech details do suggest some outstanding specs, potentially the most useful being the reported 10Gbps dedicated backhaul “quad-band” technology. In my testing so far, they do not disappoint. With both satellites set up wirelessly, I’ve seen no difference in connection speeds, regardless of which node I’ve been connected to.
Other notable specs - 27Gbps max wifi speed (eventually, with wifi 7 connected devices), 10,000 square feet of coverage (not sure if I can quantify this, but I’ve roamed with my devices around the house, front yard, back yard, and into the street without losing signal or dropping connection), 200 current connected devices, 8k streaming, 10Gbps internet/LAN connections, and something called “smart connect”, which supposedly connects each device to its fastest available wifi band. In my experience so far it’s been spot on.
Design is also quite nice for these, certainly compared to other mesh systems. They are relatively large, but they’ve got a really small footprint and their simplistic cylinder shape looks sleek and unobtrusive.
Going through setup was quite similar, in fact I would say essentially the same as previous Orbi setups. That is to say that it is relatively painless if you follow the instructions in the mobile app. I was up and running in a relatively short period of time, and since I used the same SSID/password as my previous network, all of my devices reconnected without issue.
Other notable specs - 27Gbps max wifi speed (eventually, with wifi 7 connected devices), 10,000 square feet of coverage (not sure if I can quantify this, but I’ve roamed with my devices around the house, front yard, back yard, and into the street without losing signal or dropping connection), 200 current connected devices, 8k streaming, 10Gbps internet/LAN connections, and something called “smart connect”, which supposedly connects each device to its fastest available wifi band. In my experience so far it’s been spot on.
Design is also quite nice for these, certainly compared to other mesh systems. They are relatively large, but they’ve got a really small footprint and their simplistic cylinder shape looks sleek and unobtrusive.
Going through setup was quite similar, in fact I would say essentially the same as previous Orbi setups. That is to say that it is relatively painless if you follow the instructions in the mobile app. I was up and running in a relatively short period of time, and since I used the same SSID/password as my previous network, all of my devices reconnected without issue.
the bad:
The only real complain I have for this system is really the price point. At $2299.99 it’s certainly not for everyone. Not everyone will even remotely need it, and most won’t be able to take advantage of more than half of its capabilities or capacity. That being said, if you are looking at this router seriously, you already know whether it’s in your budget, so price is likely not an object. It is simply best in class in every other way.
The only real complain I have for this system is really the price point. At $2299.99 it’s certainly not for everyone. Not everyone will even remotely need it, and most won’t be able to take advantage of more than half of its capabilities or capacity. That being said, if you are looking at this router seriously, you already know whether it’s in your budget, so price is likely not an object. It is simply best in class in every other way.
overall:
Overall of course this mesh router system is flagship…class leading…future proof…with a price tag to match. If price is no object, or you simply must have the latest and greatest, the 970 won’t disappoint. For the rest of the mortals out there, better, more cost efficient options might exist. That being said, it’d be hard to rate these anything under 5 stars.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Get loud on the go. Motif II A.N.C. offers huge sound, in a tiny package. Its sleek charging case packs a punch by powering your headphones with 30 hours playtime to be unleashed whenever you want. With active noise cancellation, block out those crowded train rides and rowdy streets to dive into your music without distraction.
Posted by: bd43274
the good:
- sound quality - At this price point, these earbuds sound outstanding. Rich, detailed, and balanced, and plenty of volume.
- battery life - 6 hours initial plus additional 30 hours (up to 43 with noise cancelling turned off) with case
- comfort - I’ve used these as my daily driver for over a week now. No issues leaving them in for long listening sessions while working.
- design - Understated black rugged plastic, for those non-Apple fans who don’t care for the all white ecosystem.
- battery life - 6 hours initial plus additional 30 hours (up to 43 with noise cancelling turned off) with case
- comfort - I’ve used these as my daily driver for over a week now. No issues leaving them in for long listening sessions while working.
- design - Understated black rugged plastic, for those non-Apple fans who don’t care for the all white ecosystem.
the bad:
- call quality - Call quality was hit or miss in my experience. Some portions of my test calls sounded fine, others met with complaints of sounding like I was in a tunnel.
- single point connectivity - One major drawback for me is that I can’t move from device to device very quickly with these as they can only be connected to one device at a time. Not mission critical for some, a bit of a pain for others.
- no volume control - Again, not a huge issue, but not having volume control on the earbud means you have to go back to the source device to adjust volume.
- touch controls a little clumsy - The controls work well enough, but I found myself hitting them accidentally from time to time if I need to adjust anything.
- single point connectivity - One major drawback for me is that I can’t move from device to device very quickly with these as they can only be connected to one device at a time. Not mission critical for some, a bit of a pain for others.
- no volume control - Again, not a huge issue, but not having volume control on the earbud means you have to go back to the source device to adjust volume.
- touch controls a little clumsy - The controls work well enough, but I found myself hitting them accidentally from time to time if I need to adjust anything.
misc:
- ANC - ANC wasn’t necessarily on par with other leading buds, but still pretty good.
- app - Basic customization for EQ and touch controls.
- app - Basic customization for EQ and touch controls.
overall:
Overall, these feel like a solid 4.5 stars, but at this price point the sound quality really does outweigh any minor negatives in my opinion. They certainly not perfect, but since I can’t give half stars I’ll round up to 5.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Store your favorite bottles of wine and impress your guests with a nice, chilled drink for your next small gathering. The Insignia NS-WC29SS3 14-Bottle Wine Cooler allows you to store your wine and other drinks at an ideal temperature, so they are always ready to drink. Perfect for any gathering, store up to 14 bottles of wine in an organized layout. Moving the party? Position the cooler wherever you’d like. With a reversable door and adjustable legs, the cooler doesn’t have to stay just in the kitchen. Finally, this appliance adds a modern look to any space with its stainless-steel finish and tempered glass door. Prepare for your next party knowing your drinks will be chilled and ready to let the stress of the day melt away.
Posted by: bd43274
the good:
- design - Simple yet smart design. Stainless steel finish looks nicer than its price would suggest.
- capacity vs. size - Relatively small size and footprint, but not much wasted space inside. It has 2 racks facing front to back for “normal” sized bottles and a space on the bottom for larger bottles.
- adjustable feet and reversible door - Easy leveling and the door can be made to open from either left or right side.
- quiet operation
- capacity vs. size - Relatively small size and footprint, but not much wasted space inside. It has 2 racks facing front to back for “normal” sized bottles and a space on the bottom for larger bottles.
- adjustable feet and reversible door - Easy leveling and the door can be made to open from either left or right side.
- quiet operation
the bad:
- exact temp control can be a little bit difficult - Ranging from 41F to 64F, there’s not really a way to set an exact temperature. You set a range from “cold” to “normal” to “colder”. Not exactly intuitive, and can take some trial and error to get the temp to exactly where you want it.
- shelving feels a little bit flimsy - While not horrible, the shelving feels like it could be a bit sturdier build. Time will tell how long it lasts, but then that much could probably be replaced relatively cheaply. The more expensive refrigeration components do seem to be a better quality than the shelving.
- shelving feels a little bit flimsy - While not horrible, the shelving feels like it could be a bit sturdier build. Time will tell how long it lasts, but then that much could probably be replaced relatively cheaply. The more expensive refrigeration components do seem to be a better quality than the shelving.
overall:
Overall this compact little cooler is a good buy at this price point, certainly if you don’t need a ton of wine cooled or have a lot of room. I actually keep my reds in it, as well as some bourbon bottles, just to keep them a little cooler than room temp. 4 stars, removing one star for the temp control, though ultimately you probably won’t change the temp setting once you get it where you want it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
The Alienware 34" Curved Gaming monitor features QD-OLED technology and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. Featuring infinite contrast ratio, 165Hz refresh rate and VESA DisplayHDR TRUEBlack 400 for an incredible front-of-screen performance.
Posted by: bd43274
the good:
- picture quality - Wow wow wow! Coming from other widescreen/high refresh rate monitors, there simply is no comparison. The blacks are incredible of course, as expected in an OLED. Black areas of screen, whether in games, movies, or simply a desktop background, they actually look like the screen is off. “Inky” just doesn’t begin to describe it. In addition you have amazing depth of color and plenty of brightness when viewing HDR content. The picture quality punches way outside its price range, and even more so when you consider the high refresh rate and low latency. To put it simply, for gaming it’s one of the best screens I’ve ever seen. As a daily driver (specifically displaying text) I would characterize it as good, but not great. It’s a 1440 panel after all, and because of its pixel layout (triangular instead of square) the text doesn’t read super crisp. That’s not to say that text looks bad on it, but a pixel layout comprised of a square pattern will read a little bit sharper. I have been using it as my daily driver for both work and gaming and I can wholeheartedly say that while I don’t feel like I’m losing anything for business use cases, I’m gaining so much from the gaming experience on it. Gaming and entertainment on it is nothing short of incredible.
- relatively understated design - Alienware can be a bit futuristic looking for my taste. This monitor is relatively understated, with a small-ish Alien head LED on the back left, as well as the number “34” on the back right. Color controls for these two and the power button are configurable in the menu.
- quiet cooling - This version of the Samsung produced panel does contain a fan, but not one I’ve actually been able to hear yet.
- quiet cooling - This version of the Samsung produced panel does contain a fan, but not one I’ve actually been able to hear yet.
- configuration/controls - Nicely laid out in the on-board menu, easy to navigate and customize for shortcuts.
- input ports - 2 displayport 1.4 ports, 1 hdmi 2.0 port.
- USB hub - 5 total USB ports (4 type A and 1 type B “upstream” port)
- 3 year warranty (including OLED burn in) - This may be the single most important feature outside of the picture quality. Since OLED’s are known to suffer from potential burn in, the peace of mind of 3 protection from it is a welcome offering here. To my knowledge, this is quite uncommon.
the bad:
- HDMI version 2.0, not 2.1 - Full bandwidth 2.1 would’ve been nice to see here.
misc:
- AMD FreeSync, no Nvidia G-Sync - This actually goes both ways, both good and bad…and the bad isn’t really so bad in my opinion. The ‘bad” news here is that without the G-Sync license (which of course costs a premium and that cost gets passed on to the consumer), you don’t get certain Nvidia claims like “lifelike HDR”, “optimized latency” and “factory calibrated accurate SDR and HDR”. In my experience, not only is this monitor super lifelike and color accurate, at these refresh rates and low latency numbers, the difference between Freesync and G-Sync is not just minimal, it’s invisible. I’m running this display on an Nvidia 3080ti and it looks amazing, certainly no tearing or any other artifacts. Oh, and by skipping out on the G-Sync licensing, you gain the ability to upgrade onboard firmware (G-Sync models can upgrade firmware as well, but *only* by taking the monitor physically into a licensed repair center.
overall:
Outstanding in almost every way, this monitor is a slam dunk in my opinion. Fantastic picture quality, high refresh rate and low latency, and oh-so-inky blacks…like is this screen on blacks. It’s not perfect, but it’s not far from it enough to dock it a star. If I could I’d probably give it 4.75 stars, but since we’re limited by the rating system, 5 stars it is.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
All hail the new king. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Multiplatform Wireless Gaming Headset brings the best premium features to your gaming multiverse for PlayStation, Windows PCs, Mac, Nintendo Switch and mobile. Featuring the most versatile noise cancelling system ever in a gaming headset, with the ability to control noise-cancelling levels from anywhere. Experience ultimate audio immersion with powerful, hand-selected 50mm Nanoclear drivers for a vast soundstage; and the TruSpeak noise-cancelling boom mic or dual built-in microphones offer ultra-clear comms. Our softest memory foam ear cushions enhance noise isolation and provide all-day comfort, and the Stealth Pro is built to last with a durable steel-reinforced headband and frame.
Posted by: bd43274
the good:
- audio - Without question, the single most important quality in a pair of headphones for me is audio quality. Poor audio quality and none of the rest matters. (One of the reasons I tend to not not care for a certain popular 4-letter-brand of noise cancelling bluetooth headphones, considered by many, including myself, to be the most comfortable and best at noise cancelling.) These however, are in a completely different league from not only the previously mentioned cans, but literally any other gaming headset I've ever listened to. Prior to these, my daily driver was the Drop/Sennheiser/Epos PC38X headset, powered by the PS5 controller. I'll still keep them as a worthy backup, but the Stealth Pros absolutely destroy them in just about every way. In a word, sound is absolutely astonishing. It delivers an immersive audio experience in every sense of the word; crisp and detailed, rich mids and deep-and-dynamic-but-never-muddy bass. These are incredibly well balanced out of the box, with just the right amount of clarity without being fatiguing. The 50mm dynamic drivers deliver a dynamic listening experience I've only heard in much more "audiophile" cans.
- comfort - My second most important feature in any set of over-ear headphones is comfort. For me I wouldn't consider them a perfect 10 in terms of comfort, nor are they uncomfortable. After long gaming sessions I found that there was no "hot spot" on the top of my head where the pad sits, which actually surprised me in that they are a bit on the heavy side at 396 grams. Short version...playing for a few hours was totally fine. The pleather ear cups get a tad warm but are super soft to the touch. Nothing stuck out as "intruding" on my listening experience, which is exactly what should happen.
- build - I love the understated redesign of these, and in terms of quality they feel quite sturdy and well made. Mostly metals and seemingly high quality plastics, they feel made to last.
- microphones - Here things get a little interesting. There are 2 on board mics (meaning not the boom mic) that actually work well enough. The only catch with them is that, though they seemed relatively clear on the other end, I did get complaints of echo and other ambient noise. The boom mic, however, is a much different beast. Significantly improved mic quality, zero echo, and greatly reduced ambient noise. It also has an interesting "flip up to mute" function which I found handy. No way to accidently speak while intending to be muted using this feature.
- configuration - Setup and configuration using the mobile app was relatively easy and intuitive. Tons of features, EQ settings for different inputs, and the ability to save your own presets, and limited remapping of certain buttons.
- noise cancellation - While not as good as some other noise cancelling focused headsets (Bose, Sony, Apple) they aren't bad either. I'm not sure how many would find this particular feature useful; you're not going to necessarily be using these on an airplane where this type of noise cancellation is most effective, but then every bit of immersion helps. At least the noise cancellation doesn't seem to introduce any other unwanted artifacts like buzzing or whine.
- multi-connection - Going back and forth between bluetooth and the PS5 is super easy. You can even listen to your music via bluetooth at the same time as the PS5 audio if you wanted!
- 2 batteries - The inclusion of 2 batteries is nice, and in the little transmitter puck there is also a charging spot for one of them. Essentially this means you'll always have a full battery handy, and swapping them out is super fast, on the order of 10-15 seconds. Drain both batteries? Not a problem! There's also a 15 minute quick charge that gives you 3 hours of play time.
- included carrying pouch
the bad:
-none!
misc:
- battery life - The battery system is excellent, but players may find that heavy sessions back to back and they'll be recharging the battery in the headset in just a few days. For most people this won't be a problem, and as I mentioned earlier, the inclusion of a second battery all but solves this issue for most of us.
- limited wheel/button remapping options - A nice option to see would've been a more extensive ability to remap say, all functions to any given button. As it stands, this is somewhat limited.
- a bit on the heavy side - Some may find them heavy. I personally didn't mind the weight as the padding was certainly comfortable enough to overcome it.
- "superhuman" hearing setting - To me, this is a bit of a gimmick. I found it to not add any discernable difference to detail, while killing the balance of the sound signature. I leave this turned off personally.
overall:
- Turtle Beach absolutely knocked this one out of the park in my opinion. Fantastic sound, great mic and build quality and good comfort have made these my new daily driver for gaming and movies whenever I need to use a headset. Easy 5 stars for me.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
The Escort MAX 360 MKII can help make every drive legendary with many of the powerful features in our top-of-the-line radar detectors. Like the MAX 360c MKII, it features an all-new internal platform and more powerful components, providing 50% improved range and performance with the included Blackfin DSP chip and advanced false alert filtering intelligence.
Posted by: bd43274
Let me preface this review by saying I don't exactly have a lead foot. I'm not someone who is using this radar detector as a way to regularly evade police. I simply mean that I'm not living on the edge, driving 100 mph down the highway, slamming on the brakes as soon as I hear the alert, then back up to cruising speed. I personally use these as a tool to know what's going on around me. The more aware I am of my situation, the better driver I can potentially be. If the knucklehead in front of me is likely to slam on his brakes when he *sees* the cop up in front of us, maybe I'll be able to have a better chance to avoid if I get some advanced notice. I'm certainly not a radar detector "power user", but that being said, I'm not against preventing a speeding ticket or 2 if the situation arises...
With all this in mind, I found this new Escort Max to be a fairly solid performer. Setup was relatively easy (though potentially not as easy as they claim in the "quick setup" manual"), especially if you stay out of the more in depth settings. And the setting can get as in depth as you need them to be, all the way from a simple default to an super in depth tweak-every-setting session. For mine I set to "auto" (you can choose "highway", which is more sensitive, "city", or "auto", which intends a balance sensitivity based on speed, as well as auto with X or K band lowered sensitivity) and I've found this to be a good sweet spot. I've found very few false alerts, which you can manually tame but I understand this unit is equipped with some automization for this purpose. In my testing I've also seen notifications a good distance in advance, and the directional notification system (arrows which light up pointing the direction towards the signal) are a welcome feature. In all, I've found it to be a relatively quiet-unless-it's-important detector (meaning fewer false alerts). Repete drives over the same area resulted in even fewer false alerts.
the good
- quick notifications
- long range
- few false alerts
- alert direction arrows
- IVT filter - blind spot monitor (BSM) and other "in vehicle technology" filters (think blind spot, auto driving, adaptive cruise control, etc.)
- auto vs. highway mode - auto = lower sensitivity, filters out store door openers
- wifi - dual band connectivity
- drive smarter app for easy setup
- AutoLearn GPS lockout
- easy setup
- long range
- few false alerts
- alert direction arrows
- IVT filter - blind spot monitor (BSM) and other "in vehicle technology" filters (think blind spot, auto driving, adaptive cruise control, etc.)
- auto vs. highway mode - auto = lower sensitivity, filters out store door openers
- wifi - dual band connectivity
- drive smarter app for easy setup
- AutoLearn GPS lockout
- easy setup
the bad
- none
misc
- carrying case
- alert sharing - I've not got this feature to use yet, but supposedly works by updating locations in the Drive Smarter app
- alert sharing - I've not got this feature to use yet, but supposedly works by updating locations in the Drive Smarter app
overall
I've found this radar to be a solid performer with a great feature set and no real issues to speak of. 5 stars.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Designed for home offices and small businesses, the Canon MAXIFY GX4020 delivers high-quality, low-cost printing, and outstanding wireless connectivity in a compact size. Get serious print productivity with a high page yield of up to 6,000 Black / 14,000 Color pages per full ink bottle set and a low cost per print of less than 2 cents per page1. The MAXIFY GX4020 comes with a full set of ink and a 3-year or 80,000 pages2 limited warranty so you can print with confidence. The MAXIFY GX4020 is easy to set up and maintain and offers great media versatility to print on a variety of media types and sizes, including business cards, envelopes, banners and more. Produce crisp, colorful documents quickly and cost-effectively with fast print speeds and a high quality 4-color pigment-based ink system. Keep printing with a large combined plain paper capacity of up to 350 sheets. Easily connect and print through high-speed USB, Ethernet, or wirelessly3 from computers or mobile devices. This model is backed by Canon's Service and Support network.
Customer Rating
5
outstanding printer from a long trusted brand
on January 15, 2023
Posted by: bd43274
MAXIFY GX4020
the good:
print quality - Coming from a laser printer (toner, one color), I will admit I am very impressed with the printing quality of the 4020. I found colors to be vibrant with excellent detail, regardless of the paper type or text/images. In my opinion there are a few qualities that are really the "bread and butter" of a printer, and of course this would be one. One thing of note; if you have a color image on one side of normal printing paper, be aware that the paper can feel somewhat "wet". Definitely let the paper fully dry before printing an image on the other side. The amount of ink it lays down in default mode is substantial and saturates the paper.
ink "tanks" - Another "bread and butter" quality for a printer is the cost of printing, and the switch from ink cartridges to individual reservoirs for the base colors is a welcome one. Instead of paying astronomical prices for little complex plastic cartridges, they've taken the tech out of the cartridge part, which of course is simply a waste of money. With the 4020 you simply buy bottles of ink. The cost per page ends up being significantly less than a traditional cartridge printer. They key comparison of course is the higher start up cost for the printer itself. It still remains to be seen if it will last long enough to offset that cost with the ink savings, but at the very least you won't feel like you're getting robbed every time you replace the ink.
duplex printing - Most printers in this price range will have this feature so of course it's nice to see here.
scan quality - good, not great. I personally don't consider this a make or break feature, mostly just a nice to have for ADF scanning. Otherwise I'll just use my phone.
small footprint - Considering its features and quality, it has a smaller footprint than my old (4-5 year old) toner laserjet printer.
network connectivity, wired or wireless - Connect over wifi or network cable, and print directly from mobile devices connected to the same network.
Auto power on/power off configuration - Set each option separately, with the ability to power on when data is received.
the bad :
duplex scanning is manual. Not a huge deal, and really only helpful for larger multi-page documents.
misc:
fax ability - If you happen to be one of the few people left on the planet who require a fax, good to know you're covered with Canon's current offering.
print speed is good, not great - Again, really only noticeable with larger documents. I personally don't see it as much of a down side.
overall:
Outstanding printer from a long trusted brand. Easy 5 stars for me.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
bd43274's Review Comments
bd43274 has not submitted comments on any reviews.
bd43274's Questions
bd43274 has not submitted any questions.
bd43274's Answers
bd43274 has not submitted any answers.