EagleCroft's stats
- Review count90
- Helpfulness votes822
- First reviewOctober 11, 2013
- Last reviewJune 7, 2026
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.4
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentApril 6, 2014
- Last review commentApril 6, 2014
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Questions
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- Answer count9
- Helpfulness votes26
- First answerAugust 22, 2018
- Last answerApril 17, 2019
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Generate big sound in your cozy entertainment space with these KEF bookshelf loudspeakers. Their Uni-Q driver array uses damped tweeter loading tubes to produce crystal-clear trebles and low-distortion inductors on the crossover for clean, powerful bass. The fluid dynamic port design of these KEF bookshelf loudspeakers prevent midrange leakage for enhanced clarity.
Customer Rating
5
Brilliant Imaging with a Full and Rich Sound Stage
on January 27, 2020
Posted by: EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
About 18 years ago I fell in love… With a pair of speakers! I bought my first pair of KEF tower speakers, which featured the Uni-Q technology speakers. I’d already owned a pair of B&W tower speakers, so I was familiar with what audiophile speakers sounded like. What I mean by that is speakers that don’t color the original sound. High-end speakers are meant to be transparent and not add anything, they should reproduce audio the way it was recorded. What I loved about my first KEFs (Q50’s), was their ability to reproduce vocals. In my opinion at that time and price point, nothing else came close.
Fast forward to 2020 and KEF is continuing to create magnificent audio speakers. The case in point is the Q350 Bookshelf Speaker system. These speakers pack a punch in a small package and feature KEFs newest Q-drivers. These speakers also feature state of the art materials, from the custom in-house drivers to the solid non-resonant cabinets. The Q-series speakers are unique coaxial design drivers. KEF places the tweeter in the middle of the woofer to blend the sound waves in an even distribution, and increase clarity and sound stage.
From a stylistic/aesthetic perspective, you are either going to love the look of these or hate them. These do not come with speaker covers, so what you see is the full-on raw speaker driver in a very crisp, tight-right angled cabinet. These are not pretty speakers, in my opinion. But they are cool to look at! If you want speakers to be heard and not seen, these may not be your cup of tea. But if you like the look of high-tech speakers - you’re going to love them! You can get speaker covers from KEF, for an added cost. But don’t do it! These are incredible speakers that and audiophile will want to see uncovered.
There are lots of speakers in this price range to choose from, and it is hard to know which to go with. For me, it comes down to what I like to listen to. If you want wall-thumping, bass-pounding speakers - you’re not going to find that here. But if you enjoy accurate reproduction of audio, particularly in the midrange. I love to hear clear, rich full vocals. Q-series just do it so well. The audio imaging is so precise, so open sounding. I love them!
If you are looking at these KEFs you probably already have an appreciation for audio, and you know that KEF is a top tier brand. The Q350 will perform equally well in a small room, to a large one. You can pair them with just about any amplifier, and still get a great sound. I paired mine to an esoteric tube amp which isn’t particularly powerful but puts out clean warm sound. I can power these speakers just fine and the speakers are efficient enough to deliver amazing balanced audio. But if you really want to amaze your friends, put these on a high-end amp and push the watts through the channels. I hooked these up to my 900-watt per channel Rotel amp and I was just floored. They sound so good!
If you made it this far in my review, I hope you’ll treat yourself to a pair of KEFs. They are incredible speakers and well worth their price point. One bit of advice I will leave you with is if you do get a pair take your time in setting them up. The position plays a huge part to get the best experience out of these. These are bright speakers, with incredible imaging. Depending on your room size and shape you may need to move them around a bit, and point them in directions you may not have originally planned on. Once you get the direction and position just right you will be treated to beautiful soundstage and imaging that will make you smile ear to ear.
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The BISSELL~ air320 Air Purifier is part of the BISSELL lineup of premium lifestyle air purifiers that join form and function in your home. The air320 is designed with clean lines, smooth edges, modern legs, a discreet cord wrap, and a fabric filter that fit into the design of almost any home. Beneath the unique design is a powerful machine you'd expect from BISSELL - a trusted brand in homecare. The washable fabric pre-filter on the front of the machine is part of this air purifier's 3 stage filtration. This filtration system also includes a pleated high efficiency filter to capture hair, dust, pollen, and dander and an activated carbon filter to capture home odors, pet odors, and volatile organic compounds. The air320 is controlled by a soft-touch dial that allows users to adjust the fan speed. The air320 can accommodate large rooms like bedrooms, living area, basements, and dining rooms. It is tested to the AHAM standard to have a Smoke CADR of 199 for rooms up to 308 sq. ft., making it great for bedrooms, living areas, basements, and dining rooms. You~ve trusted BISSELL to clean and care for the floors and surfaces in your home. Now, let us clean your air! Plus, every purchase of this product helps save pets! BISSELL~ proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation~ and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We~re proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.
Customer Rating
5
No, it's not a speaker! It's an air purifier...
on January 5, 2020
Posted by: EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
“Is that a speaker?” If I had a nickel for every time I have been asked this question… Well it’s not a speaker, but ‘yep’ it certainly looks like one. That’s not a dig at the design mind you, in fact it’s a compliment. The Bissell Air320 (model 2768A), is a very good looking air purifier, a series of words you probably wouldn’t expect to be strung together. Design meets functionality in the Air320, Bissell invested wisely in making its air purifier visually attractive. I really like it!
The design is minimalist, and blends into most decors. It’s unobtrusive, but pleasant to see if noticed in the room. The design to me looks very European, something you might see in an IKEA store. Its clean lines, and quality materials exude quality in a somewhat organic-looking design. I really appreciate that Bissell took the time to make this unit not look like every other air purifier on the market (most of which look too plasticky and more at home in an office or industrial setting).
More important really than the clean design is its ability to produce clean air. After all that is its primary purpose, aesthetics aside this is built to filter air in an enclosed environment. I live in an apartment complex that has a daily cacophony of odors wafting down the hallways and ingressing my living environment. Sometimes I don’t mind, because there are some good cooks around me. In the warmer months I can always open a window. But… In the cold winter months that option is out the window (pun). Then mix all the smells coming down the hallway together, including those that insist on cooking stuff not so pleasant smelling - and well I need something to clear the air while not opening a window.
I sat the Air320 just beyond the inside of my apartment door which opens into the hallway. I figure this is the best spot for it to grab and filter the smells that find their way in.
Pro’s
- Triple filtration system, including an activated carbon filter that works great for reducing odors.
- Automatically adjusts the level of filtration when particulate increase is detected
- Very quiet, gentle sounding 5-speed fan with automated night mode.
- High quality materials
- Beautiful design
- Small legs keep it elevated off the floor
- Simple controls make it a cinch to use
- Compact size fits easily into any room
- Excellent cord management
- Easy to replace filter
- Low power usage and energy star compliant
- Well known manufacturer
- 5 year warranty!
- Triple filtration system, including an activated carbon filter that works great for reducing odors.
- Automatically adjusts the level of filtration when particulate increase is detected
- Very quiet, gentle sounding 5-speed fan with automated night mode.
- High quality materials
- Beautiful design
- Small legs keep it elevated off the floor
- Simple controls make it a cinch to use
- Compact size fits easily into any room
- Excellent cord management
- Easy to replace filter
- Low power usage and energy star compliant
- Well known manufacturer
- 5 year warranty!
Con’s
- No built-in timer (but has automated functions)
- Filters are expensive but worth it
- No built-in timer (but has automated functions)
- Filters are expensive but worth it
My primary goal was to reduce the odors coming into my apartment, and the Air320 is doing a very good job. Does it eliminate all of odors? No… But I never expected it would filter out 100% of the smells. But the filtering is working and that combined with an occasional candle or aromatherapy make a much, much better living environment. I’ve also found that it normalizes the air in the apartment, meaning that it always has the same fresh air quality without varying all over the place. It’s an investment for sure, but what price for a quality of life? I expect this to last for many years, and even with routine cleanings and new filters will cost just pennies a day. Plus I’m saving on energy by not having to open a window to air out my apartment. That alone pays for the price of the purifier and its filter replacements. Of course reducing odors is probably not the primary reason someone will be thinking about buying an air filtration system. But that is what I wanted it for, and it does a great job! If it works as well in all of its other applications - then this is a no-brainer.
Excellent product from design to functionality. Give this one a look if you are in the market.
Oh one last comment as a recommendation to the manufacturer: include a sticker to put on the front that says “Not a Speaker!” :-)
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The Blue Yeti X is a state-of-the-art flagship USB microphone for professional-level gaming, streaming, podcasting, YouTube videos and more. With enhanced Blue VO!CE software, Yeti X delivers legendary Blue broadcast sound with greaterclarity than ever~in four versatile pickup patterns.
Customer Rating
4
Mic Drop! Worth every penny!
on January 1, 2020
Posted by: EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
If you are looking for the best of the best usb mic on the market today, look no further than the Blue Yeti X. This is not only one of the best quality mics on the market, but it looks the part too. It has a nice metal base and a matte black finish on the microphone piece itself.
The Blue Yeti X is the first dedicated mic that I have used on my PC setup at home due to my headset breaking; and I will say it was one of the easiest installations of a mic I’ve ever seen. All I needed to do was plug into the next available usb and I was all set. My experience using this mic has been incredibly good as well. I was able to test my voice and have a few friends listen to me online as well and there wasn’t a single complaint and, in fact, they could all hear me more clearly than on the headset.
There are only a couple negatives with this mic. The first is the light on the front of the mic itself. It is an indicator of how loud you are and is a simple way to determine if you need to turn down your mic input volume. However, it is always on and some may find this distracting especially if their room is dark. I have personally never found this feature distracting. The only other downside to this mic is the price. While the price may be a bit more expensive then other mic, what you get is an incredible product.
I highly recommend this mic if you are one of those people that take conference calls through skype online or are trying to start up a streaming channel, either way, this is a great mic that Blue Yeti has provided.
I recommend saving up your quarters to buy one!
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HP Spectre x360 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Improve your productivity on the go with this 13.3-inch Full HD HP Spectre x360 two-in-one notebook. The 512GB SSD with 32GB of Intel Optane memory ensures fast startups and loads frequently used programs in seconds. This ultra-thin, lightweight HP Spectre x360 two-in-one notebook has an Intel Core i7 processor and 8GB of RAM that smoothly run demanding tasks and let you multitask freely.
Customer Rating
5
An incredible machine
on November 20, 2019
Posted by: EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
This little HP Spectre laptop is quite an amazing machine. Laptops have come a long way from the first ones I worked with, in every way they can be measured. I’ve worked professionally in the computer field for 30 years, so I have a bit more insight than most. In fact, I worked for a company back in the 90’s designing the first thin and light notebook computers. At that time those were state of the art. I recall launching our newest, fastest laptop featuring a 486 processor, 512MB of memory, and a huuuuge 1GB hard drive! For it’s day, that was an amazing machine and it cost several thousands of dollars to own one. When I’d bring one of those on an airplane it would draw attention. Remember this was in the 1990’s.
Fast forward to 2019 and laptop computers have advanced so far beyond what we had thought was possible in a small consumer product. It’s really quite startling how far technology has come. The HP Spectre laptop has more power, more features, more capacity than even the desktop computers from just a few years ago. It’s an incredible device, let me tell you a bit about it.
The form-factor is just packaged so well, it is super thin and super lightweight. I remember how hard we worked on creating thin notebooks back 20 years ago, and those would dwarf the size of the Spectre. The average consumer has no idea how much engineering goes into designing and creating a device like this. The materials used to build the chasis and the outer shell aren’t something most consumers thing about. But it’s vital to use specific materials to ensure stiffness, rigidity, heat dispersion, strength, resistance to scratches, texture, environmental temperatures, and so on. The hinge design is also extremely critical, to ensure they never fail. The ports and inlets need to survive intact over hundreds or thousands of hours of use. This is a science in and of itself, and most people won’t notice it. I do though, and I’m very impressed with Spectre. It’s construction is top notch, HP engineers did a great job figuring out the right materials to use to create the body of this machine. I feel confident that this laptop will last a very long time without failure. And on top of all the functional necessities that the body must provide, it’s also beautiful to look at and to hold. A great design all around!
Powering the Spectre is a 10th generation Intel i7 processor (specifically a i7-1065G7), which Intel introduced in Q3 of 2019. This processor is state of the art, you are getting the latest in CPU technology for laptops in this computer. I could write a full paper on how amazing this processor is. Think about this, the processor has 4 cores, sort of like having 4 independent CPU’s all in one unit working in harmony. Each runs at a base frequency of 1.3 GHz, with boosts up to 3.9 GHz (turbo speed). It connects to the rest of the system on a 4 GT/s bus (giga transfers per second). Think of that as a multi-lane super highway by which data is transported around. It’s super fast, resulting in extremely low (unnoticeable), latency. An i7 CPU like the one used in the Spectre has over 2.1 Billion transistors on a chip not much bigger than your fingernail. It’s mind boggling, the amount of engineering in this chip alone is worthy of a much higher price tag than you’ll pay for this whole system.
But maybe you’re not into all the techno-mumbo-jumbo. You just want a machine that will perform and impress! Well, let’s talk about that… This is an extremely versatile computer, it does many things extremely well. It replaces your desktop computer, it replaces your tablet computer, it replaces your gaming computer, it doubles as an entertainment center. The Spectre is to laptops what the smartphone is to a cell phone. It’s a Swiss-Army knife of technological functionality packaged together in a sleek yet durable design. You can seriously replace a lot of single function devices with this machine. Making the cost of ownership extremely affordable!
So let’s take a look at what it can do…
The combination of the latest generation of i7 processor (i7-1065G7), embedded onto a super fast bus, connected to 8GB of high speed, high bandwidth RAM, pouring data in and out of a 512GB SSD that uses 32GB of Intel Optane memory results in incredible performance! Whether you are cranking out giant spreadsheets, rendering vectorized graphics, playing the most intense VR game, facetiming with your coworkers, or editing your family home videos - the HP Spectre will do it all in stride! The processing power of this mini-might is just incredible.
All of that performance needs an equally great display to show off visually, without lag, and in realistic colors. The 13.3” screen does just that, it’s really beautiful! I love the vivid colors that it renders, on a panel that looks great straight-on or even from an angle. The bright backlight makes it possible to use this laptop outdoors, where lesser display panels would get washed out. The color depth and clarity are as good as those on laptops costing hundreds more.
And of course the screen on this laptop does a neat gymnastic type trick, literally doing a backflip to morph from a laptop into a tablet. The Spectre has an engineered hinge that allows the planel to fold back on itself, and in doing so disables the keyboard and touchpad. When transformed into this configuration screen shows off its touch sensitivity. You can use the panel just like you would a tablet, or smartphone. You can use your fingers or the included pen for detailed work.
The sound system built-into the Spectre is from high-end Swiss audiophile company Bang & Olufsen. That’s just another remarkable part of this system, HP did not cut any corners when designing and building the Spectre. B&O make highly regarded top-end audio systems, that cost more as discrete audio components than this entire laptop retails for. I’m blown away! The audio coming from such a small and thin device is impressive. Piping the audio out to headphones or your home entertainment center is even better!
The backlit keyboard is just great, and easy to see in a dark room. The touchpad is big and responsive, yet not jittery or imprecise like some lesser laptops I’ve owned. The sides and corners of the Spectre provide ports for every modern connection. The built-in camera provided me sharp, lag-free video streaming. The webcam kill switch is a terrific and thoughtful switch that HP engineers decided to include. Very clever! The high speed WIFI capabilities are beyond what my current Internet Provider can accommodate, so I’m guaranteed not to be outdated any time soon! The transmit and receive rates are faster than my desktop computer!
There are so many things I can rave about this system, with very few negatives. Actually the only negative for me is the price. But you get what you pay for in this world. If you want the best, if you want something that will last, you have to spend a bit more. In my opinion with all things considered, the power and performance to price offering of the Spectre is a spectacular deal. My favorite feature? It’s so hard to say, because there’s so much to like here. But I’ll say it’s a tie between the long battery life and the gem-like design of the unit as a whole. I’ve run this thing on battery for over 14 hours before needing to find a plug. It’s a long distance runner for sure! The all aluminum body, and high quality build, in a shapely form make even ardent Apple owners look over and admire this machine. I recommend you buy one!
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Cook meals or reheat food while conserving counter space with this compact 25-liter Breville Compact Wave soft-close microwave. The soft-close door offers quiet, gentle closure to avoid disturbing others, and the preset options provide consistent quality with the press of a button. This Breville Compact Wave soft-close microwave features a mute button for silent operation, and the child lock helps prevent accidental use.
Customer Rating
5
A well designed and constructed compact microwave
on November 12, 2019
Posted by: EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
Not a lot to get excited about when you’re looking to buy a new microwave. Unless you are buying on that will fit a custom installation in cabinetry. In this case the category of microwave is one that will sit on a counter top. Prerequisites are that it should first and foremost heat food quickly, and evenly. It should be attractive and look good sitting on a counter top. It shouldn’t take up a lot of space, and be intuitive to use. The build quality should be very good to excellent, and be engineered and built with materials that will provide a very long product life.
The Compact Wave™ Soft Close checks off all those boxes for me, plus a bit more… The thing that I like the most (above all the usual things that a microwave needs to do), is the soft-close door. That may not sound like much of an important feature, however I really appreciate it. The old microwave would not only be loud while it was in operation, but whenever certain members in my family would close the door they did so with a ‘slam’! It would be so annoying to hear this someone make a bag of popcorn late at night (and smell it too), then when they removed the bag that just toss the door close. This microwave eliminates that annoyance for me! The soft-close feature thwarts the abusers from slamming the door! Good for Breville for figuring out unique ways to make a better product. To top it off they added a mute button so that the microwave doesn’t disturb others when cooking completes, with beeping sounds.
The Breville is packaged well, the layout is familiar and takes up minimal space on the counter top. Yet the interior heating area is surprisingly large, rated at 25L. I haven’t run into anything that I wanted to heat up that didn’t fit. I’ve also been happy with the evenly heated food it produces. The turntable continuously revolves round and round so that the food position is never in one spot for too long.
I like the shortcut buttons it provides for common foods that most people will heat in a microwave. It makes using the unit with different foods easy to figure out, and consistently good results time after time. Breville did a great job executing this feature without making it overly complex. I like the added touch that you can easily add more time to the programmed cycle if needed. I also like the big knob that is used to adjust cooking times, and other things. The reheat and defrost features worked great, de-thawing food evenly using lowered power levels.
The stainless steel case is both attractive and easy to keep clean, and it looks good in my kitchen. Heating times are quite impressive! Normally compact microwaves don’t do as good of a job heating quickly as larger microwaves do. Impressively this compact unit is the best of both worlds, it’s compact and heats up food very quickly.
I’m thoroughly impressed with the Compact Wave™ Soft Close microwave from Breville. I am glad that it comes with a full one-year warranty (though I hope never to have to use it). I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a high quality microwave that will fit neatly on a counter top or shelf. Favorite feature is the soft close door and overall quiet operation.
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Get fresh breath and healthy gums with this Philips Sonicare ExpertClean electric toothbrush. The built-in sensor controls applied pressure to help avoid gum inflammation and soreness, while the soft, flexible bristles reach deep between teeth for up to 10 times better plaque removal. This Philips Sonicare ExpertClean electric toothbrush has three intensity modes to fit your personal preference.
Customer Rating
5
You Track your Steps, now Track your Brushing!
on October 21, 2019
Posted by: EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
The best keeps getting better! I’ve been using Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes for years. I’ve also owned other brands, but I kept returning to Sonicare. Why? I have found Sonicare offers the best performance to value of any brand (that I’ve tried). I’ve been using the 7300 for just about a month and it has been just excellent! The new feature that the 7300 offers over the last model I owned is the pressure sensor. I would wear through brushes pretty quickly on my prior models. Turns out I was applying too much pressure while brushing. This reduces the lifespan of the brush head, and lessens the effectiveness of the brush sonic motions. This new model and its accompanying tracking application software guides you to apply the right pressure while brushing, and provides a report of your brushing through the app. Think of it as tracking your steps per day in another popular electronic health device. This tracks your brushing effectiveness. Very cool! Your teeth deserve it!
Pro’s
Typical Philips high quality build and materials
Excellent battery life (I’ve taken it away for weekend trips without the charger)
Outstanding performance in cleaning my teeth, gets into all the nooks and crannies
Intensity setting allows to dial up or down the vibrations (for those with sensitive teeth)
Progress Report (via bluetooth), application is like tracking steps but for my teeth
Pressure sensor with haptic response makes me a better brusher
Handy travelling case makes it neat and easy to take on the road
Different brush heads included (1 C3 Premium Plaque Control, 1 G3 Premium Gum Care)
Typical Philips high quality build and materials
Excellent battery life (I’ve taken it away for weekend trips without the charger)
Outstanding performance in cleaning my teeth, gets into all the nooks and crannies
Intensity setting allows to dial up or down the vibrations (for those with sensitive teeth)
Progress Report (via bluetooth), application is like tracking steps but for my teeth
Pressure sensor with haptic response makes me a better brusher
Handy travelling case makes it neat and easy to take on the road
Different brush heads included (1 C3 Premium Plaque Control, 1 G3 Premium Gum Care)
Con’s
It’s kind of expensive, but like with all things “you get what you pay for”. In the long run this is a wise investment in preventative maintenance. My dentist visits have been much less eventful since I began using Sonicare toothbrushes. My dental hygienist noticed the difference right away! There’s a lot less scraping and pain now when I go in for my semi-annual cleaning.
It’s kind of expensive, but like with all things “you get what you pay for”. In the long run this is a wise investment in preventative maintenance. My dentist visits have been much less eventful since I began using Sonicare toothbrushes. My dental hygienist noticed the difference right away! There’s a lot less scraping and pain now when I go in for my semi-annual cleaning.
Highly recommended! A bargain at twice the price!
PS. If anyone from Philips happens upon this review, you have a couple of misspellings on the 7300 product page. “...The progress report tracks four performance areas: brushing time, frequency, the brush head usage and the amount of pressure used as you brush. No need to have your phone with you in the bathroom. The progress report is avaible for you - anytime, anywhere. Importantly, tracking the use of each brush head prevents them from becoming ineffective and alerts you when to replace them forongoing results.” (avaible, and forongoing).
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The reliable Brother HL-L3210CW compact digital color printer is a great choice for the busy home or small office. Quick print speeds of up to 19 pages per minute~ plus manual feed slot accommodates varied printing needs and can handle a variety of paper types and sizes including card stock, envelopes and more. Connect with versatile options including built-in wireless or USB interfaces and print wirelessly from mobile devices. The 250-sheet capacity adjustable paper tray helps improve efficiency with fewer refills and handles letter or legal sized paper. Brother Genuine high-yield replacement toner cartridges help lower printing costs. Comes with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call or live chat support for the life of your product. Prints up to 19 ppm~ in black and up to 19 ppm~ in color.
Customer Rating
5
Another Home Run from Brother!
on October 9, 2019
Posted by: EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
Oh Brother! Another excellent color laser printer! A home run! This is the second color printer I’ve obtained from the manufacturer Brother. This one impresses me as much as the first one did, and I’m happy to recommend it. I use my printer for SOHO purposes, it gets used for a variety of things from printing letters, printing cards, printing photos, and more. I use all types of paper, from the cheapest stuff I can find to print drafts, to expensive heavy weight and costly photo quality paper. I’ve also manually put through and printed on business envelopes. I have not been disappointed once using the HL-L3210CW printer. It’s fast, it’s quiet and it doesn’t take up much space on my desk.
Setup was simple, I started with it tethered to my PC then eventually switched over to WIFI. This allowed me to move it to the most convenient location in my office. I’m at my day job during the week, so it doesn’t get much use until the weekends. What’s nice is I can keep it powered on in standby mode. It’s drawing a very small amount of electricity, but when I do need to print something it comes back up very fast and I’m printing right away. But do be aware that if you don’t use the printer for a long period of time it will pass through standard Sleep mode into a Deep Sleep. This is an ultra low power mode, and when it goes into that mode the printer needs to be awoken in person (in other words you can wake it up remotely). It’s not an issue for me, but just be aware of this in case you use the printer very infrequently.
The print speed is rated at 19 pages per minute. I’ve never actually timed it (hahaha), but I can attest to the speed is impressive. No lag, it burns through the print jobs I send it. I’ve always found it very convenient to use the mobile printing functionality. I can print directly from my mobile phone, or tablet. I’ve even printed through the cloud, using Google Cloud Print.
Like all Brother products I’ve owned, this printer has been very reliable and I expect it will remain that way. Each cartridge is rated to last up to a thousand pages, and the tone drum up to 18,000 pages. Given my small need for printing, perhaps 50 pages a week maximum, costs will remain low for consumables (the tray holds up to 250 pages depending on the paper stock). The actual print mechanism is LED, which is essentially going to last for the life of the product. A one year warranty is provided, which is good coverage for a low-cost color laser printer.
My devices run the gamut from Windows-based PC’s, Linux tablets, to mobile device - all are supported and work consistently well. I haven’t yet had to replace the toner cartridges, and I’ve been using the printer a lot in recent weeks. The cost per page of this printer is really impressive! I’ve used the duplex printing feature to print both sides of a single sheet of paper, which saves money and reduces waste.
I’m very impressed with the HL-L3210CW printer, it has been working great and handles everything I’ve thrown at it. If you want to upgrade from black and white prints, to rich color prints you can do it with this printer for a price that a mono printer would have cost years ago. It’s a bargain, grab one. Oh one more bit of advice, buy only Brother genuine cartridges. I tried refilling in the past with other printers I’ve owned. That was always a disaster and ended up ruining print jobs, wasting paper, and eventually ruining the printer. Treat your printer well, feed it good toner and it will treat you to a long useful life. Highly recommended!
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Put floor cleaning on autopilot with this SharkNinja Shark IQ robot vacuum. Compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant simplifies control from a distance, while the IQ Nav functionality provides digital home mapping to clean specific rooms as needed right now. This SharkNinja Shark IQ robot vacuum recharges itself to resume cleaning from where it left off.
Customer Rating
3
Good but not Great Results - an Honest Review
on October 1, 2019
Posted by: EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
The Shark - IQ Robot RV1001 App-Controlled Robot Vacuum is another robotic vacuum cleaner that enters an increasingly crowded arena. Is this the best one to buy in its price range? That I can’t tell you, this is the third robotic vacuum I’ve owned - and there are so many more out on the market. But what I can tell you is how it compared to the other models I’ve owned and what I like and don’t like about it. Ultimately the decision is yours to make, and if all else fails Best Buy has a terrific return policy. Of the three vacuums I’ve owned this one ranks in the middle. It is way better than the first one I owned, however in fairness the first one I owned was one of the early models from the originator of this device. It was the gadget to own at the time, but I had nothing but troubles with that vacuum. It was an expensive mistake, and I vowed never to buy another robot vacuum. Many years later I was asked to write an unbiased and honest review of a robot vacuum from a different manufacturer. I decided to give it a shot. To my great surprise I really liked that device! It won me over with its neat D shape design giving it a wide brush area, and ability to get into tight spaces. It also did a great job mapping my home’s floors and the sophisticated app provided me a way to create ‘no go’ zones. This was my faithful robot cleaner for 8 months, when another product review was offered to me. This unit comes from SharkNinja, a company I’ve become acquainted with over the past few years. I have a cordless and a corded vacuum of theirs, which I love and highly recommend. I also have kitchen appliances from them, a blender and a coffee maker (more on those later). I figured this would be a really fun review to do and product to own. So I put aside my then current robot vacuum, and set up the Shark IQ in its place. This is also a network connected device, allowing you to name the robot (I called him Gort), and then he can communicate status message back to me. Gort has lived in my home now for three weeks, cleaning my rooms on a preset schedule. Below are the pro’s and con’s I’ve accumulated. In summary the Shark Robot did a fine job but didn’t impress me as much as the other robot vacuum I previously reviewed. I’m not saying it isn’t a decent machine, I’m just stating that given the choice, knowing what I know now - I’d opt for the other brand and model. The Shark IQ scored better in some areas than did the other unit. But overall, with all things considered - it takes second place for what I need a vacuum to do.
Pro’s
- Super quiet! Much quieter than the other units I’ve owned. It actually snuck up on me a few times.
- Side brushes work well, they gently push objects into the cleaning bar. I’ve seen other units that spin the brushes so fast that they actually knock particles away into unreachable areas.
- Excellent job picking up debris and dust, surprising actually how much it hauls back. I am very impressed by its suction power.
- Best dust collection bin I’ve used in any model. Easy to remove and empty.
- App was easy to use, was simple to set up. Instructions are clear and easily understandable.
- The self-cleaning brush roll actually worked! This is the only unit I’ve used that didn’t get bound up with hair and threads.
- The filter is easily removable and replaceable. Easier than other models I’ve owned.
- Compatible with Google Voice and Alexa.
- Sends text messages to inform of status.
- Affordable price
- Super quiet! Much quieter than the other units I’ve owned. It actually snuck up on me a few times.
- Side brushes work well, they gently push objects into the cleaning bar. I’ve seen other units that spin the brushes so fast that they actually knock particles away into unreachable areas.
- Excellent job picking up debris and dust, surprising actually how much it hauls back. I am very impressed by its suction power.
- Best dust collection bin I’ve used in any model. Easy to remove and empty.
- App was easy to use, was simple to set up. Instructions are clear and easily understandable.
- The self-cleaning brush roll actually worked! This is the only unit I’ve used that didn’t get bound up with hair and threads.
- The filter is easily removable and replaceable. Easier than other models I’ve owned.
- Compatible with Google Voice and Alexa.
- Sends text messages to inform of status.
- Affordable price
Con’s
- The biggest issue I’ve had with this unit is it constantly gets stuck or stranded. To be fair this has happened on the other two robots I’ve owned. The difference is that this one doesn’t seem to learn as well or as quickly as my other unit did. The other vacuum bumped around the house too, but after a couple of weeks, and setting up no-go zones - it was able to navigate my home like a pro. With the Shark you have to put down these little rubber strips to tell the vacuum to stay away. This has been a chore to do, I’ve got these little strips all over the place. Plus it took forever to map my floors. And even then I can’t create virtual walls like I could with my other robot vac. If the Shark didn’t get stuck under a couch, or trying to go over a raised mat, it would run out of battery and would be lying ‘dead’ in the middle of the floor when I came home. It had problems many times trying to find its way back to the docking station. I would watch it at times, and found myself yelling at it. Ha! It seems like it would get so confused trying to navigate its way back. It would bump and bounce around trying to get back for a recharge. It had such a hard time that often it ran out of juice before getting back. This never happened to the other model I owned.
- The algorithms that the Shark engineers programmed into this robot just don’t seem to be as robust and “intelligent” as the other brand I reviewed. It doesn’t seem to learn from its actions either, it will do the same wrong thing over and over again.
- The cleaning bar is much shorter than in the other vacuum I reviewed. Because it has a smaller brush and inlet, the unit has to travel back and forth that much more. It still cleaned really well, but I found it odd that the cleaning bar would be nearly half the length in comparison.
- The app software is fine, but it has a lot of room for improvement. It can map rooms, but can’t set up virtual boundaries (my favorite feature on the other vacuum I own).
- The built-in screen filter is not well designed, it should be cleaned every time you empty the tray but it’s partially blocked by a piece of plastic, making it more difficult to do than it should be.
- The Shark IQ doesn’t seem to make good decisions on how it navigates rooms. It appears to be very random and doesn’t produce the neat and straight lines in the carpet like my other vacuum does.
- Lastly, I have loved my Shark upright vacuums. They have been great! However I have had quality problems with the other kitchen devices from Shark. The coffee maker leaks, and the blender’s blades rusted and fell apart. So I am cautious about the longevity of this device given my past history with this brand. Time will tell.
- The biggest issue I’ve had with this unit is it constantly gets stuck or stranded. To be fair this has happened on the other two robots I’ve owned. The difference is that this one doesn’t seem to learn as well or as quickly as my other unit did. The other vacuum bumped around the house too, but after a couple of weeks, and setting up no-go zones - it was able to navigate my home like a pro. With the Shark you have to put down these little rubber strips to tell the vacuum to stay away. This has been a chore to do, I’ve got these little strips all over the place. Plus it took forever to map my floors. And even then I can’t create virtual walls like I could with my other robot vac. If the Shark didn’t get stuck under a couch, or trying to go over a raised mat, it would run out of battery and would be lying ‘dead’ in the middle of the floor when I came home. It had problems many times trying to find its way back to the docking station. I would watch it at times, and found myself yelling at it. Ha! It seems like it would get so confused trying to navigate its way back. It would bump and bounce around trying to get back for a recharge. It had such a hard time that often it ran out of juice before getting back. This never happened to the other model I owned.
- The algorithms that the Shark engineers programmed into this robot just don’t seem to be as robust and “intelligent” as the other brand I reviewed. It doesn’t seem to learn from its actions either, it will do the same wrong thing over and over again.
- The cleaning bar is much shorter than in the other vacuum I reviewed. Because it has a smaller brush and inlet, the unit has to travel back and forth that much more. It still cleaned really well, but I found it odd that the cleaning bar would be nearly half the length in comparison.
- The app software is fine, but it has a lot of room for improvement. It can map rooms, but can’t set up virtual boundaries (my favorite feature on the other vacuum I own).
- The built-in screen filter is not well designed, it should be cleaned every time you empty the tray but it’s partially blocked by a piece of plastic, making it more difficult to do than it should be.
- The Shark IQ doesn’t seem to make good decisions on how it navigates rooms. It appears to be very random and doesn’t produce the neat and straight lines in the carpet like my other vacuum does.
- Lastly, I have loved my Shark upright vacuums. They have been great! However I have had quality problems with the other kitchen devices from Shark. The coffee maker leaks, and the blender’s blades rusted and fell apart. So I am cautious about the longevity of this device given my past history with this brand. Time will tell.
In Summary this is a good robot vacuum, but you should compare before you buy. In my opinion this isn’t the best robot vacuum cleaner that I’ve owned. In fact, I’m probably going to put Gort away and bring back ‘Rosie’ (the name I gave to Gort’s predecessor). If I had bought this unit, I would likely return it. I simply like the other unit I own better. Just being honest... I hope my honest unbiased review helps you make the right choices. Happy cleaning!
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+20points
25of 30voted this as helpful.
Customize your sound with these EVEN H4 Bluetooth headphones. Integrated EarPrint technology lets you personalize your sound profile, and the 40mm drivers enhance your experience with rich, detailed audio. These EVEN H4 Bluetooth headphones offer up to 20 hours of use per charge and have on-ear controls that make it easy to skip songs and change volume levels.
Customer Rating
4
Now I need reading glasses for my old ears too!
on September 24, 2019
Posted by: EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
Here are my thoughts on the new Even H4 Bluetooth Headphones
Glasses for your ears is a bit of a stretch… But I get it.
Even is a weird name for a product. Just my opinion… I think a better marketing name would be “Way Better!”. :-)
No noise-cancelling on these. That’s okay with me, I was never a fan… I prefer unadulterated sound reproduction and that doesn’t exist in noise cancelling headphones. But be aware, these do not employ noise-cancelling technology.
Easy to set up with Bluetooth, but twice had an Issue with Bluetooth disconnecting. Had to restart the headphones to reconnect.
Earprint Idea is creative and replaces the need for a manual equalizer.
Lightweight, and comfortable to wear. Clamping pressure is okay, not too much pressure.
Some quality issues on stitching, found it to be uneven in places.
No obvious way to change the battery when one day it wears out.
No obvious way to change the ear pads, if they get worn out or damaged.
Wood grain is an acquired taste. Looks like an old Country Squire station wagon I rode in as a kid.
There are two bumps in the headband that protrude slightly. Nothing bad, but shows questionable quality control. It may just simply be part of the design as I saw it on the floor model too.
Mic is a small hole on the Left side near the power button. Placement seems unusual, but I won’t be using these to talk on the phone with.
LED is very tiny. That’s good and bad. Good so it won’t distract in dark room. Bad since it’s difficult to see. Also it’s too close to the power button, and if you have big fingers you may end up covering it up during pairing.
Earprints that you create can’t be tweaked after you’ve created them. This seems like it would be an obvious feature to add to the app. I hope it comes in a future update...
App is fine but it could be seriously enhanced and made better. The company needs to spend some time designing a better interface, with more flexibility and features.
Voice prompts are a female, and named SARAH. I like her voice! Ha! However… Her volume is a bit loud by default. More than once her announcing “Connected!” surprised me to the point of almost throwing the headphones off! There should be manual control over this.
When the battery runs low Sarah again announces at a loud volume that the batteries are running low! This happened once after I nodded off and I nearly leaped off the couch when she blurted out the status! Ha!
USB C cable is ridiculously short, they should have included a cable twice as long or more. But I will give the manufacturer kudos for using USB C for faster charging.
The included Headphone cable is a ridiculously short - only a usable 29 inches long. I realize these are meant to be used with Bluetooth. But, if you are going to provide the ability to use a mini adapter cable, provide one that is actually usable. The one included is nearly worthless.
The headphone construction are a closed ear design. They do a pretty good job sealing in sound, about 20% of sound bleeds through externally.
The volume buttons and the play button are all the same shape and size and material. That makes it difficult to change without looking at them. It would have been a better design if they could be felt different haptically.
Adjustments for different size heads is excellent. I have a big noggin and these were not stressed at all, and fit was outstanding. Big thumbs up in this regard.
Power / Pair button is oddly white but doesn’t illuminate.Why not green, or some other standard color for a power button. Just an observation...
User guide is a pamphlet. Online resources are minimal. The user is left to search for more information online if they are curious about the headphones.
Comes in a decent storage case, nothing fancy but certainly does the job.
Retail box is nothing special. Presentation when open the box is not exciting. Doesn’t impress like say an Apple product would upon unboxing.
Battery life has been outstanding. Rated at 20 hours, and I believe it based on my usage.
A transmitter / receiver is available from Even direct for an extra cost. I didn’t get one with the headphones so I can’t comment on it. But it would be a very good accessory to purchase so that you can hook up to your TV or other audio device that doesn’t have bluetooth. My TV has bluetooth and it worked like a champ, and I enjoyed using them in the evenings.
Lots of Awards and strong reviews online for Even headphones, and the sound profiling process. It is clever, but I wouldn’t say revolutionary. Nura headphones have a far more sophisticated process for determining hearing capabilities. They are however 3X as much. If you are willing to spend more, buy the best you can. But at this price point there isn’t a competitor (yet). The innovative way the app determines the sound levels is a way that a non-audiophile can enhance their music. As an enthusiast I still prefer manual control over the audible sound spectrum. But I can certainly say that they will bring better sound possibilities to those that aren’t audio aficionados like myself.
Summary
The quality of the Even H4 headphones is my biggest concern. Nothing has broken on them however on close inspection I can see that the materials and construction isn’t first class. For now they are fine. But long term? Well, we’ll see… They are very comfortable, lightweight, and easy to fit and adjust to your personal like. The top of the head cushion could be a bit thicker in my opinion. Then again it could just be the shape of my head, but there is a spot on top that hurts after a couple of hours. The woodgrain look I’m not happy with, but who cares… They sound good. The audio app is what sets these apart from every other headphone in the price point. And yet it desperately needs refinement… If I worked for Even, I could help them. I’m sure they’ll figure out all the particulars and in the future they’ll be updates that will greatly enhance the software. There is a lot of opportunity to make this a much better software application. Overall I can recommend these headphones. At the price point there isn’t really anything else that does what these headphones can do. Yes, if you know how to use a digital equalizer you can achieve similar results as you get from the Even app. But what I applaud mostly about these headphones is once you have customized the audio profile it is saved as default to the headphones. That means that you can then use them on any audio output device, wired or wireless and get the same sound customizing characteristics. That is something not possible otherwise using a manual equalizer app. This is a reason alone to buy these headphones. Which is why I am an owner… I just really hope the company enhances the app. Or even better open up the app, provide guys like me an API - and allow us to create our own versions of software to run atop their hardware. Finally, how do they sound regardless of the sound profiling? Well I have several bluetooth headphones, of them all my favorite sound ones are an older design called the Parrot Zik headphones. They are extremely uncomfortable, but in my opinion are the best sounding headphones (bluetooth), I’ve ever used. They are heavy, hot, and don’t conform well to my head. But they sound amazing. The Even H4 sounds good, but fails to sound equal in quality, soundstage, separation, tightness, depth, etc. But again the Parrot Zik are more expensive headphones and they aren't nearly as comfortable. I will use the H4’s at work every day because they are lightweight, and sound pretty dang great. I’ll give these a thumbs-up! Especially if you can get them on sale. Enjoy!
Glasses for your ears is a bit of a stretch… But I get it.
Even is a weird name for a product. Just my opinion… I think a better marketing name would be “Way Better!”. :-)
No noise-cancelling on these. That’s okay with me, I was never a fan… I prefer unadulterated sound reproduction and that doesn’t exist in noise cancelling headphones. But be aware, these do not employ noise-cancelling technology.
Easy to set up with Bluetooth, but twice had an Issue with Bluetooth disconnecting. Had to restart the headphones to reconnect.
Earprint Idea is creative and replaces the need for a manual equalizer.
Lightweight, and comfortable to wear. Clamping pressure is okay, not too much pressure.
Some quality issues on stitching, found it to be uneven in places.
No obvious way to change the battery when one day it wears out.
No obvious way to change the ear pads, if they get worn out or damaged.
Wood grain is an acquired taste. Looks like an old Country Squire station wagon I rode in as a kid.
There are two bumps in the headband that protrude slightly. Nothing bad, but shows questionable quality control. It may just simply be part of the design as I saw it on the floor model too.
Mic is a small hole on the Left side near the power button. Placement seems unusual, but I won’t be using these to talk on the phone with.
LED is very tiny. That’s good and bad. Good so it won’t distract in dark room. Bad since it’s difficult to see. Also it’s too close to the power button, and if you have big fingers you may end up covering it up during pairing.
Earprints that you create can’t be tweaked after you’ve created them. This seems like it would be an obvious feature to add to the app. I hope it comes in a future update...
App is fine but it could be seriously enhanced and made better. The company needs to spend some time designing a better interface, with more flexibility and features.
Voice prompts are a female, and named SARAH. I like her voice! Ha! However… Her volume is a bit loud by default. More than once her announcing “Connected!” surprised me to the point of almost throwing the headphones off! There should be manual control over this.
When the battery runs low Sarah again announces at a loud volume that the batteries are running low! This happened once after I nodded off and I nearly leaped off the couch when she blurted out the status! Ha!
USB C cable is ridiculously short, they should have included a cable twice as long or more. But I will give the manufacturer kudos for using USB C for faster charging.
The included Headphone cable is a ridiculously short - only a usable 29 inches long. I realize these are meant to be used with Bluetooth. But, if you are going to provide the ability to use a mini adapter cable, provide one that is actually usable. The one included is nearly worthless.
The headphone construction are a closed ear design. They do a pretty good job sealing in sound, about 20% of sound bleeds through externally.
The volume buttons and the play button are all the same shape and size and material. That makes it difficult to change without looking at them. It would have been a better design if they could be felt different haptically.
Adjustments for different size heads is excellent. I have a big noggin and these were not stressed at all, and fit was outstanding. Big thumbs up in this regard.
Power / Pair button is oddly white but doesn’t illuminate.Why not green, or some other standard color for a power button. Just an observation...
User guide is a pamphlet. Online resources are minimal. The user is left to search for more information online if they are curious about the headphones.
Comes in a decent storage case, nothing fancy but certainly does the job.
Retail box is nothing special. Presentation when open the box is not exciting. Doesn’t impress like say an Apple product would upon unboxing.
Battery life has been outstanding. Rated at 20 hours, and I believe it based on my usage.
A transmitter / receiver is available from Even direct for an extra cost. I didn’t get one with the headphones so I can’t comment on it. But it would be a very good accessory to purchase so that you can hook up to your TV or other audio device that doesn’t have bluetooth. My TV has bluetooth and it worked like a champ, and I enjoyed using them in the evenings.
Lots of Awards and strong reviews online for Even headphones, and the sound profiling process. It is clever, but I wouldn’t say revolutionary. Nura headphones have a far more sophisticated process for determining hearing capabilities. They are however 3X as much. If you are willing to spend more, buy the best you can. But at this price point there isn’t a competitor (yet). The innovative way the app determines the sound levels is a way that a non-audiophile can enhance their music. As an enthusiast I still prefer manual control over the audible sound spectrum. But I can certainly say that they will bring better sound possibilities to those that aren’t audio aficionados like myself.
Summary
The quality of the Even H4 headphones is my biggest concern. Nothing has broken on them however on close inspection I can see that the materials and construction isn’t first class. For now they are fine. But long term? Well, we’ll see… They are very comfortable, lightweight, and easy to fit and adjust to your personal like. The top of the head cushion could be a bit thicker in my opinion. Then again it could just be the shape of my head, but there is a spot on top that hurts after a couple of hours. The woodgrain look I’m not happy with, but who cares… They sound good. The audio app is what sets these apart from every other headphone in the price point. And yet it desperately needs refinement… If I worked for Even, I could help them. I’m sure they’ll figure out all the particulars and in the future they’ll be updates that will greatly enhance the software. There is a lot of opportunity to make this a much better software application. Overall I can recommend these headphones. At the price point there isn’t really anything else that does what these headphones can do. Yes, if you know how to use a digital equalizer you can achieve similar results as you get from the Even app. But what I applaud mostly about these headphones is once you have customized the audio profile it is saved as default to the headphones. That means that you can then use them on any audio output device, wired or wireless and get the same sound customizing characteristics. That is something not possible otherwise using a manual equalizer app. This is a reason alone to buy these headphones. Which is why I am an owner… I just really hope the company enhances the app. Or even better open up the app, provide guys like me an API - and allow us to create our own versions of software to run atop their hardware. Finally, how do they sound regardless of the sound profiling? Well I have several bluetooth headphones, of them all my favorite sound ones are an older design called the Parrot Zik headphones. They are extremely uncomfortable, but in my opinion are the best sounding headphones (bluetooth), I’ve ever used. They are heavy, hot, and don’t conform well to my head. But they sound amazing. The Even H4 sounds good, but fails to sound equal in quality, soundstage, separation, tightness, depth, etc. But again the Parrot Zik are more expensive headphones and they aren't nearly as comfortable. I will use the H4’s at work every day because they are lightweight, and sound pretty dang great. I’ll give these a thumbs-up! Especially if you can get them on sale. Enjoy!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
7of 8voted this as helpful.
Capture video while driving with this Nextbase 422GW dash camera. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity automatically sync footage to your phone for easier editing and sharing, and the 2.5-inch IPS touch screen offers intuitive control with upgraded resolution. This Nextbase 422GW dash camera with Alexa built-in uses a G-sensor and SOS response service, safeguarding your footage upon impact while alerting emergency services for safety and a prompt response.
Customer Rating
5
The first DashCam worth permanently installing
on August 13, 2019
Posted by: EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
I, like most people, have a daily commute to and from work that is a pain in the neck. I rack up a lot of miles on my car, and statistically I am bound to either witness an accident or God-forbid be involved in one. The daily commute can be a crazy thing, many people are zombies and not paying attention. Many are on their phones, either talking or texting - bottomline they are distracted. If you want to see the height of crazy driving check out the dashcam videos online taken in Russia. Ironically as crazy as they are, it was those videos that convinced me to get myself my own dashcam.
I’ve had a couple of dashcams that were very inexpensive to purchase. Those were complete wastes of money. The video they recorded was washed out, low in resolution, and many times just didn’t work. Like all things, you get what you pay for. Those were a waste of money. The answer to those bad experiences is what I’m here to write about. The NextBase 422GW dashcam, which was recently reviewed by a premier tech magazine taking the #1 spot.
The NextBase 422GW is a welcome surprise in respect that it does everything I wanted a dashcam to do. And it does it well, without any fuss. It was super easy to set up and get going. I literally had it operational within 10 minutes of removing it from the box.
Setup was simple, with the usual first-time powered on process that steps you through until configured. That gets you going, and you could remain that way indefinitely. However there is a full configuration menu system that allows you to personalize and set your specific preferences. You don’t have to do this, but being a bit geeky I played around with all the settings. And this dashcam has a boatload of features and settings! I’ll cover some but not all in this review. There’s just too many!
What I expect in a high quality dashcam is reliability (it needs to work every day, without fail). It needs to take high quality video (and audio), so that in case of an accident or incident the video can be examined closely to look for small details. At 1440 30FPS the detail is outstanding, and you zoom into the recording you’ve made with the excellent NextBase Player software that you can download for free from the NextBase website.
What I liked:
The 422GW features an HD camera capable of recording video at 1440P at 30FPS. The quality at the highest setting was incredibly good, better than any dashcam I’ve ever own. It’s on par with the video on my cell phone, which says a lot! But what it has that my cell phone doesn’t is intelligence built-in for the purpose to take video all the time and do it in a structured way. I’ll explain shortly… The all-glass, F1.3 coated lens has a 140 degree viewing angle. It has a very minor fisheye effect, which was fine and expected.
A GPS is built-into this dashcam, which worked great! It captures details of where you are as it records. It can capture, if you want, your location and your speed. These are configurable, but if left enabled will provide exceptional evidence on your behalf if you need to prove where you were at the time of an accident or incident.
The build quality is extremely good, best of the bunch that I’ve handled in stores. It’s solid, and gives the impression that only the best materials were used and it will last a long time. Truly I’ve had other devices fall off my car dashboard and fall apart. This one will likely never fall off (due to the outstanding mounting system), but even if it does it is unlikely to be damaged. So if you are in an accident this was built to survive a heavy hit. That’s peace of mind!
It has WIFI and Bluetooth connectivity, and an app that allows you to broadcast the video in realtime to your phone or tablet. The WiFi is for the connection between your mobile phone and the dashcam. The Bluetooth is for the connection between the dashcam and your car stereo. Setting up the app wasn’t difficult at all, taking just a few minutes to complete. The GW422 also features Alexa integration. What that means is that the dashcam becomes another device that Alexa can control. If you have created an Alexa ecosphere already, this will be a natural for you. The NextBase app interacts perfectly with the Alexa app, giving you access to all dashcam functionality while still being able to control your other Alexa compatible devices. At some point the whole Alexa thing gets a bit much for me, but I have to say it is a good idea to have voice controls in the car so you can keep both hands on the wheel. Plus there’s an SOS feature in the App that will notify emergency services to your location in case of an accident. Similar to OnStar in GM cars, but without the monthly fee. But honestly once I configured my dashcam and mounted it in my car - I don’t mess too much with it. A dashcam is a set a forget device for me at least. It’s there doing its thing, unobtrusively until something bad happens.
There is another NextBase model one up from the 422, which features a bigger touchscreen. My eyes are getting old and my fingers are meaty and not as stable as they once were. More screen surface area to click on would be nice, but once you know where to click on the screen it has been a breeze to use. Also with the app there is integration and connectivity to your cell phone so you can view the video that way. NextBase really did a great job loading this product up with every useful feature. You can either take advantage of them all, or just use the basic recording functionality. At a minimum you will get outstanding video quality.
The mounting system is stellar! There is both a permanent 3M mount, and a temporary suction-cup type mount. Both latch onto the camera with an ingenious connection system that uses a super strong magnet to make connection and disconnection simple without messing with rewiring. The magnets are strong in fact that I discovered them to hold tighter than the suction-cup! Several times while attempting to remove just the dashcam from the mount the magnet held with such strength that the suction-cup gave up first. It can be frustrating until you figure out a method to separate the two. This won’t be a problem if you use the permanent mount of course. The positives outweigh the negative and I give it a thumbs-up.
As mentioned earlier the video quality is outstanding, both day and in the evening. What I did discover is that during daylight hours the 1440P 30FPS provides stunning video. When it gets dark I found the 1080P 60FPS to be a better option to reduce graininess and increase light sensitivity. It would be nice if the camera could be configured to do this automatically. The 422 does not use IR front facing LEDS like some dashcams do. Which is fine, because those are mostly useless and a gimmick unless something is really up close. I found the the nighttime recording to be very good to excellent within the area of your headlights. But at the periphery the video gets dark quickly and you lose detail. Through post processing you can boost the contrast and brightness if you need to. But otherwise I’m more that satisfied with its low light performance.
The things I didn’t like.
There’s only one... The audio. I found the audio quality to be horrible, and blown out with tons of clipping. My situation may not be the norm since I have the dashcam in my convertible, so the unit is subjected to wind. Not that dashcams need to excel in audio, but there’s no reason why they shouldn’t. Unless I received a defective unit, the recording quality is terrible. I would love to hear from NextBase as to why this is, and if I can do something to solve this problem. For those of us that drive a convertible, how do we get decent audio? There are no controls over audio in the setup, just ON/OFF. NextBase - are you listening (pun intended)?
Summary
This is a fantastic dashcam, I can’t tell you how far superior it is to every other dashcam I’ve ever owned. It is chuck full of features, many more that I haven’t even covered in this longggg review! I highly recommend this unit to anyone looking for a quality dashcam. I also highly recommend buying a large capacity microSD card. At a minimum get a 64GB. The recordings will loop, so it isn’t like you’ll run out of space ever. But you will overwrite video once you’ve hit capacity. In my case I put in a 256gb card, and set the recording intervals to 3 minutes each. I like the option of retaining video clips, particularly when going on a scenic drive.
Buy this model or the one above it if you want a bigger screen and a slightly better lens with built-in polarizing filter. You won’t regret it! Also check with your insurance company, some are giving discounts for installed dashcams.
Now just to figure out the audio issue, and I’d love to obtain the rear view camera that integrates simply to this camera. Such a well engineered device. Thank you NextBase - you have a winner!
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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EagleCroft's Review Comments
Bose~ SoundLink~ Mini Speaker: Enjoy full, robust sound anywhere you go with this speaker that features an ultracompact design for easy movement from room to room. Bluetooth technology allows you to wirelessly stream music and more from your compatible cell phone, audio player and more.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5King of the Hill "Portable Bluetooth Speakers"
By EagleCroft
from Exeter, NH
I'll admit it, I'm an audio snob. Unfortunately my wallet doesn't match my audio desires - so I try to get the best bang for my buck. I have tried many portable speakers starting at $50 and steadily worked my way up. I really didn't want to spend $200 on a speaker, but once I got to demo the Bose Soundlink Mini I found out that there was something very special about this little gem. I've tested speakers 2 times, even 3 times its size and none have reproduced the full spectrum and warmth of sound that the Soundlink Mini has. To be honest as a self-proclaimed audiophile I have shunned Bose products, they were always too mainstream for me - too mass marketed and price / value never made sense to me. I instead would opt for the more esoteric name brands (and still do). But in this case there is simply no competition at this price point (and Bose products never go on sale). Being able to pack this much sound into such a small case is just unbelievable. The engineers at Bose are simply magicians, or at least "wicked smart". It almost doesn't make sense when you hear this speaker playing, you expect to see a subwoofer hidden somewhere. I’d like to suggest to Bose that they change the name from Soundlink to “The Bose Tardis”, as its size belies its true capabilities (Dr. Who reference). I did several side by side comparisons with more than a half dozen Bluetooth speakers and the closest any one of them came was the UE Boom. The Bose has warmer tones overall, which I particularly like (vocals sound full, but not overdone). The UE Boom has better sound separation; the bass is good – but not as good as the Bose. Its upper end is crisp, and actually too bright for my ears. Of all the sub $200 speakers I’ve tried, these 2 are the crème of the crop. The edges out a win for me, but if I were more interested in portability (throwing the speaker in a backpack and heading to the beach), in that case the UE Boom is a better choice. The Bose is more of a home-body; it looks great perched upon its dock, charging. Frankly the Bose is too nice to bring outside. It’s not without its faults though, the Bose lacks a Line Out jack (which would be nice), and although it’s pointless to me some people might want a speakerphone built-in. The docking station is a great feature too, allowing you to quickly set it down to charge (and it looks good too). The Bose Soundlink Mini is a winner, buy it- you’ll not regret it.
EagleCroft
Exeter, NH
Responding to posted question...
April 6, 2014
To the reader who asked for brand names of esoteric speakers I was referring to, I own a pair by B&W, and a pair by KEF. Not crazy priced speakers, but not mainstream either. I'm still extremely pleased with the purchase of the Bose Soundlink Mini. In fact I took the time to video a review of it, and comparing it to other similarly priced BT speakers (notably the UE Boom). Once I edit and clean up the video, add dialog - I'll be posting on YT. BTW, a couple of other notables about the the Bose: (1) it sounds great a low volume levels. Most reviews focus on how loud a speaker can get. Many times that isn't as important as how -good it sounds at low volume levels. The Mini really, really shines in this area. At low volumes the sound is still warm, and deep and well assembled. It's amazingly efficient. For comparison the UE Boom sounds good at loud volume, but loses its richness at a low volume and the bass all but disappears. Most small speakers suffer this same malady, play them softly and they sound like an old transistor radio. Not the case with the Bose Mini - it's wonderful. The other nice thing that the Bose engineers did (or should I said didn't do) is add all sorts of annoying confirmation tones that most other BT speakers have. I have no idea why other manufacturer's have followed this trend, I don't need to hear loud confirmation tones (or even human voices) to let me know when I power on or hit max volume. Bose is elegant and refined, and doesn't try to show off.
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EagleCroft's Questions
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EagleCroft's Answers
Open a world of ocean exploration with this PowerRay Wizard underwater camera. The detachable PowerSeeker fishfinder can be used by itself to map landscapes, and the 4K Ultra HD camera with wide-angle lens captures photos or videos in lakes or seas. Real-time streaming at 1080p from this PowerRay Wizard underwater camera lets you share your adventures via social networks.
How many lumens does the light produce
Good question!
Power: 3Wx2
Brightness: 450 lumens（with dimming control）
Color Temperature: 6500K
Power: 3Wx2
Brightness: 450 lumens（with dimming control）
Color Temperature: 6500K
7 years, 1 month ago
by
EagleCroft
Enjoy your workout and travel playlists with these JBuds Air true wireless earbuds. Three EQ settings include JLab Signature, Balanced and Bass Boost to customize your listening experience, and the charging case provides 10 hours of additional battery life. Take clear, hands-free phone calls with the built-in microphone and Bluetooth 5.0 technology of these JBuds Air true wireless earbuds.
this headphones are conpatible for iphones?
Yes, I use them on my iPhone 7+. They sound great!
7 years, 5 months ago
by
EagleCroft
Enjoy your workout and travel playlists with these JBuds Air true wireless earbuds. Three EQ settings include JLab Signature, Balanced and Bass Boost to customize your listening experience, and the charging case provides 10 hours of additional battery life. Take clear, hands-free phone calls with the built-in microphone and Bluetooth 5.0 technology of these JBuds Air true wireless earbuds.
Is it possible to just use one?
Yes, you can use just one earbud and keep the other in the case.
7 years, 5 months ago
by
EagleCroft
One solution across all your devices. With Office 365 Personal, you get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. Work anywhere with apps that are always updated with the latest features. 12-month automatically renewing subscription for one person including 1TB OneDrive cloud storage.
So does that mean when 12 months is up it automatically renews
Yes, you need to make sure you go into your account and disable the auto-renewal.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
EagleCroft
Feel the beat with this LG PK3 portable Bluetooth speaker. It provides dynamic sound and rich bass thanks to its Meridian Audio technology, so you can bring the party with you. The IPX-7 water resistance lets you go anywhere, rain or shine. This LG PK3 portable Bluetooth speaker keeps the music going for up to 12 hours per charge.
I want to use this as a speaker on my TV. Will it work for this purpose if I leave it plugged into a wall outlet for power all the time?
Sure! Just be aware that it uses a Type-C USB connector. The cable is provided, but isn't very long. So depending on your needs and access to a USB port - you may need to buy a longer cable. Otherwise it will need a typical micro audio connector cable to plug it into your TV (unless you use Bluetooth). I hope that helps.
7 years, 8 months ago
by
EagleCroft
Enjoy room-filling audio in any living space with this LG Hi-Fi shelf system. Its two 150W speakers produce loud, detailed sound, and it streams music via Bluetooth when you pair it with an Android device. This LG Hi-Fi shelf system has an EQ function that optimizes the audio based on the music you're listening to.
Can I connect a turntable to this system? My current shelf system has an AUX input.
Chances are, no... It really depends on your turntable. Unlike most discreet audio components turntables require a preamp to boost the signal before it can be amplified. Some new turntables don't need this, so your best bet would be to check your owner's manual from the turntable and verify that it can run without a preamp.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
EagleCroft
Enjoy room-filling audio in any living space with this LG Hi-Fi shelf system. Its two 150W speakers produce loud, detailed sound, and it streams music via Bluetooth when you pair it with an Android device. This LG Hi-Fi shelf system has an EQ function that optimizes the audio based on the music you're listening to.
Does it have a CD player
Enjoy room-filling audio in any living space with this LG Hi-Fi shelf system. Its two 150W speakers produce loud, detailed sound, and it streams music via Bluetooth when you pair it with an Android device. This LG Hi-Fi shelf system has an EQ function that optimizes the audio based on the music you're listening to.
Does this have a telescoping antenna?
No, it uses a length of wire which is directional as the antenna.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
EagleCroft
Enjoy room-filling audio in any living space with this LG Hi-Fi shelf system. Its two 150W speakers produce loud, detailed sound, and it streams music via Bluetooth when you pair it with an Android device. This LG Hi-Fi shelf system has an EQ function that optimizes the audio based on the music you're listening to.
How can I add speakers to this system. What speakers are compatible?
It comes with two speakers, that are attached with separate R/L +/- speakers wires. You can add more speakers the same way I'm sure, but be aware that the speakers are matched to the system. I'm not sure how many ohms the system speakers run on, and that's critically important to the efficiency and volume of sound. Remember 300 Watt RMS doesn't necessarily mean it can drive large speakers, chances are you need very efficient speakers with a low ohm rating to work well with this system. It's doable, but you'll have to do some homework to make it sound good.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
EagleCroft