ITJim
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- First ReviewNovember 23, 2013
- Last ReviewMay 10, 2026
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- First AnswerNovember 23, 2013
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From the first drop to the last note, the PS-LX5BT elevates your vinyl journey with clear, warm analog sound. Seamlessly connect to Bluetooth headphones, soundbars, or speakers, or enjoy a traditional wired connection to component devices. Full-auto playback lets you start listening at the push of a button.
Vinyl as an Appliance
Customer Rating
5.0
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I missed the vinyl renaissance of the early 2000s. Why? Because I had left vinyl behind back in the 80s. The introduction and wide spread availability of cassette tapes and CDs pretty much ended vinyl for my generation. Modern day streaming pushed me even further away from vinyl. I currently own a very nice two channel system. And have been reluctant to head back down the vinyl path. In my mind, vinyl is the hobbyist hobby. Presently, I do not want to worry about cartridges, tone arm balance, tonearm material or shape, isolation and vibration control, or the never-ending benefits of the infinite type of drive systems, phono-preamps, cables, and anti-vibration systems. I want an appliance that plays records at a reasonable quality without all the hoopla of micro-adjustments that promise to squeeze every last detail from my records.
The Sony PS-LX5BT is that vinyl-as-an-appliance machine. The table comes with built in anti-vibration control, the tonearm is pre-calibrated, the moving magnet cartridge is calibrated and non-upgradable, and the inclusion of Bluetooth allows me a hybrid wired/wireless listening experience. This may be my gateway to the wider world of vinyl and turntables. But, for now, this is a no-fuss integrated solution that meets my don’t-bother-me-with-the-details approach that I am currently comfortable with. And it does a pretty good job at that.
System Setup:
Sony made the setup of the Sony PS-LX5BT easy and straightforward. Sony packed the parts smartly and well protected. The assembly instructions are just as simple to follow. It took me about 30 minutes to unpack, assembly, and get my first record playing. Vinyl is all about precision. Be sure to take your time. The plinth of the Sony PS-LX5BT is plastic and thin metal construction. The motor, gears, and electronics are all stored in the plinth. The platter is cast aluminum and comes with a rubber mat for your records. The tonearm is j-shaped, made from an aluminum alloy, a proprietary cartridge statically mounted on the end, and pre-balanced for 2.0±0.5 g of tracking force. The anti-vibration feet are soft rubber cylinders that tapper to appoint where the feet meet the plinth. Everything else is plastic. The luxury of the Sony PS-LX5BT is its aesthetics and operational simplicity.
I used the included RCA style cables to connect the Sony PS-LX5BT to my Marantz Model 50 two-channel amplifier which in turn connects to my Bowers and Wilkins 702 S2 tower speakers and SVS PC-4000 subwoofer. And let’s be honest, this is a lot of system for the Sony PS-LX5BT. I’ll cover what I set up for wireless playback in the wireless section below.
Sound and performance Highlights:
I started with a 1976 pressing of Boston’s self-titled album, “Boston.” Why? Because it is one of the best albums I own. I cleaned the record, placed the album on the rubber mat covered platter, unlocked the tonearm, and pressed play. The Sony PS-LX5BT took care of the rest. “More than a Feeling”, the first track, welled up from the slight background hiss and gradually filled my room with the metal symphony that Boston is best known for. There was some expected surface noise between tracks. The music was full, the sound stage width and depth were fantastic, vocal centering was believable, and the overall experience was like rediscovering an album that has served as one of the soundtracks for my life. I found the experience very satisfying.
Next, I turned to Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short and Sweet”. Which was warped! The tonearm road the waves, so to speak, without any issues. But the surface noise was omnipresent. Thankfully, I also had the deluxe edition of the album. And this version was not warped. Like Boston, the Deluxe album showed signs of surface noise during the quiet between-track parts which quickly vanished once the music started.
Finally, my wife insisted that I play her 1964 release of Mary Poppins from Buena Vista Records. We’ll just say the surface condition of the record was well loved. The Sony PS-LX5BT presented the album with hiss and pop throughout. My wife found it satisfying because that is exactly the sound she grew up with. And honestly, listening to Julie Andrews sing on her worst day is still a great day in my book. A few songs were rougher than others. Thankfully July Andrew’s, “Spoon full of Sugar,” was one of the best tracks with the best presentation of the entire album. Overall, I think the Sony PS-LX5BT did a great job. One thing to keep in mind is that the Sony PS-LX5BT is completely dependent on the quality of the vinyl. The Sony PS-LX5BT has zero configuration attributes to help squeeze that last 10% performance from anything. It is a simple, elegant solution for those who want to play vinyl without all the fuss and effort one would find with an audiophile grade player.
Wireless Setup:
For wireless I used my Sonos Play portable speaker, Sonos Era 100 smart speaker, Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones, and my Bowers and Wilkins PX8 S2 headphones. The Sony PS-LX5BT supports Bluetooth transmission via SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive. Strangely, it does not support Sony’s LDAC codec. Which I found disappointing since the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones do. I was really looking forward to finally experiencing LDAC.
Connecting devices to the Sony PS-LX5BT was easy. First, set the players output from Phono to Line on the back of the player, press the Bluetooth button on the player, press the Bluetooth button on the receiving device, and they sync. Done. Which brings me to my first real issue with the Sony PS-LX5BT. If it is a requirement that the Line/Phono switch be in Line mode for Bluetooth then why is this switch hidden around the back of the player. Second, if I forget to set this switch back to Phono then I run the risk of causing real damage to my gear when I return to two-channel stereo from wireless playback. The switch should be on the top of the player and not hidden around back. If, like me, you are running the Sony PS-LX5BT with a hybrid setup, that you always always always check the switch before playback.
Wireless Audio Quality:
First the Sonos. The Sonos Era 100 picked the Sony PS-LX5BT right up. And it sounded pretty good without the need to apply any EQ. I was also able to press and hold the play button on the Sonos Play to sync it with the Sonos Era 100’s playback. Essentially, I could have the Sony PS-LX5BT playing throughout my home, wirelessly, if I had enough Sonos devices to fill every room. This is mostly the benefit of buying into the Sonos ecosystem that the Sony PS-LX5BT can tap into. And the effort is near zero. Next, I connected the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones. Syncing was as easy as the Sonos. Sound quality, however, was a bit underwhelming. I had to apply a very aggressive EQ to the XM6’s in the Sony app to get the best presentation. However, my Bowers and Wilkins PX8 s2 headphones required no such attention. They connected simply and played beautifully without any EQ. Unlike the XM6’s, applying EQ to the PX8 s2’s enhanced the experience instead of correcting it. Then again, the PX8 s2’s costs more than the Sony PS-LX5BT where the XM6’s are cost-equivalent to the Sony PS-LX5BT. Overall, wireless setup, transmission, and sound quality were well received. Regarding Boston, the Sony PS-LX5BT, and the PX8 s2’s? Perfection! I loved the combination.
Final thoughts:
The Sony PS-LX5BT is an all-in-one, automatic, pre-calibrated solution for someone like me who does not want to, or is not yet ready, to leap into the Audiophile customize my way to ultimate musical nirvana complexity. I do not need to worry about the tonearm shape or material, weight, stylus angle, pressure on the record, cartridge quality or calibration, or anything else for that matter. The Sony PS-LX5BT simply plays my vinyl via wired or wireless. Which provides me with a huge level of flexibility. Will the Sony PS-LX5BT provide the best musical performance? No. It is not built for that. It is built for simplicity and flexibility. It has a plain presentation with sharp lines and muted color pallet. Which will allow it to blend into any system or environment you have. It looks right-smart on my stereo cabinet. And it does an adequate job of satisfying my vinyl listening needs while not forcing me into yet another audio hobby. Overall, I think the Sony PS-LX5BT suits best an audience that shares my sensibilities for simplicity, aesthetics, and flexibility.
Thank you for reading my review.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Flip your day, your way. More than just a laptop~it~s your all-day, anywhere companion with 4 flexible modes. Power and performance for AI acceleration, it keeps pace with your most creative ideas and demanding workloads. With fast charging and a design that~s both sleek and durable, the OmniBook X Flip moves as effortlessly~and stylishly~as you do.
Powerful, light, and cool running business laptop
Customer Rating
4.0
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Up until recently, my personal laptops have been gaming laptops. I appreciate their no compromise and price-is-no-object performance and quality. Unfortunately, gaming laptops also suffer from high energy use, short battery life, and high heat. I picked up the HP OmnibookX because I need a laptop that is energy efficient, good balance of performance and convenience, lighter than a gaming laptop for travel, supports all day battery life, large screen size, and runs cool. My primary use for my OmnibookX is office productivity, financial applications, web surfing, watching video, travel, and email. The Ryzen AI 5 with 16GB of memory and a 16” screen seems reasonable and ticks most boxes.
Performance:
Applications load quickly and smoothly while connected to AC Power. Switching between windows or moving from application to application is very smooth. A typical system load for me is Outlook, Excel, Word, multiple MS Edge tabs, and a financial application. Swapping between Excel, OneNote, Outlook, Edge, and my financial application showed little to no interruption in workflow. I would call the system zippy when on AC Power.
On battery, system performance decreases. First, the system reduces the CPU speed to conserve power. This directly impacts performance. Under the same system load as described above, it is immediately obvious that applications take longer to load and swapping between windows or applications can cause system stutter. All within expectations. Working within a single application, such as MS Word to write this review, the OmnibookX performed as well as if it were on AC Power. Overall, I am pleased with the OmnibookX’s performance.
Battery Life:
So far, battery life is wonderful. A full charge lasted me a full day’s work. With a second monitor, the battery discharged in about half that time. There are several power saving features built into the OmnibookX such as presence awareness, screen and keyboard lighting times out, reduced CPU and GPU power consumption while on battery, OLED Screen automatically dims, 3-minute default laptop sleep mode, and other technologies. In my case, I am using the factory default power profile. In addition, I set the OLED screen brightness to minimum, activated Dark Mode for both Windows and Office, and set the keyboard backlight to minimum. I have been typing in Word for the last hour. I am tracking about 8% battery usage per hour of constant use.
Heat:
The OmnibookX runs cool. It does not heat up my lap nor can I cook an egg on the keyboard. On battery, the fan will kick off occasionally. This typically happens when I am watching videos. The laptop is still very cool even when the fan kicks off. Meaning, there is not a lot of excessive heat that the cooling system is actively dissipating.
In my office, on my desk, I have the OmnibookX exclusively connected to AC Power, a 34” 1440p OLED monitor via HDMI, and an external mouse. The system is configured for multi-monitor use. My typical system load is Office, financial, browser, and streaming either music or video. I will move content around both monitors, move data between applications, and close/launch applications on a regular basis. At best, the system fan will kick off to dissipate heat. Overall, HP does a fantastic job keeping the heat under control, the fan quiet, and maintains a high level of computing performance.
Keyboard and Typing:
The OmnibookX keyboard is a fully featured, squished down version of a full-sized keyboard. The standard alphanumeric keys are well sized and easily accommodate my fingertips. The Delete, Backspace, and Enter keys are smushed to accommodate the number pad. The home keys, for those touch typists out there, are not centered on the screen. They are offset to the left. Also, the smaller Backspace key ensures that I hit the Num Lock as often as I hit the backspace key. It took me a few days to adjust.
The keyboard is a membrane style with fully backlit chicklet keys. Key actuation as a plunger feel. The keys are easy to read with all information on each key fully backlit. Typing is very responsive. At no point did I feel like I was waiting for the computer to keep up with my typing. Fatigue set-in after about an hour of typing. This is party due to the actuation force required to depress the key and the plunger effect that forces some of that energy back up into my fingertips. A softer typing approach may be best when approaching this keyboard. Otherwise, you may find the typing experience unforgiving.
Sound:
The OmnibookX’s speakers are better than most I have used in this class laptop. Audio from YouTube, Movies, and music sound good enough. Voice reproduction is very clear and very usable for Zoom and MS Teams meetings. For critical listening, I automatically swap over to my headphones or earbuds.
Bluetooth:
The OmnibookX advertises Bluetooth 6.0. The Realtek Wireless Bluetooth adapter built into my OmnibookX supports LMP 12.35106. Which in layman’s terms is Bluetooth 5.3. An LMP of 14.xyz supports Bluetooth 6.0. So, I am not sure what is going on here. The OmnibookX will support any Bluetooth headset, earphones, and earbuds on the market today. However, it will not provide any of the benefits of Bluetooth 6.0 when connected to a Bluetooth 6.0 device. I do not have a Bluetooth 6.0 device to test so I can only go by what Windows 11 Device manager reports. I can report that connecting my Bowers and Wilkins PX8 and Pi8 headphones and earbuds, respectively, was quick and easy. Music and voices were transmitted without any audible artifacts.
2K OLED Screen:
Photos and images look colorful and engaging. The screen can get very bright even at minimum brightness level. Text specifically suffers from color fringing along the top and bottom borders of any shape or letter. This is most noticeable, for me, with white text, or a white object, against a black background. This may be an issue if your intended use is graphic arts, CAD, or other visual activity where color or line accuracy is paramount.
The screen is locked at 60hz. Some eyes, like mine, may be sensitive to this frequency. If so, then you will want to choose an HP laptop with a higher refresh OLED or LCD screen. White Light from this monitor, at any brightness, is harsh. This is even true when Office is in Black mode where the background is dark grey with White Text. As a counter, I turned on Windows Night Lite mode and adjusted the Strength slider until I found a comfortable white light temperature for my eyes. I could also set my font color to light Grey. Finally, the low refresh seems to increase ghosting and visual artifacts when content is flowing across the screen. I like this screen best for viewing still images or online content. I like this screen least when there is a lot of white content on the screen. And videos are acceptable as a device of convenience and not as a primary daily driver.
I feel that the new HP OmnibookX is a solid performing, energy efficient, cool to run, light weight, excellently sized for travel, and has enough ports and connectivity options to support all my office needs. Monitor performance is ok and I like the size. For me, the OmnibookX checks enough boxes.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Powerful, portable, and ready for anything, Sonos Play delivers big stereo sound and bass in a go-anywhere design. Stream over WiFi or Bluetooth, and connect seamlessly to your Sonos system. With up to 24 hours of battery life, easy wireless charging, and IP67 waterproof durability, this smart speaker amplifies every moment, everywhere.
Ready for travel, sports, or late-night listening
Customer Rating
4.0
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The Sonos Play portable speaker, to steal a phrase from a random woman I met at the park, is “a real banger!” I agree with her assessment. I brought my Sonos Play to my local park and tried out the different outdoor listening scenarios I would normally find myself in. Such as, a random boulder along a path, a metal countertop at the Snack Shack, the sidelines of a soccer field, and a random basketball court full of random people. Overall, the Sonos Play does an excellent job in these environments. The Sonos Play also did an excellent job with low volume listening on my work desk and end table in my den. Overall, I found the Sonos Play to be highly portable, flexible, and easy to use in most situations.
Outdoor Sound quality:
The Sonos Play excels at outdoor listening. It won’t pressurize the ballpark, but it will provide a satisfying experience between 50% to 75% volume. At 100% volume, the speaker can be heard as far away as 78 feet. I was surprised at how far away this speaker was able to project just sitting on the ground, in a field, with nothing around it but grass and sky. At about 50 feet I could comfortably hear my music with enough detail to enjoy it. I could see myself kicking around a soccer ball while using the Sonos Play. Up close at this volume, we are talking about 10 feet or less, the Sonos Play sounds terrible and must be turned down to a normal listening volume below 50% or less. This is because at about 10 feet I can really hear the cabinet vibrate and some speaker artifacts. Below 50%, this speaker is very pleasant for such activities as a picknick, reading, or chilling under a tree. The Sonos Play, in my opinion, opens up and does a fantastic job in any wide-open space unconstrained by walls or hard reflective surfaces.
Indoor Sound Quality:
Indoor listening is a completely different experience. As mentioned in the previous section, the Sonos Play’s cabinet vibrates with the speaker drivers. At low listening levels, this is not an issue. Actually, this is an asset since the Sonos Play relies on the table, cabinet, countertop, or shelf that it rests on to reinforce its mid-bass and lower mid-bass performance. This became immediately clear to me when I first setup the Sonos Play on my work desk. I was simply amazed by how much bass the Sonos Play was able to output. And then the bass immediately evaporates once I pick up the Sonos Play and hanging it in the air. But I could definitely feel the bass from the speaker going into my hand. I placed the speaker back down onto my 4 x 8 wooden desktop and the bass immediately returned. I put my hand on my desk and could feel the desk vibration with the Sonos Play. In short, whatever furniture the Sonos Play is on will become part of the Sonos Play.
Which brings me to my second point. The in-room sound quality degrades from 20% volume up. First, the speaker vibrations increase as the volume increases. My table surface magnifies the speaker vibrations which increase audible distortion from the table. And second, the midrange compresses as volume increases. The midrange essentially becomes nose around 75% volume in room. My use for the Sonos Play will be background music and news for my office during the day and soft reading music on my end table in my den at night. At these lower volumes, vocals are clear, mids are present, and bass is solid.
Setup:
The Sonos Play will connect to any Bluetooth source straight out of the box at the push of the Bluetooth sync button on the back of the speaker. The Sonos App is required for everything else. This includes Apple Play 2 playback which I use regularly. The initial setup process, for me, was a frustrating half-hour of discovery. Short version. The Sonos app requires a cell phone to complete initial account, network, and device setup. After that any mobile device can be used for control, syncing devices, managing music, and creating speaker relationships. Why the cell phone requirement? No idea. All I can tell you is that the app kept locking up my very current iPad every time I attempted initial setup.
I also received a Sonos ERA 100 the same time I received my Sonos Play. I set up the ERA 100 after setting up my Sonos account and the Sonos Play. Setting up the ERA 100 took a minute or two throw the Sonos app. Once setup, connecting the audio stream to both speakers was as easy as pressing the play/pause button for 5 seconds on the ERA 100. For example, I was listening to the news on my Sonos Play in my home office. I got up to make lunch for myself in the kitchen. Instead of turning up the volume or moving the Sonos Play the kitchen, I simply pressed the ERA’s play/hold button for about 5 seconds. And just like that both speakers were playing the same content in two different rooms. Pressing the play/pause button on the ERA 100 a second time ended the stream for the ERA 100 only. And I could have always done this the other way around where the ERA 100 is stream, I move to a new room that I want music in, and press/hold the Sonos Play play/pause button for 5 seconds to sync the streams.
Finally, the Sonos Play will connect to any source device that is Bluetooth capable. The speaker has a Bluetooth connection button on the back of the speaker. Press the button, add the Sonos Play to your devices Bluetooth paired devices, and then press play on your phone or other music source device.
One last item. The volume control on your cell phone, tablet, or other source device only interacts with the speaker when the connection is made outside of the Sonos app. This includes Bluetooth and Apple Airplay 2. If the Sonos app is used as the source, then volume must be controlled from inside the app or using the volume controls on the speaker. The volume control on the speaker will control the volume in all cases.
Size and Weight:
The Sonos Play is roughly the size of a brick. And at 2.87lbs it weighs more than a brick. This speaker is very easy to place into a bag for transport to anywhere you wish to take it. I am still impressed with how dense this product feels even after two weeks of carrying it around. The size and weight are impressive.
Durability:
I did not abuse the Sonos Play. I have not dropped it into any mud, puddles, or sticky sidewalk chewing gum. I have washed the Sonos Play under my kitchen faucet to clean dirt and other grime the rubberized base and top picked up at the park. The debris washed off without any fuss. Per Sono’s user guide, I wiped the speaker off with a clean dry towel and set it on the tower Sonos logo face down until the entire speaker was dry. It is recommended that you stop using the speaker once it gets wet and allow it to dry before next use. It worked for me.
Charging and Battery life:
Battery life is good. I played the Sonos Play on my desk for almost a week before needing to recharge. I was down to about 20% before my park trip. After topping off the battery, I went to the park and played the speaker all over the place at various volumes. When I returned, I was at about 50%. Mind you, I was pushing the volume to 100% for a good half hour at one point. I would expect better battery life below 75%. Better still at normal listening volumes.
The charging base is hard plastic with a rubberized surround. The base has a built in 6-foot USB C cable that is long enough to provide a good amount of placement flexibility. And there are two electrical leads in the base that align with the charging port on the speakers. However, the Sonos Play power adapter is a separate purchase. Any USB C wall adapter will work if it meets Sono’s minimum requirements. Directly from the user’s manual, “Play is designed to work with 18W (9V/2A) USB-PD compliant adapters, but 45W (15V/3A) is recommended.” A laptop USB connection is not going to be enough to recharge or power the Sonos Play. In my case, I am using my MacBook’s power adapter to power and recharge my Sonos Play. And it seems to be doing a good job.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I like the Sonos Play. I have zero intention of entertaining a loud party in my home with the Sonos Play. I feel that it will take more away from the party at volume than it would if it were used as background entertainment over drinks. For outdoors, I have no issues turning up the volume as a workout companion or soccer warmups. The IP 67 rating also gives me peace of mind that a little bit of weather, some mud, dirt or a tumble due to a direct hit from a speeding soccer ball won’t bother the Sonos Play. The battery life is solid enough for all day listening. And the speaker is small enough to throw into a backpack for travel anywhere.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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ROG Falchion Ace 75 HE is a 75% wired analog gaming keyboard with hot-swappable ROG HFX V2/V2X Magnetic Switches and ROG Hall Sensor; featuring onboard adjustment wheel and interactive touch panel, Rapid Trigger toggle, five-layer dampening, three tilt angles, protective keyboard carry case, and durable ROG Doubleshot PBT keycaps.
Feature Rich, Hyper Responsive, with some caveats.
Customer Rating
4.0
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This is my first Hall Effect Keyboard. I have owned and enjoyed keyboards with just about every kind of mechanical and optical switch on the market. Nothing prepared me for the pedantic customizability offered by the Asus ROG Falchion Ace 75 HE keyboard. The per key options are overwhelming. Thanks to Asus’ Pulitzer Prize level of docu… cough cough cough… I mean to say, Asus’ patent pending figure-it-out-as-you-go technology, the Falchion can be fully customized to suite any game or productivity need.
Gaming:
Gaming:
Straight out of the box, gaming is fantastic. I loaded up Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (otherwise known as the Bouncy House Simulator) and got to jumping, sliding, shooting, more jumping, more sliding, sliding, sliding, jumping, bouncing off of walls, and more sliding at a pace, frequency, and sensitivity that I am simply not accustomed to. Normally I play COD with an Xbox Elite controller. Why? Because I have never been competitive with keyboard and mouse. The Falchion Ace did not turn me into an overnight superstar. If anything, I am still awful with mouse and keyboard. Just faster at it thanks to the Falchion Ace. However, I could tell immediately how a keyboard like this could benefit a skilled keyboard warrior. Even at my level, I was performing some crazy Matix kinds of moves that are simply impossible with my Xbox controller. The responsiveness of the keys simply blew me away.
The default actuation point for the Falchion Ace is 1.00mm. This can be set to as little as .1 mm and as long as 3.50mm. What’s the impact? Well, my AWDS, duck, jump, and slide keys barely need a tap to activate at their default 1mm actuation point. If I move this actuation point to .1mm, which is inside the default top dead zone, then I essentially have a keyboard that will respond to my commands as quickly as I can twitch my fingers.
Rapid Trigger, another up-my-game type function, defaults to AWDS keys. I can expand this further to include more keys. The Rapid Trigger allows the key to activate twice in a single keystroke: once on the down stroke and once on the up stroke. You are going to love this function if your game style is to quickly move left and right while covering a choke point in an FPS game. Essentially, you will move two pixels to the left or right with a single keystroke. Do both A and D in quick succession and you are going to really mess with your hitboxes!
There are other functions available through Asus’s online keyboard configuration tool; GearLink. The options to improve or automate key game functions are almost limitless. You can create macros for FPS, RTS, and MMO’s. Per key actuation and dead zones can be set. Key pairs can be generated. Keys remapped. And a whole lot more.
What about simulation, dungeon crawlers, adventure, world building type game? The Falchion can be configured to suite these game styles as well. In my experience, these game types are much slower and do not require 8000hz polling or .1mm actuation. On the contrary, just the opposite. A 1000hz or lower polling and 2mm to 3mm actuation are probably better. Why? Because victory in these game are less reliant on latency and fast twitch muscles and are more reliant on accuracy, thought, and purposeful movement. I would also put anti-ghosting towards the top of the list which the Falchion also does an excellent job with. Again, the Falchion can be configured to meet these requirements. However, I don’t know if I would go out of my way to purchase a Hall effect keyboard just for these game types.
Configuration and the Web Based app:
The Falchion Ace and GearLink have a learning curve. This is thanks to the robust documentation that Asus chose not to draft. Granted, there are at least some text bubble and helper text. But not enough to communicate importance or context. Frankly I am completely overwhelmed with the per key options and configuration types available to me. We have Macros, FN key combos, Actuation Point and Dead Zone configuration, Rapid Trigger, Speed Tap, Multi-Wheel, Lighting (which has zero RGB per key or per game lighting assignments), calibration, and performance. Under each of those headings are lists of features and functions that can be applied to the whole keyboard, a set of keys, or to a single key. Be ready to sink some real time into squeezing that last 5% performance from your system. The good news is that every page has a reset button; making experimentation relatively risk free.
Finally, the Falchion Ace allows for 6 profiles. Simply select the profile number and make your changes. The changes are automatically synced to the keyboard. Flipping through profiles using the keyboard is as easy as pressing Fn+ 1 through 6.
Quick Access buttons:
The Falchion Ace keyboard has several built-in features. First, the keyboard has a touch panel/function button combo. The function button cycles through System Volume, Media tracking, Keyboard Brightness, and Customize. The touch panel can then be used to increase, decrease, or activate the function. The light bar seen on the typing surface is not the touch panel. It is an indicator for the actual function you are manipulating via the touch surface on the back of the keyboard. Confused? Good! Personally, I did not find much value with either the touch pane or bar. I would have preferred an onscreen or on keyboard readout than a light bar. I also would have preferred a knob or roller switch.
The multi-wheel, which is a roller/switch combo, can be used to adjust global switch actuation point and Rapid Trigger Sensitivity. Both features use the light bar at the top of the keyboard to indicate the adjustment. Again, I would have preferred an onscreen display or digital readout with a number over the light strip indicator. It is impossible to know what the new settings are on the keyboard without either trial and error or logging into the GearLink app.
Finally, there is a rapid trigger activation switch. This instantly sets the WASD keys to trigger on both the down stroke and up stroke. Additional keys can be programmed into this special group of keys through GearLink. I like this feature. It is quick and easy.
Lighting:
The lack of per key RGB lighting is a deal breaker for me. I rely on color coded keyboard profiles for most of my games. GearLink has some pre-canned lighting profiles. Some are more useful than others. Any profile that lights the entire keyboard was very useful. The special effects, such as Stary Night, was useless beyond being a special effect. There is no option to add effects layers or per key RGB assignments.
Typing:
Typing on this keyboard is awesome. Period. The keyboard is super responsive, very sensitive out of box, quiet, smooth, and non-fatiguing. The keyboard is so sensitive that I often find myself repeating “kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk” across the screen during moments when my hands relax on the keyboard while I’m not paying attention. My only gripe is that there is no matching wrist rest for this keyboard.
Final thoughts:
The Asus ROG Falchion Ace 75 HE Keyboard is an amazing keyboard. The keys are very comfortable, easy to depress, and are feature-rich enough to support any game and any gaming style. I am all-in on the sound damping! My family is also all-in on this as well. I am disappointed with the lack of proper documentation. And I would really like Asus to revisit Per-Key RGB key assignments. I do play quite a few games with expansive keyboard maps that I would love to map on the Asus Falchion keyboard.
Overall, if you are looking for a 75% keyboard that is portable, ultra customizable, and you are a seasoned keyboard warrior, then definitely check out this keyboard. Thank you for reading my review.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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A 360~ health view for real-life impact. Your health moves with you~now your check-ups can too. In one minute, BeamO provides a full view of your heart, lungs, & temperature at home or on the go. Tracking key health indicators, like these, can potentially help address various health needs.
Compact and easy to use personal diagnostic device
Customer Rating
5.0
The Withings BeamO is a compact and easy to use home medical diagnostic device that captures temperature, ECG, and heart/Lung stethoscope recordings. Its small size makes it easy to transport, in the medical cabinet, travel around in your go bag. The rechargeable battery ensures that it is always ready for use when you need it most. Let’s get into some details.
Setup:
Setting requires a mobile device with the Withings app loaded and active. The Withings app will find the BeamO device, setup a Bluetooth connection with your mobile device, setup an account with Withings, and setup the BeamO to connect directly with your Wi-Fi network. Setup took about five minutes total. It will take longer if the BeamO requires a software update.
EGC:
The scan is easy to perform. Select ECG on the BeamO, click start, sit still, place an index finger on each sensor on the side of the BeamO, and wait 30 seconds while the scan is performed. Once done, the scan will upload to the app where it can be viewed. The graph for all of my EGCs were crazy wiggle waggles until the sensor stabilized and provided a more accurate, consistent graph. I found the best results were achieved when sitting, legs uncrossed and touching the floor, and arms at rest on my lap or on a table.
EGC, for some reason, is locked until the measurement is reviewed by a qualified medical professional. Withings does this automatically for you. However, there is no justification provided by Withings as to why this step is either important or mandatory. This means that you will not be able to read your EGC, or take a second EGC, until after this unlocking step is complete. For me, this took about 24 hours.
Temperature:
The temperature probe is probably the most useful and immediate tool of the BeamO. Using the BeamO’s D-pad, chose temperature from the menu, point the probe end at your forehead, and scan from center of your forehead to your temple. The BeamO will vibrate when the scan is complete. The temperature is immediately available on the LCD screen. The scan is touchless. And it can be taken from up to a foot away from your head. The results are uploaded into the app for easy review later.
Stethoscope:
The stethoscope is my favorite feature of the BeamO. First, the BeamO ships with a USB C to stereo adapter. The BeamO has a USB C port on the side which is used for charging and the connection of either USB C connected headphones or wired headphones via use of the included dongle. The headphones are not required. But it is fun listening to your own heart and lungs in real time.
Using the BeamO’s d-pad, select either heart or lungs setting on the BeamO, place the Stethoscope end of the BeamO to the spot on your chest or back indicated on the BeamO’s LCD display, and press down on the d-pad to start the 15 second recording. The recording is then uploaded to the Withings app where it will be available for review at your earliest convenience. The recording can also be shared with your family, doctor, or not shared at all.
I do have two concerns with the stethoscope. First, the stethoscope only runs for 15 seconds before turning off. If I am not recording, then the BeamO simply times out and pushes me back to the top menu where I am asked what test I want to conduct. What a pain. There are times where I just want to use the stethoscope in unlimited free mode. Why? Well, that is my business. My point is that the BeamO could be used in a more free form method. But it does not. I hope that Withings corrects this behavior to allow for an unlimited free roaming stethoscope mode. After all, a traditional stethoscope can be used in this manner all day every day. The difference is that the BeamO is more convenient and my ear buds and headphones are infinitely more comfortable.
Second, during heart and lung recordings, the BeamO continues to flash noise warnings. I find this strange because I use the BeamO in a quiet room, sitting, and mostly immobile. I did not hear any excessive noise on the recordings. Maybe it’s a bug?
Withings Application:
The best way I can describe the Withings is plagued with noisy screens. The Home screen, once all the messages, videos, and other noise is tamped down, provides a quick access to the metrics captured by the BeamO and other Withings’ products you may own. The other screens are a maze of articles, sharing features, user preferences, and selectable boxes that activate the Withings+ subscription features. There is also a link to AI assistant that acts as an AI health and longevity coach. I had a brief conversation with the AI to determine what it can and cannot do. First, it does not provide medical advice. There is a disclaimer at the bottom of the screen stating as much. Second, all conversations must be user initiated. This means that the AI will not proactively monitor your data uploads and let you know if it finds anything odd. Nor will it proactively provide insights or life style change suggestions. These are functions reserved for the Withing+ paid subscription. My data uploaded to the Withings Platform is available to the AI coach. And the AI will access the data as part of my consultation session. I did not get very far with the AI in the last few days. This is mostly because of the limited dataset I have captured up to this point.
Sharing:
What good is this device if it cannot be used by the whole family? Right? Thankfully the BeamO allows for multiple users, selectable from the BeamO’s LCD screen via the d-pad. There is also a Guest option on the user screen. Additional profiles can be added to the BeamO as long as your family member also has the Withings app installed on their mobile device. Adding a user is easy. As the primary user, I can send out invitations from the Withings app via text to my family member. They click on the link, download the app, activate the invitation, and off they go.
The Withings app will also allow me to share my data with my PCP or my family members. I can send out an invite to view my data. I can also compile my data into a PDF report. This could be very helpful if I want to carry a hardcopy of my data to my PCP or other doctor. I can also share all my reports and recordings with my doctor in person using my cell phone.
Conclusion:
The BeamO is a neat little device. It does a log for such a small, portable package. I found the ECG easy to administer. Taking a temperature has never been easier. And the guided heart and lung recordings are easy to capture and share. Overall, I found the BeamO to be another wonderful addition to Withings growing catalog of home medical diagnostic devices.
Final thought, I would love to see a free stethoscope mode that allowed me to use the stethoscope feature without limit. I can think of all kinds of useful scenarios for such a feature. Otherwise, the BeamO has a permanent home in my home medical kit.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The APC Back-UPS Pro BN1050M mini-tower model is designed to power your critical electronics during blackouts and protect them from the dangers of surges, spikes, lightning, and power outages. By powering your critical electronics during blackouts, you ensure personal and professional connectivity when it matters most. Improvements in size and surge protection come at an affordable price, making the Back-UPS ProBN1050M mini-tower model a perfect solution for your power protection needs.
Borring but Useful review. Meets expectations
Customer Rating
5.0
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The APC BN1050N is a battery backup/power surge hybrid solution. The battery backup provides a total of 1050 Volt/Amps up to 600 watts.
Ease of use:
Setting up the APC was almost as easy as setting up a power strip. A regular power strip requires unpacking and wall power. The APC BN1050M requires unpacking, battery unrapping and installing, and wall power. The only decisions to make is room placement and which devices will have battery backup/surge and which will have surge only. There are four outlets with battery backup/surge and four outlets with surge protection only. In my case, my gaming laptop, work laptop, and 34” gaming monitor are on backup. I connected my motorized powered desk to a surge protected only outlet because I felt no reason why it required battery backup. I also use the Surge Protected outlets for phone charging, headphones charging, and general power needs such as tablet charging duties.
The outlets are located on the back of the unit. Unexpectedly, this has proven to be a bit of challenge for me. The APC BN1050M is long and heavy. If I want to see the status LCD screen on the front, then the outlets will always be on the back. Meaning, if I have a need to plug in a new item, or remove an item such as a phone, tablet, or computer charging power adapter, then I need to move a somewhat heavy piece of equipment to allow me to plug or unplug from the back.
Depending on the size of the cable plugs, or wall warts, the spacing can be tight. The outlets are tight and require more force than normal to plug and unplug a power adapter or cable. Combine these together and the APC BN1050M is not the best product if you need quick and easy access to power. Most of these challenges would be less so if the outlets were placed on the top of the APC BN1050M and not the back. I am not stating that the current configuration is wrong. It is not. I am saying that you will want to think about how you will use APC BN1050M before committing to it.
Depending on the size of the cable plugs, or wall warts, the spacing can be tight. The outlets are tight and require more force than normal to plug and unplug a power adapter or cable. Combine these together and the APC BN1050M is not the best product if you need quick and easy access to power. Most of these challenges would be less so if the outlets were placed on the top of the APC BN1050M and not the back. I am not stating that the current configuration is wrong. It is not. I am saying that you will want to think about how you will use APC BN1050M before committing to it.
The APC comes with a flat wall plug. This makes using wall outlets in tight spaces easier. I started with the APC on the floor. I discovered quickly that the power cords for my equipment were not long enough to accommodate the distance between the APC and my motorized desk’s standing height. So, I mounted the APC on my desktop. It does not look awful on my desk. Again, not the fault of the manufacturer. But something to consider if you also have a motorized desk that adjust between sitting and standing positions throughout the day.
The unit has four buttons: Power, Alarm, Information, and a circuit breaker button located on the back. The Power button power cycles the unit. The alarm button can be used to silence an active alarm and to permanently disable/enable the alarm. I chose to disable the alarm. The Information button cycles through specific metrics such as volts in, volts out, load %, Load measured in Watts, battery charge status, estimated battery runtime, and a few other data points. Finally, the Circuit Breaker button is to reset the APC in those cases where a power surge tripped the APC’s breaker.
Outage:
As a test, I connected my Asus ROG G18 gaming laptop to my Alienware AW3425DW 34” gaming monitor. The system also runs an RGB lighted gaming keyboard, mouse, and other accessories. According to the APC, the load at idle was 60 watts and about 150 watts while gaming. I opted to test the APC in a work like environment since office applications, internet, and videos constitute 90% of my computer usage.
The APC BN1050M estimated that my computer and monitor would operate for 57 minutes if a power event were to occur. So, I simulated a power event by unplugging the APC BN1050M from the wall. The total runtime was recalculated within 30 seconds. The estimate went from 57 minutes to 43 minutes. Actual runtime was 40 minutes.
Plugging the unit back into the wall did not automatically switch my laptop and monitor back to main power. This may be because the battery was at 1% by the time I plugged the APC back into the wall. I performed a second test after charging the unit to full. This time I simulated a 20 minute power outage. The goal was to see if the unit would recover from the power outage where the first test failed. And it did! Lesson learned. Battery drained means no immediate recovery when power is restored. Partially drained battery will not cause an interruption when power is restored.
Battery Power:
The APC makes a slight humming sound when charging the battery. You have to be near the unit to hear it. Discharge the battery generates a humming noise that can be heard from the next room.
Charging:
Charging the battery takes all day. It is slow. There is no fast-charging mode. Charging will be even slower if there is active equipment connected to the battery outlets.
Size and Weight:
The APC BN1050N is surprisingly heavy. This is not a one hand lift and place piece of equipment. Definitely use both hands when handling the unit. The bottom of the unit has “feet”. But they are made of hard plastic and could scratch your surface if you simply slide the unit around. In most instances, I had to lift and move.
The APC BN1050M is tall and deep. I typically hide a power strip behind a desk or mount it long-ways under a desk, so I don’t have to see it. The APC BN1050N is meant to connect to power in the back with its nose facing out into the room. Furniture may require re-arrangement to accommodate the APC BN1050M.
PowerChute Software:
APC has a free management software called PowerChute. It is available for free from the manufacturer’s website.
The APC BN1050N ships with a serial to USB cable. This allows the APC to connect to a computer, laptop, server, or other device. PowerChute Software can then be deployed to the device. PowerChute allows logging, configure shutdown conditions, setup messaging alerts, basic metrics, and other useful tools for those who want to get more involved with the APC’s functionality.
I use PowerChute to monitor the APC and to review log data. I do not have any need for automated system shutdowns so I will not comment on the usefulness of that feature. The data I am interested in is power in/out, battery charge status, load on the system, runtime estimated battery runtime, testing, and the event logs. The application runs via a webpage. Supposedly you can keep tabs on the APC from anywhere in the world if you create an account with APC. I did not go this route since I have no need for remote access or remote monitoring.
Overall Usefulness:
Overall, I found the APC BN1050M battery backup and surge protector very useful. I did not experience an actual power outage during my time with the APC BN1050M. However, I do work from home and have experienced my share of power outages over the years. The worst experience in the world is losing data when the power suddenly goes out. This battery backup will provide me with at least 40 minutes runtime with my laptop and monitor. Better yet, there is enough room in the back to connect my cell phone’s charger to battery. This allows me longer runtime with my phone if I need it to operate as a hotspot. This would allow me to reconnect to the office, save whatever I am working on, and avoid a workplace catastrophe. Thus, saving me hours of rework. In a real pinch, I can disconnect the laptop from the APC BN1050M, turn off my monitor, and use the battery power in the APC BN1050M to power my phone for hours if needed. My laptop battery will also last at least two hours. In the end, having the APC BN1050M opens up a world of flexibility in an emergency that I did not have before.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bowers & Wilkins - B&W Px8 S2 Over-Ear BluetoothHeadphones - Onyx Black
The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are our top of the line headphones, with every core element reimagined to deliver no-holds-barred performance. Our new state-of-the-art headphone redefines our flagship design to deliver our top of the line sound quality, maximum comfort and elevated feature-rich listening. Px8 S2~s drive units have been optimised to enhance audio quality while new, slimmer earcups dressed in fine Nappa leather are connected by aluminium arms with exposed cable detailing. The result is exceptional sound from a luxurious and elegant design. With its all-new and upgraded technologies, Px8 S2 is engineered for the discerning listener. Eight microphones and our powerful, proprietary active noise cancellation banish outside intrusions, making listening and taking calls even more precise. The new Px8 S2. Hear True.
Breathtaking Musical Performance!
Customer Rating
5.0
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The Bowers and Wilkins PX8 S2 are the very best wireless headphones I have ever had the pleasure of listening to thanks to its clarity, precision, resolution, tight bass, and meaningful EQ flexibility.
This headset has exceptional sound quality. They simply took my breath away. I was halfway through my demo playlist before I fully actualized how much fun I was having. ANC is better than the originals. Ergonomics are improved over the original. And comfort is still top notch. Finally, the hidden gem for the PX8 S2s is the 5-band EQ found in the B&W app.
Sound Quality:
The vocal clarity, resolution, and precision is only second to my Bowers and Wilkins 703 S3 tower speakers. Yes, you read that correctly! The PX8 S2 has more in common, sonically, with the 700 Series speakers than they do with the original PX8 headset. I love my PX8s. I listened to them daily over the last two years. The differences between the original and the S2 are obvious and immediate. I simply could not stop listening to my PX8 S2 once I started. I just kept jumping from track to track on a missing to extract every last bit of detail out of them. I finally had to take them off so I could get a few hours of sleep before work the next morning.
Bass is punchy and clean. Mids are exceptional, rich, and full. And Highs are clear, precise, and highly resolving. For example, I am a big fan of Lindsy Sterling’s fusion of classical violin and modern pop. I can literally hear every string on the violin with plenty of space between each string. Add a targeted EQ to her music and the violin jumps out of the headphones and takes on a life of its own. Some notes were so high and long that I thought the drivers would distort or clip before completing the passage. Instead, the PX8 S2 breezed through the passage effortlessly without any indication of distortion or strain. The PX8 S2 handled everything effortlessly.
The PX8 X2 captured the lonely violin solo, and the emptiness around it, from the overture from the cartoon series “Space Battleship Yamato.” It was simply a magical rendering. The trumpets from the Overture from Wing Commander the Motion Picture Soundtrack were loud, present, and large with authority. The vocal harmonies and layering from songs like Megan Trainor’s acapella version of “Made you Look” and “Sweet Morning Heat” are breathtaking. The harmonies from Wilson Phillips’, “You’re in Love” were uplifting, effortless, and full of emotion. Air Supply’s Russell Hitchcock’s vocals in “I Can Wait Forever” soared. Piano performances such as Alexis Ffrench’s, “The Heart Asks Pleasure First” sounds and feels like a live performance. I could even hear the annoying brushing sound in Ffrench’s “Blue Bird” which is a subtle detail typically picked up by highly resolving speakers. Never with any of my other headphones. And dance/party music such as Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” is fun, poppy, and will keep you toe tapping all day long.
App features - EQ:
The B&W app checks a few boxes but is still basic when compared to what is offered by other manufacturers. For me, the most important feature of the app is the 5-band EQ. The default sound signature of the PX8 S2 is excellent but leaves performance on the table. If the PX8 S2s are a 10 out of the box, then adding proper EQs will take them to 20.
First, B&W includes zero genre specific EQ Presets. Why? No idea. But they did the same with their Pi8 earbuds. B&W must assume that all of their customers are expert sound mixers or something. So…I turned to my MS Copilot assistant and asked to help me build some genre specific EQs. And, to my surprise, it did a great job! It even built me a matrix of what to use and with what content. For example, Copilot suggested an EQ for Lindsey Sterling and similar classical/fusion type music. As God is my witness, the EQ settings were like adding glasses to the PX8 S2’s sound signature. Seriously, everything including my enjoyment and immersion went from 10 to a 20 with the application of 5 settings. I did the same for Classic Rock, Classical, Movie Scores, Modern Pop, Dance, EDM, and the list goes on. I have no idea why B&W left this performance on the table. The PX8 S2s are simply out of this world with proper EQ application.
I have one other gripe with the EQ system that I hope B&W addresses. The organization of custom EQ presets is awful. The developers suffer from Bottomless Basement Syndrome. Custom EQs are organized, in the order in which they are created, in a single horizontal row at the top of the screen that goes on forever and ever and ever in one direction. The only management option provided is to delete the EQ. Meaning, you cannot group your EQs as you find out which ones you use the most often. Nor can you reposition a new two EQs next to each other to perform A/B comparisons. It is clear to me that the EQ system is important to extract the very best performance from these headphones. And not every screen needs to be the simplest screen ever created in the history of screens. A quality of life pass is a necessity here.
Call Quality:
Two items I want to cover here. First, call quality for the recipient is excellent. I was described as clear and natural sounding. I did not, however, hold any calls outdoors with traffic or wind. I will always be in a quiet room or office environment when using these for phone calls. I did, however, place some calls around a bathroom exhaust fan, air purifier, and noisy TVs and external phone conversations. They did a pretty good job. But, as mentioned earlier, there is room for improvement. My call partners did not indicate any disruption or defect in my voice reproduction.
Second, on my end, voice quality falls into the “It Depends” bucket. Voice quality is 100% dependent on the last EQ I set for my music. You read that correctly. For example, a call with a male friend of mine was bassy and bloated. It turned out that the EQ I set for Chappell Roan, which I was listening to at the time the call came in, was being applied to the call. Switching to the default, “True Sound”, EQ also applied too much bass. I was forced to create a custom EQ just for phone calls. I would have preferred that the PX8 X2 would auto switch to a natural human voice setting whenever a phone call was detected. As it is designed today, I need to open the app at time of call and then hunt for my custom “Phone Calls” EQ buried somewhere in the infinite horizontal custom EQ list.
Comfort:
These are very comfortable. The headband is wrapped in soft, pliable leather that comfortably conforms to my head. The ear pads are also covered in the same soft leather with a plushy filler that easily forms to my head and around my glasses. The ear cups rotate 180 degrees front to back. And rotate again about 10 to 15 degrees along the vertical axis at the ear. The ergonomics and flexibility are excellent in my opinion. The only manual adjustment I needed to make was how far to extend the arms from the headband.
Noise Cancellation:
Noise cancellation is ok. For example, I typically test new headphones in my bathroom with either the exhaust fan running or the with the shower running. The ANC softened the ambient sounds but did not eliminate them. During my workday, there is typically ambient TV and conversation noise outside my office that the PX8 S2 helps block but does not eliminate. If my goal were perfect silence, then there are better options including closing the door to my office. However, background noises simply melt away once I turn on the music, a podcast, the news, or play a video. The other night, I had 50 MPH winds and down pours outside my window that left me undisturbed because I was listening to the PX8s. I had no idea. I couldn't hear it! My wife told me about it later.
Conclusion:
The PX8 S2s may not be perfect on every front. If you prize pristine sound with the flexibility to optimize your musical experience via custom EQs, then you will fall in love with the PX8 S2s. And the ergonomics and comfort allow for all day wear without fatigue. The app is short on features and flexibility all save for the Advanced EQ feature. All in all, the PX8 S2 headphones are my new favorite musical headset.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the world~s first hi-res wireless certified gaming headset the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite. Outputting audiophile-quality 96kHz/24bit sound over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, it's powered by 2-piece carbon fiber drivers. The new GameHub works with all systems, and can mix up to four sound sources simultaneously. Tune out external noise with best-in-class ANC and onboard AI noise rejection.
Best gaming headset I have ever used
Customer Rating
5.0
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The Arctis Nova Elite Gaming Headset is flexible, sounds incredible, and creates a complex and flexible ecosystem that I have not experienced from any manufacture to date.
Setup:
I could write a book on how flexible the Arctis Nova Elite is. The Arctis Nova Elite Game Hub has three USB ports, two 3.5mm jacks, and a 2.4ghz Wireless transmitter. If your device can output via USB or 3.5mm cable, then the Game Hub will mix and transmit your content with support of up to four simultaneous sources. Right out of the box, I was able to connect my Xbox Series X via USB output to the USB 3 input on the Game Hub and transmit directly to the Arctis Nova Elite headset. I was able to sync the headset to my iPhone via Bluetooth, connect to the SteelSeries mobile app, set a game profile for Call of Duty: Back Ops 6 (CoD: BO6), and play with the best audio profile possible over headphones.
On the PC Side, I connected my laptop, my gaming desktop, and my iPhone. I used the laptop over USB 1 to manage the SteelSeries GG and Sonar apps, my gaming PC played the game, and my iPhone was used for phone calls while gaming. The default for the Arctis Nova Elite is to mute the other sources when taking a call. I can report that the feature works. The only thing the Game Hub is missing is an HDMI input for TV and movies.
Battery Life:
For a week, I used the Arctis Nova Elite as my work headset. During my 8 to 10 hour day, I streamed music and participated in multiple MS Team calls. I then ended my day playing Diablo 4 all evening. A single battery lasted me from 7am to 11:30pm of almost continuous operation.
Comfort:
The Arctis Nova Elite are absolutely the most comfortable and well fitting gaming headset I have ever used. The ear cushions are soft foam with a very soft and flexible covering. The clamping force of the headset is strong enough to keep on my head without causing squeezing or discomfort. I can wear these all day without discomfort. The head band has an inner strap that can be removed and adjusted to fit small and large heads. Overall, I found the comfort of the Arctis Nova Elite excellent!
Sound: Gaming:
The default sound PEQ for is Flat. Which is ok if the game does not have a pre-configured PEQ profile. For CoD: Black Ops 6, I used the game specific PEQ on the Xbox and found it very enjoyable. I then used the same PEQ through Sonar on the PC and added Spatial Audio processing. That took my game to the next level. I thought it was excellent. I then moved onto Diablo 4. The PEQ for Diablo 4 hit just the right level of atmospheric bass and gory monster sounds. Spatial Audio took Diablo 4 to the next level by cranking up the immersion. Sounds had more impact, more reverb, and 3D positioning on the screen. The experience, again, was excellent. I don’t think I’ll play Diablo 4 again without Spatial Audio. Finally, no review is complete without giant stompy robots. I threw on Mechwarrior 5: Clans and played through the Clan Ghost Bear campaign. Unfortunately, there is no specific profile for this game, yet. Instead, I tried Flat and Music: Rock. Both performed well. Spatial Audio added reverb to bass heavy sound affects but not much more. Maybe a future patch will address the Mechwarrior Games.
Sound – PEQs
Gaming sound with the PEQs was additive to the gaming and sonic experience. I did not play a single game where the PEQs did not add to the sonic enjoyment or enhance my gaming experience. Adding the Spatial Audio took everything to that next level. Music, on the other hand, just never really worked for me. I found that I was constantly running the gambit of Music PEQs between songs to find the one that worked best for that song. Eventually, I turned that whole thing off and connected the headset directly to my source. Thus, removing the SteelSeries software from the signal path.
Sound – Removing the SteelSeries software from the signal path:
Removing the SteelSeries software from the signal path for two-channel music was the best thing I could have done. This headset is fantastic for two-channel music. I used both the Game Hub to stream and the dedicated 3.5mm cable. The Carbon Fiber really open up and show why SteelSeries chose to go with these. I streamed everything from Jazz, Classical, Pop, K-Pop, classic rock, and techno. In some cases, these rival a pair of high-end dedicated two-channel headphones that retail for the same price.
Game Hub:
The Game Hub is a flexible hi-res streamer. I had this connected to my gaming desktop, gaming laptop, and a stereo source over 3.5mm connection. I could stream whatever I wanted to the headset, overlap content through the Game Hub, and just go crazy. Maybe a too crazy. But you get my point. The Game Hub is a DAC Streamer with a huge amount of flexibility to fit any configuration you can dream up. The Game Hub is also an excellent wireless transmitter for a dedicated musical source, like a streamer, either via a USB cable or 3.5mm cable. The Game Hub has a built in EQ which will allow you to adjust the sonic profile of your source as you see fit.
Microphone:
The sound quality was fantastic by itself. Getting into the PEQs was too much flexibility for my needs. Plus, I was having a hard time finding one that worked for my voice. I chose to keep the PEQ on Flat. This worked with Discord without any issues. And it worked perfectly with MS Teams. The Boom mic and the ear cup omni directional mic worked perfectly. The AI noise canceling did a great job of removing sounds like fan noise and ambient environmental noises from my conversations.
ANC:
Noise Canceling, in my opinion, is weak. I live, work, and play in a quite house. I could still hear my PC fans and my wife vacuuming the house with ANC turned up to high. During the day, with my windows open, I can hear the cars and trucks running up and down the street. And I hear the water running in the sink in the next room when someone washes their hands. It helps but is not competitive with the likes of Sony or Bose. The only thing worse than the ANC is the Transparency mode. Transparency mode takes normal sounds, over processes them, and then replays them in the ear cup with a metallic, over exaggerated quality. Mic Side Tones further exaggerates the issue. Eventually, I simply turned off this feature and moved on.
Conclusion:
Overall, I find the Arctis Nova Elite fantastic. Best of breed for a gaming headset. Gaming sound quality is excellent. Hands down, these beat every gaming headset I have ever used in the categories of comfort, musicality, flexibility, and raw gaming performance. ANC and Transparence modes are poor. The multiple battery option is genius! And the shear level of flexibility for connectivity options, sound quality, streaming options, and the ability to combine sound sources into pretty much anything one could dream of making the Arctis Nova Elite headset the best gaming headset I have ever used. It is in a class by itself.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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When music means everything, there~s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). Because every listen deserves premium, personalized audio, the best Bose in-ear noise cancellation, and an entirely seamless earbud experience ~ so you can feel all the feels with each song you play.
Best ANC, Immersive Audio, and all-day Comfort!
Customer Rating
4.0
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Noise canceling is excellent. Best I have experienced from any earbud I own. They even give some of my headphones a run for their money. Comfort, stability in the ear, touch controls, wear sensing, multi-point connectivity, call clarity, and passthrough are all excellent. Musicality, in my opinion, is a mixed bag. Overall, these are excellent travel companions and business companions.
Sound:
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 are not what I would consider an audiophile earbud. If pristine audio fidelity, body, texture, imaging, and detail are your primary drivers then the QuietComfort are not for you. I would describe standard two channel stereo performance as clear, flat, a bit lifeless at times, and bass can be muddy. The Bose app provides a three-band equalizer which allows some fine tuning for content. This does help make up for the vanilla flat presentation. The improvement is content dependent and may require additional adjustments as when you change musical genres. For example, I would not use the same EQ settings for Classical as I would for K-Pop.
Immersive listening, on the other hand, is an experience. It is like MSG for the ears. There are two immersive modes: Still and Motion. Still assumes that the listener is sitting still or slowly swinging the head from side to side. Still simulates a pair of stereo speakers located at the front of a virtual room. As the listener swings his/her head from side to side so do the virtual speakers swing in unison around the listener’s head. Swing left and the speakers fill the right ear. Swing right and the speakers pan from right, through center, and to the left ear. Look straight head and the speakers recenter. Bob your head and sway from side to side and the musical sources act accordingly. It is a neat effect.
Motion assumes that the listener is walking, running, or performing other activities. The sound field is cast in all directions as if the listener is in a wide-open space. This has the affect of an audible 360-degree bubble of sound around your head without virtual speakers anchored to any single position in the virtual space. The music is all around you all at once. And this bubble follows you where ever you go, whatever you do.
Both the Still and Motion modes are impressive with what they do. The impact was like floating in my very own concert hall. It is very easy to get lost in the soundscape. However, there are a few downsides. First, detail, texture, and fidelity are sacrificed in order to virtualize, and dare I say, pressurize, the sound field. At the same time, certain frequencies are boosted to increase presence and impact. Second, as much as I enjoyed the immersive modes, I did found them fatiguing after about an hour. Finally, the immersive modes can be so saturating that reverting back to standard two-channel listening was like going from drinking a full bodied red wine to drinking water. It takes a few minutes for my ears to recalibrate. Overall, the experience is pleasing, enjoyable, and unique.
Noise Canceling:
Noise canceling depends on the environment. Assuming there is no music playing, the Bose QuietComfort Ultras do an excellent job of filtering out ambient background noise such as fans, road noise, wind noise, and anything else that is constant and consistent. They provide some benefit by compensating for variable noises such as shouting, cars racing down the road, sirens, honking horns, or someone listening to a loud TV in the next room. Combine music, or talk radio, with noise canceling and you are good to go in almost any environment. As a word of caution. Drowning out audible noise with music that active noise cancelation cannot compensate for could drive you to unreasonable sound levels in the ear. Love yourself, use good judgement, and protect your hearing.
Now, I do not travel much so I cannot tell you how well or ill the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2s perform on an actual airplane. However, I do have a powerful 7.2.6 home theater system that can hit ambient cabin noise levels. I found some ambient cabin noise tracks on Apple Music. No joke! And cranked it in the home theater. At 80 DB, as measured using DBx app on my iPhone (see attached image), The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2, with no music playing, reduced the simulated cabin noise to a whisper. My two massive subwoofers were so loud that my chair was vibrating. What impressed me the most is that the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 did not overcompensate, or overshoot the cancellation frequency and amplitude, for the bass like many other earbuds I have owned. A+ in my book!
Because I could, I auditioned several other pairs of noise canceling earbuds and headsets that I own. They represent products across the price spectrum. My headsets came close but never achieved the same level of quiet ANC that the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 was able to achieve. I am not saying that ANC was poor. Quite the opposite. ANC is quite excellent across products these days. What I am saying is that Bose’s ANC is the best I have ever used.
Phone Calls:
Phone is a mixed bag for me. Transmission, answering calls, adjusting volume with touch controls, pick up and hanging, and auto music shut off/restart all worked exactly as expected. The Bose QuietComfort Ultras just work. Voices, to me, didn’t have the intimacy characteristic that I have come to expect from earbuds or headphones that have phone functionality. I found this strange considering how natural hear through functionality is. Calls are clear for both caller and recipient. They just don’t sound front and center as one would experience with an in-person conversation.
Bose App:
The Bose app starts off with a great tutorial on how to get the most from the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2s. The app provides access to a 3 band EQ, multiple sound Modes, and allows for the assignment of touch gestures. The Modes can prove overwhelming due to the number of presets Bose provides, combination of locked and unlocked features, combination of immersion modes, etc… What Bose does not provide is the ability to build a custom mode from scratch. I would have preferred to build a custom mode for, say classical, with preset noise canceling or adaptive noise canceling, preset immersion, and preset EQ. However, there is enough variety that I ultimately settled on a few key Modes that I now cycle through. Overall, the app does not provide a tone of features but it does provide enough flexibility to get the most out of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2.
Touch Controls:
Touch controls are easy, natural, fast, and responsive. Bose did an excellent job here.
Conclusion:
Overall, I like the Bose QuietComfort Ultras. They are not audiophile quality earbuds, but they are competitive for earbuds at this price point. They really shine with noise canceling, immersive audio, fit, comfort, and hear through. I currently have them connected via multi-point to my iPhone and iPad. They swap quickly and flawlessly between the two. The Bose QuietComfort Ultras wake up instantly when removed from their case and anytime I place them in my ears. They even verbally tell me how charge level and which devices they are connected to. Immersive modes are unique and fun. Best yet, they will not fall out of my ears during everyday movements such as moving, tilting my head, exercising, or head banging to my favorite rock band. And I tried very hard to force these from my ears through swinging my head, eating a meal, and banging my head to one side.
My only real qualm with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 is the critical musical experience. Otherwise, these are excellent travel companions, gym buddies, and will even do great in a noisy office environment. Also, despite the slight weakness with caller voicing, these have already replaced my old, earlier this year, earbuds for phone calls due to their stability in ear, clear transmission, and good enough reception. I am very happy with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 and hope to get years of use out of them.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+4points
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Dyson Purifier Cool PC2 De-NOx delivers whole-room purification~ and powerful cooling.~ Advanced air purification captures 50% more NO~.~ Removes odors and gases,~ and continuously destroys formaldehyde.~ The fully sealed, 3-stage filter system captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.~ The whole purifier, not just the filtration system, is fully sealed to HEPA H13 grade.~ Air Multiplier technology projects over 76 gallons per second of smooth, yet powerful airflow.~ Connects to the MyDyson app to control and monitor air quality from anywhere, or hands-free with compatible voice services.~ Recommended for rooms upto 101 Sq Ft.
Fantastic Air Filter and Fan
Customer Rating
5.0
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This is my first Dyson product. Up until recently, I thought their primary claim to fame were vacuum cleaners. Of which I have never been a fan. Dyson’s air purifier, the PC2 De-NOx, is an odd-looking contraption that seems to favor gimmick over function. Why else would Dyson go with a strange air spitting oval design over a traditional vertical or horizontal mounted spindle fan? And every single air purifier I have owned up until now was built around a vertically mounted spindle fan design. The PC2 De-NOx is not what I would call a traditional design. The air enters the base of the PC2 De-NOx, passes through the filters, and then is released through outlets in the oval tower. The PC2 De-NOx has a few unique tricks that I have never seen in an air purifier before. First, the base rotates up to 350-degree arc. So, instead of being limited to upwards and outwards air circulation of a traditional air purifier, I can circulate the air around the room along the horizontal plain. This also provides the cooling benefits of a traditional fan. Second, the PC2 De-NOx can push the air out the front of the giant oval tower or out the sides.
Overall, do I like it? I didn’t think I would. But so far it has done an excellent job in every room I have put it in. Let’s get into it.
Setup and operation:
Setup and Operation can be as easy as unpacking, plug in to power, and click the on button. However, you will want to set up the app to take advantage of all the PC2 De-NOx features.
Air Quality:
I point to a few examples of air quality below in relation to specific functions. I wanted to point out some specifics here. First, the PC2 De-NOx worked just fine on my first floor rooms such as the living room, bedroom, and kitchen. The air quality in my upstairs this time of year is usually pretty good. My basement is a different story. I have a livable basement where my wife has a craft area and I have a home theater/stereo room. And, like most basements, mine has a particular smell.. The room is temperature and humidity-controlled year round but, still, the smells of the earth around the foundation still make their way into the basement. I typically have a “name not mentioned” air purifier running 24/7 on auto mode. The darn thing never stops, and the basement never really seems to smell any better. I put the PC2 De-NOx in the same spot and set it to auto. The smells in the space where gone within an hour. Just to be mean, I moved the PC2 De-NOx to a small workshop I carved out of my basement. The sump pit is in that room. As such, the room typically has a musty smell about it. I set up the PC2 De-NOx, set it to auto, and within an hour that room also smelled a lot better.
Fan modes:
The PC2 De-NOx has multiple fan modes. Auto works directly with the built in air filtration functions. The PC2 De-NOx’s fan ramps up as pollutants are detected and then ramps down as the level of air born pollutants decreases or are eliminated. To test, I lit a candle and blew out the flame. This created a bunch of smoke in the room. The PC2 De-NOx automatically detected the smoke, spun up to about 6 or 7 on the speed meter, and cleared the room of smoke in a few minutes. The unit then spun down to an almost undetectable fan speed when the smoke was cleared.
The PC2 De-NOx also has 10 fan speeds. The speeds can be manually set either via the app or the remote control. The fan speed is displayed on the PC2 De-NOx base’s LED screen as well as in the app. The large oval shape of the air outlet is purposely shaped to accelerate air through the opening. Thus, reinforcing the airflow from the air outlets in the tower. Honestly, I stuck my arm through the oval and didn’t feel any significant air flow increase at any speed. It may be just a gimmick, or I may simply be misunderstanding the purpose of the towers design.
I can say for certain that air does not exit along the entire surface of the oval. The opening is a single unbroken depression along the front face, but the air outlets are only along the long edges of the oval. However, the PC2 De-NOx does something no other fan or air purifier dies. Along the outside of the oval is another depression. It looks like an air intake. It is not. With the press of a button, the PC2 De-NOx will redirect the air output from the front of the oval to either side of the oval. This allows the PC2 De-NOx to up to a 360-degree air coverage. Pretty neat.
Finally, I find the air flow more pleasing than a traditional fan. Odd, but true. First, there are ten speed settings; meaning I am not locked into the low, medium, high of other fans. Second, since I have greater control over the air pressure, I can control the intensity of the air flow. This is important to me when I’m sleeping. I like air but I have never been a big fan of being blasted by the fans. Third, it is much quieter at lower fan speeds than most fans I have owned. Finally, the PC2 De-NOx does not vibrate my floors. Meaning, I cannot hear it in my basement, in my home theater, like I can a traditional room fan. Trust me, that low frequency hum that is transmitted through the floor is very annoying.
Air filter:
My other air filters draw air in from the bottom and blow it out the top. In a dusty room, I can literally see the updraft launching more dust into higher into the room than drawing it into the filter. The PC2 De-NOx does a better job in my opinion. First, the intake is 360 degrees. It literally rests on the floor. Finally, it does not launch the air particles to the ceiling like my other air filters. The air filters still have that new air filter smell but not as awful as some other manufacturers’ air filters. All modern air filters seem to share the same smell. The difference is that the PC2 De-NOx’s air filter’s odor is lighter and dissipates quicker.
Replacing the air filter is a bit more complicated than other machines from other manufacturers. The HEPA and K-Carbon air filters are in four parts and fit together like a clamshell: the HEPA filter on the outside and the K-Carbon filter on the inside. The filter covers are also of a clamshell design. To replace, you need to depress two buttons located on either side of the base and pull the clamshell apart at the same time. The seals on the HEPA filter are a tight fit which makes the hand gymnastics a bit more challenging than other designs.
Metrics:
The PC2 De-NOx captures, displays, and tracks metrics on Air Quality, PM2.5, PM10, HCHO, VOC, NO2, Temperature, and Humidity. The metrics are displayed by the hour and up to a week can be viewed by the app. There is also a feature that runs a report. However, I have run the PC2 De-NOx long enough yet to generate a full report. The current metrics are always available either via the LCD in the base of the PC2 De-NOx or from the app. I found the app infinitely more useful than the LCD screen for viewing metrics over time. It is also easier to skip through all the metrics via the app than via the LCD screen. If the PC2 De-NOx is in auto mode, then it will display exactly which kind of pollutant it is responding to as the fan ramps up and engages to clean the pollutant out of the air. It will not tell you exactly what the pollutant is such as dog fart or burnt popcorn.
Final thoughts:
I was skeptical that I would like a Dyson product. Not only do I like the PC2 De-NOx. It performs better and is more flexible than any other air purifier PC2 De-NOx I have ever owned. It’s actually a pretty awesome product. The application captures plenty of real-time information both indoors and outdoors. And I have full control of the PC2 De-NOx’s operations from the comfort of my couch. It does an excellent job of keeping my home theater smelling fresh. It is quite at slower speeds. And it does not create any unwanted room resonances. Overall, I am very pleased with the PC2 De-NOx.
I hope you found this review useful.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bowers & Wilkins - B&W PI5 True Wireless Headphones with Adaptive Noise Cancellation, Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX - Charcoal
B&W PI5 true wire-free headphones are attractive, well-built, and they deliver a refined sound quality. Featuring Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX technology these earphones ensure reliable connectivity whether you are streaming from your smartphone, tablet or PC. Allows connection of up to two devices at the same time, however, only one device can be used to play or make a call at a time. Download the Bowers & Wilkins free headphone app, available for Apple and Android for further control of the sound and noise cancellation, right on your phone. The PI5 headphones feature the latest innovations in adaptive noise cancellation along with 4 built-in microphones that pick up ambient noise and cancel it with an equal, but opposite, audio signal and enhance the call quality. There are three levels of Adaptive Noise Cancellation ~ High, Low and Auto, that can be controlled either by the multi-functional button on the left earbud or via the app. Similarly, the touch-sensitive button on the right earbud allows you to enable voice assistance. The buttons also allows you to control playback and phone call functions with single (play/pause, answer call), double (skip forward, end call), or triple presses (skip backward). Another stand-out feature of these headphones is the intuitive detection sensors that put the earphones on standby or reconnect them depending upon whether they are removed or put back on. The PI5s come with a sturdy and attractive charging case for charging the earbuds when not in use. The case is equipped with two 350mAh rechargeable batteries. Each earbud has a rechargeable battery which provides up to 4 hours of wireless playback. Including the charging case, the PI5 can provide up to 12 hours of continuous playback.
Is there an App to set the equalizer?
App version 3.1.3 does not have EQ functions.
4 years, 11 months ago
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Posted by:
ITJim
Alienware - m15 R4 15.6" FHD Gaming Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 - 512GB Solid State Drive - Dark Side of the Moon
With the 10th Gen Intel~ Core~ i7 processors enabling up to 8-cores and 16-threads of multi-threaded performance, the latest generation of Alienware m17 goes beyond its predecessor. Featuring the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with Ultimate performance for gamers and creators. Realistic ray-traced graphics and AI-accelerated DLSS. Our latest thermal technology, Advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech, is an engineering approach where an Alienware system~s gaming performance is never compromised by means of electrical and mechanical methods while maintaining system stability during the highest performance states.
Is this a per-key RGB keyboard or a 4 zone?
Alienware - m15 R4 15.6" FHD Gaming Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 - 512GB Solid State Drive - Dark Side of the Moon
With the 10th Gen Intel~ Core~ i7 processors enabling up to 8-cores and 16-threads of multi-threaded performance, the latest generation of Alienware m17 goes beyond its predecessor. Featuring the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with Ultimate performance for gamers and creators. Realistic ray-traced graphics and AI-accelerated DLSS. Our latest thermal technology, Advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech, is an engineering approach where an Alienware system~s gaming performance is never compromised by means of electrical and mechanical methods while maintaining system stability during the highest performance states.
Is the display having G-Sync?
For the 300Hz screen:
From Alienware's site:
"15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) 300Hz 3ms 300-nits 100% sRGB color gamut"
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/alienware-m15-r4-laptop?~ck=mn
I do not see any indication of G-Sync on/off in the nVidia driver settings.
From Alienware's site:
"15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) 300Hz 3ms 300-nits 100% sRGB color gamut"
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/alienware-m15-r4-laptop?~ck=mn
I do not see any indication of G-Sync on/off in the nVidia driver settings.
5 years, 1 month ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
Alienware - m15 R4 15.6" FHD Gaming Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 - 512GB Solid State Drive - Dark Side of the Moon
With the 10th Gen Intel~ Core~ i7 processors enabling up to 8-cores and 16-threads of multi-threaded performance, the latest generation of Alienware m17 goes beyond its predecessor. Featuring the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with Ultimate performance for gamers and creators. Realistic ray-traced graphics and AI-accelerated DLSS. Our latest thermal technology, Advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech, is an engineering approach where an Alienware system~s gaming performance is never compromised by means of electrical and mechanical methods while maintaining system stability during the highest performance states.
Is the ram upgradable?
From Alienware's user's guide:
Onboard system memory
NOTE: The memory is integrated to the system board and
cannot be upgraded after purchase.
You can find the user's guide on Alienware's support site.
Onboard system memory
NOTE: The memory is integrated to the system board and
cannot be upgraded after purchase.
You can find the user's guide on Alienware's support site.
5 years, 1 month ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
HP OMEN - 15.6" Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB SSD - Mica Silver
HP OMEN Gaming Laptop: A thin and light premium gaming experience in an elevated design so you can play everyday. With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics and cooled by OmenTempest Cooling, it makes you think how it all fits into such a tiny little package."
Can this output 144Hz over hdmi?
Yes it can. I am using the HP Omen X 25f over HDMI as an external monitor.
Just be sure to use a HDMI 2.0 or newer cable.
Just be sure to use a HDMI 2.0 or newer cable.
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5 years, 10 months ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
HP OMEN - 15.6" Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB SSD - Mica Silver
HP OMEN Gaming Laptop: A thin and light premium gaming experience in an elevated design so you can play everyday. With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics and cooled by OmenTempest Cooling, it makes you think how it all fits into such a tiny little package."
Does it have Gsync?
This is not a Gsync monitor. At least I cannot find any information online or in the system drivers that tell me otherwise.
You can connect the laptop to a Gsync monitor and take advantage of all the features of Gsync with that monitor.
You can connect the laptop to a Gsync monitor and take advantage of all the features of Gsync with that monitor.
5 years, 10 months ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
HP OMEN - Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i7-9700 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB Hard Drive + 256GB SSD - Shadow Black
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
How many cores are there in this pc
8 physical cores. This processor does not support 16-way multitasking.
6 years, 10 months ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
HP OMEN - Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i7-9700 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB Hard Drive + 256GB SSD - Shadow Black
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
Is there a gtx 1660ti installed or not? What size pwr supply?
It says in the name that it is a GTX 1660ti. I can confirm that the video card is exactly as described. It is the 6gb version of the card. The Power Supply is 500Watts.
6 years, 10 months ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
HP OMEN - Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i7-9700 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB Hard Drive + 256GB SSD - Shadow Black
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
Does this computer have a memory card reader built in?
HP OMEN - Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i7-9700 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB Hard Drive + 256GB SSD - Shadow Black
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
What is the operating system for the pc, and does it come with a virus protection app
Windows 10 standard. It ships with 30 days of McAfee.
6 years, 10 months ago
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Posted by:
ITJim