MnstrMike
Top 250 Contributor
MnstrMike's Stats
- Review Count124
- Helpfulness Votes847
- First ReviewAugust 5, 2011
- Last ReviewJune 22, 2024
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4
Reviews Comments
- Review Comment Count5
- Helpfulness Votes5
- First Review CommentNovember 5, 2012
- Last Review CommentJune 18, 2017
- Featured Review Comments0
Questions
- Question Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First QuestionNone
- Last QuestionNone
- Featured Questions0
- Answer Count42
- Helpfulness Votes49
- First AnswerNovember 22, 2010
- Last AnswerDecember 8, 2021
- Featured Answers0
- Best Answers6
Small enough to fit in your pocket and share your favorite photos and movies anywhere. The M190 Mini Pro comes with an integrated kick stand, allowing you to easily project at any angle. With up to 2 hours of battery life and up to an 80 inch image, the M190 is perfect for watching movies on any flat surface. Easily connect your phone, tablet, or laptop directly using USB-C or HDMI. The built in 3 watt speaker means that everyone will be able to listen and enjoy the Mini Pro with built in Texas Instruments Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology for a truly cinematic experience.
Skinny Jeans Need Not Apply
Customer Rating
4.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
Miroir states "small enough to fit in a pocket" which is true, but it better be your Dad's (yep that's me) cargo short pocket. If your rockin' a suit, possibly a jacket pocket, but the weight would be awkward.
So its technically true it will fit in a pocket, but not sure why.
If you got the budget, the M600 should probably give a superior viewing experience since it is 1080p and this resolution is 854x480. So SD resolution, but 16:9 viewing.
With that being said, its not bad. Definitely need to dim the lights for any use. If doing a presentation, you'll want large easy fonts if going larger than 60” screen size. Video size is okay at any size, obviously more crisp at lower screen size.
If you are going for that promotion or new customer, may not want to pull this out, your computer screen would be a better solution. However, just showing off things with friends and family or camping in the tent in the backyard or outdoor movie night, it's totally fine and fun to use in those situations.
The device speaker isn’t bad, a bit of treble as expected, but spoken words sound good.
Packaging was a little underwhelming, not much instruction on how to use the device in the print material, but it isn’t hard to figure it out.
Package contents are charger/ac block with multiple different outlet options and an HDMI cable.
When I first plugged it to charger, nothing would happen. I then turned it on and tested the device with my laptop and then later plugged it after the device turned off and it started charging.
I’m not sure if there is a feature when you pick it up it senses the movement, but when doing so it will flash the current battery charge, but not all the time. I cannot seem to replicate it at will. Again the documentation is weak, so I assume it must be a feature or maybe there is a soft touch button that activates it?
Overall, it's a fun toy for occasional use in those situations that you want a screen and don’t have one or would be impractical. Again if you have the budget the M600 would probably be better and would get used more. Toss a roku player, Chromecast, etc and you have a great device.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
ASUS - TUF Gaming 17.3" Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX3050 Ti - 512GB SSD - Eclipse Gray
The latest Intel 11th Core i5 processor with GeForce® RTX3050 Ti graphics also equipped with a large 17.3" FHD 144hz display. Personalize your laptop with RGB keyboard.
Oh That Screen!
Customer Rating
4.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
Initial thoughts are that this would definitely suffice as a gaming laptop. Haven’t ran into any issues with Shooters and Action Games. The 144hz screen is awesome!! This also doubles as a work computer.
The biggest limitations out of the box will be storage. Rated at 512GB, 456GB formatted with 348GB available before installing. Playing the latest AAA Games especially anything from the Call Of Duty line will take at least 100GB, so you will fill up storage pretty quickly. Thankfully ASUS built-in a secondary M.2 port. 1TB drives have dropped in cost, but still a little pricey for larger ones.
Thankfully it is pretty easy to upgrade/add Storage and Memory (extra slot as well) once you get the back cover off. About 10 screws holding the case on, however, ASUS went a little overboard with the snap locks. Typically I start in the front and work my way around, but the bottom cover wraps around the hinge and in doing my typical routine, broke some of the snap locks in that area. I’d recommend starting on the sides in the back and wrap around the corners to the back side; then work your way towards the front.
While the build quality is definitely where ASUS had to cut some costs. The chassis is all plastic and the palm rest and trackpad are bad at attracting smudges; the keys too. The design is definitely geared toward the traditional gaming design and the RGB keyboard adds to the flair. It would be hard to call it a gaming computer if doesn’t have these features, it just goes with the territory. The ports are definitely put in strategic spots; single USB-A for a mouse on the right, mic/headphone jack on the left side closest to the front. I would like to have seen another USB-C, but at least it has 1.
I will say that the I have not seen so much thermal cooling in a laptop before. The RAM has a thermal tape on both sides and so does the M.2..it’s literally wrapped in it. The dual-fans definitely have some decibels, but are not overly distracting. Most likely you will be wearing a gaming headset,
ASUS does bundle its own software for tweaking the hardware specs and even its own Game Store, but it really is just pulling from Steam Store. I wouldn’t call it official overclocking, but it will let you set the processor to Turbo which makes it stay running at top speed. The software helps if you are looking at running different power profiles for battery life. It also has a nice battery save feature that lets set to maximum battery health where it won’t allow the battery to charger more than 60% for when the laptop will be used mostly as a desktop and always plugged in.
Speaking of the battery, I was pretty shocked to see it was only 4220mAh in size it is 48Wh, so it can put out the juice, but if you plan on gaming while on battery, don’t plan on any extended sessions. There is definitely some room for them to add some more battery, but probably not a good idea given the amount of heat that could be expected. The laptop is definitely well ventilated, but I’m sure most will also leave this plugged in all the time, so a larger battery would end being a bit overkill. The charging block is a traditional circular plug, not the USB-C of modern slim laptops, however, its also pumping out 180W at 20.0volts and 9A, so it will definitely recharge at a fast rate. Battery life is going to be a mixed bag for you depending on what your use is unplugged, but the ASUS CRATE software that lets you tweak everything, automatically shuts down the Nvidia GPU, switches screen to 60hz and a few other settings to conserve battery.
I’m not sure if this laptop is “The Ultimate Force” (TUF) ASUS brands it as, but I definitely think it holds its own. My only issue I ran into was some light bleed from the lower border of the screen mostly on the left and right sides. This is only noticeable in the darkest of scenes. I would like to have seen a 1TB drive and of 16GB RAM given this just a bunch of plastic (which does make it quite light). Given the shortages for chips, I think it is priced competitively and you wouldn’t be disappointed.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+9points
9out of 9found this review helpful.
Share this review:
The WD_Black™ P10 Game Drive for Xbox™ gives your Xbox the tools it needs to keep your competitive edge. With up to 5TB* of storage capacity, the WD_Black™ P10 Game Drive for Xbox™ is a top-tier external HDD built specifically for gamers looking to expand the potential of their Xbox so they can drive their game the way they choose. Included with your purchase is a 1-month membership of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, with access to 100+ games on consoles and PC, plus online console multiplayer.****
Easy Add-On Storage
Customer Rating
5.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
First, I love the form factor...this is super slim. The case is a blow mold; it made me question if this was NVME (M.2) or HDD as I just wasn't expecting it to be so slim. It is the same width as a standard portable drive, but the thickness is about half what I expect.
The WD Black 2TB drive is perfect for the crazy amount of space some these games are taking up these days. It also perfect for other downloadable content to free up space on the main drive. My XBOX OneS is just the 500GB so it doesn't take long to fill it up.
I haven't had any issues with the games not wanting to load or lag during play for the games on the WD drive.
Can't go wrong with this amount of storage for so cheap.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
-1point
0out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
The Chirp Wheel+ helps reduce back pain by decompressing your spine, strengthening core muscles, and massaging out tight trigger points. Made with a rigid ABS plastic core and soft EVA compression sensitive mat, the Chirp Wheel+ can support up to 500 pounds! Three wheel sizes provide different levels of pressure for customizable back pain relief. The smallest wheel offers the most pressure, to target specific muscle knots, while the largest wheel offers the least pressure and the greatest stretch to help correct poor posture.
Better already have good core strength!
Customer Rating
5.0
The Chirp Wheel(s) are exactly what I was hoping they would be!
The three sizes really help get a good stretch. The largest is the easiest to use, but requires the most balance and I think the most core strength. I didn't realize how much I had slipped in that department. Would definitely recommend using on a firm flooring, not carpet.
The smaller wheels are really nice to get a bit deeper into the muscle and work out any soreness.
My wife has the Planet Fitness roller and while it is nice that it is wide, I don't care for the spikes that are to simulate a kneading technique. To me it just hurts the skin.
She tried out the Chirp and likes the largest wheel for the stretch, but does still prefer the Planet Fitness version with the spikes, whereas, I prefer the smallest chirp wheel to achieve that deeper massage into the muscle.
The only downside to the Chirp Wheels are the foam/rubber material is highly attractive of dirt/hair/dust. So when you are rolling on it, it will cover your cotton shirt in hair, etc. My floor wasn't as clean as I thought. I used it on basement floor covered in LVP, so I'm thinking a carpeted floor would grab quite a bit.
It doesn't discourage me from using, but just know you may need a good lint rolling session or just change shirts.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+4points
4out of 4found this review helpful.
Share this review:
True wireless noise cancelling Beats Studio Bud are made for music. Designed with a custom acoustic platform, Beats Studio Bud are engineered to deliver powerful, balanced sound in a compact, in-ear form factor. The result — immersive sound that pulls the emotion of music from the studio to your ears to keep you inspired. These earbuds feature two listening modes, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency mode, to give you total control of your sound. Each earbud has up to 8 hours of listening time¹ with two additional charges provided by its pocket-sized charging case to give you up to 24 hours of combined playback.² Beats Studio Bud also offer simple one-touch pairing for Apple³ and Android⁴ devices.
To Beat or Not To Beat?
Customer Rating
4.0
The Beats Studio Buds definitely keep to the Beats premium formula with their design and materials quality; if your after the status symbol that comes with the Beats branding, the Studio Buds definitely keeps with tradition.
The Studio Beats come with the features all true-wireless earbuds should come with:
Active Noise Cancelling
Ambient Pass Through
Play/Pause/Skip/Previous
Answer/End/Reject Calls
Voice Assistant in iOS with voice command, Android requires button press
Active Noise Cancelling
Ambient Pass Through
Play/Pause/Skip/Previous
Answer/End/Reject Calls
Voice Assistant in iOS with voice command, Android requires button press
Missing Volume control; can only be done via connected device
Audio Quality is what you would expect from the Beats branding, so no complaints there. Call quality is the same. But I have to admit that I was expecting a bit more. This is the second high end brand I have tried lately expecting to be taken to another level, but unfortunately I feel a little let down. Mostly because the volume level just seems a little too soft; at maximum volume I’m left wanting a little more. Granted it is loud enough to hear, but not quite loud enough to feel immersed.
I realize these are not going to bring the same feeling as a set of over-the-ear headphones will, but I have tested others that get louder.
Fitment is great, I don’t get any ear fatigue wearing the buds, but over time they do lose their grip from ear sweat. I don’t think you would want these for any type of active use other than just walking or minimal around the house activity. Any kind of up and down movement I feel like I was constantly having to readjust. The default ear tips out-of-the-box were the best fitment for me, so switching the tips would not have made this experience any better.
This is hardly an issue that only rests with Studio Buds, rather one that I have found very common for me in trying many different brands. Some have included foam tips in place of the common silicone type to help aid in fitment. I would assume the tips are of a universal nature so it may be possible to purchase foam tips in place of the silicone to allow for more active use.
Beats Software is pretty straightforward to use and the button presses are easy to remember. They can be reprogrammed as well. The Studio Buds are designed with a true button, so it requires pinching the buds to be able to push the button without jamming the buds in the ear canal.
I don’t have any issues recommending, just understand some of the limitations I have mentioned and align your expectations.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
-1point
0out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Jaybird - Vista 2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones - Nimbus Gray
Featuring SurroundSense and ANC, Vista 2 allows athletes to amplify ambient sounds for safety or stay focused with Active Noise Cancellation. Along with Jaybird signature fit, function, and Earthproof durability, Vista 2 creates the ultimate true wireless audio experience.
5 Stars Not Normal For Me
Customer Rating
5.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
Tested with Galaxy Note 20 device.
I was a little skeptical with the JayBird VISTA 2’s as my RUN XT’s from a few years back I found sub-par; however, JayBird I think has done an excellent job with the VISTA 2’s and they are definitely an upgrade in their product line.
FITMENT
The biggest upgrade is that they stay in my ear! JayBird did some heavy advertising in this department to promote their ruggedness; I just wasn’t sure if that would translate to staying in place, but thankfully it does!
The biggest upgrade is that they stay in my ear! JayBird did some heavy advertising in this department to promote their ruggedness; I just wasn’t sure if that would translate to staying in place, but thankfully it does!
Honestly, the transition from the RUN XT’s to falling out sitting still to the VISTA 2’s putting up with washing a car on a super hot day and never needing to be readjusted is a major feat! Bending over a lot to pick up something out of the bucket never even gave me pause that the earbud might fall out. I don’t move slowly, so any workout routine with some up-downs, burpees, running, etc, I feel will retain the same experience I have had.
I would say that your ear design would be a major contributing factor here too. This relies on the “fin” being able to “lock” into position in the Concha Cymba. The buds are nicely balanced so that aids their ability to stay put and the designs spreads out more than the RUN XT’s so that they can fit more in the Concha Cavum and Intertragic notch. There are three ear gels included 1-2-3 sizes, with size 2 being the unboxed size installed. Size 1 does not have the “fin” which I think is a shame because I prefer the ear bud canal size of the 1 over the 2.
The buds do have a bit of weight to them and I did notice after about 2 hours of use I had some soreness, so there seems that there will be a “break-in” period. I think this is also do to the fact they are designed to sit a little deeper in the ear canal.
AUDIO/VOLUME/SOFTWARE
Audio Clarity is both loud and clear, with a nice balance of high’s, mid’s, and low’s. Call audio is good on both ends and the buds can be used independently.
Audio Clarity is both loud and clear, with a nice balance of high’s, mid’s, and low’s. Call audio is good on both ends and the buds can be used independently.
Noise Cancellation works extremely well, and I think it is where the JayBird software aims to please. The SoundSense (ambient noise pass-through) works extremely well when other people are talking to you, to the point that you don’t even know the buds are in your ear. I was extremely impressed with the level of clarity as I wasn’t even sure if the feature was on because the sound is so natural.
However, the feature falls a little flat when media is playing at any volume level and also when the wearer is talking, as it does not transmit the sound through the buds so you still end up talking loudly like you are wearing ear plugs. (UPDATE below, the short of it is that there is a hidden settings menu allowing more adjustment).
Also, when you start a phone call the software automatically goes into Active Noise Cancelling mode. In the companion app it does not register this change and when the call is finished it goes back to the SoundSense mode.
The companion app is quite extensive (even more than I first knew) and there is the ability to reprogram the button taps to perform different tasks. There are also equalizer settings that can be set for different activity types that can also be Edited. Volume level is also controlled independently of the mobile device volume.
When I first was testing the buds, I was concerned how low the volume was when my mobile device was at max volume. Once I started learning the button taps for the various settings, I noticed the volume level is not synced with the mobile device but independent.
NAVIGATION
The VISTA 2’s are designed with both physical and a capacitive button called “press” and “tap” respectively in the settings. The “tap” can only be programmed for one feature, where the “press” has single, double, and press and hold programming sequences. I do find the “tap” takes a few tries to get it to register, but when it does there is an audible chime so you know the setting change was registered.
The VISTA 2’s are designed with both physical and a capacitive button called “press” and “tap” respectively in the settings. The “tap” can only be programmed for one feature, where the “press” has single, double, and press and hold programming sequences. I do find the “tap” takes a few tries to get it to register, but when it does there is an audible chime so you know the setting change was registered.
By default the “tap” is set to for Sound Management which changes from either SoundSense or Active Noise Cancelling on both buds, however, there is no way to have both features OFF; one or the other will always be ON...OR SO I THOUGHT!
In the companion app for the Sound Management section that has both these features listed, there is also a “Settings” to the far right. I just assumed this was Title Heading as it didn’t look like a button. ANC does not have any settings to change, but SoundSense can change the level of pass-through, level of wind noise cancellation. Also, there is a setting for the Switch (tap) and ANC, SoundSense, or OFF can be selected or removed from the possible options. Selecting OFF, then shows it on the dashboard under the Sound Management section.
CHARGING CASE
A quick word about the charging case is that it is very light and compact and one my absolute favorites from the different ear buds I have tested across many brands. I am glad to see it is equipped with USB-C charging and somehow they crammed wireless charging into this little case. It takes twice as long to wireless charge (4 hours) compared to wired (2 Hours) when the case battery is fully depleted.
A quick word about the charging case is that it is very light and compact and one my absolute favorites from the different ear buds I have tested across many brands. I am glad to see it is equipped with USB-C charging and somehow they crammed wireless charging into this little case. It takes twice as long to wireless charge (4 hours) compared to wired (2 Hours) when the case battery is fully depleted.
The companion app can also show the case battery level on the dashboard. I did find it wasn’t always so easy to get it to register in the app though. Typically upon initial use each time it will show up, but if the earbuds have been connected/in use for some time that is when it was hard to get the case to connect too.
The case itself is a little grip to it. The lid magnets are pretty strong and the seam is tight. It would be quite difficult for the case to open accidentally. Which also can make for opening the case intentionally a little tricky given the size of the case, but I’ll take that over a more bulky case.
I do wish the USB-C port had a silicone plug, seeing as the amount of advertising for these buds are for the rugged, I feel that it is the weakest point for the case and maybe the whole product. I have had other earbuds that became useless because the charging port died, but the buds themselves were fine. Wireless charging is a nice backup, but hardly one I would want to rely on.
So, should you throw down your cash for this set? I think if you are an active person, do not like the ear-clip style of other brands, and want a true-wireless headphone, it is hard not to consider the Jaybird VISTA 2’s.
There are cheaper options available and I have tested most of them and they come with their short comings, but it follows the mantra “You get what you pay for''. The VISTA 2’s are a bit pricey, but I truly think they deliver what they claim. When I had the RUN XT”s I could not recommend the brand at all, but with the VISTA 2’s I have done a 180 in that regard.
I can easily recommend based on their quality and features for those looking to use for an active lifestyle.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+6points
10out of 14found this review helpful.
Share this review:
JVC - Marshmallow True Wireless In-Ear Headphones - Black
JVC Marshmallow True Wireless headphones offer two sizes of soft memory foam earpiece for superior comfort. Experience total true wireless headphones with no wires connecting the earpieces. Each earpiece offers a one button remote to control music and phone calls at the touch of a button. The Touch & Talk feature makes it quick and easy to reduce playback volume and take in outside sounds, which allows for conversation with others without removing the earbuds. Keep on listening for hours with plenty of time to spare. You get 8 hours battery life on a single charge, then recharge in the included carrying case for another 2.5 times, total 28 hours. Also available is a quick 10-minute charge which provides 1-hour playback. These headphones are rated IPX5 so you can enjoy sports or other activities out in the rain without hesitation. The convience of automatic power on allows you to connect to your device when simply removing the earbuds from the charging case, for quick and easy operation. Bluetooth 5.1 provides a stable connection. Individually, you can use either right or left earbuds by themselves whenever you desire.
Why Not?
Customer Rating
5.0
JVC keeps the design and software simple, which I think is what makes this bluetooth set a win. Audio quality is nice and loud without distortion. Spoken words in a podcast are clear and crisp.
The controls are simple as stated and easy to remember. These are definitely a great value and just tick the boxes off in the right spots to keep the costs economical without sacrificing quality.
The “Marshmallow” bud tips are a little more firm than foam ear plugs. The buds come with a total of 5 different tips. 3 silicone sizes and 2 “marshmallow” sets, with the larger size installed in the box. I ended up switching to the smaller set. I am happily content with this setup and do not worry about them falling out when doing physical activities...like walking or leaning forward, which seems to always be too much of an activity for traditional silicone tips.
My only real complaint with the set is that the silicone tips are rolled in paper instead of a small resealable bag/pouch. Which really I guess isn’t much of an issue if you only will use one set of tips.
I do appreciate that the instructions state how long full charge takes for both the case and buds, 3 hours and 2 hours respectively.
As for battery life, they do last a long time so its hard to say if they last the advertised length, but I will guess that for most uses it will at least last a standard workout session or other activity.
Again, there is nothing about this set that has any kind of stand out features, but it is an all-around utilitarian set. I’ve tested sets that have better, richer sound, but had many shortcomings. I cannot find any shortcomings with the JVC HAA11T.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Bowers & Wilkins - B&W PI5 True Wireless Headphones with Adaptive Noise Cancellation, Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX, Charcoal - 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.
Excellent Audio
Customer Rating
4.0
Review is based on pairing with Samsung Galaxy Note 20
The B&W PI5 delivers a really great sound experience with nice low bass, mids, and highs without distortion at all volume levels. It has one of the best Ambient-Pass Through modes I have tested. Also the capacitive buttons are extremely responsive and easy to use, sometimes to a fault. I have known only one other brand to have this same level of response.
If you purchase these, know you are only purchasing for sound quality alone as there are limited software features that most other brands have.
YouTube Music “Allow external devices to start playback”.
If you have this setting turned on, as soon as the headphones are connected, they will begin playing whatever playlist was last playing. Not all a bluetooth devices will utilize this feature (vehicle head unit does not nor most BT headphones from different manufactures I have used0, but the B&W PI5 do and I have noticed that “most” times the audio stream results in stuttering effect which carries over to watching video too in a different app. Disconnecting the headset and reconnecting will fix this...only if the last audio source was actually a video source. I am heavily using YouTube Music and YouTube in these scenarios, so the bug could be between these two apps. If YouTube was the last source of audio played, the auto-play feature of B&W PI5 will not load a video to play and will not begin playing audio upon connection from YouTube Music.
If you have this setting turned on, as soon as the headphones are connected, they will begin playing whatever playlist was last playing. Not all a bluetooth devices will utilize this feature (vehicle head unit does not nor most BT headphones from different manufactures I have used0, but the B&W PI5 do and I have noticed that “most” times the audio stream results in stuttering effect which carries over to watching video too in a different app. Disconnecting the headset and reconnecting will fix this...only if the last audio source was actually a video source. I am heavily using YouTube Music and YouTube in these scenarios, so the bug could be between these two apps. If YouTube was the last source of audio played, the auto-play feature of B&W PI5 will not load a video to play and will not begin playing audio upon connection from YouTube Music.
I don't use Spotify, Pandora, etc so cannot comment if this also happens when using these services. I do use Google Podcasts, but cannot recall it ever auto-playing that.
Warranty
I feel I have to highlight this at top of my review as a 2 year warranty is great for making a purchase such as this!
I feel I have to highlight this at top of my review as a 2 year warranty is great for making a purchase such as this!
Companion App
The companion B&W headphones app does not have any way to turn this feature off.
The companion B&W headphones app does not have any way to turn this feature off.
While I applaud the level of capacitive feedback the side buttons have, one huge lacking feature is volume control on the headphones themselves. Volume is only controlled via the connected device! The positive there isn’t a deep list of taps to memorize and the majority of the time you will have your device nearby. Given the purpose of these and not being marketed as “Sport” with just IP54 rating, I see the manufacturers choice to limit the app and just focus on sound quality...there are also no reprogramming features, but again they are not needed with so few little command options.
App Settings
-has two settings that directly control the headset...Noise Cancel ON/OFF and Ambient Sound Pass-Through ON/OFF and level control. The app serves further as a conduit for:
firmware updates
-a set of Soundscapes that I can only imagine are meant to showcase the sound capabilities of the set as the length of time is in seconds and will continue to loop with a noticeable “skip” when restarting,
-Wear Sensor-when removing a bud from the ear, audio playback immediately stops. Just be careful not hit the capacitive button as it will then start playing audio again. I did this a few times before I understood what was happening.
-Connections-when paired to multiple devices it can be configured to either connect to the last device used or only to a specific one each time the buds are powered on.
Rename the headset, Software Info, and MAC Info
-Battery Level-the left shows a faster discharge than the right for the first 25% or so. Around 75% they seem to balance out to the same battery level.
-There is also a secondary menu to access Personal B&W Account, App Settings, and Legal Info
-has two settings that directly control the headset...Noise Cancel ON/OFF and Ambient Sound Pass-Through ON/OFF and level control. The app serves further as a conduit for:
firmware updates
-a set of Soundscapes that I can only imagine are meant to showcase the sound capabilities of the set as the length of time is in seconds and will continue to loop with a noticeable “skip” when restarting,
-Wear Sensor-when removing a bud from the ear, audio playback immediately stops. Just be careful not hit the capacitive button as it will then start playing audio again. I did this a few times before I understood what was happening.
-Connections-when paired to multiple devices it can be configured to either connect to the last device used or only to a specific one each time the buds are powered on.
Rename the headset, Software Info, and MAC Info
-Battery Level-the left shows a faster discharge than the right for the first 25% or so. Around 75% they seem to balance out to the same battery level.
-There is also a secondary menu to access Personal B&W Account, App Settings, and Legal Info
Fitment
As typical there are three different gel size tips to achieve proper fitment. The medium size comes installed by default and proved to be the best fitment for my ear. I had hoped that the B&W PI5 would be different from other similar designs of Wireless Ear-buds, but unfortunately (with my ear design) I cannot use these while being any sort of active and by that I mean bending over to tie my shoe or walking as the right bud will slip out of my ear. The weighting of the bud is high (as that is the only place for everything to fit in the ear) so gravity comes into play here. Ear Clip style is the most effective for me to remedy this. I don’t feel like I can fault B&W here as it is my ear, but it is an industry standard issue I continue to find with this particular design style and I find it is because the design limits the bud from going deep enough to seat in my ear canal fully. Going back to a wired headset with the earbud design I have never had these issues and actually preferred to the earclip design or over-the-head.
As typical there are three different gel size tips to achieve proper fitment. The medium size comes installed by default and proved to be the best fitment for my ear. I had hoped that the B&W PI5 would be different from other similar designs of Wireless Ear-buds, but unfortunately (with my ear design) I cannot use these while being any sort of active and by that I mean bending over to tie my shoe or walking as the right bud will slip out of my ear. The weighting of the bud is high (as that is the only place for everything to fit in the ear) so gravity comes into play here. Ear Clip style is the most effective for me to remedy this. I don’t feel like I can fault B&W here as it is my ear, but it is an industry standard issue I continue to find with this particular design style and I find it is because the design limits the bud from going deep enough to seat in my ear canal fully. Going back to a wired headset with the earbud design I have never had these issues and actually preferred to the earclip design or over-the-head.
Call Quality
They advertise the 4 Mics, but there may need to be some software tweaks in this department as calls sounded fine to me, but those on the other end said I was distant and hollow sounding like having the call on speaker phone and sometimes there was an echo.
They advertise the 4 Mics, but there may need to be some software tweaks in this department as calls sounded fine to me, but those on the other end said I was distant and hollow sounding like having the call on speaker phone and sometimes there was an echo.
Battery Life & Charging
This is the first headset I have ever reviewed that the manufacturer does not give a suggested run time. They easily last through anyone of my audio or video sessions. So a 2-hour length movie is no issue and I am bad about checking where the level was at after that. The charging case shows there are 2 x 350mAh batteries so I am assuming that is referring to the buds themselves. I don’t know what battery capacity is in the charging case or how long to expect charging to take place. There is the wireless option and USB-C port (praises there). Wireless will definitely be slower and usually on these devices is around 4.5w. But again no way to know this or the charging capacity of the case via wired, again industry standard with USB-C would suggest 10w or 15w.
This is the first headset I have ever reviewed that the manufacturer does not give a suggested run time. They easily last through anyone of my audio or video sessions. So a 2-hour length movie is no issue and I am bad about checking where the level was at after that. The charging case shows there are 2 x 350mAh batteries so I am assuming that is referring to the buds themselves. I don’t know what battery capacity is in the charging case or how long to expect charging to take place. There is the wireless option and USB-C port (praises there). Wireless will definitely be slower and usually on these devices is around 4.5w. But again no way to know this or the charging capacity of the case via wired, again industry standard with USB-C would suggest 10w or 15w.
I do not see these as replacing a dedicated bluetooth mic. While audio will be superior to those, they also are designed for longevity. The charging case will charge buds between use to definitely make it through a day, but don’t plan on using these for more than 3 or 4 hours of continued use.
I am on the fence if the audio quality justifies the limitations, personal issues I have during use, and lack of information. Bowers & Wilkins are known for audio quality and superiority, they do not disappoint there! Out of the other brands I have laying around, these definitely will be used the most.
Your determined use will have to weigh on your decision.
Because of the audio quality I can definitely recommend them for uses I have mentioned most applying to me.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
BlueParrott - M300-XT Ultra-Light Noise-Cancelling Headset - Black
The BlueParrott M300-XT Bluetooth headset is engineered for superior calls in high-noise environments. Its ultra-light discreet design blocks out 80% of background noise using 2-microphones, it connects to 2 Bluetooth devices for more flexibility, and has a long battery life that offers up to 14 hours of talk time for all-day conversations. The ability to roam up to 300ft/100m gives you the freedom to leave your paired Bluetooth device behind. It is equipped with a customizable BlueParrott button which can be programmed for mute, speed dial or Push-to-Talk in the BlueParrott app. Included are 3 different size EarGels for a secure comfortable fit and the headset is adjustable to wear on the right or left ear. It is built to last with IP54-rated protection against dust and moisture and is covered by a one-year warranty. For optimal headset performance, the M300-XT headset should be used only with a Bluetooth enabled smartphone/tablet device. Not intended to be used with a laptop/PC.
Energizer Bunny of Headsets
Customer Rating
4.0
Using with a Galaxy Note 20
Going on 5 days of mixed use and still showing 100% battery life!! I have logged around 5 hours of talk time, a little bit of audio and podcast listening, and a lot of standby time.
Audio quality as you would imagine is geared toward the spoken word, so if you do plan on listening to music just know its going to be more for background noise than getting into the music. For Podcasts and the like it works great and for audio calls it is great.
My only complaint with the audio is the volume level. Max volume is still not that loud and gets a lot of distortion at max volume. 2 clicks out of max is where it has lived even in the quietest of settings. But when ambient sounds are high, I can still hear.
Callers have stated it sounds really good on their end and even when driving with the windows down it wasn’t loud, but there was a noticeable background sound, though it wasn’t distracting.
This is definitely not your typical bluetooth headset. When you dive into the companion app there are settings that make you realize this is way more than your typical phone bluetooth headset and honestly those features are lost on me. It has the ability to run many different Push-To-Talk apps for a Walkie-Talkie experience. Going through all that it can do I can definitely see it is designed for a warehouse or indoor commercial experience...and even the dreaded telemarketer. Obviously there are way more professions than those that can benefit from this headset, as in any open office setting with a 100 people in a room (assuming that ever comes back) would definitely find it useful.
The side Parrot Button as it is called has reprogramming features. As an average “Joe” phone user just looking for hands-free the amount of features for Walkie-Talkie and other Push-To-Talk services it can integrate with are lost on me. The button can also be reprogrammed to launch an App, but the list that is available to me on my particular phone does not have anything I can see as being necessary. So I have just left it on the default of setting of “Mute” while in a call.
The power button also acts as the Digital Assistant launch for your device, other than call answer/reject, so Google, Bixby, Siri or whatever you have your device set to. The App launch that the Parrott Button can do did not have Google Assistant available, but did have Bixby. It may seem redundant but it is easier to hit the Parrott button, even though it requires a harder press, than the power button. To hit the power button I find I have to grasp the device then find the button, where as I can just hit the Parrot button with one-finger easily, however, it does take a firmer press for the Parrott button to respond.
One of the reprogramming options is to give the Power level for the headset and phone. The headset it said was at High, while the phone it said was Medium...even though the phone had 93% charge.
I charged the headset out the box before setting it up and it only took between 30-45 minutes to be fully charged, but not sure of the starting level. Documentation doesn’t say charging times, but product page says up to 150 minutes. With standby time of 420 hours and 14 hours of Talk Time. It does come with a USB-C cable and the fact that it is USB-C is a huge plus considering it is the newest technology.
Comfort level is high as this can be worn for very long times and not have fatigue. The Medium size ear bud comes installed with the Small and Large in the box. I am wearing it on the right ear, but it can be swapped easily by just rotating the device.
The box is fully recyclable and has the quick settings guide printed on it as does the printed quick start guide. Interestingly the printed quick start guide does not note that the Power Button is also the Voice Assistant launch button, but both the box and webpage have this information on it. Just found that interesting.
These definitely remind me of the hold school Motorola headsets of the early to mid-2000’s; just way better quality.
There isn’t any accessories on the product page for purchase. I was curious if a charging cradle would be available. Definitely not a deal breaker, but I have seen other headsets that have this option. They charged via a snap on cradle so it was a different charging design all together. Which the USB-C format I do feel will offer quicker charging speeds.
I can easily recommend this if you are in the market for a true wireless mic. I have used many different bluetooth headphones and I just don’t think those devices do the best at pulling double duty; music is always great, but for conversation, just passable.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Acer - Chromebook Spin 514 Laptop– Convertible-14” Full HD Touch –Ryzen 3 3250C– GB DDR4 Memory–64GB eMMC Flash Memory
Do More, See More, Anywhere: Watch your favorite movies, TV shows and other media—while on the move or traveling—on Acer’s exciting new convertible Chromebook Spin 514, which offers a 78% screen-to-body ratio to maximize your viewing experience on its 14” Full HD touch display. The Chromebook Spin 514 leverages the power of the latest AMD processor inside to ensure epic functionality when working on intensive and demanding applications—without the worry of ever slowing down! It features a 360° durable hinge to provide you with four different modes to enjoy, a high-quality, military-grade tested metal casing, and enough battery life to keep you fired up and running all day long!
Not a bullseye, but definitely on target
Customer Rating
3.0
This has been a pretty hard review to write. Out of the box, I was a little disappointed (trackpad issue), then as I continued using it, I grew to really appreciate what Acer was trying to do with this model. At just over 2 weeks of use now, I have aligned my expectations of what the device is capable of and given that, I can appreciate it as a solid laptop.
I will detail my issues and what you should expect, but my recommendation is that it is great for general basic use: browsing, researching, document creation, etc. If you plan to heavily use Android Apps, tablet mode, and use with a USI Stylus...you will want to increase your budget as you will need no less than 8GB RAM.
Configured with the Ryzen 3 CPU, 4GB RAM, and 64GB Storage, I think the real kink in the armor is the 4GB RAM, if you try and use the Spin 514 to its full potential. And since most Chromebooks do not have upgradeable memory or storage, there is nothing that can be done to mitigate this. I did do some research to see if anyone else was having issues with what I ran into and it appears that for the US, Acer chose to only give one configuration and that is this model I am reviewing. Which is unfortunate as it greatly hampers the full potential of the device.
I do have to warn about the trackpad. It was having some pointer drift (Mario Bros slide effect) when trying to access a menu button. It can be mitigated by turning down the pointer speed, but then compromises the smoothness of the cursor. I did turn on the Touchpad Acceleration and that did seem to help with the cursor drift. I am not sure if this is just a software bug or just the trackpad material used? Touch-to-click is enabled, but if the acceleration is off or speed is turned down, I found it typically did not register and required a full-button press.
App Usage
While I do have some of my “utility” Android apps like, home security and car maintenance installed and running fine; Gaming is pretty much a non-starter here, unless it is browser based. Stadia Gaming is totally fine and not glitchy, but that can be done with any device as it is not using so much of the system resources, rather the internet connection.
While I do have some of my “utility” Android apps like, home security and car maintenance installed and running fine; Gaming is pretty much a non-starter here, unless it is browser based. Stadia Gaming is totally fine and not glitchy, but that can be done with any device as it is not using so much of the system resources, rather the internet connection.
I was really excited to use this as a tablet with a stylus as I have really liked this transition from paper and pen and have done so with Android OS, iOS, and Windows OS devices over the years. Sometimes you just need to write your thoughts down. I purchased a USI Penovoal Stylus (Universal Stylus Initiative; Acer does not list this compatibility on the device page, but it is compatible). Based on the reviews of the stylus and the recommendation from websites, the negative experience with the Spin 514 I can only assume is due to the device limitations and not the Stylus.
That experience was considerable stroke inconsistency, oddly enough, not lag, just missing pen strokes. Palm rejection is actually an app issue, not a device one. Squid, which was a default app on the device, performed the best overall with consistency of pen stroke and palm rejection, but still not good enough to recommend.
While I have become accustomed to digital pens and devices, I do recognize that the Acer Spin 514 would be the cheapest device to do this well, by a large margin. So, while I was hopeful and excited to try that feature out on a Chrome OS device with higher hardware specs than those I have used in the past, it just isn’t in the cards for me on this device.
My Gaming Experience
Clash of Clans and Angry Birds 2 would never even load, and actually crashed (not the whole system, but the app itself). Asphalt 9 loaded, but I couldn’t get it log-in to my Google Play Games, whereas another person was able to get Asphalt 9 to not only load, but was playable; so if gaming is on your horizon, you may want to look elsewhere as this was not designed for that purpose. Unless however, you are a Google Stadia user. That had no issues running and syncing the controller with the Chromebook was no issue at all...if doing it through Stadia. If trying to just sync it via the device Settings menu, it would not recognize it in Bluetooth or USB-C.
Clash of Clans and Angry Birds 2 would never even load, and actually crashed (not the whole system, but the app itself). Asphalt 9 loaded, but I couldn’t get it log-in to my Google Play Games, whereas another person was able to get Asphalt 9 to not only load, but was playable; so if gaming is on your horizon, you may want to look elsewhere as this was not designed for that purpose. Unless however, you are a Google Stadia user. That had no issues running and syncing the controller with the Chromebook was no issue at all...if doing it through Stadia. If trying to just sync it via the device Settings menu, it would not recognize it in Bluetooth or USB-C.
It is a little hard to fault Acer in the Android App experience, as that really falls to Google to make it good since they control the hardware requirements for emulation. All of the current Chrome OS devices can do it, but the best experience will require higher hardware specs. The Spin 514 is fine for standard apps, but the gaming element is going to be hit and miss depending on the app.
One of my favorite aspects is the Dual USB C ports which either of them can be used to charge the device and handy when locating a wall plug to charge. The power brick can also charge your smartphone and tablets at 15w, 25w, and 45w.
Battery (4800mAh) life is pretty good when just using for general web browsing and tasks. I streamed a baseball game while outputting via USB-C to HDMI to a 4K 65” tv using Chrome Browser and the battery died after about 3 hours. I was running extended display mode, so both screens were on the whole time, I think that is pretty good considering. The audio ran through the TV, so no issues there. The claimed 10 hours is pretty close, I used it for about 3-4 hours each day for about 3 days for general web browsing, YouTube, and document creation before needing to charge.
Audio seems to be highly dependent on the content for max volume level, but even then just using the built-in speakers it quiet. Whether it was streaming via a browser app or from a local file, the audio at high was very quiet. Loud enough to hear, but definitely no rattling. Plug in some headphones and you better turn down that volume, it definitely gets a lot louder.
The screen is nice and gets bright enough for most settings, but you won’t want to use it outside; it just doesn’t get bright enough and is highly reflective. Inside use is fine (facing away from a window) and it will get extremely dark when in a low light setting, which for night use is very handy.
Going off the sound profile and the brightness profile, it seems this was definitely designed for a classroom or library setting. The keyboard is a perfect size and the keys feel great with nice feedback and bounce and quiet, seems to be a running theme! And wouldn’t you know the fan is quiet too.
Coming back to the screen, it is advertised at full 1080P, but the default screen size setting is 1536x865. That is typical for a small screen that can output 1080P. I prefer the 1707x960 output as the 1920x1080 is just too small. But it can output 2194x1234, so the screen can technically be considered 2K.
The touchscreen works as it should at default resolution. When I increase it as stated above, I find it takes a few more taps to get a window to close or minimize and sometimes on menu buttons as well. I did jump back to the default resolution when trying out any of the Android Apps and/or using the stylus, but the results were the same.
Some nice features are a backlit keyboard, larger trackpad and double charging ports (as already stated), but also dual-usb 3.0 ports. For a 2-in-1 that is a lot of ports.
The hinge is very strong and feels solid when moving one-handed. Opening the screen does require two hands, but I have found that pretty typical of 2-in-1’s. Even if you are not in the market for a 2-in-1, I highly recommend the design. Very few laptops offer 180 degree displays and tap out around 120 to 135. But when in the standing position, that just isn’t enough sometimes and a 2-in-1 gives you 360 degrees of range so you can definitely find the perfect angle for your needs.
The keyboard provides really nice feedback and is quiet, again using in a classroom/meeting setting would not bring any distraction to anyone around you.
I’m used to a 13.3” size and the small bezels and 14” screen on the Spin 514 is a nice upgrade in screen size, without a noticeable increase in overall size, but there is about 1lb in added weight I’m guessing due to the MIL-STD81H rating.
Storage may be a concern for you if you like to have a lot of personal pictures, videos, or other media that typically are larger in size, as the storage is not upgraded on the Spin 514, but there is a MicroSD card slot that could always remain inserted and their are the 4 USB ports already mentioned.
The minus 2 Stars in the score comes from the RAM limitations and overall score of the 3 Stars. But if you are looking at this for just general internet browsing, YouTube, document creation, etc. and because of the build quality, number of ports, and design style, then it is easily 5 Stars; Google's security updates until June 2029 for this device is good news too!
I can recommend the Spin 514, just know your needs and what you are wanting/needing this device for.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+10points
10out of 10found this review helpful.
Share this review:
MnstrMike's Questions
MnstrMike has not submitted any questions.
are there any digital cameras that record? If so, which ones?
almost any of them these days. Depends on what kind of video you want to shoot and how much you want to spend. Most shoot standard def, but higher end will shoot in HD. One thing to note is most cameras cannot zoom in while shooting video (zoom is only digital and degrades the quality). However, the super zoom cameras are incorporating the optical zoom while shooting video.
I recommend the Canon line of cameras. The A3100 is good, i just bought it. And also the SX line.
I recommend the Canon line of cameras. The A3100 is good, i just bought it. And also the SX line.
13 years, 7 months ago
by
Posted by:
MnstrMike
from
Knoxville, TN
Camcorder with webcam functionality
I need a reasonably priced camcorder that can also serve as a webcam. Which models have this feature?
It all depends on what you will use it for most. Any line-up of camcorders will do just fine for a webcam and on sale you can get a webcam for around $30.
For home videos, it all just depends what you are going to be doing, if you need a super zoom lens 30x or higher? Standard Def or HD? If you are only going to be putting them on a PC or do you want to watch directly on TV? There are still the tape versions available that you use the camcorder as a VCR. Or you can buy one that burns directly to mini-DVD's, holding 60 minutes of video. The last option records to SD cards and can hold anywhere from 2 hours to 16 hours, just depending on the size of card or built-in memory. Most of these camcorders only can record for about an hour to an hour and a half because of battery charge.
I know it's a lot of questions and doesn't really answer yours. Going off of "Reasonably priced and webcam" for specifications means anything less than $150 will work for your purposes.
For home videos, it all just depends what you are going to be doing, if you need a super zoom lens 30x or higher? Standard Def or HD? If you are only going to be putting them on a PC or do you want to watch directly on TV? There are still the tape versions available that you use the camcorder as a VCR. Or you can buy one that burns directly to mini-DVD's, holding 60 minutes of video. The last option records to SD cards and can hold anywhere from 2 hours to 16 hours, just depending on the size of card or built-in memory. Most of these camcorders only can record for about an hour to an hour and a half because of battery charge.
I know it's a lot of questions and doesn't really answer yours. Going off of "Reasonably priced and webcam" for specifications means anything less than $150 will work for your purposes.
Products from my answer
Toshiba - Camileo H30 High-Definition Camcorder with 3" Touch Screen - Black
Samsung - Ultra Compact Camcorder with 2.7" LCD Monitor - Purple
Flip Video - UltraHD (3rd Generation) Camcorder - 2 Hour - Black/Silver
13 years, 7 months ago
by
Posted by:
MnstrMike
from
Knoxville, TN