Dragonhunter281's stats
- Review count57
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- First reviewApril 19, 2014
- Last reviewMarch 13, 2024
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- Average rating4.6
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes4
- First review commentOctober 31, 2016
- Last review commentOctober 31, 2016
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- First answerSeptember 20, 2016
- Last answerAugust 24, 2017
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Experience the height of gaming innovation with the ROG Zephyrus G16. Featuring an all-new premium aluminum chassis with customizable lighting, this laptop merges style and durability. Its ultra-slim 0.59” profile and lightweight 4.30lbs 16” chassis redefines portability without compromising performance. Powered by Windows 11, an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, the Zephyrus G16 seamlessly aligns with your lifestyle, meeting all your gaming and creative demands. ROG Intelligent Cooling features liquid metal for reduced CPU temperatures and upgraded Arc Flow Fans for improved airflow to sustain peak performance on the Zephyrus G16 no matter the task. Immerse yourself in the OLED ROG Nebula Display and enjoy rapid 0.2ms response times, vivid 2.5K resolution, and a smooth 240Hz refresh rate.
Customer Rating
4
Asus GU605M: Amazing Hardware!!
on March 13, 2024
Posted by: Dragonhunter281
For computer enthusiasts, most will recognize that top end hardware will naturally come with a significant cost. Naturally, the absolute best computer will always disregard price in favor of cutting-edge performance. Without budget restrictions, the performance should be impressive. Thus, as a part of the ROG line of products, the recently released Asus Zephyrus GU605M aims to provide top end performance, while preserving a compact package. Furthermore, the GU605M features an Intel Ultra 9 185H processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 4090 GPU, 32GB of DDR5-7467 MHz, and a 2 TB PCIe 4.0 M2 SSD. Thus, with top end hardware, I was excited to see how the new GU605 performs in real world scenarios.
For the physical aspects, the aluminum based GU605 is exquisite to look at and hold. The body is smooth to the touch and has impeccable craftsmanship. The GU605 clocks in around 4lbs in weight, which is quite shocking considering the hardware it houses. On the left side of the unit, the GU605 features a proprietary reversable connection for the included 240W AC adapter. In addition, the unit features an HDMI 2.1b, a Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB 3.2 Gen ports, a USB 3.2 Type-C port, and lastly a full speed UHS-II SD card reader. Another interesting aspect of the GU605 is the charging and hardware activity LEDs have been moved to the front. On the top of the display is the new slash design with customizable patterns; however, the LED is limited to only white. Moving on, the GU605 features an amazing OLED display that is capable of 240 Hz and has a response time of 0.2ms. The glossy finish looks exquisite with the all-aluminum body. Overall, I think most will be pleased the various connectivity options presented here.
For the physical aspects, the aluminum based GU605 is exquisite to look at and hold. The body is smooth to the touch and has impeccable craftsmanship. The GU605 clocks in around 4lbs in weight, which is quite shocking considering the hardware it houses. On the left side of the unit, the GU605 features a proprietary reversable connection for the included 240W AC adapter. In addition, the unit features an HDMI 2.1b, a Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB 3.2 Gen ports, a USB 3.2 Type-C port, and lastly a full speed UHS-II SD card reader. Another interesting aspect of the GU605 is the charging and hardware activity LEDs have been moved to the front. On the top of the display is the new slash design with customizable patterns; however, the LED is limited to only white. Moving on, the GU605 features an amazing OLED display that is capable of 240 Hz and has a response time of 0.2ms. The glossy finish looks exquisite with the all-aluminum body. Overall, I think most will be pleased the various connectivity options presented here.
Before moving on to my performance benchmarks, I would like to mention that as with any piece of electronic equipment, you are going to have to configure a few settings on your own. In addition, my results listed here may be different from your own, though I tried to preserve as close to a stock experience as I could. As for my changes, I prevented the display and hard drive from clicking off and disabled all the startup executables except the Asus ones. All my tests were done plugged up with its AC adapter. In addition, the turbo profile found in the included Armoury Crate software was used; best performance was also selected in the Windows control panel. I also went ahead and let Window finish all of its updates before I began. Lastly, for monitoring I used a combination of CPU-Z 2.09, GPU-Z 2.57, HW Monitor 1.52, HW Info 7.68, CrystalMark 8.0.4c and Fraps 3.59.
Starting of my benchmarks, I decided to focus on CPU performance and wanted to see how it compared to my other laptops. Using CPU 2.09, I noted the performances below:
Ultra 9 185H - Single: 786.6/ Multi: 9,139.9 (16 Cores / 22 Threads)
I7-12700H - Single: 731.0/ Multi: 7,844.7 (14 Cores / 20 Threads)
I7-1360P - Single: 761.7/ Multi: 6,227.7 (12 Cores / 16 Threads)
For my second CPU test, I went ahead and ran Cinebench R23 and compared it once again to my previous computers:
Ultra 9 185H - Single: 1,826/ Multi: 19,717 (16 Cores / 22 Threads)
I7-12700H - Single: 1,761/ Multi: 15,901 (14 Cores / 20 Threads)
I7-1360P - Single: 1,875 / Multi: 11,102 (12 Cores / 16 Threads)
Switching to my game test, I decided to test Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016). I ran the game using the very high preset and disabled the film grain and DLSS. The render was set to DX11 and anti-aliasing was set to SSAA 2x. The display was set to the maximum resolution of 2560x1600 and the refresh rate was set to 240Hz. V-Sync was disabled. As soon as the game begin, the 4090 kicked in high gear holding a resounding 75-80 fps. Once the mountain gave way, I dipped right around 60 fps. If you move your character around, naturally the FPS increases dramatically anywhere from the low 70s-130s. Once you get inside the cave, the fps holds more consistently around 80-90 fps. If you increase the SSAA to 4x, the FPS tanks quite a bit; in some instances, dropping into the low 40s. Considering how intense this portion is on the GPU, I was quite impressed. As for the GPU/CPU, both hovered around 80C and continued to fluctuated accordingly. On GPU-Z, average board power consumption was around 73 watts for the whole game duration. For the whole system, HW Info, reported around 130 watts. Lastly, I ran the in-game benchmark for you to compare with your system (see attached screenshot).
Moving on, I wanted to benchmark the various storage aspects of the new GU605, first starting with the internal drive. According to HW Info, the GU605 includes a 2 TB SK Hynix PC801 SSD (Model: HFS002TEJ9X101N). Using CrystalMark 8.0.4c, the results are as follows:
Sequential Read Q8T1: 7,098.69 MB/s / Sequential Write Q8T1: 6,461.79 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 67.17 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 147.98 MB/s
Sequential Read Q8T1: 7,098.69 MB/s / Sequential Write Q8T1: 6,461.79 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 67.17 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 147.98 MB/s
In addition, I wanted to test this drive with my Crucial X10 Pro using the Thunderbolt 4 port to see how it would handle an intensive transfer. I sent a 34 GB music folder that houses 6,041 files and 1,276 folders. Once I sent the transfer to the Hynix drive, the transfer exploded up to around 700-800 MB/s. As expected, the transfer was so fast that it barely had time to stretch it legs, but eventually it cracked past the 1.08 GB/s towards the last 10-15 seconds. It was finished in less than a minute. The X10 results are as follows:
Sequential Read Q8T1: 2,038.33 MB/s / Sequential Write Q8T1: 1,803.66 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 27.98 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 80.42 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 27.98 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 80.42 MB/s
Lastly, I was extremely excited that the GU605 comes with a UHS-II SD card reader. I grabbed my Sony Tough G UHS-II 32 GB SD card and sent a mixture of RAW and JPG images to the Hynix drive. The total transfer consisted of 851 files and was 14 GB in size. The transfer was more consistent than expected, as it hovered anywhere from 165-187 MB/s. It spent most of its time around 175 MB/s and finished in a little over a minute. Lastly, I took CrystalMark and capture the SD card results below:
Sequential Read Q8T1: 278.45 MB/s / Sequential Write Q8T1: 186.94 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 9.82 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 3.39 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 9.82 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 3.39 MB/s
Next, I would like to highlight is the speakers. As somewhat of an audio enthusiast, I was completely shocked at how loud these speakers get. With four speakers and two tweeters, it certainly packs a punch. In a word, this thing destroys my Yoga 9i which has an amazing soundbar for its size. Listening to my FLAC collection, I was quite surprised at the level bass it was able to reproduce, yet still remaining clear. These are the loudest speaker I have personally heard on a laptop.
Lastly, I would like to share a few of my observations I noticed while testing the new GU605. Overall, the performance is extremely good as expected with a top end model. However, one thing that I was a bit concerned with was the thermal levels as naturally top end hardware will generate lots of heat. Due to its slim profile, the GU605M idles extremely warm, especially when connected to the AC adapter. Once the Ultra 9 takes off, you are looking idle temperatures anywhere from the 60-70C range while it adjusts its frequencies. Furthermore, even after a cold and boot and on the windows preset within the Armoury Crate software, the CPU hits 60C frequently; occasionally it spikes well into the 70s-80s. Naturally, on battery it is a bit better as it cannot boost as much but, nonetheless, I advise you to pay attention to the temperatures. The good news is that you can manually adjust the PL1 and PL2 states within the Armoury Crate software by selecting manual mode accordingly (PL1 is 80w and PL2 is 100w by default for AC power). In addition, you can also disable some of the P-Cores/E-Cores to curve the excessive heat further. While the software itself feels a bit clunky, it was nevertheless nice to able to control these hardware aspects to customize your hardware.
The second thing that I wanted to mention is that I wish the OS installation was less bloated. With just the software alone that was included, the GU605M boots at almost 20% of its 32 GB filled. There are tons of ASUS executables that can be disabled, but as you would expect they are all intertwined with the Armoury Crate software. With a model of this caliber, I wish they would have opted for 64 GB of RAM and that the software was only limited to a few startup executables. Granted, since this model is only targeting enthusiasts, chances are high that most will know how to customization/format the Windows installation. Connectively, I also wish this came with a professional copy of the OS as opposed to the home edition, but nonetheless that can be easily fixed.
In conclusion, the GU605M performs exactly as a top model should. Out of the box, it is extremely fast and posts some impressive CPU and GPU scores. The top-notch display and excellent speakers are also a huge plus. Personally, I was extremely impressed with the storage scores, especially the UHS-II SD card reader. The audio was also well implemented; the speakers are loud and clear. However, despite the top end hardware, the GU605 is not without some mild concerns, most notably its excessive idle heat and bloated install. Overall, if you are looking for a top model, the GU605M will certainly check every performance metric box you are hoping to fulfill; just be aware of the concerns that I have listed above.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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When you need the right tech to take on a day full of projects, meetings, and more, you need the HP Series 5 27-inch FHD Height Adjust Monitor. Its sleek design complements any workspace. And its beautiful screen, adjustable stand, and comfort features take your productivity to the next level. Bring flexibility to the way you work through enhanced visual performance, contrast ratio, and refresh rate.
Customer Rating
4
HP Monitor: 527sh: Amazing Midrange Monitor.
on March 4, 2024
Posted by: Dragonhunter281
As a long time and current user of HP monitors, I was extremely excited to test out the latest model: the HP Series 5 527sh. Sporting a thin bezel with height adjustment, the new 527sh features an IPS panel that should provide sharp and colorful images, while also providing increased viewing angles. Additionally, I was also pleased that it supports refresh rates up to 100Hz at 1080p. As such, I was excited to dig in and see how the new HP 527sh performs.
Once you have completely unboxed your HP 527sh monitor, the setup should be relatively straightforward: the base comes in two pieces, both of which snap in easily and are secured by a few threaded screws that can be twisted manually. In addition, the monitor comes with one HDMI cable. Moving on to the physical aspects of the monitor, the 527sh features two HDMI ports and a single VGA connection. Personally, I would have liked to see one DisplayPort instead of the VGA, but nonetheless the VGA certainly provides high compatibility for older machines. Another highlight of the 527sh is that the connections go straight back into the device as opposed to the up and under approach that so many monitors still employ. I immensely appreciate this as I have never been a fan of trying to connect the cables at the bottom. As for the height adjustment, the 527sh’s retraction along the base is extremely smooth yet sturdy enough that it holds the screen in place. The 25 degrees tilt was another surprise too as my previous monitor did not pivot. Lastly, the 527sh sports an anti-glare coating that is typical of most panels. I would have preferred a glossy finish as I have always liked the bolder color contrast that those typically have over the matte finish, but it is certainly not a dealbreaker. Overall, I think most will be pleased with the 527sh.
Moving on, as for display quality, I wanted to try and keep the settings relatively close to default so you can get a sense on how the image will look. You will almost certainly need to adjust accordingly to your preference. As typical of almost every monitor, the settings can be accessed via buttons underneath the bottom right-hand side of the monitor. By default, the 527sh was set to the neutral color preset with 100% contrast and brightness at 80%. As expected, the monitor defaults to 60Hz. The color preset options include warm, cool, native, night, HP enhanced, and custom. The rest of the presets are typical of other monitors, though the HP enhanced one seemed to sharpen the text way too much for me personally. For image settings, the response time was set to level 1 (slowest), which I thought was an odd way to list the setting; a numerical system makes more sense with 5ms GTG being the fastest. Sharpness also used a level system as opposed to the more common 1-100 value you typically see. As for the rest of the options, the rest should be self-explanatory. I do want to mention that under the power options the auto sleep is enabled by default in case your monitor cuts out unexpectedly. As for picture quality, I thought the color was quite decent: whites on websites and word documents were not as washed out as I expected. All the colors seemed to be represented quite well: red, greens, and blues were all clear and vibrant. Switching to the Dynamic Contrast mode on, the color and brightness increased a decent amount. I also tested the reversed and maxed out the brightness to a 100 then toggled the Dynamic contrast setting though did not perceive the same change I noted before. Furthermore, I was also extremely excited that the computer I tested it on (Intel Graphics 610) immediately saw that the monitor was capable of 100Hz. For a midrange monitor, this is huge benefit as you are usually limited to 60Hz. Scrolling on various websites at 100Hz was extremely smooth and vastly superior to 60Hz. Even typing on various documents, I could see a major improvement. Lastly, while not completely necessary, I went ahead and downloaded the HP Monitor Center to see how that would interact with the monitor. Overall, the software allows you change the main options as discussed above. There were a few missing, most notably the power settings, though it did allow you to quickly change the screen orientation. Additionally, the response time setting was also missing. However, it did allow you to set up a color filter and update the firmware, though I would strongly recommend you disable automatic update setting. Overall, the software did not seem to add anything significant as most of the main settings can be controlled via the monitor, but nonetheless it is there.
Moving on, as for display quality, I wanted to try and keep the settings relatively close to default so you can get a sense on how the image will look. You will almost certainly need to adjust accordingly to your preference. As typical of almost every monitor, the settings can be accessed via buttons underneath the bottom right-hand side of the monitor. By default, the 527sh was set to the neutral color preset with 100% contrast and brightness at 80%. As expected, the monitor defaults to 60Hz. The color preset options include warm, cool, native, night, HP enhanced, and custom. The rest of the presets are typical of other monitors, though the HP enhanced one seemed to sharpen the text way too much for me personally. For image settings, the response time was set to level 1 (slowest), which I thought was an odd way to list the setting; a numerical system makes more sense with 5ms GTG being the fastest. Sharpness also used a level system as opposed to the more common 1-100 value you typically see. As for the rest of the options, the rest should be self-explanatory. I do want to mention that under the power options the auto sleep is enabled by default in case your monitor cuts out unexpectedly. As for picture quality, I thought the color was quite decent: whites on websites and word documents were not as washed out as I expected. All the colors seemed to be represented quite well: red, greens, and blues were all clear and vibrant. Switching to the Dynamic Contrast mode on, the color and brightness increased a decent amount. I also tested the reversed and maxed out the brightness to a 100 then toggled the Dynamic contrast setting though did not perceive the same change I noted before. Furthermore, I was also extremely excited that the computer I tested it on (Intel Graphics 610) immediately saw that the monitor was capable of 100Hz. For a midrange monitor, this is huge benefit as you are usually limited to 60Hz. Scrolling on various websites at 100Hz was extremely smooth and vastly superior to 60Hz. Even typing on various documents, I could see a major improvement. Lastly, while not completely necessary, I went ahead and downloaded the HP Monitor Center to see how that would interact with the monitor. Overall, the software allows you change the main options as discussed above. There were a few missing, most notably the power settings, though it did allow you to quickly change the screen orientation. Additionally, the response time setting was also missing. However, it did allow you to set up a color filter and update the firmware, though I would strongly recommend you disable automatic update setting. Overall, the software did not seem to add anything significant as most of the main settings can be controlled via the monitor, but nonetheless it is there.
In conclusion, the 527sh is a feature rich midrange monitor that should certainly provide a comfortable and quality driven experience. With a color centric IPS panel and up to 100Hz, you could not ask for more, especially since the focus of the 527sh is to provide a monitor for general home and business use. Additionally, it also supports height adjustment and can be tilted slightly back or forward. As for the picture, color was good out of the box, but might need to be tweaked to your liking. Furthermore, the 527sh was brighter than I expected it to be which is certainly another plus. Overall, I think the 527sh provides a good value and should certainly be considered if you need a new monitor. Thus, the 527sh comes recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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To the music lovers with a playlist for every mood and moment, meet your new obsession. Bose designed earbuds with OpenAudio technology that combines complete openness to your surroundings with rich, private sound only you can hear. Get your run on, take a call, go all day. Do whatever your thing is and pause for nothing. Compromise? A word you don’t believe in. With Bose Immersive Audio, the open-ear headphones don’t just feel good and look good, they bring you closer to your music. Bose Immersive Audio spatializes music so you’re not only listening to the music. You’re in it. Are you ready to change the way you listen?
Customer Rating
4
Bose Open Earbuds: Unique Experience!
on February 25, 2024
Posted by: Dragonhunter281
As most are probably aware, the Bose open earbuds have certainly gathered its share of attention since its release, especially given that they present an interesting alternative to the ubiquitous closed style of earbuds. In addition to their unique barrel shape, the Bose open earbuds are certainly still positioned that they can still provide quality sound. As an audio enthusiast, I was quite excited to see how these new earbuds would sound and perform.
Upon receiving the earbuds, setup was rather straightforward as one would expect. In the box, there is a USB Type-C to A charging cable that is extremely short in length. Unfortunately, there are no written instructions or a quick guide, though there is a QR code directing you to the Bose Music application to complete setup. At the very least, I would have loved a quick guide on positioning the earbuds. Nonetheless, there is a section in settings once you proceed through setup on your phone that will show you how to wear the earbuds. Once setup is complete, the main menu should also be self explanatory: you can change several options such as set your preferred EQ settings, toggle between stereo and immersion modes. Additionally, there is an immersive audio setting, which alters the sound based on if you are stationary or are on the go. You can also create your own shortcut too and link it to either earbud. Overall, I found the application will seldom be used once you have configured the sound to your preference. It will also try and ask you to create an account, which you can skip. It is not necessary. Lastly, on my Sony Xperia V III, there were some other settings for the earbuds that were not listed within the application. For example, I could toggle the Qualcomm APX codec adaptive audio setting, as well as specifically enable/disable audio or phone calls.
Moving on, I would like to discuss a few observations I noted during my initial testing. First and foremost, I want to caution people that there will be an adjustment period with these earbuds; they will not only sound different, but will require patience while you fit them to your ears. This is especially true as most people will undoubtedly be coming standard earbuds, so keep an open mind. For me personally, I think the most difficult aspect I had was just trying get these situated correctly into my ear. With the button facing up, these should wrap around ear lobe and into the ear. By habit, I wanted to mash these into my ears but they are not designed as such; instead, they rest right before the ear canal. Unfortunately, there is barely any room to adjust these up or down, as if they are too low or high (within maybe 1/8th of inch depending on your ear size), they pop out. The second issue that I noticed is that my right ear is slightly different in size; by placing finger on either earbud and moving it up and down, I could tell that my left earbud was snug and in place. However, the right side was either not hooking correctly around the inner ear due to either the thickness of my earlobe and/or size of the whole ear; despite aligning them multiple times in the mirror. Lastly, this brings me to the third issue that if the tip of the earbud was a bit more pointed instead of crescent shaped, or if there was a retractable adjustment on the outside, it would have helped alleviate my issue. However, once I adjusted it as best I could, neither earbud fell out of my ear. Additionally, they are quite comfortable; weight wise they are perfect and feel lighter than my other pairs of earbuds. Overall, just be prepared for a lengthy adjustment period.
As for sound quality, the open earbuds sound exactly as expected, placing more emphasis on the treble and middle frequencies. If I could describe the sound, I would say that the placement is more up and center as opposed to the sound being more down into your ear canal. Additionally, the bass is light as expected but just enough so that there is still a semblance of the whole song. Even manually adjusting the bass EQ did not yield any drastic change; between its highest setting (+10) to the lowest (-10) I could barely hear a frequency difference (immersive audio was off). With more bass-oriented songs, I was straining to hear any kind of subtle difference while toggling the EQ, but perhaps your hearing will be better than mine. Switching to more classical and soundtrack music, I was even more impressed with the cohesiveness that I could hear; instruments were extremely clear and separation was quite good. I was also quite impressed with how loud these earbuds can get; listening at around 50% on my Sony Xperia, I didn’t feel the need to go louder. Violins and choir vocals were perfectly placed up and center in the soundstage. As for my surroundings, I could still make out conversation, though I did have to drop my volume slightly on my phone in some areas. I believe most should be quite pleased with the sound quality. Clarity was superb and everything sounded consistent across a multitude of genres, especially classical or jazz where their dynamics are still intact and not crushed by compression. Additionally, as expected, the bass is dialed back in favor of highs and middle frequencies. Overall, I think if you set your expectations accordingly, you will be quite happy with the quality, though I still want to caution those that are coming from closed earbuds that the music will sound slightly pulled back, perhaps even a bit thin, but this is normal.
As for sound quality, the open earbuds sound exactly as expected, placing more emphasis on the treble and middle frequencies. If I could describe the sound, I would say that the placement is more up and center as opposed to the sound being more down into your ear canal. Additionally, the bass is light as expected but just enough so that there is still a semblance of the whole song. Even manually adjusting the bass EQ did not yield any drastic change; between its highest setting (+10) to the lowest (-10) I could barely hear a frequency difference (immersive audio was off). With more bass-oriented songs, I was straining to hear any kind of subtle difference while toggling the EQ, but perhaps your hearing will be better than mine. Switching to more classical and soundtrack music, I was even more impressed with the cohesiveness that I could hear; instruments were extremely clear and separation was quite good. I was also quite impressed with how loud these earbuds can get; listening at around 50% on my Sony Xperia, I didn’t feel the need to go louder. Violins and choir vocals were perfectly placed up and center in the soundstage. As for my surroundings, I could still make out conversation, though I did have to drop my volume slightly on my phone in some areas. I believe most should be quite pleased with the sound quality. Clarity was superb and everything sounded consistent across a multitude of genres, especially classical or jazz where their dynamics are still intact and not crushed by compression. Additionally, as expected, the bass is dialed back in favor of highs and middle frequencies. Overall, I think if you set your expectations accordingly, you will be quite happy with the quality, though I still want to caution those that are coming from closed earbuds that the music will sound slightly pulled back, perhaps even a bit thin, but this is normal.
In conclusion, the Bose open earbuds provide an interesting alternative to typical closed earbuds; allowing you to enjoy both your music and your surroundings. Additionally, the sound quality was still there maintaining clarity and consistency throughout a variety of genres. Physically, they are certainly unique in design, which despite my initial difficulty with my ears, were extremely comfortable afterwards. They never fell out of my ear nor did I experience any discomfort. As mentioned previously, the open earbuds will require some patience to get used to them, which is why I feel that they are uniquely positioned to certain people; not everyone will like them or their sound. If you are certainly patient and would like to try them, they are indeed worth a look, provided you are content with the caveats I have outlined here.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The SA-C600 Network CD Receiver showcases Technics’ legacy of renowned digital audio technology and flawless construction, eliminating noise and rendering a colorful, vibrant expression of sound space. This versatile receiver unit has a twin power supply circuit system for incredibly clear performance, Spacetune technology to automatically optimize the sound field, and incredible connectivity across wireless, digital, and analog channels.
Customer Rating
5
Technics SA-C600: Life Changing Sound!
on September 15, 2023
Posted by: Dragonhunter281
For those who consider themselves passionate about music, sound quality will always be of the utmost importance, equal to that of course the technical hardware found in the various players targeted to such individuals. The ability to listen to your physical copies and lossless collection without the constraints of modern degradations will always be something special. As such, over the past decade I have amassed an extraordinary physical music collection, currently consisting of around 500+ CDs and various collector sets. It has been every bit as rewarding as one could imagine, especially the joys of hearing immediate and profound differences between lossless copies of songs compared to the lossy files that I used to have. Naturally, this substantial effort isn’t worth much if I do not have a player that can supplement such a project. Thus, I was extremely excited to test the much raved about Technics SA-C600 Network CD player. As an audiophile/enthusiast targeted brand, Technics certainly doesn’t need an introduction.With an impressive list of features, including the ability to play CDs, various file formats over USB, and stream your collection over your home network, the SA-C600 is quite impressive. I certainly had high expectations going forward.
Upon unboxing the SA-C600, the quality of the unit was immediately noticeable. With its minimalistic approach to design, the SA-C600 is absolutely breathtaking in person. The unit itself clocks in at roughly 10 pounds and is extremely well built. On the back of the unit, there are various inputs connections for your choosing such as a coaxial port, RCA ports, an optical jack, and a pair of speaker terminals that are rated between 4-16 ohms. Additionally, I was quite happy that there is an included subwoofer port as I will definitely be experimenting with that later on. Furthermore, the included phono port, along with its own internal power supply, is another huge benefit as you can easily connect any record player to it. Switching to the front of the unit, the SA-C600 has a front USB 2.0 port and a convenient 3.5mm jack for your headphones. On the top of the unit, you will see the CD player. The lid can be opened either left or right and does not require the unit to be on to switch discs. Additionally, during CD playback the SA-C600 features an illuminated section that adds a nice touch, especially in a darken room. Lastly, the front display features touch controls near the bottom of the screen. Thus, most should be completely satisfied.
Before I discuss my sound tests, I wanted to briefly mention that as with most technical equipment, there are a couple of disclaimers I would like to discuss. As with any high-end audio equipment, sound quality and performance will always be the main topic of discussion.Consequently, however, sound is subjective to each individual; more accurately, it is recognizing that your ability (or inability) to hear certain frequencies and your own personal sound preferences may not be reflected in conclusions drawn by others. Thus, what I have listed here is what I personally observed and should be taken as such. For my setup, I decided to use my Klipsch RP-600M bookshelf speakers. These are rated for a frequency response of 45 Hz – 25 KHz. For power, they are rated at up to 100 watts and have an impedance of 8 ohms. Now while I was certainly aware that the SA-C600 was rated for 60 watts per channel, these RP-600M seemed to have fairly good response so I was curious to see how they will perform. Using X2 Audioquest speaker wire, I connected each speaker to the player via the bottom terminal (RP-600M supports bi amp configuration). Lastly, I tested both USB, CD and Bluetooth playback using my collection. The SA-C600 supports most of the common formats including WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, MP3, AAC. It also supports DSD up to 11.2 MHz, though it appears only two channels are supported. For USB playback, I only used FLAC files from my collection. Every file was thoroughly scanned via frequency analysis and over a spectrogram to verify that they are of proper quality. Most of my sources were limited to 44.1 KHz / 16 Bit as they are derived from my CDs, but where I could I tested high resolution copies (96 KHz/24 bit or 192 KHz/24 Bit). Lastly, I updated the player’s firmware to the most current version.
Beginning with CD playback, I wasn’t expecting an immediate reaction to the sound, but I couldn’t help smile at what I was hearing. Perhaps it sounds a bit clichéd, but there are literally no words that could accurately convey what the experience was like. Starting with classical music, hearing new portions of the orchestra I never heard before blew my mind; though at times even the most subtle nuanced were perhaps even more exciting. Soundstage was extremely precise and crystal clear; middle frequencies were perfectly placed. Furthermore, solo parts were up and center and did not bleed into the rest of the orchestra. Cellos and basses were clear and concise at the lower frequencies. Surprisingly, SA-C600 seemed to push my RP-600s more than expected. Even with the drastic dynamic range, I was able to maintain its volume at 30 (max 100); the whole room was adequately filled. Switching to Jazz, the overall sound was lovely detailed. Snares of drums and brass instruments are striking; high frequencies were amazingly clear. I was really impressed at the instrument separation here. As for more bass heavy genres, Rap and Trance were still clear and concise. Despite the more heavily compressed tracks, I was still able to pick out some detail that I never heard before. While a subwoofer would have certainly benefited here, the RP-600M’s were still able to reproduce a good portion of the bass lines, though obviously limited in some parts. Overall, I think most will be completely surprised by the SA-C600. The sound quality was exceptional across all of the different genres that I listened to.
As for USB playback, the SA-C600 handled all my FLAC files accordingly. I was also greatly pleased that the unit can read FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS. Additionally, I was also glad that browsing folders seemed very responsive. It also appears that the unit also supports gapless playback. All of my files played perfectly and reported the correct frequency and bit depth. As for Bluetooth, the SA-C600 handled everything as it should. One thing that really stood out was that it was extremely loud and I had to turn down the volume on my phone, which typically is not the case. With other accessories, you usually have to max the volume out on your device then set the volume accordingly, but here my volume was barely at 30%! I strongly recommend lowering the volume of your device before playing anything just in case.
In conclusion, the SA-C600 is an impressive CD player with a wide list of functions that should fulfill the needs of audiophiles. With a sleek modern design, the SA-C600 provides plenty of options for you to get the most out of your music collection. As for sound quality, the unit provided a rich and warm sound that left me speechless in some instances. Furthermore, hearing different things on songs you have listened to for years is quite exhilarating to say the least. The SA-C600 performs exceptionally. Despite the price point, the SA-C600 offers substantial value and deserves an honest look if you are looking for a dedicated music player. Thus, the SA-C600 comes highly recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bring ideas to life with our most powerful 13-inch XPS laptop, built with the latest processors and featuring innovative, modern design.
Customer Rating
4
XPS Plus 9320: High Performance Portability
on June 26, 2023
Posted by: Dragonhunter281
With any new laptop model, the latest hardware will certainly be an alluring aspect of one’s potential purchase; a fact even more emphasized by models that specifically target computer enthusiasts who will more than likely end up spending more to get their hardware demands met. As such, Dell’s XPS line of laptops, for example, have always been positioned for those who want a top end product regardless of price. Last year, the XPS Plus caught attention with a newly re-designed aesthetic that certainly stood out. By squaring off the keys and removing the shortcuts at the top, it was certainly eye catching. Thus, I was quite excited to test the newly released XPS Plus 9320 and see if the premium product was worth a look.
Upon opening the box, I was pleasantly surprised to find a nice solid constructed box that houses the XPS 9320. Once opened, the XPS comes with several accessories including a USB-C male to USB-A female adapter, a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack, and the USB-C 60w power adapter. As expected, the XPS is extremely well built. The metal housed frame is solid and the graphite color is outstanding. Like previous generations, the XPS is extremely lightweight at 2.77 lbs. As with the XPS Plus from last year, the keys are squared completely off and the F-Keys are removed; replaced by an illuminated touch bar that works both as the familiar shortcuts to various functions and the F-keys. Additionally, the touchpad is made of glass and blends seamlessly with the palm rest. The whole section is extremely smooth to the touch. Lastly, since there are no physical buttons, the trackpad supports haptic feedback. For connectivity, the unit only has two Thunderbolt 4 ports. I really wish Dell would have included at least two more Type-C ports. I was also disappointed that the 3.5mm jack was removed since the thickness of this model is about the same as my XPS 9305 that has the jack along with a micro SD card slot. The other feature missing is the battery indicator button that would let you see how much charge the battery has remaining without turning it on. Nonetheless, this particular model configuration comes fairly loaded with the upgraded OLED 3.5K display (3456x2160), 32 GB of LPDDR5-6000, and lastly a 1 TB Gen 4 PCIe M2 SSD.
Before I began my tests, there were a couple of observations that I wanted to address. Starting with the hardware, the OLED display is locked to 60Hz. I was quite disappointed with this given the prevalence of higher refresh panels. Another issue was since the trackpad was not sectioned off, I consistently worked my fingers outside of the designated trackpad area and had to readjust. For those with big fingers, you will have to get use to it. As for the keyboard, typing was more cramped than I expected. When compared to my other 13 inch laptops, the XPS Plus 9320 has larger shift, enter, tab, and caps lock keys. Naturally, this causes the other keys to be more centered than I expected, thus creating a more squished in keyboard. Overall, the design is certainly different and might require a bit of an adjustment period, though most should be fine.
As for the Windows environment, as expected, there are several Dell utilities preinstalled to control certain aspects of the hardware and other settings. Since I wanted to provide data that resembles an out of box experience, I tried to minimize the changes that I made to the OS. The most drastic change was changing the power profile so the computer would not go to sleep during my tests. I also changed the minimum processor frequency to 1%. Furthermore, I disabled all of the startup items except for the Windows security, Realtek Audio, My Dell, and the Waves Max Audio executables. Next, I completely uninstalled McAfee Antivirus.Lastly, all of the windows updates were installed. After they completed, I went into the BIOS and disabled the UEFI Capsule Firmware setting to prevent any more BIOS installs over Windows Update. I also disabled the Power On Lid setting to prevent the computer from turning on when you open the lid. Lastly, these results are what I observed during testing. Your results will likely differ, but this should give you an indication of what to expect. All tests were conducted on AC power and on performance mode.
For my first test, I wanted to test the new XPS 9320 against the previous CPUs of the last two years. Using CPU-Z 2.06, I ran the built in benchmark and compared the new XPS model to my Yoga 9i that features an i7-1260p. For additional data, I included the 11th Generation i7-1165 G7 found on my XPS 9305 from 2021. The results are as shown:
I7-1360P - Single: 761.7/ Multi: 6,227.7 (12 Cores / 16 Threads)
I7- 1260P - Single: 672.2 / Multi: 5,502.8 (12 Cores / 16 Threads)
I7-1165G7 - Single: 598.1 / Multi: 2,809.4 (4 Cores / 8 Threads)
As you can see, the CPU improvements made over the last few years is quite spectacular. Despite the 11th generation only being a quad core, it still holds its own in single thread, though multicore shows its limitations. As for the 12th and 13th generations, the improvements are noticeable, especially on the multicore score. Certainly, this gives a general idea that the 1360p will be faster by all accounts.
For my second CPU test, I wanted to run was a video encode to test the real-world performance of the 1360P. Using Handbrake 1.6.1 and the Very Fast 1080p preset, I sent a 29 GB M2TS file through the encoder. I set the frame rate to match the source of the original file and pass through the DTS-MA audio track. The results were noted below and compared:
I7-1360p: 15 Minutes 40 Seconds / AVG FPS: 144.4
I7-1260P: 18 Minutes 20 Seconds / AVG FPS: 122.8
As you can see, it is pretty clear the 1360p offers a decent bump over the previous generation. Using HW Info, I noticed the P-Cores initially hit their rated turbo speeds of 4.9 GHz but quickly decreased to around the 3.0-3.2 GHz range. Connectively, the E-Cores were naturally slower and seemed to favor the 2.5-2.7 GHz range before dropping to 1.9 GHz. As expected, the CPU continued to decrease to keep its temperature in control as the P-Cores bottomed out to around 2.2-2.5 GHz. The CPU dropped from 100C to around 88-91C as it adjusted the core frequencies accordingly. Switching to my Yoga 9i, it was apparent that the thermal configuration was a bit more aggressive and caused the 1260p to lower its P-Cores immediately around 2.1-2.5 GHz range. Subsequently, the E-Cores dropped to around 1.6-1.8 GHz. As expected, the 1260P was able to drop its core temperature from 100C to around 64-69C depending upon the adjusted frequency. Overall, the i7-1360p performed as expected and certainly the new chip exceeded all expectations. It is clearly faster than the last generation it was designed to replace.
The last CPU test I wanted to run was Cinebench R23 to get an overall snapshot of the last couple of generations. As an IT professional, I have always been excited to see the performance gains from the previous generations and this year was certainly exciting. To demonstrate this, I decided to test my older XPS 9305 that features an i7-1165G7. Additionally, I used my Yoga 9i to showcase last year’s i7-1260p. The results are noted below:
I7-1360P - Single: 1,875 / Multi: 11,102 (12 Cores / 16 Threads)
I7- 1260P - Single: 1,627 / Multi: 9,988 (12 Cores / 16 Threads)
I7-1165G7 - Single: 1,186 / Multi: 3,764 (4 Cores / 8 Threads)
Next, I wanted to test the included 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 drive that shipped with the XPS 9320. As such, I was curious to see performance of the included drive. Additionally, HW Info 7.46 lists the drive as a Western Digital SN810 1 TB drive. Using CrystalMark 8.0.4c, I ran the benchmark using default settings. The results are below:
Sequential Read Q8T1: 6,728.64 MB/s / Sequential Write Q8T1: 5306.31 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 74.34 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 164.41 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 74.34 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 164.41 MB/s
Surprisingly, the results here are quite amazing given that most drives that ship with laptops are usually not the fastest. To supplement the results here, I also decided to transfer my music folder that holds 5,925 files and 1,298 folders. It is 33.4 GB in size. I transferred the folder from my WD My Passport 1 TB external SSD (Model: WDBAGF0010BBL). As soon as the transfer began, the transfer immediately shot over 700 MB/s, before holding consistently around 690-710 MB/s. The SSDs wasted no time and finished the transfer in under a minute. Lastly, I copied a 55 GB 4K file to the XPS. The transfer held consistently a round 800-820 MB/s and was finished in a little over a minute. Overall, the XPS is extremely fast out of the box.
In conclusion, the XPS Plus 9320 performs exactly as it was intended to do. It is a great portable machine that is plentiful in speed and has the sleekness to attract potential buyers. While the cost is easily debatable, especially given other options with similar or even better hardware, the XPS Plus 9320 still fulfills what it was designed for: a small portable machine that an enthusiast can enjoy with lots of RAM and storage out of the box without having to immediately upgrade it. However, this doesn’t mean it is without criticism. While keyboard felt a little cramped and the trackpad took some time to get use to, the limitation of only two thunderbolt 4 ports was perhaps the most disappointing aspect given its price point. Lastly, it was also puzzling that the OLED display was locked only to 60 Hz. Despite these gripes, I still think its worth a look, provided at least you are content with the shortcomings I have outlined here. Thus, with that said, the XPS Plus 9320 comes recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The powerful and compact Zenbook 14" OLED is just 0.66” slim and 3.48lbs light, with a breathtaking new design that’s timelessly elegant yet totally modern. Perfect visual experience from the 14.5” 16:10 2.8K OLED HDR NanoEdge, up to 550-nit screen which is PANTONE Validated with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. The Intel EVO platform with 13th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB RAM and 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD deliver superb performance, and there’s a long-lasting 90 Wh battery and latest Wifi-6E built-in. For extraordinary audio experience, there’s a Dolby Atmos sound system powered by a smart amplifier with Harman/Kardon certified.
Customer Rating
5
Asus Zenbook Q420: High Speed In A Small Package!
on June 19, 2023
Posted by: Dragonhunter281
There is often an assumption that those who desire high performing laptops must always look at the most expensive models. While it cannot be denied that faster hardware typically constitutes a higher price tag, there are certainly exceptions that are worthwhile; specifically, laptops that do not target a specific usage case scenario (i.e., playing games), but offer essentially the same performing hardware. Thus, I was excited to test the newly released Asus Zenbook 14x Q420 that packs strong performance in a compact package. The Q420 features a newly released i7 13700H processor, 16 GB of LDDR5 RAM, and 512 GB of SSD storage.
The Asus Q420 sports an impressive aluminum all metal body frame that is both elegant and modern; the etched lines on the top of the case certainly enhances that approach. The build quality is quite impressive; the body has a brushed appearance that feels good to the touch. Furthermore, the Q420 is perfectly compact and sleek, coming in at just over 3lbs and is impressively thin at only 0.67 inches. While certainly not the thinnest laptop, I was still quite impressed. As for connectively, the Q420 sports two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and lastly an HDMI 2.1 port. The included power adapter is listed at 90 watts. Another interesting feature is that this model also allows you to toggle a number pad on or off over the trackpad by touching the right top corner of the pad. With the number pad enabled, you can still control the mouse on screen. Lastly, there are two levels of brightness for the number pad. This was certainly a huge advantage as most laptops in this size do not have a number pad at all. Overall, I think most users will be please with the Asus Q420.
Since most users will more than likely tweak their machines differently, I wanted to provide at least some general performance benchmarks to give you an idea of how the Q420 performs out of the box. I tried to make as little changes as possible, though I did make a few adjustments. First and foremost, all of the windows updates were installed. I removed all the social media oriented apps that were preinstalled. For startup, everything was disabled except for windows security. In the control panel, I prevented the laptop from sleeping and adjusted the minimum processor frequency to 1%. All tests were conducted in performance mode within windows and I set the fan profile in the My Asus/ProArt software to performance. Furthermore, I went ahead and turned off fast startup since that feature is redundant with an SSD installed; the weekly TRIM optimization was also disabled since I do that manually. I would also like to point out that the memory was somewhat bloated by the Asus services, but that is to be expected. I went ahead and left them running. However, they do control certain hotkeys and shortcuts so be weary of that if you want to disable them. Lastly, I do want to mention that my tests are only what I observed. You may observe better performance than what I have listed here, though at least this can give you a general idea on what to expect.
Since most users will more than likely tweak their machines differently, I wanted to provide at least some general performance benchmarks to give you an idea of how the Q420 performs out of the box. I tried to make as little changes as possible, though I did make a few adjustments. First and foremost, all of the windows updates were installed. I removed all the social media oriented apps that were preinstalled. For startup, everything was disabled except for windows security. In the control panel, I prevented the laptop from sleeping and adjusted the minimum processor frequency to 1%. All tests were conducted in performance mode within windows and I set the fan profile in the My Asus/ProArt software to performance. Furthermore, I went ahead and turned off fast startup since that feature is redundant with an SSD installed; the weekly TRIM optimization was also disabled since I do that manually. I would also like to point out that the memory was somewhat bloated by the Asus services, but that is to be expected. I went ahead and left them running. However, they do control certain hotkeys and shortcuts so be weary of that if you want to disable them. Lastly, I do want to mention that my tests are only what I observed. You may observe better performance than what I have listed here, though at least this can give you a general idea on what to expect.
For my first CPU test, I decided to run Cinebench R23 to see how the 13700H performs. As a comparison, I compared the 13700H with my Yoga 9i that features an i7-1260P. Naturally, both laptops are 14 inches and are close in specifications, so I was curious to see how the new CPU stacks up with the previous generation’s midrange chip. The results as follows:
I7-13700H - Single: 1,881/ Multi: 15,731 (14 Cores / 20 Threads)
I7-13700H - Single: 1,881/ Multi: 15,731 (14 Cores / 20 Threads)
I7- 1260P - Single: 1,506 / Multi: 9847 (12 Cores / 16 Threads)
As expected, the 13700H is a pretty clear winner here. Using HW Info and HW Monitor, at 100% usage the CPU package touched 100C while hitting its advertised boost speed of 4.9 GHz. As the chip began to throttle down, the P-Cores backed off around 3.1-3.6 GHz before finishing. Overall, the CPU performance is certainly a strong selling point with the Asus Q420, despite its smaller form factor. I think most will be pleased here.
In addition to Cinebench, I next ran the included benchmark with CPU-Z. Using version 2.06, I noted the results as found below:
I7-13700H - Single: 769.8/ Multi: 7,651.1
I7- 1260P - Single: 684.1 / Multi: 5,473.2
I7- 1260P - Single: 684.1 / Multi: 5,473.2
For my third CPU benchmark, I next wanted to test the CPU video encoding performance using Handbrake 1.6.1. Using my 28 GB M2TS movie file, I set the encoder to the Very Fast preset. I kept the frame rate to match the source and set the audio to passthrough the DTS-MA track. I also removed chapters and took the results of the encode. The results are as follows:
I7-13700H: 12 Minutes 17 Seconds / AVG FPS: 190.3
I7-13700H: 12 Minutes 17 Seconds / AVG FPS: 190.3
I7-1260: 18 Minutes 29 Seconds / AVG FPS: 122.5
Once again, the Asus Q420 was able to completely crush the 1260p as expected. Additionally, the 13700H had a bit more thermal breathing room as the Q420 was able to maintain around 80c at 2.7 GHz – 3.1 GHz range for the P-Cores. The E-Cores were able to maintain slightly below the P-Cores at around 2.4 GHz – 2.6 GHz. Subsequently, my Yoga 9i had a more aggressive curve with the CPU clock, as eventually all the P-Cores would not go pass 2.1 GHz. Perhaps even more surprising was that while at 2.1 GHz, there was still plenty of thermal headroom as package temperature hovered around 64-66C, but the cores never increased its clock during the duration of the encode. Furthermore, all of the E-Cores were holding just slightly lower around 1.7 GHz. Naturally, it should be pointed out that CPU behavior will vary quite a bit, as each manufacture will configure their own throttling behavior and TDP rating. On top of this, once you consider other variables such as cooling performance and ambient temperature, it can become quite difficult to narrow down CPU testing methodology. Overall, the Asus Q420 performs exceptionally well. The 13700H is certainly a beast, as the 90 minute movie was compressed in just over 12 minutes.
The last test I wanted to look at was the SSD performance of the 512 GB SSD that was included with the Asus Q420. Using HW Info 7.46, the included drive is listed as a Micron 2400 MTFDKBA512QFM. For my first test, I ran Crystalmark 8.0.4c and noted the results below:
Sequential Read Q8T1: 4,334.84 MB/s / Sequential Write Q8T1: 1,830.03 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 64.56 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 158.77 MB/s
Once again, the Asus Q420 was able to completely crush the 1260p as expected. Additionally, the 13700H had a bit more thermal breathing room as the Q420 was able to maintain around 80c at 2.7 GHz – 3.1 GHz range for the P-Cores. The E-Cores were able to maintain slightly below the P-Cores at around 2.4 GHz – 2.6 GHz. Subsequently, my Yoga 9i had a more aggressive curve with the CPU clock, as eventually all the P-Cores would not go pass 2.1 GHz. Perhaps even more surprising was that while at 2.1 GHz, there was still plenty of thermal headroom as package temperature hovered around 64-66C, but the cores never increased its clock during the duration of the encode. Furthermore, all of the E-Cores were holding just slightly lower around 1.7 GHz. Naturally, it should be pointed out that CPU behavior will vary quite a bit, as each manufacture will configure their own throttling behavior and TDP rating. On top of this, once you consider other variables such as cooling performance and ambient temperature, it can become quite difficult to narrow down CPU testing methodology. Overall, the Asus Q420 performs exceptionally well. The 13700H is certainly a beast, as the 90 minute movie was compressed in just over 12 minutes.
The last test I wanted to look at was the SSD performance of the 512 GB SSD that was included with the Asus Q420. Using HW Info 7.46, the included drive is listed as a Micron 2400 MTFDKBA512QFM. For my first test, I ran Crystalmark 8.0.4c and noted the results below:
Sequential Read Q8T1: 4,334.84 MB/s / Sequential Write Q8T1: 1,830.03 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 64.56 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 158.77 MB/s
As the results suggest, this is certainly a lower budget drive that was not meant to break any speed records. For general computing, this will be perfectly adequate, though I was a little surprised to see such a low sequential write speed. However, the good news is that these results do not seem to affect any manual transfer that I did from my Sandisk Extreme 1TB (SSDE61-1T00). All of my transfers were conducted with the Sandisk connected to one of Thunderbolt 4 ports. Thus, I wanted to see how the SSD would perform while transferring my music folder that consists of 5,917 files and 1,258 folders. The total size is 33.4 GB. As soon as the transfer started, the transfer rate exploded up to around 680 MB/s and held consistently for a few seconds. It eventually shot up to 720 MB/s and was able to complete the transfer in less than a minute! Lastly, my second transfer was to see how the sequential performance held up. I used the same 28 GB M2TS file that was used for my encode test. As soon as the transfer started, the rate immediately began at 812 MB/s and eventually worked its way up to 840-850 MB/s. The transfer finished in about 40 seconds! Lastly, I sent that same file back to the Sandisk Extreme and noted that it consistently held around 705 MB/s. The transfer finished in roughly the same time as before. Overall, the Asus Q420 is quite fast out of the box.
In conclusion, the Asus Q420 is an exceptional laptop that provides high performance in a small and compact package. This is especially critical for users who want a compact and lightweight option, yet does not sacrifice performance nor are they forced to consider gaming laptops. At just over 3lbs, the portability is extremely useful and the ability to use the trackpad as a number pad is certainly a huge advantage over similar models. Furthermore, I was quite impressed with the build quality and overall feel of the Q420. The modern and sleek design further enhances the attractive package. With an insanely fast i7-13700H, 16 GB of LPDDR5 and 512 GB of storage, the Q420 will certainly be one to watch. As its price point, it destroys the i7-1260P found in my Yoga 9i, and provides plenty of ports for connectively. With that said, the Asus Q420 comes highly recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The 4th generation Motion Series ushers in a new era of design and aesthetics for MartinLogan. The three modern, yet timeless, colorways can compliment any room while being a focal point if so desired. Motion evokes a unique look and sound, pairing high-performance woofers with exclusive Folded Motion Tweeter technology, a staple of MartinLogan products. The Motion Waveguide enhances the Controlled Dispersion of the Gen2 Folded Motion Tweeter to a generous 90°(Vertical) by 90°(Horizontal) to accommodate a wide range of seating and speaker placement options, while avoiding clarity destroying sound reflections within the environment.
Customer Rating
4
Compact Multipurpose Speaker!
on March 20, 2023
Posted by: Dragonhunter281
Despite most home theatres needing ample space to work with, there are options out there for those who do not want to sacrifice audio quality but need a small enough speaker to fit in a limited space. This is especially true for those who only need speakers for listening to music, or perhaps only need a surround sound option for their existing setup. As such, I was excited to test the Martin Logan MP10 multipurpose speaker to see if a small speaker can provide ample sound quality.
Upon opening the box of the MP10, the build quality is top notch. The piano black finish is impeccable and really stands out. At only 5 inches in depth, and weighing at a mere 9 lbs, the MP10 could be a viable solution for those who want to mount the speaker on the wall or want to create a music area in your household. In the box, the MP10 comes with a mounting bracket with two screws. However, the mounting screws themselves are not included. In addition, there is a set of four adhesive feet that can be applied to the M10 should you require them. Lastly, a grill was included so you can mount it to the front of the speaker. All in all, I think the MP10s look absolutely fabulous.
Before I discuss my testing results, I first would like to mention that all the results here will more than likely differ from what your personal experience, especially given the wide range of common variables such as room size, layout, different receivers, cables, speaker placement, and your personal sound interpretation. For my testing, I used a Pioneer Elite receiver VSX-LX303. All speakers were connected via custom cut lengths of Audioquest X2 speaker wire. For playback, I used my Sony X800M2 4K bluray player; the player and my Sony A90J OLED TV were respectively connected to the receiver via two Audioquest Cinnamon 8-10K HDMI 5 FT cables (MODEL: HDM48CIN150). Additionally, I increased the front right and left channel by +5.0db in the receiver settings. Lastly, I made sure distance was set to 5 ft and impedance was set properly to 4 ohms. For testing, I wanted to see how the MP10s performed with various genres of music. Lastly, I wanted to see how the MP10s sounded as a height/surround speaker. All music was encoded in FLAC and was ripped from my personal CD collection. Every song was scanned with a spectrogram and had its frequency analyzed to make sure they are proper lossless quality.
Starting with the trance genre, the MP10s were very clear and natural. The bass is certainly a bit on the lesser end, but it is certainly there to a degree. The bass can be heard a bit better on the back of the speaker, so I am fairly confident more bass will be heard if they are used in a confined area. Nonetheless, for something only rated 81 Hz on the low end I was still surprised with the results. High frequency tones, specifically snares and repeated tapping sounds are extremely clear and quite impressive. Vocals are excellent as well. Moving on to more dynamic music, Jazz and Classical both sound fantastic here as expected. During Jazz playback, drums and double bass can be clearly heard while all the brass instruments were front and center. The piano and middle frequencies were clear as well. Overall, the imaging and response was fantastic. For classical, orchestra placement and imaging was excellent. Much like before, I could easily make out each instrument clearly. On louder parts, it seemed as if the orchestra was right there in front of me. The MP10s created a wonderful soundstage. As for rock/metal genres, vocals were naturally reproduced. The drums seemed a bit more natural than other speakers. Symbols were incredibly crisp and sharp. Interestingly, despite most of the music being compressed at the mastering level, it seemed the MP10s were able to lessen it to a degree. Even the harshest songs, while normally muddy and hollow sounding, seemed to breathe a bit better. This is certainly a different sound than I expected. Granted, clarity was excellent throughout. Additionally, I noticed some high frequencies were emphasized a bit more on the MP10s than on other speakers. All in all, I believe most will be pleased with the sound, provided you are aware that these do not have the capability to rattle your walls.
Lastly, I wanted to test the MP10s as a height/surround speaker to see how they would sound. I tested the 4K movie of The Mummy (1999), which features a DTS: X 7.1 48 KHz/ 24 Bit track. From the start of the movie, the MP10s do a nice job of backing up the two main channels. At 9:33, you can hear the sword effect perfectly clear in the height channel as it rips through the air. Another good example is at the 38:00, where you can hear the soundtrack kick in on both height channels. As with the music test, the MP10s are clear and sound perfectly natural. My initial impression is that while there might be more dedicated speakers for height/surround tasks, the MP10 seemed to hold its own.
In conclusion, the MP10s are excellent multipurpose speakers. They sound very natural and were able to handle various genres of music with ease. Additionally, high frequencies were sharp and clear. Furthermore, they are also a very good choice as a surround/height channel speaker providing great sound in a compact package. Overall, I feel most will be please with the natural sound of the MP10s. Thus, the MP10s come recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The 4th generation Motion Series ushers in a new era of design and aesthetics for MartinLogan. The three modern, yet timeless, colorways can compliment any room while being a focal point if so desired. Motion evokes a unique look and sound, pairing high-performance woofers with exclusive Folded Motion Tweeter technology, a staple of MartinLogan products. The Motion Waveguide enhances the Controlled Dispersion of the Gen2 Folded Motion Tweeter to a generous 90°(Vertical) by 90°(Horizontal) to accommodate a wide range of seating and speaker placement options, while avoiding clarity destroying sound reflections within the environment.
Customer Rating
4
Impressive Center Channel
on March 20, 2023
Posted by: Dragonhunter281
While perhaps the argument could be made that the center channel is the most crucial home theatre component, it is sometimes overlooked. Ironically, it is here that the majority of what you hear requires a speaker that can keep up with the main channels, yet is strong enough to isolate the dialog. As such, I was excited to test the Martin Logan C10 center channel speaker. With its compact size and relatively small dimensions, I was excited to see how it would perform.
The C10 was fairly straightforward to setup. In the box, you will note a set of four adhesive feet that you can install on the bottom of the speaker. In addition, there is also a grill that installs on the front of the speaker. As expected, the center channel only has one set of terminals on the back of the speaker. Physically, the C10 is much more compact than my other center channel at 19 inches wide. However, it is a bit taller at roughly 7 inches. The C10 also has a good amount of weight to it at 23 lbs. The C10 also sports a nice glossy black aesthetic and matches perfectly with my other speakers. Overall, the C10 has exceptional build quality and is quite attractive in person.
Before I discuss my testing results, I first would like to mention that all the results here will more than likely differ from what your personal experience, especially given the wide range of common variables such as room size, layout, different receivers, cables, speaker placement, and your personal sound interpretation. For my testing, I used a Pioneer Elite receiver VSX-LX303. All speakers were connected via custom cut lengths of Audioquest X2 speaker wire. For playback, I used my Sony X800M2 4K bluray player; the player and my Sony A90J OLED TV were respectively connected to the receiver via two Audioquest Cinnamon 8-10K HDMI 5 FT cables (MODEL: HDM48CIN150). Additionally, I increased center channel to +5.0db in the receiver settings. Lastly, I made sure distance was set to 6 ft and impedance was set properly to 4 ohms. For my test, I tested two different movies.
Before I discuss my testing results, I first would like to mention that all the results here will more than likely differ from what your personal experience, especially given the wide range of common variables such as room size, layout, different receivers, cables, speaker placement, and your personal sound interpretation. For my testing, I used a Pioneer Elite receiver VSX-LX303. All speakers were connected via custom cut lengths of Audioquest X2 speaker wire. For playback, I used my Sony X800M2 4K bluray player; the player and my Sony A90J OLED TV were respectively connected to the receiver via two Audioquest Cinnamon 8-10K HDMI 5 FT cables (MODEL: HDM48CIN150). Additionally, I increased center channel to +5.0db in the receiver settings. Lastly, I made sure distance was set to 6 ft and impedance was set properly to 4 ohms. For my test, I tested two different movies.
My first movie that I tested was The Mummy (1999), which features a 48 KHz / 24 Bit DTS: X 7.1 track that is really a treat to hear. The C10 does an excellent job of separating the dialog off the two front speakers. A good example is at the 11:29 mark where you can hear “whoa” directly from the C10. In addition, the C10 is able supplement the sounds heard from the main front channels. Another good example of the wonderful clarity of C10 is at the 23:49 mark where the horse cry is heard over the C10. The sound is clear and crisp. Lastly, a good portion of the dialogue starting from 25:08 was exceptional. You can hear everyone speaking clearly, but the piano in the background is sitting perfectly in the mix. The C10 certainly does not disappoint. Lastly, during the gunfight around 49:30, the gunshots are perfectly placed on the C10. Highs and middles are consistent throughout. Furthermore, I was pleasantly surprised as usually when things get hectic in a movie the dialogue tends to get bottled down by the action. The C10 did an excellent job.
For my second test, I swapped to the recently released 4K disc of Training Day (2001). This would be a good test as the movie received a big audio upgrade to Dolby Atmos. The opening dialog at the start of the movie is fairly low in the mix but the C10 did a stellar job on clarity. I had to bump up my volume just a few notches but I was able to hear what was being said. Moving on to the coffee shop at around 6:00 mark, the dialog was crystal clear and was perfectly isolated on the center channel. Another good example is at around 27:03 where the honking horns are heard perfectly on the C10 as well as the main channels. Additionally, the bullets hitting the floor at 40:32 are extremely sharp. Lastly, C10 does an incredible job of separating every bullet from 46:42 – 47:05. The clarity is just off the charts during this section, as C10 and the mains are bouncing off each other. All in all, the C10 performed as expected.
For my second test, I swapped to the recently released 4K disc of Training Day (2001). This would be a good test as the movie received a big audio upgrade to Dolby Atmos. The opening dialog at the start of the movie is fairly low in the mix but the C10 did a stellar job on clarity. I had to bump up my volume just a few notches but I was able to hear what was being said. Moving on to the coffee shop at around 6:00 mark, the dialog was crystal clear and was perfectly isolated on the center channel. Another good example is at around 27:03 where the honking horns are heard perfectly on the C10 as well as the main channels. Additionally, the bullets hitting the floor at 40:32 are extremely sharp. Lastly, C10 does an incredible job of separating every bullet from 46:42 – 47:05. The clarity is just off the charts during this section, as C10 and the mains are bouncing off each other. All in all, the C10 performed as expected.
In conclusion, the C10 is an exceptional choice for a center channel speaker. Physically, it is small enough that it can fit in a more space restricted home theatre system, yet doesn’t seem to sacrifice sound quality. Highs and middle frequencies are excellent. Furthermore, while every speaker was firing, I could distinctly make out what was coming off the C10; clarity was top notch and dialog was perfectly centered and isolated. Overall, everyone should be pleased with the C10. Thus, the C10 comes recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The 4th generation Motion Series ushers in a new era of design and aesthetics for MartinLogan. The three modern, yet timeless, colorways can compliment any room while being a focal point if so desired. Motion evokes a unique look and sound, pairing high-performance woofers with exclusive Folded Motion Tweeter technology, a staple of MartinLogan products. The Motion Waveguide enhances the Controlled Dispersion of the Gen2 Folded Motion Tweeter to a generous 90°(Vertical) by 90°(Horizontal) to accommodate a wide range of seating and speaker placement options, while avoiding clarity destroying sound reflections within the environment.
Customer Rating
5
Unreal Clarity In A Compact Size
on March 19, 2023
Posted by: Dragonhunter281
As any home theatre enthusiast can certainly attest to, finding a perfect speaker is certainly a difficult endeavor; even more so if your home theatre space is limited. As such, I was excited to test the newly released Martin Logan F10 floor standing speaker. With a compact size and glossy black finish, this certainly seems to be a viable compact solution without sacrificing sound quality.
Upon first inspecting the F10s, you will note several accessories included in the box. First, you will note four large brackets with the hard surface feet preinstalled. Secondly, there are four extremely sharp feet for you to use on carpet but I personally eluded not use these. Physically, once you have successfully unboxed your F10, the speaker has exceptional workmanship. The gloss black model is extremely elegant and is a sight to behold. Surprisingly, each speaker does have some weight to it, clocking in at 50 lbs each. However, due to their compact size, I was able to easily move and position them without issue. Lastly, you will note two sets of terminals on the back that support a bi-amp configuration. All in all, I believe most will be completely satisfied at the modern look of the F10s.
Upon first inspecting the F10s, you will note several accessories included in the box. First, you will note four large brackets with the hard surface feet preinstalled. Secondly, there are four extremely sharp feet for you to use on carpet but I personally eluded not use these. Physically, once you have successfully unboxed your F10, the speaker has exceptional workmanship. The gloss black model is extremely elegant and is a sight to behold. Surprisingly, each speaker does have some weight to it, clocking in at 50 lbs each. However, due to their compact size, I was able to easily move and position them without issue. Lastly, you will note two sets of terminals on the back that support a bi-amp configuration. All in all, I believe most will be completely satisfied at the modern look of the F10s.
Before I discuss my testing results, I first would like to mention that all the results here will more than likely differ from what your personal experience, especially given the wide range of common variables such as room size, layout, different receivers, cables, speaker placement, and your personal sound interpretation. For my testing, I used a Pioneer Elite receiver VSX-LX303. All speakers were connected via custom cut lengths of Audioquest X2 speaker wire. For playback, I used my Sony X800M2 4K bluray player; the player and my Sony A90J OLED TV were respectively connected to the receiver via two Audioquest Cinnamon 8-10K HDMI 5 FT cables (MODEL: HDM48CIN150). Additionally, I increased both front left and right channels slightly to +5.0db in the receiver settings. Lastly, I made sure distance was set to 6 ft and impedance was set properly to 4 ohms. For my tests, I listen to different genres of music and tested one movie. All music was encoded in FLAC and was ripped from my personal CD collection. Every song was scanned with a spectrogram and had its frequency analyzed to make sure they are proper lossless quality. Lastly, I was about 6 feet from the F10s during my observations.
Upon firing up my classical and jazz collection, the F10s immediately impressed with electrifying clarity. Starting with Jazz, I fired up Dave Brubeck’s Take Five (44.1 KHZ / 16 Bit) and the results were pretty exciting. Snares and drums were nice a crisp. The double bass was perfectly reproduced, and the piano set right on top in between the saxophone. Additionally, the dynamics were superb as I did not have to increase the volume at all. Switching to classical, I swapped to Schumann’s String Quartet No 1 in A Minor by the Ying Quartet (192 KHz/24 Bit). As before, the instruments are clear and blend together seamlessly. I actually heard some sounds that I hadn’t before. Highs and middle frequencies were tight and clear and the cello on the low end was warm and inviting. It sounded as if the whole quartet was in my room. Switching genres, I swapped to rock by playing Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and the results are just the same. The F10s do a really good job of reproducing vocals and each instrument as before. Guitars were punchy and weren’t overly compressed or muddy. Swapping to other genres such as dance or trance, highs were clear. Symbols or snare sounds were extremely prominent. As for bass response, given the size of the speaker, one should keep their expectations within reason. However, I was extremely surprised at how much bass these speakers were actually able to reproduce. The low end is definitely present and has a nice deep tone to it, yet it was still able to maintain clear highs and middle frequencies. Moreover, another thing I noticed was that the closer you are to the speaker the bass immediately improved and became much more emphasized. Additionally, while standing in between each speaker, the bass seemingly created an encompassing effect that allowed me to experience even more rumble. This was really quite stunning given they are only rated for 38 Hz. You can clearly hear this on Eminem’s Stan or Tech9’s He’s A Mental Giant. Both bass lines are punchy and provide excellent rumble. Thus, the smaller the space F10s are stored the more bass you will likely experience. Overall, the F10s perform exceptionally well and most should be pleased. Lastly, I eluded tested the 4K disc of the recently released Training Day (2001). As expected, dialogue was clear and crisp. Additionally, the F10s did a fabulous job on some of the notable bass sections, specifically during gun fight sequences. There was also some good rumble from the car engine at the beginning of the movie. All in all, the F10s perform as intended.
In conclusion, the F10s are a wonderful option for those who want a relatively compact speaker without the sacrifice in sound quality. All of my music genres played with exceptional accuracy and clarity. I was able to isolate each instrument, yet still found myself lost in the wonder warmth of the soundstage. The sound has an excellent natural quality to it. With a compact design and elegant glossy black coating, the F10s comes recommended.
In conclusion, the F10s are a wonderful option for those who want a relatively compact speaker without the sacrifice in sound quality. All of my music genres played with exceptional accuracy and clarity. I was able to isolate each instrument, yet still found myself lost in the wonder warmth of the soundstage. The sound has an excellent natural quality to it. With a compact design and elegant glossy black coating, the F10s comes recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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From the moment you turn on your Inspiron, you’re greeted and connected to a whole new world. Whether it's social media, streaming movies, or finishing your work, Inspiron 14 2-in-1 laptop delivers what matters most to you, in style. Experience amazing visuals and audio in any mode. Features a 16:10 aspect ratio FHD+ display, Waves MaxxAudio Pro and the latest AMD Mobile Processors with Radeon Graphics.
Customer Rating
4
Blazing Midrang Performance!
on December 17, 2022
Posted by: Dragonhunter281
As laptop features continue to change, shopping for the perfect solution is rarely simple. As most will attest to, performance and cost are often the two main focal points when deciding on upon any specific model. Fortunately, drastic advancements in computer hardware have given us the ability to acquire high performance machines without the high price point. Thus, I was excited to test the Inspiron 14’’ 7425, a relatively affordable machine in a compact size that seemingly offers excellent performance.
Inside the box, the 7425 comes with one USB 65 Watt Type C charger. Once unpacked, the 7425 is fairly gorgeous in person. The brush aluminum has a more polished feel than some of our other aluminum based laptops. As one would expect, the hinges are extremely sturdy and flipping the laptop into tablet mode was a breeze. In normal position, the hinges raise the screen up a bit for a comfortable viewing experience. While typing on the keyboard, the keys are fairly quiet and responsive. As expected, the 7425 is lightweight and travel friendly, though it was slightly heavier than I was expecting. However, it is still only 3 pounds. On the front of the laptop, with the lid closed, you will note the two exhausts slits at the front. Next, on the left side, you will note one HDMI 1.4 port. Additionally, there are also two USB Type-C ports that can charge the laptop and provide DisplayPort capability. Lastly on the right side of the laptop, you will note one standard USB Type-A port, a headphone jack, and a full size SD card slot. Overall, the ports should provide you with everything you will need. However, I definitely wished there would have been one more additional standard USB Type-A port.
Before we discuss the performance aspect of the 7425, there are a couple of observations I would like to mention first. For most people, the included 8 GB of RAM will probably be enough for the time being. However, upon setting up the operating system, you will notice that roughly half of the memory is already used. This is certainly a drawback, but the good news is that the RAM is upgradable. Second, the OS takes up roughly 40 GB of storage at first boot, which is unfortunate but typical of OEM installations. Fortunately, this can be fixed rather simply by doing a reinstall, though it is not necessary especially if you aren’t fully sure on the process involved. Lastly, I do want to mention thermal levels as there was quite a bit of temperature spikes. The fan does spin up quite a bit, especially during updates, or when small loads of usage sent all cores to its max turbo speed of 4.3 GHz. Such spikes typically shot the CPU up to the 85-97c range but would settle back to high 40s or low 50s afterwards. Once again, most users should be fine, but any enthusiast may look into re-applying thermal paste if your particular unit exceeds your thermal expectations.
As for my performance tests, I wanted to stress every major aspect of the Inspiron 7425 to give you an idea of what you can expect out of the box. Specifically, I focused on the main components such as CPU, SSD, Wi-Fi, and the battery. Furthermore, I kept most of my normal system tweaks to a minimum; the most significant change was I disabled all the non-Microsoft startup services and startup executables. I also uninstalled every McAfee component. Lastly, I prevented the screen and hard drive from going to sleep and changed the minimum processor frequency to 1% for both battery and AC power.
For the CPU, I was quite excited to see how the Ryzen 5625U was going to handle everyday tasks. As most are probably aware, Ryzen has evolved exceptionally well over the past few years, so this was a great opportunity to see how far we have come. I tested several CPUs with a simple benchmark in CPU-Z 2.01 to give you an idea on where the 5625U sits, though do keep in mind that CPUs will still reflect different results in other tests.
Ryzen 7 5800H - Single: 589.0 / Multi: 5,658.6 (8 Cores / 16 Threads)
Ryzen 5 5625U - Single: 592.1 / Multi: 3,946.6 (6 Cores / 12 Threads)
Ryzen 3 5300U – Single: 478.9 / Multi: 2,627.1 (4 Cores / 8 Threads)
Ryzen 5 2500U – Single: 342.1 / Multi: 1,912.7 (4 Cores / 8 Threads)
I7-1165 G7 – Single: 563.9 / Multi: 2,698.3 (4 Cores / 8 Threads)
As one can see, the jump from the first generation Ryzen is quite astonishing. My next test was to encode a 92 Minute M2TS file using Handbrake 1.5.1. I used the 1080p very fast preset. I set the FPS to match the source, and pass through the original audio. This time I only focused on the current Ryzen chips. My results are as follows:
Ryzen 7 5800H: 17 Minutes and 16 Seconds / 131.0 AVG FPS
Ryzen 5 5625U: 23 Minutes and 23 Seconds / 96.2 AVG FPS
Ryzen 3 5300U: 30 Minutes and 29 Seconds / 73.5 AVG FPS
The results here are as expected with each of the respective chips getting faster as the number of cores increase. It is quite remarkable that a mid-range processor can actually encode a 92 minute movie in less than 30 minutes. Thermals during the test held constantly around 65c, as the CPU bounced around near its base frequency at around 2.3-2.7 GHz. Package draw touched a little bit over 33 watts. Overall, this CPU is absolutely stellar.
My next test I wanted to shift to the 512 GB M2 NVMe drive. The drive is listed as a SK Hynix BC711 model. Using CrystalMark 8.0.4a, I ran a test to see how fast the drive is.
Sequential Read Q8T1: 3,421.0 MB/s / Sequential Write Q8T1: 2,472.0 MB/s
Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 53.83 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 128.06 MB/s
Overall, the M2 is fairly decent. I was quite surprised at the fairly strong sequential speeds. In addition, I also wanted to conduct a manual transfer. Using my WD 1 TB NVMe external SSD over USB Type C, I transferred a 32.6 GB folder that holds 5,784 files and 1,244 folders. As expected, the transfer took no time at all. It took a few seconds to reach the peak, eventually settling around the 515 MB – 530 MB/s range. Towards the end, there was a slight dip to around 480 MB/s but then quickly shot back up to 550 MB/s and finished in roughly in 90 seconds. The next transfer was my 28 GB M2TS video file. As before, it took a few seconds to get moving but eventually the transfer exploded to 750 MB/s and held consistently before finishing. The 7425 is exceptionally fast out of the box.
For Wi-Fi, I ran a quick speed test using my internet browser. As for the hardware inside, the 7425 ships with a MediaTek MT7921 802.11AX Wi-Fi card. Once I clicked start, I noted the following speeds:
DOWN: 603.11 Mbps / UP: 592.00 Mbps
As expected, no complaints here as I was able to fully reach the speeds as indicated on our internet package. Downloads were insanely quick as well.
For the display, the 16:10 aspect ratio (1900x1200) has a made a stunning comeback as of late, with a number of models opting for it as opposed to the standard 16:9 (1920x1080). Perhaps the biggest improvement that I could see was when browsing internet as the extra screen allowed you to see more of the page. I was also fairly surprised at how quickly I adjusted to the aspect ratio, seeing as I spend most of time on 16:9 displays. As for color and text, I was fairly pleased with the clarity and contrast. Brightness was a little lacking at lower levels, but nonetheless it shouldn’t bother most people. At max setting, it was fairly bright.
For my battery test, I set the power plan to best performance and set display brightness to the maximum setting, including the keyboard backlight. Using VLC player, I played my 92 Minute M2TS file and noted the results. After 45 minutes, the battery decreased to 88%. After the movie was finished, the battery slightly dropped 81%. During playback, the CPU was consuming a paltry 3 watts of power and had a load of around 2-3%. Furthermore, I do want to caution you that this test was an attempt to imitate a worst case scenario; you will certainly have better battery life and/or different results.
Lastly I do want to mention a bit of good news, especially for the enthusiasts that might be looking for a strong midrange laptop. As mentioned previously, the Dell Inspiron 7425 does have the ability to have its RAM upgraded. There are a total of two DIMM slots, with one being occupied by a single 8 GB DDR4-3200 MHz module. After I performed all of my testing, I decided to upgrade the RAM to 32 GB. It was immediately recognized and booted up perfectly. Once completed, I also went ahead and re-pasted the CPU while I had the laptop open. The good news here was that you can reach the CPU without having to remove the fan. Thermals improved immediately, with the fan rarely having to spin up to full speed. On cold boot, I noted a high for 63c and a low of 39c. As for the SSD, the included M2 is in the 2230 form factor, but it will still accept the more common standard of 2280. For those who are familiar with disassembly, the top 3 screws are also threaded and will cause the case to pop up when you start to unscrew them. The remaining screws all come out of the case completely so be careful not to lose them.
In conclusion, the Inspiron 7425 is a top notch performer that blazes with the latest hardware and sports a sleek and stylish package. Aside from a slightly bloated OS installation and low RAM availability, there are certainly more positives that make the 7425 a stellar midrange laptop. With plenty of connectivity options and the ability flip the laptop into tablet mode, most will be quite please with their out of the box experience. Furthermore, I was extremely relieved that there are also some good upgrade options as well. Thus, the Inspiron 7425 comes recommended provided you are aware of the caveats.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Dragonhunter281's Review Comments
Share no-filter moments with this Sony Xperia XZ smartphone. Its 23-megapixel camera has triple image sensing technology to enhance the focus and balance of objects despite movement, distance and low-light conditions for sharper, brighter results. This water-resistant Sony Xperia XZ smartphone has 3GB of memory and 32GB of storage to let you save 4K recorded videos and download apps.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Great, Unique Phone
By Jstar
This review turned out a lot longer than originally thought but this is a big purchase so I did not want to miss anything and wanted to share my experience with you. I know I would appreciate what I have to say below :)
I bought this phone to replace my 4.5 year-old lg optimus that had grown outdated but still was in great working condition. As I have an iPhone for work and do not care for it much, I researched phones heavily this past year and narrowed it down to making the tough choice between the Xperia XZ and the Galaxy s7 Edge. Since I was finally getting a new phone I did not just want to get the one everyone said was the 'best', I wanted to put my money towards the phone that would provide me with a unique experience with top of the line specs and I am very happy I went with the Xperia XZ.
First off the phone is beautiful. Many online reviews said this phone was not particularly attractive to non-Sony Phone buyers and after having the phone for a few weeks I respectfully disagree. Maybe it is just the Forest Blue color, but I have repeatedly been asked what kind of phone I had while at work or in-line in stores by people who think the phone is "really cool" or in another case "super cute". It is a design/color that seems to appeal to a lot of people. I thought I would have a problem with the increase in screen size from my old phone, but I am a tall guy with big hands and have no problem reaching the entire screen with my thumb while holding it in one hand. My girlfriend uses two hands but she does so with her iPhone as well so I would not hold that against the Xperia but just thought I would note it because the one hand use was important to me.
As for the phone itself I have no complaints. Again I note the age of my old phone, so any phone would probably be a nice change in speed and such, but it was very easy to transfer my old data to the XZ and it is incredibly quick and responsive when using apps. The display is stunning with excellent color contrast. The camera takes excellent pictures, haven't tried too many selfies but scenes look great and capture motion very well. I am a big fan of the camera shutter button and notification light, quick charge is nice. The battery goes a day of occasionally gaming and internet browsing once you fine-tune the settings. I was initially upset about the lack of the fingerprint scanner but I saw the hardware for it is on the US version and you can enable with a little software work around, but it will void the warranty so I have not gotten around to trying that yet. But honestly with the smart-lock and security settings, the phone is unlocked whenever it is near me so it is really not a big deal at all. The Lifelog and Xperia Lounge apps are cool and provide great exercise feedback and free perks respectively. I am also happy to report the water proofing does work to at least some degree as the first thing I did when I received the phone was run it under the sink for a while and it worked no problem.
I am a big Sony fan so I was very interested to see how it faired remote playing my ps4. Once I paired my controller with my phone it was smooth sailing and playing Dark Souls was far easier than I expected it would be. I did not try playing online multiplayer through remote play yet but even with my Vita that can be very leggy so I expect it would be similar with the XZ.
In conclusion, I love my other Sony products and am happy to have the Xperia XZ join that list of awesome products. I disagree with the professional reviews about the phones appearance design wise as well as their BIG issue with lack of fingerprint reader. It's design seems to draw lots of appeal in my experience and is a welcome change to the similarly designed Galaxy, iPhone, and Pixel. The phone is definitely not cheap, but if you are looking to upgrade your old phone and want to put your money towards a phone that is at the very least equivalent to if not better than the other flagship phones out there in addition to catching peoples attention and providing a more unique experience, than the Xperia XZ is the perfect choice. As I said my old phone was outdated and I am a big Sony fan so I may be bias, but comparing this to my friends new galaxy and my girlfriends iPhone 6s, I know I made the right choice going with the Xperia XZ.
As an added note, I will say finding special cases will be hard for the XZ as it is not a very common phone, but if you get the Forest Blue I would recommend a clear color because the phone looks great as is.
Dragonhunter281
October 31, 2016
Thank you for review. I never understood why the "professional" reviews always trashed Sony. Their designs had always been different and for once where innovation could be actually used appropriately, they are criticized for it. If you look at user reviews of this phone elsewhere, you will see how rampant this is as they just repeat the same complaints reviews have. The fingerprint scanner is extremely overrated and glad you mentioned this because it really isn't a needed feature as the media makes it out to be. If swiping is hard to unlock the phone, then people have really lost it. Anyways, glad to see a fair review and hopefully I can try this phone out if I decide to replace my Z3+, although so far I have had zero issues with it.
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Dragonhunter281's Answers
Conquer virtual enemies with this Dell Inspiron desktop. It has an AMD Radeon graphics card with 8GB of dedicated video memory for fast image rendering, and its powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and 16GB of DDR4 RAM run multiple programs, games and browsers simultaneously. This Dell Inspiron desktop has a 1TB hard drive for plenty of long-term game storage.
This Desktop Says, It doesnt have a mouse included, Can you please recommend me a mouse for this? Also How many watts for the psu? And is it a 80+ Psu atleast?
The desktop does come with a basic USB mouse and keyboard. The power supply is total 460 watts and there is no 80 plus certification logo on the power supply itself. As for a mouse, I currently use the Razer Taipan 8200 DPI mouse and its pretty comfortable.
6 years, 8 months ago
by
Dragonhunter281
Conquer virtual enemies with this Dell Inspiron desktop. It has an AMD Radeon graphics card with 8GB of dedicated video memory for fast image rendering, and its powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and 16GB of DDR4 RAM run multiple programs, games and browsers simultaneously. This Dell Inspiron desktop has a 1TB hard drive for plenty of long-term game storage.
What is the power supply for this pc
The power supply of this particular unit is total 460 watts.
6 years, 8 months ago
by
Dragonhunter281
Nothing puts a vacuum to the test quite like a home with pets. That's why the BISSELL® Pet Hair Eraser® was developed from the ground up by pet parents for pet parents. Whether it's shedding season for your dog or your cat tracks kitty litter all over the house, this revolutionary vacuum is designed to make cleaning up after pets and the people who love them a breeze—from beginning to end. Say goodbye to hair wrap with its Tangle-Free Brush Roll, remove embedded hair everywhere with specialized pet tools, help capture allergens and eliminate odors with the SmartSeal™ Allergen System, and when you're finished cleaning, enjoy a hands-free tank empty with our patented Cyclonic Spooling System™.BR>
Does this unit have an off/on switch for the roller bar? Bissell's website says yes, but Best Buy & Lowes websites say no.
Yes, the vacuum cleaner does have an on/off switch for the roller bar. It also shuts off when it is shifted back to upright position.
Hope this helps !
Hope this helps !
7 years, 7 months ago
by
Dragonhunter281