Wireless home speaker systems use a home’s existing WiFi to stream music throughout many rooms in a home or to just a few rooms. It all depends on how it’s set up and budget constraints. Sonos is one of the first and more popular brands of wireless speakers. As streaming music has become more viable […]
Raumfeld wireless speaker system review Read More
Once again, Creative can’t leave well enough alone. As if the iRoar didn’’t put out enough bass from such a small package, Creative decided to build a subwoofer for it. Yeah. If you’ve ever heard an iRoar, you would be scratching your head, too. But, here it is—the iRoar Rock—and if you have an iRoar
Creative lowers the boom with the iRoar Rock Read More
Invisible zippers. That’s what initially struck me when I first saw the new Waterfield Designs Bolt Backpack. When I unpacked and inspected it, I couldn’t find the zippers. Only when I noticed the leather zipper pulls, did I see how ingenious the disappearing zippers are. It’s really cool. But that’s not the only cool thing
WaterField Designs Bolt backpack review Read More
In my review of the new Focal Listen headphone, I mentioned that it was at the bottom rung (so to speak) of three new headphones from the French company Focal. Further up the ladder were the Elear and Utopia headphones—both very different headphones and both much, much more expensive. When I was given the chance
Focal Elear headphone review Read More
If it’s true that good things come in small packages, then today, better things come in small packages. Bowers and Wilkins has released the new and improved P3 Series 2 headphone. I reviewed the original P3 and said that, “The P3 headphones are a big step up for people on the move. Their warmth, detail
Bowers & Wilkins new P3 Series 2 headphone is a better thing in a small package Read More
When I reviewed the Focal Spirit Classic, Professional and One S headphones, I marveled how a French maker of insanely expensive speakers could manage to produce affordable headphones. Yes, they’re expensive, but not when compared to their heritage. Well, that’s all changed. Focal has released three new headphones and while the Elear (review coming) headphone
Focal Listen headphones review Read More
Last year, Bowers & Wilkins stepped into the future with their on ear P5 Wireless headphone. In my review, I said … “the fact that Bowers & Wilkins makes the P5 sound as good as it does when wireless is a wonderful bonus.” That bonus has been expanded to include the over ear B&W P7 Wireless.
Bowers & Wilkins P7 headphone is now wireless Read More
It’s always fun to watch an audio startup grow up and upset the aural landscape. Reid Heath Ltd. (RHA) has been doing just that with good to great earphones. Their MA150, MA350, MA450i, S500i, MA600i, MA750i and T10i earphones all sound like they cost more than they do. Plus the MA 750i and T10i are built like
RHA seals its audio reputation with three new products Read More
You might think that after reviewing the ginormous Braven BRV-XXL, it would be a letdown following that up with a review of the much, much smaller BRV-1M speaker. But that would be a wrong assumption. Yes, the BRV-XXL sounds better—a lot better than the BRV-1M. So what? It ought to—it’s over ten times bigger and
Braven BRV-1M portable Bluetooth speaker review Read More
Say what you will about Creative Labs; they sure know how to milk a product line. In 2014, I reviewed the Creative Roar Bluetooth speaker and fell in love with its ability to sound as good as the current (at the time) portable Bose speakers at a fraction of the price. Yeah, it had some
Creative iRoar Wireless Intelligent Speaker review Read More
British audio company Rock Jaw’s Genus earphones impressed me not only with audio that sounded better than the price would indicate, but the Genus also offered a set of filters for the ultimate customization. However, as I’ve discovered with most earphones that come with filters—once you find one you like, that’s the one you stick
Rock Jaw Audio Clarito earphones review Read More
In the world of headphones, there are a few different technologies that are used to reproduce music. By far, the most common are dynamic speaker headphones—basically a miniature speaker sitting right next to your ear. Then there’s planer-magnetic headphones which are (usually) far more accurate than dynamic speakers minus the bass kick (again, usually). Finally,
Sharkk Bravo Hybrid Electrostatic Headphones review Read More
It’s almost comical. One of the best in-ear headphones (earphones) available at any price comes in a package that isn’t nearly as nice as some of the cheapest headphones available. Not only that, there’s an embarrassing selection of only three pairs of tips, no mic and … no case? Are you kidding me? Okay, they
Grado GR10e in-ear headphones review Read More
Just when I finished reviewing the huge Braven BRV-XXL, they released the smallest of the Braven family; the Braven 105 Active. The 105 is made for just that—an active lifestyle. While you could conceivably get more exercise jogging while carrying the 18 lb. BRV-XXL, it’s obviously not practical—and just plain weird. The Braven 105, however,
The Braven 105 Bluetooth speaker is as active as you are Read More
In 2013, I reviewed the Meze 73 Classics headphones. I liked the sound and the use of wood for the ear cups. It helped project a warm and friendly audio quality that was easy to listen to for hours. All this holds true for the new 99 Classics headphone. Meze has trimmed their entire headphone
Meze 99 Classics headphone review Read More
I’m getting tired of repeating myself, but here goes: Braven speakers make some of the best speakers I’ve reviewed, blah, blah, blah. With all the Braven reviews I’ve written, it’s beginning to sound trite, but it is true. Over the past few years, I’ve watched Braven evolve from a maker of the really good small,
Braven BRV-XXL Bluetooth speaker review Read More
For 7 years, I’ve owned—and still use—the Klipsch X10i in-ear headphone (earphone). It quickly became one of my all-time favorite earphones for a couple of important reasons. The X10i sounds fantastic and they are the most comfortable pair of earphones I have ever used, period. They’re even more comfortable than my custom in-ear monitors that
Klipsch X20i in-ear headphones review Read More
It’s always interesting when a new brand of lawn equipment comes out of nowhere and captures the imagination—and wallets—of consumers. Introduced in 2014, EGO has spent the last ten years researching and developing the Power+ platform, resulting in a line of cordless outdoor yard equipment with the power and performance of gas without the noise,
EGO cuts the cord but not the power with new outdoor products Read More
I’ve written about Braven so much over the past few years that it’s no surprise when they continue to release new speaker after new speaker. Do these people ever sleep? One look at their website and you begin to realize that Braven means Bluetooth. I will soon be reviewing their new small and chunky BRV-1M,
Braven sharpens its speaker line with the new BRV-Blade Read More
I’ve reviewed a few noise canceling headphones over the years and one constant in all those reviews is that noise canceling alters the sound of whatever music you’re playing—and not in a good way. It seems to be the nature of the beast—if you want to block out distracting noise, be prepared to pay the
AKG N60NC noise canceling headphone review Read More