Audio gear

Insignia NS-DV2G and NS-DA1G Digital Media Players

People reading this site are no doubt well aware of my love for all things iPod. I’ve been a fan for years now, and have eight of them (various models) strewn around my house in drawers and gear bags. Although I’ve tested many other brands of digital audio players, I always come back to the iPod as my favorite. Today I’m going to tell you about the Insignia NS-DV2G and NS-DA1G players from Best Buy. These are great alternatives… dare I say that they might even be a better choice than the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle!

Insignia NS-DV2G and NS-DA1G Digital Media Players Read More

Anydrive 3 Wireless Transmitter and Card Reader with LCD

A couple of years ago, Julie did a review on the Anydrive Car MP3 and FM Modulator from Merconnet. In case you don’t remember, or never read the review, the device allowed you to plug in your USB flash memory storage apparatus and wirelessly broadcast the output to a FM radio.

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Apple iPod shuffle (2nd gen)

Step right up folks, it’s the incredible shrinking iPod! The new Apple iPod shuffle makes their first generation shuffle look absolutely huge in comparison. Their slogan of “Put some music on” is fitting as this new shuffle has a built-in clip that you can use to fasten to your shirt, coat, gear bag, jeans, etc. Is this the end all be all mini DAP (digital audio player)? Let me tell you more about it and we can decide.

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V-Moda Bass Freq Earbuds

There seem to be a blue million different earbuds, earphones, and headphones on the market these days. There are full sized phones that cover your ears, headphones that wrap behind your head, earbuds that fit outside the ear canal and ones that fit down inside your ear canal to isolate you from outside noises and distractions. This last style is one that I’ll be looking at today. The V-Moda Bass Fréq earbuds boost that they deliver superior bass response for a price that won’t make you cringe.

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Slim Devices Squeezebox

Three years ago I had the opportunity to review the SLIMP3 Network MP3 Player from Slim Devices. Back then, the SLIMP3 was one of the first devices on the market that allowed you to stream audio files from your computer, to another part of the house. Let’s see how their original product has evolved in the past few years into a smaller, more robust device that is called the Squeezebox.

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Brando USB MP3 Pen + FM Radio + Voice Recorder

This device is Brando’s 21st-century equivalent to the Swiss Army Knife, as it contains a raft of semi-related features in a compact package:

It’s a 1GB USB thumb drive!
It’s an MP3 player!
It’s a voice recorder!
It’s (supposedly) an FM radio!
It’s a pen!
It’s a floor wax!
It’s a dessert topping!

(floor wax and dessert topping sold separately)

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Brando Nano Size Digital Audio Player

Apple changed the digital audio player landscape when it replaced its popular Hard Disk Drive (HDD) based iPod Mini with the flash-based iPod Nano. This shift forced competitors to launch their own version, which further propelled the demand for flash-based players and, in my opinion, altered the digital audio player market forever. One such device is the digital audio player by Brando. Let’s see how Brando’s latest audio device stacks up.

Brando Nano Size Digital Audio Player Read More

Brando USB Sunglasses MP3 Player

The proliferation of MP3 players has led to devices of all shape, size and alternative functions. There are watches, PDA’s, cell phones, key chains, and countless other gadgets that have the ability to play music so that we can set our everyday lives to a soundtrack. One such example is the USB Sunglasses MP3 Player from Brando. That’s right, digital audio eyewear that integrates an MP3 player and earphones into the frames, eliminating wires that dangle and can tangle into a mess. Of course, the primary function of the sunglasses is to protect your eyes from the sun, but let’s focus on how well they serve as a MP3 player.

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Chimei CMV 938D 19 inch Widescreen LCD

About a month ago I decided that I wanted to build a MCE PC. I
had built one for my dad out of an old PC we had laying around,
adding two HDTV tuners and a 7.1 audio card, and was so impressed
with it that I set out to build my own. Originally I started
specing it together to build from scratch, but I found it was
cheaper to buy the PC pre-built. Included with my order was a 19″
Widescreen LCD, perfect for displaying some high-def TV.

Chimei CMV 938D 19 inch Widescreen LCD Read More

SwissBit Swiss Memory s.beat MP3 Digital Audio Player

In the past I’ve reviewed a few Victorinox knives that had the added feature of a small Swiss Memory USB flash storage module, the most recent being the 1GB SwissBit Swiss Memory USB Victorinox Knife. But today I am going to look at a new product which takes that concept of a combination pocket knife

SwissBit Swiss Memory s.beat MP3 Digital Audio Player Read More

Insignia IS-PDVD10 10.2″ TFT Portable DVD Player

If you happen to be in the market for a portable DVD player that you can take along with you on your next plane ride or road trip, the Insignia IS-PDVD10 which is available from Best Buy, might be one that you should add to your list of potential considerations. This player has a few extra features that make it a little better than your every day run of the mill portable DVD player. Let’s take a closer look.

Insignia IS-PDVD10 10.2″ TFT Portable DVD Player Read More

Mvix MV-5000U Multimedia Player w/ FM

I’m a TV junkie. Even worse is the fact that I’m addicted to reality TV shows.
I don’t like to miss any episodes of such cerebral classics as Survivor, Amazing Race,
American Next Top Model, The Apprentice and way too many others… When I happen to miss
an episode due to a Tivo glitch, power outage or whatever, I have to resort to finding
the missing episode on the net. Once I locate and download the episode, I have to figure out
a way to get it to my 65″ RPTV in the living room.

Mvix MV-5000U Multimedia Player w/ FM Read More

Audioengine A5 Speaker System

When you listen to music, your listening experience will only be as good as the earphones or speakers that you have connected to your audio device. We’ve all owned junky earbuds and crummy little speaker systems that have static or bland sound. After awhile you get used to a mediocre experience, which is too bad

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Skullcandy MacGyver MP3 / Voice Recording Watch

A couple years ago I remember seeing a BMW MP3 watch which featured an integrated USB cable. The idea of converging a watch with self-contained digital music player was clever, but at $275 for the 256MB version and $350 for the 512MB version, the price was a bit steep. Even so, the BMW watch proved

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Neuros Audio 442 Digital Media Player / Recorder

There were many years when the only “portable media device” I had was whatever Pocket PC I happened to own. Not only have all generations of Pocket PCs played MP3s, they have also been able to play video in Windows Media format. However, other than a constantly changing selection of MP3s and a small selection

Neuros Audio 442 Digital Media Player / Recorder Read More