Home 2019 January

Wohome S9920 TV Soundbar review


REVIEW – Watching movies and listening to music are two things that I do frequently and as much as a few times weekly when I have some time to relax and unwind. Even when just watching television, I like to have the experience include nice clear and defined audio. These days, there is a multitude of soundbars on the market and they all seem to tout their features as better than the others hoping for a bigger share of consumer interest and purchases. One such entry into this crowded market is the Wohome S9920 Soundbar. Here is the summary of my review.

What is it?

The Wohome S9920 is a 2 channel system soundbar that is 40 inches long that can produce up to 80 Watts of audio output from 6 built-in drivers. It offers several connectivity options along with a remote control for convenience. It is also wall mountable.

What’s in the box


1 x Wohome S9920 Soundbar
1 x Wall Mounting Template
2 x Wall Mounting Brackets
1 x AC Power Adapter
1 x Remote Control
1 x Optical Audio Cable
1 x 1/8” to RCA Audio Cable
2 x Wall Anchors and Screws
1 x Quick User Guide
1 x User Manual
1 x Satisfaction Contact Card

Design and features

Specifications:
Input: Bluetooth, AUX in, 3.5mm in, USB, optical, coaxial
Distortion: <1%
Frequency response: 40HZ-20K HZ
Speakers: 4*15W full Range+2*10W Tweeters
Audio: 3D Surround Sound System: designed with DSP Technology
Output: 80W
STN: ≥105dB
Input power: DC 19V, 3.4A
Channels: 2
Dimensions: 4.0 x 4.1 x 39.7 in

On the back of this sleek 40-inch soundbar, there is a wall mount hanger on each side that allows you to mount it to a wall using the included hardware and template to accurately drill the mounting holes accurately.


Also on the back of the soundbar, there are the connectivity options. As shown in the picture below from left to right, the connections are the optical port, the coaxial input jack, the left and right RCA input jacks, the auxiliary input port, a USB port, the power port, and the on/off switch.


On one side of the soundbar, there are control buttons that allow you to manually turn the power on or off, raise or lower the volume and pause or play the sound. The power button also shares the mute function.


On the front of the soundbar, there is a LED that is red when the power switch is on but the audio is turned off either via the manual button on the side or by the remote, and blue when the audio power is turned on.


Performance

Once I removed the soundbar from the box, setup was very easy. I decided not to mount it on a wall, but rather I choose to rest in on one of the shelves of my TV stand. Once I connected the AC adapter and the optical cable, it was ready to go. I powered it on and it immediately worked. I already had a soundbar that was connected via the optical connection, so I just had to swap the optical cable to this one. There was no additional configuration needed. After testing the optical connectivity, I then tested via the auxiliary port by connecting to the 3.5mm audio output port on my BenQ projector. Again, it worked like a charm. I was also able to test using the 3.5mm to RCA cable via the RCA inputs since my projector has the 3.5mm audio output. It worked with no issues. My plan is to use this soundbar dedicated to my projector and it passed all of my requirements with the exception of what I deem to be a major flaw that stops it from being a completely versatile soundbar. There is no output port to connect a subwoofer. This is not a deal breaker for listening to music, but a bigger deal when watching movies, and especially movies that take advantage of low frequencies for their special effects. In my opinion, the lack of this option was a big miss and a lost opportunity to appeal to a larger consumer base.

The option of using the USB port works by inserting a USB drive with music on it. I am not sure if all types of music files will play, but .mp4 files do. This feature may appeal to some, but with streaming or network drives being commonly used these days, I don’t have much use for it.

I do use this Wohome soundbar every evening when I play my Contemporary Jazz via Pandora as a part of my relaxation and bedtime wind down. I love the Bluetooth capability that paired very easily and works flawlessly. The sound and frequency separation are adequate both for television and music, and there is no discernable distortion even at the maximum volume. The lows, mids, and highs are well balanced and provide a pleasant listening experience, and for movies, the 3D and surround sound features work as expected. The soundbar is not exceptionally loud, but very adequate for my 240 square foot room. Despite the lack of the option to add on a subwoofer, it is adequate for relaxation music and works well for a genre like jazz.

What I like

  • The sound
  • The Bluetooth connectivity
  • The sleek look and finish
  • The ease of operation
  • The variety of connectivity options

What can be improved

  • The ability to connect a subwoofer should be included
  • Batteries for the remote should be included

Final thoughts

The Wohome S9920 Soundbar has filled a desired need of mine to have a dedicated soundbar for use with my projector. In that capacity, it works well but loses big points for not having a subwoofer output. I also use it almost every night at bedtime to listen to my Contemporary Jazz as I drift off to sleep and it fits that role perfectly both in function and in audio capability. It is a good deal for the price, and if you do not want or need to connect a subwoofer, it is a winner. For folks like me, it gets a well done but could be better!!

Price: $109.98
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Wohome.

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Wohome S9920 TV Soundbar review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 28, 2019 at 10:30 am.

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Silent Beacon is a wearable panic button

NEWS – The Silent Beacon is a wearable safety tracking button that connects to your smartphone, tablet, and another compatible Bluetooth device to reach out to designated contacts, 911, or an ambulance with your GPS location in the event of an emergency. With the press of one touch, you can send text messages, push notifications, and email. The device even uses a patent-pending two-way communication system that will let you use the device as a speakerphone to relay important info in a voice call to your pre-stored emergency contacts inside the Silent Beacon mobile app.

Silent Beacon is water resistant and has 72-hour battery life. To use it you just need to press two indented buttons which will make the device vibrate and will flash red LEDs lights. There is also a silent mode that allows you to call for help without tipping off those around you if you’re in a dangerous situation.

The Silent Beacon app is free, and there are no monthly fees. The personal safety device is available in four colors and is priced at $94.33. Visit silentbeacon.com for more info.

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Silent Beacon is a wearable panic button originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 28, 2019 at 9:08 am.

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8 Gear pouches that will organize your EDC gear

VIDEO – I thought I’d try something a little different and created a video where I talk about 8 gear pouches from 5 companies that you can use to keep your EDC gear organized. Here are the pouches that are included in the video.

Electronics Travel Organizer and Tech Dopp from Zero Grid

This gear pouch is 9 x 4.5 inches and is made of water-resistant ripstop nylon. It’s available in black or silver. As you can see, I have the black version.

The pouch has a wrap around zipper with a paracord zipper pull that opens the pouch like a book to reveal 2 panels of elastic straps and a zippered pocket.

The elastic straps and the zippered pocket let you customize how you want to organize your gear. You can use them to hold flash drives, cables, pens, and more.

The Zero Grid Electronics Travel Organizer and Tech Dopp will easily keep your small items neat and organized and at $24.95, it’s a bargain when you consider that it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Price: $24.95
Where to buy: Zero Grid

Tom Bihn Snake Charmer

This pouch is available in a variety of colors and in either Cordura like you see here, or ripstop nylon.

The Snake Charmer features a webbed loop on the side and top along with a carabiner on the other side so you can easily grab it from your main bag.

There are two zippered compartments that each have a plastic ring that you can use to attach small items. But the main feature of the Snake Charmer are the see-through mesh panels that let you easily see what’s inside.

Price: $25 – $30
Where to buy: Tom Bihn

Pad & Quill TechFolio Classic Cord Organizer

The Pad & Quill TechFolio Classic Cord Organizer is a leather and canvas folding wrap-style gear holder that features a full-grain leather construction that looks nice when brand new but will look even better after it’s gotten some scuffs and scratches.

The folio is held closed with a strap and button type of closure which you may or may not like. Personally, I am not a big fan of it because it requires too much effort to use.

Inside the folio are three canvas slots with strap and button holders, a dedicated Apple Pencil slot a, a zippered canvas pocket, and 2 SD card slots. The Pad & Quill TechFoilo Classic Cord Organizer looks great if you’re into rugged gear, but it really isn’t designed to hold that many items and the $80 price tag is something else to consider.

Price: $79.95
Where to buy: Pad & Quill

Waterfield Gear Pouch and Tech Pocket


First, let’s look at the gear pouch which is available in 3 sizes and colors. I opted to try the smallest version in a brown waxed canvas that has a great look and feel that will only get better as you use it.

The gear pouch features a zippered pocket on the front that has Waterfield’s iconic gold liner that makes it easy to see the items inside and a wrap around zipper gives you access to the main compartment which has 4 slots that you can use to organize your small items. The Gear pouch is small, but it can surprisingly hold quite a few items which make it one of my favorites.

Then we have the Waterfield Tech Pocket which is only available in one size in either black ballistic nylon or the same brown waxed canvas as the gear pouch that I just showed you. Like the gear pouch, the tech pocket has a zippered pocket on the front that has the gold lining. But instead of a zippered main compartment, the tech pocket has a magnetic closure. The interior is lined in a soft dark plush material that provides some padding and protection. Two open slots provide some extra organization.

Price: $39-$49
Where to buy: Waterfield

Bellroy Classic Pouch, Pencil Case, and Pencil Case Plus


First, we have the Bellroy pencil case and the larger pencil case plus. The smaller pencil case is priced at $39 and comes in 4 colors. It is a simple zippered tube-shaped pouch that is sized to hold pens and pencils but can be used for all sorts of small items. The plus-sized version is $6 more and is slightly bigger to hold more gear.

The $49 Bellroy Classic Pouch is made of the same canvas material as the pencil cases, but it’s a larger clamshell type pouch with a wrap-around zipper that has a leather pull tab. Inside the pouch is a roomy storage area with a large open topped pocket on one side and two stretchy pockets on the other side. Although the Bellroy pouches are simple, I really like them because they don’t have features that get in the way. They are designed to hold your gear easily and simply just the way I like it.

Price: $39-$49
Where to buy: Bellroy

Which pouches are my personal favorites?

I like all of the pouches that I’ve shown you here, but if I had to pick favorites, I’d go with the Waterfield gear pouch and the Bellroy pouches just for their simplicity, look and feel.

Check out the video below and let me know if you’d like me to continue creating videos like this one on a regular basis or if I should just stick to written reviews.





Source: The samples for this review were provided by Zero Grid, Tom Bihn, Pad&Quill, Waterfield Design, and Bellroy.

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8 Gear pouches that will organize your EDC gear originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 28, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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Julie’s favorite gear, Airthings Wave radon detector, Neo smartpen M1, and more – Review updates

REVIEW – I like to think that our reviews are evergreen. By that, I mean that they aren’t forgotten once we post them. We can go back weeks, months, and years later to add updates so that you will know how a product stands up over time. Today we have a new batch of review updates so click through to see the list of updated reviews and you’ll find the updates at the bottom of each review.

Julie’s favorite gear page

Airthings Wave smart radon detector review by Julie Strietelmeier

Neo smartpen M1 review by Julie Strietelmeier

BenQ PD2710QC DesignView 27-inch Designer Monitor review by Julie Strietelmeier

Neato Botvac D7 robot vacuum review by Julie Strietelmeier

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Julie’s favorite gear, Airthings Wave radon detector, Neo smartpen M1, and more – Review updates originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 27, 2019 at 11:01 am.

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Naztech MagBuddy Wireless Chargers review

REVIEW – With Google’s Pixel line finally joining the party, most of the latest cellphones now utilize wireless charging  This option can be both convenient and frustrating, but it has most certainly meant a boon for accessory makers. Dozens of new wireless charger options are now available and the list grows longer every day. Naztech is one accessory maker capitalizing on this new market with their Magbuddy Wireless Chargers. These Magbuddy chargers hold a phone in place magnetically while charging it wirelessly.

All of the Magbuddy Wireless options are priced at $59.99, which is a bit high in my opinion since there are a lot of other options out there. I reviewed the Magbuddy Wireless Vent and Desktop versions. The tech works well with both options, but the desktop version has a stability issue.

What is it?

Naztech MagBuddy Wireless Chargers allow you to wirelessly charge your phone while conveniently having it held in place by strong magnets. This is especially helpful with the car charger since you can jump in your car, pop your phone on the holder, and be on your way without fussing with cables or tricky mounting devices. The convenience isn’t as apparent to me with the desktop version I reviewed, but it’s still helpful albeit expensive. The desktop version also comes with an attachment to hold an Apple Watch, not charge the watch, just hold it.

One particular challenge with newer phones that can be mitigated with the right accessory is the lack of a headphone jack. Since wired headphones now plug into the same port as a phone’s power source, if you prefer using wired headphones while charging your phone at the same time you’re out of luck. Wireless chargers can solve this problem, and with the added benefit of magnetic mounts, these chargers become even more useful. Although, when dealing with cellphones, magnets, and power things can get tricky and design becomes a challenge. Luckily, companies like Naztech are on the case with devices like the MagBuddies.

The Magbuddy Wireless chargers work with all Qi-enabled devices or devices equipped with a Qi-Enabled receiver. The Magbuddy should be able to deliver a fast charging 10W to Qi-ready devices like some iPhones and Samsung Galaxies. All other devices, like my Google Pixel 3, will get a base 5W.

The Magbuddy Wireless chargers work by utilizing four strong magnets which cling to an included metal plate that is either placed on the outside of your phone or within a case that is no thicker than 3mm. Just above the magnets is the charging coil that transmits power to your phone.

The packaging for the Magbuddy line is pretty similar for all of the options. The product is clearly shown on the exterior along with a description of that particular Magbuddy’s specs.

I like that the front of the box opens up so you can see the actual Magbuddy unit along with the size of the metal plates for your phone. The charging unit is the same throughout the Magbuddy Wireless charger line. The only thing that differs are the mounting options, brackets, and power supplies that come with the version you purchased.

What’s in the box?

  • MagBuddy Vent
    • 1 Magnetic Head
    • 1 Vent Mount
    • 2 Adhesive MagBuddy Plates
    • 2 Clear Protective Stickers
    • Car Charger
    • USB-C Cable
    • User Manual

  • MagBuddy Desktop
    • 1 Magnetic Head
    • 1 Desk Mount
    • 2 Adhesive MagBuddy Plates
    • 2 Clear Protective Stickers
    • 1 Surface Adapter
    • Wall Charger
    • USB-C Cable
    • Optional Apple Watch Mount
    • User Manual

Design and features

The main component of the whole Magbuddy Wireless line is the charging unit or magnetic head as Naztech refers to it. This is a small little puck that holds the magnets and charging coils.

There’s a USB C port on the back of the charging unit and each Magbuddy Wireless comes with a USB C to USB A cable for power delivery.

The USB cables connect to the charging unit and then to whichever power supply your Magbuddy version uses.

The Magbuddy Wireless Vent is powered by a two port car charger.

The Magbuddy Wireless Desktop is powered by a standard USB power block.

Setup

Preparing the Magbuddy Vent and Desktop are relatively simple. Both the Desktop and Vent versions utilize a ball and socket type mounting solution.

Simply loosen the socket nut on the charging unit and pop the ball joint of the mount into place.

Both the ball and socket are made of plastic though, so do not force them too hard. Make sure the socket nut is loosened all the way before attempting to pop the ball joint in.

The Vent mount has a small clamp that has another socket nut on it to tighten the clamp on to your vent.

Both units also come with detailed instructions on how and where to place the metal plate that will hold your phone firmly to the charging unit magnets.

The metal plates conveniently have an adhesive already applied to them, which I really appreciated. Simply peel off the adhesive backing and you’re ready to mount the plate.

The Magbuddies include mounting cards to show you the ideal position for the metal plate depending on which phone you’re using. Once the metal plate is mounted, you’re ready to use your Magbuddy.

To use the Magbuddy Desktop, you must first secure it to your desktop. The bottom of the unit has a sticky-like suction cup base for this purpose.

To secure the Desktop, lift up the clamp on the base, push down hard on the unit and close the clamp.

The Desktop mount should stay in place after the clamp has closed. Although, in my testing the clamp frequently lost its suction to the table and the whole unit, phone and all, fell over. I tried it on several different surfaces all with the same result.

I feel like the overall design of the Magbuddy Desktop is to blame here. Because the arm comes up so high from the base at such a steep angle it’s inherently unstable, hence the need for the suction cup. If the arm was designed a bit differently, the suction cup might not have been necessary. Naztech must’ve realized this because they include a small round plastic sticker to adhere to the table top before mounting the suction cup base. This seems like a really inelegant solution for something that costs $59.99.

If you happen to have an Apple Watch, the Magbuddy Desktop also includes a plastic mounting arm for it.

The mounting arm attaches between the charging unit and socket nut with the use of a longer screw.

Once the arm is attached, you can hang your Apple Watch alongside your phone. The Magbuddy doesn’t charge your Apple Watch though, you still have to run a separate charging cable for that.

Performance

The Magbuddy Wireless Vent Charger worked fine for me. The mount held the unit securely to my car’s vent with minimal effort.

Every time I popped my phone on to the magnetic head it stayed firmly in place. Although I did have to move the phone around a bit to get the charger to engage. This was frustrating because my phone’s case does match the recommended thickness of less than 3mm.

I really liked that the car charger has two ports and lights up. The lights made it very easy to find in the dark.

I never got stellar charging performance from the Magbuddy, but that’s because my Pixel 3 only does fast charging with Google approved devices. The Magbuddy was able to top off my phone and keep it charged. You may get better results depending on which phone you have.

I had a similar performance experience with the Magbuddy Desktop since it’s essentially the same charging unit. I did like being able to quickly grab my phone and go, but as soon as the suction cup lost its hold I was just frustrated by the poor design and it lost its appeal.

What I like

  • Magnets hold device firmly in place
  • Charge is consistent
  • Well-built and engineered
  • Easy setup

What needs to be improved

  • Desktop stand unstable
  • Sweet spot for charger could be larger

Final thoughts

I really liked the convenience of the Magbuddy Wireless Vent Charger. The magnets always held my device firmly in place while driving and I never worried about my phone slipping off the mount. My Pixel 3 couldn’t enjoy the full 10w potential of the Magbuddy, but the unit kept my phone topped off and charged nonetheless. The Magbuddy Wireless Desktop Charger worked similarly, but the suction cup never held the unit in place for long and at such a high price, I expected more.

Price: $59.99
Where to buy: Naztech and Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Naztech.

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Naztech MagBuddy Wireless Chargers review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 27, 2019 at 9:30 am.

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