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Gate Camera Smart Lock review


REVIEW – Being the technology geek that I am, I’ve been wanting to upgrade to one of these smart locks for quite a while. When the chance to review the Gate Camera Smart Lock came along I was more than willing to give it a try.

What is it?

The Gate Camera Smart Lock is a deadbolt lock replacement that features a keypad, camera, and two-way audio capability combined with a smart phone app (via WiFi) to deliver features that a normal keypad lock cannot.

What’s in the box?

  • Gate Camera Smart Lock
  • USB charging cable
  • 3 keys
  • Screwdriver
  • Spacers for thinner doors



Design and features

The Gate Smart Lock features a 720p 150 degree field-of-view motion activated camera with real-time video and audio, WiFi connectivity, LED lit keypad lock, physical key cylinder (standard key backup), 2-way audio communication, and connected features via a smartphone app.

The lock itself is really nice and seems to be well built. It’s simple in design, yet has everything you need. The lock operates on a rechargeable battery that is in the locking knob on the interior side of the lock. The battery is supposed to last 30 to 60 days, but that will vary depending on your wi-fi connection. The knob is held in place with very strong magnets, so you simply pull it off to recharge it with a standard micro-USB cable. The lock can still be operated manually when the battery is off/recharging.

The lock isn’t always accessible via WiFi when motion is detected the lock “wakes up” and connects to your WiFi. This is understandable because to be on all the time would require a very large battery. This means that you can’t just pull up the video feed in the app any time you want, only when motion is detected.

There’s a doorbell feature that will send a notification to the app, as well as an intercom feature for speaking to your guest from the app.

Installation

The Gate Camera Smart Lock replaces the deadbolt on your door, and as such requires installation. If you’ve ever replaced or installed a deadbolt lock, you’ll find the process very familiar. If you’ve never installed a lock like that, you might find the process varies from easy to frustrating depending on the door and your experience level.

The tricky part of the installation process is that doors can vary in thickness and design. There’s plenty of information about this on the Gate website. I had initially planned to install it at my residence but the pre-1900 doors were just not quite compatible, so I took it over to my brother-in-law’s house. That turned out to be a bit of a chore as the deadbolt hole in his door was a little small for the Gate lock. That was probably a non-standard hole, but it was still large enough for a standard deadbolt, but not large enough for the Gate lock. No problem, I have a tool for that. A few minutes later and I had a larger hole and everything installed without a problem.

Part way through the review process I was able to finally locate a new house so I moved across town and swiped back the lock. I had intended to put it on my back door for easy access for myself and family, however, that door has a window in it and the deadbolt was too close to the deadbolt for the Gate lock to fit.

Could not install on this door

So on to the front door. This is where I had issues. The door was the proper thickness and everything, I just did something wrong along the way and before the installation was complete I turned the knob on the back and jammed the lock. The screws weren’t all the way in and the lock was covering the screws making further installation or removal impossible. After a bit of messing with it, I finally got it unjammed and installed properly but this is something that Gate should address as the deadbolt was out which meant that I would not have been able to close the door and just fix it later.


Operation

Initially, I stood next to the door and verified that the lock had access to the wi-fi. I installed the lock and then found the wi-fi connection to be spotty. My router was in the basement about 30 ft away, with only the floor between it and the lock. I then moved my router closer to the door (about 12 ft away), but still had issues. Next, I raised the router up to about head height and that seemed to work fine. It seems as though the Gate Smart Lock has a very week wi-fi signal, so you’ll want to make sure you have a pretty straight shot from your router to the lock. I found the same issue at my brother-in-law’s house, where he only had two walls between the lock and his router and the lock had issues connecting. The lock will unlock using your code when there is no WiFi signal, so even when the power is out the lock will work.

The Gate Smart Lock smartphone app is pretty decent. It features built-in videos that walk you through the process of installation and connection. Setup and configuration was easy, it’s a well-designed app. Notification events are displayed with an animated icon and a summary like “Video while locked” and “Gate entering now”. When you tap the event you can play the video.

With the app, you can create users and assign access schedules. You can create one-time use codes or multiple use codes. If the user has a phone it will text them the access code. When that user uses their code to enter it will send you a notification like “Bob entered the front door”. You can also unlock the door using the app when there is motion at the door, an obvious but useful feature.

You can configure the motion sensitivity (Off/Low/Medium/High) as well as set a time period to auto-lock the door after 10, 20, or 30 minutes. This is a key feature since you can’t lock the door if there’s no motion at the door. This is due to the wi-fi connectivity “sleeping” when there’s no motion.

There’s no battery level indicator in the app or device, it will simply send you a notification when it gets low.

The video that the device delivers isn’t the best when compared to 1080p security cameras, however, you’re not going to be recording a movie with this device. It’s adequate for what it’s intended for which is to see who’s at the door. There were instances where the video showed compression quality issues, but that could be because of the weak WiFi connection I had.

The doorbell feature is nice, especially since my office is in the basement. If someone presses the doorbell button, I’ll get a notification and I can verbally announce through the app that I’ll be there in a minute. I do wish though that the doorbell button actually said “doorbell”, as the phone icon on it may not be obvious to some people.

Even though the lock works properly now, it still has a “WiFi connectivity is weak. You may not be receiving updates from Gate.” message on the main app screen, and there isn’t any way to make that go away.

One thing I really like is that when the lock detects motion, it lights up the keypad. This not only makes it easy to see the numbers but also lets people know that something is watching them, so it might act as a deterrent to would-be thieves.

UPS and FedEx don’t really knock on the door when delivering packages, so the notifications are really handy. Also, one added benefit for me is that my mailbox is next to the front door, so I get motion notifications when the mailman comes,  I really like that!

Here are a few screenshots from the app:



 



 



What I like

  • Simple to use
  • Guest access codes and remote unlock
  • Notifications tell you who/which code was used to open the door
  • Physical key backup, you can always use your key to unlock the door
  • LED lit keypad

What needs to be improved

  • WiFi signal strength
  • Improved video recording quality
  • Notification sound customization, the default sounds are not loud enough and can’t be customized

Final thoughts

I think if you have this lock installed close enough to your router I think you’ll find it to be a great lock. All of the features worked properly, and the few things that I would like to see improved probably could be addressed with an app or firmware update,  but they aren’t really deal breakers.

Price: $349.00
Where to buy: Gate and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Gate.

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Gate Camera Smart Lock review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 11, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Airthings Radon detector, Wisenet Smartcam, Guardzilla 360 camera, and more – Review updates

REVIEW UPDATES – Do you ever wonder what happens after we post a product review? Do we immediately stop using the product because it breaks? Or do we continue to use it for years and even decades? To answer those questions, we periodically like to update our past reviews with new information. Check out our latest review updates by clicking on the review links below and then scrolling to the bottom of the page to read the newest dated updates.

Renogy 10,000mAh Solar Panel Water Resistant Power Bank review by Andy Jacobs

VentiFresh small space air purifier review by Julie Strietelmeier

Airthings Wave smart radon detector review by Julie Strietelmeier

Baseus Wireless Charging Gravity Car Mount review by Smythe Richbourg

PadMate PaMu wireless earphones review by Smythe Richbourg

FluidStance Bamboo Level balance board review by Smythe Richbourg

Wisenet SmartCam D1 video doorbell review by Smythe Richbourg

Master & Dynamic MW60 wireless and MW50 wireless headphones review By Bill Henderson

Guardzilla 360 Outdoor All-In-One HD Camera review by Mike Dixon

ANTOP AT-125B Indoor Antenna and AT-400BV Indoor/Outdoor Antenna review By Kathleen Chapman

Oittm Smart Touch Switch and Smart Plug Socket review By Kathleen Chapman

Expert Shield Screen Protector review By Kathleen Chapman

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Airthings Radon detector, Wisenet Smartcam, Guardzilla 360 camera, and more – Review updates originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 11, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Gourmia Hand Held Immersion Blender and Smoothie Maker review

REVIEW – Here’s a neat one for you. Today we’re testing a combination immersion blender and smoothie maker from Gourmia, designed to make your life a wee bit easier. It’s hand held. It multitasks. It has a Turbo button (heh-heh!). How does it go? Let’s blend!

What is it?

It’s a combination handheld blender with two attachments: one for an immersion blender, and one that enables you to blend a smoothie directly in the supplied sports bottle.

Hardware specs

  • 3.5” by 2.5” by 18.5”
  • 1.5 pounds
  • 5 speed + turbo blending speeds
  • Stainless steel rod & blades
  • 3 foot long power chord
  • 120V-60Hz, 300 W
  • ETL Listed

What’s in the box?

The package includes the base handheld unit, the immersion blender attachment, the smoothie maker attachment, and a BPA-free sports bottle with a lid.

Design and features

The Gourmia Hand Held Immersion Blender and Smoothie Maker is a two-in-one device that, as the name implies, performs two common kitchen tasks in one handheld package. The base unit contains the motor, while supplied attachments execute blending operations.

The blender has some nice heft to it and integrates rubberized grips for confident handling. You’ll find the power and turbo  (heh-heh!) buttons positioned on the barrel of the base with a speed setting dial on the end cap. Both the dial and buttons are big with soft-touch surfaces. It’s very easy to manage even if you have wet hands.

The immersion blender attachment is a one-piece stainless steel unit that snaps onto the base. Pop it in, and you’re ready to reap havoc upon your soups and sauces. A wave pattern in the blade cover allows you to slide the unit across the bottom of the bowl without damaging your pan or bowl while enabling the free flow of material when you crank it up.

I put this blender to work on a pasta sauce I made last weekend. I sautéed onions and garlic in the pot first, the threw in a heaping helping of rough-cut tomatoes with some fresh basil from the garden… seeds, skins and all. After a few minutes of simmering, I put the beast to work. It obliterated the contents to a nice purée in about 90 seconds.

The wave pattern on the base does enable the blender to generate some liquid flow in the pot, but you’ll need to plunge it a few times to get the bigger stuff churned up.

I was pretty impressed with the results. Everything was puréed to a nice even consistency, with no bits of tomato skin or partially-chewed basil leaves to be had. The placement of the dials at the top of the barrel makes it easy to adjust your controls in-flight. Nicely done.

Let’s talk about the Turbo mode (heh-heh!) for a moment. When you run into something that is a mite too tough to blend with the six normal speeds, you pop the Turbo button. It’s not just a little higher than the highest setting… it’s like turning it up to 11 (the dial only goes to six). It’s got mad power. I blasted it once or twice with the Turbo mode to eradicate offensive chunky bits. It does generate a lot of froth, but it’s wonderfully satisfying and effective.

Cleaning is a snap. The attachments click into the base, and are released by pressing these stubs on either side of the unit:

Because the immersion blender attachment is stainless steel, a quick rinse is pretty much all you’ll need to get the job done. You can submerge the whole piece, and leave it out to dry.

The smoothie attachment works kind of like a hand-held version of the Magic Bullet, if you’re familiar with that blender. The blades are in the cap. You’ll add your ingredients to the smoothie bottle, screw on the cap, then attach it to the blender base.

You’ll then invert the whole thing, holding it like a torch, and fire it up. It’s a bit tall and awkward, so you’ll want to use both hands to keep it stable (and vertical) during operation:

The Gourmia Hand Held Immersion Blender and Smoothie Maker motor is rated at 300 watts. Not huge power, but the blades sit almost flush against the base and have good speed. This means you’ll get uniform blending for the most part. You’ll find ice chips in your smoothie and some larger chunks of frozen stuff, but it’s no worse than other blenders at this power level. Try the Turbo (heh-heh!) to zap those annoying bits.

The smoothie bottle comes with a cap (including a lanyard) so you can take your drink on the go. It’s a solid if basic, bottle combination. If you’re moving quickly to get out the door in the morning, you’ll find this handy.

One huge benefit of the smoothie design, like the Magic Bullet, is that the blade is completely accessible and easy to clean. It’s also easy to clean quickly, too, since you are blending into your to-go cup. Just rinse the cap and off you go. Nice convenience.

What I like

  • Immersion blender has good power and works smoothly
  • Simple operation
  • Easy to clean
  • Adjustable speeds plus Turbo mode obliterate most materials
  • Makes fine smoothies, even with ice cubes

What needs to be improved

  • Smoothie mode can be a bit awkward and requires both hands
  • Will leave some small chunks of ice or frozen fruit in your smoothie

Final thoughts

I think this is a smart multitasker. I’d buy it for the immersion blender alone, but you don’t use that every day in the kitchen. The added smoothie maker brings a nice daily use to the device. The smoothie making method may be a bit awkward, but easy cleaning and blending right into your to-go cup are great convenience features. Construction looks solid. I’m also seeing pricing on Amazon as low as $29.99. It looks like a winning combo to me!

Price: $29.99
Where to buy: Get it on Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Gourmia

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Gourmia Hand Held Immersion Blender and Smoothie Maker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 11, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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ALC Wireless AWS3377 Full HD 1080p Surveillance System with 7″ Touch Screen Monitor and 2 Weatherproof Cameras review


REVIEW – When it comes to security around my home, I always like to have as many cameras as possible that cover as much of the immediate surroundings as possible. These days, most events criminal or not are captured by someone’s camera. It is even nicer when the cameras are capable fo really clear and crisp images/video, and include the ability to record locally as well as cloud-based. ThALC Wireless AWS3377 Full HD 1080p Surveillance System seems to offer similar features, so let’s see how things turned out.

What is it?

ALC Wireless AWS3377 Full HD 1080p Surveillance System with 7″ Touch Screen Monitor and 2 Weatherproof Cameras is exactly as this title states. It basically allows you to configure and view your cameras both locally via the included monitor or remotely via the app. Recording capabilities are included.

What’s in the box


1 x HD Monitor
2 x HD Cameras (AWS3377)
1 x Ethernet Cable
3 x AC Adapters
2 x Camera Brackets
3 x Antennas
2 x Screw/Anchor Kits
2 x Security Window Stickers
3 x Quick Setup Guides (English, French, Spanish)
1 x Warranty Leaflet
1 x 8GB micro SD card with SD adapter

Design and features

Overview of specs:

  • 65-ft Night Vision – 6 surface-mounted high-power Infrared LEDs allow you to view potential security risk to your family or business, even in the dark.
  • 4 Channel Full HD 1080p video to the 7” Touchscreen Monitor, Phone or Tablet.
  • Email Alerts and Push Notifications – the free Observer HD app sends alerts to your smartphone or tablet when your camera has detected an “event”.
  • On-Board Recording – Capture and record video to SD card so there is no need for expensive services to store your recordings. (8GB SD card included, maximum capacity up to 128GB)
  • USB port allows the connection of a portable hard drive for scheduled or continuous recordings.

ALC AWS3377 Observer HD Full HD 1080p 4-Channel 7” Touch Screen, Wireless Surveillance System with two Weatherproof Cameras is a security solution for your home or your business. Installation is very easy, and since the cameras arrive already paired with the monitor, it is a simple DIY project. The system is expandable to 4 cameras and offers Full HD 1080p live and recorded video. The system is completely wireless, so there are no cables to run in between the cameras and the monitor. Just plug your cameras into AC power and you are good to go. You can view your live cameras, playback, and recordings on the 7” touchscreen monitor. You can view your cameras remotely from anywhere in the world via the free ALC Observer App with your Android or Apple iOS device.

The front of the monitor has a 7″ touchscreen and an approximately 1/2″ bezel with a wireless signal indicator and a power indicator on the top front bezel. On the back of the monitor, there is a power button on the top left rear and an antenna jack on the top right rear. In the middle raised section, there is a network jack, a USB port, a speaker and the stand.


On one side of the monitor, there is the reset port, a micro SD card slot, and the power jack.

On the front of the camera, there is a light sensor and infrared LEDs behind a glass long with a power status LED and a link status LED. On the 2 opposite long sides of the camera body are 2 mounting holes, and on the back, there is the antenna jack, a pairing button, and the fixed power cable. There is also a built-in mic that is not very visible even to the naked eye.


The picture below on the left shows the monitor displaying one camera with the possibility of adding 3 additional cameras. On the right is the picture of the camera mounted on the wall.


Performance

Right out of the box, this system gives the impression of being a well-built system, and it does not disappoint. The cameras come already paired with the monitor and they immediately communicate with each other once powered on. I placed one camera in my home, and I plan to set up the second camera outdoors. I have not yet set up the outdoor camera because I live in a building on a higher floor and I need to take care of some additional logistics first. I have not experienced any connectivity or latency issues between the monitor and the camera, nor any with the DVR process and performance. The monitor includes a SD card slot that can take a card up to 128GB for recording and a USB port that can accommodate up to a 2TB hard drive for long-term recording. Here are some manufacturer recommendations:

  • It is recommended to use a 2TB HDD drive for long-term use.
  • The max USB power for an HDD/Flash drive is 5V/1000mA. Use an external power supply for the
    drive if it is more.
  • Format the drive/SD Card before using

The monitor is a touchscreen monitor and you can use the setup function by touching the screen or by plugging a mouse into the USB port at the back. (This is according to the manufacturer, but I used the touch screen method). The following is a stock photo of the monitor screen and the settings tab. As seen in the photo, settings include the ability to individually setup preferences for each of 4 possible cameras, the ability to change the view from single to double to quad, to change the audio preferences, to change the on-screen status display information, etc.

The camera has built-in infrared LEDs for viewing at night. The LEDs will automatically activate at night and the picture being viewed will turn to black and white. The night viewing range is up to 40 feet.
You can also set up motion detection, motion sensitivity and motion area to trigger recordings.

The monitor does require constant AC power for operation, and a wired Ethernet connection for remote access/viewing. While there are available devices from various manufacturers that can make the network connection wireless, the required power option makes this monitor one that has to be placed in a fixed position. I did reach out to ALC Support regarding the availability of a monitor with a rechargeable battery that would make the monitor mobile, and here was the response:

“the AWS3377 does not have a battery inside. We tried to fit a battery inside during development but it would only get about an hour of power – without the hard drive recording. If we hook up the hard drive to it, then it runs out even quicker. This product supports 1080p (1920×1080) so components tend to drain more power. In our previous version, the battery could hold about 3 hours of power, but it was only recording at VGA (640×480) and it does not have external hard drive support. ”

App

Once you download the ALC Observer HD app, you follow the on-screen instructions and scan the QR code on the back of the monitor. The camera is automatically added and you then just need to enter the admin password that you would have created during the initial setup process. Once the camera is added, you select it on your phone/tablet, and the following 2 screens give you access to the video stream for up to 4 cameras. The screen on the left is first, and once you touch the play button on the bottom toolbar, the screen on the right shows with your live cameras. ( Again, for this test I only have one camera installed.)


When in low light or darkness, the images are very clear but show in black and white. When there is adequate light, they show just as clear but in color.


What I like

  • The quality of the build of the cameras and monitor
  • The quality of the camera images even in the dark
  • The Wireless capability of the system

What can be improved

  • This monitor for this model does not have any capability to be mobile
  • This model does not allow integration with their security systems like their Connect Plus system.
  • There is no built-in or removable battery for portability
  • There is no chime or notification for the door and window sensors

Final thoughts

ALC Wireless AWS3377 Full HD 1080p Surveillance System with 7″ Touch Screen Monitor is a really nice surveillance system that offers very crisp and clear audio and video monitoring, along with good DVR functionality. The ability to add up to a 2TB USB drive for recording is absolutely great and provides for a nice look back period. The cameras are well built and the monitor is great for viewing. However, from my perspective, the limitations of not having mobility with the monitor even though the reasons have been explained by ALC, make this system specifically applicable to scenarios where the viewing location if fixed. While this is likely perfect for businesses, I would like to be able to take the monitor into my basement and have a live view of the cameras. I can do so with my phone or tablet, but I would prefer to do so with the included monitor. Since this is just a personal preference and not a dealbreaker, I definitely give this system a thumbs up!!

Price: $349.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by ALC Wireless.

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ALC Wireless AWS3377 Full HD 1080p Surveillance System with 7″ Touch Screen Monitor and 2 Weatherproof Cameras review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 10, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Shinola Bookshelf Speakers review

REVIEW – You gotta hand it to Shinola. This hometown Detroit company has shaken up the watch industry with their genuine American-made timepieces. They’ve also developed a slew of other products, from bicycles to leather goods. But it’s Shinola’s new Bookshelf Speakers that have attracted attention since their entrance into the extremely competitive audio arena. To get the sound they wanted, Shinola joined with one of the most respected names in the professional audio market—Barefoot Sound. But can a partnership between a lifestyle brand and a pro audio company produce a consumer speaker you would want to listen to every day?

What is it?

The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers are a pair of self-powered (no amplifier needed) Bluetooth and USB compatible speakers made in partnership with Barefoot Sound. They come in either a black or natural wood cabinet. They’re built by Barefoot Sound in Portland, Oregon.

Specs

  • Enclosure: Hand finished oak composite cabinet
  • Power output: 100W RMS per channel (300 watts peak)
  • Inputs: 3.5mm Stereo Jack, RCA L/R, S/PDIF, USB Type-C, Bluetooth
  • Outputs: S/PDIF
  • Soft Dome Tweeter: 1 in.
  • Woofer: 6.5 in.
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Frequency Response: 48Hz – 22kHz
  • Amplifier: Class D
  • Dimensions: 8 in. x 9 in. x 12 in. 
  • Weight” 17.55 lbs (active); 16.35 lbs (passive)

What’s in the box

  • Two speakers
  • Power cable
  • Banana plug speaker cables
  • USB-C cable

Design and features

The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers are solid in both weight and build. The cabinet is made of an oak composite braced by medium-density fiberboard (MDF). This construction makes the speakers resistant to unwanted vibrations. The corners are rounded giving them a smooth, modern look. Magnetic speaker grills can be easily attached or left off—your choice. The heavy-duty “banana plug” cable and woven fabric covered power cord are a step up in quality one usually gets with speakers.  

Each speaker has a 6.5 in. woofer and a 1 in. soft-dome dual ring radiator tweeter. This unusual tweeter design helps reduce distortion and is the same tweeter used in Barefoot Audio’s own studio monitors costing thousands of dollars. The woofer was co-designed by Barefoot and Shinola. There’s a bass port at the rear of each speaker which adds to the impact of lower frequency notes and allows air-movement for the woofer to operate freely within the cabinet.

The speakers are powered by a 300 watt built-in amplifier—no receiver is needed. Music can be played from any source—from a turntable to a digital or analog computer connection to a smart device via Bluetooth. The rear panel on the left (powered) speaker has a variety of inputs and selections depending on what your music source is. Because of the button layout, input choices can be confusing at first and a bit annoying if you like to constantly switch from this to that source. 

My favored setup is a digital line from my iMac to the speakers. This way, I can rely on Shinola speaker’s internal digital audio converter (DAC) which is better than my iMac’s DAC. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the cleanest of digital paths. Some computers (like my iMac) have what is called an optical digital connection (S/PDIF) which uses a fiber-optic cable that’s compatible with standard 3.5mm audio jacks. In other words, I have digital coming out of the headphone port. However, the digital input on the Shinola speakers is not compatible with fiber optic cable. My workaround was a headphone amp (an extra expense) that unites the two incompatible digital methods. Confused? Me, too. I got it to work, but I shouldn’t have had to go to this kind of trouble for what should have been a simple connection. (Note that Apple has removed the headphone port/optical digital connection on newer iMacs—thanks a lot, Apple)

Because of the digital connection issue, I could have said forget it and just used Bluetooth, headphone port to AUX, standard RCA cable or USB. However, Bluetooth doesn’t sound quite as good as direct digital (but it does come close) and using the AUX route means that the iMac’s DAC is used for converting audio to analog—not an option if I wanted the speakers to sound the best they could. It became a good news/bad news issue. The bad news is that I had to figure out how to make it work. The good news is that Shinola has built in many ways to connect the Bookshelf Speakers to various sources—and I’ll take that over a limited selection any day.

There are two slightly annoying anomalies regarding the Shinola Bookshelf Speakers: When powered on, they emit a loud and low bass thump. I’m told that Shinola has fixed this, but it’s present on the speakers I have, so I point it out. Also, the speakers will go to sleep if quiet for a while and the only way to wake them is by pressing the small Source button on the rear panel. There is no remote or on/off button at the front of the speaker, so having to feel for the button at the rear of the speaker is not user friendly. Plus, the Source button is close to the Bluetooth Pairing button, making is easy to press the Pairing button by accident. 

Speaking of the Source button, it has to be pressed each time to switch among the five sources: AUX, S/PDIF (digital), Bluetooth, USB and RCA. Again, there is no remote, so you have to reach behind to select the source. Each choice has a matching indicator light, but the lights are also on the rear panel making it more difficult than it needs to be.

Bluetooth pairing with my iPhone was easy and straightforward. And boy, does Bluetooth from my overpriced Apple device sound good! After listening for some time, I can say that the Shinola Bookshelf Speakers offer the best sounding Bluetooth connection I’ve heard yet. In fact, Bluetooth coming from my iPhone sounds better than Bluetooth from my older iMac.

Many speakers may sound their best at either lower or louder volume, but the Shinola Bookshelf Speakers sound great at all volume levels. That unusual tweeter mentioned earlier produces all the necessary higher frequencies without being overly bright or harsh. There’s no need for a subwoofer with these speakers. Bass produced is deep and impactful, giving music a fuller, more rounded sound. 

The Bookshelf Speakers have a relaxed sound quality and reproduce music with ease. Here’s what this means: When you’re sitting in front of the speakers, close your eyes and try to let the music take you places. If a speaker can do that, then it has achieved its goal. That may seem like a weird comment, but it’s true. Music from some speakers will move me and (for whatever reason) music from other speakers is just sound. My music heard through the Shinola Bookshelf Speakers emotionally affects me in a very good way.

The human voice is always a good test of a speaker and when you combine many voices, it’s better. Do you hear a wall of vocals or can you pick out distinct voices among the crowd?  Alan Parson’s song, “Breakdown” ends with a choir contrasting the lead singer’s urgent wailing. The effect—especially at higher volume—is spine tingling. The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers are able to pinpoint individual voices among the many. The same can be said for “Bless the Lord, O My Soul” by the Chamber Choir Kiev. This Rachmaninov masterpiece will make your hairs stand up. Once again, Shinola’s speakers let you hear individuals from within the massive choir.

Johnny Cash released some of his most raw and uncompromising work shortly before he died. “The Man Comes Around” is delivered with the urgency of a country preacher backed by some excellent acoustic guitar and deep piano playing. The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers handle the low piano notes while also delivering higher frequencies from the guitar—all distinct but blended beautifully.

The sad Elton John classic, “Indian Sunset” from “Madman Across the Water” features elements of John singing alone, followed by a thunderous backing band fronted by violin and cello. The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers deliver all the power and pathos wrapped up together in this one song. The cellos go quite low but retain clarity with no hint of distortion.

What I like

Solidly built. The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers are that rare speaker that lets you get lost in your music. I could enjoy them all day.  

What needs to be improved

They’re priced out of reach of many people. The back panel buttons are not user-friendly. Creating a remote would be helpful. 

Final Thoughts

The Shinola Bookshelf Speakers are most definitely expensive. But if you have the means and are looking for a pair of self-powered, wireless speakers that can blend into any decor and will help your music take you places, don’t overlook them. 

Price: $1,500 US
Where to buy: www.shinola.com
Source: The review sample of this product was provided by Shinola. Visit www.shinola.com for more info.

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Shinola Bookshelf Speakers review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 10, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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