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Catalyst Case for iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus review

Let’s all face the truths that smartphones are expensive, somewhat delicate, and some of us who use them on a daily basis can put them through varying amounts of abuse. I happen to be one such user. I’m not particularly clumsy or careless with my iPhone 6 Plus; quite the opposite, in fact. However, some of the fitness activities in which I engage can be a bit harsher than average. Whether being drenched with waves of sweat, getting caught in the rain for extended periods, being dropped in the mud or banging into heavy objects, my ever-present phone can take a lickin’. While the vast majority of smartphone cases provide a fair amount of bump protection, I needed something on the next level, and the Catalyst Case caught my eye. Billed by Catalyst as “the most protective case in the world,” it still appeared to be fairly slim in profile. Let’s check it out! Gadget on!

Options

The Catalyst Case for iPhone 6 Plus/6S Plus is available in the following color options:

  • Black & Space Gray (reviewed here)
  • Green Pop
  • Rescue Ranger
  • White & Mist Gray

Specs

Per the Catalyst site, below is a list of the specs for this product:

  • Every unit tested IP-68 waterproof 5m (16.4′) deep and fully dust and snow proof
  • Designed to meet MIL-SPEC 810G for drops
  • Premium non-slip rubber exterior
  • Lanyard attachment point on case and included wrist lanyard for extra protection so your device will always be secure; floating lanyard sold separately
  • 12.3mm ultra slim design maintains curved shape of your iPhone 6 Plus
  • Signature Catalyst feature clear case front and clear case back to showcase and compliment the design of your iPhone
  • Unique patented rotating crown dial to switch mute on and off
  • Integrated ultra sensitive screen film that maintains full access to touchscreen including all Control Center and notification swipe functions
  • No watermarks on touchscreen film (rainbow pattern)
  • Airtight and watertight acoustic membranes with Catalyst’s True Sound Acoustics technology for clear phone calls and speaker calls
  • Full access to all buttons, sensors, cameras, flash and Touch ID (with non watermarking Touch ID membrane that allows full fingerprint biometric scan)
  • Hard coated optical lens for perfectly clear photography
  • Camera lens is not recessed so it will not trap dirt, snow or water which might otherwise impede photography
  • Easy to assemble on or take off the iPhone; made of durable materials that have no limitation on how many times it can be re-assembled.
  • Charge port is compatible with Lightning connector heads on most after market charge cables up to 11.5mm wide and 6mm thick
  • Audio port allows quick access to 3.5mm stereo headphone mini-jack on iPhone 6 and is compatible with most after market headphone jacks up to a port dimension of 6 mm; audio jack adapter sold separately for L shaped jacks or jacks> 6mm in diameter
  • Dimensions 12.3 mm thin, 170.5 mm tall, 88.3 mm wide (0.48″ x 6.71″ x 3.48″)

Packaging

The Catalyst Case’s packaging is a slim, sturdy cardstock box with an image of the product contained inside on the front (in the correct color scheme).The back of the package lists many of the features and specs of the Catalyst Case.One side of the package depicts the side of the Catalyst Case itself, to give an idea of scale, and to show a few of the features.

The package is a clamshell style, and folding open the cover reveals the Catalyst Case itself, visible through a transparent window (a great packaging feature, by the way), and on the inside of the cover is an exploded-view diagram of the cases’s components and some of its features.The case itself sits inside a plastic protective tray that easily slides out of the package.  Beneath it is an instruction booklet.

Hidden in a slot on the bottom of the plastic tray and secured with spot of clear tape is the Catalyst Case’s optional lanyard strap.  I almost missed it!  More on this later.

One final packaging item is a card placed inside the Catalyst Case that simulates the appearance of an iPhone inside the case from the front.  On the back of the card, it gives some instructions for the setup and initial use of the case.

Features, Functions and Performance

Let’s get into the features of the Catalyst Case itself.  It’s basically just two pieces, a front and back housing made of impact-resistant polycarbonate, the outsides of which are shown in the photo above.  One of the first things I noticed about the Catalyst Case was the color scheme.  I had requested the Black & Space Gray color scheme (Because I’m all about black.  And gray.), and it did not disappoint.  I rather like that Catalyst has opted for the two-tone color scheme with a dominant color and an accent color, rather than a single, solid color.  It works well.

The above photo shows the inside of the front and back halves of the Catalyst Case.  More on the details of the inside features of the case below.

Above is a closeup photo of the outside of the Catalyst Case’s rear camera port.  The overall oval shape has two circles inside.  The left circle is a portal that protects the iPhone’s camera lens itself.  The right circle is the portal for the iPhone camera’s flash.

The above photo shows a close-up of the inside of the features that are built into the case to protect the iPhone’s camera lens and flash.  The sideways “8”-shaped component is actually a piece of semi-rigid foam that sits against the rear of the iPhone, between the phone and the case back.  It provides some impact protection as well as acting as a water-resistant seal around the lens and flash covers.Above is a closeup photo of the inside of the button cover over the iPhone’s side lock button.  It is a semi-rigid rubber material that, while it seems to provide a functional water-resistant seal, is very difficult to press so that the iPhone’s lock button can be used easily.  More on this below.

In the above close-up photo, which depicts the inside top portion of the front half of the Catalyst Case, there are four features to note.  First, starting from the left is the oval-shaped acoustic membrane that protects the tiny speaker on the top face of the iPhone.  Next, just to the left of center in the photo, a small rectangular piece is visible in the corner of the case.  This is one of four silicone “bumpers” mounted inside the case that is in contact with the corners of the iPhone and helps to cushion it against drops and bumps.  Third, near the center of the photo is a circular object.  This is the inside of the rotating switch that protects the iPhone’s mute button.  Finally, to the right of this are two gray ovals that are the covers for the iPhone’s volume up/down buttons.

In the closeup photo above, which depicts the bottom portion of the inside of the front half of the Catalyst Case, there are several more features to note.  First, to the left of the photo is another soft silicone corner “bumper” that helps protect the iPhone.  To the right of this bumper is a circular hole through the case that is the headphone jack port.  To the right of this is an oval-shaped hole feature that uses Catalyst’s True Sound Acoustics technology acoustic membrane protecting the bottom speaker and microphone.  To the right of this is another, larger oval-shaped hole through the case that is the lightning connector port.  Just below this is a framed circle that is the inside of a membrane that both covers the iPhone’s home button and also allows the Touch ID fingerprint reader to still be used.  To the right of this is another small bumper to protect and support the iPhone while it is in the Catalyst Case.
Above is a shot of the somewhat hidden third component of the Catalyst Case, a silicone O-ring type gasket.  The gasket tucks into a groove around the perimeter of the inside of the back half of the case back.  When both halves of the case are attached together, this gasket acts like a seal to prevent liquids or dust from penetrating into the case.

Most water-resistant phone cases instruct the user to confirm its water-resistance prior to initial use of their phone inside the case.  The Catalyst Case is no exception, so per its instructions, I carefully tucked the gasket seal down into its groove in the case back, pressed the front and back halves of the case together, ensuring that they were fully snapped closed all along the case perimeter, and placed the Catalyst Case into a pan of room-temperature tap water for 30 minutes with the intention of confirming its water-tightness.  As a mechanical engineer, I find the applicability of such a “test” to be a bit less than rigorous, as there are many factors to consider that could contribute to the water-resistance of a case of this design, such as water temperature, case temperature, age of the components (particularly the gasket seal), and in particular the depth and hence pressure of the water.  While the Catalyst Case did pass its own test, I suspect that this test is not sufficient to demonstrate its claimed IP-68 waterproof rating to 16.4 feet (5 meters) depth.  However, it did give me some level of confidence in its initial moisture-resistance prior to using the case for the first time.Now that we’ve taken a look at some of the features of the Catalyst Case by itself, let’s take a look at the case as installed on my iPhone 6 Plus.  In the photo above, I’ve placed my iPhone 6 Plus between the top (far left) and bottom (far right) halves of the Catalyst Case to give an idea of relative size and scale. Above is a front view of the Catalyst Case with my iPhone 6 Plus inside, which looks quite handsome in the black and gray case.  Unfortunately, one of the first things I noticed was that the screen protector integrated into the front half of the case is quite thick and quite wavy.  More on this below.
Above is a phone of the back housing of the Catalyst Case with my iPhone 6 Plus inside.  One of the other first things I noticed was that nearly the complete back of the iPhone is visible through the transparent back of the Catalyst Case, which is basically a large window.  I like this feature, I like being able to see my device from both the front and back.

Above, another shot of the iPhone visible through the back of the Catalyst Case.

Above, a photo of my iPhone 6 Plus with the lock screen illuminated.

Although the Catalyst Case is intended to be a very protective case, I was actually fairly impressed with its size.  It does add a few millimeters of width to the iPhone 6 Plus, but considering the degree of protection that the Catalyst Case provides, I felt that this was a worthwhile trade-off.  It is certainly smaller than other protective-style cases on the market, some of which actually provide less protection.

As seen in the image above, the Catalyst Case is quite slim, only a few millimeters wider than the iPhone 6 Plus itself.  While it does add a bit of thickness, as mentioned above, considering the amount of protection that it adds, I found it acceptable.  After all, this is intended to be a very protective case, not a barely-there “skin.”

The photo above is a close-up of the exterior of the Catalyst’s True Sound Acoustics technology water-tight membrane through the integrated screen protector that covers the speaker near the top of the iPhone’s screen.  Unfortunately, the thickness of this membrane and the part that holds it in place cause the screen protector to bulge outward a bit in this area, which distorts the view through the screen protector.
Above is a close-up of the membrane that covers the iPhone’s home button and still allows the Touch ID fingerprint reader to function.  This worked well and I seldom had an issue with this feature; the Touch ID nearly always seemed to function perfectly.
Above is a close-up of the camera and flash covers in the upper left corner of the rear of the Catalyst Case with my iPhone 6 Plus inside it.  The iPhone’s camera lens is protected by a hard coated optical lens to support clear photography.  The camera lens and flash both line up perfectly with these features of the case, and I had no issues with the operation of either of these features of the iPhone.The close-up photo above highlights a few features along the side of the Catalyst Case.  Starting at the top is the patented rotating crown dial to switch Mute on and off.  This is a unique feature to the Catalyst Case.  It not only protects the iPhone’s Mute toggle switch, it does so in a way that converts the Mute switch’s sliding action into a rotating action.  The knob has some fairly decent knurling on it, which allows the user to grip and rotate it fairly easily.  On the downside, it does protrude from the side of the case a bit, and it made me a bit concerned that I was going to catch it on something and possibly break it off (though that never happened).  The volume up/down buttons seemed to be a bit difficult to press, but not impossible (unlike the lock button, more on this below).

The photo above depicts the opposite side of the Catalyst Case (the right side if you are facing the front of the case), and there are two feature to note.  First, the outer edge of the case, the gray area around the perimeter.  While most of the case is a hard polycarbonate material, this gray zone around the perimeter of the case has a rubberized, non-slip coating to help improve your grip on the case.  It’s just grippy enough so that it doesn’t get hung up on the inside of your pocket.  Second, the button protector that covers the iPhone’s Lock button.  This is a very protective button cover; however, it is so stiff that it is nearly impossible to actually use it.  You really have to push hard on it to activate the button, and considering how often I use my lock button, this was a bit frustrating.

The above photo shows the silicone flap that covers and seals the bottom of the case.  Note that there are eight holes over the speaker to allow sound to escape the case, and also the end of the flap allows the user to get a fingernail under the tip for removal.
In the above photo I have popped open the bottom flap, which is connected to the case on the opposed end to prevent it from being lost.  Note that there is a cylindrical-shaped protrusion in the flap that inserts into and seals the case’s headphone port, and an oval-shaped protrusion that fits into and seals the cases’s Lightning connector port.  Both of these protrusions have ribs to aid in their water-resistance.

Above, I’ve pulled back the silicone flap a bit further for a better view of the case’s ports that the flap is sealing.  From left to right, the headphone jack, the acoustic membrane-covered speaker, and the Lightning connector port.

Above is a demonstration of an Apple earbud 3.5mm headphone cable (left) and an Apple Lightning connector (right) both plugged into the iPhone through their respective ports in the case.  The protective flap design allows the Lightning port to be covered and sealed while only the end of the flap is peeled back just enough to allow headphones to be plugged into it.  Note that no adapter is required to use headphones with the Catalyst Case, but the plug end of headphone cable used must be of a fairly small diameter to fit through the port in the case.  (Yes, I repair my Apple Lightning cables with shrink tubing.  Works great.)

Above is shot that shows the lanyard attachment point built into the bottom corner of the Catalyst Case.
The Catalyst Case includes a lanyard that the user has the option of attaching to the case for added security.
The lanyard is easy to install by inserting the string into the lanyard attachment point, pulling it through the other side, then looping the string around the strap end of the lanyard and pulling it tightly.  It is, however, a bit more difficult (but not impossible) to remove the lanyard than to install it.In the above photo, I’ve installed the lanyard and have it looped around my wrist.  For situations where you want to be sure not to drop your phone, the lanyard does come in very handy, but it can be removed if needed.  I found it useful when walking along the beach, boardwalk or near other bodies of water.

Although Catalyst touts that this case is “easy to assemble on or take off the iPhone,” unfortunately I did not find this to be the case (No pun intended.  Really.).  On the back half of the case near the lower left is a small notch that is intended to be a spot where you can place something narrow, like a fingernail, coil or screwdriver, in order to lever apart the front and back halves of the case.  I nearly ripped my fingernail off attempting this.  When I moved on to a coin, you can see the result in the image above.  I really had to twist and manhandle the coin into the slot to get enough leverage on it to pry the front and rear halves of the case apart, and doing so left some significant gouges and scratches in the case.  It’s very possible that I wasn’t performing this operation correctly, but I attempted this on several occasions, thinking perhaps it would eventually open easier, or I’d figure out a “trick” to it, but by then the damage to the case had already been done.  This didn’t seem to affect the water resistance of the case, and the marks are not particularly noticeable, but I knew they were there, and it was disappointing.

Let’s talk about the Catalyst Case’s integrated screen protector.  I had two pretty big issues with it.  The first was loss of the iPhone’s touchscreen sensitivity.  The case’s screen protector seems to be very thick, which I’m sure is great for protection of the iPhone’s screen from scratches, but it makes using the touchscreen very difficult and frustrating.  I found myself having to push harder in some spots on the screen, or just off to the side of where I wanted to select, often having to guess at a sweet spot.  In the photo above, you can see the second big issue I had with the screen protector, which I suspect is related to the loss of touchscreen sensitivity and that is warping.  As you can see in the photo above and the three photos below, the Catalyst Case, at least the one that I received, had a significant degree of warping of its screen protector.  This caused further loss of touchscreen sensitivity as well as distorted visibility of the iPhone’s screen.  Need less to say, I was very disappointed by this.

The photos above and below illustrate the warping of the Catalyst Case’s screen protector.

Conclusion

After trying out the Catalyst Case for iPhone 6 Plus, I had very mixed feelings.  Its general high points are its appealing looks, including both front and back visibility to the iPhone, relatively slim size (for a protective case), ease of installation and especially its level of drop and moisture protection.  Its low points are a thick, warped screen protector that caused loss of visibility and touch sensitivity to the iPhone’s screen, the difficulty of separating the halves of the case to remove the iPhone which caused scuffing and scratching when I attempted it, and a lock button cover that is so stiff that it is nearly impossible to press.  I would suggest to Catalyst that they have the making of a great protective case here, perhaps one of the best ever, but until some of the issues with it can be corrected, I think it will leave many users frustrated.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Catalyst. Please visit their site for more info and you can find Catalyst’s products on Amazon too.

 

Product Information

Price: $74.99
Manufacturer: Catalyst
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • + Looks cool
  • + Slim size and thickness considering the level of protection
  • + Easy installation
  • + High level of protection
Cons:
  • – Thick, warped screen protector causes visual distortion and severe touch sensitivity loss
  • – Nearly impossible to separate the two halves of the case without severely scuffing and scratching it every time
  • – Lock button is so stiff that it is nearly impossible to use

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Catalyst Case for iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 21, 2017 at 7:00 am.

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Fiil Product Launch

This past week I attended the Fiil Audio’s U.S. product launch in New York City. Fiil was debuting their signature headphones; the Canviis and Canviis Pro on-ear headphones, the Iicon over-ear headphone, and the Carat in-ear headphone.

The event was held at 1 Hotel near Central Park. Fiil set up a separate listening room where I got a chance to try out each product individually.

Normally, the over-ear headphones would be the flagship of any audio company’s launch, but as it was explained to me, the Canviis and Canviis Pro on-ear headphones were designed and built after the Iicon over-ear headphone, so they are a little more feature packed.

The sound quality of all the Fiil Audio headphones was superb. Highs and lows were perfectly represented and the clarity of sound was impressive.

The build quality of each headphone is also quite well-done. When you put on a pair of the Canviis Pros, they just feel like a high-quality set of headphones. The most innovative feature of both the Canviis and Iicon are the touch controls accessed by moving your finger up, down, left or right on the outside of the right side of the unit. Via touch, you can skip tracks and adjust the playback volume. The feature worked well for me, but some had trouble getting it to activate.

The Canviis and Iicon headphones also fold up to be quite compact. In addition to touch control, there are switches on the Canviis headphones that allow you to access Bluetooth controls and adjust the automatic noise cancellation feature.

The noise cancellation worked very well and the option to allow outside sounds to come in over the music seems like a great idea for times when you need to pay better attention to your surroundings.

The Iicon over-ear headphones have most of the same features of the Canviis, but they are accessed a bit differently.

All of the Fiil Audio headphones can sync with the Fiil Wireless App for Android and Apple devices. With the app, you can control noise cancellation, change EQ settings, and check the battery level.

The app also allows you to control the 3D Sound options that Fiil Audio promotes for the headphone line. With the 3D Sound feature, you can simulate different listening environments. After sampling the options, I found that the sound quality was best with the feature turned off.

I was only able to demo the Fiil Audio headphone line for a short time, but they seem like a great high-end entry into the luxury headphone market.

The Fiil Audio Iicon and Canviis Pro headphones will retail for $349, the Canviis $249 and the Carat will come in at $149.

Visit fiil.com for more info.

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Fiil Product Launch originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2017 at 4:38 pm.

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Become Batman with the KILLSPENCER Utility Belt

Why use your pockets when you can hang all your EDC gear from your belt? You know, like Batman. KILLSPENCER lets you live that dream with their new Utility Belt. See, they even used the same name.

The KILLSPENCER Utility Belt is a handcrafted, made in the USA (Los Angeles) bull hide leather belt that features 4 Pull-the-Dot locking button snaps that hold gear like keys, wallets, your phone, etc. The heavy-duty locking mechanism can only be released when pulled from a specific direction, so it can withstand extreme pressure to create an almost unbreakable system to keep your gear securely by your side at all times.

The KILLSPENCER Utility Belt is available only in black because that is Batman’s fave color. The belt can be purchased in 1.25 or 1.5 inch widths and waist sizes 26 up to 44. It’s priced at $155 through killspencer.com.

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Become Batman with the KILLSPENCER Utility Belt originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2017 at 9:18 am.

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Master & Dynamic MW60 wireless and MW50 wireless headphones review

In 2015, I had the privilege (and it was a privilege) to review Master & Dynamic’s new MH40 headphone. At the time, nothing else looked like them. The MH40 has that classic, timeless look—like they’ve been around for many years, yet they were a brand new headphone from a brand new company. The MH40’s combination of aluminum and leather made you feel like you had something special when held. They are that beautiful. Also, the MH40 headphones sound as good as they look. With the MH40, Master & Dynamic hit a home run right out of the box. Since then, M&D has expanded their product line to include earphones, an on-ear MH30 headphone and an unusual Bluetooth speaker made of concrete.

However, 2015 is so yesterday and this is 2017. Master & Dynamic has entered the wireless age with the MW60 (released in 2016) and new MW50 wireless headphones.

The over-ear MW60 is designed like the MH40 with some unique touches. The on-ear MW50 looks like a lovechild of the MH40 and MH30. Both are equally stunning to look at which is becoming a Master & Dynamic trademark. Both are also covered in metal and leather. However, there are some important differences (besides size and price) that I will detail later in this review.

Let’s look at both the MW60 first and then the MW50.

MW60

The MW60 is basically a wireless version of the MH40. Because of the added electronics, it’s a bit thicker and heavier looking than the MH40 although it’s really 15 grams lighter. On the MH40, I’ve always liked the wire mesh at the center of each ear cup. That’s missing on the MW60—replaced by solid metal with a circular pattern. It’s okay looking, but I still prefer the mesh look. Even though the MW60 has lost some of the retro looks of the MH40, it’s still better looking than most other headphones out there.

The MW60 may be 15 grams lighter than the MH40, but it’s still a bit on the heavy side. The weight doesn’t bother me much because the headphones are so darned comfortable. The lambskin ear pads breath better than faux leather which cuts down on heat buildup—that’s a big deal for me because I have a head that sweats too much. The headband is only slightly more padded than the MH40—it could still use more. Even so, the MW60 can be worn for hours with no noticeable discomfort.

An added benefit of over-ear pads is isolation. The MW60s are not noise-canceling headphones, but they have a good seal that blocks out a decent amount of noise from the outside world.

Master & Dynamic has incorporated Bluetooth into the MW60 in a clever way. You can see the plastic Bluetooth antennas built into the aluminum frame of the left earpiece—a perfect fit with no seams. The left ear cup also houses the on/off/pairing buttons. Note that these buttons are solid metal and have a satisfying click when pressed. Pairing is dead simple—just slide the button beyond the on position for a couple of seconds and a blinking light tells you it’s ready to pair. I didn’t even have to look at the manual to figure this out. That’s good design. Plus, there are audible signals to let you know that pairing is either happening or has connected. The right ear cup has the volume/pause buttons which act and feel the same as the other buttons.

Using the built-in mic, I made a phone call to a friend and he said I sounded perfect. It always amazes me that a headphone can have a tiny microphone under my ear, yet my voice sounds just like I’m speaking directly into the phone’s mic.

Note: Unless you have money to burn, forget about using the MW60 as a commuting headphone. Yes, they fold easily and can be carried in an included soft case, but I would become quite ill if I left them behind in a cab, train, or bus. Master & Dynamic makes more affordable earphones for the commuter.

The sound from the MW60’s 45mm neodymium speaker drivers is on the warm side, meaning that the headphone has a boosted bass sound, but only just a bit. This has two benefits: It cuts down on much of the treble harshness that can be present in some recordings plus music can be listened to more comfortably for hours. A warmer sound profile is generally more forgiving of lower resolution MP3 files which can sound too bright on super-accurate headphones. It’s a bit contradictory that a slightly less accurate headphone can sound better than one that is clinically accurate in its musical detail, but it’s true. Master & Dynamic did a good job tweaking the ear cups to achieve the right tonal balance. Drums have a nice kick; vocals are clear and slightly forward while the treble frequency is reined in but still allowed to express itself.

Soundstage (the audio illusion of where in space sound is coming from) is excellent with the MW60s. It’s not an audio 3D effect, but it’s both wide and deep—placing you in the middle of whatever you’re listening to. Note that a wide soundstage is also the result of a great recording—even so, it’s up to the headphones to bring it out.

Afro Celt Sound System’s “Release It” is a good song for experiencing a wider frequency spectrum. Deep bass drumming, as well as higher, pitched tin whistles and bagpipes, combine with other instruments giving the song a multi-continental flavor. You can hear all the instruments individually and equally resulting in a perfect mix.

The opening keyboard fade-in on Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” can hide some very subtle electronic sound effects on lesser headphones, but the MW60 lets them be heard amidst Rick Wright’s aural synth wave. When David Gilmour’s crystal clear guitar chimes in, you just know you’re in for a treat. This album shines on the MW60s.

Battery life on both the MW60 and MW50 headphones is rated at 16 hours—which is plenty of life for an extended listening session or a long flight. Battery status is indicated by using the Bluetooth pairing lights that turn green/orange/red depending on the charge. If the battery dies, there is an included mini plug cord, so the headphones can always be used. They will also continue to work with Bluetooth if charging from an external battery. Neither the MW60 nor the MW50 will automatically power down if accidentally left on—which I have a bad habit of doing. As with all other M&D headphones, all cords are stored in a hard leather-covered circular box. Battery charging on the MW50 uses the new USB-C connector rather than the micro USB of the MW60. Maybe this is the direction M&D is heading.

MW50

The on-ear MW50 is two/thirds the weight of the MW60 and smaller overall. Unlike the MW60, the MW50 retains the metal mesh at the center of each ear cup. Master & Dynamic has done a great job designing the MW50. It feels every bit as solid and luxurious as the MW60.

The fact that the MW50 is on-ear might put off some people and I get that. I happen to really like on-ear headphones, mostly because they are lighter and easier to cart around. Plus they look a little less dorky than full sized headphones often do in an office setting. Like the MW60, the MW50 also has lambskin ear pads and a leather headband. The headband is also lightly padded, but since the MW50 is lighter, long-term comfort is not an issue. The MW50 is made to be mobile, but they don’t fold. Even so, they are easier to cart around than the folded MW60s.

The MW50 headphone contains audio tech that surpasses the more expensive MW60. First, the MW50s have beryllium drivers vs. neodymium drivers in the MW60. Granted, the MW60 45mm drivers are 5mm larger than the MW50’s 40mm. But beryllium is lighter and tougher than neodymium, which is better at handling audio signals—especially in the upper-frequency ranges. Beryllium is also more than double the cost of neodymium. So M&D use a much more expensive material in their less expensive headphones. Go figure.

The lambskin pads rest on the ears with little pressure and are even more comfortable on my head than the MW60s. The metal “poles” that connect the headband to the ear cups are curved a bit which can help with larger heads. However, my head is close to the max size the MW50s will fit, so if you have a large head, make sure there’s a generous return policy if they don’t fit well.

Once again Bluetooth pairing is as simple as can be. The buttons act the same way as on the MW60. And the Bluetooth antenna is made as part of the left ear cup using that same attention to detail. Call quality is also identical.

Audio on the MW50 is both pleasing and robust. Granted, you won’t get as much noise isolation as you do on the MW60, but for an on-ear design, it ain’t bad! What is most surprising is the amount of low end heard. Listening to the same high res version of “Wish You Were Here” from Pink Floyd, I was shocked how good the bass sounded. It was as impactful and detailed as on the MW60s!

Keep in mind that bass is no good if its muddy sounding and bleeds into the other frequencies. None of that happens with the MW50 headphones. There’s a clarity in the sound (bass included) that belies the headphone’s size. The audio coming out of the MW50s sounds way larger and better than you would expect.

Afro Celt Sound System’s “Release It” sounds even warmer and deeper than it does on the MW60s. The bass still retains its sharp attacks without being sloppy. How is this possible?

Within the last few years, Master & Dynamic has established themselves as a respected audio brand—with good reason.

If you’re in the market for an upscale wireless headphone that cuts no corners in audio quality or materials you can’t do better than M&D. The main downside to the MW60 and MW50 wireless headphones is having to choose one over the other. They both have their advantages. If you prefer over-ears (most serious headphone people do), then the MW60 is an obvious choice. But I would ask that you try out the MW50 if possible. You might be pleasantly surprised.

My bottom line is that as good as the MW60 sounds, the MW50 sounds just as good, if not a bit better, is more comfortable and just more fun to listen to—and less expensive. I wouldn’t be surprised if M&D is already working on an MW60 successor.

The MW60 is available in Black metal/black leather; Gunmetal/black; Silver/brown; Silver/navy and sells for $549 US.

The MW50 is available in Silver metal/black leather; Silver/brown and sells for $449 US.

Source: The samples for this review were provided by Master & Dynamic. Please visit www.masterdynamic.com for more information and shop for them on Amazon.

 

Product Information

Price: MW60 – $549 US MW50 – $449 US
Manufacturer: Master & Dynamic
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Excellent build & sound
  • Stunning design
  • Comfortable
  • Excellent wireless signal
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • Headband could use more padding
  • MW50 doesn't fold

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Master & Dynamic MW60 wireless and MW50 wireless headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2017 at 7:02 am.

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Galen Leather MacBook sleeves review

I am a total sucker for nice leather gear and fine woodworking. I find the old world craftsmanship and artistry very appealing in today’s disposable world. So when Julie asked if I’d like to review some handmade items from Istanbul, Turkey I jumped at the chance. In this case, Galen Leather is a small leather company that creates handmade covers, cases, wallets, and tech-accessories that they ship worldwide. 

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

The Galen Leather backstory talks to me in several ways… Like Zeynep, I was diagnosed with cancer back in my twenties and while fine and dandy a lifetime later the experience forever changed the path of my life and how I walk thru it. In addition to that, I have always wanted to work with leather and am impressed how she transformed that hobby into a full-time career. And while I’ll never go into the business, I hope/plan to take a class or two of leather working in my retirement. All of my ramblings aside, let’s get down to the review.

Galen Leather sent, for lack of a better term, a care-package or sampler of their products to checkout. So, instead of a focused review on a single item, I thought I would discuss them and their overall material quality, craftsmanship, and design. Galen Leather sources their materials locally. The leather they use is 2-4mm thick vegetable tanned cow leather, all stained, edge painted and finely stitched by hand.

Leather MacBook Sleeves:

Galen sent two MacBook sleeves, one in brown and the other in Crazy Horse leathers. The are both perfectly fitted for the 12″ MacBook.

The brown sleeve is their basic design meant to hold just your MacBook. It has a medium softness/stiffness that will wear in with time. The sleeve was a bit tight initially but loosened with time. The closure flap slides under the strap that holds it in place.

The Crazy Horse sleeve they sent is the more deluxe variant with the optional back pocket (+$23) and handle (+$12). The Crazy Horse leather is softer with a more rugged look. Here you can see it holding my 12″ MacBook and 10.5″ iPad…it was a bit snug but works very well for carrying both.

As mentioned above, all the stitching is hand done with waxed polyamide thread. The edges are beveled, waxed, and burnished for a nice finished look. Of the two, I prefer the softer Crazy Horse leather sleeve with the back pocket…it is currently my goto sleeve for may laptop.

Leather Zippered Large Pencil Pouch / Case – Crazy Horse:

The zippered case is designed to carry pens, pencils, cables, etc. It is also a nice size for helping organize your EDC gear.

That is my plan for it…replacing my old nylon pouch, to carry my multitude of bits and cables around.

N0. 38 Minimalist Leather Wallet – Dark Brown

Funny story regarding the wallet, I opened the package from Galen with my wife’s Friday night wine club. As soon as I opened the box with the No.38 minimalistic wallet, my wife immediately said “I want that!” Even with all the review items I receive, that is relatively rare circumstance…so I guess she has dibs 😉 .

Like all Galen Leather products, the leather is hand finished and stitched with a great old world vibe to it.

The No. 38 wallet has two internal slipper pockets, each designed to hold a handful of credit cards, your ID, and a few bills as well. Here you can see it with 6 cards and a few bills. The wallet is held securely closed by a brass snap.

Walnut Hard Wood MacBook Stand

The walnut laptop stand has an interesting design, made from two identical pieces of hardwood that slide together like a jigsaw puzzle. Like all Galen Leather products, the wood stand is nicely sanded/finished and stained by hand.

When separated, the two legs support the MacBook above your work surface at a more useable height and angle for viewing.

The stand is meant to be used with a separate keyboard and mouse/trackpad. Here you can see it with the iogear ultra-slim mini USB-C dock I reviewed a few months ago. And with a bit of double sided tape, this setup works for me much better than I thought it would.

The bottom line: I really like all of the Galen Leather products Zeynep & Yusuf sent to me. Like I said, their Crazy Horse leather sleeve is my goto method for carrying my 12″ MacBook when not in my gear bag. The Walnut MacBook stand works very well and continues to suspend my laptop above my desk. And lastly, my wife has taken possession of the N0. 38 minimalistic wallet as promised. All of their products are handmade with great care and artistry…well worth considering.

Source:  The sample for this review was provided by Galen Leather. Please visit their site for more information and to order.

 

Product Information

Price: Varies
Manufacturer: Galen Leather
Pros:
  • Handmade Old World craftsmanship
  • Constructed from high quality materials
  • Great minimalistic design
  • Perfectly fitted
  • Design to last decades
Cons:
  • None

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Galen Leather MacBook sleeves review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 19, 2017 at 9:27 am.

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