Home 2018 February

ARCHEER Bluetooth Transmitter and Receiver review

The ARCHEER Bluetooth Transmitter and Receiver can transmit Bluetooth signals from non-Bluetooth audio sources and receive Bluetooth radio and generate a wired output signal. Items like this have become fairly common, but this one has audio controls and S/PDIF. Read on to see what I think!

What is it?

The ARCHEER Bluetooth Transmitter and Receiver is a battery powered gadget that operates in two ways. As a transmitter, it streams audio that it is connected to by RCA connection, 3.5mm audio cable or TOSLINK over Bluetooth. The transmitter may mute or adjust the volume of the transmitted signal. Also, the transmitter may connect with two Bluetooth headphones or speakers at once two allow two sets of headphones or speakers to play the music. As a receiver, it converts a Bluetooth audio signal into a signal which may be conveyed to audio equipment using RCA connection, 3.5mm audio cable or TOSLINK. The receiver includes the AVRCP service, which allows the unit to communicate with the transmitting equipment to adjust volume, play or pause the music signal, and skip to the next and previous song.  The unit can operate using the aptx and aptx Low Latency standards if both source and sink equipment support this protocol.

What’s in the box?

ARCHEER Bluetooth 4.1 Transmitter and Receiver
3.5mm Audio Cable
Optical Digital Cable
USB Charging Cable
3.5mm Female to 2 RCA Male Cable
User Manual

Design and features

Specifications

Bluetooth Version: V4.1
Playing Time: 19 hours
Bluetooth transmission range: up to 10 meters (33 feet).
Battery Capacity: 450mAh
Operating Voltage: DC 5.0V
Size: 2 3/8″ x 2 3/8″ x about 7/8″
Weight: 43 gm

Unboxing

The BT-07 comes in a fairly standard black corrugated cardboard box. It had a hastily applied barcode sticker on the side. I’m unsure if this is from Amazon or from the manufacturer but it definitely detracts from the overall first impression. The inclusion of all three cables: a 3.5mm cable, RCA cables, and TOSLINK is a definite plus. The package also includes a micro USB cable for charging the unit but no AC adapter.  The included instructions are in the English language only.

Design

The BT-07 is bigger than some other gadgets that perform a similar function, but the other types of units do not have the AVRCP capabilities that this unit has and also do not have the larger TOSLINK ports. The size of the TOSLINK port increases the minimum thickness of the unit and creating a device with an acceptable UI also adds to the units dimensions. The aesthetic of the top of the unit creates some confusion since it so closely resembles the style of the iPod. The ringed area on the top of the unit is fixed and not a button. The area inside of the ring is a button as is the area to the front, left and right. At first i was pressing the front left and right of the ring and wondering why the unit was not responding.

All of the input/output jacks and power supply are on the rear. On the left side is the AUX/SPDIF switch and on the right side is the RX/TX selector switch. Once the unit is set up the switches on either side shouldn’t need to be routinely operated. The frequently used operating functions are accessible from the top and makes this easy to use and position with the rest of the audio/video equipment that it is connected to as a transmitter, or place close by if it is a receiver going to a set of wired headphones.

The bottom has a ring of rubber to act as a foot and keeps the unit from moving around when presses to the top are made.

Operation

The unit is actually 4 items in one: A 3.5mm audio receiver, 3.5mm audio transmitter, SPDIF receiver, and SPDIF transmitter. The selection of what functions you prefer need to be made before powering on the unit. The unit is powered on and off by a long press of the center of the top (where it is labeled ARCHEER). The LED in front will  glow blue for a receiver and green for a transmitter. Most buttons have separate short and long press functions that will cause the LED in front to behave in different ways. I have included the operating manual here for explanation of the various functions. It would be more convenient if the LED was on top of the unit. There is audio feedback output to the connected device if the unit is operating as a receiver. A series of tones and beeps indicate what mode the unit is operating in. It would be better still if there was a small speaker inside the unit so this same feedback could be provided when the unit is operating as a transmitter.

The unit functioned as intended in each operating mode. As a 3.5mm receiver I used it to send a signal transmitted from by phone by Bluetooth to my headphones using a 3.5mm cable. I wasn’t able to test the unit as a SPDIF receiver as I have no digital inputs i can connect the unit to. As a 3.5mm and SPDIF transmitter I was able to connect the unit to the TV and listen with my headphones over Bluetooth. I was also able to connect to two headphones simultaneously and listen to the TV.

Performance

There was more latency with the ARCHEER than with the wired connection to earbuds or with a native Bluetooth connection to the laptop but this is barely noticable if not paying specific attention to the way that speech syncs with an actors lips.  The latency with two headphones connected is a bit longer and noticeable but it’s still not uncomfortable to watch. The signal to each of the two headphones was slightly out of phase, so while this could be used to power two Bluetooth loudspeakers, this may not give the best audio quality.

The claimed range of the unit is 10 meters and It worked to about 100 ft when acting as a transmitter to my Plantronics B8200 headphones and about 70 ft when working as a receiver to my (wired) headphones from a Dell Latitude E7240 outside and line-of-sight. In both cases the range exceeds the stated tolerance.

The battery lasted for about 19 hours playing the radio at a reasonable volume and took about three and a half hours to charge from a self-imposed low power shut down to full.

What I like

  • S/PDIF ports
  • AVRCP capable
  • aptx compliant
  • Long lasting battery
  • Excellent range
  • Low latency in single pair mode (aptx Low Latency)

What needs to be improved

  • User interface feedback
  • Indication on unit of what each long/short button press achieves
  • better location for LED indicator

Final thoughts

The ARCHEER BT-07 is a feature rich Bluetooth audio receiver/transmitter. With the large variety of input and output options it should be able to meet any Bluetooth challenge it faces.

Price: $32.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by ARCHEER.

Cell phone battery dead? When all else fails, the USB candle charger is here!

If you are like me, and often find that your cell phone battery charge is low, there are so many USB battery packs in every shape and size to solve that dilemma. But have you ever been in this situation with no way to recharge your phone or battery pack? I have, and I found it to be the most frustrating experience with no alternative but to head out of the house in the freezing New York temperatures, and huddle in my car to get enough charge to keep my power-hungry apps going on my iPhone.

Enter the Candle Charger by Stower! This is an ingeniously designed device that allows you to charge your cell phone when conventional electricity is not an option. It is the first of its kind charger that uses the candle flame from a small fuel canister and water to create an electrical charge. And, if you run out of fuel canisters, a regular candle of similar size can work.

While it is miniature in size, it provides charging power anywhere, whether during a blackout or outdoors on a camping trip and maybe in some extreme places when the cell phone is dead and emergency help is needed. It even has an advantage over solar chargers, since they need sunlight to recharge. It will recharge the standard cell phone twice per one fuel canister.

The Candle Charger by Stower is available at Amazon for $99.99

This BESTEK surge protector has a built-in wireless charger

This BESTEK surge protector packs a lot of power into a small footprint.  Instead of the long-strip form that surge protectors usually take, this 1500joules protector is a vertical column.  Along the sides you’ll find eight power sockets and six USB charging ports.  And the cherry on top is the wireless charger on the top of the column.

The sockets all have safety doors to keep kids safe from inserting something in them.  Each row of sockets has a power switch to turn them off when they aren’t needed.  BESTEK says the USB ports “can intelligently detect your devices to deliver its safest maximum charge speed, up to 2.4A per port and 40W/8A total“.  And on top of the column is a 5V/1A wireless charger that works with all Qi-compatible devices.

The BESTEK 8-Outlet Surge Protector and 40W 6-Port USB Charging Dock Station with wireless charger is $49.99 at Amazon.

FIIL DRIIFTER Bluetooth neckband in-ear headphones review

Bluetooth headphones have come a long way in the last few years. With the transmitter requiring just a small trickle of energy, power cells have been whittled down to unnoticeable sizes. Wires are out, all-day battery life is in, and the lightweight DRIIFTER headphones by FIIL are a solid, great-sounding combination of both.

What is it?

The phonetically-creative FIIL DRIIFTER is a lightweight behind the neck set of headphones designed for all-day wear without becoming a hindrance. The earbuds feature magnets that clasp together on your chest when they are not being used, forming a sort of lanyard approach. The feel nearly identical to the BeatsX earbuds I reviewed last year, so much so that one could easily confuse the two at first glance.

Clasp it like a necklace.

Hardware specs

  • Extremely lightweight
  • Extended-range Bluetooth technology
  • Sweat, dust and water resistant for any weather or sport
  • KINETIIC™ Tangle-free necklace mode with a start-stop feature
  • Multi-device pairing
  • Full-function cable and wireless voice call technology
  • Up to 11 hours continuous listening between charges

What’s in the box?

  • DRIIFTER headphones
  • Micro-USB charging cable
  • 3 sizes of earbuds

Design and Features

When I opened up the DRIIFTER headphones, the similarities to the BeatsX headphones that I use at work every day were staggering. They rest behind your neck like a lanyard, have magnetic clasps on the earbuds that form a closed loop, and even have a volume control and call answer button on one cord.

Power/answer button, volume controls and the USB port covered by a rubber cap.

I don’t want to make this entire review about how these two headphones differ, but just for those keeping score, the DRIIFTER is charged by micro USB, while the BeatsX have a Lightning port, and the BeatsX are connected via Apple’s W1 Bluetooth chip instead of Bluetooth 4. What’s the difference? Not a whole lot. It comes down to what sort of cables you have on hand, and most people, it seems, have both lying around, unless you’re staunchly in the Android camp.

That aside, I really like the design of the DRIIFTER. The weight is light enough to forget about. They stay out of the way and deliver long-lasting power. And they look fairly unassuming and wouldn’t call them flashy or attention-grabbing, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Setup

Charging the headphones is quick and easy… you just plug in the USB micro adapter into the slot and let it do its thing for a few hours. The red LED goes off when it’s fully charged. And if you’ve ever set up a Bluetooth device, you know what you’re in for. A simple long-press puts the headphones into pairing mode and they show up on the Bluetooth sync screen. A quick tap and you’re all set.

Performance

The sound quality and volume that I was able to get out of these headphones were exceptional. I think they had a clearer sound than my BeatsX, the only other headphones I had to compare them with. It’s not like Beats are the end-all of portable audio, but I was impressed that the DRIIFTER buds could punch in their weight class.

Ideal for all-day music and podcasts at your desk!

I had a bit of difficulty getting a good seal with the largest earbud size, but that’s the sort of thing that will vary widely between users. There are three earbud sizes, so one of them will likely fit. You will need a good seal, though, as in-ear headphones rely on that for the best sound, using the natural acoustics in your ears and head.

They’re perfectly suited for the office or the gym, though I would caution against using them in a situation where you need to be audibly aware of your surrounding, like biking in city traffic. They really do block a lot of outside sounds.

One small bug I ran across was the play/pause button didn’t seem to work when using it with several music apps on both my computer and my phone. I can’t say I ever got it to actually stop or start any music, so perhaps that button is more reserved for picking up a phone call, which does work. The attached mic seems fine for voice calls.

What I like

  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Magnetic clasps
  • Sounds great for the price range

What needs to be improved

  • Play/Pause button didn’t seem to work with all music apps
  • There are a lot of options out there for less expensive, similar headphones

Final thoughts

Outside of having great sound quality and a long-lasting battery, the DRIIFTER is about as basic as they come. They’re good. Yes. However, a quick Amazon search for Bluetooth headphones presents a mile-long list of less expensive options that look very similar on paper.

Price: $99.99
Where to buy: You can buy the DRIIFTER in black or matte red by ordering on their website or Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by FIIL. Visit their website for more information.

Listen to music with this bracelet

What do you do with your earbuds when you’re not listening to music?  Forget about sticking them in a pocket where they’ll get tangled up – wear them on your wrist instead.  The Wristband Headphones with Microphone by Wraps are worn as a wraparound bracelet when you aren’t using them.  The wires have a braided textured fabric covering that prevents them from tangling and are thick enough to easily wrap and unwrap around your wrist.

They have 10mm dynamic speakers and a 20Hz frequency response microphone.  You click the button microphone to pause or play music and make or take a call.  They measure 51.18″ x 1.65″ x 0.47″ and are made of TPE, plastic, and polyester fabric.  The Wristband Headphones with Microphone are available in denim, coal, or camo colors for $24.95 at The Grommet.