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Roccat Score gaming headset review


REVIEW – I picked up a Nintendo Switch over the summer because I loved the portability. One thing that is annoying about it is that Bluetooth headphones do not connect to it without an adapter. This meant most of my headphones didn’t work with it. I saw the Roccat Score and thought that maybe they would be a good fit to go along with the Switch, since they are small, portable, and meant for gaming.

What is it?

The Roccat Score gaming headphones are styled like earbuds but designed with gamers in mind.

Hardware specs

  • Headphones:
    Measured Frequency response: 20~20.000Hz
    Sensitivity at 1kHz: 108dB
    mid/high frequency driver diameter: 6.8mm (12 ohm impedence)
    low frequency driver diameter: 10mm (16 ohm impedence)
  • Microphone:
    Sensitivity at 1kHz: -42dB
    Impedance: 2.2kO
    Signal-to-noise ratio: >55dB
    Measured Frequency response: 50~12.000Hz

What’s in the box?

In the box, you’ll find the Roccat Score headphones, case, seven different styles of eartips, PC adapter (for microphone/headphone ports), and instruction manual. Six of the tips are standard, but the seventh is memory foam which was interesting.

Design and features

The thing that makes these headphones more unique compared to standard gaming headphones is that they are in-ear with no microphone that goes in front of your mouth. Like I mentioned above, this seemed like an ideal combination for the Nintendo Switch and mobile gaming in general.

Out of the wide variety of ear tips, my favorite ended up being the memory foam ones. It took a few tries to get the fit to be comfortable, but after I got the knack of it, they stayed in my ears and were comfortable for almost two hours straight.

After the headphones are inserted into the ear, the cord is looped up and over the ear with a nice and pliable cable that reminded me of soft (but not fuzzy) pipe cleaners. This kept the cord in place but also was comfortable on the top of my ear.

The microphone is located partially down the audio cable which was the one drawback these had. My friends noted that I sounded very ‘tinny’ because the microphone was picking up a lot of background noise and echoing due to being so far from my lips. They could understand me just fine but I sounded wrong to them.

Music sounded decent, with a nice mid-range and bass, and average quality highs. During games, you could hear footsteps and different sound effects pretty well, though you won’t get the huge booms when a bomb blows up near you since the bass is not extremely powerful. On the Switch, the music and sound effects from Breath of the Wild sounded great.

What I like

  • Variety of ear tips

What needs to be improved

  • The microphone sounds ‘tinny’

Final thoughts

Overall, I thought the Roccat Score headphones were a decent companion to the Nintendo Switch due to the portability, but I would not use them on my PC. The sound quality was decent but the microphone left a lot to be desired. If you can pick up a pair for around $50 or less, the Roccat Score headphones might be nice to toss in a backpack for travel, but I wouldn’t recommend them for much more than that.

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

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Roccat Score gaming headset review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 6, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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SmartHalo multi-function bike accessory tracks fitness, provides navigation, and even serves as an alarm system

NEWS – The SmartHalo Connected Bike System performs a lot of functions in a small package.  It connects to your handlebars, much like those old-fashioned bells.  It’s only  0.8″ x 3.6″ x 2.4″, so it doesn’t interfere with using your bike.  That tiny package adds a lot of functionality without a lot of distractions.

Installation is easy.  You install the mounting base to the handlebars (fits standard handlebar diameters of 22.2, 25.4, and 31.8 mm), then use the HaloKey to secure the SmartHalo to the base.  You’ll only need to remove the SmartHalo when it needs a recharge (about every 3 weeks), or when you need to take it inside to protect it from extreme temperatures (below 14°) when the bike is not being ridden.

The SmartHalo system requires an app on your iPhone (4S and up, iOS 9 and up) or Android phone (equipped with BLE and Android 4.4 and up) and an internet connection.

When you start riding your bike, fitness tracking starts automatically without you needing to start or stop an app.  It also automatically starts navigation, using intuitive light signals to direct turn-by-turn navigation.  Its built-in headlight automatically turns on in blinking or steady mode while riding at night and off when the ride is done.    When you aren’t riding, SmartHalo functions as an audible alarm (over 105dB) to protect your bike from being stolen.

The SmartHalo Smart Connected Bike System is $149.00 from The Grommet.

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SmartHalo multi-function bike accessory tracks fitness, provides navigation, and even serves as an alarm system originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 5, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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Lynktec Bolt wireless car charger review


REVIEW – As a self-proclaimed gadget nerd, I surround myself with every possible gadget and embrace every convenience that they offer. These days where the phone is an integral part of our lives, it is very apparent that driving while operating a phone is a very bad idea and against the law at least here in the USA. Phone mounts for cars have almost become a standard accessory in every car, with some offering more convenience than others.  The Lynktec Bolt wireless car charger is a new addition to an already very crowded field of car charger mounts. However, it offers features that I know that I would like. Here is my review.

What is it?

The Lynktec Bolt wireless car charger is a wireless phone charger that can be mounted to the vent louver, windshield or dashboard. It includes a built-in battery that provides operational power even when the car is turned off.

What’s in the box


1 x Bolt Car Mount
1 x Air Vent Holder
1 x USB-C to USB Cable
1 x Dual USB Car Charger (3.0/2.1A)
1 x Instruction Manual

Design and features

This mount has a bottom rest and two side arms that open and close electronically when the top touchpad is engaged. In the middle where the back of the phone rests is the Qi wireless charger, and above is the Infrared Lock Sensor that senses when a phone is placed into the mount and engages the securing arms to close.


The vent visor clip is connected to the back of the mount via the supplied nut and you press the button above the clip to open the clip and slide it onto the vent louver.



At the bottom of the mount, there is a USB-C power port.


The USB-C to USB cable plugs into the power port on the mount and the other end into the 12V car adapter.

Performance:

Features:

  • Automatic lock & unlock with one touch release
  • Qi-certified fast wireless charger
  • Adjustable stand for 4″ to 6.7″ devices
  • Rotates from portrait to landscape mode
  • 250 mAh backup battery operates mount when disconnected from the power

Below you can see how the mount connects to the vent louver.


The picture below shows the mount connected to the vent with my iPhone 10XS Max in the mount.


In the upper right-hand corner of the phone screen, you can see the icon that is green indicating that the phone is being charged.


The car adapter power plug has the capacity to accommodate 2 USB cables. Only the one labeled 2.1A will work for the wireless charging feature.


The picture below on the left shows the red wireless charging indicator which is on the bottom right side of the mount. The picture on the right shows the blue power indicator that is on the opposite side.


At the top of the mount, there is the touch control that opens and closes the securing arms by touch.

What I like

  • The Qi wireless charging capability
  • Can be used in both portrait and landscape mode
  • The build quality
  • The electronic arms that hold the phone
  • The touch operation

What can be improved

  • Based on the cost of this device, both the air vent mount and the dash/windshield mount should be included

Final thoughts

Not too long ag0, I reviewed a dash mounted phone holder that included arms that operated electronically but did not include Qi wireless charging. While it was a sturdy mount, I had to keep plugging in a separate cable into my iPhone for charging. I remember thinking how great it would be if wireless charging was included. This mount includes that great feature. Since the electronic arms on the mount that I previously reviewed mount began to fail after a few months, time will tell whether this device will do the same or stand up to the daily abuse. While I do think that for the price, the windshield/dash mount should be included, I will still give this Lynktec Bolt wireless car charger two thumbs up for now!!

Price: $49.99 (A telescopic Dash & Windshield suction are sold separately for $9.99)
Where to buy: Lynktec website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Lynktec.

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Lynktec Bolt wireless car charger review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 5, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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These Lucid Candles burn forever

NEWS – Candles add a lot of beauty to your home, but they can be messy – dripping wax everywhere.  And since they are consumed when used, they can be quite expensive to use and replace.   You can switch to those fake, battery-powered candles to prevent getting melted wax everywhere, but those are expensive to purchase and require replacement batteries – and they don’t look real.  Lucid Candles are made of real wax but burn a liquid fuel, so they aren’t consumed as you use them.  (Lucid Liquid is liquid paraffin – a highly refined byproduct of the petroleum refinery process.)  They don’t drip wax everywhere, and replacement fluid is less expensive than replacing candles.  And since they have an actual flame, they look much better than fake candles.

“Lucid candles look and feel like wax candles. The candle is made of a polymer that never burns down. The body of the candle is a reservoir for Lucid Liquid paraffin. The removable top contains a fiberglass wick that reaches into the reservoir and draws up the liquid. Only the Lucid Liquid is burned – the candle and wick are permanent. Light the wick and enjoy clean, natural candlelight.”

The CMAlmay company has been in business since 1892, and they’ve been making liquid candles for use in churches for 30 years.  They are used in 40,000 churches worldwide, and now you can buy them for home use.  The candles are available as tapers and pillars.

Tapers are 11″ tall and 1″ in diameter;  they come with a universal adapter to fit most candle holders.  They’ll burn 5 to 6 hours between refills with Lucid Liquid fuel.  Tapers start at $35.00 each.  Pillars are 3″ in diameter and your choice of 4, 6, or 8″ tall.  Burn time between Lucid Liquid refills vary with size, with the 4″ candle lasting 24 hours, 6″ candle lasting 48 hours, and the 8″ candle lasting 60 hours.  They’ll work with your platform or spike candle holders.  Pillars start at $55.00.  A 1-liter bottle of Lucid Liquid gives 200 hours of burn time for $13.50.  Both tapers and pillars are available in solid colors or decorated with quotes, initials, or decorative images, including holiday designs.

Refilling the candle is simple.  You twist off the top of the candle with a quarter turn, fill with Lucid Liquid,  replace the top and wait 1 minute to prime the wick before lighting.

Lucid candles are available at the Lucid Candle website.

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These Lucid Candles burn forever originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 5, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 gaming headphones + SuperAmp review


REVIEW – I have enjoyed my Turtle Beach Elite Pro gaming headset since I got my hands on them and have felt little desire to try to upgrade to another higher end pair, that is until the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 came out. They are made for the two gaming devices I use most; the PS4 and PC, and it was a great opportunity to see how much they’ve improved from the first generation.

What is it?

The Turtle Beach Elite Pro gaming headset is a pair of gaming headphones with a SuperAmp included to allow for an optimum gaming experience.

Hardware specs

  • Headphones
    Frequency: 12Hz – 20kHz
    50mm Nanoclear speakers
    Unidirectional microphone with TruSpeak technology
    Athletic fabric, leather, & cooling gel-infused memory foam build
  • SuperAmp
    Bluetooth compatible
    App-controlled
    Amplified DTS: Headphone X 7.1 surround sound support

What’s in the box?

In the box, you’ll find the Elite Pro 2 gaming headset, Elite SuperAmp, audio cable, optical cable, Mini USB power cable, quick start guide, and a Turtle Beach sticker.

Design and features

I have played too many hours to admit on the first pair of Turtle Beach Elite Pro headphones, and so I had high expectations for the newest version. I took out all of the components and quickly plugged in the SuperAmp using the same cord as the Turtle BeachElite Pro TAC, attached the microphone to the headphones, and plugged them in. They were ready to go very quickly. Next, I installed the Turtle Beach app and paired the SuperAmp to my iPhone via the Bluetooth button on the side of the SuperAmp. The app itself allows you to control the headphones just as if you had the Elite Pro TAC. I could change between several presets or customize it to my own liking. Lastly, I attached the Mini-USB and Optical cable to my PS4 for when I wanted to switch back and forth.

After countless hours, the padding on my old pair of headphones is still very good and quite comfortable. After using the new headphones, however, it would be very hard to return to the old ones. The gel memory foam cups are extremely comfortable and do not put much pressure at all on your head. They also claim to work well with glasses, though I do not wear glasses so I could not test that out.

They adjusted easily to my head to allow for maximum comfort. I could barely feel the band across the top of my head. They also were sturdy when pulled on and off and tossed onto the computer after each use. I loved that they stayed in place on my head and that I did not have to adjust the fit every time I used them. I noticed this happens often with my standard, cheaper headphones.

The microphone picked up the sound very well when talking. My friends had no problem hearing my voice and thought that the sound quality was better. When recording and playing back my voice, I had to agree; my voice came in clear and loud. One of the only flaws that I noticed in the design of the headphones came with the microphone. While I can remove the microphone entirely, it is not possible to move the microphone out of the way when not in use as the previous model.

Now let’s get to the sound quality. The first thing that I did was listen to music. I thought that the quality was very good overall. The highs were not as prominent as the mid and low ranges, but that’s fine with me. I could understand all the words clearly, hear the background beat to the music, and still get that nice bass sound. For playing music, they did well.

These are gaming headphones, so I was happy to try out different games to see how well they performed. My main game is Overwatch, and it is important to hear footsteps and gunfire around you when you are a healer. They were about on par with the previous model and definitely did an excellent job of letting me hear all there was around me. In Battlefield 1, I really loved hearing the boom of (my) grenades going off around me. The footsteps weren’t as prominent, though I could hear the gunfire very well and generally what direction the shots were coming from. These are the only two games that I play where having surround sound was very important. The sound quality on other games was just as good as listening to my music.

After using the headphones on my PC, I moved the SuperAmp over to the PS4 and tested out a few games there. The Mini-USB and Optical cables were both long enough to where I could sit comfortably on my bed and play. My PS4 recognized the headphones and switched over right away, and I was ready to go. The sound quality was similar to when using them on the PC. Since I always play with my TV speakers and not headphones, I could definitely hear the sound improvement. Now that I have used these headphones with my PS4, I will likely continue to plug them in whenever I play on the PlayStation and I seriously wonder why I went so long without using any headphones on my PS4.

What I liked

  • Extremely comfortable
  • Bluetooth capability
  • Versatile
  • Excellent microphone sound

What needs to be improved

  • The microphone doesn’t fold out of the way

Final thoughts

Overall, I absolutely loved the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 gaming headset and SuperAmp. The ear cushions are even more comfortable than the previous version and the sound quality is better as well. The only gripe I had about was the microphone sticking out all of the time, but not enough to switch back to the previous headset I was using. I would definitely recommend taking a look at the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 headset and SuperAmp if you are in the market for high quality gaming headphones.

Price: $249.95
Where to buy: Turtle Beach Website and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Turtle Beach.

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Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 gaming headphones + SuperAmp review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 5, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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