Reviews – Page 117

Toffee Tokyo Work Bag review

REVIEW – When you need to carry more than just a wallet with you to your job every day, you need a bag that not only looks good on you, but can handle a few good knocks. And that’s exactly what Toffee is offering in their Tokyo Work Bag.

What is it?

The Tokyo Work Bag is a sleek waxed canvas and leather tote from Australia-based Toffee and features multiple pockets, rugged canvas and extra-long handles for comfortable carrying.

Big handles or shoulder strap? You decide.

Hardware specs

Fits laptops up to 14”
39 cm x 29 cm (37 cm w/handle) x 12 cm
Made from water-resistant waxed canvas and genuine leather
Detachable shoulder strap, leather handles
Padded quilted laptop compartment, separate smaller tablet pocket
YKK Japanese zips
3 year warranty

What’s in the box?

Tokyo Work Bag
detachable shoulder strap

Design and Features

I was happy to get my hands on another handsome offering from Australian-based Toffee. Their Tokyo Work Bag (many of their products are named after large cities) is what I would describe as a medium-sized tote bag. It’s mostly constructed from waxed canvas, offering some water resistance, with accents of leather on the side pockets and thick, comfortable handles.

There are a lot of nice little details on this bag.

Inside is a lovely black and white pinstripe pattern, found in many of their other bags. There is a large main compartment, a large padded pocket for a 14” or smaller laptop, and a smaller padded pocket that is the right size for a Kindle or similarly sized tablet. These two pockets are secured with a leather snap fastener. There is one zippered pocket on the opposite side of the laptop pocket. Just above this zipper pocket is a stitched-in name label, which is a nice touch.

There are several pockets on the outside of the bag as well. Two on the ends that are a good size for a small umbrella or phone or perhaps a narrow water bottle, two front pockets that are secured with interior snaps, and one tiny pocket on the back of the bag, which would be suitable for pens, keys or other small items.

The top of the bag can be closed with a large, smooth-action zipper. You can find four metal nubs on the bottom of the bag to protect the bottom material and make a lovely scraping sound on hard surfaces.

The large padded pocket easily accommodates my iPad Pro + keyboard.

The overall construction of the bag is excellent. Every stitch and zipper and snap are expertly implemented. It doesn’t feel too large, although I could have used a little more width, as I like to pack soups for lunch and the large Campbells Chunky soup cans, coupled with a laptop in the bag, tended to cause quite a bulge in the middle. That’s a highly personal instance, however… and don’t get me wrong, this bag can hold quite a bit.

In use, I preferred sticking to the large handles on the bag, rather than the shoulder strap. It’s nice that you can completely remove the strap. When placed on a surface, it’s a bit of a balancing act to keep the bag upright as one side is likely to be heavier due to the laptop pocket. It’s a typical problem, so I can’t fault them for that.

Metal nubs to protect the bottom from scratches. But not from fuzz.

Being constructed mostly of black waxed canvas, it didn’t take long for lint, cat hair and other bits of fuzz to start collecting on the outside of the bag. It’s not difficult to remove, most of it brushes right off, but anyone with a pet might want to opt for the mustard color as it will absolutely carry some of Fluffy with you to work.

What I like

sharp looks and rugged materials
nice, big handles, making it more of a tote
pockets aplenty

What needs to be improved

a bit pricey
canvas picks up lint and hairs easily

Final thoughts

The Tokyo Work Bag is a perfect commuter carryall, provided you’ve got room for a lint brush along with your laptop. All joking aside, this bag is top quality, through and through, and would well serve even the roughest daily trips through the city.

Price: $158.69 (when converted to USD)
Where to buy: You can purchase the Tokyo Work Bag in black or mustard directly from Toffee’s website.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Toffee. You can check out their whole line of bags, wallets and cases on their website.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bags

Toffee Tokyo Work Bag review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 17, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

AKG N700NC Over-Ear Foldable Wireless, Active Noise Cancelling Headphones review

REVIEW – For many years, I have used and purchased several models of the same noise canceling over-the-ear headphones from a famous brand/manufacturer. I have compared several brands of a similar product within the same price range and always ended up purchasing that brand. Now I have the opportunity to review the recently released AKG N700NC Over-Ear Foldable Wireless, Active Noise Cancelling Headphones. I wonder if these headphones will suffer the same fate as the others or can they finally give me a reason to switch brands. Let’s see!!

What is it?

The AKG N700NC Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Wireless Headphones feature wireless Bluetooth connectivity as well as wired connectivity which comes in handy especially if using the flight adapter to listen to in-flight programming, or if using a legacy device that does not have Bluetooth capability. In addition, it has built-in active noise-canceling technology that tunes out ambient noise so that you get a fully engaged listening experience. This technology includes the ability to let in ambient noise with the push of a button which activates the TalkThru capability. This is great for listening to announcements or if you have the need for a short conversation.

What’s in the box

1 x AKG N700NC Adaptive Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
1 x Carrying Case
1 x Flight Adaptor
1 x Micro USB Charging Cable
1 x Straight Cable
1 x User Manual

Design and features

Specifications:

Impedance: 16 ohm
Sensitivity: 98dBSPL/1mW @1kHz
Max Input Power: 30mW
Bluetooth type: 4.2
Frequency Range: 10-20 kHz
Weight: 261g

The AKG N700NC headphones feature Bluetooth connectivity to work wirelessly with most Bluetooth enabled mobile devices and it also offers the ability to connect via hard wire to legacy devices or devices without the Bluetooth capability. According to AKG, the built-in battery can provide up to 20 hours of listening with noise canceling engaged when being used via a Bluetooth connection. In addition, if you decide to connect to an audio device via the included straight cable, the battery life goes up to 36 hours per charge with noise canceling active.

On the right side earpiece of the headphone, there is the power/Bluetooth button, the Smart Ambient button and the Micro USB charging port. The correct side for wearing is also indicated on the hinge of each earpiece.

Bluetooth LED Indication:

Smart Ambient LED Indication:

On the left earpiece, there is the 3.5mm port for the wired connection, the + and – buttons for track forward and backward and in between the track buttons, there is the play/pause/call answer/hangup/reject/voice assistant button. For the track selection, you press and hold the – or+ button for 2 seconds, for the call functions and play/pause you press the button once and for the voice assistant (Siri/Google Now) you press the button once.

The headphones are built with memory foam earpads and a padded headband that makes them very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They also include hinges right above each earpad that allow each side to be folded. The headband is also adjustable.

AKG includes a cable for wired listening. The cable has 3.5mm male plugs on each end and a button remote in the middle that controls phone call and audio functions. To control using the button remote you press once to answer/hang up on calls and to play or pause music, press twice to move to the next track and 3 times for the previous track. The picture below on the right shows the included flight adapter.

AKG also provide a very nice braided and branded micro USB cable for charging the headphones.

Performance

The headphones fold to become very easy to carry either in the case or otherwise. They are adjustable to create the perfect and very comfortable fit over my head, and the earcups make a nice seal over my ears.

These AKG headphones perform amazingly well in every area. I love listening to Contemporary Jazz with them because it is a nice audiophile experience and they do not cost the $1000s that many of the audiophile headphones that I have tried retail for. I love the Smart Ambient feature that allows you to adjust the Automatic Noise Cancelation (ANC) so that there is a really nice balance between the noise cancelation and the ambient environmental sounds. What is even more impressive, is that you can change the assignment of the Smart Ambient button from the default ambient feature to the Talkthru feature that allows you to have a conversation with others without removing the headphones.

While I prefer listening to music wirelessly, I love that I have the ability to use these headphones as wired as well. I actually do like the wired sound a bit more, since from my perception it has a bit more of an audiophile quality to it.

I have also used these headphones when editing video and they also work great as a studio option and especially when I am working and I don’t want to be distracted by the noise that the kids are making in the background.

Phone call quality is great including clarity and solid connectivity when using Bluetooth.

App

Below are some screenshots from the app that allows you to manage a few features like performing firmware updates, customizing equalization settings and reassigning the Smart Ambient button function.

If you would like even more information and operational details on these headphones, you can click here to download the user manual.

What I like

The build quality
The fit and finish
The sound
The balanced noise canceling
The weight and size
The features

What can be improved

Compared to other headphones in this price range and how the ones that I have tested measure up, I have no complaints

Final thoughts

After many years of using one specific brand of over-the-ear noise canceling headphones, I am happy to have found a new brand that does an amazing job at not only accomplishing the same goal but in my opinion, does it better. Sound and fit are all individually subjective features, and different people can and do have different opinions, However, I believe that those that try these headphones will not only be very pleased but will also agree with most of if not all of my experience with them and review of them. I love the Smart Ambient feature that creates the right balance between noise canceling and the common sense application of it to be able to hear in an emergency. I have experienced using other noise canceling headphones when I was on a train that got canceled, and because my eyes were closed, I did not see everyone leaving their seats. Another passenger had to nudge me to tell me what had occurred. The design, features, and sound of these headphones offer true performance and versatility and they get two thumbs way up from me. Well done!!!

Price: $349.99
Where to buy: B&H Photo Video or Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Samsung.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth headphones

AKG N700NC Over-Ear Foldable Wireless, Active Noise Cancelling Headphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 17, 2018 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Dreampad Memory Support Pillow with Music & Sleep Technology review

REVIEW – For many years, I have struggled with getting a good night of sleep and it usually starts with difficulty falling asleep. I have tried many things including sound machines, but I have found that listening to Contemporary Jazz music that I love gives me the best chance to easily fall asleep. The problem is that although my wife enjoys that type of music as well, she needs the room to be quiet when she is really ready to sleep. So, what do I do? The Dreampad Memory Support Pillow with Music & Sleep Technology from SleepScore Labs seems like a possible solution.

What is it?

The Dreampad is a 20” x 28” pillow that utilizes embedded transducers to deliver music through gentle vibration that only the user can hear and will not disturb anyone sleeping nearby.

What’s in the box

1 x Dreampad Pillow
1 x AC Adapter and Micro USB Charging Cable
1 x Bluetooth Adapter
1 x Quick Start Guide

Design and features

The Dreampad pillow is covered in a very soft and smooth white cover that is 100% cotton. There is a zipper on one side that reveals a pocket that includes a built-in wire with a 3.5mm plug that connects to the Bluetooth adapter. They also include an extension 3.5mm cable so that you have the option of a wired connection to maybe a larger radio or music source on your nightstand or otherwise some distance away.

The Bluetooth adapter connects to the micro USB cable to be charged and has a touch plower/play/pause button on the front.

On one of the thin sides, it has a volume up/down control.

On the other side if the 3.5mm port for connecting the adapter to the pillow.

Performance

The Dreampad is very easy to set up and you can quickly start to enjoy the benefit of it. The Bluetooth adapter arrived with some amount of charge and I charged it the day before I started using it. Once I turned on the adapter, it showed up in the list of the available Bluetooth devices on my phone as Dreampad. The pairing was easy, and it was ready to go. My first test was to play music wirelessly from my iPhone. At first, I could not hear anything, then I realized that it is designed to be used with very little to no ambient noise and that for me, I could only really hear it with my head turned to the side with an ear on the pillow. If I was lying flat with the back of my head on the pillow, I could not hear it. Maybe someone with better hearing than I have might. This was not a big issue for me since I tend to sleep on either side but rarely face up with the back of my head on the pillow. I was also able to test the pillow using a transistor radio with a 3.5mm output auxiliary jack since you can use the 3.5mm cable that is built into the pillow to connect directly to the music source as opposed to the Bluetooth adapter. I went back to my iPhone, and I opened my Pandora app and started playing my Contemporary jazz selections, and soon dozed off to sleep. For me, it is a very soothing experience and it does help me to fall asleep easier and faster. One important point to note is that I decided to purchase a zippered pillow cover to cover the Dreampad and then I put the pillow cover on. I did this to keep the Dreampad clean and to protect it in case I spill water on it while taking a sip during the night and especially so if I fail to completely close its zipper. I am not sure how water resistant it is.

APP

The Dreampad also can be managed via a mobile app, that can broadcast any selection of music or sounds you select. It comes with 10 songs that are designed to specifically support sleep. The app also features volume control, play time control, and an alarm. The following are some screenshots from the app:

What I like

The quality of the pillow
The design and capability to connect to various audio sources and in multiple ways

What can be improved

The price

Final thoughts

When I first heard about the Dreampad, I was not certain that I would actually use it regularly, but I was willing to try it because of the difficulty I have sleeping. While it does have its limitations, it actually works quite well and succeeds at helping me to drift off to sleep. I do think that it is the kind of product that you will either use regularly if you like it or not at all if you are on the fence about it. Having said that, I personally like it. However, the sample I received is the medium support version, and I do need it to be much firmer for me to use it as my only pillow. I checked the ordering process on the website, and they do offer a selection of levels of firmness that includes a firm support version, and apparently a variety of material types that includes memory foam. I use the Dreampad almost every night along with another pillow, even when at times I fall asleep before actually connecting it to music.

Price: $127.20
Where to buy: SleepScore Labs
Source: the sample for this review was provided by SleepScore Labs.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Sleep

Dreampad Memory Support Pillow with Music & Sleep Technology review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 16, 2018 at 9:31 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

LuDela Candles Perfect Pillar Starter Set remote controlled candle review

REVIEWS – LuDela Candles aren’t your typical candles, and you know that because LuDela candles come with a remote control. It might better be called a lantern that looks like a candle, because the waxy pillar you see is merely a covering for the flame device inside. Unlike normal candles, the LuDela shell never melts, because you’re actually burning a liquid fuel. This pillar has electronic ignition, and it can even blow itself out at the end of the timer period or if it tips over. Unlike battery-powered flameless candles, LuDela candles look better because they have a real flame. The LuDela Perfect Pillar sounds like the perfect candle! How does it work?

What’s in the box?

Perfect Pillar candle device with Ivory shell
2 Caring Candle refills
2 SunScent Rings
Remote
Charging cable and power supply

You can see all of the contents of the kit in the top photo. This photo shows the contents of my box, minus the candle and remote.

The Thank You note seen here explains a little about their Better Light, Better Lives charity. “LuDela is a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation and pending B-Corp with the mission to deliver Better Light, Better Lives for our customers and the global community. For every innovative candle product sold LuDela donates a book to help bring libraries to underserved communities with their non-profit partner Books for Africa.”

The company was founded by Jamie Bianchini. “He was traveling by bike in Africa, when in Burkina Faso, Jamie spent the night at a rustic guesthouse where he was given a candle as a light source. He accidentally fell asleep with the candle burning and woke up to a room filled with thick smoke from a candle fire. Luckily, he was able to put the fire out with his boxer shorts. As he rode his bike onwards the next day the inspiration for the LuDela Perfect came to him. After helping his new Ugandan friend named Innocent realize his dream for the Good Hope School in Uganda, Jamie was inspired to use the patented LuDela innovation as a vehicle to illuminate the minds of more children around the world by giving the empowering gift of literacy.”

Design and features

Let’s look a little closer at the candle before moving on. I received the Perfect Pillar in ivory. This is the standard color used for all candle starter sets at this time. The metal piece you see extending above the pillar is the top of the device that houses and controls the flame. It normally rests below the level of the pillar, but I had released it for removal for this photo.

You’ll notice that there’s a sun logo embossed near the bottom of the candle. The remote control receiver is behind this logo. You need to have this side facing out to be able to control the candle with the remote. The logo isn’t as cleanly embossed on the candle I received as it is in the stock photo at the top of this review.

Here you’ll see the combustion device beside the wax shell. Those columns inside the shell ensure that the interior device is always oriented correctly for the remote receiver to work properly.

The bottom of the shell just has a label and three little feet. It also seems to have a limited-edition number on the bottom.

The top of the interior device is metal. You can see two wires in the center of the opening. Those wires apparently spark the flame when you turn the candle on with the remote.

The open sunburst design can be left open as you see above, or you can insert a fragrance ring, as seen here. The starter kit comes with two rings of the same color/fragrance. If you want to use fragrance with your candles, you can purchase additional rings in six other color/fragrance combinations for $10 for a set of two, or you can get a complete set of 12 rings (2 of each fragrance) for $40.00.

I won’t be using the fragrance rings because everyone in my family has a lot of allergies. They add a nice color, but I just can’t risk the fragrance around my asthmatic daughter. I wish you could get some unscented color rings.

Setup

There’s not a lot involved in setting up the Perfect Pillar candle. The manual is pretty comprehensive, but you’ll also want to watch the video here to learn how to open your Perfect Pillar device, charge it, and insert the fuel before you’re ready to light it. I charged my Perfect Pillar overnight before loading up the fuel cartridge.

You get two Caring Candle refills in the starter kit. Each cartridge burns for about 20 hours. They come sealed inside a plastic bag that has the zipper-opening equivalent of a child-proof bottle cap.

Each cartridge has a double cap on it to be sure there are no leaks. Once you take these caps off, you need to keep the cartridge upright to prevent spills.

The cartridge slides up into the bottom of the interior flame device. I didn’t remove the caps before I took the picture you see here; I didn’t have anyone to hold the device upright at the time. After I got the pictures, I removed both caps, inserted the cartridge in my fully charged combustion device, then inserted it into the candle shell.

Performance

You need the remote control to light up and control the Perfect Pillar. (Just a note here: You can actually light the candle with a match or a lighter, but none of the smart functions will be operational. It will not extinguish the flame if the candle tips nor will it blow out the flame automatically unless you have first ignited the candle with the remote.) To prevent children from playing with the candle, you need a security code to use the remote. There’s a label on the back of the remote control with the unlock code. Once you’ve remembered the keypress sequence, remove the label to prevent children from lighting the candle.

The remote control has a mounting plate that can be attached to the wall with either the supplied screws or double-sided mounting tape. Put it beside your room’s light switch so you can quickly make the decision for candles or light bulbs as you enter the room. The same remote can operate all the candles in your room, but you will have to point the remote at each candle or grouping to light them. Also remember that you must have the sun logo on the candle facing into the room to receive the remote signals.

I did the unlock sequence on the remote and chose a time for the candle to burn, and the candle immediate lit up! That was so cool to see, because it means I could put my candle anywhere without having to worry that short me would be able to reach it later when I wanted to use it. After it burned for a while, I decided to try out the tipping function. I just tilted the candle with my hands instead of knocking it over – because I’m overly cautious – and the flame was puffed out before the candle was tiled more than 10 degrees (estimation). I heard a little puff of air before the flame was extinguished. There’s a little fan inside that blows the flame out.

I lit the candle again and set it for a one hour timer. The flame burned steadily for a full hour, then I heard the puff again and the flame was out. The flame never guttered nor flared up during the hour it burned in my first test. It hasn’t done so any other time I’ve used it, either.

The center of the cartridge has the wick you see burning here. After I’ve used it for a while, it is just the slightest bit blackened on the very tip of the wick, but it isn’t being consumed by the fire like the wick in a normal candle. It’s not burned away because it’s simply the substrate for the liquid fuel to burn on. You won’t have to worry about adjusting or trimming wicks with the Perfect Pillar.

What I like

You can change the appearance of this candle by swapping the flame device into new, colorful, relatively inexpensive Flex Shells (currently $20 each).
I like the safety of a candle that can put itself out if it tips.
I like the timers for burn times. I’d still never leave a live flame unattended, but it’s still comforting to know the candle will extinguish itself, if necessary.
The candle is very attractive.
It looks like a normal pillar candle unless you are looking down into the combustion device.
It always looks new, because the waxy shell is never consumed.

What needs to be improved

Nothing really, but I wish I could get unscented color sunburst rings for the top. (Somebody send me one of those blue fruit cobbler-scented rings after the scent is gone, please! )

Final thoughts

I love the safety features built into the LuDela smart candles. It’s nice to know I won’t set something on fire if I tip over the candle, because it will put itself out. I like the remote lighting function because I’ll be able to set the candle someplace without worrying if I can reach it later – plus it’s just darn cool to light a candle with a remote control! It’s a little expensive to get the starter kit, but you’ll be able to change the color of the wax shell or change the fragrance for a reasonable price. And refill cartridges are reasonably priced at $10/pair , too, especially when you consider how expensive normal wax candles are. The LuDela Perfect Pillar always looks nice and new, because the outside never gets burned away.

Price: $129.00
Where to buy: LuDela Candles; accessories here
Source: The sample of this product was provided by LuDela Candles

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Home and Kitchen

LuDela Candles Perfect Pillar Starter Set remote controlled candle review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 15, 2018 at 11:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

Tronsmart Element Blaze Bluetooth Speaker review

REVIEW – These days, almost every electronic gadget features some type of wireless capability, and for leisure time, wireless Bluetooth speakers have become quite popular. I have tested a few of them, and most of them have been quite good for what they are designed to do. For this review, I will be playing around with the Tronsmart Element Blaze Bluetooth Speaker.

What is it?

The Tronsmart is a Bluetooth indoor/outdoor portable wireless speaker that is Bluetooth Speakers Outdoor, Tronsmart Portable Wireless Speaker IPX56, Waterproof, 12 hours of playtime on one charge, blue LED Light Effects for the speakers and can be paired with another similar Tronsmart for True Wireless Stereo effect.

What’s in the box

1 x Tronsmart Element Blaze Speaker
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x 3.5mm AUX Cable
1 x User Manual
1 x Warranty card

Design and features

Specifications:

Bluetooth Version: 4.2
Bluetooth Compatibility: A2DP, AVRCP, GAVDP, AVDTP, SPP, AVCTP
Material: ABS + metal
Battery Capacity: Built-in lithium battery, 3.7V/1800mAh
Charging Time: 1-2H
Play Time: 10-12H
Output: 7W x 2
Frequency Range: 10m/33ft
Driver Unit: 45mm diameter, 4Ω inner magnet
Connectivity: Micro USB charging port, 3.5mm aux-in port
Dimensions: 180 x 69 x 69mm / 7.08 x 2.71 x 2.71in
Net Weight: 424.5g / 14.97oz

On the top of the speaker, there are 5 buttons that are waterproofed by rubber caps. From left to right as pictured below, there is the play/pause/Handsfree button. It is used to play and pause music and if there is an incoming phone call, it is used to answer the call, place it on hold or reject it. You can also press and hold it to redial the last dialed phone number. Right next to the play/pause symbol on this button, there is a small LED that lights orange when the speaker is being charged. The next button is the previous trace/volume button. You press to lower the volume or hold to select the previous track. The next button the light control/TWS9True Wireless Stereo)/Bluettoth button. For LED light control, each press increases the intensity up to 3 presses and then turns the LED off. On the 3rd press, the lights go into strobe mode. I do not have a second speaker so I was unable to test the TWS (Click here to download and read the User Manual). The next button is the next track/volume up button. You press to raise the volume or hold to choose the next track. That last button which is all the way on the right is the power button that you hold to turn the speaker on or off. right next to the symbol on this button there is a small LED that lights and blinks blue when the speaker is in pairing mode.

On the bottom of the speaker, there is a 1/4-20mm mount that allows to you use it on various types of mounts with a 1/4-20mm stud.

Each side of the speaker has a small built-in handle. On one side, the handle has a hole that you can add a carrying clip to or otherwise use to hang the speaker.

On the back of the speaker, there is a rubber door that covers the ports to keep them waterproof. Once you pull back the rubber door, there is the charging port and an auxiliary port.

On the front of the speaker, there is the branding on top and a microphone the 2 speakers behind a speaker grill. You have to look very closely to see the microphone hole since it is well hidden behind the grill. The picture below shows the speakers with the LED lights on.

Performance

As soon as I powered the speaker on, it went into pairing mode and showed up in the Bluetooth choices on my phone it paired very easily and was ready to go. It sounds pretty good and better than I expected it to given its small size. There is no great distortion with any of the genres of music I played on it, including jazz and R&B, etc. The blue LED lights are a nice touch and overall the speaker works well as a wireless speakerphone with good clarity to the calls. It is well built and quite sturdy and feels solids in my hands. While I did not dunk it in water, the rubber seals are tight and did not leak with the simple splash test that I performed. The auxiliary port allows you to plug in an external player. These days with wireless connectivity becoming a regular feature of most music players, there is not much use for this option. However, I did plug in the output from my projector and it sounded decent enough to watch a movie although it was lacking the true power and desirable frequency range and separation for such an application. It is also nice that its portability allows me to place it wherever I want to.

What I like

The build quality. it is a solid little speaker
The size
The sound for such a small size
The ease of use
The blue LED lights and the ability to adjust them including turning them off
The 1/4-20″ built-in mount

What can be improved

Nothing

Final thoughts

The Tronsmart Element Blaze Bluetooth Speaker is a nicely built and decent sounding speaker that in my opinion is a nice value. It is small and compact and very portable and the waterproof feature allows you to carry it just about anywhere without worrying too much. The speaker is not designed to offer audiophile sound, but rather to offer convenience and the ability to enjoy your music wherever and whenever you want. The Blue LED lights on the speakers are a nice touch, and the ability to adjust them allows you to set a mood if you choose to. Keeping in mind the perception of a device such as this is individually subjective, this speaker gets two thumbs up from me.

Price: $29.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tronsmart.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Bluetooth speaker

Tronsmart Element Blaze Bluetooth Speaker review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 15, 2018 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.