Reviews – Page 19

Sztrokia Sleep Sound Machine white noise generator review

REVIEW – If you enjoy the soothing sounds of rain, a fan, the ocean, or perhaps the gentle quiet sound of nature at night, then the Sztrokia Sleep Sound Machine would be a great device for you to have. Whether you like to listen to these sounds while you sleep, study, or just need some kind of distraction in the background, then this sound machine is a perfect companion to achieving that white noise you are looking for.

What is it?

The Sztrokia Sleep Machine is a sound maker that features 10 different sounds from rain to ocean waves to fans to white noise to nature night sounds to help you rest, relax, sleep, study, or meditate. This sound machine also features a USB port on the back of the unit so you can plug in your phone’s USB charging cable. Since you have to plug in the sound machine’s AC adapter into the wall plug you will still have a way to charge your phone or other devices should you need to. Whichever sound you choose, that sound is intended to block out any unwanted noise or just to keep your mind relaxed and focused.

What’s in the box?

Sound Machine
Wall plug adapter

Design and features

The Sztrokia Sleep Machine is a small sound maker that allows the listener to choose between ten recorded soothing sounds to help you relax, meditate, or focus. This little sound machine is perfect for when you need a little ambient atmosphere to help drown out any unwanted sound or noise while you study, while you read, put a baby down to sleep, meditate, paint, work on the computer, or any other activity that you would want some white noise sound in the background. The sounds that this machine produces is meant to help you block out unwanted or distracting noise. Even if your environment doesn’t have these unwanted noises, this device can be used just as a standalone peaceful sound maker. The dimensions for this machine is 4.6 x 1.2 x 4.6 inches and weighs 5.6 ounces.

There are five types of sounds to choose from and every sound has two versions each so there are ten sounds in all. The available sounds are rain, fan, night, ocean, and white noise. You can make your selections using the buttons on the front of the sound maker. For each button, you can press it to cycle through the two choices of each sound. It’s nice that the buttons on the front are raised so they are easy to operate. Plus, they have a nice bounce back and sturdy click when you press them. So, you should not have any problems making your sound selection with these buttons. There are also small icons of the corresponding sound on the front of each button so you can tell which button is for which sound.

On the left of the sound buttons is the Power button. The Power button allows you to cycle through three Timer options, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes. However, the first press of the Power button puts the Sound Machine into an All Night option, meaning that the Sound machine will stay on until you turn it off. Since I like to listen to the Rain sounds for extended times, the All Night setting is best for me. Just so you know which Timer setting the Sound Machine is on, a convenient green light is illuminated directly above the chosen Timer setting. Keep in mind that the All Night option doesn’t have any lights illuminated.

On the right of the sound buttons is your typical Volume knob. Turning it to the left lowers the volume and turning it to the raises the volume. Simple. The thing that I noticed about this sound machine is that it only has one speaker. Although the sound quality isn’t bad, I feel that this sound machine could benefit from a second speaker. It’s hard to get a good sound quality when you only have a mono speaker. I think a second speaker would give more depth and dynamic resulting in a more realistic natural stereo sound.

On the back side is a USB port just above the power plug. The USB port is convenient to have so you can connect the charging cable for your phone or another device that may benefit from the USB port. A bonus to plugging your phones charging cable to the sound machine is that you get extra length added to your charging cable should you need it. Plus, since this sound machine is very light and compact, it is perfect to bring along with you when you travel. It doesn’t take up much space and it’s not bulky at all. In fact, its narrow square shape makes it easy to slip into a small bag or small luggage. And speaking of travel, this would be a perfect companion traveling and you’re staying at a hotel and need to get some sleep or take a nice restful nap. You could skip turning on the TV for the background noise and just turn on this sound machine, select the sound of your choice, and get some peaceful rest.

On the back is a small kickstand to prop up the sound machine so you can position it to the desired angle. The kickstand retracts flushed onto the sound machine for maximum storage and portability. On the bottom of the sound machine is a rubber strip pad to help prevent the sound machine from sliding on smooth surfaces. Plus, the rubber pad helps from scuffing those surfaces as well.

Performance

Although the ten pre-programmed sounds are pleasant to listen to, I found that because there is only one speaker this dulls the clarity of the sounds because after all, the sounds are coming out from a single speaker. I think having two speakers will give the sounds more dynamic range and clarity because it seems that the tone of the speaker is low. So, as a result, you would have to turn the volume up to get a cleaner and crisper sound. The downside on that is that maybe you don’t want the volume too loud because then the sound would become distracting rather than welcoming.

For example, say you want to have the sound of a fan in your baby’s room but the sound is soft because the tone is low, so to get a clearer sound you have to turn it up. But then turning up the volume may get too loud for the baby to sleep to. Although it’s a personal preference to have the crisper cleaner sound, the sounds aren’t half bad considering the single speaker.

What I like

Pre-set settings of 15, 30, and 60 minutes and all night timer.
USB port on the back.
Small in size.
Convenient sound buttons on front.
Portable for travel.

What I’d change

I would add another speaker to produce stereo sound.
I would make the nature sounds such as the rain, waves, and night noises more natural and realistic.
Include a rechargeable long life battery.

Final thoughts

If listening to relaxing sounds like rain, beach waves, fan noise, or other white noise sounds makes you feel at ease, helps you sleep better, or if you just need some background noise to replace the environmental noise that you’re in, then a sound machine is a great tool to achieve this. There are times when you need some artificial aide to help combat those unwanted background noises or times when you just want some familiar sounds to help you sleep, Having a sound machine like this one is a good companion to keep in your bedroom, baby’s room, office, studio, or even to bring with you while you travel, thanks to the sound machine’s small and compact design.

I really like the Sztrokia Sleep Sound Machine from Sztrokia. Although there are only ten pre-programmed sounds, I do find that the rain and the beach waves are sounds that I generally like to listen to the most so those are sounds are enough for me. However, having the other sounds available could come in handy and maybe a nice change to listen to.

Price: $17.99
Where to buy: www.sztrokia.com and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by www.sztrokia.com.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Sleep

Sztrokia Sleep Sound Machine white noise generator review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 30, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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Homever Slow Masticating Juicer review

REVIEW – In today’s world, eating and drinking healthy are popular efforts that have become a sought after lifestyle. In response to this demand, thousands of appliances have flooded the market, all offering to take your healthy ingredients and turn them into even healthier dishes or juices. I love fruit, but I can never seem to get into the rhythm of eating all of the fruit I purchase. However, since I do drink a lot of liquids, the idea of turning the fruit and vegetables into tasty and healthy juices is very appealing to me. There are tons of Juicers that promise to do the job of producing the most juice, in an easy way, and with minimal cleanup. Let’s see how the Homever Slow Masticating Juicer handles the task.

What is it?

The Homever Slow Masticating Juicer is a slow masticating juicer for fruits and vegetables, with a quiet motor and reverse function. It has also been designed to be easy to clean and it is BPA-Free

What’s in the box

1 x Homever Slow Masticating Juicer
1 x Juice Container
1 x Residue Container
1 x Propelling Rod
1 x Tray
1 x Extractor
1 x Juice Filter
1 x Extractor Cover
1 x Cleaning Brush
1 x User Guide

Design and features

Features:

80 Rpm Slow Masticating & Grinding: Homever masticating juicer works in slow speed 80 rpm /minute, producing less foaming or clogging.
7 Segment Spiral System: The 7 segment spiral masticating extraction can fully squeeze the fruits and vegetables.
60 Low Decibel Moter Running: The Homever juice machine produces less than 60db of noise when working, and it is easy to assemble, operate and clean.

On the front side of the base, there is the receptacle that the juicing extractor mechanism connects to.
On the opposite side of the base is the power switch. It includes the on, off and the reverse functions. Below the power switch at the bottom is the built-in power cord.

The juicing extractor mechanism that includes the filter, propelling rod and extractor connects to the base.

Performance

The Juicer is very easy to assemble, and I was able to put the few parts together in seconds. Then, I set it up on my crowded testing counter in the kitchen and I was ready to go., The only challenge I faced was where and how to place the container baffle, but I think I figured it out correctly.

For this test, I decided to use an apple, three clementines, a peach and a bunch of red seedless grapes. The ingredients are shown below.

I started putting the fruit in the feeding tube and very lightly pressed down on the propelling rod.

When I was done with feeding the fruit through the extractor, I had one container with all of the pulp and about 2 glasses of great tasting juice. Maybe I did not place the Container Baffle correctly because I did have some foam in the glass, but I have no problem with the foam. Not sure why some folks do, but for me, it was just great.
The picture below shows the resulting pulp. Everything processed easily so I did not have to use the reverse function. However, I did test it and it works by reversing the direction of the spiraling system.

As shown below, taking the juicer apart is simple and that makes it easy to clean. I did not even have to use the Cleaning Brush. I just ran the filter and other parts under hot tap water and everything cleaned up great.

What I like

Simple and effective operation
It works with very little effort
Produces really nice pure juice
It is easy to clean
The build quality is good and it is lightweight

What I’d change

A more detailed User Guide that is also easier to read. (Larger print and diagrams)

Final thoughts

I have tried several juicers prior to this one. The ones I previously tried were ok, but they always seemed to produce less juice than I expected, required quite a bit of effort to “push” the ingredients through the blades, and were not that easy to clean up afterward. While some of them seemed a bit more robust, this juicer not only really gets the juice out of the ingredients, but it also does so producing pure juice with no reside, and the clean up is quick and easy. So far, I give it 2 thumbs up!!

Price: $102.99 plus 12% coupon = $96.79 (Amazon), $98.99 (Homever)
Where to buy: Amazon and Homever website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Homever

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Appliance, Food, Home and Kitchen

Homever Slow Masticating Juicer review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 29, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Tineco PURE ONE S12 Smart Vacuum Cleaner review

REVIEW – I would hazard a guess that the eternal battle between a clean house and the time to clean isn’t something unique to my family. Add two dogs to the mix and it becomes an exponential problem. Add a roofing project on top of that and now it’s just insult to injury. As luck would have it the Tineco Pure One S12 Smart Vacuum Cleaner showed up for review. Can changing the vacuum we use be the answer we need? Let’s find out.

What is it?

The Pure One S12 is slender stick-type vacuum with a suite of smart features to help in your daily cleaning routine.

What’s in the box?

Tineco Pure One S12 Vaccum
2500mAh Battery
Spare 2500mAh Battery
Multi-tasker power brush (direct-drive LED)
Main extension tube
Charging station (wall mount)
Mini power brush
2-in1 dusting brush
Flexible long crevice tool
Crevice tool
Soft dusting brush
Automatic pre-filter cleaning tool
Wall adapter
Mounting hardware for charging station
Manuals

Hardware specs

Batteries – 2500mAh
Rating Power/Max Suction – 500w/150w
Runtime – ≤ 100 minutes with non-motorized tool attachments

Design and features

The overall build and aesthetic immediately feels more current tech and IOT than it does vacuum. Lots of white and black throughout peppered with a good deal of chrome and plenty of LEDs and a touch panel.

Most of the touted features fall into their Smart nomenclature. Smart Suction which automatically adjusts depending on the activity or blockage. Smart battery management which lets you keep an eye on power levels. Smart noise optimization which keeps operational noise to a minimum. And finally, Smart filter self cleaning which lets you use the vacuum to clean its own filters.

The display itself is a central point of information and controls serving up info on battery level, error indicators, suction level, dust monitoring and wifi connection confirmation. At the rear of the vacuum there are two button releases. One is on the bottom and that’s the battery location with the release switch being on the battery itself (shown here in left of photo).

The second is the main Hepa filter which releases the same way (shown on right above). This should need to be cleaned or replaced much less frequently than the pre-filter which is in direct contact with the vacuum’s intake.

The dustbin is released via a lever in front of your middle fingers. Once released it pivots out from the top front. The dustbin opens from the front and has a center cartridge that houses the pre-filter. Disassembling to clean/wide down is pretty easy.

All of the attachments mount to the front of the vacuum with a keyed fitting and nice quick release button that makes swapping accessories very easy. A few of the accessories have built in extension or deployable bristles.

Setup

To get started you want to find a good location to mount the wall hanger. One piece of key information that’s missing prior to purchase is that the wall mount is required for charging. There’s no good way to work around it other than laying it all flat on the floor which isn’t the best for space optimization. Hopefully you have a wall outlet nearby as it’s required. I was able to find a spot in a guest room closed and had to run an extension cord, but the good news is it’s up, charged and running.

Tineco has included some mounting hardware and drywall anchors, but use something appropriate for your situation. Make sure to hang the caddy so that the two charging contacts at the front are at least x” from the floor or it’s possible that the floor attachment could keep the vacuum from docking correctly.

Once your system is mounted, go ahead and hang the vacuum by inserting the top at an angle and then resting it into the cavity so the electrical contacts meet. A sticker on the mount shows you how to do it. You’ll know it’s properly docked because the LED panel on the vacuum will spring to life and show the charging status. You can then insert the 2nd battery into the charging dock on the right side of the wall mount. The LED on the battery will show it’s connected.

Once everything is charged, you’re ready to connect the app (yep, there’s an app). Download from Google Play or the App Store, launch and register for an account to get started.

In the App, click on add a device, then on the vacuum, pull the trigger for 2 seconds to activate it, then remove the dustbin and press the wifi reset button.

It’s possible that you’ll then be able to use your phone to scan barcode on the underside of the vacuum, but on my iPhone I had to jump out to the settings app and connect to the Tineco_xxxx network and then back to the app to enter my network information. If you’re having trouble, check Tineco’s website for troubleshooting (and make sure you’re not on pre-release OS software as it could be the culprit).

Performance

So it’s a vacuum. What makes this one different besides being cordless?

As you go to use it, the first thing you notice is the ergonomics.

The weight is up at the handle which makes it easier to carry from room to room. It also has implications to actual vacuuming, but more on that in a bit. The main extension tube is the right height for standard vacuum lengths and works well for our 5’7″ to 6’3″ family. It uses the same connector at the bottom end which means you can connect the big accessories directly to the vacuum if you want to use it directly on a sofa or a mattress. Very cool.

As you grab the drill-driver type handle and trigger, it’s really easy to squeeze, pull and start it up. You’ll actually find that it’s possibly too easy, but ends up being nice that there isn’t a ton of resistance on your finger.

That’s when you notice the second big thing, or lack thereof; the volume. Most vacuums are loud and in my experience they also have high pitched whines. Maybe it’s been my brand choices in the past, but I’ve had models from Hoover, Electrolux and our current Dyson and they’re all loud enough that I almost want earplugs. Even the iLife robot-vac we have is annoyingly loud and takes forever. By comparison, the S12 is very tolerable and completely without the high-pitch whine that would usually drive me crazy. For me this is a massive benefit that results in me using the vacuum more.

Our main floor is mostly dark hardwood with two area rugs, one sisal and one softer but equally low pile. Our stairs are the same hardwood with independent sisal treads and the bedrooms are all medium pile carpets. Our two dogs definitely create the lions share of our vacuuming needs as they both shed. One is a beagle and the other a white Pyrenees/Lab mix whose hair doesn’t exactly hide on the dark woods.

The S12 kicks on in Auto mode by default and actively adjusts suction depending on what the main power brush detects. As I move from hardwood to carpet that change is audible and it’s nice not to have to flick a switch or step on a button to make the change. Speaking of switches, right next to the trigger is a right-handed thumb switch with keeps the vacuum on without continually pressing the trigger.

The multi-tasker power brush is the primary attachment we’ve been using. The wheels have an inline-skate quality to them, rolling well without the usual plastic sound that makes me wonder if a vacuum’s wheels are damaging the floors. It also disassembles easily to be able to get to any wrapped hair or threads that may start to affect performance which the big display should notify you of.

So let’s discuss this display. It’s a big 4″ round display that lights up any time you press the button or dock it to charge. It’s oriented for you as you’re vacuuming and doesn’t invert when docked to charge which I find funny, but hey that’s something they can hopefully fix with a firmware update. As for info, it displays a battery icon, battery percentage and wifi logo just above the center line.

Just below the centerline is the suction power level indicator shown in a segmented line from left to right (showing a very low power level of 4 in this photo). Just below that is the Auto indicator confirming you’re in that mode. Circling the entire face is the dust monitoring loop which turns from blue to red according to the dust levels.

Should they occur, the centerline to the left of the Tineco logo will present brush roller tangled, air channel blocked, and dust sensor defective icons to let you know there’s something that needs your attention.

Just behind the circular display is a round Auto button and a finger width scalloped recess. This is actually a touch sensor for manual mode.

Slide your finger or thumb in the groove towards the display for more power and away for less. The Auto button is used to return to auto from manual mode. In general Auto mode worked great. The only time we switched out of it was when cleaning the stairs around the stair treads with a crevice tool. Auto mode set it to low and we needed max to get to the dog hair in the corners.

The wall mount works well, and having a second battery hanging out fully charged is super handy for any extended cleaning sessions. The main thing I’ll fault it for is that it only has room for 3 of the 6 attachments included with the kit. Tineco does sell an accessory bag, but there’s not a hanging spot on this mount for it either.

Emptying the dustbin is always a messy affair and while the S12 does have a pretty convenient button to release the bottom and dump it out, you’ll definitely want to be over your trashcan at a minimum and ideally inside it. Here’s how that dustbin opens up.

Tineco did something very cool when it comes to filters. First they provided a additional pre-filter, and second they’ve included an attachment that lets the S12 clean the dirty pre-filter. Here’s a dirty filter installed in the cleaning tool.

Here’s that same filter about 60 seconds later.

The rest of the vacuum disassembles easily when you need to clean or unblock anything.

Let’s return to battle of clean house versus cleaning house. The S12 just bested all the vacuums I’ve had including our Dyson Animal. It’s easy to maneuver, has a very reasonable volume level and has quick change attachments that work. It works great on hardwood and equally well on carpets. It has sped up my clean time and is helping us win the battle.

It is top-heavy and that’s something my wife mentions every time she uses it. The main complaint there is you can’t stand it up and walk away and even leaning it is likely to have it crashing to the floor as the bottom swivel joint is nice and twisty. Let’s wrap this up.

What I like

Quiet and without a high pitch whine
Easy to steer and navigate under and around obstacles
Filter cleaning attachment is great
Auto mode works well and the manual adjust is there when needed

What I’d change

It’s a bit top-heavy
Dustbin is small and needs to emptied frequently
Wall station does not have places for all the included attachments
A stand-alone battery charger for users without hanging space

Final thoughts

The Tineco PURE ONE S12 vacuum is great. Any quibbles above would not keep me from purchasing this as our main vacuum. The key takeaways is that you should be prepared to empty the bin frequently both because it’s small and because you may find yourself vacuuming more often. Probably not a bad thing.

Price: $599
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Tineco.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Home and Kitchen, Vacuum

Tineco PURE ONE S12 Smart Vacuum Cleaner review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 29, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 true wireless in-ear monitors review

REVIEW – There are two things to consider when looking at the new Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 true wireless in-ear monitors. The first is that everyone who makes wireless earbuds is gunning for Apple by trying to come up with the next “AirPod killer.” The other, less obvious thing is calling these wireless earbuds “monitors” because it means something. It’s not a word I would throw around lightly. To my ears, monitors denote something better than your average speaker. They are more accurate, which often makes them less ear friendly—I’ll explain later in this review.

Cambridge Audio is a British company that makes some great audio gear at all price levels. The Melomania 1 fits perfectly within the mid-range price of wireless earbuds—between Apple’s overpriced (but excellent) AirPods and those cheap knock-offs flooding the market.

What is it?

The Melomania 1 true wireless in-ear monitors are just that: truly wireless. This simply means no wires. It also simply means that they are easy to lose. The Melomania 1 earbuds use Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX for improved audio quality. They magnetically snap into a charging case with a magnetic lid closure. Two colors are offered: Black and stone—what we Yanks call off-white or eggshell.

Specs

Bluetooth 5.0
Dual-core 32-bit processor
aptX, AAC, SBC codecs
5.8mm graphene-enhanced diaphragm driver
20Hz – 20kHz frequency response
9 Hours battery life (each earbud)
36 Hours battery life (includes case with 4 additional earbud charges)
90 min. charging time
Microphone with Noise Cancellation
Siri (iOS) / Google Assistant (Android) voice assistance
IPX5 water resistance
Weight: 16 oz (each earbud); 1.3 oz (case)
Color: Matte black; matte stone

In the box

Earbuds
Silicone tips: Small, medium, large
Memory foam tips: medium
Charging case
Micro-USB charging cable (12 in.)
User manual
Fitting instructions
Stickers

Design and features

The Melomania 1 true wireless in-ear monitors are one of the best looking earbuds around. Their elegantly simple use of plastic with aluminum accented bands coupled with some sophisticated interior electronics results is an earbud that ranks with the best available, especially when it comes to audio quality—with one important caveat. More on that later.

The Melomania 1 earbuds use what is called graphene speaker diaphragms. Graphene is lightweight and strong, plus it recovers from sound vibrations quicker. This means that the earbuds sound more responsive and lively—less sluggish or muddy.

Pairing the Melomania 1 earbuds is easy. My iPhone recognized the buds immediately. The Bluetooth settings list the left and right earbuds separately. All you have to do is pair either one and both will pair—except when it doesn’t. A few times, one earbud would pair and the other wouldn’t. The only way I could fix this issue, was to remove the earbuds and re-insert them in my ear. I don’t know why they aren’t listed as one pair in Bluetooth settings. They can be paired to 7 separate devices, so if you move from a smartphone to a tablet to a laptop, the earbuds will remember and reconnect to that device.

There is a major weakness regarding phone calls. When talking with someone, I can hear them fine, but to them, I sound like I’m in a tunnel or far away. I don’t understand how Apple is so good at this, yet most other wireless earbuds—Melomania 1 included—don’t handle phone calls as well.

The charging case is as well designed as Apple’s AirPod case. That’s more rare than it should be. The earbuds magnetically snap into place. They will not fall out yet can be easily removed for use—a nice touch. I’m disappointed that the case relies on older micro-USB for charging instead of the newer and faster USB-C. It’s time to retire micro-USB. LED lights on the front of the case indicate its (incredibly long) battery life. A silicone case cover with an attached carabiner is offered as an option. It’s quite inexpensive which makes me wonder if it should have been included in the box. The silicone cover is offered in six color choices.

When the earbuds are in the case and charging, there is a lighted ring around the each earbud that tells you how they’re charging. A pulsing white light means charging; no light means fully charged. Blue and white flashing lights mean Bluetooth discovery and rapid blue flashing means that the earbuds need to be reset. It’s all quite futuristic and cool looking.

The Melomania 1 earbuds are equipped with active noise canceling (ANC) that is always on. Cambridge Audio has tempered their ANC in a way that doesn’t totally isolate you from your surroundings, making it safer to use the earbuds on a busy street while reducing distracting noises. It’s not the isolating kind of ANC that can mask airplane engine noise.

There are buttons on each Melomania 1 earbud. Pressing the outside of the earbuds while inserted in the ear requires a bit of a learning curve, but can become easier with daily use. A 2-second press adjusts volume up or down, a single press followed by two presses, brings up either Siri or Google Assistant. A single press pauses music (or answers an incoming phone call) and a double press either advances or repeats a track. Like I said—a learning curve.

The Melomania 1 earbuds weigh practically nothing. They never feel like they’re going to fall out because of the lack of weight. They’re bullet-shaped—narrow at one end and wider at the other. This shape works for many people, but not as well for me. Maybe I have unusual ears, but the earbuds feel too small on the ear tip end and too wide on the outside part. I’m constantly fidgeting with them to get a proper fit. Others may have better luck.

I blame most of the fit issues on the ear tips. Cambridge Audio needs to provide a greater selection of sizes. Even the large-sized silicone ear tips do not provide a proper seal in my ear. This means that bass lacks the power it should have. No seal equals no bass—it’s that simple. Also, the anemic foam tips don’t have enough expansion to fill my ear canal. The sound tube that the tips fit around is wide, which limits which after-market tips you can use. Since I review many earphones and earbuds, I scrounged around for extra ear tips until I finally found some tips from another earphone. They sorta fit when attached but will not fit into the charging case (no surprise).

However, the sound improved dramatically! Now that I could hear what I had been missing with the Melomania 1 ear tips, it became clear why they are called monitors. It’s all about the accuracy, folks. Whether I’m listening to 80s music with its exaggerated synth bass lines or 60s classic rock with its recessed bass, the Melomania 1 earbuds make it all sound good. Once there’s a proper seal, bass is more pronounced, but not in a distracting way. Cambridge Audio has done a good job of balancing the high, middle and bass frequencies across all genres of music. On a song such as Anna Calvi’s “Joan of Arc”, you can hear individual strings being stroked and plucked. This would explain why Cambridge Audio chose graphene for the speaker material.

Do the Melomania 1 earbuds sound as good as a pair of wired headphones? Of course not. But they do sound better than most wireless earbuds I’ve come across—some costing much more. They also sound much better than the AirPods. They’re just not as convenient as AirPods when inserting and removing countless times during a busy day. That always seems to be the big trade-off: Sound vs. convenience.

What I like

Excellent battery life
Audio quality is among the best among wireless earbuds
Excellent build quality
Easy to pair and use
Case is as well designed as Apple’s
Optional silicone case cover
Reasonably priced

What I’d change

Bullet-shape doesn’t fit that well in my ear
Supplied ear tips don’t seal enough to get decent bass
Not great phone call quality

Final Thoughts

The Melomania 1 true wireless in-ear monitors are the first wireless earphones Cambridge Audio has made. It’s amazing how well they did on this first try. The audio quality is among the best among wireless earphones and the build quality is as good as it gets. If the fit and call quality issues can be worked out, these earbuds should be at or near the top of any list.

Price: $129.95 US
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this product was provided by Cambridge Audio.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: TWS earbuds

Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 true wireless in-ear monitors review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 28, 2019 at 10:30 am.

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VogDUO Charger Go USB-C car charger review

REVIEW – We all have charging units in our cars. It’s part of the Gadgeteer Code. Some of us even have power inverters that provide AC power. With today’s larger devices, however, the trickle of power our cars provide needs to be stepped up a bit for the larger phones, tablets, laptops, action cameras, and gaming boxes we carry around. VogDUO has released their Charger Go to meet this need. I was sent a test unit and have been using it for a few weeks and am ready to report.

What is it?

Power adapter for 12 volt systems with both a USB-A and a USB-C port that provides 57 watts of power.

What’s in the box?

The Charger Go itself
USB-C cable
User Guide

Hardware specs

Power Delivery Technology
Future-Proof USB-C Port
Lowest Profile
Car Battery Indicator
Flame Retardant

Design and features

VogDUO has a lot of varied products to support your gadgets: cables, wall chargers, car chargers, travel kits, etc. The engineering in the Charger Go is a leap forward, however. Not only will it intelligently deliver the correct power for your USB-A devices, but it will (at the same time!) deliver power through the USB-C port to your Switch, iPad, GoPro, or even your USB-C-powered MacBook! While I don’t have a recent MacBook to substantiate that last claim, I can say that the power delivered through the USB-C port will charge your devices faster than other car chargers. I’ve been using it in my car, and have been pleased with the rate that it charges whatever device I throw at it. My power banks (which can take a long time to top up) seem to go from flat to full in no time. My iPhone (8 Plus) gets charged from low to mid-range almost instantly. (I’m running the iOS 13 public beta, so there are some battery-draining things happening on my devices right now!)

When you first take it out of the minimal packaging, you can tell it’s a quality piece. It passes the Gadgeteer “creak” test with flying colors, and the tip is a nice solid piece of metal, rather than a thin punched-out cap.

Another feature of the Charger Go is the profile. I’m not one to be precious about how my car interior looks (it’s a Corolla, mind you!), but the slim device is a lot less chunky than the usual plugs I’ve used. And the fact that it’s made from flame-retardant material makes me rest a little easier, knowing that there’s a lot of electrical witchcraft happening inside.

On one of our recent trips, we rented a car with an infotainment system that warned about leaving navigation or CarPlay on while using battery power and I thought this was an interesting addition. But it was just a simple, “Hey, dummy, you’ve not turned off the accessory power”, not a smart sensor that let you know that the battery was actually getting discharged. The Charger Go has this sensor. If it’s not getting full power from your vehicle’s electrical system, there’s a warning LED that indicates this. Nice touch.

What I like

USB-C!
Very slim unit
Car battery discharge warning
Flame retardant material

What I’d change

Can’t think of a thing

Final thoughts

A car USB charger is nothing new. One with two ports is a little more unique, but still, there are dozens on the market. If you want USB-C as well as the old-school USB-A, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a good half-dozen. And I know of none that offer Power Delivery besides the VogDUO Charger Go. Plus, the sleek unit has lights for power and a warning LED for your car’s battery. Not a bad package for $50.

Price: regularly $49.99, currently on sale for $39.99
Where to buy: company website
Source: The sample of this product was provided by VogDUO.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Batteries and Chargers, Car Gear

VogDUO Charger Go USB-C car charger review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 28, 2019 at 9:30 am.

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