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Miccus Home RTX 2.0 Long Range Wireless Audio Transmitter or Receiver review

Back in May, I reviewed the Miccus Home TX Pro long-range wireless audio transmitter which allows you to transmit a Bluetooth signal up to 160ft. Pairing it with their SR-71 Stealth low latency headphones made it perfect for my late night TV viewing. Fast forward five months and Miccus has a new product, the Home RTX 2.0 Long Range Wireless Audio Transmitter or Receiver. The RTX 2.0 is similar to the TX Pro but as the name implies it also acts as a Bluetooth receiver. I had the chance to review a unit for the Gadgeteer.

In the box

  • Miccus Home RTX 2.0
  • Dipole Antenna
  • Optical / TOSHLINK digital audio cable
  • 3.5mm male to 3.5mm male audio cable
  • Micro USB charging cable
  • USB power supply
  • Users Manual

Specifications

  • Bluetooth v4.2 (compatible with Bluetooth v2.0 or higher), Profiles – A2DP, AVRCP
  • Audio codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX-LL, (NOTE aptX-LL use requires both devices in a pairing to support the aptX-Low Latency codec).
  • 3.5mm Stereo Audio Input and Output, TOSLINK Digital Optical Input and Output.
  • Operating range: up to 160ft (50M), Operating Frequency: 2.4 GHz.
  • Optical Support: Sample Rate <=48KHz, Formats PCM / LPCM, Dolby Digital 2.0 (Format changes are accessed thru your TV’s audio settings menu)

What is it?

The Miccus Home RTX 2.0 is the first dual-link, long-range wireless transmitter or receiver featuring Bluetooth v4.2 and two simultaneous aptX Low Latency audio streams. Basically, the Home RTX Pro 2.0 acts as a hub for all your wireless home audio. With the 2-in-1 flexibility of a Transmitter or Receiver, the Home RTX 2.0 makes it easy to add multiple long-range Bluetooth audio links to your home setup. It has two different modes, Transmit (TX), and Receive Mode (RX) and features Dual-Link Pairing and Optical Audio Pass-Through.

Transmit Mode (TX)

With the Home RTX 2.0 powered off, select TX mode by pressing and latching the RX/TX switch (located on the back left of the Home RTX 2.0) to the in position. TX mode requires a wired audio source connection, to either the 3.5mm audio input or the TOSLINK/optical audio input. You can use an audio input source like a computer, tablet, smartphone, television or stereo system. For my purposes, I connected the RTX 2.0 to my TV using the TOSHLINK digital optical cable. I chose to power the unit using the provided Micro USB charging cable and one of my TV’s vacant USB ports. When connected via USB the Home RTX 2.0 will automatically power on. If powered off you can power it back on by holding the multi-function/power button for 5 seconds until the LED indicators power on.

Connecting the Home RTX 2.0 to my TV allows me to use it as a wireless audio hub for my living room. Using Transmit Mode (TX) I can listen to video audio sound or music from my TV and connected 4K Apple TV through my Bluetooth headphones; great for my late night TV viewing or listening to music from my iTunes library. With the RTX 2.0’s long-range transmitter connection is never a problem. The manual states that the operating range of the Home RTX 2.0 is up to 160ft. In my testing, I was able to walk 215ft outside my house before I started losing the Bluetooth signal and had great connection throughout my entire house.

I also connected my Amazon Echo Dot to the Home RTX 2.0 and with the unit in RX mode I was able to use the Dot to play music and news through my TV’s soundbar. With the unit in TX mode, I was able to use my Dot as a Bluetooth speaker and stream audio from my TV and connected devices to whatever room the Dot was in.

Note: If television or video audio is your primary use, then I would recommend using Bluetooth headphones/speakers that support the aptX Low Latency codec. I use a pair of Miccus SR-71 Stealth low latency headphones I reviewed earlier and they work great for watching movies, shows, and sports without any lip sync issues.

Receive Mode (RX)

With the Home RTX 2.0 powered off, Select RX mode by depressing and unlatching the RX/TX switch to the out position. RX mode is designed for use with an audio device such as a stereo system or powered stereo speakers connected to either the 3.5mm audio output or the TOSLINK optical audio output on the Home RTX 2.0. In RX mode the Home RTX 2.0 can be used with any device capable of transmitting a Bluetooth wireless audio signal. Including phones, tablets, laptops, and PCs. I used RX mode to play music from my iPhone through my TV’s sound bar and it worked flawlessly. There’s even a friendly voice prompt that tells you when the unit is powered on, when it’s in pairing mode, when it’s connected/disconnected to or from a device, and when it’s powered off.

In RX mode two smartphones or tablets can be simultaneously paired with the Home RTX 2.0. Both devices can also simultaneously stream music to the Home RTX 2.0. To hear audio from only one of the two devices, pause the audio, or use muting or adjust volume. To test this feature I paired both my iPhone and iPad Pro to the unit. I was able to stream audio from both devices to my sound bar and it worked surprisingly well. I’m not sure that I would use this feature very often, but it could come in handy if I ever wanted to try my hand at DeeJaying a party or family get together.

Dual-Link Pairing

Dual-link pairing allows for two Bluetooth receiving or transmitting devices to pair with the Miccus Home RTX 2.0 simultaneously. Pair with two Bluetooth speakers, headphones or 2 phones at the same time. Pairing is quick and easy. To Engage pairing mode on the Home RTX 2.0,  press and hold the multifunction/power button for 3 seconds until the CH light begins fast flashing. I won’t bore you with the rest of the details here, however, if you want to learn more I provided a link to the Users Manual.

The Home RTX 2.0 also has an automatic re-connect feature. If left powered on, or if powered back on it will automatically reconnect to the last paired device when within range.

Optical Audio Pass-Through

Most televisions and stereo systems feature only one optical audio output. The Home RTX 2.0 allows you to receive an optical audio feed from a television or stereo system and transmit and stream that audio feed to two pairs of headphones or Bluetooth speakers simultaneously. The Home RTX 2.0 can then pass that same audio onto a soundbar. You can also use it to link to two or more Home RTX 2.0’s together to double, or triple the amount of low latency audio streams available for use. This is my favorite feature of the Home RTX 2.0. Digital-pass through allows me to listen to my TV through either the soundbar or my Bluetooth headphones without having to switch cables or use an optical audio splitter. It even allows for one person to use headphones while the other listens to audio through the soundbar.

Conclusion

I’m not surprised that I like the Miccus Home RTX 2.0. I use the Home TX Pro that I reviewed earlier on an almost nightly basis. With the added feature of being both a long-range transmitter and receiver along with Optical Audio Pass through this device is a nice upgrade. And with its small size and discreet black case, it blends in nicely on my TV stand.

Whether you want to Transmit or Receive wireless audio throughout your home or to the patio, pool or backyard the Miccus Home RTX 2.0, which is priced at $59.99,  is the perfect compliment to any home AV system. Miccus also offers a 2-year No-Hassle Replacement Warranty.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Miccus. Please visit their site for more info and Amazon to purchase.

 

Product Information

Price: $59.99
Manufacturer: Miccus
Retailer: Amazon
Pros:
  • Acts as both receiver and transmitter
  • Long range up to 160ft
  • Easy to set up and use
  • Dual-link pairing
Cons:
  • None

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Miccus Home RTX 2.0 Long Range Wireless Audio Transmitter or Receiver review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 30, 2017 at 10:07 am.

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(Hopefully) the third time is the charm: Apple Watch Series 3 review

The title says it all… I’ve purchased both the Series 1 and Series 2 Apple Watches, taking them both back within Apple’s no-questions-asked return window. Each time going into the relationship starry-eyed and hopeful. But ultimately determining that I didn’t need Apple’s smartwatch or I missed my old school timepieces. Well, oops I’ve done it again, the Series 3 was calling my name and I finally gave in and pulled the trigger. For this write-up, I won’t be diving very deep into the specs (that’s all over the Net) but more into the experience as an old (emphasis on Old…) time watch guy who loves tech gear and fitness. 

I find that as I near 50, my workouts have become less frequent and not nearly as epic as back in the day. While I stay in decent shape, old age is winning. It is my hope that an Apple Watch will help stem the tide and enable me to raise the bar. Being an AR number cruncher, I find the real-time data a smartwatch gives me both nagging and motivating.

After getting over the hump of whether or not to buy a Series 3, the next question is which Apple Watch would satisfy me the most. As I said, I am a long time watch guy. While (a bit) unnecessary in today’s world of smartphones, I enjoy the feel/heft of a timepiece on my wrist. The aluminum and glass Apple Watch always felt a bit light to me, lacking the weight I have come to prefer. So, long story short, I decided to splurge and get the stainless steel black sport Apple Watch with sapphire glass screen. The stainless steel watch is only available with LTE, which I don’t know if I’d have chosen if given the choice. But overall, I walked away with little to no regrets, that deep down I know I would have if I had purchased the base model.

I have benched my classic timepieces and been using the Apple Watch for a few weeks. It really has motivated me to do more. In my hectic life, I find myself walking the stairs in my building more, hopping on the elliptical more often before settling down for dinner, and most importantly…finding the time/energy/motivation to run more.

Theoretically, any smartwatch could do this for you (or better yet sheer willpower) but our family lives in the Apple ecosystem and the Apple Watch only adds to the seamlessness of that world. The watch makes an excellent companion for all my Apple devices from my iPhone to my MacBooks. WatchOS 4.0 and built-in LTE has definitely improved the smartwatch experience making the latest Apple Watch as close to an iPhone on your wrist (or Dick Tracy) that you can get these days. There are several LTE enabled Android/Tisen watches on the market but they’re bulky and lack the refinement of the Apple Watch.

Well, long story short, I’m keeping the Apple Watch Series 3 for the following reasons: refinement, material/build quality, enhanced Apple ecosystem experience, and added motivation. I’m still up in the air about activating T-Mobile LTE on it but I’ll continue to ponder the usability and potential impact on battery life (which I currently find stellar, with 75% power remaining on a typical day and more than 50% on a running & streaming music day). Overall, I truly like the watch and have promised myself I won’t look back or wear my other watches till I lose 10 pounds and hopefully rekindle my workout mojo. Wish me luck 😉 …

Source: The sample for this review was purchased with my own funds. Please visit their apple.com for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $649
Manufacturer: Apple
Pros:
  • Excellent material/build quality
  • Best smartwatch OS to date
  • Enhanced Apple ecosystem experience
  • Great motivational tool
  • Built-in LTE
Cons:
  • Expensive

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(Hopefully) the third time is the charm: Apple Watch Series 3 review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 29, 2017 at 10:23 am.

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MyHeritage DNA review

Due to my German last name, I’ve always been interested in my ancestry and would daydream what it might be like to visit Germany someday and look up Strietelmeiers in the phone book. I love the TV series Finding Your Roots and Who Do You Think You Are? When I was offered the chance to review the MyHeritage DNA kit, I was excited to find out my results.

What is it?

The MyHeritage DNA kit helps you collect your DNA to reveal where your ancestors came from and can help you create your family tree by finding DNA matches.

What’s in the box?

2 cheek swabs for DNA collection
2 vials to store the DNA
1 Ziploc baggie
1 padded envelope
Instructions

Activating and collecting DNA

To get started, you first are instructed to activate the kit by going online and typing in a serial number that is unique to each kit.

Then you just follow the simple instructions.

The MyHeritage DNA collection kit is very easy to use. It doesn’t require you to collect blood or spit in a tube like other kits from competing DNA services. The MyHeritage kit has two swabs that you rub inside each cheek for 30 seconds each and then break off in each vial.

The vials then go inside the plastic bag.

And the plastic bag goes inside the addressed mailer. I was surprised that the mailer requires that you have to pay the postage to ship it back to the MyHeritage labs.

As you can see from the image above, your account on the MyHeritage site shows each step in the process from the time you order a kit, activate it, mail it and finally receive the results.

The worst part of the MyHeritage DNA service is waiting. Their website says that the results can take 3-4 weeks and their instructional video says the results can take 4-6 weeks. I mailed my test kit to MyHeritage on 7/31/17 and I finally received my test results on 10/20/17. That’s 11 weeks and 4 days, which I think you would have to agree is insanely long.

Was it worth the wait?

When you click on the link to view your results, there’s a cool animation of the Earth that revolves around as it shows you where your ancestors are from. You are then presented with a top level list of regions and the percentage that makes up your DNA. No big surprises with my ancestry… darn it.

You can drill down even farther into each area.

The MyHeritage DNA results include more than just showing you where your DNA comes from. It can also help you find relatives and build your family tree.

The site will pull up your DNA matches and review information about the matches and then add them to your family tree if they are actually part of your family.

Some of the information even includes pictures of long gone relatives.

This information comes from a variety of sources and does not have to be from someone that has also done the MyHeritage DNA test. For example, the MyHeritage site had my grandmother who I don’t even remember because she died when I was 1 year old. But her info was on the site so I could add it to my family tree.

Researching genealogy is fun and fascinating. The MyHeritage site links out to census records and old newspaper clippings that you can search by name and year. But the only problem is that you have to pay extra if you want to view that info.

I think MyHeritage should give you a month or two of free data access to those extra services instead of requesting that you pay extra for them.

Final thoughts

If you’re into genealogy, then you’ll enjoy the information that you can get from the MyHeritage DNA kit. Just be prepared to wait a LONG time for the results and pay extra for features that will help you build your family tree.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by MyHeritage. Please visit their site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $99.00
Manufacturer: MyHeritage
Pros:
  • Easy and painless to collect DNA
  • Site has access to lots of genealogy information
Cons:
  • Takes a long time to get the results back
  • Have to pay extra to access newspaper, military, census, and other records

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MyHeritage DNA review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 28, 2017 at 5:16 pm.

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Shinola + Zieba New York MS3 Manhattan Special Pocket Knife review

Along with gadgets and tech-toys, I’ve been a watch guy forever. Shinola is a US watchmaker that I have had my eye on for years. They are based out of Detroit and create fine timepieces and other luxury items. In this case, Shinola has partnered with New York based knife maker, Michael Zieba to create a high end pocket knife, the New York MS3 Manhattan folder. I’m looking forward to seeing if it has what it takes to make my EDC gear short list. 

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

The New York MS3 Manhattan Special pocket knife is made from high-quality titanium and M390 stainless steel held together with blue anodized screws all hand assembled. Every part of this flip-folder pocket knife is perfectly machined, featuring a solid minimalistic design with a nearly instantaneous deployment/flip mechanism.

A Bit of Background:

About SHINOLA:

Shinola is an American manufacturer based in Detroit creating everything from watches, clothing, bikes, to fine leather goods. Their goal is to “…create a community that will thrive through excellence of craft and pride of work. Where we will reclaim the making of things that are made well. And define American luxury through American quality.”

About ZIEBA KNIVES

Michael Zieba is a knife maker based in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York’s industrial Park. With a long tradition and experience in high end metal work and custom knife making, all knives are made by Mike by hand.

The New York MS3 Manhattan pocket knife comes in a rugged, padded, protective case designed for shipping and storage.

Specifications:

  • BLADE — 2 5/8 in | 6.7 cm
  • CLOSED — 4 1/6 in | 10.7 cm
  • OPEN — 6 3/4 in | 17.1 cm
  • WEIGHT — 2.2 oz.

The handle is crafted from a lightweight, matte titanium with blue anodized screws that stands out nicely against the flat gray metal. The handle measures just over 4 inches, with an overall length of 6.75 inches when the blade is extended.

The MS3 Manhattan pocket knife features an M390 stainless steel  blade. At 2 5/8 inches, the blade is relatively short (and very pointy) but nicely shaped and wickedly sharp. As you can see, the Zieba Knives logo is engraved into the left side of the blade.

The flip mechanism and frame-lock are both simple and easy to operate one-handed. With minimal moving parts and high quality materials, this pocket knife is definitely engineered to stand the test of time. The belt clip has the Shinola logo etched in it.

The precision frame-lock secures the blade into the open position with zero blade wiggle and little chance of the blade accidentally closing.

There are ridges machined into the backspacer, thumb ramp, and blade flipper for added grip-ability. The beltclip is stiff and does a good job of keeping the knife securely on your belt or in your pocket.

As mentioned above, when closed, the New York MS3 Manhattan pocket knife measures just over 4 inches and weighs 2.2 ounces. It has a very dense, solid feel with good heft to it.

The Shinola + Zieba New York MS3 Manhattan pocket knife has an excellent material/build quality and weight to it. Its matte finish, form factor, and overall size both open and closed feel awesome in the hand. Being the smallest knife I have reviewed thus far, I find it very pocketable and choose to carry it in the watch pocket of my pants vs keeping it in my EDC bag. This high quality flip-folder is currently my favorite knife in my collection. Its overall craftsmanship, size, and weight makes it ideal (at least for me). The Shinola + Zieba MS3 Manhattan pocket knife is without a doubt an expensive, luxury item but if you’re looking for a great splurge holiday gift, it is definitely worth your consideration.

One more thing: a good friend (Hi Dave) at my day job is quite the knife connoisseur. Whenever I receive a new high end knife to review, I bring it into work for us to analyze (aka play with) and discuss. He is very knowledgeable and often critical but definitely knows what he likes (and dislikes) in a knife. Well when I showed him the MS3 Manhattan, it was love ❤️ at first sight. Like me, he thought the feel, form factor, and build/material quality were without a doubt top-shelf. So much so, he kept holding/futzing with it for a VERY long time (almost awkwardly so 😉) and I was wondering if I was going to have to tackle him while trying to escape with it. All that said, just another testament on just how very nice this knife is…

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

 

Product Information

Price: $295
Manufacturer: Shinola + Zieba
Pros:
  • Excellent craftsmanship
  • Premium materials
  • Nicely sized with solid feel/weight
  • Engineered to last a lifetime
  • Smooth opening and closing action
  • Stiff, secure pocket clip
Cons:
  • Expensive

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Shinola + Zieba New York MS3 Manhattan Special Pocket Knife review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 27, 2017 at 10:00 am.

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QCY Wireless Sport Earphones review

Can you ever really have too many sets of earbuds?  Right, I didn’t think so.  I mean, you need some in your office, car, and all over the house.  What I don’t like about earbuds is that they are always falling out of your ears.  So the $24.99 QCY Wireless Sport Earphones intrigued me because of their over-the-ear design.  But would the sound quality pass muster, and would that cord not get in the way?  Let’s find out.

Before we get into the review, let’s look at the specs from the manufacturer:

Weight:  .5 oz

Speakers:  10mm speakers built-in (other buds mostly use 6mm or 8mm speakers) to deliver the Deep Bass as well as the accurate midrange and treble frequencies for real HD quality.

Battery:  90mAh lithium polymer battery can deliver you a max 8 hours at 50% volume. Standby up to 8 days, while only needing 1.5 to 2 hours to get a full charge.

Controls:  Built-in control buttons on the earbuds.

Warranty:  1-Year Manufacturer’s Warranty and 30 days no-questions-asked return policy.

Bluetooth 4.1

Included in the box:  QCY earphones, a USB power cable, and some extra tips for the earphones

What I liked

These earphones sound great!  In fact, I can’t listen to them on max volume because they are simply too loud.  They paired quickly with both my cell phone and my tablet.  The buttons on the earbuds are great and work really well.  I love not having to fumble to find the in-line controls that a lot of other earbuds have.  And the over-the-ear design is awesome.  These earphones have never fallen off, or even come close to falling off. Finally, the battery life is pretty much what QCY says.  I do use them a little louder than the recommended 50% level though, so I don’t quite get 8 hrs of use.  But I did test it at the 50% level and did get about 8 hrs.

What I didn’t like

They do function as a Bluetooth headset to answer your phone calls, but I wasn’t that impressed.  My wife told me that it sounded like I was in a tunnel, so the sound quality isn’t that great for phone calls.  But really, that is pretty much what I have experienced with other earbuds that are promoted as being able to answer calls.  Answering calls is really secondary to what they are made to do, which is listen to music. So I am not that worried about this feature.

I am disappointed that there wasn’t something in the package to help with storing the earphones.  The over-the-ear design is great for wearing, but they are a nightmare when you have to store these or transport them somewhere.  The cable gets tangled up in the earphones and I have yet to find a way to not spend 2 minutes untangling the cord.

I usually use the earphones with my cell phone when I am walking the dog.  And I have found that I need to hold my cellphone in my right hand when walking or I get skipping in my music.  I can’t put the phone in my left pocket or it just skips too much.  I imagine that if I had one of those straps on my arm to hold my phone it would be fine, but I don’t.  So that is kind of annoying.

Bottom line

I love these for the sound and ease of controlling the music with the buttons on the earbuds, and they are so light you already don’t know they are there.  And for the price of $24.99, it is hard to complain.  But I don’t like the struggle of keeping them untangled and the skipping when my phone is on the left side of my body.  So I only use them in certain situations when I don’t have to deal with the possibility of skipping, like sitting in my office or at home at my desk.  I can recommend these, as long as you can deal with the downsides.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by QCY. Please visit Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $24.99
Manufacturer: QCY
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Bluetooth enabled device
Pros:
  • Very affordable
  • Great sound
  • Very light and comfortable
Cons:
  • Sometimes I got skipping sound
  • Easily tangled cord
  • Mediocre quality when used for phone calls

Filed in categories: Reviews

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QCY Wireless Sport Earphones review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 27, 2017 at 9:00 am.

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