Speaker Month Day 8: Tweakers Lites Mini-Speaker Review

     The last "official" day of Speaker Month (August) brings us to the Tweakers Lites by Grandmax, a company that specializes in various portable music systems.

     Besides being in one of those annoying plastic packages that *almost* can't be opened without using scissors, packaging is solid and well-designed. As too are the speaker themselves, which is actually two speakers that latch onto each other via magnets and are separated for stereo sound, a feature that is uncommon for speakers of this price and size. Each speaker is rated at 1.7 Watts and expands for enhanced bass.

     The volume of the speakers at max was something of a single 3 Watt speaker: about the volume of someone talking loudly. Sound quality was about average. The speakers are small so one should not expect to hear deep, full sound. Nonetheless, they do distort at high volume, which iI did find strange because of the other Sub-3 Watt speakers that I have tested in the past, none have ever distorted.

     Overall the Twakers Lites are a decent speaker. Are they the best-sounding in their $25-$35 price range among portable speakers? Probably not. Does Grandmax make better speakers? Yes. But what the Tweakers Lites lack in the audio quality department, they make up for in portability and their ability to produce stereo sound. Anyone with limited space or a fancy for cute speakers will be sure to love these.

Speaker Month Day 7: Audible Rush Jam-Lite Essential Bicycle Speaker

     Speaker month is already three-quarters finished! Third-to-last to be reviewed is the Jam-Lite Essential by Audible Rush. Audible Rush makes a wide range of bike speaker models, ranging from $45 to over $200 in price. The Jam-Lite Essential is their entry model and can be found on their website as well as on Amazon.

     The speaker is coated in a plasticky canvas material that  feels durable enough to withstand several drops without sustaining any major outward blemishes. Inside is a compartment padded with foam sizable enough to fit most phones, including the new S4. Note that larger phones such as the Droid DNA and the Galaxy Note II will not fit, however. My only qualm with the device is that it lacks rechargeable batteries and instead makes use of two AA batteries (included). Rechargeables can be bought for $5 or so, but weight of the product (although already weighing less than a pound) could have easily been cut further with a simple lithium-ion battery, no doubt. Nonetheless, after shopping around, I found that Audible Rush has one of the lightest bike speaker systems on the market.

     The two roughly 2-Watt speakers pack a lot in the sound department and do not distort at even maximum volume on the bassiest of music. There is certainly plenty of volume to enjoy for any bike ride. Lastly, music comes out clear for a speaker this size, just don't expect much fullness (due to the device's slim design).

Speaker Month Day 6: EcoXGear Eco Extreme Rugged Speaker

     Continuing on with our reviews of portable audio systems, we look at the Eco Extreme weatherproof case by EcoXExtreme, a subsidiary of Grace Digital. Just like all other EcoXGear products, the Eco Extreme is water resistant, shock/drop resistant, and dust-proof. Inside the box the speakers are packaged in are also a clip to attach the speaker to a backpack (perfect for hiking), a warranty card, manuals, and air filters that aid the Eco Extreme's air pressure-adjusting capabilities (for all you mountain climbers). Three AA batteries are required, but not included, to operate the device.

      Cutting right to the chase, in terms of performance, the single 3 watt speaker on the device sounds unimpressive and easily distorts, but still gets plenty volume for use when relaxing in the pool or hiking to the top of that mountain.

     Overall, the Eco Extreme might be a great option for those looking for a cheap beater speaker that can be taken virtually anywhere without having to worry what will happen if it gets dropped or wet. Just expect to replace batteries occasionally or buy rechargeables for around $8.

Speaker Month Day #5: Hipo by Ivation Hip400 Shower Speaker Review

     Yep. You heard it right. A shower speaker. The Hip400 is a waterproof, Bluetooth speaker that can play music, charge your phone, and allow you to answer calls while you are getting squeaky clean.

     The speaker itself is designed pretty well and the matte finish on the black, hard-plastic body feels nice. As for the green hook-like thing on top, that is actually what you use to hang the speaker from in the shower. Inside the body are two 3-watt speakers, a USB port to charge your electronic device, a remote on the face of the device to answer calls and control music playback settings, and a micro USB port to charge the lithium ion battery in the speaker (which is rated at 25 hours of music playback). Unfortunately, you are stuck using the Bluetooth 2.1 to play your music, as there is no auxiliary cable input to directly link your music player to the device.

     The two 3 watt speakers sound full and crisp given the size of the speaker. Distortion occurs on most tracks at 90% volume, but that is still plenty of volume for its intended purpose. The sound stage packs plenty of bass and highs, though sometimes a lot of lows and mids in the song would result in it coming off a bit muddy.

     Overall, the Hip400 is a solid speaker that works well for its intended use. The only downfall is that there is no auxiliary cable input for easy out-of-the-shower listening sessions and the speaker is a bit pricy, but so are most waterproof speakers at the moment.

Speaker Month Day #4: Tweakers miniPOP Portable Bluetooth Speaker Review

     The market is flooded with miniature Bluetooth speakers. The Tweakers miniPOP, the newest speaker release by Grandmax, a small tech firm, is not much different than other small Bluetooth speakers on the market in terms of features. On the flip-side, the miniPOP is competitively priced at only $20.00 on Grandmax's website.

     Despite its humble appearance and the fact that it is even packaged in a plain white box, the speaker is well-built and has all the features you would want in a speaker this size. It feels extremely lightweight and good in the hands, things probably attributed to the fact that it has only a small, 320 mAH rechargeable battery inside of it. It also utilizes Bluetooth 2.1 and also has an auxillary cable feature if you want to directly plug in your MP3 device and play music without a loss in quality. Unfortunately, you cannot daisy-chain the speaker to other speakers to get stereo sound. 

      Another thing I found interesting about the speaker is that, despite it being rated at 3 watts (the average for speakers in its class is 2 watts), it sounded like a 2.5 or possibly even a 2 watt speaker. Compared back-to-back with the 3 watt Francois et Mimi "Trois" speaker reviewed here, the miniPOP was clearly the loser in terms of volume (but fared slightly better in terms of sound quality). On the other hand, songs playing at maximum volume on the miniPOP played flawlessly and without distortion.

     Stay tuned for my review of the Tweakers Lites, another new product by Grandmax, coming this month.  

Speaker Month Day #3: Sennheiser HD 219s Headphones Review

     Today we take a look at the Sennheiser HD 219s on-ear headphones. These will run you about $80, though there is an older version (aptly named the HD 219; without a microphone) that sells for $60. Getting straight to performance, these are not the best headphones I have heard for under $100, but there is something to be said for how light and comfortable they are, and the fact that the in-line remote can answer calls and adjust the volume with ALL devices, versus just Apple devices. Recordings made using the chunky mic on the remote came out extremely clear, with minimal static.

     These headphones have a particularly flat response. I found that in some tracks with a lot of instruments playing at once, the bass tended to get lost in the music. Highs sounded really good and pronounced though, with electronic instruments and female vocals taking the lead. Noise isolation was very poor with these headphones and I certainly wouldn't recommend them for bus commuters or for listening to music at basketball games. Sound leakage was minimal but noticeable at mid-volume.

     As long as they would be used in a quiet environment, the HD 219/219s would make a great all-around headphone for all genres minus hardcore hip-hop and rock. Their portability and comfort on the head would make them excellent for long listening sessions in the car. Of course, if you are looking for a pair of headphones that can answer calls, adjust volume, and can still play music worth its two cents, these are your cans.

Speaker Month Day #2: i-Ecko Portable Speakers Review

      Wow! Two reviews in one week! I haven't done that since I started the channel! Anyhow, today I reviewed the i-Ecko Eco-friendly portable speakers. 
     The i-Ecko speakers are great for personal listening in a quiet setting. They are backed by a great company that is certified by the Green Business Bureau, signifying the i-Ecko supports Eco-friendly initiatives such as minimized packaging and encouraging employees to volunteer their time for environmental causes.
      The speakers are a bit louder than a pair of full-size headphones at maximum volume, which is impressive considering they don't use batteries. They are also ultra-portable since the cardboard backing can be flattened. Getting them to normal shape is no problem at all, either, and just requires hooking the backings' notches together with the slits in the adjacent backing sections.
      As for sound quality, there is some distortion at higher volumes, mostly on bassier tracks, but nothing that distracts too much from the music. Highs sounded the best for sure, which is pretty typical for small speakers.
     Overall the i-Ecko speakers will be amazing for environmentally-conscious consumers on a budget looking for a set of speakers for at-home listening. Also, if you don't feel like messing with a battery, these may be the way to go.

Speaker Month Day #1: Francois et Mimi Trois Bluetooth Speaker Review & Giveaway

      I have a lot of exciting things coming to the channel this month, starting with a review and GIVEAWAY of the Francois et Mimi "Trois" portable Bluetooth speaker. In a few days you will also see reviews of some more awesome MP3 audio accessories. I will be calling this "Speaker Month."

    As for the Trois (pronounced "twah") speakers themselves, they are definitely for those individuals looking for portability and affordability. For under $30, the Trois beats out most other miniature Bluetooth speakers in its category just in terms of power. Under the "hood" is a 3 Watt speaker, which shines in comparison to the 2 Watt speakers found in most portable Bluetooth speakers of its size and price range. Sound comes out crisp and sparkly, mainly focused on the high and middle frequencies. Bass is good compared to other miniature speakers, but (predictably) lacks the the fullness found in larger, more expensive units such as the Creative D100 and the Soundfreaq Soundkick. Most tracks can play at up to 85-90% volume without distorting, which is still ample volume for listening to music in your room or playing music on the deck at a small pool party. 

 

You can win this speaker through my giveaway which ends September 15th. To enter: subscribe to my channel, "Like" my Facebook page, and "Like" the post on my Facebook page pertaining to the contest. Winner will be announced via YouTube video. Good luck!

AppBounty Review

     Hey guys! Today I posted a review on a rewards "app" that I just started using recently. It's called "AppBounty" (search appbounty.net in Safari to find it) available exclusively for Apple devices. Compared to the other rewards apps that I've downloaded, the payouts are relatively high, probably up there with FreeMyApps (review coming soon) and definitely above JunoWallet's. One of the great things about AppBounty is that you can cash out your points that you make from downloading sponsor apps in relatively low increments. I was, however, disappointed to see that $1 and $2 Amazon giftcards were marked as "Sold Out" in the rewards store at the time of the review. Nonetheless, $5 Amazon giftcards were in stock, as well as a plethora of other rewards such as Steam and XBox Live cards. Worth checking out if you have a moment!

HTC Droid DNA Review Posted!!!

     What's up guys! I got another phone review for you all! This one is of the HTC Droid DNA released in November of 2012. I managed to snag a free one (with new two year activation) at Best Buy a couple of weeks ago. It's only available on Verizon, and it sure is a beautiful phone. The 441ppi Super LCD3 screen displays even the smallest letters on webpages without a hint of fuzziness. There is also has a blazing-fast processor and upgraded graphics card in the phone. The 8MP back camera also takes some really nice pictures (in moderate lighting), especially since the phone is equipped with a separate processor coined the "HTC ImageChip" to handle picture-taking. The 1080p video also played nice on the phone and could handle recording an ATV ride quite well with minimal distortion in terms of FPS. The new HTC One really tops this phone in all aspects, but since Verizon has made the decision not to carry it, the DNA is still worth checking out if you're with Verizon, on a budget, and can't afford the S4!

     As always, if you have any questions you can post below or PM my YouTube account. Stick around for some exciting reviews in the coming weeks!

Google Nexus 10 Review

     I hope everyone is having an awesome summer! I know I am without school keeping me super busy (haha). Check out my latest review, on Google/Samsung's Nexus 10 tablet. 

     As of now, the main competitor for the Nexus 10 is the iPad 4. Besides running the Android OS, the Nexus is different from the IPad in that it has a slightly worse graphics card and battery, but better processor, camera, and RAM (2 GB of RAM versus 1 GB). In deciding between these two tablets around Christmas time of last year, I chose the Nexus 10 because I wanted to try out the Android OS and download apps like Tapporo (see my review) that would enable me to make money and help to pay off a fraction of the tablet's hefty $399 price tag. If you got any questions on things not covered in the video, feel free to post them here!

Another App to Make Easy Cash With

      Hey all! I just got finished uploading this week's review, so when you get the chance, check it out! I use this app (Tapporo) in tandem with Bing's search engine and a few other programs to make some easy cash each week. If you have an Android device and some free time, I definitely recommend giving this app a shot!

***EASY MONEY ALERT***

What's up guys! Hope your Spring Break (if you have one) is going as well as mine is. Check out my latest video to learn how to earn free gift cards with Bing's search engine! Click the link in the description to get started now!

Samsung Galaxy S Blaze Review Posted!

Hey guys, I know it's been a while, but I finally got the chance to make another review! :) I lost my phone recently so I got this one and a new plan to replace it. If you're looking for a cheap phone plan with unlimited data or text and no contract, check out T-Mobile Prepaid! Anywho, check out this review of the Samsung Galaxy Blaze smartphone and let me know what you all think! Make sure you are subscribed, I have a lot in store for the channel this year!