Ask any hi-fi enthusiast which speaker brand appeals to the imagination and chances are that the name Bowers & Wilkins will be mentioned. Until 2015, the reproducers of this manufacturer were notable for the use of a yellow Kevlar woven mid-toner. The latter has since made way for the less prominent gray-colored Continuum display. But of course the news and improvements don’t stop there. B&W continues to develop happily with every release and â ???? lends â ???? each time technology from the top models. And we heard that in 603 S2 Anniversary Edition.
Modest appearance But first more about the appearance, because the eye is of course also something. With the understated-looking top model of the 600 – we received matte black test samples – the front following series of visible components: a 28 mm decoupled double aluminum dome tweeter, the aforementioned 150 mm Continuum midrange and 2 pcs paper / kevlar mix 165 mm woofers. At the rear, the 603 can ‘breathe’ through the well-known â ???? golf ballsâ ???? flowport. The crossover filter for this 3-way system that has been upgraded specifically for this series can be found in the cabinet itself. Well-considered choices by B&W with the goal of the 603 S2 Anniversary Edition to be the most advanced yet affordable floor standing speaker.
A closer look
The slightly more than a meter high 603 SE AE is provided with a stable base, which can be equipped with the supplied rotatable spikes or dampers. Tweeter, midrange and woofers are all mounted with a ring, so that no screws are visible. This not only looks good, but also improves the radiation. Of course there are also front grills (or fronts as you want) included, which are held in place by means of magnets that are concealed in the cabinet. A very small point of criticism; they could have been a little more powerful. The speaker grills will remain neatly in place under normal circumstances, but little is needed to tap them off.
For those who have the black speakers are too boring, the possibility exists to to deviate to white copies, or opt for oak wood look. Optionally, the cherry wood look variant is also available to order. Anyway; the end result in appearance and finish may be there. Here are speakers that should be seen, without being too obvious.
Seven more days
After the traditional warm-up period, some sliding, fitting and measuring we arrive at the discovery that the 603 sound best when turned slightly at least 2 meters apart stand. Because there is enough space to the back wall, we do not have the need to use the included foam rubber bass port plugs for a moment. One 40 to 50 cm is enough. The layer produced is wonderfully tight and the center extremely transparent. The treble sometimes seems a bit fresh, but that turned out to be recording or source dependent on the one hand and amplifier related on the other, more about that later.
The 603 â ???? s turn out to be musical omnivores. Whatever we serve them â ???? pop, classical, jazz, blues â ???? each genre is presented equally honestly and precisely. With Tin Pan Alley by Stevie Ray Vaughn, for example, the hum and rustle of the guitar and bass amplification can be heard nicely in the background, while the actual music rolls into the living room in an extremely realistic way. So the volume knob will automatically go a step further clockwise. Such a perception also comes to us when listening to Pink Floyd’s – The Wall. This tastes like more.
Because we mainly used the Arcam CD player as a source, albums like Live in Joe Bonamassa’s Royal Albert Hall (great that double drum kit ), The Best Of by George Michael, Tango In The Night by Fleetwood Mac and Reverence by Faithless. But the highlight in terms of experience has to be the song from Seven More Days by Terence Trent Darby. Just that goosebumps moment and moreover; wonderful to once again â ???? old-fashionedâ ???? CDs.
Can it be a little more? With a specified return of 88, 5 dB B&W recommends a stable amplifier from 30 Watts at 8 Ohms. Experience shows that in practice such a task is rather difficult to translate into the ready-made answer whether your amplifier is sufficient or not. After all; it is just a cold number. As a HiFi enthusiast, you are always looking for the maximum performance of your speakers. Because during the time that we had the 603 at our disposal, we noticed that they very easy to lift to a higher level based on a heavier amplifier. For example, in addition to a Rotel RA – 1572, a Rotel Michi X3 and a NAD M3 were also used. In our case it sometimes disappeared a bit fresh looking high. So check and listen to whether there is a match between (existing) equipment and these speakers.
Conclusion If you are currently looking for a set of new speakers, or perhaps considering an upgrade, please add the 603 Definitely add S2 to the wish list. Bowers & Wilkins offers an attractive price (â ?? ¬ 1. 799, – per pair) in a beautifully modest packaging produced a versatile and transparent sounding floorstander. A well thought out loudspeaker packed with technology from the more expensive lines of the leading and now legendary brand. As a result, as a listener you can very well distinguish what this transducer is being offered via the source with corresponding amplification. And that can be considered a great compliment.
In short; a loudspeaker that is right and rightly named â ???? Anniversary Editionâ ???? may wear. A small side note and at the same time sincere advice is in order here; provide a powerful amplifier that can drive these beautiful reproducers.
B&W 603 S2 Anniversary Edition
â ?? ¬ 1. 799, – per pair | Â www.bowerswilkins.com/en-en
Rating 4.5 / 5
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Specifications
Available color combinations
– black with black front
– white with gray front
– oak wood look with gray front
– cherry wood look with gray front (on order)
Speaker type
– Floor Upright
– 3-way open system / bass reflex
Composition
– 1x 28 mm o nd coupled aluminum double dome tweeter
– 1x 150 mm Continuum Cone FST Midrange
– 2x 165 mm paper / kevlar woofers
– flowport
Frequency range
28 Hz – 33 kHz (-6 dB)
Frequency response
48 Hz – 28 kHz (± 3 dB)
Sensitivity
88, 5 dB spl (2, 83 V, 1m)
Recommended amplifier power
30 W – 200 W at 8 ohms on signal without clipping
Dimensions
– Height 985 mm housing / 1055 mm incl. foot
– width 190 mm housing / 320 mm incl. foot
– depth 340 mm housing / 370 mm incl. foot
Net Weight
24, 1 kg each
– ————————————————– —————————–
Test equipment used
Sources
– Arcam FMJ CD 33
– Linn Majik DS
– Bluetooth ACC / aptX
– PC-USB
RESUME The Tiglon TPL – 2000 A, the application of a patented magnesium-containing tape reduces the entry and emission of electromagnetic fields. Because power cables are close to audio components and other cables, EMI is often a serious source of interference. The application of magnesium in a cable can be called innovative. This cable does not change the sound. Because apparently less interference signals mix with the audio signal, the noise floor becomes lower and there is mainly an experience of more detail, silence, space and depth. Those changes are subtle and just noticeable. They contribute to an even more natural sound experience.
PLUS POINTS Actually built in accordance with the EMC Provides audible results Very beautifully built Superior Furutech Shielded Connectors MINUSES Higher price, but not unreasonable Not extremely smooth Tiglon is a relatively unknown Japanese high-end company in the Netherlands that produces ands, vibration dampers and audio cables. The brand introduced a new technology to provide cables with effective protection against EMI. As a total surprise, a mains cable from this manufacturer’s range was sent directly from Japan to the listening room. Japan is the audio country pur sang. An important reason to take these types of specialized products seriously.
The operation and influence of mains cables
Power cables (or power cables) appeal to the imagination. In an earlier article, the theory behind power cables was discussed. There is no form of voodoo or supernatural phenomena in cables. There is an immense amount of literature available on how cables work since the 1930s. Just physics and a bit of math. Not all cables in hi-fi island are built according to the theoretically optimal model. This means that cables can react very differently. What has in any case become very clear is that cables and other accessories must be able to convincingly show any added value or improvement immediately after connection. It doesn’t work by listening for weeks and then shouting that a little bit of change can be discerned with a lot of effort. At such a moment it makes no sense to spend money on it.
Issues
In my opinion, manufacturers of mains cables can hardly admit that they are innovating. In a nutshell (see also the earlier publication on power cables), many power cables are themselves an immense source of interference. These cables are very close to sensitive equipment and other analog cables. They cause measurable electromagnetic fields. Those fields radiate into all equipment and other cables in the area. In addition, power cables also absorb all kinds of disturbances from the environment. These are also piped to the connected equipment.
In general, almost all power cables without any forms of shielding or other measures to block and / or receive radiation are worthless. You can just as well use the well-known black and supplied power cords. Some of these are for technical reasons, not discussed further here, even better than a number of so-called ‘audiophile’ mains cables. So, get such cables for a demo, cut them, and look for technology that will help reduce the problematic effects described above.
Tiglon Here and there you see the application of techniques known for eighty years to to suppress those disturbances a little. In any case, Tiglon deserves the honor of offering an innovative solution for electromagnetic radiation. That is generally one of the bigger problems with mains cables. Tiglon is a Japanese company operating in 2010 started with a magnesium speaker mode (MGT series). Various studies are known in the literature on the mechanical damping capacity of metals and ceramic materials. For example, magnesium alloy type AZ 31 BF a value of 10? at 0.1? ys (%). Materials such as copper, aluminum and steel are all under 5. It is therefore not a bad idea to build vibration-damping speaker stands, racks and ‘damping’ insulators (vibration damping devices) for audio components based on magnesium alloys.
But, magnesium has another great property in the form of damping electromagnetic fields. An important product group of the company are all kinds of audio cables, which use magnesium shields to damp EMI. Tiglon has a patent for this application. In terms of content, it concerns a flexible ‘shield’ containing magnesium that is wrapped around the conductors in the cable. So it looks like a kind of tape, like you wrap around the handle of a tennis racket. The discovery that magnesium can dampen electromagnetic waves has been made earlier and several studies are available worldwide. A study is known here into, among other things, the effect of various alloys with magnesium on the damping effect, including the relationship between the damping and the direction of the electromagnetic field (2018 Shangyu Gao et al. College of Materials Science and Engineering , Chongqing University, Chongqing, 20201127140605, China. ).
An inquiry from 2010 also shows the relationship between the cable architecture and the angle of irradiation. It indicates that some architectures are better able to suppress EMI and therefore are more independent of the direction of the electromagnetic field. Tiglon’s patent does not contain the discovery that magnesium blocks electromagnetic radiation, but it concerns the magnesium-containing tape. This makes it possible to provide such a network cable with some flexibility, which would be less successful with a cable with a shield of mu-metal. The Tiglon cable is flexible, but again not an example of a flexible cable.
Tiglon TPL – 2000 A power cable
The TPL – 2000 A is according to Tiglon the best power cable the company can provide. Tiglon uses DF-OFC (oxygen-free copper), uses the previously mentioned magnesium shield and uses additional shielding to block RFI. By means of HSE (Hyper Saturated Energizer), the cable is ‘played in’ in advance and the sound quality also improves. The latter does a considerable drain on the imagination of the undersigned, because as far as is known no theoretical foundation can be found for the ‘anticipation’. The ‘anticipation’ is done by sending a varying current through the cable and by means of high frequencies.
The cable has a bead at both ends. These are windings of magnesium tape. They form a mechanical filter that dampens mechanical energy coming from the connectors. According to Tiglon, cables are very sensitive to mechanical resonances. They affect the sound. The performance of the Tiglon cables can therefore not only be explained by the damping of EMI, but also because of the damping of mechanical energy caused by the magnesium. The signal in a cable, according to Tiglon, is moved according to the impulse law. The transport of electrons then causes micromechanical impulses (ie collisions between electrons). Tiglon’s claim is that external vibrations affect the electrons, ie the nature of those micromechanical impulses (collisions) and then the sound. Pucks, spikes and everything that we place under hi-fi components affects the operation of the micro-mechanical impulses and thus the sound. It is a claim that requires an explanation of how free electrons move in a conductor and whether this transport is affected by external vibrations.
The Paul Drude model teaches that the transport takes the form of a sea of colliding electrons . The direction that electrons get after such a collision is, according to the theory, only dependent on the local temperature. It is interesting to investigate whether external vibrations also influence those collisions, whether this takes place by definition and whether there is an influence on the sound. Nice PhD research.
On the other hand, (poorly built) cables can be microphonic. If the cable moves, a kind of crackling sound can be heard. However, it is about interlinks and microphone cables through which a signal runs. No audio signals pass through power cords. The Tiglon cables are in any case beautiful and very solidly built and are supplied with the Furutech FI – 50 (R) NCF connectors, which are made of metal. Research here showed that a connector made of plastic simply throws the radiation, which, for example, a switched power supply in a device generates, through the IEC connector. Sealing such a connector with a mu-metal shield was discernible in the sound quality. The theory about ‘escaping’ and bringing in radiation through the connectors and chassis parts of audio equipment can be found in a publication by Jeffrey P. Mills (Electromagnetic Interference, Prentice Hall). A power cord with plastic connectors is therefore at odds with the theoretical model.
Tiglon TPL – 2000 A: Listen
Only a single cable was available. Then a choice has to be made which component will be connected. Experience shows that preamplifiers, streamers, music servers and converters can sometimes be sensitive to all kinds of disturbances. The Tiglon TPL – 2006 A was thus connected to an available DA converter. The influence of this mains cable was actually immediately visible. What most likely happened was that there were no failures a bit of space and depth was added to the soundstage, in which sounds became perceptible that would otherwise remain hidden. You hear sound that is not or less perceptible in many other listening situations. The great thing is that sounds die out for a very long time and that such a thing is clearly traceable, until such an often subtle sound disappears behind the distant auditory horizon. Psycho-acoustically speaking, it then seems as if the soundstage becomes much deeper, but also wider.
An additional psychoacoustic perception is that sounds appear to be more clearly defined. That makes sense. As the overall noise floor decreases, sounds stand out more clearly. A funny effect is that you tend to turn the system down. At low volumes there is already such a density of information that it is not necessary to want to hear more by turning the volume very high. What happens is a bit like fog. If there is fog, you will see less, while all hidden objects are indeed around you. When the fog clears, you will see more and more and your field of observation also becomes deeper and wider. In an audio system, interference that ends up in the audio path can hide softer sounds, while that information is actually present in the signal. The observations are in line with the theoretical model and also in line with the intention of this cable. Namely, offering the best possible protection against EMI. So it appears that this cable is keeping some amount of interference out of the DA converter. The noise floor then descends and hidden musical details become discernible.
Whoever reads it like this might not be impressed, because there is no mention of mega improvements, blasting eruptions of increased dynamics, instruments that suddenly come out spectacularly and an impressive increased sound quality. Apparently it is always others within hi-fi island who are allowed to experience all this. It really has never happened here. But, what this TPL – 2006 A does here is unmistakably discernible. But see it above all as one of the small steps that you can take with well-chosen cables and accessories and that together form a system that is neutral and sounds just a little closer to a real live music experience. So I wonder what will happen if multiple devices from such an audio system are equipped with these cables.
Tiglon TPL – 2000 A: epilogue The Tiglon TPL – 2006 A reduces the entry and emission of electromagnetic fields through the use of a patented magnesium-containing tape. Because power cables are close to audio components and other cables, EMI is often a serious source of interference. The application of magnesium in a cable can be called innovative. This cable does not change the sound. Because apparently less interference signals mix with the audio signal, the noise floor becomes lower and there is mainly an experience of more detail, silence, space and depth. Those changes are subtle and just noticeable. They contribute to an even more natural sound experience.
Price indication: 2. 400 euro
Black Forest Audio | www.blackforestaudio.com
Cyberpunk 2077 is currently not only notorious because of its many bugs, but also for its exorbitant hardware requirements: If you want to play with ray tracing, for example, you not only need an Nvidia graphics card, but in most cases also have to switch on the AI upscaling DLSS – otherwise it will even jerk on an RTX 3080.
Stadia not only shows a blurred image, but also more unrealistic reflections on the glass due to the lack of ray tracing .
(Image: c’t Magazin)
The hour for cloud streaming platforms strikes: Services such as Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now or Shadow run the game in data centers on server hardware and stream the Video output to customers. This doesn’t even require a computer, so all three services also run on iOS and Android mobile devices or even on streaming boxes for the television (Stadia on Chromecast Ultra, GeForce Now on Shield TV). For all services you have to buy Cyberpunk 2077, but the conventional GOG runs on GFN and Shadow – or Steam version (you just log into your own account), you have to buy the game on Google on the Stadia platform – if you have it on Steam or GOG, this doesn’t do you any good.
Latencies are not a big problem with proper Internet access, as several c’t tests have already shown, for example this one here (for a fee).
From 16 watch we stream live with GeForce Now and Google Stadia.
Video live stream: We play Cyberpunk 2077 on Stadia and GeForce Now
GeForce Now impresses: Raytracing Ultra with 60 fps We to have Cyberpunk 2077 (Version 1. 05) tried on Stadia and GeForce Now (GFN) and were positively surprised, especially by the Nvidia service GFN: With a chargeable “founder” account (currently 27, 45 Euro for 6 months) we could play the game with all (!) Settings on the maximum value without any problems in 1080 Use p-resolution (“Raytracing Ultra”) – at least if DLSS is activated (“Auto”). Without the AI-supported upscaling function, you could still play reasonably well, but with it it was much more fun and feels like 60 fps. Unfortunately, with the GOG version we tested it is currently not possible to display the frame rate calculated by the server. For comparison: On a local gaming PC with a GeForce RTX 2070 and AMD Ryzen 3700 x the game ran significantly worse with the same settings. There is also free GFN access, but there always seems to be long waiting times. With the chargeable founder account, we never recorded waiting times on several test days.
Google Stadia: Runs okay, but graphically slimmed down There is also Google Stadia in a free version, we could use it without any problems. It runs with a maximum of 1080 p-resolution and stereo sound. 4K, HDR and 5.1 sound are reserved for the Pro version (9, 99 euros per month). We also tested with this. Unlike GFN, Stadia runs a specially adapted version that has significantly fewer setting options. So there is only one option under “Graphics” between a 60 – fps mode (“high frame rate”) and a 30 – fps mode (“graphics”). Otherwise you can only set chromatic aberration, depth of field, lens flare and motion blur. Both Stadia preset modes are significantly slimmed down compared to the PC or GeForce Now version: For example, there does not seem to be any ray tracing effects, not even in the 30 – fps mode.
Cyberpunk 2077 in the cloud: image quality in comparison (10 Pictures) PC native (Raytracing Ultra)
(Image: c’t Magazin) In our test runs, the game always ran smoothly under Stadia and also worked without any problems via a Chromecast Ultra with a Stadia controller. However, the image sharpness varied significantly, especially when we used a browser instead of Chromecast. In one case – Edge was running under Windows 10 – the picture worked especially in 60 – fps mode very washed out. After a restart there was more sharpness in the picture. We didn’t have these problems with Chrome. Incidentally, it didn’t seem to be due to the video codec used: With the browser extension “Stadia Enhanced” we had manually preset VP9, the codec is more efficient than the H otherwise used. 264. During the two-hour test run, the Stadia version crashed twice.
All tests ran on a gigabit cable connection (1000 Mbit / s down, 50 Mbit / s up), the Windows – 10 – test computer was connected to the router by cable. We didn’t test Shadow because it currently takes around six months to get an account.
Conclusion The free version of GeForce Now requires a lot of waiting.
Cyberpunk 2077 is more fun in the cloud than on many gaming PCs – especially with GeForce Now you can get into that Enjoy the full graphic splendor, including ray tracing effects. At first glance, these are subtle, but make for a much more realistic overall impression. The unfortunately ray-tracing-free Stadia version is well suited for people who have a Chromecast Ultra but do not have a gaming PC. If you are not too impatient, you should wait a few months anyway until CD Projekt Red has eliminated the most violent bugs.
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Authors, agents and book publishers in several states have been the target of a strange phishing campaign for several years, which is not only puzzling to them. This is reported by the New York Times, citing testimonials from several victims. Accordingly, the strangers try to get manuscripts of unpublished books with extremely well-crafted e-mails, not only from world-famous best-selling authors, but also from many lesser-known writers. A black market for the texts is difficult to imagine. At the same time, the unknown attackers apparently have a very good knowledge of the publishing industry and the processes that are carried out before a book is published.
Phising with inside information The New York Times explains the attacks on the basis of an attempt by the attackers to obtain a manuscript of a novel by the US writer James Hannaham that was not yet finished . Two days after the book was announced, Hannaham received an email that appeared to be from his editor. In it he was asked to send the manuscript. The phishing attempt was only noticed because he did not answer directly, but rather sent a new mail from a different mail account. Just like other phishing emails, this one was very well done. In some cases, reference is made to information that is not publicly known at all.
What exactly the target of the attacker is, the victims are puzzling, writes the US newspaper. So for the manuscript of authors with few or one publication no financial value can be imagined. At the same time, none of the captured texts has appeared anywhere on the Darknet, as happened earlier with captured series episodes. That would have indicated an attempt at blackmail. It is currently speculated that there could be individuals behind it who earn their money selling rights for films, for example. In this industry, early access to information is worth money. However, this attempted explanation does not sound really convincing.
The New York Times also points out that a considerable amount of effort was apparently made for the attacks. Otherwise, the attackers’ methods have been tried and tested and phishing, as is observed time and again. Although the mysterious phising emails have been around for at least three years, their number increased massively in the fall. The attacks are quite disturbing for the authors. After all, the texts are unfinished works that still require a lot of work before they are to be presented to the public. “I don’t want anyone to know how bad my first drafts are,” says James Hannaham.
App developers combine intuitive and touch-optimized operation with clean retouching and bring modern, professional-level image processing to the iPad.
(Image: Rudolf A. Blaha)
In the test: Apps for image editing and photo development with the iPad Photo development deluxe Image processing like on the desktop Individual meetings More apps for Photo and image processing Conclusion Test table Article in c’t 1 / 2021 read For a long time, mobile image processing was only suitable for rough drafts, because the earlier touch-optimized tools were not suitable for detailed work. In the meantime, high-resolution displays enable 63 – Bit architecture and the Apple Pencil apps with filigree user interfaces and functions that are on a par with the desktop models.
The adaptations of Affinity Photo and Photoshop CC implement classic image processing with layers, masks and setting layers on the iPad. You have some innovative concepts ahead of the desktop role models and could become their legacy in the long term. Serif has implemented a surprising number of functions from the desktop version in Affinity Photo. Adobe has yet to keep its promise to do something similar with Photoshop CC, but has a large part of the basic functions of the mother application on board in the first version. A cheap alternative is the layer-based image processing Pixelmator.
The second pillar of image processing are photo developers who primarily apply non-destructive settings for exposure and color changes to a photo with a set of controllers. Darkroom, Lightroom CC and Pixelmator Photo have to prove their strengths in the test. Affinity Photo has already integrated the photo developer. The Photos app supplied by Apple also contains a simple developer.
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Sign in and read Register now and read the article immediately More information about heise + In the test: Apps for image editing and photo development with the iPad Photo development deluxe Image processing like on the desktop Individual meetings More apps for Photo and image processing Conclusion Test table Article in c’t 1 / 2021 read
(Pocket-lint) – Picking the right pair of headphones for running is anything but easy, with hordes of options all vying to accompany you on your pavement-pounding jaunts.
A good pair should be able to comfortably stay in your ear, withstand sweat, wind and rain and, of course, deliver solid sound. However, these factors aren’t necessarily all guaranteed – even if you opt for something a little expensive – and you’ll have to weigh up just how much you want to spend and, perhaps, whether you want them to double up as your everyday pair, too.
To help you make the best decision for your ears, we’ve gathered together some of the top headphones for running – from corded to true wireless, and around-ear to in-ear – at a variety of budgets. On your marks, get set, go!
Our pick of the best headphones for running
Beats
Beats Powerbeats Pro
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We could bore you to tears about why Beats’ Powerbeats Pro are the best overall headphones for running. Put simply, though, they win out because they offer the perfect blend of comfort, sound and stability.
They’re without question on the pricey side, but it’s more than worth it to know these things are never coming loose or succumbing to sweat (thanks to the IPX4 rating and mini vent).
They’re even comfortable when worn for longer stretches, since there’s no cable behind the neck pulling the hook on your ear, and offer a, quite frankly, insane battery life for true wireless headphones – 9 hours of listening time that extends to 24 with the battery case.
If you can stomach the price tag, there’s very little to dislike about Beats’ latest headphones.
Beats Powerbeats Pro review: Perfect workout companions
Anker
Anker Soundbuds Slim+
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Plenty of running headphones require a significant investment, but Anker’s Soundbuds Slim+ let you get started for a budget price tag.
Considering the outlay, these in-ear buds offer excellent audio quality – more in line with the mid-level offerings – and also manage to eke out 10 hours of playtime.
They’re naturally not as stable as around-ear designs, but the slim build, as the name suggests, and wings help things stay relatively stable.
The package includes multiple ear tips, meaning you can tinker with the fit, and the IPX7 rating ensures you don’t have to worry about rain or sweat.
Bose
Bose SoundSport
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If your priority is great sound, Bose delivers an expert offering with its exercise-focused headphones.
They’re a little long in the tooth, granted, but, as with any Bose product, the quality is long-lasting. Plus, the design still holds up really well against competitors, with the company’s StayHear+ tips giving you a lightweight and sturdy fit throughout runs. Just watch out for that six-hour battery – it sneaks up on you.
It’s important to note that Bose also offers a Pulse edition of the SoundSport, too, which features a built-in heart rate monitor. While not totally necessary for all users (especially runners who already have a dedicated watch), it is a handy add-on.
Jabra
Jabra Elite 75t Earbuds
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Jabra’s Elite 75t aren’t specifically designed to accompany you on winding runs – despite being water and sweat resistant – so it’s a testament to their quality that you would never really know.
The truly wireless design gives you a bit more freedom when on the move, and we’re big fans of the Jabra Sound+ app, which lets you equalize music until your heart’s content.
It’s not just about the comfy design, either, with roughly 7.5 hours of battery backed up by a total of 28 hours total when you take advantage of the charging case.
Jabra Elite Active 75t review: True wireless sport star
Beats
Beats Powerbeats
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Imagine the stable comfort and sound quality of Beats’ Powerbeats Pro, then add a cable that sits behind your head – that’s essentially what the latest generation of the Powerbeats gives you.
Since the design is a little more traditional, the price tag reflects that, making them a top pick for those who want a pair of Beats but don’t want to shell out for the Pro model.
Since Beats is Apple-owned, you get the H1 chip underneath the hood, too, which allows for instant pairing with Apple devices. And, perhaps best of all, the battery will last up to 15 hours before it needs to juicing back up with a Lightning cable.
Beats Powerbeats review: Great earphones without the ‘Pro’ price
Sennheiser
Sennheiser CX Sport
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Sennheiser’s CX Sport is another great-sounding pair of mid-level headphones, delivering some of the best audio quality for when you’re on the go.
The design is similar to many in the wireless-but-wired crop, giving you splash- and sweat-proofing, as well as a choice of four adapters and fins that fit round your ear.
You also have the really handy music and call control remote on the cord itself, letting you increase/decrease volume and pause/play.
They’re not quite elite on the battery front, giving you a total of six hours before they need recharging, but it should be enough to suit occasional runners and those who don’t mind recharging once a week.
Apple
Apple AirPods Pro
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We wouldn’t necessarily recommend all of Apple’s earbuds for running sessions, but the AirPods Pro – not just the best AirPods yet for audio quality – are both sweatproof and waterproof.
With the design now progressing to in-ear, with a choice of three sizes of silicone tips, they’re also a much more secure fit for running than previous models – even if they can’t quite match up to the lock-fit of the Powerbeats Pro.
Active noise cancellation means you don’t have to max out the volume to drown out the sound of your commute, or, more importantly, the music at your gym, with the AirPods Pro able to last 24 hours with the help of the charging case, too.
Apple AirPods Pro review: Silence is golden
Jaybird
Jaybird X4
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Jaybird’s latest entry to its mid-range line is the X4, which really doubles down on the water-resistance to remain useable in all kinds of conditions.
The upgraded IPX7 rating means the corded wireless headphones are able to withstand sweat or rain, and, thankfully, the audio quality remains very respectable – even if it isn’t quite on par with the elite options on this list.
To make sure the fit is precise, Jaybird also includes a number of different tips, while battery life gives you eight hours from a two-hour charge.
(Pocket-lint) – Getting a solid desktop PC can be a bit of a gamechanger in different ways. Depending on what you buy or build, it could mean getting a machine that unlocks your potential for home working, or it could be a monster gaming rig for recreational purposes.
The best all-in-one computer: Amazing desktops for your home or office
Either way, though, you’re going to want to pair it with some proper speakers, to make sure that you’re not stuck with muted video or forced to always used headphones if you want to hear anything. We’ve gathered some of the very best speakers for desktop computers right here for you to pick from.
Our pick of the best desktop PC speakers to buy today
Creative
Creative Pebble Desktop Speakers
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Creative has a wide range of really impressive speakers for your desktop, including some that go up to extremely expensive price tags, but we think the best pick for most people is its Pebble set.
These are really affordable, but they also have a fun and unique design that makes them a great addition to any setup. They sound really solid and are small enough to not dominate a desk.
Logitech
Logitech G560
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Logitech is one of the kings of the computer peripheral world, and it’s no surprise that it’s got its fingers in the pie when it comes to speakers. It, like Creative, has a few to pick from.
Our best-loved, though, are the G650, a great pair of speakers that work really nicely with the accompanying subwoofer to get a major boost to their base. They also look great, with clean RGB capabilities that are perfect for gaming.
Creative
Creative GigaWorks T20
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Creative strikes again with this mid-range speaker set, and while they don’t have the same funky design as the Pebbles, the splash of yellow on the speakers still make the T20 something memorable.
They also sound really great and have a pretty classic desktop look to them, making them fit in really nicely either side of a computer monitor.
Bose
Bose Companion 2 Series III
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Bose is a really well-known audio brand, so it’s no surprise that it’s got some great speakers to offer up in this category, too. The Companion 2 are so good that this is the third time Bose has updated them subtly.
You get really nice balanced sound, as per Bose’s pedigree, and a design that’s really mature and classy.
Razer
Razer Nommo Pro
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If you want a distinctive look for your setup, gaming expert Razer might have an option for you in the form of the Nommo Pro, a funky-looking pair of speakers with a powerful sub to go with them.
These sound really excellent and are well-balanced for your gaming needs, plus a handy little puck controller gives you easy volume control on your desktop.
Logitech
Logitech Z623
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Our last option again comes from Logitech, with a mid-range system that has a massive sub to make sure that it can pump out bass to compete with anything.
The design is industrial, with exposed speaker grilles that we really like, although it could be a little brutal for some people’s tastes. For a mid-range speaker setup with a subwoofer, though, this is well-priced and well-specified.
Writing by Max Freeman-Mills. Editing by Conor Allison.
(Pocket-lint) – Think of sports earphones and there’s a certain aesthetic in mind. In most cases you’ll be looking at plastic ‘buds, often brightly coloured or – in the case of on-ears – covered in a canvas-like material. Those bright colours used to complement the colour schemes you’ll often find on training shoes and tracksuits.
What you probably don’t see that often is a pair of ‘buds built using traditionally luxurious or premium materials. At least, not until now. Enter the Beoplay E8 Sport by Bang & Olufsen – which seeks to marry the sporty and premium into a single product.
Design
4 silicon tips (XS, S, M, L) & Comply Foam tips; 3 earfins (S, M, L)
Finishes: Black, Oxygen Blue (and limited edition collab models)
IP57 water- and dust-resistant
Bang & Olufsen’s argument for not rushing into the sports earbud market is based around its own insistence on using particular materials and not compromising on its design principles. In this instance, specifically, it means B&O sticks to its tradition of using aluminium in at least part of the design.
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On the E8 Sport you’ll spot it in a couple of places. Firstly, when you open up the case you’ll find a brushed aluminium surface covering the entirety of the top of the case, with cutouts where the earbuds sit to charge. In our model it’s finished in matte black, camouflaging it with the rest of the case, but if you angle it towards some light you’ll notice the polished, chamfered edge reflects light. Secondly – and echoing that design – on the ‘buds you’ll find another polished, chamfered aluminium ring.
Get it in matte black and you get that classy, stealthy look that works just as well in your everyday carry as it does in the gym. But it’s not the only option, so those who want a splash of colour have options: the limited Fernando Alonso version features a teal metallic ring around the touchpad; the Rapha edition has a red ring around; or there’s an Oxygen Blue model which has a pastel turquoise colouring for those who feel black is a bit too boring.
Pocket-lint
Being sports earphones, of course, the design focus is also on grip-ability. Interestingly, B&O has taken this focus and applied it not only to the ‘buds, but to the case as well. Both have a ridged finish around the outside, so that when you’re holding the case or wearing the earbuds, they’re very unlikely to get slippery, even when wet.
B&O’s earbuds are water resistant to IP57 levels, which means they’ll get through your sweaty sessions, or runs in the rain. If the ‘buds get too grubby or sweaty, you can remove them and wash them under running water quickly to get the grime off.
In our own testing, the ‘buds stayed in our ears very securely with the default tips and wings applied. It’s a secure fit, but one that doesn’t feel too snug or pressured. It’s a nice light balance that ensures these ‘buds don’t get uncomfortable after a run, but also means the chance of one falling out is slim – so nothing to hold you back from that personal best attempt.
One of our favourite elements to the design is actually the hinge of the charging case. Like so many other manufacturers, you flip open the lid to get to your ‘buds, but the movement of this hinge is so smooth. It’s not loose or tight, which adds to that overall feeling of attention to detail in design. It’s a luxurious touch that makes it feel like the ‘buds are worth their rather high price tag.
The case isn’t just a luxury item though, it’s practical too. You can place it on a wireless charing pad to refill the battery inside when empty or – if you prefer – use the Type-C connector on the back.
Pocket-lint
One of our favourite elements to the design is actually the hinge of the charging case. Like so many other manufacturers, you flip open the lid to get to your ‘buds, but the movement of this hinge is so smooth. It’s not loose or tight, which adds to that overall feeling of attention to detail in design. It’s a luxurious touch that makes it feel like the ‘buds are worth their rather high price tag.
The case isn’t just a luxury item though, it’s practical too. You can place it on a wireless charing pad to refill the battery inside when empty or – if you prefer – use the Type-C connector on the back.
Features and performance
Bluetooth 5.1 and aptX
7 hours music playback
30 hours including case
Audio transparency mode
While there’s no active noise-canceling (ANC) to speak of here, there are plenty of modern features that help the E8 Sport perform really well in terms of connectivity and longevity.
The fit of the tips means these ‘buds offer a decent passive seal to help keep out unwanted noise, so ANC isn’t a serious miss here. However, you do get an audio transparency mode that you quickly access by tapping the left earbud. That feature’s enabled by the touch-sensitive panels on the two ‘buds, which you also use to play and pause or skip forwards and back between tracks.
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If you load up the Bang & Olufsen app on your smartphone you can adjust the level of audio transparency you want too, it’s not a case of being stuck with an all-or-nothing approach.
Other useful modern tech includes Bluetooth 5.1, which helps the ‘buds stay connected with each other and with the source device. With that, and aptX support for Android users, we got a consistent and lag-free experience during our testing. Not once did we find the connection drop, even when leaving the source device in another room.
Like the connection, you rarely have to worry about the battery life either. Bang & Olufsen claims you get up to seven hours of music playback when you remove the ‘buds from the case, before the need to dock again for recharging. In our daily use we were easily able to listen for a solid two or three hours with the app showing a percentage drop of around 30 per cent.
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If you somehow do end up using these ‘buds for the full seven hours, you’ll get just over three additional full charges from the battery in the case before you need to plug it in or place it on a wireless charging base. That’s a considerable 30 hours total.
Sound
20Hz – 20KHz frequency response
5.7mm electrodynamic drivers
Customisable EQ in app
Like its focus on design, B&O has a set approach for sound quality and it’s very much ‘how the artist intends you to hear it’. That means you don’t get lots of heavy bass. Instead, the result is clarity and detail, but with quality, balanced mid-level and low frequencies.
That’s the default at least, and it’s a great place to start, because – while not loud and prominent – bass is well controlled and detailed. We did find that you lose some of that balance, losing the bass, when you turn the volume down – but once you’re up to 50 per cent or higher, there’s a great balance to everything.
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Unlike some other manufacturers, Bang & Olufsen actually lets you adjust the equaliser too. Rather than have complicated faders on screen, you get a single dot that lets you choose the way you want the music to feel, whether that’s warm and mellow or bright and exciting. If you want a dynamic, exciting sound with more bass you can have that. What’s more, you can create different profiles for different moods and save those in the app with their own names.
So, for instance, if you want a particular kind of sound for when you’re working out and another for when you’re listening to music on the bus/train, or when you’re working at your desk, you can have a different profile for each scenario. Regardless of how you adjust it, there’s a certain ‘signature’ to everything in the way you get clarity. There’s tight control everywhere, so you never get distortion in the upper frequencies, and bass retains its feel and tightness even if it is more prominent in your preferred profile. The end result of all this is a sound that’s incredibly versatile.
Best noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones 2020 for blocking out noise when you’re working from home
Verdict
Bang & Olufsen’s E8 Sport true wireless ‘buds set themselves apart from the usual crowd by looking and feeling ultra-premium. These in-ears also just happen to be waterproof, practical and durable too. It’s a great combination, plus the sound profile and fit is superb.
Combine that practicality with B&O’s signature sound and an app that lets you customise the equaliser to your liking, and you’ll find this is probably the best-sounding pair of workout headphones on the market.
Except, thanks to that premium styling, you can wear these ‘buds during your commutes to work with your business attire and nothing would look out of place. How’s that for premium and versatile.
Alternatives to consider
Pocket-lint
Powerbeats Pro
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Since launch, the Powerbeats Pro has been virtually unchallenged as the top workout headphones. It’ll cost you less than B&O’s effort, and has a design that’ll keep these ‘buds stuck on your ears while delivering great sound and battery life.
Read our review
Pocket-lint
Master & Dynamic MW07 Go
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Master & Dynamic’s smaller and more affordable true wireless ‘buds deliver dynamic sound in design that fits snugly in the ear with a flexible, grippy comb-fin. Battery life isn’t as good as B&O’s, but the cost is a lot lower.
The best Lightning headphones 2020 for your iPhone or iPad
We’ve tested a pile — these are the best RGB mouse pads out there. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
For many, mouse pads have become a commodity — or even unnecessary — with many optical mice claiming to work with most surfaces. But when it comes to PC gaming, a mouse pad can be crucial, guaranteeing a level and/or extra-slick surface. That means smooth, precise, error-free movements. And if you’re adding an accessory to an RGB-enabled gaming setup, doesn’t your best gaming mouse deserves something pretty to dance on too?
RGB mouse pads are becoming more readily available online. But many come from companies you’ve never heard of, and others may lack the features you have in mind. Mouse pad shopping might sound simple once you’ve decided on a material, but when you toss in RGB lighting strips and customization software, it’s easier to get buyer’s remorse.
When buying an RGB mouse pad, ask yourself these questions:
Do you have an available USB port? RGB mouse pads need something to power all those colorful lights. If you don’t want to sacrifice a port, look for a pad with a USB passthrough port or consider ditching RGB altogether.
Hard or soft? Hard, plastic surfaces are more slippery, so your mouse will quickly glide across the surface with minimal force from your hand. These are best reserved for more competitive gamers (or at least those with a mouse with CPI control). Alternatively, soft cloth mouse pads generally offer more precise control.
Does it come with software? If there’s no software, it’s likely that you won’t be able to customize the mouse pad lighting’s colors or effects, and if you are, the options will be limited. Most of the mouse pads on this list feature free software for controlling the lighting.
How many RGB zones do you want? An RGB zone is individually customizable via software, so if you want to see more than one color at a time on your mouse pad, make sure you buy a pad with at least 2 RGB zones. Note that RGB zones are different than “RGB LEDs.”
Best RGB mouse pads at a glance:
1.Razer Firefly V2
2. SteelSeries QCK Prism
3. Cooler Master MP750 (M)
4. Omen by HP Outpost
5. SteelSeries QCK Prism Cloth (XL)
6. Patriot Viper Gaming LED Mouse Pad
7. Thermaltake Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad
The Best RGB Mouse Pads You Can Buy Today
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The Razer Firefly V2 is the best RGB mouse pad for a plethora of color. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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1. Razer Firefly V2
Best RGB Mouse Pad Alternative
Surface: Hard, micro-textured plastic | Measurements: 14 x 10 x .01 inches (355 x 255 x 3mm) | RGB Zones: 19 | Software: Razer Synapse 3 | Base: Rubber
Large number of RGB zones
Bright RGB lighting
Braided cable
Mouse cable catch
Attracts fingerprint smudges
Software can be complex
If our top recommendation, the reversible SteelSeries QCK Prism below, isn’t in stock, the Razer Firefly V2 is a great alternative and also the most colorful RGB mouse pad we’ve tested. It has a whopping 19 customizable zones, and despite the thin lighting strips, the LEDs’ brightness visibly outshined competitors.
The mouse pad is fit for competitive gaming with what Razer calls a “micro-textured” plastic surface that feels slightly rough and enables speedy mouse movements but easily gathers fingerprints and smudges. Razer’s Firefly V2 is only 3mm thick, but its rubber base prevented any movement during gaming. Its cable catch, while a small detail, successfully kept our mouse’s wire in check.
Razer Synapse 3, the detailed accompanying software, gives RGB tweakers full rein over all those lighting zones. You get brightness controls, seven presets, including a Reactive one that works with supporting Razer mice, and can sync the lighting with other Razer RGB devices. We also appreciate the toggle to “Switch off lighting when the display is turned off.” The software’s Chroma Studio (pictured above) function is where the more advanced customization occurs with numerous effects layers and the ability to control the effects’ cycling speed, duration and intensity. But its complexity means it’ll take a longer to master than simpler apps.
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The SteelSeries QCK Prism is the best RGB mouse pad we’ve tested. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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2. SteelSeries QCK Prism
Best RGB Mouse Pad
Surface: Reversible (hard polymer plastic or micro-textured cloth) | Measurements: 14 x 11.5 x 0.3 inches (356.7 x 292.4 x 8.7mm) | RGB Zones: 12 | Software: SteelSeries Engine 3 | Base: Silicon rubber
Many RGB zones
Classy and reactive RGB lighting implementation
Reversible surface
Software has many pre-made themes
Reversible surface can obscure upper-right corner of RGB border
Plastic side attracts fingerprints
The SteelSeries QCK Prism is the best mouse pad with RGB. It’s not just a light show; the QCK Prism is fully outfitted for serious gaming. The square within the RGB border easily comes off, allowing gamers to choose between its hard polymer side for speedy gaming or the micro-textured soft cloth surface for greater control. It’s almost like getting two mouse pads in one.
When gaming, the mouse pad felt solid and reliable, thanks to its relatively heavy feel and thick rubber base that wouldn’t move an inch no matter how aggressive we moved our mouse. However, we noticed the removable area sticking up a tiny bit in the upper-right corner, which slightly cut into our view of the lighting in the upper-right corner when in a typical seated position. Plus, the plastic side easily attracted fingerprints.
The dignified, rubber black border framing 12 RGB zones provides a clean look that proves you can have colorful lighting without sacrificing class. The SteelSeries Engine software opens up waves of lighting customization options, but it’s also easy to get a mesmerizing effect without spending a lot of time in the app. There are eight well-designed presets that are attractive, including the sunrise-like 8:00 or the pink, orange and purple-themed Disco Mode. You also get reactive lighting around gaming scenarios, like low ammo or health with Dota 2, CS:GO, Utopia 9 and Neverwinter and the ability to sync lighting with other SteelSeries RGB products . SteelSeries also makes a cloth-only version of this mouse pad and an XL one, (which we’ve also listed below).
The Cooler Master MP750 (M) is the best RGB mouse pad for gamers on a budget. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
3. Cooler Master MP750 (M)
Best Budget RGB Mouse Pad
Surface: Soft cloth | Measurements: 14.57 x 10.63 x 0.12 inches (370.08 x 270 x 3.05mm) | RGB Zones: 1 | Software: Cooler Master MasterPlus | Base: Rubber
Spill-resistant
On-the-fly control button
Removable cable
Limited lighting options
RGB colors on software can look different in real life
Visible stitching
If you can’t image spending a lot on a mouse pad, the Cooler Master MP750 (M) is usually $25-$35 without sacrificing much. Cooler Master claims the finely textured cloth offers a “slick texture and smooth maneuverability.” It proved sufficient for the average gamer but didn’t immediately feel like anything special during teting. More unique is its spill-resistant coating. When I spilled water on it, the large droplet easily rolled off, and I could quickly clean up the remainder with a tissue. You can also unplug its MicroUSB to USB-A cable for times when you don’t want RGB or a wire.
The MP750 (M)’s RGB border shines pretty brightly. A handy button lets you cycle through static colors without opening software. Unfortunately, black stitching interrupts the RGB frame, and I worry about getting things, like jewelry, getting caught between loops and causing damage.
Since there’s only one RGB zone, there’s not that much to do in the Cooler Master Master Plus software. There are four lighting modes — Color Cycle, Static, Breathing or off — and five speed settings via a toggle. Static and Breathing modes offer a color picker, but it wasn’t always accurate. For example, when I tried to make a peach and white breathing effect, I instead got white-ish purple flickering. And when I tried to make it flash white, I was met with various shades of blue. Note Cooler Master also makes large and extra large versions of this mouse pad.
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The Omen by HP Outpost is the best RGB mouse pad that also offers wireless charging. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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4. Omen by HP Outpost
Best Wireless Charging RGB Mouse Pad
Surface: Reversible (hard plastic or cloth) | Measurements: 13.63 x 13.55 x 0.42 inches (346.2 x 344.17 x 10.67mm) | RGB Zones: 2 | Software: Omen Command Center | Base: Rubber
Qi wireless charging supports smartphones and other devices
USB passthrough port
Reversible surface
Hearty build
Reversible surface is hard to remove
Further RGB zones are hard to see
Expensive
Mice with wireless charging, like the Asus ROG Chakram and Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE are gaining popularity because they let you to use your mouse wirelessly without ever having to plug it in for a charge, so long as you’re using the right mouse pad, like the Omen by HP Outpost. Besides Qi wireless charging, it has a USB Type-A passthrough port and reversible surface. You’ll have to pay a lot ($100), but it’s hard to find a rival with these capabilities. It also connects via USB Type-C but includes an adapter for USB Type-A ports.
The Outpost’s 5W Qi charging is conveniently at the pad’s upper-left area, so it doesn’t interfere with the gaming surface. It flawlessly charged various devices, not just HP’s own mice. That makes it more versatile than some other mouse pads with this feature, but your devices will charge slower on this 5W charger than on many other Qi chargers, which are rated up to 10-15W.
The pad’s sturdy and heavy (1.53 pounds). Like the SteelSeries QCK Prism above, its reversible surface has a hard plastic side for quick mouse movements and a cloth one for more control. But the Outpost’s pad is much harder to flip. Plus, we wonder about the longevity of the thin, octagonal sticky strip that holds the mouse surface down after many swaps.
You only get two RGB zones here, and one is a small Omen logo. Omen Command Center software lets you pick between static color (presets or a color slider with RGB values and intensity slider) or animations. There are three pre-made animations for the Omen logo and four for the second zone surrounding the gaming surface. We appreciate that each animation also has up to four color schemes: Spectrum, Ocean (our favorite), Jungle and Volcano.
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The XL version of the SteelSeries QCK Prism Cloth is the best extended mouse pad with RGB flair. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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5. SteelSeries QCK Prism Cloth (XL)
Best Extended RGB Mouse Pad
Surface: Soft cloth | Measurements: 34.4 x 11.8 x 0.2 inches (900 x 300 x 4mm) | RGB Zones: 2 | Software: SteelSeries Engine 3 | Base: Rubber
Reactive RGB lighting available
Friendly software customization
Could be taller
Visible stitching
Available here for $59, the SteelSeries QCK Prism Cloth (XL) is the best large RGB mouse pad. Its “micro-woven” cloth surface stays in place thanks to a silicon rubber base, and its RGB lighting can be used as a gaming advantage, as its programmable to communicate things like game alerts (low ammo or health, for example) and Discord notifications. Its extra-wide surface offers room to keep your best gaming keyboard, but we wouldn’t mind a little more height. With our keyboard and wrist rest in place, there’s little vertical space remaining. Cooler Master’s XL RGB mouse pad is 1.6 inches (40mm) taller.
The QCK Prism Cloth (XL)’s two-zone RGB border shines evenly throughout. But it’s hard to miss its stitching, even though SteelSeries used clear thread.Plus, I can easily wiggle the stitches, which isn’t promising for long-term use during aggressive gaming sessions.
SteelSeries’ Engine software offers a decent range of customization options for the top and bottom RGB zones but not as many pre-made themes as with the reversible SteelSeries QCK Prism (listed above). You can control the speed in seconds and pick between Steady, ColorShift, Multi Color Breath, each with 3-4 pre-selected color schemes and the ability to control brightness. Among the large RGB mouse pads we’ve tested, none offer greater customization options than the QCK Prism Cloth (XL), which is even cheaper than some rivals.
For a cheaper option, consider the Aukey XL RGB Gaming Mouse Pad. It’s currently $35 (we’ve seen it as low as $27) and offers a thick, squishy cloth surface that makes movements a little smoother while fighting off (rather than absorbing) spilled water droplets. But while it has ample preset effects to toggle through, the two RGB zones aren’t individually programmable, as there’s no software.
Want even more mouse pad? We’ve also tried out the 3XL version of the QcK Prism Cloth, and it offers the same brilliance and functionality at 48 x 23.2 x 0.2 inches and $100. There are also 4XL (48 x 30 x 0.2 inches, $120) and 5XL (63 x 31.5 x 0.2 inches, $150) versions. Sadly, no matter the size, you still only get 2 RGB zones.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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7. Thermaltake Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad
Best RGB Mouse Pad Features
Surface: Textured cloth | Measurements: 35.4 x 15.8 x 0.2 inches ( 900 x 400 x 4mm) | RGB Zones: 3 | Software: TT iTake | Base: Rubber
Versatile texture
Stays clean
Provides CPU temperature information
Syncs RGB with Razer products
Visible stitching
Inconsistent static lighting
Expensive
The Thermaltake Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad is packed with features if you can stomach its $60 price. My favorite is its ability to communicate CPU temperature range by making the lighting 1 of 6 colors. There’s also a music setting, where the bottom left, top right and Thermaltake logo on the left flash respective colors in sync with audio from your PC. And voice assistant dependents will appreciate the ability to control RGB by speaking to an Amazon Alexa device. You can also do this through Thermaltake’s well-functioning and thorough software
But besides its flash, there’s substance. If you don’t like hyper-slippery cloth mouse pads, the textured weave pattern Thermaltake used here is a fantastic balance. Thermaltake’s extended mouse pad also provides 4 more inches of roaming room north to south than the SteelSeries QCK Prism Cloth (XL) above. It stays in place but notably takes in moisture from drinking glasses, leaving on a temporary damp mark. Visible stitching, meanwhile, makes damage easier. On the other hand, the mouse pad’s surface fights off stains, which I tested by eating many a snack over it.
If you have any Razer products using Razer Chroma, you can get the colors to sync for nice touch. I got it to work nicely with a Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini mouse. But if you like customizing, you’ll be frustrated with the inconsistency with colors selected in Thermaltake (or Razer Synapse) software. Trying to set it to a static yellow resulted in a multi-color effect that was mostly aqua green. The photo above shows what’s supposed to be red on top and orange on the bottom. It still looks beautiful, but if you want accurate software customization, look elsewhere
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The Patriot Viper Gaming LED mouse pad brings a lot of style. (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
6. Patriot Viper Gaming LED Mouse Pad
Most Stylish RGB Mouse Pad
Surface: Hard polymer plastic | Measurements: 13.9 x 9.5 x 1.8 inches (35.4 x 24.3 x 0.6cm) | RGB Zones: 6 | Software: None | Base: Rubber
Unique shape
Bold logo
On-the-fly controls
Detachable MicroUSB braided cable
A little rough
No software
Expensive for what you get
If you’re eyeing RGB mouse pads, you can handle bold looks. While all the mouse pads above feature exciting LED effects, the Patriot Viper Gaming LED Mouse Pad ($29 as of writing) has a daring shape. Going past your standard rectangular design, Patriot’s pad is a dodecagon, a 12-sided figure. The Viper logo is also a bold stamp, evoking shameless memories of a Transformer or Megazord.
The Viper Gaming LED has a pretty large surface area of very rigid and slightly textured polymer plastic. It’s the hardest mouse pad on this list, and some hard, plastic mice, such as the Cooler Master MM711, made a rough-sounding noise running across it. But after over a week of use, the mouse pad fought off fingerprints better than other plastic mouse pads on this list. Meanwhile, the rubber spanning the entire back of the pad is textured, so it stays in place.
Patriot’s RGB mouse pad doesn’t have companion software. Instead, you control the RGB effects with a control box on the braided, detachable MicroUSB cable. One button browses through different light effects: single or multi-color breathing, a clockwise or counterclockwise spiral, steady lighting with one or rainbow colors and off. Even though there are six RGB zones, you can’t make each zone the color you want. Instead, the second button on the control box toggles through available color schemes for your desired effect. I didn’t have trouble finding a likable effect, but those seeking customization or advanced effects should look at something like the Razer Firefly V2 above.
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo brings a first-class Tiger Lake processor to MSI’s productivity ultrabook, but it’s held back by a dim screen and quiet/tinny speakers.
For
Strong performance
14-inch display
Great webcam
Against
Dim display
Quiet, tinny audio
MSI’s back with an Intel Evo-certified update to its Prestige 14 productivity line. Alongside another, non-Evo refresh, this brings Tiger Lake to the gaming company’s productivity ultrabooks. While we miss the pink color option we saw with its 10th gen machines, this latest iteration of the Prestige 14 gives it industry-leading performance. But performance isn’t the only thing that matters, especially in the best ultrabooks.
MSI Prestige 14 Evo Specs
CPU
Intel Core i7-1185G7
Graphics
Intel Iris Xe
Memory
16GB LPDDR4-4267
Storage
512GB NVMe SSD
Display
14 inches, 1920 x 1080, IPS-level
Networking
802.11 ax Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
Ports
2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x microSD card reader, 1x 3.5mm combination microphone/headphone jack
Camera
720p, IR
Battery
52 Whr
Power Adapter
65W
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Dimensions(WxDxH)
12.6 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches (37.1 x 21.8 x 1.5 cm)
Weight
2.8 pounds (1.3 kg)
Price (as configured)
$1,149
Design of the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
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The Evo-certified update to the MSI Prestige 14 keeps the same basic look as previous releases, but unfortunately lacks the bright pink option from the
Ice Lake model
we reviewed earlier this year. Instead, you’ll have a choice between white and black here, though each comes with snazzy metallic lining on the edges of the lid and the touchpad.
There’s some extra styling on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo that gives it a premium look. On our gray model, a metallic blue strip accentuated the edges of the laptop’s lid and its touchpad, and in the right light, almost looked like it was an LED strip.
The rest of the laptop is more plain aesthetically, with the majority of the case being taken up by a uniform, somewhat glittery gray surface that’s unfortunately prone to collecting fingerprints. If you flip the laptop over, you’ll notice that the laptop’s vent hole placement resembles a city skyline, though this isn’t something you’ll see during typical use.
The keyboard is also home to a nice visual touch, as its keycaps are decorated with a slightly lighter version of the case’s color scheme.
Opening the laptop lid also lifts the keyboard off the desk at a five degree angle, to make for easier typing and better cooling.
There’s a wide variety of ports for such a small laptop. The laptop has two
Thunderbolt 4
ports, and the right side has a single USB Type-A port, a 3.5mm combination headphone/microphone jack and a microSD card reader. That last inclusion is a rare but helpful addition, although it’s unfortunate that the Type-A port is just USB 2.0 as opposed to belonging to a more recent connection standard like USB 3.2.
This is the first non-convertible 14 inch Tiger Lake ultrabook we’ve reviewed, so it’s a touch larger than the closest competitors we have on record. At 12.6 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches, it’s certainly not large, but it is a touch longer than rivals. The Dell XPS 13 and Razer Book 13, for instance, are 11.6 x 7.8 x 0.6 inches, while the Asus ZenBook 13 is a slightly chunkier 11.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches.
The Prestige 14 Evo is surprisingly lightweight, though, matching the Dell XPS 13’s 2.8 pounds. That does make it slightly heavier than the ZenBook 13’s 2.4 pounds, but it’s still not as weighty as the Razer Book 13’s 3.1 pounds.
Productivity Performance on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
This is our first time looking at a shipping laptop with the Core i7-1185G7 CPU. Every other Tiger Lake i7 laptop we’ve reviewed has an i7-1165G7, besides a whitebox system featuring the chip. What’s the difference? Not much. The 1185G7 has a slightly higher max turbo speed (4.3 vs 4.1 GHz), but both can run between 12W and 28W of power. Still, the Prestige’s chip is just a touch more, well, prestigious.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
You can see this in action on the Prestige 14 Evo’s Geekbench 5.0 results. This synthetic benchmark tracks general performance across a number of arenas, and the Prestige 14 Evo scored higher than any computers we tested it to. At 5,718 points, it’s closest match was the Razer Book 13 (5,460), coincidentally also made by a manufacturer known for gaming. The Dell XPS 13 was next (5,254), while the Asus ZenBook 13 came in last (5,084).
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
This trend continued in our Handbrake video editing test, where we track how long it takes a machine to transcode a video down from
4K
to
FHD
. The Prestige 14 Evo completed the task in 12:27, while the Razer Book 13 took slightly longer at 14:46. The Zenbook 13 trailed behind with a 17:51 time, while the XPS 13 took the longest at 18:22.
The Prestige and the Razer Book once again lead scores in graphics testing, with all machines using Intel Iris Xe internal graphics which we benchmarked using 3DMark Fire Strike. Here, the Prestige scored 5,240 points and the Razer Book 13 scored 5,216 points. The Zenbook 13 dipped significantly with 4,407 points, and the XPS 13 rounded out the rankings with an even lower 3,598 points.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The one category where the Prestige isn’t on top is on file transfer speeds. Here, it copied 4.97GB of files at a respectable 805 MBps, which was about on par with the XPS 13’s 806.2 MBps and was much higher than the Razer Book 13’s 479.2 MBps. Still, the ZenBook 13 was the leader here, with a transfer speed of 966.8 MBps.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
We also ran the MSI Prestige through Cinebench R20 20 times in a row to test how it holds up to extended strain. Our average score was 2206.2, which was impressive given that our first test earned 2268 points and that we tend to see a significant drop as the stress test continues.
During the stress test, the Prestige 14’s CPU ran at an average clock speed of 3434.1 GHz and an average temperature of 85.3 degrees Celsius (185.54 degrees Fahrenheit).
Display on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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At 14 inch screen on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo is
IPS-level
, but my viewing experience found that it was almost uncomfortably dim.
I tested the display on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo by watching the Wonder Woman 1984 trailer on it. To the screen’s credit, I found that the viewing angles on this screen were almost complete, with the image never washing out regardless of how far away I got from the display, whether horizontally or vertically. The panel also wasn’t reflective, and I was able to clearly see the image in both normal and low light.
The difficulty was in the actual image on screen. While I could follow the action well, the Prestige 14 Evo is more than just dim. It borders on dark. Colors also weren’t vivid or striking, though blacks were impressively deep.
Our testing backed up my impressions. Our luminance testing found that the average brightness across the Prestige 14 Evo’s screen was 284 nits, which is much lower than even its closest competitors. That would be the ZenBook 13, which had a 370 nit average brightness. The Razer Book 13 and Dell XPS 13, meanwhile, far exceeded these two laptops at 436 and 469 nits, respectively.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Prestige 14 Evo did fare better on color, registering a 78.9% DCI-P3 rating on our colorimeter. That’s more than we saw on the XPS 13 (69.4%) and the ZenBook 13 (76.1%), though it’s not quite as high as the Razer Book 13’s score (80.7%). Still despite scoring high on official benchmarks, the dim screen held the colors back in practice, since I had to strain more to see them.
Keyboard and Touchpad on the MSI Prestige Evo 14
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The keyboard on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo makes a strong first impression thanks to some snazzy decoration and the laptop’s hinge lifting it five degrees off the desk, but it starts to show some minor weaknesses with further use.
Keypresses are cushiony but still feel tactile, and there’s enough key travel for you to get an idea of when your press is registered. The issue comes with the construction of the keycaps themselves. They’re sturdy enough, but the top of each keycap can start to feel slippery during quick typing, which can get disorienting when touch-typing and is likely to cause the occasional typo.
Still, I was able to maintain a high words per minute count on 10fastfingers.com, where I scored 76 wpm on most tests. That’s just a few points below my 80 wpm standard.
The Prestige’s precision touchpad is generous, and multitouch gestures register well. My only complaint is that the laptop’s fingerprint reader sits in the touchpad’s upper-left corner, and running your finger over it doesn’t register as moving the cursor. So, essentially, it acts as a dead zone that you could accidentally run into during use. However, the touchpad’s larger overall size means this isn’t much of an issue in practice.
Audio on the MSI Prestige Evo 14
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo features a bottom-firing speaker on either side. I tested their audio by listening to Mood by 24kgoldn, and I had a subpar listening experience.
The most immediate issue with the Prestige 14 Evo’s audio is its volume — or lack thereof. Even at 100%, the Prestige 14 Evo was quiet, just barely able to fill my small office with music. Even for personal use, you’ll probably want to keep it at close to 80% of its max volume.
Volume wasn’t the Prestige 14 Evo’s only problem, though. Its audio also tends to come across as tinny and weak. For example, Mood opens up with thunderclaps meant to evoke a raging storm, but they sound more like rustling leaves here. The song’s frequent drum beats also bear a remarkable similarity to clapping hands.
Essentially, the Prestige 14 Evo’s speakers are so poor that my first impression of them was “Are these mono?”
Upgradeability of the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
We opened the MSI Prestige 14 Evo by removing the 7 Phillips Head screws along its bottom with a J0 screwdriver. Note that there is a screw underneath a “factory seal” sticker in the center of the case’s lid that you’ll have to remove alongside the screws on the laptop’s side.
Inside the Prestige 14 Evo, you’ll find the M.2 SSD and the networking chip, but since the RAM is soldered in and there’s no slots for expanded storage, the only change you’ll be able to make is swapping out the SSD for one with a larger capacity.
Battery Life on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
The Evo branding suggests the MSI Prestige 14 should last long. But we have our own battery test, which continually browses the web, streams video and runs OpenGL tests over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. It confirmed that the Prestige 14 Evo does indeed last for a while before turning off.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Specifically, we found that it had 12:25 hours of battery life on our test. That puts it a little over an hour behind the Asus ZenBook 13 (13:47), but it’s still ahead of the XPS 13 (11:07) and the Razer Book 13 (11:44).
Heat on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo doesn’t get that hot under strain, but it does heat up more frequently than we’d like, even during casual tests.
After 15 minutes of streaming YouTube, the touchpad was the Prestige 14 Evo’s coolest location. It registered 77.7 degrees Fahrenheit (25.4 degrees Celsius). The next hottest location was the keyboard at 87.3 degrees Fahrenheit (30.7 degrees Celsius), while the laptop’s bottom measured 92.3 degrees Fahrenheit (33.5 degrees Celsius).
Its hottest location was slightly above its F4 key, where it hit 93.4 degrees Fahrenheit (34.1 degrees Celsius).
All of this is within what we’ve seen from similar 14 inch Tiger Lake laptops like the Lenovo Yoga 7i, but what makes the Prestige 14 Evo stand out is just how frequently it heats up. Even just sitting idle off to my side as I wrote this review, its fans were on full blast most of the time. This got noisy fast, and I quickly took to turning the MSI off when it wasn’t in use.
Webcam on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo’s webcam reflects the need for strong video conferencing during the pandemic. The picture is so clear that I thought it might have been 1080p when I first turned it on. No, this is a 720p camera, but my mistake indicates how highly I think of it.
In both normal and low light, the Prestige 14 Evo’s camera displayed virtually no grain and was true-to-life in capturing the color and texture of my face. More impressive, however, is that I was able to easily capture a photo in front of my office window without it being washed out by background light. Instead, I was surrounded by the cityscape surrounding my apartment, a rare treat even on the best webcams.
The Prestige 14 Evo’s webcam also acknowledges privacy concerns, and the laptop’s Fn bar has an option to turn it off on the hardware level so that you don’t have to worry about being recorded without your knowledge. It also has an IR sensor for use with Windows Hello.
Software and Warranty on the MSI Prestige 14 Evo
The MSI Prestige 14 Evo comes mostly free of bloat, but because this is a productivity laptop coming from a brand known mostly for gaming, MSI’s snuck in some utility software to prove that it’s not limited to helping players up their K/D ratios. So, on top of standard Windows pack-ins like Microsoft Solitaire Collection and Spotify, you’ll also find apps like the MSI Center for Business & Productivity.
The MSI Center for Business & Productivity is essentially a fancy name for a program that lets you change your CPU’s power consumption based on which apps are open, plus direct more CPU resources to certain productivity programs like Photoshop. It also has noise cancellation functions, and can help you clear SSD space. It also has a unique feature to link iOS devices to your computer as a second display.
ColorDirector for MSI, Music Maker Jam and PowerDirector 17 Essential for MSI are also present and are more akin to bloat. These Cyberlink photo/video editing apps aren’t particularly popular choices among professionals, but I suppose they could make for a good way to get your feet wet before dipping into anything more advanced.
MSI Prestige 14 Evo Configurations
The Evo-certified MSI Prestige 14 has five available configurations, with price and availability depending on theretailer. Our configuration had an Intel Core i7-1185G7 CPU 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. It cost $1,149 at B&H and Newegg at time of review.
The cheapest version we could find was the version with the i5-1135G7, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, which came in at $1,099 at B&H at time of the review.
On the other side of the spectrum, the most advanced version we could find had the same specs as our review unit, except for having a 1TB SSD. It cost $1,199 at Best Buy at the time of review.
Bottom Line
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The MSI Prestige 14 Evo may seem premium at first, thanks to its name and the shiny trim along its outer edges, but on further inspection, it has serious compromises on everything but its performance.
While the Prestige 14 Evo largely boasted slight performance improvements over competitors, its gains were mostly meager, with the
Razer Book 13
in particular nipping at its heels across our tests. This is unfortunate, given that the Razer Book 13 has a brighter screen as well as louder and, in our experience, clearer audio.
Granted, the $1,599 Razer Book 13 is also more expensive than the Prestige 14 Evo, and the
Dell XPS 13
, which has similar strengths, is even more unapproachable at $1,650.
But the $999
Asus Zenbook 13
, which has a larger SSD and a brighter screen, is actually cheaper than the Prestige 14 Evo. MSI’s machine outclasses it a touch more on performance than the Razer Book 13 and the XPS 13, but the ZenBook actually has faster file transfer speeds than any of them. Its speakers were similarly tinny to the Prestige 14 Evo, but were much louder.
So whether you settle on the Prestige 14 Evo depends on your priorities in a laptop. If budget and performance are your first concerns, then it’s a pretty enticing machine. But if you’re willing to take a slight performance hit and pay a few hundred dollars more, you can get a machine with much higher quality components. Alternatively, if you’re OK with a noticeable but not oppressive performance dip, you could also get a machine with overall better components while paying less.
Last week, a leaked 360-degree video revealed the design of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. This week, a software leak has exposed the presence of a major new feature – 3D spatial audio.
The leak, posted on GitHub, suggests the Galaxy Buds Pro will simulate surround sound using “3D audio”. If the screenshots below are legit, the tech will allow users to, “hear vivid, immersive sound coming from all directions”.
If this all sounds rather familiar, it might be because Apple’s AirPods Pro and AirPods Max headphones already offer their take on spatial audio. The tech uses an accelerometer to adjust the sound according to the position of your head – a bit like sitting in a multiplex cinema.
And, just as Apple’s special audio tech doesn’t support Android users with AirPods, it looks like Samsung’s spatial tech will require a device running Android 11. The feature is also said to work with Dolby Atmos Music.
Today’s leak also seems to confirm that Samsung’s next noise-cancelling buds will get an improved ambient mode with “Voice Detect”. The latter could automatically lower the volume when the wearer talks (Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones offer a similar feature, called Speak-To-Chat).
A slew of credible leaks have tipped the Buds Pro for AKG-tuned audio, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C charging and a beefier battery life (courtesy, in part, of the new 500aMh charging case). Three gloss finishes are said to include “Phantom Violet” and “Phantom Black”.
Either way, there’s not long to wait – the Galaxy Buds Pro are expected to launch alongside the Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone at Unpacked on 14th January 2021.
Most of the attention surrounding Samsung at the moment is based on the upcoming Galaxy S21 lineup but we’re also expecting the Galaxy Buds Pro. Samsung’s next-gen earbuds have leaked prominently thus far and now we get an in-depth look at their features from inside the Galaxy Wearable app.
First off, the Buds+ will come with active noise cancelation as well as 3D audio for supported video content. We can clearly see one of the menus has a toggle with ANC on the left-hand side and Ambient mode on the right. The Buds Pro will also be able to toggle Ambient mode automatically if they detect your voice while also lowering your media volume.
Galaxy Buds Pro features within Galaxy Wearable app
The 3D audio feature should work similarly to Apple’s Spatial Audio found on AirPods Pro by adjusting sound output based on your movement trough a built-in gyroscope.
3D audio • Voice detect • Hearing enhacements
You’ll also get standard sound profile switches from within the app with bass boost, clear and treble boost options. Samsung is including a toggle to block touch controls on the Buds Pro entirely as well as the option to personalize the touch and hold gesture on each earbud individually. Find My Earbuds is another neat feature that works in tandem with Samsung’s SmartThings app to help you locate the Buds+ if they are ever misplaced.
In related news, GalaxyClub is reporting that the Buds Pro will retail for €229 in Europe. We get more confirmation that the TWS buds will be available alongside the Galaxy S21 series next month and they will come bundled with some pre-orders of the upcoming Galaxy flagships (presumably with the Galaxy S21+ and S21 Ultra ). The Buds+ will initially be offered in black, silver and white colors with more options slated to follow later in 2021.
Fake, snake oil, scam, money beating, the well-known terms are flying around when someone starts talking about a Furutech NCF Clear Line, with which the display can be optimized simply plug the black thing into a wall socket. Before you quit now, a short test was simply playing music for my wife (who doesn’t like all those antics), plugging the NCF Clear Line in and out of the wall socket and asking: â ???? ?a????. I should leave it alone, she said.
But what is it?
Furutech has been working with Nano Crystal² Formula, abbreviated to NCF for some time. The material, according to the manufacturer, has the property of producing negative ions to eliminate static electricity and it converts thermal energy into harmless infrared radiation. Combine it with ceramic nanoparticles and carbon powder to form crystals that dampen electrically and mechanically. Furutech uses it in plugs, sockets, cable lifts and more, but now NCF is very easy to get at home: with the Clear Line.
The NCF Clear Line contributes to a cleaner mains voltage, does not replace mains filters, it is an extra. You simply plug the black plug into the wall socket where the power for the audio system comes from, or into a junction box. If necessary elsewhere in the room. In video application, the NCF Clear Line is also recommended for a more defined image. It will not be due to the chosen material; rhodium on the contact pins, and further consisting of Alpha Process copper from Furutech. Nylon and glass fiber in a carbon fiber housing, cryogenic treatment, demagnetization and stainless steel screws.
The NCF Clear Line naturally includes NCF, as well as a pair of? (Alpha) -OCC coils, the copper enamelled and sealed in an airtight area. The coils are not connected to the phase and neutral of the plug. Internally, four layers of carbon fiber with NCF have been used. In short, for 260 euros you will get the necessary high-quality material from Furutech, which has in any case been thought about on paper.
Furutech’s claims are tough:
Improved display and stereo image Improved resolution and signal to noise ratio Improved three-dimensional and more intense image rendering And all that in one thing with a length of 88, 4mm, and 39, 5mm thick. The weight of the NCF Clear Line is 69 grams. He must respond 24 hours, said Furutech.
My set has a number of tweaks, such as two Acoustic System Resonators, a Bybee Quantum Signal Enhancer, Harmonix tapes around a number of cables and here and there some bags of tourmaline sand. Tweaks bought after reviews because they are proven to work. Not shocking, but clearly audible as an improvement. Other tweaks are return to sender because they were sometimes too expensive in relation to the improvement, or did little to nothing and sometimes even managed to negatively influence the display. I do not consider a large net filter as a tweak, rather a must have given the net pollution, so I just count that under hardware.
Cables aren’t tweaks either; necessary and affects the display. So the NCF Clear Line comes in a fairly tweak-free environment and is allowed to prove whether Furutech’s claims are correct. The listening environment is my living room and the set is above average I can say. That’s the way it should be, for a mini-system from the white goods trade, Furutech’s prices really go a few steps too far.
What does it do? Three tracks were chosen because I through and through, can appreciate and the recording is good to very good. Starting without the NCF Clear Line. I pull the plug from the wall socket. While Radio 5 is streaming I notice that the stereo image changes, the sound changes, as if I stepped back into my system. On the internet Radio 5! I play Anette Askvik and keep finding beautiful music. Plays to my liking. Playing the track a second time but with the NCF Clear Line brings an inexplicable difference. Second voice is better separated, the stereo image becomes further three-dimensional, music simply flows away more. Is more intense, softer and polished without losing drama or experience.
With that grown 3D image, the image shifts somewhat up, very welcome, loosens up from the speakers. Even the low tones get extra definition. My wife heard that correctly, although she could not describe exactly what happened. She perceived it and that is enough for her. Track two is from Allan Taylor with the NCF Clear Line still plugged in. Nice and spacious, deep with definition, beautiful voice that knows how to release completely. If I remove the Clear Line, the image immediately becomes flatter, percussion has partly lost its metallic sound, the music is more boring, simpler. Just as was the case with Anette.
Clear Line quickly reconnected, again the track, hop there is the metal, the guitar jumps forward, the tune out of the band. My brain says it is impossible and yet it happens. Last track is Combattimento with classical work. Recorded in the Waalse Kerk i Amsterdam, it possesses a fine sound balance and layering in the members of the orchestra. Remove the Clear Line and the recording becomes busier, messier, does not bring the soloists to the fore as quickly, the matt shine calls for a cleaning in the form of the Furutech. The fact that especially the stereo image becomes flatter, narrower and limited in height surprises me most of all.
All that in one system, therefore took the plug to another room, different system, same music. With Vivaldi, the result is little different from the first setup. The depth increases so that you look into the orchestra, as it were. Soloists get extra space, the sounds become richer and fuller. Without changing, only the fadedness disappears. A dullness that was previously not noticed because the system has been carefully tuned and built. Askvik has two voices pulled apart, especially in the larger 3D image, revives the piano and brings out the sax extra. In a system where everything is different, mains filter, cables, amplifier, speakers and especially the acoustics, the NCF Clear Line performs exactly as it did before. That gives me confidence in the operation of the device. Allan Taylor to get further confirmation is actually unnecessary. Remove the NCF Clear Line and the voice becomes less intelligible, music becomes cluttered in a flatter stereo image, Taylor â ???? bringsâ ???? no longer read the text but read it aloud. Exaggerated? Certainly, but I would like to show you what I can perceive. Percussion unfortunately no longer has the sound richness of just now.
Is it right? Matters that Furutech claims on paper are they true? Improved display and a better stereo image? Check, especially that 3D stereo image stands out! Improved resolution and signal-to-noise ratio? Yes and no, I don’t hear that signal / noise like that, but the resolution does! Is the TV picture better? I don’t know, to be honest, that depends so much on the recording, and my image is on a different power group than the audio.
With accessories or tweaks if you want, it is often the case that placing it can bring a positive effect, the removal is a lot more painful. Once you get used to it, you can easily observe what disappears along with the tweak. It is just like with a salary, something more is nice but is invisibly merged with the burdens, less salary makes you realize what wealth was previously shared. The Furutech NCF Clear Line has left a very positive impression. I don’t want to miss the accessory anymore, an opinion that my wife shares this time. In fact, I’m thinking of a second one for my other system. Isn’t that a nice recommendation?
Moreover, it is so simple to evaluate the effect; simply plugging in and out of the wall socket and pulling is enough to estimate the NCF Clear Line.
Furutech NCF Clear Line
â ?? ¬ 260 , – | www.x-fi.nl
Creative Labs has extended its offer with new 2.1 speaker sets intended for the Polish market. One of them is the SBS E model 2500, which is designed to be a multimedia set for a desktop, laptop or to serve as a sound system in the living room. In one device there is an FM radio, MP3 player (USB), Bluetooth 5.0 and an AUX input for external playback devices, e.g. TV. The set consists of two long-range satellite speakers, a subwoofer, an FM antenna and a remote control. The satellite speakers are equipped with three-inch drivers with a power of 7.5 W, and the subwoofer uses a five-inch 15 W woofer, which was closed in housing made of MDF board. The whole set has a power level of 30 W.
Creative SBS E speakers 2500 is a 2.1 system with total power 30 W that plays music from USB drive, has radio and Bluetooth, as well as the traditional AUX connector, i.e. 3.5 mm jack connector.
Creative Stage V2 – new soundbar with TV ARC, Surround and Clear Dialog
Creative SBS E 2500 has a built-in analog FM tuner, equipped with an automatic radio station search system. There is a USB flash connector on the bass speaker, to which you can connect a USB flash drive with audio files in MP3 format. When a flash drive is connected, the speaker system becomes an MP3 player. SBS E 2500 also has a built-in Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP wireless profile. The SBC codec is responsible for the sound quality. The speaker system also has a built-in 3.5mm AUX input.
Creative Outlier Air V2 and Air Sports V2 with touch panels
We can connect an external audio source, e.g. from a computer, laptop or TV set. The remote control has the most important functions, such as volume control, mute, selection of the playback source, selection of the FM radio station, change of the equalizer setting, change of the played track and many other useful options. For the user’s convenience, there is a display and additional control buttons on the front of the woofer. Creative SBS E 2500 is available for the price of 239 PLN at euro.com.pl.
Source: Creative
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