26
Jun
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Beats Me: Why HTC's "Amazing Sound" On The International One X Isn't Amazing At All - Even By The Numbers

Posted by in Editorials, HTC, News, One X (Endeavor)

HTC's marketing of Beats Audio on its One Series handsets has rapidly become a joke among critics and internet commentators alike. And that's probably putting it nicely. The fact that the entirety of the Beats "enhancements" found on aforementioned phones has been zipped up and packaged to flash on any Android 2.3+ handset has, at least in the collective minds of the internet, exposed the Beats partnership for what it is: equalization software and a fancy logo.

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I've used all of HTC's One Series products aside from the One V; that is to say, the One X, XL (AT&T One X), and S.

25
Jun
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[Lightning Review] Philips SHL9705A On-Ear Headphones With In-Line Controls And Control App

Posted by in Accessories, Other Reviews, Reviews

While earbuds and wireless headsets are an ever-expanding consumer electronic market thanks to the proliferation of smartphones, on-ear cans remain something of a niche (unless you count Beats - I don't). Even more niche than that are smartphone-friendly on-ear headphones. And somewhere between particularly obscure red wine varietals from Germany and Super Audio CDs lies the selection of specifically Android-friendly wired on-ear headphones. (Not really, but I wanted to make a ridiculous analogy.) The point is, if you're looking for wired on-ear headphones with Android in-line controls, your options aren't exactly endless.

The big houses such as Sennheiser either still only make in-line control products for iOS devices, or like Grado have forsaken the notion of such things altogether.

11
Apr
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[Lightning Review] Tenqa REMXD Bluetooth On-Ear Wireless Headphones: For $40, They're The Pabst Of Designer Cans

Posted by in Other Reviews

Saving money is a good thing. And there's always something empowering about making a purchase where you feel like you really got your dollar's worth - especially in the world of consumer electronics.

When you think on-ear wireless headphones, your first thought is probably "expensive." Even the MEElectronics AF32's, which come in at a decidedly reasonable $80 (and which we highly recommend), may be a large investment for people who really don't care about headphones or sound. Or, if you're buying headphones for children / other persons who treat their electronics/pets/possessions in general like they're disposable, that may be substantial bread to drop on something that's going to be broken in 6 months regardless of how much it costs.

21
Dec
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Review: Klipsch S4A Headphones For Android Combine Great Sound With An Awesome Control App

Posted by in Other Reviews

I'll be the first to admit, I'm a big fan of Klipsch. I like their style, their sound signature, and their products generally. I started with a ProMedia 2.1 computer speaker setup, and have since graduated to a pair of their reference bookshelf speakers, and I've been pleased the whole way through. I had never, however, tried their headphones. Until recently, Klipsch's in-line control headphones designed for smartphones had only fully worked with iOS devices. With the S4A, that changed - it's the first Klipsch headphone designed specifically for use with Android devices.

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What's the word? They're definitely a Klipsch product.

20
Dec
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Review: AKG K 830 BT Bluetooth Headphones Get High Marks For Controls And Comfort, But A2DP Is Still A Compromise On Sound

Posted by in Other Reviews

I've been on a bit of a headphone kick lately, and have tried out a number of sets from various manufacturers. The only on-ear headphones I've tried during this time, though, have been AKG's K 830 BT's, the company's only high fidelity Bluetooth headphones. Bluetooth headphones remain a relatively young technology, and have been growing steadily as more and more computers and smartphones adopt the A2DP Bluetooth audio transmission standard.

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The 830 BT's are a very comfortable pair of headphones with some nicely designed (if plasticky) on-ear controls (track skip, volume, answer call, play/pause). But like all Bluetooth headphones, they suffer from diminished audio quality when compared to their corded counterparts, particularly at high volume and high frequencies.

10
Nov
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Review: Samsung HM7000 Bluetooth Headset - You'll Still Look Like A... You Know. But It Works Great

Posted by in Other Reviews, Reviews, Samsung

People who constantly wear Bluetooth headsets annoy me. I'll admit it. Yep, it's probably pretentious, judgmental, and just kind of mean, but nonetheless, that's where I stand (see: this highly relevant video). I figure it's only fair warning for you, our readers, going into this review. So, when Samsung offered me a chance to spend some time with their latest high-end Bluetooth headset, the HM7000 (the product naming department was on vacation), I accepted with a good deal of hesitancy.

Overview

Samsung HM7000 Bluetooth Headset

  • Price: $100 (less on Amazon)
  • What is it? A Bluetooth headset - as you might have guessed.