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You are here: Home / 2018 / Archives for April 2018

Archives for April 2018

Blu-ray/DVD: Den of Thieves Review

04/24/2018 By Hakan Can

Den of Thieves Blu-ray Review

Set in current day Los Angeles, the movie is about the crossing of two groups of crooked and shady individuals. One on hand, there’s the Regulators, the Major Crimes unit of the LA Sheriff’s Department led by Big Nick O’Brien played by Gerard Butler. On the other, there’s the Outlaws, the premier group of bank robbers in LA County. Ray Merrimen played by Pablo Schreiber leads them. This film has a lot going on so let’s dive into the Den of Thieves Blu-ray review.

Den of Thieves Blu-ray Review

Den of Thieves is not your classic Cops vs. Robbers story. It’s more like what’s the other group up to and how do we counter it.

In fact, in this 2 hours, 29 minutes unrated version of the film, the lines between the two groups are often blurred. So much so that you often feel sympathetic for a few of the Outlaws, and feel some hostility towards the Regulators.

The film begins with Big Nick O’Brien staying out all night showing up at what appears to be his home at sunrise. He sneaks in and is surprised by his wife. Nick has been a bad boy. He’s been cheating on his wife and is about to get caught. What takes place is tragic from a family perspective, but Nick has no one to blame but himself for being a lousy husband. His character is off to a bad start, and this carries throughout the film. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you come to loathe him.

Den of Thieves Blu-ray Review

Gerard Butler and Maurice Compte star in Den of Thieves

When it comes to the other members of the Regulators, you begin to dislike them as well.

There’s a scene which takes place in a hotel suite where the Sheriffs essentially kidnapped Donnie (the driver) for an off-the-books interrogation. There’s plenty of booze, prostitutes, and foul language. If there was ever any doubt that the Regulators were shady and crooked, it’s now out the door. I actually feel sad for Donnie here.

In the Outlaws opening scene, they steal an armored money car in front of a donut shop in a heist that went far too south. Four people were killed, including a few cops. While they never intended to kill anyone in this robbery, and haven’t in the past, they did this time, albeit inadvertently at first, and now they’re the top targets of the police and FBI, and rightfully so.

Our bank robbers, the Merrimen crew, are as bad as the Regulators times 10. Still, there are moments throughout the film where you feel sympathy for them. Big Nick is continually harassing their driver Donnie and their leader Merrimen.

There’s a scene with Enson (50 Cent) where he’s making breakfast for his family and tells his daughter how much he loves her. He even scares her prom date with some tough love. You don’t feel the bad guy in him here.

Den of Thieves Blu-ray Review

Pablo Schreiber, Curtis Jackson, Evan Jones and O’Shea Jackson star in Den of Thieves

Plenty more takes place in the remaining two hours of this crime saga. For obvious reasons, I can’t get into further detail as I don’t want to ruin what takes place. It wouldn’t be fair to you who want to watch the film and watch you should. You’ll probably want to watch it a second time later in the same week.

Available April 24th on store shelves and online everywhere comes Den of Thieves on Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital copy from STX Films and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Read:   Blu-ray/DVD: Murder on the Orient Express Review

Press Release

Per the STX Films and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment press release: “Den of Thieves is a gritty Los Angeles crime saga which follows the intersecting and often personally connected lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff’s Department and the state’s most successful bank robbery crew as they plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank of Downtown Los Angeles. Filled with gripping, explosive action and an ending that left audiences stunned, Den of Thieves is an electrifying game of cat-and-mouse.”

“Directed by Christian Gudegast (London Has Fallen), the film blurs the lines between good and evil by examining the rivalry between a police unit, led by Gerard Butler (London Has Fallen), and a crew of career criminals featuring Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (Get Rich or Die Trying), Pablo Schreiber (13 Hours), O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton) and Evan Jones (A Million Ways to Die in the West).”

Den of Thieves is loaded with bonus material that dives into the making of the film including outtakes and deleted scenes, commentary by Director Christian Gudegast and Producer Tucker Tooley, and much more.

Read:   Blu-ray/DVD: HBO's The Deuce Season 1 Review

Video Rating – 4 out of 5

The scenes in the film are well framed, but I’m not a fan of the light filtering that took place. The washing out of colors didn’t impress me either. But then again, the director and colorists aren’t going for a Dick Tracy approach to filmmaking here. If the use of colors were too powerful, it might cut into the grit of the scenes and character.

The action scenes are intense from a visual perspective, more on the sound below.

Sound Rating – 4.75 out of 5

Because of its intense action sequences, sound plays an enormous part of Den of Thieves. Without the proper sound, the viewer wouldn’t be pulled in and immersed in the action that takes place in front of them.

In the Alameda Corridor scene, the sound is elevated to the point where you feel like you’re there. Hundreds of rounds are fired, and you notice them. To get a better understanding of how this scene was filmed, watch the short Bonus Feature.

The dialogue was easy to pick up and never overpowered by the action. It needed to be with everything else taking place.

Extras Rating – 3 out of 5

The Blu-ray™ + DVD disks come with over 30 minutes of extras. I recommend you watch the outtakes and deleted scenes, but not immediately after watching the 2 hours, 29 minutes film.

I wasn’t too impressed with the three bonus features: Alpha Males, Into the Den, and Alameda Corridor. They’re each under three minutes long and could have been combined into one lengthier feature.

Den of Thieves Blu-ray Review

Gerard Butler and Pablo Schreiber star in Den of Thieves

Read:   War for the Planet of the Apes 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Bonus Materials

  • Alternate Ending
  • Alpha Males
  • Into the Den
  • Alameda Corridor
  • Feature Commentary
  • Theatrical Trailer #1
  • Theatrical Trailer #2
  • Outtakes

Outtakes and Deleted Scenes

  • Nick comes home
  • Donnie at the hotel
  • Donnie arrives at Enson’s House
  • Nick and the boys in the hall
  • Enson in the office
  • Enson & Maloa
  • Merrimen boys get ready
  • Enson and Donnie in the van
  • Nick & Deb at the market
  • Nick & Deb at the beach
  • Donnie at the salvage yard

Included on both physical versions of the film are 23 minutes of outtakes and deleted scenes. Most are lengthy and often leave you wondering whether these versions should have made the final cut. Others like the alternate ending would have dramatically changed the final scene of the film.

Blu-ray™/DVD Technical Information

  • Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9 (2.40:1)
  • Blu-ray™ Audio: English DTS-HD-MA 5.1; Bonus Features: English DD 2.0
  • DVD Audio: English DD 5.1
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish
  • Rating: R
  • Unrated Film Run Time: 149 Minutes
  • Closed Captioned: Yes
Den of Thieves Blu-ray Review

Gerard Butler stars in Den of Thieves

Read:   HBO's The Young Pope Season 1 Review

Cast Information

• Gerard Butler as Big Nick O’Brien
• Brian Van Holt as Murph Connors
• Mo McRae as Gus Henderson
• Maurice Compte as Benny ‘Borracho’ Magalon
• Kaiwi Lyman as ‘Tony Z’ Zapata

• Pablo Schreiber as Ray Merrimen
• Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson as Enson Levoux
• O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson
• Evan Jones as Bo ‘Bosco’ Ostroman
• Jordan Bridges as Lobbin’ Bob

After having grossed shy of $80M worldwide, it was announced that Gerard Butler would reprise his role of Big Nick O’Brien in Den of Thieves 2. The dates for production or the film’s release have not been made public. I look forward to seeing the sequel.

All photos and videos are used with the permission and are the property of STX Films and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment © 2017-2018.

Den of Thieves Blu-ray Review

Pablo Schreiber stars in Den of Thieves

Read:   Fargo Season 3 DVD Review

Filed Under: Blu-Ray Releases, Digital Hollywood Tagged With: Blu-Ray, Den of Thieves, Digital HD, DVD, Gerard Butler 04/25/2018

Best Urban Backpack of 2018? Moshi Tego Backpack Review

04/21/2018 By Hakan Can

Moshi Tego backpack review

Three months ago at CES2018, Moshi, the west coast maker of premium backpacks and bags, headphones, protective cases, and other digital lifestyle products, introduced their Tego 2018 bag collection. With Spring finally upon us, what better opportunity than now to review their latest offerings. So without further delay, let’s take a closer look at one of their recently released products in this Moshi Tego backpack review.

Pros:
• Well constructed with futuristic design
• Cut-proof, lightweight, durable fabrics
• Weather-resistant treatment
• Can hold a 10″ tablet + 15″ laptop
• Technology conscious design
• 3M Scotchlite reflective strip

Cons:
• Only two color schemes available
• $149 price may be deemed high by some

Moshi Tego backpack review
Front Exterior View
Moshi Tego backpack review
Rear View w/Straps Pulled Back w/Storage Bag

Read:   Moshi Costa Travel Bag Review

Moshi Tego Backpack Review

A Backpack for the Tech-Savvy Urban Commuter

If you’re familiar with this website, then you know that after doing a dozen reviews on Moshi products, we’re fans of this lifestyle brand.

Per the press release: “Moshi, the international accessory designer, today announces the debut of the Tego Collection, four new bags inspired by urban streetwear that provides the ideal combination of style and safety, and Avanti Air, wireless on-ear headphones blending minimalist and retro styling with the best wireless audio technology.”

“Each bag in the Tego Collection ensures you travel smart with anti-theft concealed zippers, cut-proof fabric and 3M Scotchlite reflective strip for safety at night. Crafted from lightweight and durable fabrics, each bag features padded Airmesh straps for breathability and comfort, weather-resistant surface treatment and zinc alloy hardware and studs. The Tego Collection consists of four styles: Tego Backpack, Tego Sling Messenger Bag, Tego Crossbody Sling, and the Tego Slingpack, each available in Stone Gray and Charcoal Black, and are priced starting at $99.95.”

With the exception of the Tego Slingpack, the Tego Collection is not part of the Urban Safari Bag Collection which was introduced in February of this year. This latter collection consists of the Lula crossbody mini handbag and Helios Mini backpack, both available in the olive green or savanna beige colors.

Read:   Moshi Arcus Camera Backpack Review

On The Surface

You’re probably saying to yourself or maybe out loud something to the effect, ‘What’s up with this futuristic, science fiction, and space travel inspired design?’ I certainly did at first glance.

The Tego backpack is made from the same high-resilience polyester materials with the same weather-resistant surface treatment that appear on most, if not all of Moshi’s 2016 and 2017 bag collections. The charcoal black color is the same that graces the Vacanza travel bag, and Arcus and Helios backpacks. Stone gray is new to the Moshi universe, and only appears on the four Tego-named products.

Moshi Tego backpack review
Rear View w/Straps Shown
Moshi Tego backpack review
Rear View w/Straps Pulled Back

On the front, you won’t see any zippers or sleeves; not a single one. All you’ll see is the square metal Moshi decal on the lower right. What you don’t see is the weather-resistance surface treatment which protects Tego from the elements or the 3M Scotchlite reflective strip. Of course, you’ll only notice the latter at night.

Flipping the bag over, you’ll see the adjustable shoulder straps, the heavy-duty coat hook, the padded and vented back support, and an 11″ x 7″ RFID shielded zippered pocket. It’s in this last feature where you’ll want to place those (micro-chipped) items that’ll make you most upset if lost or stolen (identification cards, wallet, passport, etc.) This RFID protected pocket is a must in today’s society, and I for one am glad that Moshi incorporated it. I hope we see an RFID pocket on all Moshi bags and backpacks going forward.

What the Tego backpack doesn’t have are water bottle holders or cross-body straps. Not including either was the right move on Moshi’s part.

Moshi Tego backpack review
RFID Zippered Compartment
Moshi Tego backpack review
Durable Hardened Underside

Harder to notice is the 40″+ wrap-around zipper which allows for the bag to lay flat when opened. Even though space is tight, there was no difficulty opening this zipper, unlike on a previously-reviewed crossbody bag. The other inconspicuous item is the pass-through USB charging port. I’ve seen this feature on bags before, but they were usually poorly conceived; not the case with Moshi’s design. Who wouldn’t want a pass-through charging port?

Finally, we come to the underside which has a durable and hardened surface with padding behind it to protect contents against drops.

As stated in the past Moshi product reviews, “The zippers and straps are of high-quality, and the stitching is put together well.” The craftsmanship of this backpack is solid.

Read:   Moshi Aerio Messenger Bag Review

What’s On The Inside

The interior of this Tego backpack is broken down into two compartments.

The front side of the backpack has a 3½” x 6″ microfiber pouch for holding sunglasses, plus there more pockets, one of which is to carry a battery charger like the Moshi IonBank 5K. After all, the pass-through USB port has to go somewhere.

Moshi Tego backpack review
Interior Compartments
Moshi Tego backpack review
Interior Compartments

On the back flap, there are two padded sleeved compartments. One is for holding up to a 10½” tablet, the other a 15″ laptop. Should the bag get upside down, you need not worry about either device sliding out. A Velcro strap holds both in place.

Below these are two equally sized 5½” x 6″ deep pockets. Each pocket is capable of holding one sizeable mobile device.

The belly of the backpack is 5″ wide and with more than enough space to simultaneously hold books, clothing, lunch, a headphones case, even a Manfrotto compact tripod.

The lining of this Moshi bag is luxurious, and it’s throughout their 2017 and 2018 lineups. On this particular model, the lining is dark gray.

Moshi Tego backpack review
Laptop/Tablet Sleeve Compartment
Moshi Tego backpack review
Pocket/Sleeve Compartment w/Charger

This bag weighs 1.87 lbs and as stated earlier, has dimensions of 13″ x 20.6″ x 5.5″. For you Metric System users, the weight is 0.85 kilograms, and its dimensions are 33 x 52.5 x 14 cm. Also included is a storage bag big enough to fit the backpack.

Read:   Moshi Vacanza Weekend Travel Bag Review

Final Thoughts

Although my first impression was “What the heck is this?” it didn’t take long for me to grow fond of the Tego backpack. After all, this bag was well thought out and has some very real-world, practical uses.

The Moshi Tego backpack provides much with its feature-rich, tech-forward approach at a price of $149.99. If you’re an urban dweller or a suburban commuter, you can’t go wrong with a great-looking product. I believe you’ll be quite pleased with the Tego.

Both color patterns of the Tego are available for purchase on either Amazon (see the link at the bottom of this review) and the Moshi website.

Based on this thorough review,  Moshi’s Tego is one handsome, futuristic-looking commuter backpack which fits nicely within their Urban Safari bag collection for Spring 2018. If your needs are for something a bit smaller, then I direct you to either the Moshi Tego Sling Messenger or the Tego Crossbody Sling.

The Moshi Tego backpack provides much with its feature-rich, tech-forward approach at a price of $149.99. Click To Tweet
Read:   Moshi Urbana Briefcase Review

You’re welcome you to compare Moshi’s bags and backpacks to those from other brands. Only then will you know you’ve found the right bag or backpack for you.

What do you think of this Moshi Tego backpack review? Do you agree or disagree that this is one of the best commuter backpacks for 2018? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

• Follow Moshi on Twitter
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• Follow Moshi on Instagram

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• Follow Beantown on Instagram

Don’t hesitate to head over to the Moshi press page to see their latest product announcements. To learn more about service and support, click here for their Support page. There’s a one-year limited warranty on all Moshi products. There’s also an extended warranty via product registration. We highly advise you take advantage of this.

FTC Disclosure: Moshi provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Tego backpack sample (in charcoal black) for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown and Moshi © 2018.

Read:   Moshi Avanti Headphones Review

Filed Under: Apparel & Bags Tagged With: backpack, Commuter Backpack, Designer Backpack, Fashion Backpack, Laptop Backpack, Moshi, Tego 09/26/2018

Gaming: Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

04/18/2018 By Hakan Can

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

It’s now 2018, and every gaming hardware and accessories maker has begun to put forth their latest creations for the year. Gamdias is no different with the introduction of four new gaming headsets in as many months. We’re fans of the brand so when the opportunity to review the Hephaestus P1 gaming headset arose, we quickly accepted. How does the best of the four headphones hold up to our testing? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB review.

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Headset

Key Features

• 50mm drivers
• 7.1 virtual surround sound
• Remote control with a vibration feature

• Oversized, vented earcups
• RGB lighting
• $90 price point

Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSP 350 Headset Review

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Hephaestus P1 RGB Design

The gaming headset comes in an attractive combination of glossy black along with matte black and gray. When plugged in with the Hera software activated, the headset will produce one of six RGB colors. These colors are yellow, purple, orange, green, blue, and red.

On the left of the headset is the omnidirectional, flexible microphone with its swivel feature. Trailing down the tangle-free 1.8-meter braided cord, you’ll notice the remote controller. On the remote, there are volume controls, a mute microphone button, and the vibration on-off switch. The controller is well-built and rather rugged.

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Headset

The headband and oversized earcups of the Hephaestus P1 RGB gaming headset have ample memory foam padding underneath their synthetic leather surface material. Regarding the adjustable nature of the headset, it’s hard to determine how many notches/positions there are. You see, the headset adjusts too easily; too much for my liking. One can feel the bumps, but as they are not well pronounced, thus counting them becomes impossible. Upon measurement, there’s about 1″ of travel. You’ll find that as you take the headset off, you’ll lose the setting.

The “cooling structure” is most interesting. I found that it worked at keeping my ears cool after hours of continuous wear. My ears were never warm, hot, or sweaty. And when you place the headset on a surface such as a desk, you’ll notice that the vented design allows for the headset to balance itself. It’s neat seeing the headset rest flat on its front side. I like this design aspect.

I would say these ear cups aren’t noise-canceling, and they definitely don’t swivel or fold flat. The latter is just fine by me. The mic is noise-canceling.

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Headset

Read:   Gaming: Sennheiser GSX 1200 PRO Amplifier Review

Hephaestus P1 RGB Specifications

• Ear coupling: Closed Acoustic
• Frequency Range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
• Cable length: 1.8 M
• Driver diameter: 50 mm
• Impedance: 32 Ω ± 15%
• Sound Pressure Level: 119 dB ± 5 dB

• Vibration unit size: 30 mm
• Microphone frequency range: 100 Hz – 10 kHz
• Microphone pick-up pattern: Omindirectional
• Microphone sensitivity: -58 db ± 5 db
• Microphone impedance: 2.2 kΩ
• Dimensions: 232 x 100 x 216 mm

Read:   Gaming: HyperX Alloy Elite Keyboard Review

First Impression

Although it’s a personal issue, I don’t like the microphone on the left side. I would have preferred it on the right. Voice quality is good when playing YouTube, and there’s a nice ambiance to it. However, the mic was not very good at voice isolating. It’s pretty easy to notice noises outside of the video game, a bit harder when actual gaming sound was playing but wasn’t too hard overall.

The feature I most wished it had was a pant/shirt clip because of the microphone control placement. I say this because if you stand when you game as I do, the controller keeps hitting the keyboard tray on my standing desk. If you sit, as the high majority of you do, the weight of the controller could become a distraction. I usually reach to my neck to change the volume or mute it, but this control was on my lap. It was tricky in the middle of a game to reduce the volume or mute it.

If you’re a prescription eyeglasses wearer like myself or someone who wears eye fatigue reducing glasses, you probably won’t enjoy the headset as much. The oversized earcups don’t appear to be designed with the glasses wearer in mind. As someone who falls into this category, I highly recommend you wear a pair of contacts.

Gaming Performance

While 7.1 virtual surround sound has its critics, it works very well on the Hephaestus P1 RGB headset. This feature and the optional vibration certainly add to the gaming experience.

We’ve sampled this headset with a handful of games, YouTube gaming videos, and even Unigine benchmarking programs. This closed acoustic headset’s audio quality is as good when compared to many within the $80-90 retail price tag.

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Headset

Rainbow Six: Siege

The mic is smooth, with no voice cracking. There’s good sound quality as it isolated distinct sounds such as gunshots. Case in point, I could hear a window break, so I was able to kill an in-game character. I also heard two other characters moving through a terminal, and was able to locate and kill them using sound. In another outing, I heard an enemy player get hit by a trap, then went around the corner and killed him. There’s pretty good sound location using these Hephaestus P1 RGB headphones.

Headphones were comfortable on the ear, little soreness around them. They were reasonably soft around the ears, but also firm, so it didn’t hurt after using them for an hour and a half. This headset with its steel headband is heavier than I would have preferred, but not too heavy.

Total War: ATTILA

The headset worked well for this game; the sound was very immersive. There were no discernible differences as the game is a strategy game.

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HEBE M1 RGB Headset Review

Final Thoughts

Pros:
• Comfortable, long-lasting fit with no hot ears
• High-quality sound during gameplay
• Remote control for audio level and vibration
• Flexible, adjustable mic a big plus

Cons:
• Earcups could fit better on the lower part of the ears
• Not particularly comfortable when wearing glasses
• Remote control could use a tie/pant clip to affix to clothing
• Headset adjustment moves too easily; it should be firmer

Headset Scores:
• Appearance: 8.5/10 – Pretty, sleek, and good looking. While not a charmer, it’s pretty good looking.
• Use: 9/10 – Microphone was useful and smooth on video calls. When used on YouTube it was good, but nothing spectacular.

• Gaming: 9.5/10 – The simple effect of being able to notice people moving above or around me was incredible. Poor microphone control placement did affect gaming on occasion.
• Comfort: 7/10 – The steel headband weighed down the entire headset, and often dragged the headset off the table. The microphone control was poorly placed, which often became a distraction, and weighed on my lap during gameplay.

The Hephaestus P1 RGB delivers some high-end features for its price: flexible-and-swivel mic, vibration response, a robust controller, and 7.1 virtual surround sound. When tested with competitive shooters such as Rainbow Six: Siege or Counter Strike: Global Offensive, I noticed discrepancies such as footsteps or broken windows. Often, this would let me surprise and kill an opponent. During typical web use such as browsing YouTube or video chatting, the Hephaestus worked just fine.

This headset is in the high-end of Gamdias’s arsenal. If you want a gaming headset with fewer features, feel free to check out one of their other three recently headsets. This model gets the job done at a reasonable price.

If you’re comparing the Hephaestus P1 to headsets from other brands, look within the $80-120 price range. This headset is for use with whatever platforms accept a USB connection, but you’re sure to lose the RGB feature.

I do have to state that it’s a shame this headset doesn’t come with a carry bag.

Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review
Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB Review

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HERMES P2 RGB Keyboard Review

The Hephaestus P1 RGB gaming headset is available for purchase on Amazon for approximately $60 (see link at the bottom of this page.)

What do you think of this Gamdias Hephaestus P1 RGB gaming headset review? Do you agree or disagree with our verdict? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

• Follow Gamdias on Twitter
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Don’t hesitate to head over to the Gamdias homepage to see their current line-up of products. The Hermes P2 RGB gaming keyboard comes with a 1-year + 2-months warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Gamdias provided Beantown LLC with one (1) Hephaestus P1 RGB gaming headset sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2018

Read:   Gaming: Gamdias HERMES P1 RGB Keyboard Review

Filed Under: Gaming Hardware, Headphones Tagged With: 7.1 virtual surround sound, Gamdias, gaming headphones, gaming headset, Hephaestus P1 RGB 05/21/2018

Headphones: Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless Review

04/03/2018 By Hakan Can

Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless review

Back in November of 2017, Beyerdynamic introduced their latest high-end, portable high-resolution audio headphones to the world–the Aventho Wireless. These headphones looked a lot different than what we’re used to from the folks at Beyerdynamic. For one thing, they’re of the on-ear variety, which you don’t see too often from the brand. They’re also designed for the mobile lifestyle. Want to know if this headset hit its intended mark? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look at this Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless review.

Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless review

Pros:
• Exceptionally comfortable fit & sharp design
• Solid construction, flexible, yet sturdy
• Battery life of up to 30 hours
• Hi-Res Audio when wired
• USB-C connection
• Touch controls

Cons:
• MIY App issues with some mobile phones
• No wall charger included
• Lacks wear detection
• Price will be an issue to some
• Would have preferred a hard carrying case to the soft canvas one

Read:   Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT Review

Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless Review

Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless review

What You Need To Know About Operation

  1. To pair the headphone to your mobile device, press and hold the somewhat stiff power button until you hear “Power On” as well as a battery charge percentage. You should hear something in about 5 seconds. Don’t worry about accidentally touching the power button as it doesn’t activate so easily. Then head to the Bluetooth Settings on your mobile device and pair to Aventho Wireless.
  2. Volume is controlled by sliding a finger up and down the outer right headphone. It’ll take more than one stroke of a finger before the minimum, or maximum volume is reached. Adjusting the volume on your mobile device works independently. You can truly get the audio levels quite high using both methods so be mindful before you go damaging your ears.
  3. Track selection, forwarding, and rewinding are done with a similar finger swipe action as in Step 2. This time, the finger moves either to the left or right. If you swipe and hold the finger, this will fast forward or rewind the song. Pause and Play are as simple as tapping the right headset twice.
  4. The right headset also controls telephone operations such as answering, ending, rejecting, and switching calls. When accepting (or ending) a call, a quick tap is all it takes; a 2-second tap rejects it. To use Siri or Google Assistant, touch and hold the right headphone for two seconds.
  5. Playtime lasts an extraordinary 30 hours. Charging the headphones takes approximately 2 hours. A blinking red light indicates when the battery is charging, while a solid red light indicates the charge is full.
Read:   Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear Headphones Review

Design and Features

As I stated above, the Aventho Wireless looks a lot different than the over-the-ear “DT” models we’re used to seeing from Beyerdynamic.

Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless review

The outer headband surface, as well as the ear pads, are made from real or vegan leather. I couldn’t determine which, but I highly suspect it’s the latter just like on the Custom One Pro Plus. They’re soft and very comfortable, so much so that you’ll enjoy wearing this headset for hours. The quality of the workmanship is high as well.

Both the headband and ear pads contain some form of memory foam, so every time you remove the headset, they’ll return to their designed state.

Unlike some headsets, determining which side is left or right is not at all confusing. The “L” & “R” designations on the inside are quite legible and easy read. In addition to this, the left ear cup has the Beyerdynamic marker on the outer surface, with the right ear cup loaded with controls and ports. Cups can rotate 90° degrees in and out, which makes storage a breeze.

The headband can fit a wide range of head frames with its dozen or so adjustable positions. As a former design engineer, I can say that button, and port placement is handled well. All except for the mic are on the right headphones. I’ve seen similar touch control designs like on the Libratone Q Adapt, and I rather liked it. Overall, construction of the Aventho Wireless is well executed and assures high quality.

Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless review

The headphones come with four Bluetooth Codecs: aptX™ HD, aptX™, AAC, SBC.

Included in the packaging is a canvas carrying bag which has a protective lining. There’s also a 1.2-meter audio cable with 3.5 mm ends and a 30″ USB-A to USB-C charging cable. Both cables could have have been of higher quality considering the price tag of the headset.

The Aventho wireless headphones are currently available in two colors: black and brown. Should an additional color be introduced, this post will be updated.

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MIY App for Personalized Sound

The accompanying MIY App adds plenty of personalized sound to the Aventho Wireless. Our ability to hear is unique and differ from individual to individual. Because of this fact, we see some headphones allow for individualized sound.

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When the Aventho Wireless was first introduced, the MIY App was available for iOS only, and it wasn’t ready for prime time. I’ll give you one guess as to which platform I use. You’re correct–Android. After a few months, the version I needed became available.

So…what does MIY App do? In short, it profiles you by asking your age, your weight, your income, your political beliefs, and much more. I’m kidding with everything beyond one’s age. It tests each ear with a variety of high-to-low frequency sounds. You press and hold the button when you hear something. The trick in getting this right is that you need to be in a quiet space.

Unfortunately, MIY App doesn’t work on all smartphones. I had to switch my LG G6 for the LG V30 to get it to work. Many of you will notice similar issues. I do hope Beyerdynamic puts out a list of functioning mobile devices.

Specifications

• Sensitivity: 105 db/mW
• Driver Type: Closed-Back Dynamic Tesla
• Impedance: 32 Ω
• Headphone Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 40 kHz
• Bluetooth Codecs: aptX™ HD, aptX™, AAC, SBC
• Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, GAVDP, HFP, HSP

• Operating Temp: 0 – 40°C
• Music Play Time: 30 Hours
• Charging Time: 2 Hours
• Weight: 238 Grams
• Range: 33 Feet (10 Meters) direct line of sight
• Bluetooth Version: 4.2

What’s In The Box?

• Aventho Headphones
• Guarantee Booklet
• User Manual

• Soft Carrying Pouch
• 1.2 Meter Audio Cable
• 30″ Charging Cable

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Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless review

Music Playlist

• Lady Gaga – Born This Way, Joanne
• Lana Del Rey – Paradise
• Lorde – Pure Heroine
• The Prodigy – Invaders Must Die
• My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade

• Muse – Absolution
• Zedd – Clarity
• Ellie Goulding – Halcyon
• The Black Keys – El Camino
• 30 Seconds To Mars – 30 Seconds To Mars

Audio Performance

I repeat this time after time when conducting headphone reviews; the most critical factor is the quality of sound. These on-ear headphones were tested across a broad range of music using no less than the playlist listed above. In this case, the sound was compared to my current favorite headset, the Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT.

When you’re testing headphones with aptX™ HD or a frequency response of 5 Hz – 40 kHz, you expect high-quality sound. It’s a good thing that for the most part, the headphones delivered.The high-majority of my test listening was done via Bluetooth.

The quality of vocals and most instrumental reproduction (keyboards, horns, etc.) was impressive and didn’t falter even up to the highest volume setting. I expected the bass to sound very good because of the lowest frequency value, but there were moments where it could have been better. The overall audio was high-quality and free of distortion. I know this because I conducted something called ‘The Electronic Music Test.’ I take an album from electronic artists like Zedd or The Prodigy and put the headphones through its paces. (Feel free to insert your choice of artist or group who happens to play instrument-rich music.)

When you take a listen to Zedd’s Lost At Sea or Codec, you can distinctly hear layered bass sounds one on top of another. I’ve only heard bass like this from two other set of headphones, albeit both less expensive than the Aventho Wireless. And it wasn’t just bass that sounded terrific with this album.

Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless review

After having played albums from the rock acts such as 30 Seconds to Mars, Rush, and Shinedown, I can report that this headset has wholeheartedly exceeded my expectations when it comes to these bands. There was very little that disappointed throughout the volume range. These headphones were built for well-recorded rock music. On the flip side, sound from poorly recorded albums from The Smashing Pumpkins and Rage Against The Machine weren’t to my liking.

Vocals come out smooth and full of life. The vocal reproduction of all the female artists was amazingly vivid. Some instrumental and guitar sounds could have been better balanced though.

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Conclusion

From a physical design perspective, the Aventho Wireless headphones are about as good as it gets. They’re incredibly comfortable from the moment you place them onto your ears and continue to be so after hours of continuous use. And without any doubt, they’re the most comfortable on-ear headphones we’ve tested to date. It applies the right amount of pressure on the head, which is a rare event. All the necessary features minus one, wear detection, are present in this headset. This missing feature should have been included.

Regarding sound, with some music, the Aventho Wireless hit it out of the park. The highly detailed audio quality was impressive and a pleasure to listen to. With others, it hit a double or triple. When it came short, sometimes it was the fault of the headphones; other times it was the fault of the artist’s recording.

Noise isolation from your surroundings is excellent even though the headphones aren’t advertised as such. I couldn’t hear the television in an adjacent room.

The MIY App is continually improving and now available for use on both Android and iOS platforms. We look forward to seeing further refinements.

Although these headphones tested well, we take issue with the price. At $449, they’re expensive in our opinion. We feel that the Aventho Wireless would be better priced in the $329-349 range, maybe even as low as $299. This last price is where Audio-Technica’s ATH-DSR7BT resides.

If you’re in a setting where you can sample sound from the Aventho Wireless, we highly recommend you do so. These are one pair of headphones we wish we didn’t have to send back to Beyerdynamic.

Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless review

What do you think of this Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless review? Do you agree or disagree with our verdict? Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts.

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Don’t hesitate to head over to the Beyerdynamic’s News Page to see their latest announcements. The Aventho wireless headphones come with a two-year limited warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Beyerdynamic temporarily provided Beantown with one (1) Aventho wireless headphones sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Beantown LLC © 2018.

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Filed Under: Headphones Tagged With: Aventho, Beyerdynamic, Bluetooth Headphones, Hi-Res Audio, On-Ear Headphones 08/05/2018

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