Thermaltake Introduces the TOUGHAIR 310 and TOUGHAIR 510 CPU Air Coolers

04/26/2021 By Hakan Can

Four months ago at the virtual CES 2021, the folks at Thermaltake announced a slew of forthcoming gaming hardware products due for release in the first half of 2021. Fast forward to today and we see the release of two new CPU air coolers, the single-fan TOUGHAIR 310 and the dual-fan TOUGHAIR 510. Priced at $39.99 and $59.99 respectively, these two CPU coolers fit well within the range of budget-conscious computer builders who are looking for excellent air-cooling performance.

Thermaltake Debuts the TOUGHAIR 310 and TOUGHAIR 510 CPU Air Coolers

Per the press release, “TOUGHAIR CPU Air Coolers utilize next-gen high static pressure fans leveraging the advanced design concept from TOUGHFAN 12 as well as providing a new level of thermal performance and reliability to the vertical heatsink tower.”

The TOUGHAIR 310 and 510 incorporate high static pressure fans that provide ~ 58 CFM at 2,000 RPM. Fan speeds are also controllable from 500 RPM up to 2,000 RPM. In order to keep the air cooler as quiet as possible, each 120 mm fan is fitted with a second generation hydraulic bearing, LCP-made fan blades, and an anti-vibration mounting system.

CPU compatibility covers a wide range of AMD and Intel sockets.

AMD: AM4/FM2/FM1/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2 «» Intel: LGA 1200/1156/1155/1151/1150

TOUGHAIR CPU Air Cooler Specifications

Model	TOUGHAIR 310	TOUGHAIR 510
P/N	CL-P074-AL12BL-A	CL-P075-AL12BL-A
Compatibility (CPU Socket)	Intel LGA 1200/1156/1155/1151/1150 AMD AM4/FM2/FM1/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2	Intel LGA 1200/1156/1155/1151/1150 AMD AM4/FM2/FM1/AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2
Dimension	123.6 x 71.7 x 159.5 mm	23.6 x 98.8 x 159.5 mm
Heatsink Material	Aluminum Fins	Aluminum Fins
Heatpipe	Copper Heatpipes Φ6mm x 4 pcs	Copper Heatpipes Φ6mm x 4 pcs
Fan Dimension (L x W x H)	120 x 120 x 25 mm	120 x 120 x 25 mm
Fan Quantity	1 pc	2 pc
Fan Speed	PWM 500 ~ 2000 RPM	PWM 500 ~ 2000 RPM
Rated Voltage	12 V	12 V
Start Voltage	6 V	6 V
Rated Current	0.48 A	0.48 A
Power Input	5.76 W (one fan)	5.76 W (one fan)
Air Flow	58.35 CFM (one fan)	58.35 CFM (one fan)
Air Pressure	2.41 mm-H2O (one fan)	2.41 mm-H2O (one fan)
Acoustical Noise	23.6 dBA	23.6 dBA
Lifetime	40K Hours	40K Hours
Pin Connect	2510 - 4 Pin	2510 - 4 Pin
Cooling Power	170 W	180 W

Read: Philips PH802 Hi-Res Audio Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Review

The Thermaltake TOUGHAIR 310 and 510 CPU Air Coolers are available for purchase on Amazon for $39.99 and $59.99, respectively. (See Amazon Affiliate links below.)

What do you think of the new Thermaltake TOUGHAIR CPU Air Coolers? Do you plan on purchasing one? 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 Thermaltake USA website to see their current line-up of products. To learn more about service, support, and warranties, click on their Support tab. These TOUGHAIR CPU Air Coolers come with a 2-year warranty.

Read: Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Titanium Gaming Keyboard Review

Urbanista London True Wireless Review

08/05/2020 By Hakan Can

Best Alternative to Apple AirPods?

London is one of those places in the world which has something for everyone. I’m hoping this analogy translates to audio products from Swedish lifestyle brand Urbanista. Recently, we got our hands on the London, its latest true wireless, active noise cancelling earbuds, and put it through its paces. So without further delay, let’s take a closer look at this Urbanista London True Wireless Review.

Pros:
• 5 Hrs Playtime
• 25 Hrs Battery Life
• Active Noise Cancelling
• Ambient Voice Mode
• Ear Detection
• Portable Charging Case

Cons:
• Low Volume Level
• Weak Audio Quality
• Price Tag of $149

Read: Philips PH802 Hi-Res Audio Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Review

Urbanista London True Wireless Review

What You Need To Know About Operation

Upon opening the packaging, fully charge the Urbanista London true wireless earbuds within the supplied charging case. You can use a Q-certified charging pad as well.
Pairing these earbuds couldn’t be easier. All one has to do is lift the lid to the charging case with the earbuds in place, and that’s it. There are no buttons that require pressing.
After pairing the earbuds to your Bluetooth device, place the earbuds in your ears.
To play or pause the audio, simply tap the logo at the top of the left earbud twice.
To increase the volume, tap the logo at the top of the right earbud. To decrease the volume, tap the logo at the top of the left earbud. Brushing your finger along the earbud worked well for me.
To answer or end a phone call, touch the logo twice on either earbud. To reject a call, touch and hold the logo on either earbud.
To activate Siri or Bixby (I used this one) touch the logo on the right earbud twice.
To turn Active Noise Cancelling on or off, touch and hold the logo on the right earbud for at least two seconds.
To turn Ambient Voice Mode on or off, touch and hold the logo on the left earbud for at least two seconds.

Read: Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear Headphones Review

Design and Features

Per the Urbanista press release, “Urbanista London is designed to provide the perfect fit and is comfortable for long periods of wear.” I agree wholeheartedly with this statement.

Urbanista London comes in four colors: Midnight Black, White Pearl, Rose Gold, and Dark Sapphire. And they arrive within a hard plastic, matte-finished charging case of the same color. A four-light charging indicator is located on the front of the case.

Controls are accessed by nothing more than a touch to the logo of either earbud. Operations are listed in the proceeding section. Although there’s no right or left designation on the earbuds, it’s near impossible to place the wrong one into the correct ear.

These earbuds have in-ear detection, ambient voice mode, and active noise cancelling. The latter utilizes a BES chipset, which I’m told is quite advanced with ANC. While I never got around to utilizing the ambient voice mode, as a situation never presented itself, I can attest that the ANC worked quite well, especially so while mowing the lawn.

In other tests, the earbuds worked as they’re supposed to for playing/pausing music, accessing phone calls, and with the Bixby voice assistant.

Charging of the earbuds is handled via the supplied case and USB-C cable. To achieve play lengths of ½ hour, 1 hour, and 3 hours, charge the earbuds for 5, 10, or 30 minutes, respectively. To completely charge the case takes just over 1.5 hours.

Ear tips come in three sizes: S, M & L.

From a design and feature perspective, London from Urbanista is a solid product.

Read: Cooler Master GS750 Desktop Hub Review

Specifications

• List pricing of $149.99
• Driver Type: 10 mm
• Bluetooth Version: 5.0
• Supported Codes: AAC, SBC
• Siri/Google Assistant/Bixby
• IPX4 Protection

• Operating Temp: 0 – 40°C
• Battery Life: Up to 5 Hours
• Battery Type: Rechargeable Polymer Li-ion
• Range: 10 Meters
• Charging Time: 1.52 Hours
• Available in Midnight Black, White Pearl, Rose Gold, Dark Sapphire

What’s In The Box?

• Pair of Earbuds
• Charging Case
• Manual

• USB-C Charging Cable
• 3 Additional Pairs of Silicone Ear Tips

Read: Edifier TWS2 Earbuds Review

Audio Performance

As I often state, the most critical factor regarding earbuds and headphones is sound quality, followed by fit and feel. The Urbanista London earbuds were tested across a variety of artists using my Amazon Music account.

Audio performance is where the London earbuds lose their luster. Rather than excelling in audio quality, the earbuds faltered. Regardless of the type or genre of music, and I listened to plenty, what I heard felt like layers of cloth or a muffler between my ears and the artist. When testing a $150 product, I better be impressed, sadly I was disappointed.

Within the song Alone by Halsey, the finger snapping (among other things) didn’t sound right.

On the song Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey, the audio quality sounds like a blurry mess when the instruments join her vocals.

On the song Bad as the Boys by Tove Lo, the percussion doesn’t sound right. It’s too loud and unpleasant on the ears.

I could continue with less-than-stellar examples from the bands 30 Seconds To Mars, Rush, and The Black Keys, but I won’t.

The only positives I can note are from Jazz legend John Coltrane and the EDM artist Zedd. The audio quality of their albums The Ultimate Blue Train and Clarity were better on the ears, but I’ve heard more satisfying from similarly priced earbuds.

Read: 1MORE Dual Driver BT ANC Headphones Review

Conclusion

From a physical design perspective, I found these earbuds to be comfortable in my ears and very portable within its travel case.

Audio life of five hours is enough to cover two day’s worth of bus or subway commutes plus lunch breaks. Sadly, the audio quality disappoints.

• Design – 4.5
• Features – 4.5

• Sound – 2.0
• Value – 3.0

What do you think of this Urbanista London True 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 Urbanista’s social media pages to see their latest announcements. The London True Wireless ANC earbuds come with a one-year limited warranty, click this Warranty Terms link for more information. To learn about returns, repairs, and technical support, click this Help Center link for more details.

FTC Disclosure: Urbanista provided Beantown with one (1) London True Wireless Earbuds sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

Read: Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT Review

Philips PH802 Hi-Res Audio Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Review

03/30/2020 By Hakan Can

With CES2020 in the rearview window, headphones that we saw, heard, or read about are now becoming available. One of these models is the Philips TAPH802 Hi-Res Audio wireless over-ear headphones. Priced under $150, the Philips PH802 headphones boast passive noise isolation, Bluetooth 4.2, Hi-Res Audio when wired, and closed-back 40 mm diameter speakers. These over-ear headphones are designed to deliver detailed audio reproduction. Want to know if they hit the mark? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Philips PH802 headphones review.

Pros:
• Superb sound
• Very comfortable fit
• Rapid/Quick charge capable
• Battery life of up to 30 hours

Cons:
• No storage bag included
• No USB-C charging port
• Lacks wear detection
• Only one color available

Read: Moshi Vacanza Weekend Travel Bag Review

Philips PH802 Headphones Review

What You Need To Know for Operation of the PH802

To power on or off in wireless mode, press and hold the power button for three seconds. You’ll hear “Power On” or “Power Off” depending on the operation.
To pair the headset to your mobile device, press and hold the power switch fully until you hear “Connected.” Then head to the Bluetooth Settings on your mobile device and pair the headphones.
To play and pause audio, press the button once for either action. Taking or ending a phone call is handled in the same manner.
To forward or reverse a music track, press down or up, respectively, while holding for one second to complete the action.
To increase or decrease the volume, push up or down the slider button, respectively.
Playtime lasts for a whopping 30 hours. Charging the headphones takes approximately 1.5 hours. You’ll notice a red blinking light while charging.
Note: these functions only work in wireless mode.

You’ve got to appreciate a pair of headphones where one switch controls every function. It couldn’t be any simpler.

Read: Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT Review

PH802 Design and Features

Although the Philips PH802 headphones come in an all-plastic, black color scheme, the design of the headset is a fascinating one with its use of curvature and non-uniform padding.

If you haven’t already noticed, the padding on the headband and ear cuffs is not the same thickness throughout; in other words, it’s uneven, and this is a good thing. If you examine it closely, you’ll notice the headband is thickest up top, and the ear cuffs have a bit of an s-curve shape with more padding in the lower half. This allows for a softer fit up top and better-enclosed fit on the sides.

In fact, the PH802 may be the only headphones in my arsenal where the ear cuffs fully encompass my ears. I went back and looked through my collection of on-ear and over-ear headphones only to realize that all but one model had uniformity in the shape of their headbands and ear cuffs. So, I’m not surprised by its excellent fit.

The headband surface, as well as the ear pads, are made from polyvinyl or leather, I can’t tell which. Regardless, they’re very soft and amazingly comfortable. Both the headband and ear pads contain memory foam, so every time you remove the headset, they’ll return to their designed state rather quickly. As someone who wears glasses, you shouldn’t worry about discomfort. The headband can fit a wide range of head frames with its twelve adjustable positions.

Determining which side is left or right is a bit confusing. Sadly, the “L” & “R” designations aren’t large enough to read.

The ear cups of the PH802 rotate 90° degrees in; thus, they lay flat when placed on a surface and approximately 10° out. Additionally, they bend inwards for better storage.

With only one button/slider and two inputs on the headset, the PH802 couldn’t be easier to operate. Placement is handled very well; never did I forget the location of anything. See the previous section for operation.

The headphones include a port for wired audio and another for charging.

Throughout hours of use, the button/slider work as advertised. One thing to remember, the button/slider doesn’t function when the headphones are wired to a mobile device.

Overall, the construction is well done and assures high quality.

As of today, the PH802 is available in one color–black. Should additional colors be introduced, this post will be updated.

Read: Fenix PD35 TAC Flashlight Review

Specifications

• Sensitivity: 90 db
• Headphone Frequency Response: 7 Hz – 40 kHz
• Driver Diameter: 40 mm
• Range: 10 meters
• Impedance: 16 Ω
• Bluetooth Version: 4.2

• Battery Type: Lithium-Polymer
• Max Power Input: 30 mW
• Music Play Time: 30 Hours w/o ANC
• Standby Time: 200 Hours
• Charging Time: 1.5 Hours
• Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP

What’s In The Box?

• PH802 Over-Ear Headphones
• Safety Sheet
• Quick Start Guide

• 48″ 2.5 mm Audio Cable
• 9″ μ-USB Charging Cable

Read: Corsair Virtuoso RGB Wireless High-Fidelity Gaming Headset Review

Amazon Music Playlist

• Tove Lo – Sunshine Kitty
• Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence, Born To Die

• Halsey – Hopeless Fountain
• Rush – Clockwork Angels

Audio Performance

I repeat this all the time when reviewing headphones; the most important performance factor is the quality of sound. The Philips PH802 over-ear headphones were tested using the playlist listed above. Each album was sampled against a comparable well-rated $200 headset selected from my collection. When you’re testing headphones with 40 mm drivers and a frequency response of 7 Hz – 40 kHz, you expect very high-quality sound.

I didn’t need to listen to anything beyond the first album, Sunshine Kitty from Tove Lo, to know that I loved these headphones. Nonetheless, in order to provide a thorough review, I listened to all five albums.

Vocals, keyboards, drums and percussion, and electric and bass guitar across all the albums were very much to my liking. Be careful not to go beyond the 85-90% volume setting. The high volume could negatively impact your hearing ability.

Whether you’re listening to Geddy Lee or any of the three female singers, vocals were exceedingly clear and vivid. And it wasn’t just vocals that shined. Keyboards, drums, and guitars all sounded the way I hoped it would before hitting the play button. The beauty of sampling Sunshine Kitty first is that you get plenty of bass, keyboard, and drums in droves. Take a listen to Sweettalk my Heart or Mateo. Bass and percussion sounds were deep, rich, and layered throughout the album. None of the $200 (or less) on-ear or over-headphones in my collection produced this high-quality level of audio. Normally, I’d have to jump up to a $250 (or higher) pair of headphones to hear bass like this. With the Philips PH802, less is more.

With the ambient noise of the city being a lot lower than normal thanks to COVID19, I wasn’t able to give the passive noise isolation a thorough workout. With that said, I had no issues with it in my home. I couldn’t hear my cat’s meows while she was beside me or the audio from the television in the adjoining room.

Read: Fenix TK22 V2.0 TAC Flashlight Review

Conclusion

In my testing, whether it be via wireless or wired connectivity, the Philips PH802 headphones performed without a hitch, in other words, phenomenally.

Vocals, keyboards, drums and percussion, and electric and bass guitar production was very much to my liking.

While these aren’t categorized as sports headphones, I have no issue with the PH802 being worn on the gym floor or treadmill, provided your gym is open for business. Sure, you’ll sweat, but they’ll hug your head in the process.

After using these headphones extensively in my home, I can confidently say that they’re among the best sub-$150 headphones I’ve listened to in quite some time.

The headphones are quite comfortable after many hours of continuous listening, barely leaving a mark once you remove them. At a list price of $109.99, the Philips PH802 are the best over-ear wireless headphones I’ve tried this year. I’ll be listening to my Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 a lot less going forward, maybe even retiring them. And you’re worried about the price, head over to Amazon where you’ll see them for $89.99. See the link below.

I’ll be keeping this headset and adding to my reference list when comparing to future similarly-priced pairs of headphones.

What do you think of this Philips PH802 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 Philips Support Page to see their latest on software and driver updates, registration, and warranties.

FTC Disclosure: Philips provided Beantown LLC with one (1) PH802 Hi-Res Audio headphones sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

Read: Moshi Venturo Sling Backpack Review

Netflix 6 Underground Review

12/19/2019 By Hakan Can

The Netflix Film 6 Underground has just been released on the streaming service, and it’s a doozy. And I’m not using that word in a positive sense. If you’re into mind-blowing action, then you should know it’s packed full of it. But sadly, the film falls short in pretty much every other metric. So without further ado, let’s dive right into the Netflix 6 Underground Film Review.

Netflix 6 Underground Review

Read: Netflix Levius Season 1 Review

The Backstory

The writers of this film (Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese) have done us a disservice. Outside of a few time-shifting backstories, we learn next to nothing regarding the main cast of characters. To be blunt, I’ve heard better stories in the men’s rooms of most nightclubs, and those storytellers weren’t Hollywood writers or producers. The film’s dialogue is weak, to phrase it mildly.

Ryan Reynolds is an inventor billionaire who fakes his death and, with no experience in the assassination game, starts a for-hire hitman squad. Just like in Green Lantern, Ryan’s character stalls out an airplane and crashes it.

Ryan Reynolds crew of bad guy removers are numbered 1 through 7, with of course he being number 1. Now, no one calls it a ‘suicide squad’ as those two words have already been used up by DC Comics/Warner Brothers, but that’s what they are. Heck, I’m not even sure how they’re being compensated for their dictator removal services.

So the team is made up of six individuals, one of which gets killed in the 17-minute car chase opening scene. Like most Michael Bay action films, this one involves plenty of gunfire, explosions, chases, and aerial views. It wouldn’t be a Michael Bay film if there weren’t plenty of aerial drone shots and helicopter scenes kicking up sand. I can think of at least six off the top of my head spanning the last dozen or so years, most with the word Transformers in the title. In other words, we’ve all seen this movie before.

It also wouldn’t be a Michael Bay film (or a Ryan Reynolds liquor ad) if there were some blatant product advertisements. Aviation Gin, Chopard Watches, and Hotels & Resorts are prominently featured in 6 Underground.

The Story

As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, the film starts with an over-the-top 17-minute car chase through the City of Florence, Italy. Believe it or not, this is the team’s first mission, and as one would expect, it goes south quickly. There are some horrific crashes, a few of which, including the first one, don’t even make sense from a physics point of view. But who cares, it’s a Michael Bay film. Just sit back and enjoy, right?

After watching this scene, I immediately felt terrible for the stuntmen and women in this film. If crash test dummies or CGI weren’t used during this car chase, then there’s got to be some injured folks on the set. As someone who edits video as part of his living, I can say that there are a ton of special effects used here. Glitches and light leaks are easy to notice, but there are so many more that watching a behind-the-scenes feature, should one exist, would be worthwhile.

So the cast of characters goes like this: we got ourselves a billionaire, a doctor, a driver, a hitman, a skywalker, and a former CIA agent. Everyone here is a ghost after having their deaths faked. One of them dies for real, I won’t say who, and is replaced by an army sniper. My favorite of all these characters, and you may not agree, is the skywalker.

You know this is a bad film when 24 minutes in the main character says to the sniper, “God, it’s hard to watch.” As soon as I heard that line, I said “yup”.

The plot of this story is to topple the dictator of a fictitious country in the Middle East, then replace him with his democracy-loving brother. In other words, we’re back to nation-building, which doesn’t work so well in practice nowadays. The dictator is a real piece of shit who puts no value on human life. The brother, on the other hand, is a decent guy, but he’s locked up in the penthouse suite of a Hong Kong tower. And of course, you probably guessed it; the six ghosts have to break him out. While over-the-top, this is a pretty good action sequence.

Once the tyrant’s brother is rescued, we’re taken to the fictitious Middle Eastern country for a violent overthrow of the government.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t find 6 Underground exciting or even enough to keep me awake after the first-hour mark. Fortunately, the second half was better and more entertaining. It was so bad that it took me two nights to complete this film.

There is one scene I need to draw attention to because the filmmakers truly screwed up. At one point in the film, the team is heading to Las Vegas. Now, this is all fine and dandy, until you notice that Ferrari World and the Yas Marina Circuit are shown, but they aren’t in Las Vegas. As a Formula One fan, I’m confident in saying they’re in Abu Dhabi. Go figure.

Overall, the film was a disappointment for so many reasons. If you’re going to watch this turd, put aside two hours where you’re not worried if you ever get them back.

I certainly hope this is the end of the story for these six ghosts, as I don’t want to see a sequel. Watching one 6 Underground film was bad enough, we definitely don’t need a sequel.

If you’re wondering what’s worth watching on Netflix, try Love, Death & Robots, or the upcoming series The Witcher.

What did you think of the Netflix Film 6 Underground? 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 Netflix homepage to see their latest announcements.

FTC Disclosure: Netflix did not compensate us at Beantown for this review. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid ambassador.

Read: Telic Energy Flip Flop Sandals Review

Netflix Levius Season 1 Review

12/12/2019 By Hakan Can

The Netflix Original Anime Levius begins its 12-episode first season with a fight in the boxing ring. Levius is named after its main character, the 17-year old boxing phenom, and is based on the 7-volume Haruhisa Nakata manga series, also of the same name. We’re introduced to what’s known as metal boxing and is it ever fun to watch. So without further ado, let’s dive right into this Netflix Levius Season 1 Review.

Netflix Levius Season 1 Review

The Backstory

As we learn in Episodes 1-3, Levius Cromwell has essentially been orphaned. He’s the byproduct of the 7-year Fosanian conflict between the nations are Whitel, which Levius and his family are citizens of, and the Republic of Rosvia. And this conflict is over something called Agartha mineral water rights. It’s this water when mixed with steam and a fighter’s blood, that powers the mechanized limbs of the metal boxers.

Although his mother survives the Fosanian conflict, she’s incapacitated and severely injured, thus requiring 24-hour hospitalized care. As his city pf Greenbridge burns, Levius loses his right arm while trying to save his mother. And we learn his father, a military man, dies in the war. Levius is taken in by his Uncle Zack Cromwell and Grandmother. Soon after, a 10-or 12-year old Levius, I couldn’t get this straight, is introduced to metal boxing.

The Look and Feel of Levius

The animation of Levius is faithful to the Haruhisa Nakata’s manga. If you like what you saw in the voluminous pages of the manga, then you’ll love what you see in this anime. The animation of Levius is reminiscent of other anime series’ where there’s a wide latitude given to the use of highlights and shadows. Using photography terms, each character’s facial features are washed out with blown-out highlights and accentuated with hard shadows. You’ll notice this mostly scenes that take place at Zack’s gym.

Because this is an anime involving boxing, the movement of the fighters is quick and detailed. It’s fantastic to watch.

The voice-over, like the background music, is spot on. Dialogue is at a distinguishable volume and is never overpowered by the background audio tracks. I give a lot of credit to those who were selected to be the English voice-over talent and to those editing the finished product

The plot moves at a decent pace with some time-shifting to fill in the back stories. Overall, the storyline is excellent, and in most cases, there’s proper character development.

The Storyline

Episode 2 opens with a flashback to 7 years earlier when Levius’s home was under attack in the war. He witnesses children being carried off by mechanized infantry, thus keeps quiet as to not be carried off himself. Once he’s adopted by his longshoreman (and former boxer) Uncle Zack, he visits his mother in the hospital. As he’s leaving, he notices a young girl from Greenbridge, one that was crying while carried off by a mechanized soldier, as she and another are en route to the coliseum. This is Levius’s introduction to the violent and often deadly sport of metal boxing. This episode also introduces us to Natalia Garnet, a cocky 17-year old boxer you loses her G5 bout to Levius by TKO in 27 seconds. She provides the comic relief of the series

Episode 3 is a must-watch and provides us with a history lesson on the conflict that brought Levius Cromwell to his Uncle Zack. When Levius was young. there was a war ravaging his sea-side city of Greenbridge. A combined twenty thousand soldiers and citizens were killed during this 7-year war (known as the Fosanian Conflict) when the country across the sea wanted access to the Agartha water springs. Greenbridge is well-known for this type of water. While trying to save his mother, Levius loses his right arm in the battle to retake Greenbridge. This retaking involved the use of mechanized soldiers from Amethyst Steam Technology Enterprises. We learn a lot more about this corporation throughout the series, not all of it with well-intentions.

With Levius’s promotion from Grade 5 to Grade 3 of the Metal Boxing Association (MTA), we’re introduced to Malcolm Eden. He’s a talented 40-year old fighter who was demoted from G2 to G3, and he’s not ready to hang up his gloves just yet. In Malcolm’s last five fights, all of his opponents have died from injuries sustained by his hands. The match is amazing!

Once Malcolm is defeated, he retires and works to make up for his sins by helping the families of those he hurt. Levius is now ranked 7th in G3 and is offered a promotion match to G2, but he has to fight the number one contender, the large-and-in-charge Hugo Stratus. Levius barely comes up to Hugo’s chin. Something appears to be afoul as a boxer with Levius’s lower-ranking wouldn’t get him this promotion match. But first, Hugo needs a tune-up match and this comes with the mysterious AJ Langdon. We also meet Hugo’s father, Chairman Stratus of the MTA. He’s the spitting image of Johnny Depp’s character Edward Ratchett in the film Murder on the Orient Express.

The match between Hugo and AJ spans from Episode 5 to 6, and once again is fantastic! I would argue that this is the best boxing match of the series.

Hugo’s top ranking is earned, and technically, he’s the superior boxer. Nonetheless, AJ is not your typical metal boxer and she does not go down easily. In fact, she defeats Hugo Stratus, nearly killing him in the process. It wasn’t a fair fight.

At the halfway in the series, Zack, Levius, Bill, and Chairman Stratus visit the mysterious Chairman of the Board of Amethyst, Dr. Clown. (I’m not making it up, that’s the character’s name.) Dr. Clown is somewhat of a long-winded poet who loves to hear the sound of his own voice. He’s been up to something sinister all along.

As it turns out, AJ is Dr. Clown’s adopted daughter from the Fosanian Conflict. We learn that Amethyst’s mechanized soldiers actually kidnapped many of the orphaned children of Greenbridge during the fog of war. Two of these children are AJ and her younger brother, who we do not meet in Season 1. These children were subjected to medical experiments that are clearly noticeable in AJ. It becomes clear to all in attendance that Dr. Clown has used a combination of mind control and drugs on AJ. While she believes Amethyst saved her, in reality, she was kidnapped and experimented upon. Her words say one thing, but the tears down her cheeks reveal the truth.

Levius tries to take AJ away from Dr. Clown, which oddly enough would also be kidnapping. This is where Dr. Clown makes a grand bargain. He tells Levius that AJ can go with Levius provided he defeats her in the ring during the promotion match. If Levius loses, he becomes the ward (essentially property) of Dr. Clown. Levius agrees to the offer and signs a contract to finalize the arrangement.

Soon after, Malcolm Eden shows up at Zack’s Gym and offers be Levius’s sparring partner. As a long-time boxer, he has unique insight on how to defeat AJ. His preparation of Levius is most helpful.

This brings us to the final 3-4 episodes of the series where the “fight of the century” between Levius and AJ takes place. You’ll have to see what takes place for yourselves. It would irresponsible of this reviewer to share any more. All I will say is that there are some surprises.

Final Thoughts

The final episode ends on the same note as the 12-episode first season began, with a fight in the metal boxing ring. All-in-all, Levius Season 1 brings us a terrific story with intense action and interesting characters. I haven’t liked an anime this much since the introduction of Love, Death & Robots, also on Netflix. We hope this first season of Levius is viewed by more than those who love anime or boxing. There’s a great story at play here.

Read: Introducing the Tactical Suit Batman Figure from Mezco Toyz

We’re looking forward to a second season of Levius. Should there be one, we’ll see some terrific G2 boxing matches, and maybe we’ll learn what happened to the other Greenbridge orphans which Amethyst so-called “saved.” This post will be updated when we learn more.

What did you think of the Netflix Anime Series Levius Season 1? 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 Netflix homepage or Haruhisa Nakata’s website to see their latest announcements.

FTC Disclosure: Netflix did not compensate us at Beantown for this review. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid ambassador.

Read: Telic Energy Flip Flop Sandals Review

Fenix TK22 V2.0 TAC Flashlight Review

12/01/2019 By Hakan Can

It’s safe to say that anyone who owns a home or rents an apartment needs a flashlight. Actually, these people probably need two or three just to cover all events and emergencies. Two months ago we reviewed the Fenix PD35 TAC flashlight and got a taste for what a truly great flashlight can be. Because we received such positive feedback, we were presented with the opportunity to review another, the Fenix TK22 V2.0 TAC flashlight. Now, this second light is different from the first, for reasons we’ll get into momentarily. So without further ado, let’s take a closer look in this Fenix TK22 V2 TAC flashlight review.

Pros:
• Multi-purpose flashlight
• Up to 1600 lumens
• Aluminum body
• Intelligent memory
• Low voltage indicator
• Overheat protection
• IP-68 waterproof
• Medium size, lightweight

Cons:
• Warm to touch at the highest setting
• Does not include battery or charger
• Price of $85 may be too high for some

Read: Fenix PD35 TAC Flashlight Review

Fenix TK22 V2.0 TAC Flashlight Review

Once you’ve used a high-quality flashlight, you won’t want to go back to the low-quality $20 variety you see in the aisles of your nearest hardware store.

Unfortunately, you won’t find Fenix flashlights in either Home Depot or Lowe’s. I’m not sure why this is the case, but for the brand’s sake, I hope it’s rectified quickly. You can find their products on their website www.fenix-store.com.

For the sake of comparison, we measured the Fenix TK22 V2.0 against similar models at Home Depot. From the 389 flashlight models available at HD, the field was narrowed down to just under 10 when we based our selection on those with aluminum casings, rechargeable, 5-year minimum warranty, and lumens above 1000. In fact, only one brand met the criteria, a brand that I’ve never heard of before today. Oddly enough, their flashlights looked remarkably similar to those from Fenix.

So if you’re looking for a great flashlight, the field is quite thin, and you’ll have to look at Fenix.

As you can see from our Pros vs. Cons list, the former greatly outweighs the latter. The $85 price tag isn’t an issue as you’re getting a high-quality product with a great warranty.

Read: Telic Energy Flip Flop Sandals Review

Design and Features

There are only a handful things you need to know about operating the Fenix TK22 TAC V2. With a slight press of the tail switch, you’ll see the light beam that was last used. So if you shut off the light at ‘High-Mode,’ then it restarts at ‘High-Mode. A full press the tail switch activates the flashlight.

Pressing the stainless steel side switch once (and then again) changes the mode, of which there are four listed below. Holding the side switch down for three seconds takes the light into tactical modem, aka the strobe. It’s this setting you would use on someone to temporarily disorient them. There is plenty of police or military uses for this light.

The flashlight is made from aircraft-grade aluminum with notch and groove patterns throughout. In other words, this light should’t slip out of either hand.

The LED is the Luminus SST40, made from an ultra-clear glass with an anti-reflective coating.

If you’re worried about using the flashlight in the rain or dropping it in shallow water, don’t be. The light has an IP-68 waterproof rating allowing it to be underwater for 30 minutes at a depth of two meters. It’s also impact resistant to one meter.

Additionally, it’s mind-blowing how good a product this is with its intelligent memory circuit and reverse polarity protection.

The TK22 TAC measures at 5.91″ long, 1.57″ head width, 1″ body width, and weighs 5.29 ounces without the battery. Speaking of batteries, you’ve got a few options to choose from, as this model does not come with a battery.

The ARB-L21-5000 – 21700 battery w/o USB port for charging, currently $24.45
The ARB-L21-5000U – 21700 battery with USB Type C port for charging, currently $24.95
The ARB-L18-3500 – 18650 battery w/o USB port for charging, currently $24.45
The ARB-L21-3500U – 18650 battery with μUSB port for charging, currently $23.45

If you purchased a battery without a USB port, then it’s recommended you purchase the Fenix ARE-D1 ($14.95) smart battery charger. In full disclosure, we need to purchase one ourselves.

Read: Sennheiser Momentum Free Earbuds Review

Specifications

This “professional performance” flashlight puts out some amazing specs.

Outdoor Mode
• Turbo: 1600 Lumens, 405 Meter Distance, 2 Hr 10 Min Runtime
• High: 500 Lumens, 231 Meter Distance, 4 Hr 40 Min Runtime
• Mid: 150 Lumens, 112 Meter Distance, 17 Hr Runtime
• Low: 20 Lumens, 51 Meter Distance, 80 Hr Runtime
• Strobe: 1600 Lumens, switching between 6 and 15 Hz every 2 seconds

Read: SHIVR 3D Wireless NC18 Headset Review

What’s In The Box?

• TK22 TAC V2.0 Flashlight
• ALF-18 Battery Holder
• Holster
• Lanyard

• Two spare o-rings
• Spare rubber boot
• Warranty card
• User manual

Read: Edifier TWS2 Earbuds Review

Performance

During an evening one week ago, we tested the TK22 V2.0 outdoors, and we were blown away with what we saw. With 600 more lumens than the PD35 TAC, we had a feeling we would be.

Under the three higher settings, the beam throw goes from the long end of my yard to the other and beyond. There are woods on two sides of my home, and they were lit up like fireworks. Suffice to say; if you’re searching for someone or something outdoors during the evening, you’ll have no trouble seeing where you’re walking and for hundreds of meters ahead of you.

Based on its smaller size, I recommend having the PC35 TAC over the TK22 V2.0 when it comes to what to keep in one’s automobile glove box.

Read: 1MORE Dual Driver BT ANC Headphones Review

Conclusion

From a physical design perspective, I found the TK22 TAC V2.0 to be very comfortable and portable, true to its mission, and best used outdoors. The quality of light and its throw is most impressive.

So you don’t waste your time, we’ve done plenty of comparison research here, but as always, feel free to do your own.

At $85, and without the battery, the cost of the Fenix TK22 V2.0 is an expense that will cause some to balk. Despite this fact, this product is worth taking a long look at. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

If you’re shopping around a major holiday, there may be special pricing on this model or another, so please check. Recently we’ve seen a 60% discount on the battery.

What do you think of this Fenix TK22 V2.0 TAC flashlight 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. Should you wish to purchase this flashlight, click this PD35 TAC store link. We don’t earn a commission or anything.

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Don’t hesitate to head over to the Fenix Blog page to see the latest announcements and reviews. The Fenix TK22 V2.0 TAC flashlight comes with no less than a 5-year warranty on the light. If you have a rechargeable battery, there’s a 1-year free repair warranty. See the Fenix Warranty page for more information.

FTC Disclosure: Beantown was provided with one (1) Fenix TK22 V2.0 TAC flashlight sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

Read: Telic Energy Flip Flop Sandals Review

Telic Energy Flip Flop Sandals Review

11/24/2019 By Hakan Can

Best Flip Flops for Women and Men?

I wear sandals from the moment I wake to the moment I go to bed. So it’s safe to say I enjoy wearing sandals. I work out of a home office, an office that doesn’t have heated floors, so I need something on my feet to keep them warm. Recently, we were contacted to try something in the footwear category. This brings us to Telic–the maker of Energy Flip Flop sandals. For the past four weeks, I’ve been wearing these sandals with great satisfaction. Now it’s time to share my experience with all of you. So without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Telic Energy Flip Flop Review.

Telic Flip Flop Midnight Black

Pros:
• Heat-activated; conforms to your feet
• Arch support
• Shock-absorbing Novalon® material
• Textured surface material; allows airflow
• Comfortable to wear for hours at a time

Cons:
• Not ideal for environments above 100°F
• Price, maybe?

Read: Ausangate Socks - Best Alpaca Socks Review

Telic Energy Flip Flop Review

As I stated in the opening paragraph, I’ve been wearing the Telic Energy Flip Flops inside my home and in the front yard for the past month. Before this, I was wearing leather sandals from Kenneth Cole and inexpensive sandals from Timberland. The leather sandals are handsome, but they’re made for outdoor use, plus they’re falling apart after many years of use. The Timberland sandals aren’t much to brag about. They have only one purpose, and that’s for taking showers at the gym. So while I worked at home writing and editing, I was wearing socks (which often caused my feet to lose traction) or was barefoot. This was not ideal for Fall or Winter months. Until I find some split toed socks, I’ll be wearing these Energy Flip Flops the way nature intended–barefooted.

Best Flip Flops with Arch Support

Design, Features, and Performance

What makes these flip flops stand out from the crowd? First, they’re manufactured from a material called Novalon®. Although the name sounds like that of some character from the Marvel Universe, I assure it’s not. It’s actually an elastomer that’s latex and allergy-free. The description the folks at Telic provide is better than anything I can write. “The unique blend of elasto-polymers is feather-light, pillow-soft, and provides exceptional cushioning, rebound, and elasticity. Telic shoes not only absorb shock, but they have a noticeable “bounce back” effect that makes you feel like you are floating above the ground.” When I say that you won’t want to take them off your feet, I’m not exaggerating. They’re on my feet many hours per day.

Telic Flip Flop Midnight Black

Read: 1MORE Dual Driver BT ANC Headphones Review

Like many elastomer materials, the flip flops are affected by temperature. Under the Common Questions page on the Telic website, it states that cold weather makes the shoes more firm, while warm temps make them soft. Do try to avoid wearing them in temperatures above 100°F and do keep them out of direct sunlight. In other words, it’s not wise to wear them in Las Vegas or Phoenix during the height of Summer.

When I received the sample pair, my first thought was “they’re too small, they’ll never fit.” To my surprise, the Men’s Size 9 was a perfect fit. It took roughly a half hour for my arched feet to become accustomed to the flip flops. After all, they’re heat activated to conform to your feet. The contoured footbed with its arch support and shock absorption make this one very comfortable product to wear. And when you walk, there’s a nice bounce in your step.

Check out this next image demonstrating the differences between shoe types.

As you see from the Pros vs. Cons list, the former greatly outweighs the latter. From my perspective, the $50 price tag isn’t an issue as you’re getting a high-quality product that’s available in no less than a dozen or so colors and patterns. While I have a pair in Midnight Black, I intend to purchase a pair in Deep Ocean or Dolphin Gray for outdoor use to better match my clothes.

Keep your eyes open for sales as Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals are rapidly approaching.

Telic Flip Flop Midnight Black

Telic Flip Flop Midnight Black

Recently I learned that the lifeguard at my Boston Sports Club wears Telic Flip Flops. He raves about them so much that the gym is considering purchasing a pair for its staff. Now that’s a pretty good endorsement.

Read: Sennheiser Momentum Free Earbuds Review

Conclusion

For only the second time in my blogging life have I reviewed a product that had nothing to do with my head or hands. While reviewing a product for the feet (like socks or sandals), you wear them for extended periods; hence, the review is more thorough. I’ve been blessed that both footwear products have been home runs, so much so that I’ve become a repeat customer of Ausangate Socks, the first footwear brand I’ve reviewed.

From a physical design perspective, I found the Telic Energy Flip Flops perfectly fit my high-arched, size 9 feet. They’re so lightweight, soft and pillow-like that you don’t want to take them off.

Are there less expensive flip flops available on the market? Of course there are, but none that your feet will thank you for more. You won’t be disappointed with them. All of Telic’s footwear comes with a 6-month wear guarantee and an unlimited warranty against all manufacturers’ defects.

Telic Flip Flop Midnight Black

What do you think of this Telic Energy Flip Flop sandals review? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Do you think these might be the best flip flops for women or men available today? Might they be the best ergonomic flip flops or best flip flops with arch support? The only way you’ll know is if you try them on.

Let us know in the comment section below or via social media. We’re eager to hear your thoughts. Should you wish to purchase this or another product from Telic, simply click onto their shopping page. We at Beantown don’t earn a commission or anything.

INSERT PHOTO

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Don’t hesitate to head over to the Telic homepage to see the latest announcements and doctor and athlete testimonials.

FTC Disclosure: Beantown was provided with one (1) pair of Energy Flip Flops in Midnight Black for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

Read: Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT Review

Fenix PD35 TAC Flashlight Review

09/23/2019 By Hakan Can

As someone who’s owned numerous flashlights over decades, I can say with sincerity that I’ve been disappointed with all of them. Most were hand-me-downs that were no better than a candle. Nowadays, we see TV commercials and internet ads for some amazing flashlights, tactical ones even, that can produce more than 1000 lumens with beam throws in upwards of 1000 feet. This brings us to the Fenix PD35 TAC flashlight. This “professional performance” flashlight puts out some amazing specs. So without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Fenix PD35 TAC flashlight 2019 review.

Pros:
• LED has 50K Hour lifespan
• Tactical and outdoor modes
• Up to 1000 lumens
• Aluminum body
• Intelligent memory
• Low voltage indicator
• IPX-8 waterproof
• Small size, lightweight

Cons:
• Warm to touch at the highest setting
• Price of $72 may be too high for some

Read: Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 Review - SonicPro Headphones

Fenix PD35 TAC Flashlight Review 2019

Head into a Home Depot or Lowe’s, better yet, head over to their respective websites and type in the word “flashlight.” You’ll see hundreds of flashlights, almost all sub-par, mostly from brands that aren’t in the lighting space. In other words, flashlights aren’t their main product line, they’re an accessory. So if you’re looking for a great light, then you’ll need to look into those from a great brand like Fenix.

As you can see from our Pros vs. Cons list, the former greatly outweighs the latter. To me, the $72 price tag (reduced from $99) isn’t an issue as you’re getting a high-quality product with a great warranty.

Read: Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear Headphones Review

Design and Features

There are only a few things you need to know about operating the PD35 TAC. With a slight press of the tail switch, you’ll see the light beam that was last used. So if you shut off the light at ‘Mid Mode,’ then it restarts at ‘Mid-Mode.’

Fully pressing the tail switch activates the flashlight. Pressing the stainless steel side switch once (and then again) changes the mode, of which there are five. Holding the side switch down for three seconds takes the light into tactical modem aka the strobe. It’s this setting you would use on a home intruder.

The PD35 TAC is made from aircraft-grade aluminum with notches, grooves, and cross-patterns throughout. This way the light should’t slip out of your hands.

The LED is the XLAMP® XP-L from Cree, which has a lifespan of 50K hours. The lens itself is made from ultra-clear glass. It also has an anti-reflective coating.

Are you worried about using the PD35 TAC in the rain or dropping it in shallow water? Well don’t be. The light has an IPX-8 waterproof rating allowing it to be underwater for 30 minutes at a depth of 2 meters.

The PD35 TAC measures at 5.4″ long x 1″ wide and weighing at approximately 4 ounces with installed battery. Speaking of batteries, you’ve got two options here. The model we received came with two CR123A batteries, but we would recommend getting the Fenix ARE-X11 rechargeable lithium-ion 18650 battery with charger. There’s no reason to keep tossing batteries out once they expire.

Read: Sennheiser Momentum Free Earbuds Review

Specifications

Tactical Mode
• Turbo: 1000 Lumens, 200 Meter Distance, 1 Hr 10 Min Runtime
• Low: 60 Lumens, 48 Meter Distance, 29 Hr 15 Min Runtime
• Strobe: 1000 Lumens

Outdoor Mode
• Turbo: 1000 Lumens, 200 Meter Distance, 1 Hr 10 Min Runtime
• High: 500 Lumens, 135 Meter Distance, 2 Hr 55 Min Runtime
• Mid: 200 Lumens, 80 Meter Distance, 8 Hr 30 Min Runtime
• Low: 60 Lumens, 48 Meter Distance, 29 Hr 15 Min Runtime
• Eco: 8 Lumens, 17 Meter Distance, 140 Hr Runtime
• Strobe: 1000 Lumens•

What’s In The Box?

• PD35 TAC Flashlight
• Two CR123A batteries
• Pocket clip
• Holster
• Lanyard

• Two spare o-rings
• Spare rubber boot
• Warranty card
• User manual

Read: Edifier TWS2 Earbuds Review

Performance

We tested the PD25 TAC indoors and out, during the day and night. We were thoroughly impressed with the results.

It’s crazy how good a product this is with its intelligent memory circuit and reverse polarity protection. Under most settings, the beam throw goes from one end of my yard to the other, and I’ve got a good-sized yard. The rabbits feeding throughout the yard become quite visible.

Think of the benefits of using this flashlight during a brownout or in the event your car fails along the road. The typical car engine light barely illuminates anything, but the PD35 TAC certainly will. And the PD35 TAC hardly takes up any space in the glove box.

Read: 1MORE Dual Driver BT ANC Headphones Review

Conclusion

From a physical design perspective, I found the PD35 TAC to be very comfortable and portable, true to its mission. The quality of light and its throw is most impressive.

The more I write about this product, the more excited I get about it. As a consumer technology writer, flashlights are on the edge of what we cover. While we review keyboards and headphones by the dozens, we only use one at a time, preferably a great one. The same could be said about flashlights. You, the consumer only need a great one. Having a second (that is another PD35 TAC) for your car wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

The cost of the Fenix PD35 TAC is an upfront expense some will balk at. Feel free to do your research, but don’t do so much that you’re now wasting time. Take our word for it; this product is worth buying. You won’t be disappointed.

What do you think of this Fenix PD35 TAC flashlight 2019 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. Should you wish to purchase this flashlight, click this PD35 TAC store link. We don’t earn a commission or anything.

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Don’t hesitate to head over to the Fenix Blog page to see the latest announcements and reviews. The Fenix PD35 TAC flashlight comes with no less than a 5-year warranty on the light. If you have a rechargeable battery, there’s a 1-year free repair warranty. See the Fenix Warranty page for more information.

FTC Disclosure: Beantown was provided with one (1) Fenix PD35 TAC flashlight sample (2019 model) for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

Read: Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT Review

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC100BT Headphones Review

09/12/2019 By Hakan Can

Back at CES 2019, Audio-Technica introduced its latest QuietPoint ANC wireless headphones lineup. Within the three new models, ATH-ANC900BT, ATH-ANC500CT, and ATH-ANC100BT, only the latter is of the in-ear variety. Engineered with dynamic 12 mm drivers and in-line mic and controls, these in-ear headphones are designed to deliver detailed audio reproduction. Want to know if they hit the mark? Without further delay, let’s take a closer look in this Audio-Technica ANC100BT review.

Pros:
• Exceptionally comfortable fit
• Battery life of 10-20 hours*
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Control clip
• Price of $99

Cons:
• No wall outlet plug included
• Lacks wear detection
• Bass audio is a bit soft

Read: Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 Review - SonicPro Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC100BT Review

What You Need To Know About Operation

Slide the power switch to ON. The green light beside NC lights up as well as the blue light beside the Bluetooth symbol.
On your mobile device, select the ATH-ANC100BT within the Bluetooth list, and your headset is now paired.
To power down, slide the power switch to OFF.
To charge the headset, place the supplied USB cord into a power source. Charging of the headphones takes up to 3 hours, and playtime lasts for 10-20 hours depending on how you use the ANC100BT.
Play and Pause are controlled by the pressing the large round button in the center of the clip. (If you’re like me, you may forget that it’s there.)
Volume adjustment is controlled via the “+” and “-” buttons located on the side of the clip.
To advance or return to a previous track, press and hold the “+” and “-” buttons for two seconds, respectively.
Regarding phone calls, press the Play/Pause button once to answer and disconnect calls.

Read: Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear Headphones Review

Design and Features

Per the Audio-Technica website, “The ATH-ANC100BT QuietPoint® wireless in-ear headphones combine Audio-Technica’s proprietary active noise-cancelling technology with Bluetooth® wireless technology to give you greater freedom and listening pleasure in areas of high ambient noise.”

The in-ear portion of the ANC100BT comes with a hard plastic outer shell in a somewhat glossy black finish. The earbuds are angled and noticeably so to fit your ears better. They’re fixed in position which is preferred by this reviewer.

The controller is located approximately two feet down from each earbud. The controller is intriguing as it’s an alligator clip design. On one end is the audio cable before it branches out to each ear. On the other is the USB connection for charging and to go wired to an audio player.

On the wide-sided top are the mic, the circular logo, and the Play/Pause button. If you’re like me, you’ll forget that the button is even there and use Play/Pause directly from the audio source. I’m not saying it’s bad placement. I simply forget it’s there.

The opposite wide side has the alligator-mouthed clip with another AT logo. From my testing, the clip holds very well onto a shirt or jacket.

On the long, thinner side with the controls, there are the On/Off slider, noise-cancelling and Bluetooth light indicators, and volume push buttons.

Silicone tips come in four sizes: XS, S, M & L, plus there’s a Medium-sized Comply™ foam set.

One downside is the headset cannot be used while charging.

The quality of workmanship from Audio-Technica is high. In testing, the buttons worked flawlessly during music and phone calls. I was never worried about the cord being pulled out the controller as there’s plenty of slack.

“An internal lithium polymer rechargeable battery powers the headphones, giving you approximately 10 hours of continuous Bluetooth and ANC use on a full charge. The headphones come with a 30 cm (1′) USB charging cable, a 0.6 m (2.0′) audio cable with 3.5 mm (1/8″) stereo mini-plug, and a protective carrying pouch.”

Read: Sennheiser Momentum Free Earbuds Review

Specifications

• List pricing of $99.99
• Driver Type: 12mm Dynamic
• Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 24 kHz
• Bluetooth Version: 4.2
• Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
• Impedance: 16 Ω w/ANC
• Sensitivity: 102-103 dB

• Cable Length: 2 Ft Detachable
• Battery Life w/ANC & Bluetooth: 20 Hours
• Battery Life w/ANC only: 10 Hours
• Range: 10 Meters
• Charging Time: 3 Hours
• Weight: 30 grams w/o cable
• Available in Black

What’s In The Box?

• Pair of Headphones
• Carry Pouch
• Quick Start and Caution Guides

• 1′ USB Charging Cable
• 2′ Audio cable w/L-shaped 3.5 mm plug
• 4 Pairs of Ear Tips + Comply Foam

Read: Edifier TWS2 Earbuds Review

Amazon Music Playlist

• Meg Myers – Make A Shadow
• Tove Lo – Queen Of The Clouds
• The Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
• Rush – Clockwork Angels

• Bassnectar – Cozza Frenzy
• Shinedown – Amaryllis
• Halsey – BADLANDS
• Play List – Krewella and More

Audio Performance

As I often state, the most critical factor regarding headphones is sound quality, followed by fit and feel. The Audio-Technica ATH-ANC100BT in-ear wireless headphones were tested across music from the artists and playlists listed above using my Amazon Music account.

This time around, I didn’t test the headphones in the gym. Even though they’re lightweight and held firmly in my ears, I was worried about the control module bouncing off my shirt.

The first test on how well these earbuds sounded was with hard rock music from the likes of The Smashing Pumpkins, Shinedown, and Rush.

When it came to percussion instruments like drums and cymbals, the ANC100BT produced bright sounds. Percussion on these albums was by far my favorite to listen to, followed by acoustic guitar. The detailed drum work across the three rock albums was crazy good. Please take a listen to Today or Rocket from Siamese Dream. You won’t be disappointed. Who doesn’t like to hear Neil Peart or Jimmy Chamberlin hammer away on the drums?

Bass audio was a bit soft, and pretty much expected as the ANC100BT isn’t labeled a bass-heavy pair of headphones. I couldn’t enjoy Geddy Lee’s base work to its fullest. It took second fiddle to vocals, guitar, and drums.

Pop music from female artists such as Halsey’s hopeless fountain kingdom and BADLANDS and Tove Lo’s Queen Of The Clouds sounded well. The vocals across these albums shined, but like their rock band brothers, bass audio wasn’t quite where I would have liked it. If you take a listen to The Way That I Am or Thousand Miles by Tove Lo, you know bass should be more pronounced with a bit more clarity.

Overall I was very pleased with the audio emanating from this sub-$100 pair of headphones.

Read: 1MORE Dual Driver BT ANC Headphones Review

Conclusion

From a physical design perspective, I found these earbuds to be very comfortable in my ears and very portable whether clasped onto a shirt or coat.

Audio life of 10-20 hours (depending on its use) is more than enough to cover one week’s worth of commutes to work plus every lunch break. The audio quality is quite good with its 20 Hz – 24 kHz range. The ATH-ANC100BT headphones are staying put in my collection with a lot more use coming.

• Design – 4.50
• Features – 4.50

• Sound – 4.25
• Value – 4.50

What do you think of this Audio-Technica ANC100BT headphones 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 News page to see their latest announcements. The ATH-ANC100BT wireless in-ear headphones come with a two-year limited warranty.

FTC Disclosure: Audio-Technica provided Beantown with one (1) ATH-ANC100BT sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

Read: Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT Review

Sennheiser Momentum Free Earbuds Review

09/08/2019 By Hakan Can

Best Neckband Earbuds of 2019?

We rarely get the opportunity to review neckband earbuds. In fact, we’ve only tested two models all year. We don’t know why this is, but whenever the opp to review one comes our way, we seize it. This brings us to the Sennheiser Momentum Free earbuds, which until recently were known as Sennheiser HD1 Free earbuds. (Don’t be confused by our product photos.) With features such as high-quality audio, Bluetooth 4.2, and Qualcomm apt-X codecs, these earphones offer much to the consumer. So without further delay, let’s take a closer look at this Sennheiser Momentum Free Review.

Pros:
• High-quality bass audio
• Connects to two devices
• Bluetooth 4.2
• apt-X, apt-X LL codecs
• Lightweight design
• Leather travel case

Cons:
• No USB-C connection
• No noise cancellation
• Price tag of $200
• Battery life of 6 hours

Read: Edifier S880DB Bookshelf Speakers Review

Sennheiser Momentum Free Earbuds Review

What You Need To Know About Operation

After pairing the Momentum Free to a Bluetooth device, place the earbuds in your ears. Then press the power on button located in the center of the control panel. Hold the button down for 2 seconds.
When powering down, press the power button for 4 seconds, and they will turn off. Store them in the circular leather travel case for safekeeping.
To charge the headphones, place the USB cord into a power source. Charging of the headphones takes up to 1.5 hours, and playtime lasts for 6 hours.
Volume adjustment is controlled via the “+” and “-” buttons located beside the power button.
To control music, press the power button to play and pause. To advance or return to a previous track, press and hold the “+” and “-” buttons for one second, respectively.
To control phone calls, press the power button once to answer and disconnect calls. To reject a call, press and hold the button for one second. You can even achieve 3-way calling.

Read: Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear Headphones Review

Design and Features

Per the Sennheiser website, “The smaller the headphone, the more meticulously built it has to be. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM Free is pure precision. From its custom machined stainless steel in-ear sound tunnels for the signature MOMENTUM sound to its luxurious leather carrying case.”

The Momentum Free earbuds come with a hard plastic outer shell in a black/silver color combination. Controls are located a few inches away from the right earbud. The earbuds come with a flexible and rubbery neckband approximately 29″ in length. As the cord comes out of each earbud, it goes through a loop. I suspect this helps prevent the cable from being accidentally yanked out of the earbud. It’s also a good look.

Unlike similar models, the earbuds are angled and noticeably so to fit your ears better. Ear tips come in four sizes: XS, S, M & L.

The quality of workmanship from Sennheiser is high. In testing, the buttons worked flawlessly during music and phone calls.

When not in use, there’s the magnetic clasping feature, which we don’t see often enough. These earbuds do lack wear detection, and that’s fine. One shouldn’t expect every available feature. I do wish they had A.N.C.

The Momentum Free earbuds don’t allow for passive audio to come through. So much passive audio was blocked, making it difficult to hear a conversation. I found myself removing one of the earbuds to listen to whoever was attempting to speak with me.

Read: Cooler Master GS750 Desktop Hub Review

Specifications

• List pricing of $199.99
• Driver Type: Dynamic (SYS10)
• Frequency Response: 15 Hz – 22 kHz
• Bluetooth Version: 4.2
• Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
• Impedance: 28 Ω
• THD: <0.5%
• Sound Pressure: 118 dB

• Operating Temp: 0 – 40°C
• Battery Life: Up to 6 Hours
• Battery Type: Rechargeable Polymer Li-ion
• Range: 10 Meters
• Charging Time: 1.5 Hours
• Weight: 40 grams
• Available in Black

What’s In The Box?

• Pair of Headphones
• Leather Travel Case
• Quick & Safety Guides

• USB Charging Cable
• 4 Pairs of Ear Tips

Read: Edifier TWS2 Earbuds Review

Amazon Music Playlist

• Meg Myers – Make A Shadow
• Tove Lo – Queen Of The Clouds
• Halsey – hopeless fountain kingdom
• Rush – Clockwork Angels

• Bassnectar – Cozza Frenzy
• Tool – Fear Inoculum
• Halsey – BADLANDS
• Play List – Krewella and More

Audio Performance

As I often state, the most critical factor regarding headphones is sound quality, followed by fit and feel. The Sennheiser Momentum Free earbuds (previously known as HD1 Free) were tested across music from the artists and playlists listed above using my Amazon Music account. Minus one change, it’s the same play list we used for the Edifier TWS2 earbuds.

Additionally, I gave them a go around the gym during numerous weight and treadmill workouts. The Momentum Free earbuds held up well during all my gym sessions. Due to their lightweight and secure fit, they held firmly in my ears.

The first test on how well these earbuds would handle (keyboard, drum, and guitar) bass was from listening to Tool’s new album Fear Inoculum. Over many albums, Tool has placed an emphasis on bass audio regardless of the musical instrument. Now, I’m not a fan of this particular album, but I couldn’t help but be impressed with how their 16-minute song 7empest sounded.

I want to make one thing clear, and that is I’m no bass head. Regardless, I know many who are, and they’ll appreciate what the Momentum Free offers. The bass clarity at the highest volume with my Samsung Galaxy phone was terrific.

When testing a $200 product, I better be impressed. Fortunately, with the Momentum Free, I was. These earbuds packed plenty of clear bass audio.

Even albums from female artists such as hopeless fountain kingdom and BADLANDS from Halsey or Queen Of The Clouds from Tove Lo sounded well, especially the former. The vocals are a bit deeper, but if this is what you enjoy listening to, then you won’t complain. I particularly enjoyed listening to Colors and Gasoline.

I was less impressed with how Make A Shadow from Meg Myers sounded. As her music is more pop-and-rock oriented, the increased bass takes away from some of the instruments.

Read: 1MORE Dual Driver BT ANC Headphones Review

Conclusion

From a physical design perspective, I found these earbuds to be very comfortable in my ears and very portable whether clasped around my neck or in its leather travel case.

Audio life of six hours is more than enough to cover two day’s worth of bus or subway commutes plus lunch breaks. The audio quality is quite good with its 15 Hz – 22 kHz range.

• Design – 4.75
• Features – 4.25

• Sound – 4.25
• Value – 3.50

What do you think of this Sennheiser Momentum Free earbuds 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 Sennheiser’s social media pages to see their latest announcements. The Momentum Free comes with a two-year warranty, click this Warranty Terms link for more information. To learn about returns, repairs, and technical support, click this Service Support link for more details.

FTC Disclosure: Sennheiser provided Beantown with one (1) Momentum Free Wireless Earbuds sample for review purposes. This writer’s opinion is 100% his own and not a paid product ambassador.

Read: Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-DSR7BT Review