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SMS Audio BioSport Earbuds Review

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What More Could You Ask For In A Sports Headphone?

Updated post. With all the new wearable technology being released, the list for which ones to pay attention to is getting longer and longer. Well, you best make room on that list for the Biosport, the new biometric earbud with heart rate monitor from SMS Audio. The product, a collaboration between Intel and SMS Audio, is on the cusp of innovation and cutting edge technology. With these two brands coming together to change the way that you work out and exercise, something good is bound to happen. Welcome to the SMS Audio BioSport earbuds review (updated.)

SMS Audio BioSport earbuds review

Are These BioSport Earbuds The Total Package?

At a price of $150, I had some pretty high expectations for the BioSport. With features like these, can the SMS Audio BioSport earbuds meer them?

  • IPX4 rated durability against water or sweat
  • A powerful heartbeat monitor that doesn’t require batteries
  • Works in tandem with popular fitness apps like Run
  • Fantastic SMS Audio sound via 12.4mm driver
  • Comfortable, new design and look

The packaging and branding are sleek. It perpetuates that fancy and put-together look of the whole product. In addition to the earbuds, you’ll receive a 30-day trial membership for the runkeeper elite app. You can find the runkeeper app for Apple and Android here.

So I took them out, put them to action, and saw just how well they lived up to my expectations.

Design Review of the SMS Audio BioSport Earbuds

The first notable aspect of these earbuds is the ergonomic design. With all the new earbuds that are supposed to “fit perfectly” in your ears and “never fall out,” I was a little apprehensive when I saw this take on a comfortable fit. The design looks modern and innovative, definitely something that no one else is doing. If you’ve found that other styles don’t fit your ears, these BioSport earbuds might be worth a try.

The BioSport earbuds come in 3 different sizes that slip on and off with little difficulty. Looking at the 3 sizes, the differences themselves aren’t too obvious, and they’re easy to mix up. On the inside, the sizes and designated sides are etched lightly to show the discrepancies.

SMS Audio BioSport earbuds reviewThe wire is flat to prevent tangling. There was one day while I was testing these out when I forgot them back home on a trip to the gym. I pulled out my tangled ball of Apple headphones and had to spend a minute or two figuring out the knot. The worst I got with these was some twisting up from turning my phone over too many times as I worked out.

Along the wire is a hub of the heart rate monitor. It’s much like any other mic segment you’d find on another earbud–a button to pause, skip, and skip backward. What’s notable about this is how large it is. I’m sure as the technology improves, there will be a decrease in size. But in this model, it’s relatively bulky.

Overall, the design is attractive. I love the in-ear section––it’s comfortable and value its originality. On the outside of the ear is a pod where the wires are attached. I’m pretty averse to the flashy, ostentatious look at the gym, so I try to avoid earbuds that attract a lot of visual noise. Although the amount is minimal, it’s still there, and it should be stated that it’s there. The best way to avoid the flashiness of the Biosport would be to buy them in some other color like grey. Other than grey, they come in blue and yellow (the latter being more like a lime-green if you ask me.)

For the design, I give the SMS Audio Biosport earbud the grade of an A-.

Read:   Review: Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT1iS Headphones

Introducing The Heartbeat Monitor

Intel is known for being on the forefront of new technologies and their contribution to the Biosport earbud may make or break this purchase for many people.

The best way for me to express the idea is to reminisce about high school sports. I’m sure if you’re considering buying these headphones, you’ve had a coach at some point and know the feeling of someone always yelling for you to run harder, lift harder, or push harder.

But now you’re grown up, and the gym is quite different than the practice field. There are no other players to compare to other than yourself. You decide how hard you push, checking it against how hard you feel you’re pushing.

The heartbeat monitor gives you a measure for your challenges.

Here’s how it works. The monitor is controlled by a little switch on the mic and it will start tracking your heartbeat through a sensor in the right headphone. When it’s functioning, you can’t use the mic to make phone calls. The mic becomes exclusively for the pause-skip-rewind button.

That seems simple enough. Unfortunately, that’s not all. The monitor must be connected to an app through your phone. SMS Audio and Intel suggest Runkeeper, and I would too despite the complications I faced. The headphones have to be connected through the settings of the app. After that’s finished there’s a little heart that shows up on the screen, whether or not the heartbeat monitor is actually switched on.

If everything is correct, just choose which activity you want to do, how you want it tracked through the app (GPS or Stopwatch), and then get to work.

At it’s best, the heartbeat monitor is a fantastic addition to a routine. Every 5 minutes or so, a voice through the app speaks to let you know how long you’ve been going and update you on your average heartbeat, your current heartbeat, and where that sits on the scale of how hard you can go (50%-60%, 70%-80%, etc.) It’s especially satisfying when the voice activates and shouts excitedly that you’re working at 90-100%.

However, at it’s worst, it can be pretty aggravating. It takes some time to activate. If you don’t have the monitor turned on, it can throw off your stats. Once such case is if you’re running and waiting for the heartbeat monitor to kick in, and then nothing happens.

Compared to the struggles that accompany a separate heart monitor – wires, straps, batteries. These headphones make things pretty convenient. They don’t need batteries, and they plug right into your phone. The technology for receiving the information just isn’t quite there yet as it occasionally stumbles.For the design, I give the SMS Audio Biosport earbud the grade of an A-.For that, I give this feature a B+.

For the heart monitor, I give the feature the grade of a B+.

Read:   The SuperSlim Monster iSport Wireless Headphones Review

The Superb Sound

Now we come to the SMS Audio side of the earbuds.

These headphones aren’t noise cancelling. It doesn’t matter though as the sound is so powerful. Even at a low setting, these feel loud. Turn it up and the sound gets richer, more surrounding, thicker, and deeper. It’s very nice.

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself dancing along to your music, or jogging right along to the beat, submerged in the rhythm and sounds.

For their sound, I give the feature the grade of an A.

Read:   Review: Adidas Sport Supernova In-Ear Headphones by Monster

Final Thoughts

Although a smaller brand in the headphone arena, SMS Audio is known for their innovation and the BioSport earbuds do not fall short of that promise. From the I’ve never seen before design, to the integration of an @Intel biometric heart monitor, the @SMSAudio BioSports are a great pair of earbuds!

SMS Audio BioSport earbuds reviewAll together I give it an A-.

They’re durable, enjoyable, comfortable, and for the most part, they’re functional. If it weren’t for minor inconveniences and stumbles with the heart monitor, I would have given them an even higher rating.

There is a wide variety of wearable tech available right now. At a list price of $150, this model may not be your first choice. I suggest you check around a little more before making your final decision.  In my opinion, the BioSport should be placed pretty high up on your list.

So what’s your opinion? Do you agree or disagree with anything in this review? Have you tried the SMS Audio BioSport earbuds? What did you like and/or dislike about them? Let us know in the comments below or over on the Beantown Review Twitter or Facebook pages.

And don’t hesitate to head over to the SMS Audio website. Feel free to check out their latest products as well as their press releases.

[Tweet “to the integration of an @Intel biometric heart monitor, the @SMSAudio BioSports are a great pair of earbuds!”]

Updated April 2016: One great thing has happened since this review was posted last year and this is a drop in price. So, if you held back purchasing the BioSport due to it’s $150 price tag, you need not worry any longer. One check on Amazon and you’ll see all three colors of these earbuds selling for $39.99. You heard correct, a penny below $40.

FTC Disclosure: SMS Audio, LLC provided Beantown LLC with one (1) sample pair of BioSport earbuds for review purposes. This writer’s opinions are 100% his own.

Editor’s Note: Of all the brands and models of headphones Tom has reviewed, it was the SMS Audio BioSport earbuds he asked to keep. I believe this says something quite favorable about this reviewed product.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of SMS Audio, LLC and/or Beantown LLC.

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Review: Adidas Sport Supernova In-Ear Headphones by Monster

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Pure Monster Sound® and Adidas® Sport Come Together

Monster is known for its high-performance audio cables and it’s Pure Monster Sound®. It is this very sound that is integrated into their headphones and speakers. Adidas® is a world-renown brand for all things sports. This past year, these two major brands teamed up to create sports headphones equipped with Pure Monster Sound. What they created was the Adidas Sport Supernova™ in-ear headphones by Monster.

Initial Thoughts – Adidas Monster Headphones Review

The Adidas Sport Supernova comes to us with plenty of promises: superb sound quality, tight grip in the ear, waterproof design, perfect for extended workouts, total noise isolation, lightweight, and durability. All these promises come at a price of under $100. Based on the things I’ve heard, I was excited to get the chance to try them out for myself.

Adidas Monster Headphones ReviewThe packaging is sleek, yet simple. What you don’t use and/or wear (i.e. cardboard, plastic) can make its way straight to the recycle bin. Not counting the black-and-white patterned headphones, the packaging consists of the following:

  • A rugged and breathable mesh carry pouch
  • 3 sets of ear tips
  • 3 different sets of the SportsClip™
  • A multi-language user manual

The first time using the Adidas Sport Supernova was while walking along the busy, noisy streets of Downtown Boston during the afternoon rush. Upon placing the headphones into my ears, and turning the music on, the surrounding noise immediately disappeared. Everything around me went silent. The music I was listening to sounded fresh and clean. These in-ear headphones were truly noise isolating. The Pure Monster Sound definitely fulfilled my expectations.

The sweat-proof, water-resistant design held true to Monster’s promise. This means that you can wash them off after each use, but don’t toss them in with the laundry.

While the grip wasn’t as comfortable as I had initially expected, with some adjustment, it became much more so. You can thank the nine different customizable fits of the SportClip for this.

Another feature of the Adidas Sport Supernova is ControlTalk™. On the headphone wire, there’s a controller with three buttons and a microphone. These buttons are to answer and end calls, turn the volume up or down, pause music and video, skip, and rewind. It’s easy to access if you’re on a run and can’t pull out your phone to pick up a call. It’s useful in everyday settings like walking or just sitting as well. Note: the functions of the buttons vary on the manufacturer of the mobile device. Below is a table that covers eight manufacturers of mobile phones.

Adidas Monster Headphones Review

Graphics Credit: Monster Inc.

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One Week Later

When I started using the Adidas Sport Supernova, I was enamored with them. I couldn’t go without having them in my ears. The sound was so good. But, it didn’t take long for any negatives in its design to manifest.

Adidas Monster Headphones Review

Photo Credit: Monster

Due to its noise-isolating design, the Sport Supernova in-ear headphones are for indoor use, primarily with cardio equipment. They are not intended for anything longer than 1-2 hours of use. Even with their ergonomic design, I found it difficult to use them beyond this 2-hour time period. As they are designed to isolate noise, they did need to be removed from my ears for a while to let them rest from the pressure. This was a bit disappointing as I would have liked to use them longer.

(If you’re looking for a comparable pair of headphones designed for outdoor use, then check out the Adidas Sport Response™.)

The headphone’s audio is impressive! There’s no doubt about this. Yet, it is stifled by one complication, its cord. I noticed that problems arose from it while exercising.

The 4′ long black-and-white cord is wide and flat to make it tangle-resistant. Unfortunately, this made it encumbering when it needed to be fluid. Many times during my workouts, the wire would tug on anything it touched and managed to pull out the headphones, despite the grips. This flat design is not ideal for running. If there’s ever a Sport Supernova 2, I hope Adidas and Monster choose a round cable design.

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The Sound

I was impressed by the Pure Monster Sound when I first popped the Sport Supernova into my ears. The bass sounds were deep and strong. Everything sounded nice. Smooth, quiet melodies flow in the isolated noise and the high notes felt just right.

However as I listened more, I began to notice a little distortion. The sound began to crack slightly on the high notes. From then on, these high notes felt a little thin, but the overall sound was still solid.

The playlist that I used to test these in-ear headphones was originally put together by JamAudio. You can see all the songs listed here.

One of my playlist favorites for testing speakers and headphones is Brass Monkey by the Beastie Boys. One play of this song’s intro reminds me why these headphones sound is so impressive. Even after the recommended break-in period of 20 hours, and despite the light distortion on some highs, the sound produced by the Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones is undeniably amazing!

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The Verdict and Final Thoughts

The Adidas Sport Supernova is fantastic in terms of sound quality. It isolates noise well, it has a suitable fit, it is sweat resistant, tangle resistant, and has ControlTalk.

Yet on some of its promises, it falls a little short. It fell out of my ears while working out, even with the correct SportClip. And it wasn’t as long-term comfortable as I would have liked. Because of this, the functionality doesn’t come together as well as I had hoped.[Tweet “the sound produced by the Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones is undeniably amazing!”]

Adidas Monster Headphones ReviewAs a practical audio accessory, it is very good quality for $79.99. If you can look past the issues with the flat cord and a little distortion in the highs, you will have truly found a great pair of headphones.

Have you tried the Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones by Monster? Were you surprised by the quality of the product? What do you love about them? And what do you think of the SportsClip? Let us know over on the Beantown Review Twitter or Facebook pages. And don’t hesitate to head over to the Monster Products website. Feel free to check out their 2016 product lineup as seen at the recent CES. They’re doing some great over there!

FTC Disclosure: Monster Inc. provided Beantown LLC with an Adidas Sport Supernova in-ear headphones sample for review purposes. We’re not paid ambassadors. Our opinions are 100% our own.

All photographs and graphics are the copyrighted property of Monster Inc. and/or Beantown LLC.

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The SuperSlim Monster iSport Wireless Headphones Review

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What more could you ask for in a sports headphone?

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

I’ve had a couple pairs of Monster® headphones before. When I saw their current line of Bluetooth headphones, I looked forward to getting my hands on a pair of iSport SuperSlim headphones to review. At a list price of$150, these new Monster iSport wireless headphones have a lot to live up to.

With the market booming with this new kind of wearable, you want to make an educated decision about which pair is the best one for you. So I tried a pair and here’s what I thought.

Read:   Review: Adidas Sport Supernova In-Ear Headphones by Monster

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

 The Monster SuperSlim Design

Often times the biggest problem that I have with headphones derive from the design. And it’s for this reason that when I got my hands on the Monster iSport wireless headphones, I was super excited. I’m a big fan of the Monster sound and had thought the Sports Clip design had been comfortable when I used them before.

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

The packaging for this product is impressive. It opens out nicely to show off a fit guide and the headphones. I eagerly pulled them out and got to playing around. The pair I sampled came in lime green. If you prefer something more subtle, they have black as an option. As a personal preference, I suggest the headphones in black. When it comes to these headphones, the more subtle you can get, the better.

The first time I took these out and wore them was one street down from my apartment to meet some friends. I wore them with pride. Then my friends spotted them. I hadn’t paid much attention to the size of the headphones themselves until that moment. From this second perspective, I noticed that they’re quite big.

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

Graphics Credit: Monster Inc.

Additionally, the Sports Clips themselves can be bulky. This adds to the effect since there’s nothing wrapping around your ears to hold them in place. So you pop them in and they just sort of dangle out of your ear, blinking.

Yes, blinking.

When powered on, they flash blue on a circle on the outside of the headphones. This was another comment I heard people make about them while I wore them. “They’re just so big, and they’re blinking.”

I felt a little puffed up as I walked around the gym wearing huge sports headphones that flashed as if needing to be noticed.

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

Graphics Credit: Monster Inc.

This doesn’t even cover the not-so-slim rubber wire that connects the two headphones. With most wireless headphones, I could wrap them comfortably around my neck, but that didn’t work with this pair. The rubber tugs and catches on skin and clothing. The Sports Clips weren’t strong enough to hold them in place. I constantly found myself adjusting and fixing them.

Even without the constant tugging, I had some trouble getting the right fit on these iSport SuperSlim headphones. They come loaded with 3 different ear bud sizes as well as 3 different sweat-resistant, washable Sports Clip sizes. Yet, I still couldn’t get just the right snug fit in my ears.

From a design perspective, I would say these Monster iSport wireless headphones might not be worth the financial investment. That is unless you get the opportunity to try them on and see how they fit in your ears.

Read:   Beyerdynamic T51i Headphones Review

The Monster Sound

Monster iSport Wireless Headphones

The Pure Monster Sound® will always hold a soft spot for me. No matter how comfortable the fit, the first time I use any of their products, I just sigh with relief when the music starts playing.

There’s nothing like walking down a busy street and just listening. The sound is smooth, soft, and powerful.

The bass play through the headphones is rich. Feeling surrounded by the noise isolation is easy when the sound is this good. The details in the music are really brought out by the Pure Monster Sound®. Songs have a new angle, new edges.

Coupled with the right playlist, these headphones can get you pumped up for anything.

It’s definitely something you need to experience.

[Tweet “The details in the music are really brought out by the Pure Monster Sound®.”]
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Functionality and Final Thoughts

The sound is incredible, but this feels somewhat disappointing as these Monster iSport wireless headphones don’t come together as a whole.

The Bluetooth itself is great. Five hours of playback is great. Not having to keep your phone plugged in the whole time when you’re at the gym is freeing, and yes, great. I expected some system that felt more effortless than some of the less expensive Bluetooth headphones on the market.

Monster iSport Wireless HeadphonesThe monotone voice: “power on” can be found in any system, and is not that impressive. The pairing is simple enough if you keep your eye on the manual. Overall, for the price you’re paying, the product could be better.

I constantly felt like the headphones were in contradiction. Pure sound, but lackluster in most everything else. I struggled to feel good about using them in public while at the same time wishing for the Pure Monster Sound®.

I’m a huge fan of Monster®, but these were a bit of a disappointment. When it comes to Bluetooth headphones, I’ve seen other brands do better with design and functionality. While the Bluetooth itself is a great experience, I wouldn’t recommend spending your $150 for these Monster iSport wireless headphones. The list price is a little steep for the product. Fortunately, there’s Amazon.com, where this product goes for less than $90. Now that’s more to my (and probably your) liking.

I rate these headphones 3 out of 5 stars.

So what’s your opinion? Do you agree or disagree with anything in this review? Have you tried the Monster iSport SuperSlim wireless headphones? What did you like and/or dislike about them? Let us know in the comments below or over on the Beantown Review Twitter or Facebook pages.

And don’t hesitate to head over to the Monster Products website. Feel free to check out their 2016 product lineup as seen at the recent CES. They’ve introduced some great products in 2016.

FTC Disclosure: Monster Inc. provided Beantown LLC with one (1) sample pair of SuperSlim Monster iSport wireless headphones for review purposes. This writer’s opinions are 100% his own.

All photographs are the copyrighted property of Monster Inc. and/or Beantown LLC.

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The New Patriot Viper Series of Gaming Hardware

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Patriot Arms Gamers with Viper Line of Gaming Accessories

We at Beantown never saw this coming, but boy are we excited about the Patriot Viper Gaming Series!

Per Patriot’s Press Release:

Fremont, CA, USA – June 2, 2015 – Patriot, a leading manufacturer of mobile accessories, computer and USB memory, announces their Viper line of gaming accessories. Designed for the most fervent gamers, the Viper collection includes a mechanical keyboard, headset, and two mice to maximize gaming performance.

“Gamers already use Patriot’s Viper Memory for superior performance in gaming and we wanted to provide them with a full ecosystem of accessories that speak to their needs with exceptional tactical advantages and a true gaming experience,” says Saeed Arash Far, Global Director of Engineering at Patriot. “The Viper line of accessories blasts itself into the competition with four products that not only have key differentiators, but also provides a huge value proposition to all gamers.”

Total Customization – Viper V760 Keyboard

With anti-ghosting and full spectrum LED with a 16.8 million color rate, the V760 mechanical keyboard provides ultimate customization for each user. With countless hours of gaming, sometimes into the early hours of the morning, the removable magnetic palm rest is ergonomic for comfort and support. With twelve multi-media keys and 6 programmable macro keys, these can be customized to illuminate to fit your style whether RPG or FPS.

Precision and Performance – Viper V560 and V530 Mice

Both styles offer peak performance with slight variations for the gamer. The V560 launches itself to the higher-range with an extreme precision laser lens and up to 8200 DPI. A weighted mouse with ceramic foot pads ensures easy gliding on all surfaces and mouse pads also eliminating wear and tear that won’t affect gaming performance. The V560 is pictured on the right in the below image.  The V530 offers gamers a mid-range mouse without compromising on performance. With up to 5000 DPI and an optical lens, the V530 is an entry-level choice with advanced features for someone looking for a reliable back-up. The V530 is pictured on the left in the below image.

Hear in High Def – Viper V360  Headset

Hearing the creek of a door opening or a bullet shell hit the floor is what makes the gaming experience immersive. The V360 headset boasts a 7.1 virtual surround sound that transports gamers into the most lifelike scenarios. The ergonomic ear cup design provides comfort while the controls are placed on the ear cup and not on the cord, allowing for even weight distribution.

Patriot Memory’s Viper line-up of gaming accessories will be on display during Computex Taipei from June 2nd to June 6th. For more information, visit Patriot Memory.

Final Thoughts

What do you think of the Patriot’s Viper V530 and V560 mice, Viper V360 gaming headset, and Viper V760 keyboard?

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Headphone Shipments Increase 8.5% Worldwide in 2014

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Just released today comes this bit of industry news regarding 2014 worldwide headphone shipments. Full disclosure: I’m partly responsible for this increase, and you probably are too. Who knew that Sony and JVC took top spots? Philips Sound I can understand. You should have seen their lineup at CES2015. It was massive and remarkable. I expected more from Beats by Dre, and there was no mention of Bose.

A-Audio Headphones CES2015

Distributed this morning by Futuresource Consulting:

Leading Headphone Brands ‘Rock It Up’ as Market Celebrates Growth

According to a new report by Futuresource Consulting, worldwide shipments of headphones grew by 8.5% in 2014 to 309.5 million units.

The report also found that, despite average retail price only growing by 4% in 2014, less than the growth in 2013, the trade value of shipments grew by 12%, generating revenues worth $9.4 billion. This is partly due to the falling cost to include certain features.

Despite increasing fragmentation in the headphones market, Sony, Philips, and JVC continue to secure the top three market positions, accounting for 31% of worldwide shipments. There is growing competition, notably from Apple Earpods, with a 5% worldwide volume share, and Beats by Dre, which has grown in volume by leveraging Apple’s strong distribution networks.

Futuresource Consulting has also analysed the different features and types of headphones emerging on the market within this new report. It notes that microphones have become a common feature across all types of headphones, especially as the ownership of mobile devices continues to grow. In 2014, headphones with microphones grew by 58%, to account for 36% of worldwide shipments.

In-ear headphones accounted for the lion share, 60% of worldwide shipments, with the inclusion of new features helping to drive growth in this segment.

During 2014, many brands introduced Bluetooth headphones to meet the growing demand of music on the go. This segment is forecast to increase over the coming years, with wireless headphones likely to account for 21% of worldwide shipments by 2018.

Sport headphones was another big area, with many headphone vendors introducing different designs for comfortable grip around the ears. We are seeing strong competition from specialist headphone manufacturers in this area, including Yurbuds, Jaybird, Jabra, and Parrot.

“The demand for headphones is increasing, especially as consumers are using their mobile devices for a plethora of content on the go, whether that’s whilst commuting to work, running, cycling, or simply walking into town,” Simon Bryant , Associate Director Consumer Electronics , Futuresource Consulting. “We are also seeing an increase in demand for more sophisticated features, which is increasing value and driving more sales for the vendors. In the coming months, we will likely see an increased presence from specialist vendors, which can add unique features.”

All photos are property of Beantown Review.

Review: The Qube from Matrix Audio

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Updated: Filed in the better late than never category comes the Qube, the universal pocket speaker from Matrix Audio. Over the past few months (you heard me correctly–I said months, not weeks or even days) I’ve been testing this speaker against an array of portable mini speakers.  When I received the Qube, I had wondered how it would compare in the sound department.  Suffice to say I was not disappointed. It has become my go-to solo speaker whether in or away from my home office. Over this period of time, I’ve been impressed with not only the sound but its consistency to reproduce that sound months later. No lemons here.

The first thing one notices is how stunning the speaker looks.  It’s a well-manufactured beautifully-crafted piece of equipment.  It’s sharp looking in its black aluminum finish (available in five other colors: silver, red, blue, pink and purple, see photos) but it’s also sturdy and has some weight to it, 78 grams to be specific. Now, not only is the speaker sturdy, but the packaging is as well.  To this day, this packaging, even after a few months, is where I store the Qube when not in use.  If you choose to discard it, don’t forget the packaging is 100% recyclable which is important to so many of us.

The speaker is aptly named as a universal pocket speaker. It’s 38mm in each axis thus the name Qube.  One can easily and comfortably carry it around in their pocket; I’m not just saying that. It fits well whether in ones pants or shorts front pocket.  If you’re afraid it may get scratched, use the ultra-suede carrying pouch and transport it in your purse or satchel.  It takes up so little volume that you actually may forget that it’s there.  The design is straight forward. On the back side, there’s an On/Off button as well as a micro USB connection.  Simply hold down the power button for a few seconds and a blue LED activates, and then you’re good-to-go.  To shut it down, use the same method until the blue light deactivates.  There’s no volume slider, but then again, what’s the point of having one. Whatever device you connect the Qube to i.e. laptop, smartphone, etc. has volume control so no need for redundancy.

So you ask…how does its 3 watts of audio sound?  Pretty good in fact.  For sound testing, I use the same 4-5 artists for consistency while constantly plugging and unplugging various speakers for comparisons sake.  These artists are 30 Seconds to Mars, John Coltrane, Lana Del Ray, Muse, and now Zedd.  Testing the latter first, the Qube was strong and clean in vocals and higher frequency mid-ranges while a bit short in the bass area, which didn’t surprise me base don its design. In testing similar sized speakers, the opposite is true: more boom in the bass and weaker in the vocals. Now we all have different tastes but I’m willing to sacrifice some bass for tighter vocals.  And if you need a second opinion, watch what happens with those collapsible portable speakers at mid-to-high volume while listening to say Lana Del Ray’s title track Born to Die.  The speaker hops around like one of those novelty Mexican jumping beans. I can’t tell how often those other speakers jumped off my desk and shelves.  Thanks to the heft and low center of gravity, there’s no stage diving for the Qube. That last thing I want is a kamikaze speaker.  Call me crazy but I would like to use it again.  (In case you’re wondering LDR sounded amazing.) Of all the music genres sampled, I’d say Jazz sounded best with Coltrane’s sax on Lazy Bird sounding dynamite, closely followed by the sounds of Muse and LDR.

If you’re looking to purchase the Qube but don’t see it in your favorite online or retail store, you need not look any further than the manufacturer’s website: www.matrixaudio.com.  It retails for the price of $39.99.  If the Qube isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, Matrix Audio has recently introduced the Qube 2, a universal Bluetooth portable speaker which retails for $79.99.  Also available from MA is the NRG which lists for $29.99 and the ONE for $69.99.

For those of you who will be attending CES2015, feel free to visit their booth. The Bayan Audio booth is located at the LVCC North Hall, Booth 6627.

All photos are courtesy of Matrix Audio

The Soundbook X3 by Bayan Audio

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Bayan Audio Soundbook X3

Bayan Audio Soundbook X3

Updated: Now most of you folks have never heard of Bayan Audio. After reading this piece, you may want to check them out, especially if you’re in the need for what I’ve written below. Bayan Audio has three products under the Soundbook designation,  the Soundbook, the Soundbook Go, and the Soundbook X3. I had the pleasure of trying out the latter for a number of weeks. The Bayan Audio Soundbook X3 is a Bluetooth wireless speaker. While there are plenty of Bluetooth speakers available on the market, what sets the Soundbook X3 apart from the pack is its elegance and superior sound. Let’s be honest, most large Bluetooth speakers look somewhere between boring to awful. Do you really want to purchase a product with this description? Sadly, some of you have already made this purchase, but I know I don’t want to.

The X3 is available in two color styles: silver with blue trim and black with orange trim. I’ve only gotten to see the former but I’ve got to admit, from the photos, the latter looks pretty sweet. Even the packaging is sweet and I highly recommend keeping it. As for the X3 dimensions, it’s about the size of a 500 page novel, 9.25” x 4.72” x 1.75” to be specific. Its power output is 20 watts consisting of four 1.5” long throw neodymium (yeah that’s a word) drivers and one 3” passive bass radiator driver. The speaker is run using 100 – 240 volts at 50/60 Hertz. The frequency range is 60 Hz – 20 kHz with a THD of less than 2%. And all of this clocks in at 3.17 lbs. So how is the battery life you ask? It plays music for up to 10 hours at 50% volume on a single charge. And when the battery gets low, the word “LOW” flashes in LED lights on the face of the unit. When this happens, the volume is capped at 50%. In my testing, a complete recharge of the battery takes about 7 hours, give or take an hour. So begin your recharge at 11 PM and unplug it when you awaken at 6 or 7 AM.

I mentioned in the first paragraph that this product is elegant. The housing of the sound book is made from ballistic nylon with an aluminum casing. There’s a protective cover with one side ballistic nylon and the other a rubbery material, which when opened, becomes the stand to the speaker. As it turns out and not a coincidence, the color of the rubber base matches the LED lighting. When opened, the speaker leans back and rests on an angle. (See photos.) When closed a hidden magnet prevents the cover from opening. On the rear of the unit, there are four inputs. From left to right, they are AUX In, Speaker Out, Power In, and a USB. You can even charge another device with this USB port. On the top of the unit, there are five buttons. From left to right they are Tune Down, Tune Up (both for FM radio), Power/Input, Volume Down and Volume Down. Just underneath the Power/Input button is the volume indication. Every time you press the Power/Input button, you change the mode. There are AUX, FM, and Bluetooth (version 4.0) modes which are displayed in the aforementioned LED lighting. All worked perfectly in the unit I tested. The unit also has NFC auto connect paring, an integrated antenna for the radio, and a built-in microphone. The latter comes in handy when conducting conference calls via Bluetooth.

So how do the X3’s 20 watts of audio sound? The short answer is it produces sound very well and envelopes a room, more like an entire floor, in that sound. While testing this I wondered what the point was in keeping my Dad’s old Aiwa stereo rack system. I takes up so much space and weighs so much. In this modern age, such racks systems aren’t really needed beyond the home theater/entertainment system. The speaker is well-balanced, with more bass than anticipated. Most of you will like this strong bass. Now I tested the X3’s abilities from both Bluetooth and via connection to my laptop. I do this for a couple of reasons: 1) I don’t like the sound processing of my LG mobile and 2) I very much like the sound processing of my Toshiba laptop. For this testing, I went beyond my rotating list of testing 4-5 albums. Instead I listened to a minimum of 20-25 albums, half from my cloud library. From Muse to The Killers to Lana Del Rey to Ellie Goulding to Tove Lo, all sounded well. I especially like listening to John Coltrane and Duke Ellington, with Latin instrumental guitarists Struntz and Farah taking the prize. Classical and jazz music production were top notch. The only sound that was a disappointment was Zedd’s Clarity. I don’t think this is X3 related as I’ve encountered this issue before with Zedd. When it comes to electronica, Zedd in particular, everything I’ve tried to date comes up short. I believe a high end system is best to produce what the artist has cooked up.
As this speaker produces a wide range of sound, it is suited for large rooms (300 sq. ft. and greater) as well as small, i.e. the bedroom. It is also ideal for outdoor settings, for instance a back porch, but I don’t recommend the beach. In my opinion, it’s too nice of a product to be around sand.

Included with each Soundbook X3 are the following:
• A multi-language manual
• A 3.5mm 3’ stereo audio cable
• A mains power adapter with 5’ cord
• EU and UK adapters for use with the charger

You can find Bayan Audio products at a variety of online retailers most notably Amazon. The X3 has a list price of $299 while the slightly smaller Soundbook lists for $199. If you have any questions, feel free to send a tweet or post a comment. I do respond.

For those of you who will be attending CES2015, feel free to visit their booth. The Bayan Audio booth is located at the Sands Expo Hall, Booth 74961.