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Review of Antec SP Zero wireless speaker w/lots of pics!!!

This is a review of Antec SP Zero bluetooth wireless speaker. http://antecmobileproducts.com/product_detail/174 , and on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Bluetooth-SP-ZERO-WP/dp/B00GX66FLI/
It looks like Antec, well known in a world of custom gaming PCs, is continuing to expand their A.M.P. line of mobile products with a new addition to the family - SP Zero wireless speaker. After their last year release of SP1, they decided to shrink down the speaker and appropriately named it SP0 (SP Zero). I know what you are going to say, another wireless speaker? don't we have already multiple-dozens of different ones released this year? I do agree, 2013 was saturated with wireless mobile products, but after testing SP Zero for the last couple of days I realized Antec actually came up with something that can make it stand out from the crowd. Here is what I found.
Packaged in a cool looking transparent display box, from a distance you can mistake this little guy for a souvenir or something cute you pick up while on vacation. This actually works to it's advantage since you can place it anywhere in the house without people even suspecting its a wireless speaker. At only 7.9 oz and all around dimensions of approximately 3.5" x 3.5" x 2", it's very lightweight and portable. SP Zero comes in a choice of 7 different color combinations, while my review unit came in white with red grill and handle accents. While the grill shell is actually plastic, the rest of the speaker along the perimeter is covered in thin protective rubbery layer and at the top you have 2 little metal handles. The speaker felt very rugged, and according to Antec is splash and rain resistant. To enhance it's rugged appeal, among included accessories with usb to micro-usb and 3.5mm audio cable you also get a carabiner for attachment to the speaker.
While examining SP Zero further, you will find a set of 3 buttons with volume -/+ and multifunction control in the middle. All 3 buttons are part of that integrated rubbery layer so they are definitely protected from any moisture getting in. Along one of the sides you will find a micro usb connector port for charging the speaker - 750mAh rechargeable internal battery which supports up to 8hr of continues music playback. Next to the charging micro-usb port, you will also find 2x 3.5mm audio ports, where one is labeled as AUX In and the other one as AUX Out. Beside being able to use a wired music source if you can't pair up wirelessly, there is another cool option to daisy chain multiple SP Zero speakers together by using the provided 3.5mm audio cable to link AUX In of one with AUX Out of the other. At the same time, this also enables SP Zero to function as wireless transmitter where you can turn any wired speaker into wireless by simply pairing up with SP Zero and attaching that wired speaker to AUX out port. Very cool bonus!
Regarding the wireless connection, pair up was easy and it was connected to my phone within seconds where it was recognized to be used with both phone and media audio. Using BT3.0, SP Zero supports all the popular A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, and HSP protocols so in addition to streaming music, you can also use it as a speaker phone. I confirmed that to be working good, and the microphone (located at the top between volume- and multi-function button) picked up my voice without any complains from the other side on the phone. After pair up, turning power on and off will be accompanied by a voice confirmation. Also, volume buttons worked as expected fine tuning the level of loudness while you can still adjust it from the phone on top of that. To my surprise, I found a working wireless range to be almost 50ft in an open area. Very impressive for such a small speaker.
But the biggest surprise came from a sound test. I actually found this little guy to be packing a decent bass punch! The front of the speaker with a blinking led is where all your mid and high frequency content going to be delivered. Opposite to that on the back side with a matching speaker grill you will find where all this bass is coming from, probably a dedicated bass port. I mean, we are not talking about a speaker with 10" sub woofer, but for a speaker driver which is about 2"-2.5" it was actually packing some decent sound with a nice bass content. As a matter of fact, Antec mentioned in their spec about their dBs proprietary technology with an enhanced bass sound. I know it will be unfair to analyze SP Zero from audiophile perspective, but these actually have a very warm sound with slightly scooped mid section to form a typical V-shaped sound.
Overall, this is a very unique looking speaker that packs a lot of great functionality and a very good sound quality. Either if you take it with you hiking or keep it outdoors by the pool, or decide to use it during house party - you definitely won't be disappointed with SP Zero.
Here are the pictures.
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Thanks for the review.
Question about pairing:
Would it be possible to set up a tasker task to automatically pair my phone to it? Or does the device require me to do something?
Thanks!

Typically with this or any other wireless/bluetooth speakers you just need to pair it up once. After that, every time you turn the power on it will connect automatically. No need to pair it up again or do anything else.

I can also recommend checking out Fragstore if you're looking for good-quality gaming souvenirs. They offer a wide choice of those, and the delivery is fast.

Review of Inateck BTSP-10 Plus Bluetooth mini Hi-Fi speaker w/lots of pics!!!

This is a Review of Inateck BTSP-10 Plus Bluetooth mini Hi-Fi speaker. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PFDT07Q and http://www.inateck.com/bluetooth-speaker-btsp10-plus-inateck/
For those who are skeptical about small speakers being able to deliver a big sound, the new Inateck BTSP-10 Plus mini hi-fi wireless Bluetooth speaker is a perfect example of how it should be done! It has been awhile since I reviewed any budget priced wireless speaker because I came across too many similarly looking “boxes”, nothing original or exciting. Inateck new release caught my attention because I found its spec to be quite impressive for such a tiny footprint. While being a fan of German design and engineering, I had to check it out, and here is what I found.
Arrived in a common environmentally safe all carton packaging, I was pleased they decided to spice up the appearance by adding details to the outer sleeve with glossy notes print. Under a sleeve on a cover of the box there was a very simple description of the features with corresponding icons – very clear and to the point with an overview of a high capacity 2000 mAh battery, support of BT4.0, Stereo Music playback (from 2 speakers), Super bass sound enhancement, and Hands Free phone (speakerphone functionality). Inside of the box beside a speaker itself, you will find a quality usb/micro-usb cord, 3.5mm audio cable, large velour storage pouch, and a detailed Instruction manual. Right away it’s a plus that a speaker uses a common micro-usb port, unlike some that still use mini-usb or a proprietary wall adapter with a round connector. Audio cable is also a plus if you want to play your music wired directly from your phone or a tablet in case if it doesn’t support Bluetooth or speaker battery is discharged.
Looking closely at BTSP-10 Plus, you can’t help but notice how small and lightweight it is under 390g and with dimensions of 2" x 2.4" x 6.5". Even next to my Note 4 it felt small. The outer housing of the speaker has a rubbery texture and hexagon theme all over it – everything from hex buttons at the top, to hex shaped non-slip feet, and other design details around the top and the front grill. The grill itself is metal, a fine mesh painted in red and protected from outside by overlapping hex shapes. In general, it’s a fresh looking design which definitely going to catch the attention, though it’s not just the looks but the actual functionality that makes it standout.
Starting from the top you have 3 dedicated buttons, a multi-functioning Bluetooth pair up button which also works as Play/Pause/Call, and Volume Up/Down button for volume control. On a side, you have an auxiliary input for 3.5mm audio cable, a dedicated on/off button (no more guessing if you press soft power button long enough – always a problem with other speakers), and 5V micro-usb port to charge the battery. Fully charged, the battery can last up to 15hrs when you play music at a moderate volume level. Wireless pair up was simple, and within seconds I was connected to the phone and media audio. Speakerphone function worked as expected, and the actual wireless connection worked for up to 40 feet away from the phone.
When I got to the actual sound test, I had to take a step back because I didn’t expect such a loud and clear sound. Packed with a pair of 3-watt 40mm dynamic drivers, Inateck refers to them as “Rotunded 16-core NdFeB magnetic driver”. I’m not too familiar with such drivers, but I can tell you the sound was full and balanced and apparently under control of multi-band compressor, and had a nice bass response thanks to its bass port at the bottom of the speaker. Even at the max volume there was no distortion, and down to a minimum level I was still able to hear everything clear. A lot of budget portable speakers focus on appearances and just a basic delivery of a sound, while Inateck actually paid attention to a quality sound tuning. Also, this speaker has a wide soundstage with a nice stereo separation which is quite enjoyable when you take a few steps back. Bass is not necessary booming, you can’t expect that from such a small housing and with a pair of 40mm drivers, but it definitely has a nice clean bass rumble and a snappy mid-bass punch.
Overall, I found BTSP-10 Plus to be surprisingly good in every aspect from a catchy design, to a build quality, battery durability, wireless performance, and the most important – sound quality! It can really compete with a sound quality of a number of other wireless speakers that cost over $100. Unlike so many other portable wireless speakers with a tiny thin sound and thumping beat without any supporting bass, Inateck wireless speaker actually sounds like a mini hi-fi system which I really enjoyed. Definitely gets my recommendation!
Here are the pictures.
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Archeer 25W Bluetooth Speaker with Subwoofer - Unboxing & Review

Archeer 25W Bluetooth Speakers with Subwoofer
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Unboxing
The Speaker's Package is huge (clearly noticeable in the Photo), eco-friendly with a good internal protection. Everything is packed with some basic accessories: 1x Micro-USB Cable, 1x 3.5mm Audio Cable, 1x User Manual, and the BT Speaker (of course).
As regards the Chassis, the whole body is made of Wood (or anything that provides the same look) and Plastic, with a Bamboo-look, and half of the body is covered by a nice soft cloth (check the Photo below). This combination provides a premium look together with the best internal sound insulation.
On the back side there is an AUX port, used for Wired Connection, a Reset Button, a Battery Charging LED and a Micro-USB port. The whole back panel has a rubberized surface, be careful with that because it isn't scratch resistant at all (a scratch is already noticeable in my Photo).
On the lower back side, there is an hole that is probably used as a breather.
Based on Archeer's specs, the Center Subwoofer has an output power of 15W, while the side drivers have 5W of Output for each one. Follow my next paragraph to know more about real output power.
Sound Quality
As regards the sound quality, well i am not an audiophile so i can't provide you some professional audio tests, but basing on my power-user experience, i notice that the Subwoofer is a bit too much powerful compared to the side drivers making the sound output a bit muffled. Low Frequencies are more noticeable than High ones, producing a sort of Warm Sound. (compared to my ancient Harman-Kardon Speakers)
The Volume is superb, i would have never expected such an high volume from a battery-powered BT Speaker, the internal amplifier is powerful, and there is no distortion even on Maximum Volume. Excellent!
This is my Loudness/Volume Test while running a Dolby Sound Test. Result: 95.5 dBA (MAX)
While this is another Test while running the famous Helicopter Sound Test. Result: 86.9 dBA (MAX)
I do not notice any microphone here, neither my smartphone shows it as a Call-Enabled device, so this is a Speaker-only unit. You won't be able to make calls without having to use your device's microphone.
Controls and Connectivity
I was able to pair the speaker with my device in just one step (using BT), and after being connected i didn't experienced any issue as regards stability or such. Unfortunately, there is no APT-X support here for high-definition BT Audio, so you have to use the Wired Connection for high-res audio.
Something i found useful is the Power LED. This isn't a simple Power LED, it supports two colors in order to show the current connection state. Blue LED means connected via BT, while Green LED means connected using Wired Cable. This is pretty useful i think, probably the first time i see this feature on a BT speaker.
It isn't possible to use the Wired Connection without turning on the device, it is required to provide some power to the internal amplifier. But, it is possible to charge the internal 5200mAh battery without having to turn off the speaker. It means that you can use it as a Completely Wired speaker.
As regards the controls area, there are some basic buttons here, a Play/Pause button and the Volume Buttons are used to control the volume (of course) and as a Music Control for Next/Previous song.
Conclusions
Being an high-grade Speaker Unit it is normal to expect an high-quality audio experience with good quality materials and so on. Except the High Frequencies issue i have described before, that might not be an issue for someone else, i am not able to find anything else negative about this accessory.
The Sound Output is definitely high for a 15W + 5W*2 Speaker, probably also higher than the rated output, and the amount of Low Frequencies provide a so immersive audio similar to what an Home Theater provides (except the surround effects of course). I have a 5.1 Home Theater at home, so i know how it sounds.
So...do I recommend this accessory? Yes, the price isn't so low though so it might seem a bit too much expensive, but it isn't possible to find something that provides the same quality (talking about sound and materials) for less, at least not for now, so i can definitely recommend it. Just remember that if prefer more High Frequencies than Low ones, this might not be for you.
Pros:
- Superb Output Power
- Premium Materials
- Easy-to-use
- 5200mAh Battery Inside
- Rechargeable without powering-off the unit
Cons:
- High Frequencies are a bit too much limited
- A bit expensive
Rating: 9.1
Packaging and Accessories: 9.5
Design and Materials: 10
Sound Quality: 9
Price: 8 (based on Amazon price)
Official Product page: http://www.archeer.com/Bluetooth-Sp...Audio-System-for-Bedroom-Livingroom-p-40.html
Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/2a0kpSM
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/yGyak​

Tronsmart Encore S4 ANC Wireless Headsets - Unboxing & Review

This is the Tronsmart Encore S4 Headset.
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Unboxing
The packaging feels pretty premium from the outside, but the inside might not look that great. When it comes to accessories, Tronsmart is a bit strict, with only some Earbuds (L/S size, M pre-installed), a little plastic thing (unknown usage), an User Manual, a Micro-USB Cable and the Headset (of course). A pair of sport supports for the earbuds might have been appreciated.
As regards the Chassis, it is made of Plastic, with some glossy parts (slightly fingerprint magnet) and overall solid build quality. For daily usage it is perfectly fine.
On the upper side there is the neckband made of soft-plastic (similar to TPU) that makes its usage comfortable and without major issues when it comes to hot temperatures.
On the left end (where the Tronsmart logo is located) there isn't anything at all, i guess this is where the battery is located.
On the right side instead is where all the magic happens, with the ANC ON/OFF switch, Power/Volume buttons, Microphone and Power/Activity LED.
The ANC switch unfortunately features a serious design flaw, at least in my opinion. You can turn ON/OFF the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) even if the Headset is turned off. It is useful when you only want to isolate yourself without listing to any music, but it is also slightly annoying because you need to turn on/off two things separately.
Sound Quality
Well...the sound quality is decent, nothing superb, neither terrible. The equalizer seems to be set in order to increase low frequencies too much, so in order to get more clarity i had to tune it via software (depending on your smartphone, i use AudioFX on LineageOS 14.1).
The volume is extremely high though, probably the most loud BT earphones i have ever tried.
As regards the most important feature, ANC or Active Noise Cancellation, it works pretty well actually. Of course you can't expect superb isolation because we are dealing with earphones not headphones, but you can definitely feel the difference with and without this feature. Again though, as already said before, there is a design flaw.
The Microphone is decent too, luckily there are no equalizer issues with it but, due to its slighly weird position, your voice might sound a bit muffled. Just be sure to keep the Microphone open and not completely attached to the neck.
Something the goes between sound quality and controls is the built-in Vibration motor, that alerts in case of incoming calls. Pretty useful considering that with the ANC turned on it might be difficult to hear the Ringtone. (if not router to the BT headset of course)
Controls and Connectivity
Controls are just the same as on all Bluetooth Earphones you can find, with the exception of the ANC on/off switch that is indipendent. Power/Volume keys seems to be well-sealed so that you can use the product also in extreme conditions, and the LED located just under the Microphone is pretty bright and noticeable.
The Bluetooth Connection is stable, nothing to complain about. I don't know if my device is cheating me or not, but Bluetooth LE doesn't seem to be supported.
Conclusions
This is the first time ever i get an ANC Headset, and i must say that this feature is impressive especially considering that it was something "exclusive" to Bose Headphones. OK, it isn't as good as on high-end products, but for the price and the overall quality, it is perfectly fine and still better than not having it.
The product is good actually, not perfect due to the design flaw, but still perfectly usable in daily life and for almost all kinds of usage. If with the next model Tronsmart manages to tune the equalizer better and implement the ANC switch properly, then i can declare it a best-buy with no doubts.
Battery Life is great, almost 6 days of usage, 3 hours x day, listening to music at medium volume.
Pros:
- Battery Life
- ANC - Active Noise Cancellation
- Build Quality
Cons:
- Design Flaw for the ANC switch
- Badly set default equalizer
- Glossy Plastic Parts (PERSONAL)
Rating: 8.1
Packaging and Accessories: 7
Design and Materials: 8.5
Sound Quality: 8
Price: 9 (based on Amazon price)
Official Product page: http://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-encore-s4-active-noise-cancelling-bluetooth-headphones
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/BWnBE​

Tronsmart Encore S6 ANC BT/Wired Headphones - Unboxing & Review

This is the Tronsmart Encore S6.
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Unboxing
Similar to the Encore S4's packaging, also the S6 comes in a pretty premium box with some accessories: 1x Micro-USB Cable (for charging), 1x 3.5mm Audio Cable (for wired connection), 1x User Manual and the Headphones (of course).
Everything is made of plastic with no glossy parts, something that i appreciate everytime, and there is enough amount of flex in the whole body to wear them in a more comfortable way.
As regards the Weight, even though 278g might seem a bit too much, the cushion helps a lot in distributing it without any headache.
Being foldable they get pretty compact when folded, but i would have appreciated to get a small case in the package where to store them.
It is possible to move each headphone hall vertically to get a more proper contact with the ear, it isn't possible to adjust the position horizontally.
Each side has a decent amount of extra centimeters that can be gained by stretching, without brutal force, the band on the lower side. The cable that goes through the band gets visible this way, positive for easy repair but slightly negative for design lovers.
On the upper side, where the headband is located, there is a soft cushion that does give a feeling of a premium product. I am noy saying that this isn't a premium product, since it isn't that cheap, but still it is something usually available only on high-end ones.
On the left there is the magical Noise Suppression (or Noise Cancellation/ANC) controller. I like the idea of having this big rubbery surface for controls (even though it gets a bit dirty) since it improved the lifetime of keys and of the internal board.
Unfortunately though the same design flaw i found on the Encore S4 is also here, where the NC switch is indipendent from the main controller. What does it mean? It means that it needs to be turned off separately.
On the right side instead there is the main controller (where probably also the battery is located), with the same rubbery surface protecting all controls, and, as you would expect, all basical keys necessary to interact with your Bluetooth Source: Volume Up/Down, Music Next/Previous and Play/Pause|Answer/Power buttons.
On the lower side where the main controller is located there is a Micro-USB connector required to charge the internal battery, a Microphone (since this can be used also for Calls without any issue) and the 3.5mm Headphone Jack, something becoming rare nowadays (iPhone users, you know what i am talking about...).
Sound Quality
Unlike what happened with the Encore S4 where the default equalizer was, in my opinion, messed up pushing low frequencies to the max and muffling a bit the others, here it is completely the opposite.
The amount of low frequencies (aka BASS) is a bit too much limited, reducing the sound's "punchiness", even though, not being a Bass lover, i prefer this, especially because it is easy to find a "Bass Boost" feature on any smartphone/tablet, while a "Treble Boost" is almost everytime inexistent.
As regards the Volume, it is pretty high, enough high to stay safe even at maximum volume without damaging your ears. Here you can see the proof, not a professional test, but at least it is better than nothing.
The Noise Cancellation feature works almost perfectly, reducing ambient sounds a lot, without any impact on sound quality. Of course it is not equal to what you can get with Bose Headphones, but it gets pretty close.
Calls and Connectivity
Featuring Bluetooth V4.1, it may not be considering as a super up-to-date product, and well this is true, because this has been released many months ago, but reached my country's store only in September 2017 (european import crap).
Excluding the version, it is perfectly enough for high-quality BT streaming. Also, it comes with APT-X support. For those who want to know more about apt-X bitrate, here is a Chinese table found online.
As already mentioned before, Calls are perfectly supported, and the quality is decent, with a sufficiently clear microphone and voice. Being a device not made primarily for calls, i don't expect more.
Battery Life and Conclusions
Battery Life matches what Tronsmart declared on the Amazon description, that is ~13 hours (BT+ANC) and ~20 hours (BT only). Personally i reach more or less 12 hours at medium volume with ANC on, so it is pretty close to the declared value considering that they do not specify the volume.
After the Encore S4, this bigger brother is definitely a step forward with better sound quality and the possibility of wired connection, something that, in my opinion, is a must even for BT earphones, in case of low battery or a connection with a device that doesn't support BT.
I am not an audiophile so do not expect the most precise feedback, but in the last few months i have been testing many audio devices so i am getting more and more experienced. I can say that these headphones are the best ones i have ever tested, and i can definitely recommend them.
Pros:
- Dual Connection (BT and Wired)
- ANC - Active Noise Cancellation
- Build Quality
- APT-X Support
Cons:
- Design Flaw for the ANC switch
- Limited Low Frequencies
Rating: 8.6
Packaging and Accessories: 7.5
Design and Materials: 9.5
Sound Quality: 9
Price: 8.5 (based on Amazon price)
Official Product page: http://www.tronsmart.com/products/tronsmart-encore-s6-active-noise-cancelling-headphones
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: https://imgur.com/a/XnLLI​