Showing posts with label iphone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iphone. Show all posts

JVC KD-AVX44 El Kameleon Vehicle Multimedia Receiver w/ 3.5" Monitor Review

JVC KD-AVX44 El Kameleon Vehicle Multimedia Receiver w/ 3.5 Monitor
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I was searching around trying to find something that I could use as my central "media" center without having to install a mac mini in my Pt Cruiser.
My needs were/are: Ipod integration (including video playback), Dvd Playback, CDs, Bluetooth and of course am/fm. After a long hard search of single-din units I choose this model.
[...]
What I liked about this unit is you have a video out. You can hook up your headrest monitors and if you have a game system (Xbox, PS, Wii...what have you) you can hook it up to the video in that it has to offer as well (with full playback to your headrests). This just allows you to have direct connection to your cars speakers.
Dvd Playback. It is very good. Turn the car off, it'll start right back up where it left off.
Bluetooth. My boyfriend has a Pioneer DEH-P9800BT which I installed as well (A great unit if you don't require Dvd play back). Unlike the pioneer unit there is no mic to install anywhere and the quality still sounds pretty good on both ends. Doesn't matter what source you are using Bluetooth will alert you when someone is calling by pausing your music/video and showing the caller Id. You can accept or decline.
AM/FM. I was a bit disappointed that the unit didn't have RDS. I have been using a factory unit that had it and kind of miss that feature. Seemed like a feature they could have added.
Ipod. Heres where I am on the fence. I had been using a fm transmitter for my ipod and finally wanted direct connect because I could not take the quality anymore. I purchased an Apple Composite AV Cable (THIS WORKS JUST AS GOOD AS A JVC KSU20 CABLE) Of course, The quality was 300% better than before. However, The Interface is a bit slow. I really hope that JVC comes out with a firmware upgrade that speeds it up a bit. When I go to play "The Killers" it takes me approx. 1 minute to get to the letter "K". But for the most part I keep it on shuffle. The unit charges the Ipod as well.
Ipod Video. This is a cool feature. With either the JVC KSU20 or the Ipod Composite AV cable. You can watch any video off your ipod and direct the signal to the headrest monitors as well.
Pros: Great Bluetooth, DVD, Ipod Video integration with a sleek (no button look). Love the 4 setting tilt screen (great for stereo units closer to the ground)And Love the Proximity motion light as well.
Cons: For a single din unit JVC did a decent job, Ipod interface is really my only complaint. I had looked at the JVC KD NX5000. But didn't like the look of the unit or felt the need for crappy navagation. The menu interface feels like it should be more user friendly (getting to the ipod artists list has to be done by hitting about 5 buttons)
I have not used satellite or the back-up camera (which I plan to install soon).
[...]
Good luck and have fun with this great little unit.*UPDATE*
A few new things.
Satellite Radio - Bought the Sirius Adapter through ebay. Though it's not as fast as a stand-alone unit, It sounds great and it's nice to have it integrated into the radio.
Iphone Compatibility - I was a little disappointed to see that, unfortunately, the Iphone does not seem to be compatible with the unit. Maybe with either an update from Apple or JVC this will change in the future. For now, I use my usable Ipod touch just as a music jukebox in the car and Iphone for everything else (gym, work, etc...). It's actually not a bad setup.
HD Radio - Buying the HD Adapter fixed my RDS problem. Any stations that send out artist info is now displayed. Without excellent reception, those extra HD stations are hit or miss. It's a nice feature to have. Quality can be exceptional at times.
I will keep those interested up-to-date if I come across any new info on the unit.
Have Fun,
Mary

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Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini Docking Speaker for iPod Review

Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Mini Docking Speaker for iPod
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I've been looking forward to this product since its introduction more than a month ago. I loved the original Zeppelin, but was excited about the smaller form factor and a USB digital connection in the Zeppelin Mini. Call me naive, I was actually hoping that the sound quality would be quite comparable to that of the original Zeppelin. As the B&W's website says:
"With Zeppelin Mini, you get everything you love about Zeppelin - advanced acoustic technology, intelligent design, elegant connectivity - in a streamlined, compact sound dock package that's perfect for desktops and bedside tables. "
But I was let down; the two speakers produce completely different sound. Pop music (I tried out Rhianna and Britney Spears) sounded okay due to the typically louder treble and bass in the recording, although when played louder it sounded clearly distorted and hollow; classical symphonies (I tried out Brahms' Symphony #4 and Shostakovich's Cello Concerto #1) sounded disappointing - the entire bass section cannot be heard until the volume is cranked up really high!; classical solo and chamber music (I played Vivaldi's Four Season - Winter, 2.Largo) turned out to be surprisingly really good and in my opinion the best genre for this speaker. After turning on Bass enhancer on my iPod EQ setting (unlike the original Z, the Mini does not have an external bass/treble control), the bass can be heard more but is too obviously distorted - cracking sound can be heard at times.
The bass sounded more full when positioned closer to me. B&W claims that the introduction of a flowport (absent in the original Zeppelin) is designed to amplify the bass; I found the outcome to be nothing like that of the original Zeppelin. I also expect the bass to be thicker if the speaker is placed against a wall or a corner (instead of in the middle of a table at the Apple store)
With the addition of USB connectivity, I was originally very excited about the idea of directly syncing my iPod to iTunes, controlling iTunes using a remote, and most importantly, the capability of bypassing analog signal processing on a computer to the speaker. However, given the significantly compromised quality of sound (esp. lack of bass), the idea of producing better quality analog signal that would only be greatly sacrificed in bass production seems meaningless.
Nevertheless, I was impressed with the design of the Mini. The speaker is much smaller than I'd envisioned based on the gallery (and after checking out the sound quality was I wished it was bigger). The Mini is light but feels very solid when carried around. The design is much more classy than other iPod speakers: the chrome bowl mirror matches the back of the original iPod (if you still own one); when firmly attached to the docking arm, it can be elegantly turned 90 degrees for cover flow (isn't that the only reason to buy an iPod touch/iPhone?); controlling the iPod has never been easier with the inventive protruded docking arm design (same as the original Z). Most impressive to me, the enclosure of black cloth over the speaker (as opposed to the colder, more industrial wire mesh used in Bose and other iPod speakers) stands out among the crowd with exquisiteness.
If I were to choose a small iPod speaker based on what looks best for my apartment, I would definitely go with the Mini. As for sound quality, it sounded very impressive for classical chamber music, good enough for pop, but definitely not satisfying for classical symphonies. However, if you are certain that any larger speaker (e.g. the original Z) cannot be considered, it is quite a good choice. (And at this price I would choose it over Bose any day - there, I said it).


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Pioneer VSX-1120-K 7.1 Home Theater Receiver Review

Pioneer VSX-1120-K 7.1 Home Theater Receiver
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Despite the rather disappointing announcement of their departure from the Plasma arena and the de facto departure from in-house blu ray players, Pioneer appears to have made a bold move into the highly competitive mid-range receiver market. Denon and Onkyo have released fiercely competitive models in the $700 price-range that couple either excellent video processing, streamed media, and ample connectivity. My recent review of the Denon AVR891 confirmed their continued competitive product line, but I did lament it lacked some of the swiss army knife approach sometimes imperfectly utilized by Onkyo (the 891 lacks internet-streaming, surround wide processing, and basic rear-panel connectivity). That said, Denon's use of the ABT chipset (begun last year with the ABT-2010 and continued this year with the ABT-2015) was my preferred AVR video processing (I performed it over Reon XV, Farjouda chips, and lower spec'd ABT chips).
Having owned the 1120's successor both in elite (21) and no-elite (9040) form, I was always impressed by their power, sonic quality, and design. That said, they lacked what had rapidly become basic featureset in 2009 (wide or height presence configuration, only four hdmi inputs, and only analogue video processing). The 1120's little brother the VSX-1020 established a reasonably high bar for the 1120 to hurdle in bringing internet radio, iphone control, six hdmi, and wide/height processing in a tidy package widely available under $500. That said, the 1020 was a very compotent and efficient entry-level receiver, but lacked some of the longer legs for bigger rooms or thirsty speakers. Enter the 1120.
The 1120 shares the same deep chassis of the 9140 and Elite 21. At over 17" deep, it is almost four inches deeper and four pounds heavier than the 1020. It's also over two inches deeper and four and a half pounds heavier than the Denon 891. The design is conservative and almost identical to last year's 9040 with a front fascia that is masculine and angular. Beneath the pop-out front input cover are a USB port for Iphone and Ipod playback, an HDMI port and the setup microphone input. The HDMI input is a nice touch for camcorders and other temporary connected inputs (Onkyo offers similar with 708 while Denon has six rear-mounted HDMI inputs).
The rear panel is also similar to last year's 9040, but four more speaker binding posts have been added for height and wide processing (Pioneer uses MCACC wide since the auto-callibration software is not done via Audyssey DSX). Importantly, the Pioneer has 9.1 pre-outs for those looking to use an external amplifier. Unfortunately, this connectivity has been removed from the Denon AVR2311 and 891 that are natural competitors of the 1120 by price alone.
The remote is very similar to the 1020 in layout, but it is backlit and contains XM and Zone 3. While Pioneer's remote is not as easily identified with small, similar buttons compared to the Denon, it is learning and back-lit, which is a step ahead of the 891/2311/991/3311. Onyko offers a learning remote in the TX NR708, but is not fully backlit.
Setting up the receiver with MCACC is quick and easy, but each MCACC setting measures the white noise and reverb from speakers from only a single memory point whereas Audyssey MultiEQ in the Denon incorporates multiple locations' measurements. This might have an impact on callibration depending on the layout of one's room. That said, I find both tend have a significant impact on accuracy and each have their tweaking benefits.
Once I had setup my 5.1 plus heights layout, I was very impressed with the 1120. While it appears to share a lot of the same audio section with the 9040, it seems to have a wider soundstage, which might have something to do with the presence speakers (I was previously passively bi-amping the height speakers with the 9040). After listening to a variety of blu rays and SACDs from my Oppo, I was nothing but amazed by the power and quality of the sound. Please keep in mind I am of the school that callibrated mid and entry level receivers tend to offer about the same quality audio with incremental differences - speakers (and power to push them) have the biggest impact on quality. That said, this is a very capable receiver that keeps putting me in trouble with my wife to turn it down!
The 1120 really shines in video processing with the Marvell Qdeo chip that offers very similar deinterlacing proficiency to the ABT-2015, but shines with multiple noise reduction settings. On my 54" panasonic plasma, I have found that video processing via the 1120's noise reduction settings does help clean up noisy 1080i hd programing. That said, its benefit is incremental, and like all video processors, is not magical in its ability to render standard definition sources as blu ray quality. The video processing settings are applicable per input, which is ideal considering most people should only use it for cable boxes and not bdps.
While this receiver does have a few noticeable shortcomings (lack of on screen display and pandora streaming), it is an incredible package at its current street price floating between $600 and $700. Its rare ability to not molest hdmi video and apply meaningful noise reduction is excellent. Its power, flexibility, and connectivity is excellent, though I would like to see 7.1 MCH inputs. All in all, it's a very competitive offering and highly recommended.

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Key Features are I20 Watts x 7 – (20Hz – 20kHz @ 8 ohm w/ .08%THD) It has a 7 Channel Direct Energy Configurable Amplifier with Surround Back. Dolby Pro-logic IIz or B Speaker, THX Select 2 Plus Certified, Dolby True-HD / DTS-HD Master Audio, Advanced MCACC with 9 Band EQ , PQLS – Multi-Channel, Auto Level Control – Multi-Channel, Sound Retriever AIR – Multi- channel . It has a Internet Radio. It supports iPod Digital USB / USB Memory Audio, HDMI 1.4(6 In / 2 out), 3-D and Audio return Channel, Dual HDMI Output, front HDMi In Marvell I080p Video Scaler. Analog to HDMi Video Conversion. It has HDMI to HDMI 1080p Scaling. Component Video (2 in / 1 out). Full Color GUI. It has PC Control with Multi-Zone A/V Pre-out.9.1 Channel Pre-outs, RS-232 & Detacheable Power andLearning Remote Control

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Westone UM3X / 3X - True Triple Armature Drivers In-ear Monitor Professional ... Review

Westone UM3X / 3X - True Triple Armature Drivers In-ear Monitor Professional ...
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Yeah, I'm an audiophile, and if you're not crazy into audio a lot of this is probably going to sound weird. Still...
Earphones really are getting better very quickly, and if you look at all of audio, that fact is pretty remarkable.
In speakers, things have peaked a long time ago, no matter what those Bose ads tell you. The Quad ESL-57 speaker was first shown in the mid 50's, and it is STILL considered to be one of the very best speakers ever made. In traditional headphones things haven't moved very quickly either, and Stax SR-Lambda headphones from 1979 sound as good as pretty much any headsets you can find today. The Sennheiser HD800 is touted as the latest and greatest, but the Stax SR-007 Omega 2 from 11 years ago is still better, and so is the 15-year-old SR-Omega, and the 18-year-old Sennheiser HE90 "Orpheus."
Which means that if you have an audio technology that's genuinely getting better, it's an exception to the rule. And the UM3x is a clear improvement on what has been released only a year or so ago.
These earphones have a very clear, detailed sound that's also very fluid. The bass is detailed and well controlled. The midrange is slightly emphasized and very tonally accurate - instruments sound very realistic and vocals sound almost live, if they're recorded well. The highs are slightly recessed (soft) but are also quite extended. Soundstage is smallish, though pretty large for an IEM, and imaging is razor sharp. The drivers are pretty fast, too, and keep up with complex music well. But the best feature of these IEMs is their ability to do texture - strings sound gravelly, brass instruments are, well, brassy and metallic, woodwinds are seductive and ethereal, and vocals are very realistic. It's the first universal-fit IEM that can do texture properly in my experience. The Shure SE530, Westone 3, UE Triple.fi 10, Etymotic ER-4S, all fail at rendering texture realistically.
Compared to the Westone 3, the UM3x has noticeably more midrange emphasis. Its bass doesn't go quite as deep but it's also much better controlled. Its highs are not as pronounced as the W3 but are also far more refined and less harsh. It's more detailed than the W3 and doesn't have the W3's plasticky, too-glossy sonic texture.
Compared to the SE530, the UM3x doesn't have the midrange warmth - its midrange favors realism over euphony. It also has noticeably more detail than the SE530 and better treble extension, as well as more refinement in the upper mids and highs. However I do prefer the SE530's bass - it goes deeper than the UM3x and seems to have better tone.
But most importantly, the UM3x, compared to the SE530, W3, and pretty much most of the competition, is very easy to use, and very easy to get a good seal with.
Seal, and fit, is very important in canalphones. The headphones themselves are only a part of the equation, and if the fit isn't right, then all sorts of sonic abnormalities can result. A very good symptom of a poor fit is insufficient bass, or very sharp, metallic, sibilant highs. And generally speaking, the more accurate a canalphone is, the more sensitive it is to correct fit. The very best canalphones are all custom-molded and require a great degree of fitting accuracy - if something is even slightly out of order, you will hear it.
The UM3x though is more forgiving - it doesn't come with a wide array of eartips but it doesn't need them. The long Comply foam tips get a good seal pretty much right away, and the UM3x sounds good out of the box with no tweaking necessary. And if you have gone through the frustration of trying to get a canalphone to fit right, sound right, and be comfortable at the same time, you know how important that is.
Sum it all up, and the UM3x is the only, and first, high-end IEM that I will whole-heartedly recommend. No, it's not perfect, and the Stax SR-001 system is still better as a portable. Custom-molded canalphones like the JH Audio JH13 or Westone's own ES3x are better still. But the UM3x has finally crossed the border from problematic compromise - with potential - to a competent product that offers good sound quality for the money, and it is the FIRST earphone to actually do so. The W3 could sound really good but its fit is extremely problematic, and when the fit is wrong you had to deal with boomy bass and piercing highs. The SE530 is also very picky in terms of fit, and even at its best the UM3x is still better.
Oh, and never mind that this is sold as a stage monitor for musicians. It is this, too, but it sounds brilliant out of an iPod, and better still from an actual quality source. The only sign of stage-monitor-dom is the slight midrange emphasis and treble recession (which is probably intentional to make the sound less fatiguing in the long term), but plenty of full-size headphones have far more severe sonic abnormalities - like most of Grado's lineup.
This is a balanced, good-sounding, comfortable, easy to use, easy to drive, and not too expensive canalphone. And no other canalphone has been able to boast all of that before, at least no canalphone that didn't require a visit to the doctor.

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Onkyo A-5VL A-5VL Integrated Stereo Amplifier Review

Onkyo A-5VL A-5VL Integrated Stereo Amplifier
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I purchased this amplifier because I wanted something better than even a high-end iPod dock (such as the Bowers & Wilkins Zepplin.) I wanted to use my iPod (actually iPhone 3GS) as the source for a small and mid-priced, but high-end audio system and I didn't want to sacrifice music quality or convenience. I also wanted something smaller than a full receiver that wouldn't stick out in my den/library that could accept a digital audio signal, which is almost impossible to find in a mini system, but this has it.
So here's what I did: I purchased the Wadia 170i Transport ($399) which is the only product on the market which can bypass the iPod/iPhone's internal digital audio converter and output a true digital audio output via a digital coaxial cable (it officially only support iPods, but my iPhone works fine). I plugged this digital coax cable output (included with the Wadia) into the Onkyo A-5VL ($599) and added a high quality pair of bookshelf speakers (Boston Acoustics for $600 a pair). So, it is a total of $1,600 for the whole system, but it is more flexible and MUCH, MUCH higher quality and better sounding than a B&W Zepplin or mini system and even cooler in its low profile, audiophile system approach.
When I play a recording from my iPhone (Apple lossless format is best) on this system, the sound is AMAZING and rivals even much higher priced and much larger systems. The sound is effortless and pure (especially with direct bypass of tone controls) and can be played very loudly without losing quality or becoming harsh. I listened to some songs I had listened to many, many times, on my existing mini system (and high end car system) and I heard many instruments in the background that I never noticed before, which is another true testament to high quality amplification. It is more expensive than mass market iPod capable systems, but is actually fairly cheap by audiophile standards and a very good value.
I love the simplicity, lack of flash and very high quality of this product. It's kind of a throwback to old stereo audio days of high quality separate components but easily it handles digital content. It really has only two functions: i) convert from digital to audio and ii) amplify the signal to drive speakers, but these are the only two functions I needed for my high end system it does these two things EXTREMELY well. It has a very high quality Burr-Brown DAC and a higher quality amplifier than found in the already very good Onkyo receivers. This amplifier is solid and weighs a lot for its small size due to its high quality components and thick copper plate. I feel like I spent my money on higher quality rather than features like surround sound, a tuner, etc that I did not need.


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Kanto SYD 5 Powered Speakers (Black) Review

Kanto SYD 5 Powered Speakers (Black)
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My wife likes to listen to music in her studio, but didn't want something too obtrusive. Her studio can get noisy (glass lampwork) so she needed something with some power, but still able to faithfully reproduce sound quality, especially during quiet times. I bought her the Kanto Syd-5 for Christmas and she LOVES it. The cabinet is beautiful and if there's not an iPod docked on top, you don't notice it on the bookshelf it rests on. I read that the cabinet is made with the same finish they use for high-end pianos, and I believe it.
PROS: Super sound quality, plenty of bass, and plenty of power if you want to crank it up. I tried hooking it up to a 32" LCD TV via the S-video, and while it wasn't HD, it was pretty good. You could pair it with a flat screen and maybe a DVD player and have a pretty decent home theater. The remote is OK and lets you adjust treble/mid-range/bass.
CONS: Not many, but this is one heavy unit (25+ lbs). You won't want to move it around too much. We have the black finish, and while it's beautiful, fingerprints and dust are noticable.
As far as pricing, the Syd-5 was in the $4-500 range when it came out, but I got it for $250. I've heard the Bose Sounddock (both models), and the Syd-5 outperforms them easily for a (lot)less money. If you don't need portability and if looks and price/performance are important, then you can't do better than the Kanto Syd-5

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Hear what you've been missing by turning ordinary MP3 sound into something extraordinary with the Kanto SYD 5 iPod speaker system. This 2.1 sound system has a built-in subwoofer for deep, resounding bass. Additionally, two wide-range drivers offer exceptional audio quality across the spectrum, producing clear, crisp highs that sing. The sleek, rectangular acoustic wood cabinet speaker system lets you dock and charge your iPod, and you can even output video from an iPod to your flat panel screen. The SYD 5 is compatible with the latest iPod and iPhone models, and works with all MP3 players.
Handcrafted Wood Delivers Enhanced Sound ClarityUnlike the plastic components of most conventional iPod docking speaker systems, this quality handcrafted wood cabinet speaker utilizes a special high-efficiency acoustic MDF and interior reinforcement. The system is specifically designed to absorb the excessive vibration and impact sometimes generated under extreme sound conditions.
Built-in Subwoofers Deliver Strong BassOnce you dock your iPod, you can use the included remote to crank up the bass--built-in subwoofers ensure that you'll get full-bodied sound. On the front of the unit, two 3-inch, magnetically shielded full-range Kevlar cone drivers and two 5-1/4-inch, magnetically shielded low-range Kevlar cone drivers deliver a forceful 80 watts of power for soaring audio performance that fills any room. On the back, two bass reflex ports aid in the reproduction of low frequencies below 80 hertz, helping to create a fuller soundscape.
Watch Video from Your iPod or iPhone on Your TVThe SYD 5 offers more than exceptional audio--it also has an S-video output so you can output video to a monitor. Take advantage of music videos stored on an iPhone or iPod by connecting to a big-screen TV with the included 5-foot S-video cable for an impressive audio visual experience.
Control Your iPod or iPhone from Across the RoomIn addition to the manual volume knob and input button on back, this speaker features a convenient 21-function remote control. Adjust the volume, treble, bass, song selection, and input from across the room. The front panel features an LED that tells you whether the speaker power is on or off.
Compatible with iPhone and iPodThe SYD 5 is compatible with a wide range of iPod players, including the iPod classic (4G through 6G), iPod mini, iPod nano (1G through 5G), iPod touch (1G through 4G), and iPod 5G. Universal iPod adapters are included with the speaker system to ensure stable iPod docking for most models. The SYD 5 works with all iPhone models.
Accepts Additional DevicesIn addition to working with your iPod and iPhone, the versatile SYD 5 also supports any MP3 player via an auxiliary input line that connects to the 3.5-millimeter jack of the audio device. A standard RCA line input is also included to allow you to connect a CD player, computer sound card, television, or other source.
Product and Warranty InformationThe Kanto SYD 5 measures 7-1/4 by 22 by 8 inches (H x W x D), and weighs an impressive 22 pounds. It is backed by a limited one-year warranty. Kanto offers a full 30 day money back guarantee on all online purchases.
Kanto also offers the iPair 5 iPod speaker system for music lovers who want separate speakers for true stereo sound.
What's in the BoxSYD 5 speaker, AC power adapter, remote control, magnetically detachable grill, universal dock adapters, S-video cable, 3.5-millimeter stereo mini headphone jack to RCA audio cable, foam pad feet for speaker, and user manual.


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Kanto SYD5SILVER SYD 5 iPod Speaker System, Rocket Ship Silver Review

Kanto SYD5SILVER SYD 5 iPod Speaker System, Rocket Ship Silver
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My wife likes to listen to music in her studio, but didn't want something too obtrusive. Her studio can get noisy (glass lampwork) so she needed something with some power, but still able to faithfully reproduce sound quality, especially during quiet times. I bought her the Kanto Syd-5 for Christmas and she LOVES it. The cabinet is beautiful and if there's not an iPod docked on top, you don't notice it on the bookshelf it rests on. I read that the cabinet is made with the same finish they use for high-end pianos, and I believe it.
PROS: Super sound quality, plenty of bass, and plenty of power if you want to crank it up. I tried hooking it up to a 32" LCD TV via the S-video, and while it wasn't HD, it was pretty good. You could pair it with a flat screen and maybe a DVD player and have a pretty decent home theater. The remote is OK and lets you adjust treble/mid-range/bass.
CONS: Not many, but this is one heavy unit (25+ lbs). You won't want to move it around too much. We have the black finish, and while it's beautiful, fingerprints and dust are noticable.
As far as pricing, the Syd-5 was in the $4-500 range when it came out, but I got it for $250. I've heard the Bose Sounddock (both models), and the Syd-5 outperforms them easily for a (lot)less money. If you don't need portability and if looks and price/performance are important, then you can't do better than the Kanto Syd-5

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"after testing a lab full of iPod speaker docks this year, we've determined an incontestable truth: either go big or go home. indeed, after being bombarded with flimsy, tiny, tinny docks festooned with clocks, radios, cute graphics, and other distracting "features," we found audio excellence in the kanto syd 5." maclife magazine announces the kanto syd 5 as a winner in its "gear of the year" awards. the only iPod speaker system to win an award in this category. iPod universal dock. charge your iPod while it's playing and control the syd 5 from across the room with sleek remote control unit. Video output. if you have music videos on your iPod you can play them onto your big flat panel TV while you listen to the "uncommonly robust sound" on your syd 5.hand crafted wood cabinet. the syd 5 design utilizes a acoustically designed wood cabinet, delivering a unique, rich finish with superior sound. Volume control. one particular feature that everyone comments about is the additional manual volume control on the back. sometimes the simplest things just work so why change them.

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Audyssey South of Market Audio Dock Review

Audyssey South of Market Audio Dock
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Great looks, great sound. Using it in a 6500sf warehouse area and it fills it up with excellent sound quality. Minor complaint- the remote control has a very short operating range, perhaps 30 feet. Otherwise an excellent value.

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Optoma Neo-i / DV20 Portable iPod/iPhone Docking Station Video Projector with Built-In Speakers Review

Optoma Neo-i / DV20 Portable iPod/iPhone Docking Station Video Projector with Built-In Speakers
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The NEOi is a great lightweight projector to entertain the kids or to share pictures and videos. I'm one of the few without an iPod or iPhone so I'm probably not the target market for this projector but I have found many uses for it.
When necessary to move the kids to another room we connect a DVD player to the HDMI input and let them project a movie on the basement wall. This keeps the children entertained for hours. We have also used the NEOi to project from a camcorder and digital camera to share family photos and videos.
The sound system is good but lacks powerful bass and the image is bright enough to display videos and photos on a pull down shade in the kitchen (about a 30" diagonal image). You will need to turn down the lights to enjoy saturated colors and details. In the basement, in a very dark setting the image size can be rather large (60") with great color and detail.
The Good - portable, easy connection with HDMI, VGA sources and iPods/iPhones. No bulb to burn out since this is an LED projector. Good image quality in a dark room. Much less expensive than a standard projector.
The not so good - this is not a standard projector so it is not meant for using in a room with high ambient light.
This product is a winner for projecting videos, photos and other information from portable electronics and DVD players.

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Projectors, Optoma, NEO-I-POD PHONE DOCK PROJECTOR WVGA 50 LUMENS 16 W, DV20A

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Sony Docking System for iPod with Wireless Subwoofer (Black) Review

Sony Docking System for iPod with Wireless Subwoofer (Black)
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I really struggled with deciding on the "right" iPhone dock for me. I considered the Bose SoundDock II and the SoundDock 10 and yes, they have outstanding sound quality but I just wasn't ready to fork over $300 and $600 respectively. I also considered the Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin and didn't purchase for the same reason. With that being said, I continued to search and happened upon the "Sony Air" concept at Best Buy. I plugged in my iPhone and loved the sound. Since this unit has a separate wireless sub-woofer, you get the benefit of a full sound experience! The highs are very crisp and the bass provides the missing link that completes the experience. The sound quality is amazing and when compared to the SoundDock II, the Sony wins without question.
Another advantage over the Bose is the fact that you can expand this system by purchasing additional wireless speakers(up to 8) for other rooms in your home. This is a feature that's not available from the Bose offerings.
Overall, for about 1/2 the price of the entry level Bose (SoundDock II), Sony offers an outstanding package that delivers a very satisfying sound experience. Highly recommended!
Good luck with your purchase!
BTW, for those of you who have the iPhone 4, you don't have to remove your bumper to dock your phone!

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Pioneer VSX-1021-K 7.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black Review

Pioneer VSX-1021-K 7.1 Home Theater Receiver, Glossy Black
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My Thoughts on the VSX-1021
Up until now I've been living with a limping-along Kenwood Soverign VR-5090. It was definitely showing its age. The lack of HDMI was really getting to be a problem. About a week ago it started completely breaking down and stopped detecting audio properly; instead of detecting digital audio it would default to analog inputs and simply not play anything. Time for a new receiver. I am no audiophile but I can tell the difference between high quality audio and an undersampled MP3. That said, most of my comparisons will be with respect to my old VR-5090 as that's what I was coming from.
I settled on the VSX-1021 because the feature set was strong, the 1020 had some pretty impressive reviews, and because after getting burned by the Kenwood Soverign line I wanted some solid tech that didn't really represent being an early adopter again. Yes the 1021 is brand new, but it's very similar to the 1020 which is a fairly well-tested design.
Notes on my setup:
5.1 Home Theater + 2nd Stereo zone
HDMI Set Top Box that plays 720P and 1080i
HTPC with Blu Ray
Handful of video game systems, some HDMI, some Component
Audio
IMO the audio is solid. Certainly strong enough for my home theater system, stays smooth and gets as loud as the wife will let me make it. I wasn't thrilled with the results of MCAAC so I've tweaked calibration by hand... I'm still tweaking to find that perfect balance, but that's not an issue with the receiver.
I've put the system through its paces with a variety of DVDs, CDs, and digital music and I'm well satisfied with the results. Again, I'm no audiophile, but it's certainly on par with the 5090 paid quite a bit more for 10 years ago.
Video
Mixed results. Handles clean signals just fine, but I'm not thrilled with any of the video processing features it is capable of. Every option seems to insert a great deal of noise in solid color/muted or out of focus backgrounds. I've pretty much turned any video processing feature the unit provides off and let my television handle the signals it receives as it sees fit. Even then I swear there's more noise in the signal than my 5090 used to allow. I'm no expert but I'm not as satisfied as I'd like to be here.
Set Up
Let's get this out of the way early: Setup is a bear. The software included is extremely limited, didn't work in Chrome, and I wasn't satisfied with the results once I did have it running. The manual is terrible, not to mention incomplete (I found a separate page floating around in my box explaining Airplay, it wasn't in the manual at all).
The system assumes to know what kind of devices you will connect. Instead of having 'VIDEO 1' 'VIDEO 2' 'VIDEO 3' and 'AUDIO 1' 'AUDIO 2' 'AUDIO 3' inputs it has 'DVD', 'BD', 'DVR' etc. HTPCs and Video Game systems are not considered. This leads to the Navi software to being nearly completely useless as it asks "Do you have a DVD" - no. "Do you have a Blu Ray" - No. Do you have anything else? Yes. Everything I had fell into the 'anything else' category which it only had very generic instructions for.
So the HTPC became the DVD input and the Playstation became the Blu Ray, the Xbox the DVR. You can rename all these inputs in software, but when it comes time to program a Harmony remote you had better have taken notes.
Moreover, the inputs are linked. When you switch to DVD the system outputs video from the DVD inputs and audio from the DVD audio inputs. The Kenwood 5090 made no such connection. I could set it to run Video 3 and Audio 2 if I wanted. This made watching TV but playing the radio (something I enjoy for sports games) or playing a video game while listening to digital music much easier. I haven't yet found a way to get all the setups I had in the past to work.
Features
Airplay
Probably the big one most people are interested about. Airplay takes a little getting used to, but I'm convinced that's more Apple's doing than it is the receiver's fault. That said I like it quite a bit. Especially due to the 2 Zone limitations (More on that later). A little info on my setup. I have used DD-WRT to convert a router into a wireless bridge for my home theater setup. Basically this means that I have all of my home theater components wired to a network component that connects to a 2nd wireless router that connects to the cable modem.
The end result is that as far as the 1021 is concerned, it has a wired connection to the network.
With that setup, any computer on my network with the latest version of Itunes is capable of setting the 1021 as one of its speakers. The little airplay button appears in the bottom right corner of itunes. This happens as long as the 1021 is on. It does not have to be in HMG mode, however as soon as music starts the 1021 will switch to HMG mode. Where I have had difficulty is I can't seem to get my remote to control the receiver when it is running airplay. Normal play/pause are treated as receiver commands (Play acts as Phase control for example). If I put the remote in HMG mode commands push it OUT of airplay and to the HMG home screen. Music stops until I stop and restart airplay on the computer. There doesn't seem to be a 'Back to Airplay' function on the remote or HMG screen either. Frustrating but works great if you leave it alone.
iPod/iPad control
I've only played a bit with this as I don't own an iPhone or iPad and borrowed a friends to test the system with. Works very well. No hiccups like I've described elsewhere. I hope Pioneer releases an Android version but I kind of doubt they well. This device has an 'apple exclusive' feel to it.
Zone 2
The Zone 2 support is disappointing. This is primarily because there is no down-conversion from digital sources. Sound that enters the 1021 via HDMI or digital signals (Optical or Co-ax) can not be broadcast to Zone 2. This was something the 5090 did seamlessly and I assumed the 1021 wouldn't have a problem with it either. At minimum I'd expect a setup that reduces both zones to stereo play but at least allows sound to be sent. In effect this means that I can't stream sound from my HTPC to zone 2, unless I use airplay which limits me to only that which iTunes plays. VERY disappointing.
Beyond that, Zone 2 support is decent. The interface is intuitive (something I can NOT say about the 5090) and straight forward. One interesting hiccup though: If I want airplay in zone 2, but not in zone 1 I have to:
Initiate Airplay from a PC
This puts Zone 1 into HMG mode with music playing.
Start Zone 2 and shift it to HMG
If I want Zone 1 to be doing something different I can change it now, but it MUST be in HMG playing Airplay when I set zone 2 to HMG. If Zone 1 is not in HMG and I shift Zone 2 away from HMG, the receiver stops handling the airplay signal. Shifting zone 2 back to HMG will result in no sound. Shifting zone 1 to HMG will display the HMG home screen (which gives me the option of playing internet radio or files from USB).
In other words, if both zones go away from HMG, the receiver drops Airplay and won't pick it back up until you restart Airplay from the computer. The computer thinks it is sending airplay to the receiver, so you actually have to deactivate it, and reactivate it to get music playing again.
HMG
The HMG main screen allows you to listen to music off of connected devices and networked computers. I can't seem to get it to connect to my computers. It sees them, but gives me an 'not authorized' message for each. The manual does not indicate how you give authorization. Frustrating. The internet radio option is nice and well stocked, but I can't seem to add a particular station I'd like to add. Perhaps this is my fault, I could be doing something wrong. Still the Manual is unclear.
Odds and Ends
The system is slow. The receiver takes about 5 seconds to power up before it will respond to commands. Switching between HDMI components can take up to 5 seconds (usually less, but sometimes this long) while the screen is blank but audio plays. Shifting between signals of different resolutions suffers a similar delay. Be careful if your cable box is configured to deliver whatever the station is broadcast at because if you change channels from a 1080i to a 720p source the simple channel change could cost you several blank screen seconds.
Conclusion
So there's my review. I know it probably comes across as heavily negative, but I figure that most 'Reviews' supplied by groups like CNet and other AV web sites are really highly positive feature lists (read: Commercials). I'd like to make sure people know what to expect from both sides. In conclusion the 1021 is a good but not great piece of tech. It does the job nicely, but some of the features feel a bit half-baked and the manual is terrible. Fight through that and it's a good receiver at it's core. Just don't expect all of the wiz-bang features to be as well worked out as you'd like.

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The Pioneer VSX-1021 is a Home Network Ready AV Receiver featuring a Bluetooth wireless audio option, Apple Airplay, DLNA 1.5 certifications, and Internet Radio Access via vTuner. Other features include 770 watts of high powered 7.1 home theater audio playback, 5 HDMI 1.4a 3-D ready inputs, Audio Return Channel, Advanced Video Processing and Up-Conversion, iPad / iPhone AV Playback with battery charger.

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BreatheAudio Elevate Whole Home Audio System - Complete Package For 4 Rooms Review

BreatheAudio Elevate Whole Home Audio System - Complete Package For 4 Rooms
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This little system has plenty of power for most installations. It sounds great and functions extremely well. The wall-jack provided ensures that the messy wires stay inside the wall. Just one cable (looks like an old parallel port cable) connects the machine to the wall. The kit has everything you need for a 4-room distributed audio system. I have installed three of them and I have no complaints.

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Pioneer AVH-P2300DVD 5.8" In-Dash Double-DIN DVD AV Receiver with iPod/iPhone Control Review

Pioneer AVH-P2300DVD 5.8 In-Dash Double-DIN DVD AV Receiver with iPod/iPhone Control
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Without writing too many words i'd have to say i love this unit in my car, I drive a Pontiac G6, 2006 and the manufacture radio stopped playing and i had to replace it for about the same price for a new one of these, and i believe i made the excellent choice of buying this one. So far everything about it is great, does all it says and installation was 30mins tops. improved sound system for real and love playing movies while driving. the only thing is that i can't watch the videos in my iPod when i connect it to this unit. you'll need an extra cable from what i understand, for that to work. and yes my iPod is compact-able with the unit and i have my iPod set to allow an external video output. All-in-all i love this unit and u sure will. Need pics? write me and I'll post them.

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Pioneer's 2011 AV receivers make entertainment easier, and the AVH-P2300DVD is no exception. The first thing you'll notice is the 5.8-inch widescreen touch display, along with a touchscreen interface Pioneer has tweaked to perfection. Customize things to your preference, and enjoy access to your favorite DVDs and CDs, or USB thumb drives full of your favorite files. You'll get direct control of your iPod or iPhone, and Pioneer's Advanced Sound Retriever to put some life back into those compressed audio files. And when it's time to grow, the AVH-P2300DVD is ready: add GPS navigation, satellite radio, hands-free Bluetooth calling, and more with Pioneer add-on devices.
A versatile touchscreen DVD receiver with wide media support. Click here for a larger image

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Sonos Play:5 All-In-One Wireless Music Player With 5 Integrated Speakers (S5, Black) Review

Sonos Play:5 All-In-One Wireless Music Player With 5 Integrated Speakers (S5, Black)
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Just got the S5 about an hour ago. Setup couldn't be easier. Step 1 - connect the power cord to an power outlet. Step 2 - hit the Mute and + button to get the S5 added as a new zone, Step 3 - hmmm....I don't think there is one. Just hit play and enjoy pure bliss.
This is my 4th Zone player (see my other gushing review of the Sonos system on the Sonos bundle page), and anytime my wife asks, "how many of these white boxes you really need?", the answer is always "one more".
Portability is the key feature of S5. Moving it from Kitchen to backdeck is just a matter of unplugging the power cord and replugging at the new location. It's all in one box. And the sound quality is not bad either. With all 4 zone players on party mode - some connected to very expensive Klipsch towers - I have ran around to compare the sound quality at various locations. The verdict - this little guy stacks up nicely against the big boys.
And the iPhone controller is not too shabby either. Don't see the need to buy the new touch controller (CR200).
Awesome product. Pure genius. Just get it.

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Turn your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad device or Android smartphone into the ultimate remote control. Download the free Sonos Controller app for your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad device or Android smartphone and you'll have complete wireless control of your S5 through your home's WiFi network. Scroll through songs, browse album art, tune in to radio stations and more. Plus, since you're not streaming the music from your iPhone, like you are with docking stereos, you can take calls and receive texts without interrupting the music. Get instant access to endless music. Touch a button on your device and ZonePlayer is playing music from your computer's digital music library. Touch another and it's reggae straight from Jamaica on one of 100,000 free Internet radio stations and shows. Touch your device again and you're tapped into Rhapsody, Pandora, Napster, Last.fm, and SIRIUS. "The music sounds fantastic." The New York Times Beneath its sleek all-in-one exterior, the S5 hides five independent speakers, each powered by its own dedicated digital amplifier. This means you get rich, room-filling sound that rivals or outperforms much larger, more complicated audio systems. And, because the S5 uses a 100% digital architecture, every notefrom top-of-the-range highs to mids and deep, true basscomes through in brilliant clarity exactly as the artist intended. Add multiple rooms of music without adding a single wire. Get a whole-home music system without spending a dime for installation. Simply add additional ZonePlayer S5 units throughout your house and the proprietary Sonos wireless network will integrate them all into a single wireless music system. You can stream the same music to all rooms or send separate streams to each unit. And you can control it all, including individual volumes from your iPhone device anywhere in the house. "The setup process is fantastically simple." The Wall Street Journal Just plug the all-in-one Sonos ZonePlayer S5 into your Internet router and instal

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Aquapac Small Phone/GPS Case Review

Aquapac Small Phone/GPS Case
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this item is sold as a waterproof case designed for the iphone. it is not. it is a case designed for a generic phone or gps. it is much too tight for an iphone. worst yet, the 2 small clips on the outer edge of the thin pouch that starts the waterproofing have be disabled to make the opening wider at the expense, i fear, of water proofing. i got mine yesterday & will return it today.

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Pineapple Rumble K Bone Conduction Headphone (Black) Review

Pineapple Rumble K Bone Conduction Headphone (Black)
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When I saw the largely discounted price on these earphones, I was eager to pick them up; finally, I would have a high quality set of earphones. I was also very interested in the bone conduction technology.
I am disappointed to have to say that these just do not meet the standards I would hold for a $30 pair of headphones, much less $70, or the unbelievable retail of $200.
When used on my mp3 player (Creative Zen 4 GB Portable Media Player (Black)), the headphones cut out if the volume is turned up too high, presumably because the vibration requires more power than the mp3 player can put out(it keeps alternating between left and right struggling to produce sound from both sides, and when turned up a bit higher, they just cut out entirely).
They are more or less useless to me at work because they can't get loud enough to be heard clearly over the sound of the machinery.
At the volume levels where these headphones actually work on my mp3 player, you can hardly feel the bass at all.
They are comfortable in-ear headphones, and with an amplifier I am sure they could kick out some great bass (I am suspect of how the treble would sound at that level though); but in their current state, the headphones that came with my mp3 player worked better. (I've never had issues like this with any other headphones/earphones)

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Are You Ready To RUMBLE?---The Power of Sonic-Vibe EX BONE CONDUCTION Technology: The latest in the BONE CONDUCTION transducer technology with built-in multi-function BONE CONDUCTION transducer. Rumble earphone produces the Rich Wideband Sound as well as Rumbling Feeling experience.---Ultimate Gaming Experience: Experience every Bomb explosion, Gun shots, Car Crash, Uppercut Punch, Tiger Roar when you play your favorite games. Rumble Series earphones are designed to response to the low/middle and bass sound to produce the vibration reaction in your earphones. The BONE CONDUCTION Transducer converts electric signals into mechanical vibrations that are received by the bones in the skull which stimulates the auditory nerve which converts the vibrations to sound.---Virtual Reality Feeling: Join the Virtual Reality Experience with the Rumble earphones. If you are a game player, you will be able to feel the virtual battle fields or racing tracks in your ear. If you are a movie lover, you can feel the virtual movie theater in your ear. If you are a strong beat sound music listener, you can feel the virtual night club in your ear.---For the Bass Addicts: Not only the night club DJs can use the Bass boosted headphones. If you are a Bass Addict, you now can have a set of earphones that will finally satisfy your Bass needs.---Less damage to your hearing: Unlike other existing earphones which shakes your ear-drums to produce the sound, the Rumble Earphones utilize the Sonic-Vibe EX technology which delivers rich sound through your Bone resulting in less pressure to your ear-drums.---Devices: You can use the Rumble earphones with your iPhone, iPod, MP3 player, PC, Laptop, CD Player, and portable media player. As soon as you plug in the earphone, you will be surrounded by powerful vibrating bass.---10 Year Super Warranty: Pineapple guarantees the quality of its rich sound and Bass Woofer vibration by providing 10 year manufacturer warranty.

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Magellan Portable GPS Navigation & Battery ToughCase for iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPod Touch Review

Magellan Portable GPS Navigation and Battery ToughCase for iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPod Touch
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After using this product for over a week I have noticed that it has a serious flaw with respect to the secondary battery in the Toughcase. After almost 36 continuous hours of charging with an Apple 1000mAh charger, the Toughcase indicator reports only a single bar (out of four possible). After experimenting with combinations to include disabling wi-fi and bluetooth and GPS, ensuring that the Toughcase GPS is switched off, and even switching the iPhone off, the best I have gotten so far is two bars after over 24 hours of continuous charging; this is when the iPhone already has a 100% full charge mind you. The ONLY way I have been able to get the Toughcase battery to charge fully is to remove the iPhone from the case and charge the case separately. Although the two do separate rather easily, it kind of defeats the point if you have to do this to charge every time.
The case has a good solid feel to it, and does take away from the portability of the iPhone, but I assumed that going into this and it is not a problem.
As others have mentioned, the retention clip does leave something to be desired.
One other loss of functionality that seemed a little buried was that the external headphone jack is only three conductor vice the four conductor needed to use external microphones and in-line remotes, I was disappointed but knew beforehand as well, but I do not see why it would be all that difficult to port that functionality from the dock connector interface to the external port.
I did not really experience the O-Ring trouble that so many others have but I do see how that could occur easily. A simple application of common sense keeps everything in check on that issue.
I had absolutely no problems when speaking on the phone and respectively, none of the people I spoke to said that any audible change was notable.
In conclusion I can tell you that the case has a good solid feel to it. I would trust it in a downpour but I would never submerge it; it might be up to the challenge but I am not willing to bet my phone on it. The battery is certainly not the selling point of this case, with my iPhone at 15% charge, I turned on the internal battery (no GPS, no wi-fi, no bluetooth) and was able to charge the phone up to 94%, for all the hassle of charging and the size I want 100% plus charge. The external GPS added a modicum of accuracy to GPS navigation. I think this product needs a little reworking before it merits the $180-$200 price tag. If all goes well, perhaps a second gen will be just the ticket, until then I am returning this and sticking with my otterbox defender.

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Enjoy your iPhone or iPod touch on all your outdoor adventures without worrying about damage from environmental elements.ToughCase is waterproof to IPX-7 standards allowing your device to be submersed in water (up to one meter for thirty minutes) and shock resistant.The unique case design allows you to interact with your device while it remains protected from the elements, including the touch screen, hard buttons, and audio headphone jack access.The integrated high sensitivity GPS chip set enhances the accuracy of most GPS, location based, or navigation apps.Extend your iPhone or iPod touch's versatility by transforming it into a handheld GPS receiver.

Transform your iPhone or iPod touch into a Rugged Handheld GPS Receiver
ToughCase Uses
What's in the Box Magellan ToughCase, Standard Mini USB Cable, Belt Clip, Sleeve for iPod touch, User handbook

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