Sunday, May 31, 2009

Otter Box iPod Classic Defender Case


When it comes to iPod accessories, there are a lot of options. For some of us, at the top of the list, or pretty close to it, is protection. Otter Box makes some excellent cases for just that. Here for review is the Otter Box iPod Classic Defender Case. Designed specifically for the iPod Classic, it features 3 levels of protection. The 1st layer is a clear Polycarbonate sheet with high performance hard coating for chemical and abrasion protection. Second is a hi-impact Polycarbonate skeleton. Lastly is the Silicone skin to absorb bump and shock.



If you are not looking for water protection, this could be the case for you. It is very well put together. To put your iPod in the case, you first take off the silicone cover, and the hard plastic case is in two pieces. There is a thin membrane that protects the screen and the Click Wheel, but still allows full functionality. Once you have the iPod in, the hard case pieces snap together securely, and the silicone membrane slides over the top of the hard case rather easily. There are access points through the silicone for your headphones, hold button, and docking port at the bottom.



While this does not provide water or liquid protection, the Otter Box Defender case appears to do everything else. While you would never want to drop you iPod, at least you would know you have a lot of protection incase you do. And if that is what you are looking for, I would suggest putting the Defender case on your short list to check out. For more info, please check out Otter Box’s website at http://www.otterbox.com/.


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Saturday, May 9, 2009

Sennheiser HD280Pro Headphone Review


Up for review is the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones. There are a lot of options out there when it comes to headphones. The sound quality can also vary greatly. When it comes to Sennheiser, you can rest assured that the product will be of high quality. With the HD 280 Pro’s, Sennheiser has continued with their Legacy.

I prefer a closed dynamic style of headphones, which is what the design of the HD 280 Pro is. The quality is very high. The earcups are leather and rather large. They fit over the ears very well. They are very comfortable to wear which is very important for extended listening periods. After all, why invest in a pair of high quality headphones if you don’t like how they look or fit? I also like the fact that they have user replaceable parts!

The way they sound is even more important. And when it comes to the sound of the HD 280 Pro’s, I give them two thumbs way up. They are very natural sounding. I threw everything I have at them. They are fairly neutral sounding, so they sound well with just about everything. The high’s were very clean and crisp and not too edgy. The mids were smooth sounding and not overly warm. The bass had plenty of low end extension. I enjoyed the large soundstage and great imaging. With their excellent resolution, I heard details that I had not noticed before. I also enjoyed the large dynamics they provided. The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro’s are truly reference quality.

In Throne Room and Finale from the Star Wars Trilogy Album, the horns were very clean sounding without being too brassy. In the song Somebody in the Depeche Mode 101 Live album, I have heard speakers have trouble with the midrange during the sections of the song where the lead singer is humming into the mic. The HD 280 Pro’s handled it wonderfully. Sing, Sing, Sing in The Very Best of Erich Kunzel revealed a deep soundstage when the trumpet soloist was wailing. Male and female vocals as well as piano sounded very natural in Sound and Vision SACD sampler song Don’t Let Nobody Drag You Down. And the song Why Are People Like That on the same album was also fun to listen to. I loved the dynamic range that came through with the harmonica. The harmony in Yesterday from Boyz To Men II was so smooth it was ear candy. Everything I listened to with them sounded amazing!

Incase you could not tell, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the HD 280 Pro’s. There is a reason why many consider them to be THE standard when it comes to closed dynamic headphones. The sound they provide was amazing. To me, they are worthy of being a reference model. It is no wonder they are a Consumer Digest Best Buy. For those in the market for reference grade headphones, the HD 280 Pro’s should at least be on your short list to check out, if not at the top of that list. For more info, please check out Sennheiser’s website at http://www.sennheiserusa.com/.



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