Magellan Maestro 4350 GPS review by Jeff Roy

Up for review is the Magellan Maestro 4350 GPS receiver. If you have ever gotten lost before, with a little help you no longer will. Just as most consumer electronics continue to get better with more features, so it is with the 4350. Not only is it a great GPS receiver loaded with extra features, it will also work with other consumer electronics.

The Magellan 4350 GPS receiver is a great unit. The 4.3 inch display is easy to see, and the 3D landmarks help you see where you are. Magellan’s OneTouch is easy to use. To get directions, simply press the options button, followed by the GoTo and Address buttons. The onscreen keyboard will come up to enter the city, followed by the street name and then street number. Press the GoTo button and the GPS will calculate the route for you. The directions are easy to see, include turn by turn voice prompts with street names and each direction, lane guidance for highway driving, and re-routing if you need to make a pit stop. For pit stops, there are also 6 million searchable points of interest thanks to AAA, in categories such as restaurants, gas stations, banks, etc.

That may sound like basic GPS features. But the 4350 has ones that are not quite basic. I really like the night map, where it changes colors for a dimmer look at night. Trip information is provided with your duration and estimated time of arrival. For city driving it also gives you the current address as you drive. No more need to search for street numbers- it is on your display. For those of you with a heavy foot, there is also a speed warning feature. And since reaching your destination does not always mean getting there in your car, the 4350 has a pedestrian feature so you can navigate while you walk. For those of you that live in a busy city, there is also a subscription traffic service to notify you current traffic info and potential recommended detours. I really like the zoom feature that allows you to zoom in and out of the current map. If you want to get a peak ahead at where you are heading, you can even click and drag the map to see other areas.

The features of the Magellan 4350 are also not just limited to its use as a GPS receiver. There is a built in Bluetooth radio, so you can sync it with certain cell phones that also feature Bluetooth to make and receive hands free calls. You can use either the built in speaker for hands fee calls, or the fm transmitter to hear through your car’s stereo. The unit also is a functioning media player, with a memory card slot to use for your music, photos, or videos.

The 4350 also has worked wonderfully. Since using it I have yet to get lost. It has never leaded me wrong. Program in your home address and it is even easier to find your way back with fewer data entry. While the 4350 is not your basic GPS and as such has features not found in your basic GPS like the Bluetooth and media player. But the other GPS related features could be well worth the extra cost over a basic GPS. Having been lost before, I now will not be without a GPS receiver. Magellan has done a great job with this high quality receiver in the 4350. If you are in the market for one, I highly recommend putting the Magellan Maestro 4350 on your list. For complete details and specs please checkout Magellan’s website at wwwmagellangps.com.

Onkyo Debuts Blu-ray Disc Player with BD-Live Interactive and AVCHD Compatibility

Upper Saddle River, NJ (7/28/09) -- Onkyo has introduced a new, state-of-the-art, BD-Live interactive Blu-ray Disc Player, model DV-BD507. This full-featured player delivers outstanding high definition 1080p video playback and high resolution multichannel audio over a HDMI 1.3a. It has all the capabilities once could expect from a Blu-ray player, plus the high performance and build-quality consumers have come to expect from Onkyo products.
The Onkyo DV-BD507 plays Blu-ray discs with their full high definition 1080p resolution, including compatibility with the Deep Color and x.v. Color specifications of HDMI 1.3a. It is also capable of playing standard DVD's and CD's, with internal scaling of all video sources to 1080p. It can also process AVCHD video clips stored on a SD or SDHC card or DVD-R/RW.
The Onkyo DV-BD507 also features BD-Live (Profile 2.0) for enhanced interactivity through the internet, making additional and updated content available instantly. When used with an optional 1 GB (or greater) SD/SDHC card, the player includes BonusView features to allow for picture-in-picture capabilities while viewing the main feature.
The Onkyo DV-BD507 is currently available at a suggested retail price of $449.
Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning product that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit http://www.onkyousa.com/ or call 800-229-1687.

OtterBox Waterproof iPod Case review by Jeff Roy

We are in the middle of summer, when many of us either hit the pool or some other form of water activity to have fun and keep cool. Water and electronics do not normally mix well. Taking your iPod to the lake can be dangerous for your iPod. But with the help of OtterBox there is no need to fret for your iPod.

Up for review today is the OtterBox Classic Armor case, and H3 waterproof headphones. The set comes with the clear hard plastic waterproof case, the armor series armband, and the H3 waterproof headphones. Together, it is ideal for those who do any activity where there is the concern for protection from water, such as water skiing, surfing, or just playing in the pool. The case is airtight for iPod protection. The armband is neoprene, adjustable, and the case attaches to it. The headphones are a behind the head design with an adjustable band for proper fit for you. The headphones also come with rubber earplugs that go around the earbuds for better fit and isolation in water.

I must admit, I was skeptical about the product at first. I knew it would work (being waterproof as advertised), but how would they sound? I set my expectations for them to be waterproof but that was all I was expecting. My expectations for sound quality was very low. I was not expecting them to sound very well. I was pleasantly surprised.

Testing them out in the pool, the case proved to be fully waterproof. The headphones went around my neck and fit rather well. The hard case had a thin membrane that you could control the iPod through. It worked well enough. And the headphones truly were waterproof. The sound quality did vary. When listening to them underwater, the sound quality depended on the seal. When I had a good seal, they actually sounded better underwater. But moving around in the water I lost, regained, and lost again the seal. But even when I didn’t have a good seal, the sound quality was better than I expected.

While they are marketed for use on activities such as skiing, I would be careful with it. While I believe the case would do a good job of protecting your iPod, I am not sure how secure the armband would be on any type of impact. The case attaches to the armband with a plastic clip. The case attaches fairly firmly, but a wipeout on the lake could make the case come off. If that were to happen, I think the case would do a good job protecting the iPod. If you are snow skiing, that could mean doing some searching to find it. But if you were water skiing, your iPod could be on it’s way down to the bottom of the lake.

The OtterBox Classic Armor case with Waterproof H3 headphones and Armband proved to be a great product. If you are looking for a way to listening to your tunes while getting a workout, I would suggest you give them a try. I am not aware of any other products like it. While they do not provide audiophile quality sound, that was also not the intent. Providing a waterproof product was a success, and it actually provided decent sound. For more info, please check out OtterBox website at www.OtterBox.com.

NHT is back!

As I previously posted, NHT had decided to go quiet. With the current state of the economy, they had decided to focus on some R&D, and come back in the future. That future turned out to be sooner than later. They have decided to become an internet retailer. While NHT speakers will still be available for purchase through their partnered retailers, they will also be available for purchase online through NHT for a cheaper price. This will be good news to many, as they are a very reputable high quality manufacturer at a very good price, that just got even better! Stay tuned for some upcoming reviews.

Cobra XRS 9960G radar detector review, by Jeff Roy

Attention drivers- especial those who tend to have a lead foot. We are in a new age. No longer do us drivers have to worry about the radar used by law enforcement. Now there is photo radar. For you speedsters out there, no longer do you have to just look for the squad car. You also need to be on the look out for the photo radar cameras. There are also red light photo cameras. Enter the Cobra XRS 9960G.

For you drivers that can drive over the speed limit, many of you may have a radar detector. That is, if they are not illegal in the state you live in. Where I live, they are not illegal, so I have one. But my old ESD-9570 no longer gets the job done. The way I look at it, what is the point if your radar detector does not get the job done. It detects against radar, but not the photo radar, so for me it is not fully getting the job done.

The Cobra XRS 9960G gets the job done. Not only does it have a 15 band radar detector, it also detects photo and red light cameras. It includes AURA (Advanced Universal Road Alert) GPS receiver to know your current location. The GPS receiver accesses a database, and based on your location will tell you of all upcoming photo radar, red light cameras, speed traps, and dangerous intersections on a global basis. There is both an audible and visual warning. The visual warning is first a green warning that a camera is coming up, then you get an orange warning that the camera is getting close, and then finally a red warning that you are almost on it.

Other features include ExtremeBright DataGrafix 1.5” OLED Display, to easily see the display and settings. The display settings allow for full color, or Blue, Green, Orange, or Red to match your car’s instrumentation. The 9960G comes with new and improved Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne (S-XRS) detection technology. It provides a super fast radar lock-on technology, and provides 15 band detection.

Overall the radar detector worked great! There was only one time when I saw a photo radar camera and was not warned of it, and I believe it was a brand new camera location that had not yet been added to the database. More common was the limited notice of an upcoming camera. Sometimes I would only get a green alert, or a green alert and an orange alert before I get to the camera. I should have gotten the green, then orange, then red alert before reaching the camera. While it wasn’t perfect, I still at least got a warning. Also keep in mind that it is based on location. So if you are driving and get a warning of an upcoming camera but you do not see it, the camera could be at that location, but installed for traffic going the opposite direction, such as on the other side of the freeway.

When it comes to driving, speeding can be expensive. So you either do not speed, or if the state you live in allows you to have one, you could get a radar detector. But what good is your investment if it does not work right? I am glad to see that Cobra’s reputation for quality products have not changed. The Cobra 9960G performed well for both standard radar as well as photo radar. It saved me a few times, and after all isn’t that the reason for getting it? For more info and complete specs, please check out Cobra’s website at: www.cobra.com.

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/.

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/.

Monster Digital PowerCenter MDP 900 review

When it comes to surge protectors and power conditioners, Monster makes some of the best. Up for review is the Monster Digital PowerCenter MDP w/ Green Power and USB Charging MDP 900. This is not an ordinary surge protector. It can be used for computers, home theater systems, and features Monster GreenPower.

For surge protection and power filtration, the MDP 900 uses Monster’s PC Clean Power Stage 2. It removes electromagnetic and radio frequency noise to help your data transfers be more reliable and helps computer performance. The Monster Dual Mode Plus feature sounds an alarm and automatically disconnects in the event of these dangerous conditions, to isolate your equipment from the source. Since Cable modem, DSL, and Ethernet lines can also carry damaging power surges and spikes, the phone, network and coaxial connections are also protected. And monster is so confident in their product that the MDP 900 includes equipment replacement protection up to $300,000.

There are even some advanced features. The MDP 900 includes two high-current surge protected USB ports to safely charge MP# players, cell phones, digital cameras, and other electronics. This helps free up USB ports on your computer, as well as outlets on the PowerCenter for peripherals such as a printer, external hard drives, etc. It is also PLC Network compatible. HomePlug is a growingly popular form of creating a home network using your homes electrical wiring. Ordinary surge protectors can block PLC, but not the MDP 900.

Last but not least, many companies are jumping on the bandwagon and going green. Monster is one of them. The MDP 900 includes Monster GreenPower. This will not only reduce energy waste and thereby being “green,” but by doing so it will use less energy and therefore save you some green. All you would do is plug in your computer or receiver into the main outlet, and your other peripherals into the other outlets. When you turn the receiver or computer off or in standby mode, all of the other outlets switch off. No more energy vampires.

So Monster has created another great product. And it was nice to see that it actually works. In hooking it up to my computer, when I turn it off all of my peripherals also turn off. While I am not sure how much green I have saved so far, it is still nice to know that I am doing something for the environment and there are companies out there like Monster that want to do their part. For more info and detailed specs, please check out Monster’s website at www.monstercable.com

Zaggphone Closed Dynamic Headphone Review

With any type of speakers, whether they are home speakers, car speakers, or headphones, the desired result is the same. To produce enjoyable sound at given price points is the goal. Up for review is a pair of Zaggphones from a company called Zagg. They are a large over the ear closed dynamic design. They can be found at Zagg’s website for an introductory price or $80.

I had a hard time reviewing these headphones. It was difficult because I kept getting dragged into the music. I try to be alert to the different sounds that I am used to hearing in the music that I use in my reviews. But the Zaggphones sounded better than expected for their price point, and I kept having to remind myself to pay attention and not just enjoy the music. That is probably one of the best compliments for a pair of headphones. They truly are enjoyable.

The Zaggphones performed very well overall. While they are not the performers as my Skull Candy SK Pro’s, they also don’t come with the same $150 price tag. And with that being said, they perform admirably for their price point. The highs sounded very clean, and only occasionally got a tad overextended or harsh. The mids were sufficiently smooth, and the lows supplied plenty of deep low bass and can satisfy bass heads like myself. There was also a good level of resolution and nice sized soundstage. Mannheim Steamroller is one of my favorites, and in Fresh Aire V’s “Creatures of Levania,” there was plenty of low end extension, and the flute had air. Listening to many of the tracks in Sound & Vision / Telarc Heads up SACD sampler disc, both male and female vocals as well as the piano sounded natural. In Junior Wells’ track “Why are people Like That?” The harmonica took me away.

Thank you Zagg for an enjoyable experience. The Zaggphones are a great sounding product. And with a lifetime warranty, they are a bargain at this price. Anyone in the market for some good headphones at this price point deserves to give them a listen. For more info, please check out their website at www.zagg.com.

Press Release New Onkyo THiB Systems

Onkyo HT-S5200 home theater package. Click any photo for 300 dpi JPEG image file.

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (03/16/09) -- Onkyo has introduced two entry-level home theater in a box (HTiB) packaged systems, each consisting of an HDMI-equipped audio-video receiver, five or seven surround-sound loudspeakers with subwoofer, and the top model includes an iPod docking station. When combined with a HDTV video display, Blu-Ray or DVD player, and cable/satellite TV box, these systems provide everything needed for a fully satisfying home theater surround sound experience.

"With the current economic climate, our high-value entry-level HTiB's are doing quite well," said Paul Wasek, Marketing Manager, Onkyo USA. “The addition of Audyssey technologies along with new DSP gaming modes and HDMI connectivity make these systems a real value for the consumer.”

Both systems include 1080p compatible HDMI connections, with HDMI Pass-Thru for optimal high definition video quality, including Deep Color and x.v.Color. For optimum sound quality, sources are connected via optical/coaxial digital connections, using a range of Dolby and DTS processing modes. There are four DSP gaming modes for rock, sports, action, and role-playing sound effects. The HT-S5200 incorporates Audyssey 2EQ™ room correction technology to automatically adjusts the sound character and time delay of each speaker relative to the listening positions, Audyssey Dynamic Volume™ which maintains optimal listening levels and dynamic range and Audyssey Dynamic EQ™ that adjusts the loudness contour on the fly to optimize sound quality for any volume, particularly at low listening levels. The HT-S3200 utilizes Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ technologies.

The 1200 total watt 7.1-channel HT-S5200 uses powerful 130-watts-per-channel amplifiers that are perfectly matched to the included Onkyo Micro Fiber (OMF) speakers. A 10-inch 290-watt bass-reflex subwoofer adds bass depth and high-level excitement to movies and music. The HT-S5200 is Sirius satellite radio ready, includes Onkyo's Music Optimizer to enhance the dynamic range of MP3 and AAC files which are normally compressed for headphone playback, and it has advanced Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES Discrete/Matrix surround sound processing capabilities. The system also includes a dedicated Onkyo iPod dock and charging station.

The more affordable 660 watt Onkyo HT-S3200 includes the model HT-R370 5.1-channel AV receiver with 110-watts per channel, three HDMI pass-through inputs, DTS and Dolby Digital surround processing, and five loudspeakers and an 8-inch bass reflex subwoofer that is powered by the receiver.

The Onkyo HT-S5200 is currently available in either black or silver finishes with a suggested retail price of $599. The Onkyo HT-S3200 is available in black with a suggested retail price of $379. Both systems include speaker wires and full-function remote controls.

Onkyo, which takes its name from the Japanese "On" meaning 'sound' and "Kyo" meaning 'harmony,' has been producing precision audio components for over a half-century. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. Today, Onkyo is at the forefront of the home theater and digital revolutions. For more information about this and other fine Onkyo products, visit http://www.onkyousa.com/ or call 800-229-1687.
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