ETON S350 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Review

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(More customer reviews)This radio is of excellent quality and the receive on AM, FM and shortwave is very good. Being a ham radio operator I really appreciate the rotary tuning knob that has a fine tuning adjustment knob built in. I just can't see myself buying an expensive shortwave radio with no tuning knob. Half the fun of radio is being able to play with a VFO!
I also own the GE superadio that other reviewers have commented on. The Grundig does not feel and look cheap like the GE superadio but the GE superadio will outperform the Grundig in a side by side comparison. The superadio has two speakers that are designed for better fidelity and louder audio than the smaller Grundigs single speaker can achieve. When listening to weak stations in heavy static on the AM band the superadio did a better job of pulling out the audio.
The shortwave reception is the best part of the radio however and this radio is a real jewel for shortwave use! The selectivity is great, no overlapping of stations that is found on cheaper shortwave radios like the Sangean SG 622. The radios sensitivity is excellent also, I could not ask for better performane from a shortwave radio. I know I made the correct decision passing up some of the more expensive Sony and Grundig shortwave radios that look so tempting to buy but lack a knob to tune with.

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S350 AM/FM/SHORTWAVE RADIO - With the rugged look of a retro field radio and the latest in AM/FM/Shortwave radio technology, the S350 Field Radio features the best of analog and digital.The S350 is the perfect addition to active lifestyles that demand high-performance portable audio capable of receiving news and information from across the globe.

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Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (Green) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had my Zen M for about 2 months now so I think I have a good feel for what it's pros and cons are. Here you go:
Pros: Beautiful and Bright Screen (displays thousands of more colors than the Ipod video by the way). Even at 50% brightness (which is default setting out of the box) it looks bright!
Ability to Customize most of the features. This includes being able to set your own photos for the wallpaper, custom equilizer, custom brightnes setting, custom shortcut button, organization of folders(audio, photo, video folders)...etc.
Great Sound! This isn't a surprise because Creative develops sound hardware/software like soundcards.
Good User Interface: The thumb scroller interface takes a few days to get used to, then it's pretty user friendly. You can customize the sensitivity of it too.
Ability to play lots of different video files like Divx and Mpg4.
This was a big selling point for me. The screen is perfect for watching cartoons and anime on.
Good Size. I'm refering to it's physical size. It's actually the perfect size and feels great in your hand. Still pocketable and still feels rock solid and not fragile.
Displays Album cover art! I had trouble with this function in the beginning only because in order to get it to display the album art correctly, you need to rip the Cd album with a program that automatically downloads album info including art. One program that does this is Windows Media Player.
--For the techies that don't want to re-rip everything to get the album art to display, just download a small jpeg image of the album cover that is about 150 by 150 pixels, rename it folder.jpg, make it a hidden file and place it in the folder of the correct album. When you move it to your player it will ask you whether you want to move it to the photo folder, make sure you select "no" and leave it where it is.
Cons: There isn't a lot about this player that is negative. But one aspect which is really annoying is that to charge it or plug it to the computer you have to use this tiny seperate adapter that comes in the box. It's the white adapter/attachment that looks like a dock connector. What the heck were they thinking! I have to carry the separate item everywhere I go just in case I need to charge it or upload music. It sucks man! Why the heck didn't they just build all of the ports into the player itself!!
Also, they should've included the video output cable instead of selling it separately! Or at least made it use a standard video cable! Also, the battery is not removable... at least not meant to be.
These are the only reasons why I gave this player 4 out of 5 stars. Otherwise I would have given 5 out of 5! All in All this player really rocks and is worth every penny! ... and is a much better buy then the "other" competition out there.
Hope this is helpful to you guys. If it is, please give me a vote. Thanks!
For more electronics and technology reviews, visit my site at:
http://newtechnews.blogspot.com/

Click Here to see more reviews about: Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player (Green)

Creative Labs' ZEN Vision:M is the fusion of music, photos and video into one compact player. With its 30GB of storage you can store up to 15,000 songs, and up to 120 hours of video. Use it as a portable storage device, for sharing all your audio, video and photos easily. In between listening and viewing session you can hear the top songs on the FM tuner. Sync your player's personal organizer with Microsoft Outlook to transfer your calendar, contacts and task list so you won't miss your important appointments and anniversaries. Watch TV, film and video clips on the LCD monitor -- or connect the Zen Vision:M to a TV and enjoy video that's larger than life. Photo formats -JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG and BMP Video Playback -Up to 4 hoursSyncs with and views Microsoft Outlook Contacts, Calendar & Tasks 8 EQ settings -Acoustic, Classical, Disco, Jazz, New Age, Pop, Rock and Vocal Contacts, calendar and tasks Repeat, resume, and random play Sleep and wake timers Outputs -TV-out with stereo audio; 3.5 mm mini-jack composite Battery life -Up to 14 hours (Charge time -6.5 hours USB, 2.5 hours AC) Dimensions(WxHxD) -4.1 x 2.4 x 0.7Weight -5.7 oz.

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Midland GXT1000VP4 36-Mile 50-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) (Black/Silver) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The radios by themselves are good, but be careful to read the fine print. The first time I went to use the radios one of them didn't have a full charge on it. No problem, I just used AA batteries. Then we realized we could barely hear each other through the headphones even with the radios turned to max volume. I thought it might be the headphones, but they were very loud when plugged into a friend's radio made by a different company. Midland blamed it on the headphones anyway, but they were not covered under the warranty. So I didn't use the radios again for a few months until we went on another trip and I made sure to place the radio on the charger a day early this time so it would have ample time to charge. Same problem one radio didn't take but half a charge. I contacted Midland on Friday explaining my situation, they got back to me on Wednesday to say there was probably an issue with the battery pack (No duh). I emailed back around 10:30 am and said I figured that much, but how do I correct it. They got back to me on Thursday night saying I needed to buy another battery pack because they are not covered under the warranty either. So what is covered? Turns out not much, not the headphones, not the battery packs, not the charger, not the adapter and not even the antennas. In short if all you need is just the radios and there isn't a problem with them, the radios are OK, but heaven help you if there is a problem with them. It will take forever for someone to tell you that's not covered under the warranty. That large 3 year warranty logo needs to include an even larger asterisk. Radios get 5 stars, everything else including the warranty and service gets 1 star for an average of 3 stars. If I need to buy all new accessories to replace all these defective ones I just bought, maybe I should consider a different brand radio.

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Midway's GXT1000VP4 two-way, 22-channel radios are designed for GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) operation, in a rugged, weatherproof package. With a range of up to 36 miles, they're perfect for most any adventure. Features include privacy codes, direct/group calling, NOAA weather radio/alert/scan, silent operation, whisper function, SOS siren, and plenty more.


GXT1000VP4 Features
22 Channels PLUS 28 EXTRA CHANNELS Clear, crisp communication with easy button access.
Up to 36 Mile Range Longer range communication in open areas with little or no obstruction.
387 Privacy Codes Gives you up to 5560 channel options to help you block other conversations.
NOAA Weather Alert Radio with Weather Scan Automatically locks on to your local weather channel and alerts you to severe weather.
SOS Siren Allows you to send out distress/locator signals in an emergency situation.
JIS4 Waterproof Protection against light rain or splashing water from all directions on the radio.
Whisper Allows you to speak quietly and still be heard clearly by others.
Group Call Allows you to make "direct calls" to other people within the group without alerting the entire group.
eVOX Hands-Free Operation (9 levels) with easy voice activation--no need for an external microphone.
X-TRA TALK Power Maximum allowed by law.
Weather ScanEasily scans the active weather channel in your area.
Direct CallAllows you to instantly contact one member of your party without alerting the others.
10 Call AlertsDifferent call tones to notify you of incoming calls from your group.
Channel ScanAutomatically checks channels for activity.
Dual WatchLets you monitor two channels.
Vibrate AlertProvides silent page / call notification.
Auto SquelchRemoves annoying background noise.
Keypad LockLocks in your selected settings.
MonitorChecks for any activity within your channel.
HI/MED/LO Power SettingsLets you adjust transmit power & conserve battery life.
Roger BeepIndicates call completion.
Silent OperationTurns off all tones for quiet operation.
Bright Backlit Display [LCD]Easy to read day or night.
Keystroke Tones Audible tones with each key press
Mic and Headphone Jacks
Battery Life ExtenderProvides longer battery life.
Drop-in Charger Capable
Dual Power Options4 standard "AA" batteries (not included) or rechargeable batteries.

Midland Radio Corporation Midland Radio Corporation is an international industry leader in wireless communications with affiliates in Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom, as well as representation in Latin America.Midland develops high quality consumer products such as GMRS Two-Way Radios, Citizen Band (CB) Radios, Marine Radios, Bluetooth intercom systems, and All Hazards/Weather Alert Radios.Also, as a leading manufacturer of Land Mobile Radios, Midland supplies professional grade analog and digital (P25 Technology) Portables, Mobiles and Base Stations/Repeaters for government entities such as forestry, public safety, and other commercial users.
Known in the '70s primarily for CB radios and household electronics, Midland has grown with the times by producing innovative new communications products and by actively promoting public emergency preparedness. Midland has manufactured quality Two-Way Radios for the last 50 years and is a market leader in several individual categories.

What's in the Box Pair of radios, belt clips, desktop charger, rechargeable batteries, pair of mic headsets, AC wall adapter, DC (vehicle) adapter and owner's manual

Get 29% OFF

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Sony HT7200DH Component Home Theater System - Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As my first big box Home Theater system, I don't have anything to compare it to, but I feel the price was worth it.
The system looks great. The speakers are a decent size, and when set up, can look very attractive in a modern themed room. The receiver itself is very slick with with a nice design.
The receiver has plenty of hookups that will be suitable for most people. With 3 HDMI inputs, you should be able to hook up all your Hi-Definition components. One great feature is the ability to process the audio through the HDMI. Some receivers can't handle this and you have to deal with complex connections involving analog to digital, digital to analog, etc. This receiver is great for a PS3 owner because it can take advantage of the loss less sound formats. (Dolby TrueHD, DTS MA, etc.)
I haven't hooked up the included 1080p upscaling DVD player and don't know if I will because I have a PS3. Therefore I cannot comment on that component.
The remote is pretty weak. It has a hard time working from further distances and it is in no way universal. I would recommend a fairly high-end universal remote. I was dealing with three remotes and it wasn't pretty.
The included speaker cable is pretty standard and if you're running some cables under the carpet or through the wall or something, you will most likely need some longer cables to reach the surround speakers.
The sound is great. The powered 8 inch subwoofer really packs a punch for movies and games. The different standard-def audio options sound great with your cable box.
There is an auto calibration setup which consists of placing the included microphone at the same height and location you would be sitting. You then start the test and the speakers all spit out some white noise to tell the receiver how far away, how close to the other speakers, etc, everything is. Very useful. If you would rather do things yourself, each speaker can be individually adjusted to your liking.
All in all, I would say this system is a great bang for your buck.
Pros
-Nice design
-Nice sound
-Ample inputs
-Good price
Cons
-Speaker cable
-Included remote


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The Sony HT-7200DH home theater system offers everything you need to set up a great sounding home theater. System includes a Single disc DVD player with HDMI Output, a 5.1 A/V receiver with 1000 watts (RMS) and HDMI Active Intelligence complemented with high quality 2-way front speakers and 8" active subwoofer. Also, rest assured that you are getting the best system for your money. This system is equipped with DIGITAL MEDIA PORT interface offers an access point and provides control for one of Sony's DIGITAL MEDIA PORT accessories (accessories sold separately). In addition to DMP, Portable Audio Enhancer integrates portable music into a traditional home theater system while providing enhanced audio quality. The included DVD player will also upscale your Movies to a Full 1080p quality when using the HDMI connection. The HT- 7200DH can also control a select number of BRAVIA televisions with BRAVIA Sync via the HDMI interface. With 'One Touch Play," operations that took several steps have been reduced to one. Finally, it is XM Connect & Play Ready2 so you can listen to all the exciting stations available through XM satellite Radio.

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Harman Kardon HK 3490 120 Watt X 2 Stereo Receiver with XM Radio-ready Tuner and Dolby Virtual Speaker Review

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(More customer reviews)I used the HK 3480 (the precursor to this model) for five years and loved it. The 3490 is even better. The sound is more robust and full, not different, but just more refined. It easily powers my Klipsch Synergy speakers and would pair well with any mid-level speakers. With 120w even inefficient speakers will have more than a enough power to move air.
Further, the 3490 has an important new feature: digital inputs. This is a very nice option for those who have made the jump to an all digital music library and use a digital jukeboxes like the Roku Soundbridge or the Squeezebox. Both players have digital outs and pair up nicely with the 3490.
The difference in quality from digital inputs or analog is debatable, but to my ear, going from the 3480 with analog cables, to the 3490 with optical TOSLINK, there was an immediately improvement in clarity. Songs with delicate sound work came alive. Soft details were more apparent. It's been a great upgrade for me.
It's important to note that the 3490 doesn't leave analog fans in the cold either. It has a very nice tape loop and a wonderful gold plated stereo pickup. In short, whether you're library consists of vinyl or mp3s this amp will do it all.
I have always been a fan of Harmon Kardon, and I bought the older 3480 because I'm a strict fan of stereo music listening. The 3490 is a very smart update to the 3480, bringing it into the 21st century with a host of digital options. For those who rely on an iPod for music, there is specific iPod cradle for this amp that allows you to play your iPod's music effortless over the stereo while controlling it with the HK remote. This amp is also XM Radio ready, just plug in your XM receiver and the HK will allow you to control it.
It's very hard to find a subtle, high powered stereo receiver with these features. The market has sadly moved away to the home theater, multi-channel world, but I'm glad Harmon Kardon is still loyal to their stereo listeners.
Build quality is very nice. It's not a flashy amp, it doesn't light up the room with needless LEDs. It's very understated, and handsome. HK even includes two little inserts that hide the front inputs and bass, treble, and balance controls (nice if you don't want people messing with your settings, or you appreciate a clean look.)
Other than the digital options, the tape loop and the phono pickup, the amp does allow video switching and pass through should you want to integrate into your home theater. The other notable detail are the speaker posts. They allow the use of banana clips or allow you to secure naked wire in two different ways to the posts. This is nice if you don't have a lot of clearance behind the amp.
At this price point, there is simply nothing out there that can compete with this amp in terms of quality, performance, or features.

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The HK 3490 is a high current stereo receiver that will give you the best possible audio performance. You can use the optional "Bridge II" to control and navigate your Ipod'. The power rating is 120 watts times two at 8 ohms and 150 watts times 2 at 4 ohms. It has 45 amps of current. It is also XM Ready. It has speaker A/B switching.

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