Audio Reviews

These things are what I've been using for the last 10 year

it was really good and they sound great. they are standard in the bootleg world. i use them for everything. the most high quality tape that you can buy.

...they sound great, they're durable, and they're grey so you can write on them with a sharpie marker!

I am very happy with these cables and the sound and video they deliver. I only have one complaint which is the cables are very tight when pushed onto the rca jacks for the audio. When you try to pull them off they are difficult to pull off because they grip the rca posts so tightly. This condition may get better as they are used more.

If you need to edit video tape or just copy it to a medium such as VHS tape, get this. It is not only easy to use, the quality of your finished product is fabulous. I love it.

the picture is crystal clear on a 36" screen. clarity and definition can't be beat.

Richard J Greene's comments (below) are a little misleading. Let's be clear, Monster's passive composite to S-Video converter does not improve the quality of one's VHS source material. Richard's DVD analogy is erroneous since DVD video is stored with separate chroma and luminance signals to begin with and benefits greatly from an S-Video link so that the two remain independent. Conversely, the composite output of a DVD player is a compromised combination of the two.

But what the CSVA-1 does do is allow receiver based systems (where sources are switched by the receiver) to use just one S-Video link from receiver to TV. As receivers don't usually have the ability to convert composite signals to S-Video, if a system includes composite components such as a VHS VCR, when they're selected video is not routed to the TV unless a second, composite, receiver to TV connection is in place.

For this reason alone the Monster converter is indispensable, it allows S-Video to be used throughout a system and greatly simplifies A/V switching and wiring schemes.

With the use of the S-Video Adapter I am now able to enjoy other video sources, like TV and VHS in great picture quality. I couldn't imagine watching VHS without it. Especially since I own a DVD player and saw the difference with it's S-Video connection. This is worth the buy.

Monster cable does provide superior sound quality, My stereo system would be a heap of junk without the cables, You can Trust Monster Cable.

No problems here. Beats higher-priced similar models from competitors like Sony and Panasonic. The aesthetics/design quotient is a nice extra, too.

The Olympus Microcassette Recorder S711 is the perfect utensil for corporate meetings, fun stuff, and stuff you know you will remember. It slashes a digital recorder, because the simple tapes that you buy may include almost 90 mins. of space. That's 270 mins. with all 3 tapes (if 90 mins. are included) That is even more then some of the digital voice recorders that top $50. This proves a digital voice recorder isn't and wasn't worth my while. At first, when searching I'd looked towards Sony and Olympus for their digital recorders. But that is nothing compared to their microcassette recorders. Sony has been doing well for quite a while, but it is tiny, puny, and not worth it once compared to the Olympus.

Pros
-Large, easy to use buttons. Nothing fancy
-Allows 2 type of speeds
-From a name brand that you trust
-Cheap, but accurate
-3 tapes with 90 mins. can hold more than some digital recorders which top $50

Cons
-Looks aging
-Some buttons are too big and bulky
-Blue, I think not, Maybe Grey or something else

Overall, I rate the Olympus 5 stars. It isn't too big or small, and it is accurate. It allows you to record with microcassette tapes, and has been proven much better than a digital voice recorder. I'm glad that I own it, and I would like you to have it too.

I got my olympus for my anatomy class and it works great. the only problem i am having is trying to find the in the ear headphones for it. it records great. if your teacher mumbles you can turn up the volume so you can hear him better. Turning up the volume is like turning up the microphone. there is not wind sounding static noise. you can take a 30 min tape and make it an hour by using the 1/2 speed record. but if you want to listen to it on another machine with out this feature it sounds like alvin and the chiip munks. it is small and the blue is like navy blue not that pale blue in the picture. I have seen more expensive micro recorders for more. it is great for college or high school students with out alot of money. you could not ask for a better record quality.

I definitely like the sound quality of this mini stereo. After buying and returning several mp3 stereos, i decided upon this one, and was surprised that it was able to rewind/fast forward through mp3 files (something critical that most mini stereo manufacturers touting mp3 capability have yet to add). Although the sound isn't audible while rewinding on mp3s,(minor drawback, but the positives outweigh the negatives).

I finally invested in a stereo in which, i feel the manufacturers made mp3s their main focus. Other manufacturers treat mp3 capability as an after thought. With a large collection of mp3 cds, i enjoy being able to listen to them without changing cds all the time. (have yet to hook it up to pc via usb,though)--My main concern was mp3 cds.

The sound quality is excellent. It produces a clean, balanced sound, not too bassy(more natural). DVD movies sound very good through the auxilary inputs. Only issue, is the stereo has a fan built in it, in order to keep from overheating (i guess), which isn't noticeable unless you have very quiet songs or volume turned down low. (the fan is built at the back of the unit and turns on when the unit is on(similar to a computer drive).

I was a more than a little leary of ordering this. I've not had good luck with Philips electronics in the past, but this little wonder put those fears to rest.

First of all, it looks great. I love the styling, although I'm still not real fond of the blonde speaker cabinets, but it's growing on me.

The unit sounds like a washing machine when you first turn it on, I guess it's checking each of the CD drives. The main reason I bought this was the MP3 capabilities, and I believe Philips has optimized it for that purpose. Instead of a single platter type changer, it has FIVE separate cd trays. You can play all 5 CDs straight through, but shuffle and repeat modes only apply to the current disk. So, if you load this thing with 5 CDs, it won't shuffle between all 5 disks, only the current one, then it switches to the next CD. This is fine if you want to shuffle through a homemade MP3 CD each with hundreds of songs, but not so good for plain old audio CDs.

The best feature of the unit is the sound, it is enormous for such a little thang. I have a big Sony system in my with den with huge JBL speakers, and this little dynamo sounds darn near as good.

I've compared standard audio CDs versus my homemade MP3 CDs, and I really can't tell the difference in sound quality. It has 4 equalizer and 4 reverb settings, they all sound great to me. The MAX SOUND is basically a loudness button on steroids, boosting both the highs and lows and adding some reverb. Again, I hate to keep repeating this, but it sounds great for such a little unit.

It has a clock display and a timer feature. The FM tuner is okay, it comes with one of those dopey wire antennas, I wish it had a telescoping type instead.

Overall I am very happy with this unit and would recommend it to my friends.

This is very good sounding for a small room, I have it in the basement, gets the whole family dancing. It plays CDs (CD-R and CD-RW) with MP3s on them as well as normal audio CDs. And hooked up to the computer with USB cable I can listen to the music before burning CDs, also internet radio.

This product kicks. I havent used it in a while, but I'm getting back into it. And with places like iMusic.com this is a good combo of preforance and memory.

I shopped around a lot before deciding on this player, and have rarely been so pleased with a purchase. This thing has GREAT sound quality, easy and intuitive interfaces, easy to use software, and a huge cool factor. I absolutely love it. It is great as an mp3/wma player, and that it records is just a huge bonus. I have used the recording feature for classes and seminars- it's so tiny it is unnoticable.
Highly recommended. If I could use another I'd buy two.

I only buy brand name technology products, because they usually have better support, and they have more financing behind the creation of a new product...I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL OF BUYING A NON-BRAND NAME PRODUCT. THIS PRODUCT HAS SURPRISED ME TO NO END. I am waiting for it to mess up, but is has not yet. Until it does-you have to get this thing-it is smaller than a typical card from a deck of cards(the width and height)...

I will keep it very simple for everybody. This little thing is a portal into the FUTURE. I will explain it this way. I have grown to love putting all of my music on my computer. I play my music for hours by playlists...I have had parties, romantic moments, or just plain background music without the worry messing with scratched cd's or hearing them skip in the middle of the fun moments-life is too short for interruptions.

This little thing records HIGH QUALITY AUDIO FROM ANY AUDIO SOURCE(TAPES-RECORDS) and also from the MICROPHONE-ALMOST STUDIO QUALITY. For some reason, this thing hasnt taken the technology world by storm! But I guess that is the way it goes sometimes. I have archived all of my Stern Audio, old songs from tapes, lectures from school, and even comedy shows from tv.

It is a great mp3 player. Amazon only has the 256mb player, but go to pogoproducts.com and get the 128-I listen to about an hour and a half of music. If you want more, you can buy a SD/MMC card and add space. Get this thing if it sounds good to you. If you want help, I will be more than happy to help.(Call me an altruist)

ITS SIMPLE LOVE THE TV CAN NOT FIND V PORT WIRE TO HOOK INTO V PORT SLOT ON TV

I do not own this TV, and since the previous reviews were of no help, I have to ask these questions to other people who own this TV:

Does the V Port provide a picture quality that is significantly better than a regular S-video plug ???

This TV seems like a great buy since it also has component plugs which are great for DVD movies. But it is not truly a HDTV. It is considered to be an "analog" TV. So should I buy this analog TV, or should I buy a true HDTV ???

Only 11 TVs support Microsoft X Box's new VPORT, this is one of them. I highly recommend this TV for the price.

I would rank its 3 functions in this order: camera, MP3 player, video recorder. Details on each follow:

Camera: As a 2 Megapixel camera, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the pictures. This won't replace a dedicated camera, but as a device you can always have with you, it does a good job. Its primrary limitations are the very short range of the flash (making group photos tougher than you would like) and the lack of zoom (it's a fixed-focal length lens set at a pretty wide angle).

MP3 Player: First the bad news - you have to use the supplied software to upload music to be played. The Jukebox software "locks" your music in an attempt to add some sort of digital rights management. Which means if you already have a large library of encoded music, you still have a slow import process to go through before you can put music on the device. Painful and unnecessary. However, the quality of the playback is good. I wish the cord on the headphones was longer. If you put a large SD card in this, you can have a 512mb MP3 player that is also a decent camera for not much more than a 256mb dedicated MP3 player.

Video recorder: This is pretty nominal. Resolution is fixed at 320x240 with a fixed (no zoom) wide angle lens. And you cannot move very quickly or the image immediately blurs. So it's OK as a quick use item and marginally better than the short video functions on most digital cameras. But don't buy this for its video ability.

Overall pros and cons....

Pros: Great form factor and design. Like the iPod, this is a device you just have to hold in your hands to enjoy fully. It is a pleasure and a delight (it is also smaller than the iPod!). It is really impossible to convey how petite, yet right-sized it is without seeing it in person. Camera is better than you expect and MP3 playback is decent.

Cons: At less then $200, this would be a deal. At current prices, it is slightly steep. Since they only throw in an 8 Mb SD card, count on getting a 128/256 Mb card yourself for photos/music (another $60-120). Or even 512 Mb if you want to do video capture. But be aware that the video mode is pretty nominal. The lack of any optical zoom hurts as well.

Overall, I would recommend to those lookng for a small, all-in-one device. Particularly if you already have invested in SD cards for other devices. Shop around and aim for as close to $250 as possible.

I got this camera about 6 weeks ago. I have heard that the best camera is the one you have with you when you need it. So that would make this a good camera. I take it with me everywhere because it is so small and fits in my pocket. It is no more inconvenient to carry than a cell phone.

A couple problems I have with it are that the lens rotates so you can take a pic of yourself....but the flash does not rotate with the lens. So if you are in a poorly lit area and want to take a pic of yourself, all the benefits of having a rotating lens are lost. This is only a minor problem to me, but I think it is poor design.

The second problem is that the SD card it comes with is small...very small. 8mb. Is that some kind of joke? Most digital cameras come with small memory cards, but they are promoting this thing as a multi function device: camera, camcorder, mp3 player. My Panasonic mp3 player came with a 64mb card, why does this come with only 8mb? It is supposed to be an mp3 player too. They might as well have not included any memory with this camera. I was lucky that I bought it while Panasonic was having a promotion and they sent me a free 128mb card. Which only took about 1 week to arrive, not 6-8 like they said.

I only use the camera function, so I cannot comment on the other functions, but overall I am happy with it. However I would not want this to be my only camera. When I go on a trip or someplace where I know I will be taking a lot of pics I will bring a different camera, as this camera is only 2mp and does not have an optical zoom. If you want a small camera you can carry with you at all times then this one is good. If small size is not the most important thing to you, then you should look at something else.

Picture quality is just OK for email or memo.
It is not good for print out.
But I always can carry and easily take a photo as memo.

Music player function is very good.

GOOD / PROS --
- Compact and small
- Good quality screen
- A neat gadget
- Plays and records sound clearly

BAD / CONS --
- Complicated
- Buttons are TOO small
- Hard to focus -- takes bad still pictures

The trouble with most combination devices is that they try to do too much, and thus end up doing lots of things poorly. With the D-Snap 50, Panasonic has avoided this all too common design flaw... mostly.

The D-Snap 50 is an excellent gadget for professionals on the go, combining a two megapixel video camera, a digital voice recorder, and an MP3 player all into a package smaller and lighter than a pack of cigarettes. The bundled software is complete (if unexceptional) and the controls are fairly intuitive - most people familiar with digital cameras should be able to master the basics in a few minutes of use.

Nonetheless, there are a few questions I'd like to ask the D-Snap engineering team. First, did you intend for me to amputate my right index finger in order to take a decent picture? Second, just how many songs, memos, pictures, and videos do you expect me to fit on a measly 8 megabyte memory card? Third, why so many different quality settings for images when only Superfine (or Fine and big) is even good enough for email? Finally, would Macintosh support have killed you?

Despite these grievances, this is a great buy for a select target audience, such as people considering the Palm Zire 71 that prefer to organize their thoughts using spoken words instead of text. With a little practice - and a 256 MB or 512 MB Secure Digital Card - the D-Snap's annoyances will quickly fade. Three-and-a-half stars now, four when the price comes down a little.

I really enjoy this product. I ordered it off the internet and i had read some reviews saying it was just ok... so i felt a little wary. However, this is the coolest product ever! All of the photos and video are good quality and the MP3 is really cool! I am so pumped to show all of my friends! It is a real attention getter and I love it! It is so tiny that you can take it ANYWHERE. SMALLER THAN MY CELL! Its a great product and i encourage anyone to buy! Im gonna go use it some more now! LOVE IT! 5

This is a nice LCD DVD player. I like the fact that this operates in DC and AC modes without bulky power adaptors. The cables and remote neatly hide in the small storage compartment. My kids figured out the operation with zero help from me.

The only feature I'd like to see is the ability to resume playback after a power outage. The 12V power plug in my car cuts out when I start the car. Unfortunately, the DVD player insists on starting all over again. This is only a small inconvenience since we use this player primarily for long trips.

Pros:
Excellent video quality
Very Compact
Nice Features
Supurb costomer service

Cons:
Very poor sound (must
buy headphones to use)

All in all this is an excellent item. The Sound quality is so poor, that I couldnt use this item until I bought a pair of good head phones. The Costomer service at Amazon.com was the best Ive ever seen. The first unit that was sent to me had a problem with the screen(which should be bigger, it was innefective at this size). The LCD display would not light correctly on one side of the screen, so I sent an email to Amazon.com's costomer service center, and right away(within the next day) I revieved and answer. They said it would be fine, to just send them the deffective player, and they would send out a new one(checked over personally by them) ASAP. And I guess they did, because the new item arrived within the next week. Orrigionally I wasnt supposed to recieve the player for another two weeks, so all in all, I recieved the second, working one, before it was predicted that I would get the first one. THANK YOU AMAZON.COM. If you order this product from Amazon.com you will be amazed by the quality of the product and service.

Easily the best mobile DVD player you can buy for the car, short of having an expensive professional system installed.

This unit is also safer than those "in a bag" portable DVD players, which hang on the back of the seat. Imagine what would happen in a car accident with one of those. I wouldn't want to be sitting behind it.
The RCA rests on the seat, and is buckled in with the seatbelt, a much better (and safer) design.

The only downside is there is no battery, but if you are using this for the car, or for a hotel room, you simply don't need one.