5 comments about Bose® QuietComfort® 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones.

1. The Bose QC2 are worth every penny. I'm on my second pair. I wore out my first pair after 5 years of heavy use. These headphones are EXTREMELY comfortable and the sound is incredible. I use while I travel, which is every week. I simply slip them on, close my eyes and forget that I'm back on a cramped overcrowded airplane. Whether you travel a lot like I do or just need an occasional time out, they are worth every penny.



2. Well, really wanted to get these and a few others but Amazon decided that they can't ship to an APO. Guess the service members don't deserve them.



3. While in Maine, on Sept 12, 2008 I purchased a pair of Bose QuiteComfort 3 (QC3) Headphones.
   
   Reasons for the purchase:
   a. I was aware that the QC3s are the latest word in noise-cancellation technology and are the 3rd generation of one of the pioneering inventors/producers of the technology. They've also had a couple years trial in the marketplace (released in 2006).
   
   b. I was in a Bose Outlet store where I purchased the QR3s for $300, on an otherwise strictly fair-traded, fixed price of $350. [Note: I was only offered the discount after specifically asking. Otherwise, they were selling them at the usual $350. Not exactly on the "up and up."] Likewise, they were willing to sell the QC2s for $250. YOU MAY HAVE TO ASK!
   
   c. I was able to compare the QC3s (on ear design) with the larger QC2s (ear enclosure design) and preferred the smaller QC3s as more compact, lighter and more comfortable than the (older) QC2's. Clearly a personal choice.
   
   d. Surprisingly, the "passive" noise suppression of the "on the ear" QC3s were comparable to the "ear enclosure" QC2s.
   
   e. I found the "active" noise-cancellation quite impressive with the in-store airplane noise simulation--the QC3s were slightly better than the QC2s IMHO.
   
   f. With only the CS2s to compare music to, they were pleasant to listen to. The QC2s were slightly better.
   
   g. Normally, I wouldn't have purchased them without making a careful comparison with my studio-quality Sony MDR-V6 headphones, but the combination of the 30-day satisfaction guarantee AND flying cross country 2 days later, convinced me that this was a good time to try them.
   
   Impressions during/after a 6 hour flight:
   
   On the flight I was more impressed with the "fatigue" reduction than just with just the overall "noise" reduction. I would estimate the total amount of "noise" cancellation at about 70%, BUT as it seems to cover the most fatiguing (lower) frequencies best, I would estimate the "fatigue-reduction" at more like 85%. The noise reduction further reduced stress and fatigue by requiring much less sound amplification. As a result I was MOST impressed by the overall reduction of stress by the end of the flight. For perhaps the first time I actually felt REFRESHED! This alone would justify the expense for any frequent or even occasional traveler, probably including train or bus travel as well. One downside on flight was low-level signal break-up at higher amplification. I now suspect it was the airplane source. I felt at the time that there was relatively enhanced bass and relatively weaker middle to upper range. That is the frequency response is for from flat, being (atypically) highest in the bass.
   
   Post-flight impressions:
   Positive:
   
   Impressive feeling of isolation even in home office, even with no music turned on.
   
   Significant improvement in my own ability to read and concentrate in general.
   
   Enhanced ability to sleep with phones on. It significantly helps with my chronic problem with insomnia.
   
   Quick battery recharge. Even after over ca. 15 hours of use, recharge only required about 30 minutes.
   
   Strong and reasonably clear bass reproduction (usually hardest to find in a headphone).
   
   Quite comfortable to wear even for long periods of time, including in bed at night.
   
   Delightful to use with my Amazon Kindle, especially in situations away from home (e.g. doctor's waiting room). This combination is just great either for playing background music or listening to an AudioBook.
   
   Negative: QC3s are VERY expensive headphones.
   
   They are far from studio quality sound reproduction. Very strong bass plus relatively weak (and "muddy") midrange & treble. Bummer!
   
   They compare poorly with my Sony MDR V-6s. Particularly in midrange and treble clarity. Even my $40 RadioShack Pro 35A headphones (discontinued?) compares favorably with the QC3s in midrange and treble. Flatness of frequency response can be improved with digital equalizer (e.g. WinAmp playing MP3s on my PC). Unfortunately, sound clarity cannot.
   
   Recommendations: The biggest questions to ask yourself:
   
   How much noise reduction do I want?
   How important is the music quality?
   How much can you afford, or are willing to spend?
   
   I would most highly recommend the QC3s for frequent travelers. I know of no headphone with a more aggressive combination of active and passive noise reduction and is as comfortable at any price. For such uses it can be enjoyed even without playing music. In such truly noisy situations, the QC3s with music playing actually sounds better than studio-quality headphones that would need to be cranked quite loud to hear anything. Music quality becomes less of an absolute factor in noisy situations.
   
   For less noisy situations, e.g. cubical offices the music quality becomes a more significant factor: If you prefer music that is strong in bass and is relatively compressed in dynamic range, e.g. rock/pop/oldies music the disadvantages of the QC3s are minimal. On the other hand, classical music takes quite a hit. Here a digital equalizer would be a great help. In such intermediate noise level environments, I would recommend looking at other manufacturers of noise-cancellation earphones, as there are many that are much more affordable and have produce equal or better sound quality. I would only recommend the QC3s if you prefer just noise cancellation.
   
   For environments that are quiet, or near-quiet to begin with, I simply wouldn't recommend the QC3s.
   
   I have decided that these headphones are (just barely) worth it to me. Others will obviously feel otherwise. The winning factors for me personally were there positive affect on travel noise and the fact that I need/want quiet for reading and sleeping. I just hope that this review will help others decide if the Bose QC3s are worth the cost...and to get them at the lower than retail price.



4. Bose® QuietComfort® 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones
   Highly recommended. It is an awsome headphone that I have never had.



5. I recently tested the mighty and ubiquitous QC3's, though the sound reproduction, as well as the noise canceling quality, is not as class leading as one may think. The clarity, and definition across the frequency range was stale with muted mids, boomy bass, and treble that grated like nails on a chalk board at higher volumes. Between classical -"Pavarotti", acoustic -"Seal Unplugged" and dance music -"Justice D.A.N.C.E." genres played, they fared best with the acoustic genre. Source used was a 1st Gen iPhone with the tracks encoded at 320kbps.
   
   The strong point of these headphones is the noise cancellation at altitude. Great to kick back and sleep.
   
   However music playback suffers as a result with a very ordinary sound stage that seems muted. The build quality is good, and is great for domestic use. However, the design is not particularly durable or conceived with travelers' needs in mind, i.e. continual inspection at security checks. In fact a friend has had a ham-fisted TSA agent crack the part of the plastic holding the ear-cups while inspecting the rechargeable battery and it's bay... simple AAA's would have been much more practical, as well as a more robust design spec.
   
   Conclusion, overpriced under-performer. They would be appealing at a $125-175 price point, IF the active cancellation was accompanied by equivalent acoustic excellence. Competitors have blown past Bose with better offerings. For audiophiles Sennheiser PXC450's are "non plus ultra", PXC350's are also worth a look-in. For hipsters, the Monster Beats are also superior with stellar music reproduction, but the active noise cancellation somewhat less intense. THANKS FOR READING and good luck with whatever you buy. : )

5 comments about Apple USB Power Adapter for iPod (White).

1. I bought mine for $10 from Mangowalk. It's an obvious knock-off that does not charge properly, and I used it only twice for fear of ruining the battery. Buy the full price one from Apple itself.



2. This item works great. It is fast and easy to use and if you don't want to sync your iTouch at the time you want to recharge it, it bypasses that. Also it is great for when you don't want to take your computer someplace and need to charge your iTouch.



3. I just wanted to say that my wife has one of these for her iPod and it not only charges her iPod, but if I connect it to my Zune's USB cable and plug it in, it will charge my Zune too. Have you priced the Zune power adapters. This is less than half and it works justs as well.



4. Excellent product. I like being able to charge my iPod without having to connect it to the computer. It was great to take on vacation where I did not have my computer. Love it, well worth the money.



5. SELLER WAS THE WORST I HAVE MET IN AMAZON WAS HARD TO REACH SENT ME A USB ADAPTER THAT GOT MESSED UP IN A COUPLE DAYS DO NOT BUY FROM THIS SELLER BEWARE HE WILL ONLHY RIPP U OFF

No comments about Incipio Technologies dermaSHOT Case for iPod touch 2G (Black).

5 comments about Cables To Go - 13787 - 6ft 3.5mm Stereo Audio Extension Cable M/F (Black).

1. The only reason i bought these cables were because of the price. I got these at exactly the same time i got my new headphones (Sennheiser HD-555) and when using these, there is a slightly noticable drop volume. If you are just looking for an extension and don't care too much about sound quality, these are great for the price, but if you want to keep the sound as clear as possible, invest in some higher quality cables



2. The connections, both at the plug and the jack, are not built to spec and are quite loose in all of the headphone jacks and headphones I've tried. Any movement of the cable causes the connection points to slip and slide, causing one or both channels to drop out or cause static to be heard.
   
   Very disappointing and the cable is going into the garbage because it would cost more than I paid originally to return it.



3. I purchased this extension cord to listen to music from my PC at work. When I opened the package I discovered that the end that plugs into the PC was bent and the receiving end that the headphones plug into was slightly too large for a 3.5 mm input. The result was that my headphones kept disconnecting from the extension cord whenever I moved. Reading other reviews, this seems to be a common flaw in this product. Shipping back to the seller makes a more expensive purchase than buying the other extension cord available at Amazon. Save yourself time and money, buy the Maxell.



4. The female connector portion was a loose fit and took some fiddling to get both ears working. It was annoying, but it was bearable, until the cable completely stopped working out of one of the ears. Overall, just poor quality. The seller on the other hand was excellent.



5. This cable is very good and does what it needs to do. I am very satisfied with it.

5 comments about Logitech Harmony 670 Universal Remote.

1. Software has bugs. It recognized all hardware, yet does not set the remote to execute all the right commands. I attempted to configure TV, DVR, receiver and DVD player. Remote would power all hardware on/off appropriately but refused to send proper hardware input commands to the TV. TV and DVR would power-on, but TV didn't connect with DVR. Logitech's FAQ's/Help were not useful.
   Even if the remote would work, to me it seemed that it would easily allow only limited access to functions that are quickly accessible with the DVR and TV remotes (e.g. swapping between DVR tuners, going to "On Demand" cable, executing picture-in-picture, etc.). Channel selection and volume control are quick and easy, but accomplishing anything more complex appeared to be challenging.



2. This unit does a good job in locating all the devices I use at home correctly. Some of the models I have were over 10 years old. I was also able to conveniently program all the key activities for my entertainment centers.
   
   The software was pretty buggy. There is a known bug (support acknowledged it) which you cannot re-assign the activities buttons correctly. I was told that they are working on a fix which would be available within 1-2 months. The other issue is that you cannot arrange the activities on the screen in the order you like neither.
   
   The support team was great. Response was timely and they are honest in acknowledging the existing software issues.



3. After reading the great reviews, I had high expectations for this remote, but it failed me in two ways:
   1. A bug in the latest 670 firmware does not allow customizing the activity buttons...those buttons which allow you to turn on or off all the video and audio components with the push of a single button. Although the activity buttons are what distinguishes this remote from other remotes, Logitech decided the bug was not important enough to fix immediately because there are some awkward workarounds. But explain those workarounds to your wife that you promised a simple remote for your complex setup... The best estimate now is that it be at least another month to fix what should be a minor firmware bug that was introduced two months ago. You can check the Logitech Forums to see if it has been fixed.
   2. The buttons are small, not arranged logically, and difficult to read. As a result, the the only advantage of this remote over the five factory remotes it was to replace is the currently-awkward activity buttons, which only reduced the number of remotes we juggle down to four. Needless to say, my wife was not impressed.



4. Not fancy, but just a peanut that getter done. Programming software intuitive. Did have to make 2 calls to support, one to obtain correct codes for my Dish DVR-722 and properly set up Watch DVD/VCR modes.
   I have a Sony combo DVD/VCR hard to find remote that control this device, but the 670 can. This remote has a lot of options and customizing features you would expect from a $200 remote. RECOMMENDED.
   Samsung PN50A650 Plasma TV
   Sony SLVD370P DVD_VCR
   Yamaha RX-V663 AV Receiver
   Dish Network VPI-722 DVR**
   
   (**probably will have to IR learn one code for Logitech to update remote with proper codes.)
   
   All of your remote programming is on Logitech's server (internet access required), tech support can view, update and simulate your programming.



5. I have Sony 52inch KDL-52V4100 LCD, Onkyo TX-SR605 receiver, Cox Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8240HDC, and a SONY combo recorder DVD/VCR RDR-VX560.
   
   PROS: Great product. My wife loves it (she says you mean I don't have to press the INPUT button on the tv anymore to tell it I'm watching tv or COX cable box or the DVD player?).
   
   CONS: The software 7.5 has a bug: The WATCH MOVIE button only points to the DVD ACTIVITY (which is fine) even though the software says it can be mapped to ther activities -- tech said new software version will be released around Dec 2008. Tech support is wonderful... waited less than 30 seconds. Techs from India are hard to understand but very polite. Sometimes I get an American tech so I don't have to struggle to understand what's said.
   When I press the MORE ACTIVITIES button, there's only the NEXT buttons and no BACK button (although I can click the MORE ACTIVITIES button to go back to the first screen).
   In the MORE ACTIVITIES button, the other activities can't be sorted the way I want, I would have to delete my activities in the software and recreate them in the order I want to see them sorted.
   When controlling my DVD player, the REWIND button is on the other side far away from the FORWARD button which forces me to use my left hand to press the REWIND button.

5 comments about ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AP-16100W 100' White 16 Gauge Oxygen-Free Speaker Wire.

1. Good 16 gauge speaker wire. Looks much better than my old black and clear speaker wires on the wall.



2. This speaker wire is awesome. I hooked up my HTS with the stock wires and it sounded O.k, but after reading i decided to go with this speaker wire... all i can say is it was a great decision. I like to hear everything just right so you can say i am an audiophile and this makes the experience even better. Go for it you wont regret it.



3. Great product, great price, nice white color blends well with basic white walls in most rooms of most houses so it's unintrusive. When stripping the plastic from the wire for the speaker/amp connection it's really hard to pull off. That must be the oxygen free aspect?



4. A minor thing, but the wire I received is "antique white" -- slightly off white, which doesn't go against true white baseboard or doorframe as I'd hoped.



5. I recently received this product from Amazon and was surprised to see that the color is "antique white", which is really a slightly brownish ivory color. Kind of like the color you'd get if you combined a quarter cup of coffee with 3/4 cup of milk. The photo on the website has been brightened and does not represent the actual color.
   
   I'm pleased because this is close to the color of my off-white walls (it's actually a little darker than my walls, but it's close enough).
   
   If you are expecting a pure white color though, this product will not match.

5 comments about V-MODA Bass Freq Earbuds - Platinum White.

1. I bought these headphones a few months ago, and until recently, I have been very pleased with them. However, over the past couple of weeks, the sound has been spotty in the right ear. This afternoon the sound shut off completely in the right ear. So while these are fairly nice headphones (and moderately priced to boot), they only lasted me a few months so I do not recommend them to others.



2. These are a good pair of ear buds, and for the price they are great. They sound just as good as my $100 Sony's which ended up falling apart. Don't know about the durability yet seeing how I just got them, but they sound terrific.



3. These ear buds kick butt. vibrant,warm lows and crisp, clean highs. sound great from metel to hip hop to soft rock. would deffinately recomend these to anyone looking for quality sound thats not going to hurt your wallet.



4. I had a pair of the Bose earphones and didn't like the way they felt; they hung on the inside of my ear and felt like they would fall out at any second. The sound-isolating nature of these earphones make listening to music a much more pleasant experience. Also, they fit snug in my ears and feel great to run with. I'm not an audiophile by any means, which allowed me to switch from Bose to V-MODA without complaining about sound quality; they sound great to me!



5. These buds work great if your player has little or no bass ONLY! If your player has even ok bass these buds will "clip" (distort) bass (great for Zen StoneCreative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Black) player not good for Zen VCreative Zen V Plus 4 GB Portable Media Player (Black/Blue)). These buds a very sensitive too which means tiny players with tiny batteries last longer per charge.

5 comments about Verbatim DVD-R 4.7GB 16X Branded 50pk Spindle.

1. i usually brought 2- 25 pack of this product and is fine and after i decide to buy more disc and i change to buy 1- 50 pack of dvd-r is nice too and record as nice as original disc and never get wrong or flow the disc away should suggest to buy this again thanks.



2. Still the best discs you can buy in a retail store. The only discs that are marginally better than Verbatim are Taiyo Yudens that are more expensive and only available online. As far as quality per dollar spent Verbatim is #1. Verbatims are made by Mitsubishi thats why the quality is so high. These discs go on sale at Best Buy every month for only $12.99. Verbatim is so confident in their discs they give you a lifetime warranty



3. These work great. Burned a bunch of home movies onto these and all burns have worked great. Burning times were cut in half after I upgraded the firmware on my DVD drive.



4. Verbatim is compatible with my computer and my DVD recorder, works well in both and never end up with any coasters.



5. I have used most of the other well-known brands - Sony, TDK, Maxell, etc. - and none of the others have delivered as consistent result as Verbatim. I give up trying others just because they're on sale. They're on sale because that's the only way most people will buy those brands. Verbatim is by far the most dependable brand I have ever used. It will always be my brand of CHOICE.

5 comments about Sabrent SBT-USC1K Hi-Speed USB 2.0 to Serial DB-9 RS-232 Adapter Cable (Black).

1. I used it to connect a Garmin GPS unit to my Mac while running Parallels to update the Garmin database - worked fine.



2. This item should be listed as temporarily unavailabe. The listing says it might take an extra day to ship. My confirmation says to expect to wait at least a month. If I didn't need it now, I wouldn't have ordered it.



3. As another reviewer pointed out, this item uses the Prolific PL-2303 chip, giving excellent support under Linux and Mac OSX. Unlike some other USB to serial adapters (such as those from Cypress), this device correctly implements hardware flow control and sets proper line voltages, ensuring full RS-232 compatibility.
   
   Not only is it good, it's also very inexpensive. Five stars in my book.



4. Bought some of these as I needed a serial interface into some equipment and the computers my work was building no longer had these available. Install the driver, plug in the cable, and go. Only caveat was remembering which serial port it was using.
   
   Cable did what I needed it to do and I really can't complain.



5. Purchased a new laptop which does not have a serial port. This item allowed me to continue to use my Palm IIIC. Setup was quick and the adapter cable works perfectly.

5 comments about Bargaincell- Brand New Black Soft Flexible Silicon / Silicone Skin Cover Case with Armband for Sandisk Sansa E200, E250, E260, E270, E280, E200r, E250r, E260r, E270r, E280r Mp3 Player.

1. This is better than i expected, real nice tight fit, only complaint is NO screen cover.



2. I have both the travel kit with the leather case and this item. I prefer using the silicon skin for the following reasons: 1. The skin is just the right thickness to hold and protect, yet not bulky. 2. One compaint for the Sansa e200 series is access to the buttons. This case has raised material which makes the buttons a piece of cake to use.
   
   One aspect of accessing the buttons is the wheel is a little less accesible, but I actaully got used to using it better. There's always the naysayers about a product but for $3.00 + S/H, I'm going to buy another one in case this one rips, I expect to use this case cover most of the time. It doesn't have a piece to secure on the back except the velcro band, but I mainly stick it in my pocket anyway, I don't like things dangling from my side.



3. This is a great product for protecting my MP3. It fits great and allows use of all the functions.



4. If you're looking to protect your unit, this cover does the job. It fits perfectly and you can still use all the controls without difficulty. The cover does not offer any protection for the screen, though, so if that's a concern you'll probably want to choose from other covers.



5. I am sorry but something is amiss here. I ordered this product to use with my sansa E280 MP3 player and the supplier was Electronics Expo. What they sent me was either an old design or the design of my MP3 player was new but, the bottom line is, none of the holes lined up, the case ripped upon my attempt to fit it on the unit and, basically their return policy made it doubtful that I would receive any kind of consideration because after a package is open it is unreturnable, as per their return policy. Where can I get a case that will be suitable for this unit to be worn with an armband? Can't seem to find anything else.