5 comments about Apple - Video adapter - mini-DVI (M) - HD-15.

1. I use this cable to connect my Macbook to a 22" Viewsonic LCD as a desktop replacement. It has been shorting every other day since i bought it. So every other AM I fiddle with it for about 15 minutes to get it signal the proper resolution to the monitor. Shame on me for putting up with it, but from what I read it's a common quality control problem with this cable - so shame on Apple. If the cable cost more than $20 you would see more bad reviews, but at $19 I figure people just suck it up and buy another one.



2. I may just be computer-illiterate (very likely), but I find that once I plug the adapter in my laptop goes nuts. However, with patience and persistence, I can pretty easily get the connection working great. And I love to watch all my online content on the big screen.



3. This works well enough, I suppose: you plug it into your Macbook and it makes a picture on your VGA monitor. However I find the quality of the conversion from mini-DVI to VGA to be lacking.
   
   I expect a certain level of inaccuracies using a VGA cable for an LCD screen (rather than a DVI cable where the signal can be digital all the way from the computer to the monitor), but using the identical monitor plugged into a true VGA port on a different computer, the display is much crisper.
   
   On my 1280x1024 resolution 19" monitor, the pixels are visibly blurry. It's most noticable on text -- where black text appears to have a small halo of blur or other colors around it. Small text is nigh unreadable.



4. For what you get. it's over priced and very short. It's used in conjunction with a Dvi-d dual link cable to connect a macbook to my LCD TV. It works ok, but like i said. It could be longer.



5. Work well, the only type available to hook up my mac to my sony TV

5 comments about Sony MDR-XD200 Stereo Headphones.

1. Thought i had a big head till i put these on and looked in the mirror. These things are enormous! But i like them, not heavy at all and comfortable. So far the sound is good. I can get really clear low bass tones. The 10' cord is a big plus but I think the "sound mode" function is worthless. Didn't notice any kind of difference between movie and music. Thats ok cause i didn't buy it for that purpose anyhow. They're good headphones at a great price and im pleased.



2. Sound quality is good, but I find the fit on my oval-shaped head is uncomfortable. The span of the headband seems designed for the more brachycephalic. If you are an egghead, or a "pointy-headed intellectual" (as Joe McCarthy used to rave), these might not fit so well.



3. I was looking specifically for over-head headphones to help dampen the noise in the environment I work. Unfortunately, this don't do much at all to dampen outside noise. They have decent sound, but it can only be appreciated in a quiet environment.



4. These are some very good headphones for the price. Good sound, good quality. I brought these specifically for my psp because the earbubs just wear my ears out after about 35 minutes. I didnt wanna spend alot of money because at amazon you dont have to. Theres alot of quality items available for the low. I like these headphones because thy're good enuff to use everyday but I dont have to worry about breaking them. If so just buy another pair no big deal. There not the type that "hugs" your ears but they're considerabley snug. You can't lay down on your pillow on either side because they're a lil rigid. All in all I reccommend these to anyone who want something better than decent, cheap and of good quality.



5. This was to replace a very light weight headphone with small ear cups. Upon arrival, I tried them out and used them for about an hour. OUCH!! They began hurting my outer ears and after said hour, I felt like ripping them off. As far as the audio control for music, or movie listening, I couldn't tell any difference. I am very disappointed in these headphones but feel stuck with them as they aren't defective, just uncomfortble and bulky to wear. I hate to throw money away, so guess I'll keep them till they croak.

5 comments about Eforcity Black 6 FT / 2 Meter DVI-D M/M Digital /Digital Dual Link Cable for Flat Panel Displays, Digital CRT Displays, HDTV and Video Projectors, including DFP and LCD types.

1. The only thing this cable's got going for it is the price (... so the postage cost makes it not worth returning).
   
   At lower resolutions, like 1440 by 900, it's fine and didn't give me any problems. But if I plug the cord into my 24 inch LCD and try to run at full resolution (1900 by 1200), the screen becomes a mess. There are flashing pixels along edges of the image, and some pixels stick on bright red/green/blue. It's the same outcome on both my Mac and my PC.
   
   If you've got a bigger screen, avoid this cable!



2. Didn't know how much I was missing till I used the dual DVI outputs on my video card and the dual inputs (HD15 and DVI) on my LCD. I could switch back and forth between the two. Set-up a short looping video and watched it a few dozen times to see the difference. It was more than enough to justify the extra expense (small) of buying this cable.
   
   Now, on to the cable. It went into the connector smooth and the thumbscrews were easy enough to turn. Cable was thick and seemed adequately shielded. Gold coating looked evenly applied. No issues at all.



3. Giving this four instead of 5 for two reasons:
   
   1) The cables came labeled as HDMI instead of DVI on the packaging, which I don't understand.
   
   2) I had to shave off a quarter inch of plastic off both of the cables so I could plug them both into my graphics card.
   
   Besides that, they work great, and I'm happy with the purchase. The cables are nice and thick, and don't feel nearly as cheap as I expected.



4. Bottom Line: It doesn't get any cheaper than this, and the cable works fine.
   
   I wanted to use a second LCD monitor on my desktop and my graphics card has 2 DVI outputs. My main monitor is now set up using the cable and my second monitor is using an analog cable with a DVI converter. You have to really look to see the quality difference (the monitors aren't identical, so it isn't a 100% fair comparison). I don't know if it's worth upgrading the analog cable you already have, but if you need a second cable, it's definitely worth the money. I tried looking around at regular stores to find this type of cable, but they aren't widely available and if you do find one it'll probably be at least $20.
   
   If any issues arise, I will revise my review (Just set it up today).



5. Replaced a DVI to VGA adapter with with this cable and the monitor has less ghosting. Great product for the price.

5 comments about Antennas Direct DB8 Multi Directional HDTV Antenna.

1. Bought one, buying a second.
   
   I bought the first for an island installation, 60 miles over water from the nearest TV towers. The antenna is in an attic, about 15' above the water. I had a 21 year old 27 element yagi, 9' long, with amplifier and replaced it with the DB8. Reception in this situation is similar, EXCEPT the family consensus is that the channels above 5 are clearer and there are a few more of them. So overall we think this is an improvement and the marginal cost worthwhile. If you have an older yagi, with amplifier and you're satisfied with it, I'd be slow to replace it with this in the expectation of dramatic improvements in reception. My yagi needed to be replaced anyway.
   
   It doesn't work well where we are without an amplifier, but neither does the yagi. We get 3 stations without an amplifier, over 20 from four different cities with the amplifier. (Motorola amp, also from Amazon)
   
   The HD channels are much clearer than the analog channels on both antennas.
   
   DB8 pros: much more compact than a yagi, better quality on upper channels even if they're not HD.
   
   DB8 cons: for some stations, highly directional, a few degrees of difference and the digital station will drop out. The literature says 15 degrees, and that's true for most stations but the yagi isn't that sensitive. BUT this applies to the lower channels, doesn't seem to be the case for the upper channels.
   
   The DB8 literature and claims are clear, it works better on the upper channels and as most HD is on or will be on the upper channels, this antenna is a good choice. The manufacturer doesn't recommend installing it in an attic but only because the signal is attenuated so much. But as described earlier, that's where ours is and it works fine.
   
   Here's the bottom line...the kids are out of the house and I'm going to drop cable. I'll skip all the tradeoffs. Point is, this is the antenna I'm buying to install in our primary residence. The broadcast antennas in our community are aligned such that I don't think I'll need a rotor.
   
   On the other hand, the antenna arrived damaged, the light cardboard box packing is inadequate. Ten minutes and a pair of pliers had everything bent back into shape, but that shouldn't be necessary and I don't think most customers would want to fix a new product.



2. . . . I would have something to say about this antenna. After sending several inquiries and getting no response I tried to find out if this vendor was an actual company through Amazon and the manufacturer of the antenna and because of no reply to my eMails from the vendor and Amazon saw that I acted accordingly, they instituted their A-to-z Policy and I had a refund before the vendor got around to shipping. Don't buy from this vendor. Since it was finally shipped 20 days after it was due for initial delivery, I was told by Amazon to refuse the package of which I did through UPS and bought a Clearstream 2 (newly released from another vendor that had it in my hands before I could realize that had I even bought it). Now that will be a whole other review. The C2 comes from the same manufacturer as the DB8, Antennas Direct, I have had to talk to them and they are great! Look for my review on the C2.



3. The antenna I received was a piece of crepe!
   1. The instructions are less than poor!
   2. Even being an Engineering Person, I shall visit my
   local hardware store tomorow because the pieces don't
   fit. The holes for connecting the reflecors to the
   elements are distant from connecting, but a lower-down
   assembly piece makes this possible if longer bolts are
   purchaced and the assembly instructions are thrown away.



4. Put this up to get my local HD channels, as well as ones about 70 miles away. Had a RCA ANT806 mounted under my eaves - totally useless. Local channel (10 miles) only had a signal strength of 50-65 - if lucky. Put up the HD8 - now its 100. Had to adjust direction slightly for 70 mile away antenna, which now has a 92 signal. Instruction pictures do not match how the parts should be assembled - even the two provide instruction sheets don't match each other. Just make sure the u-bolt for connecting to mast is correct, as well as direction of reflectors. The pictures have the bolts facing opposite as to how they come pre-assembled. I'm getting another one for our mountain cabin!



5. Live about 35 Miles from big city transmitters. The DB8 solidly cleaned up all my weak rabbit-ear signals, just by propping this rig up on floor or on TV (yes its a CRT). Have yet to mount in attic or outside and can't wait to see what more stations pop in. It is not physically as big as I had feared, which is good. Simple to assemble, sturdy and lightweight enough for one-person mounting. Bought an extra for relatives. Skip the DB2 and DB4...if nothing else you can divide this one into separate antennae! Either way it is cost effective. Also, while not necessary, have not tried an amp but will do so shortly just for kicks.

5 comments about Toslink To Optical Mini Adapter.

1. I needed this to connect my Logitech Z-5500 speakers via the Optical output on my Sounblaster X-Fi Extreme Gamer sound card. (Why does Creative skimp and use a 3.5mm "flex plug" for optical out??) The adapter diminishex the light level to the point that the sound quality is effected. I have since gone back to the analog connections.



2. it is a very high quality product both in construction and performance, although it would be better to purchase this on a larger order so as to justify the shipping cost. I think the shipping cost more than the product, but it is a good product.



3. For anyone who's happened upon my review of the TOSLink-to-MiniTOSLink cable by Dayton, this review will sound pretty familiar and with good reason. I went two different routes in what I ordered, trying to cover all my angles in case one product turned out to be junk. I'm happy to say, both were great. In this case, here's the situation: I recently bought an Intel Mac Mini and was faced with both a golden opportunity to improve the quality of my sound output, and a dilemma. The Mini can output audio by both an RCA jack and offers optical output as well. The quandry? They're both built into a single outlet, which means that the optical interface isn't your standard TOSLink/SPDIF-sized port. But I couldn't sit by and not take advantage of feeding output directly to my home theater digital decoder.
   
   This TOSLink-to-MiniTOS adapter allowed me to convert one end of an existing Monster cable and hook it up to my Mini. My iTunes library sounded phenomenal on my full 5.1 surround system.
   
   These little guys were also priced just right, so I bought several of them just in case anything ever goes wrong with one. Overall, I'm very pleased I can take the Mini in a solid HTPC direction with this product.



4. I bought this to use with the optical output on my new laptop, but it broke because of all the moving around that comes naturally with a laptop. The base of the tip broke, so now the whole tip wiggles, but surprisingly it still works fine. I guess the optical fiber inside of the tip is flexible, while the black plastic casing around it is not.



5. does not work as advertised. In fact, does not work at all. Tried to connect a creative notebook card to a optical speaker source as well as connecting other audio products and is not able to work. Buy something else.

5 comments about Sony MDR-A35G S2 Sports Headphones with Sweat Guard Mechanism.

1. I bought these earphones specifically to run with. I love them. These are the first earphones I have found that stay put while I run. The sound quality is not great but good enough. I would buy these again.



2. I've used many types of headphones for workouts (endurance runs which tend to be long and sweaty) most eventually stop working temporarily somewhere during the run when the headphone speaker gets wet. The design on these pretty much keeps this from happening. As far as sound quality...I'm not an audiophile but they sound good to me, and they are very comfortable.



3. I bought three pairs of these and they all have broken within one month. They snap right near the folding joint with the slightest overstress. The sound is good, but I'm very disappointed with the durability. I had an old Sony metal band folding sport headphone that lasted for many years that I wish they still sold. If you buy these, make sure to get some plastic glue and a pin punch so you can take them apart and repair them. You'll need it.



4. I keep a pair in my car and another in my gym bag. I like the compactness - I carry them in an old case for my glasses. The sound is fine and you can wear them while sweating like a pig and they still manage not to feel disgusting. They are my friend.



5. I work out regularly and need to listen to music while I do. Earbuds don't get it, too much adjusting.
   I've gone through a bunch of these earphones, and they are the BEST for active workouts, except for the flimsy temple pieces: they ultimately break, no matter how careful I am, sometimes in the first couple of weeks, sometimes they've lasted 9 months.
   So, I got the Sony MDR-W24V Vertical In-The-Ear Headphones the same time I bought these, and they seem to be holding up a little better. The MDR-W42V's have an inline volume control, too. Get those instead.

5 comments about Altec Lansing inMotion iM413 Portable Audio System for Sansa.

1. I am happy with my purchase. It was a gift and the person I sent it to loves it. I requested expedited shipping and it arrived in 3 days, which was somewhat disappointing since the extra shipping fee was expensive.



2. I never owned an MP3 player before, but I knew that I didn't want to spend a lot of money, which is why I chose the Sansa E280 player. Although there were not a lot of options for external speakers for this particular player, there was at least one, and thankfully it's a good one. The sound is quite good for anyone who is not an audiophile, and that would probably be about 90% of users. The unit is attractive, and doesn't take up a lot of space. I wish that the remote gave you more direct access to the MP3 player, but the functionality that it does have will be good enough for most people. Overall, I like this product quite a bit, although I think that the price might be a little bit too high for what it does.



3. I bought the inMotion413 for my SanDisk Sansa e280 to be played in my den at home, and I am seriously thinking of getting rid of my CD layer......MP3 is the wave of the future as CD's are going to go the way of the 8 track eventually.......the sound from this unit is great and the remote control gives me great flexibility right from my easy chair!
   
   I'd but another when I need to equip another room......great unit!



4. Overall, this is a good system. The sound quality is pretty good. The size of the unit is just right and it really rocks having a unit designed specifically for Sansa. I would recommend anyone purchasing the unit to make sure and update the firmware on the MP3 unit as the Altec unit may not work if the correct firmware isn't installed.



5. I purchased for my mother. It's easy for her to listen to her favorite Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra songs any where she goes in her home (porch, yard, bedroom). Sounds great, easy to use. Now I want one for myself:)

5 comments about Shure MPA-3C Music Phone Adapter for iPhone.

1. When I got my iPhone and tried the included earbuds with microphone, I knew it wouldn't be the solution for me. Earbuds never stay in. I usually use set of behind-the-neck stereo headphones when walking or on the bus, but also have a Bose noise-cancelling headset as well.
   
   I researched the alternatives and, based on what I read, decided to go with the Shure even though it was the most expensive of the 3 alternatives I looked at.
   
   The Shure MPA-3C delivers great sound to the headphones. I have asked people I am on the phone with about the sound quality of the mic and all have said it is good. The switch on the microphone works as promised -- one click to pause or resume, two clicks to skip to the next song.
   
   The plug is angled and does not stick out far from the iphone. I have had no problems carrying my iPhone in a pants pocket and have at no point had any worries as far as the plug goes. A couple of the alternative products had much longer plugs.
   
   The microphone is a little heavy and droops when hooked on a shirt collar. To solve that, I got a second cord clip for the headphone cord. This allows me to secure the microphone in two places and hold it inside the collar where it is less obtrusive. (Shure, should add a second clip to the MPA-3C package.)
   
   The excess headphone cord issue is easily solved with headphones, just wrap the extra cord around the headphones and secure with a twist-tie. You can't do that with earbuds.
   
   Good job, Shure.



2. The microphone is too far away from your mouth, and you have to hold it up (looking like a complete fool in public) and talk into it... and despite the fact that it looks fairly well constructed, mine shorted out in 3 months somewhere near the plug... I can live with the microphone being far away, but for that much money, I expect it to be built to handle forces from daily use... The headphones also are poorly constructed as the little rubber part has come free from the hard plastic (but that is another review)...



3. Even it may be a little over priced, this device is a great accessory. I use the Music Phone Adapter with SE110 Sound Isolating Earphones.
   
   While on my tractor, I can listen to my music & when a call is recieved, the music fades out & then the phone will ring. Push the button on the Adapter & talk as usual. When the phone call is finished, the music picks up right where it left off. If you want to skip a song, do a "double click" on the button & the song will skip. People that I have talked to on my iPhone say that they cannot tell that I'm not talking with my phone up to my ear.
   
   It's really easy to use & it serves it's purpose well. Hopefully you my review will help. If you have the money, spend it on this product, you won't be disapointed. Shure products have some of the best support of any company online.



4. First, the thing does exactly what it's supposed to do: Allows the use of high quality headphones and phone functionality with your iPhone. Mission accomplished, if not a bit on the pricey side. Shure has a good warranty, so I'm fine with paying a bit more if it means I'll be able to use them the life of the phone. And yes, the one-click pause, two-click next song and three-click back a song work perfectly...maybe even better than the origninal earbuds.
   
   So why 4 stars? For these reasons:
   
   1. While not the fault of the adapter, my Shure E3c earbuds have a really long cord. Really long. This puts the mic very far away...unless you do some creative wrapping or cutting and soldering (tempting if not for a $180 set of earbuds)
   
   2. When using the excellent E3cs, which block out much of the ambient noise, I can't hear myself talk thru the headphones! I don't know if this is part of the Apple head set or not, but it's a little unnerving.
   
   But would I recommend it? Absolutely. It's an imperfect solution, but the perfect solution really wouldn't help me here...I don't want to replace a nice expensive set of earbuds. Shure making iPhone specific set with the mic in a similar place as the OEM would be the perfect solution.



5. I use Shure se530 and have a lot of respect for the manufacturer. Sorry to report but the quality of this adaptor is horrible. First, the button becomes really stiff when it's cold outside and can be hardly pressed (double press is almost impossible). Second, the mic is horrible and people always complain that they either can't hear me or it's too loud if I hold the mic too close to my mouth. So I have to hold the mic all the time, and move it closer or further depending on the environment. Apple's mic is much better. Third, even though I care about my phones and ALWAYS carefully put them away to the case which came with my earphones, the adaptor just shorted out. Now I am looking for an alternative. Maybe will have to buy this one again in the hope that the quality changed... (it really fits well Shure earphones).
   
   PS When I bought it, I though I read somewhere that when speaking over phone you can hear your voice in the earphones. That's not true and it's really uncomfortable to speak with earphones. I have to remove one earphone just to be able to properly hear myself.

5 comments about Sony MDR7506 Professional Large Diaphragm Headphone.

1. As someone who listens to music for 4-5 hours a day at least, I consider myself learned in Headphones.
   
   The Sony MDR7506 is a SUPERB piece of equipment. I have had my pair for well over a year and am STUNNED by the sound quality. Furthermore, I have generally been disappointed with many of Sony's high end products' durability, but the MDR7506 has vastly exceeded my expectations in that regard.
   
   There have been problems with the plastic casing that sets the sound equipment next to your ears, but so far I havn't encountered anything so severe a round of tape couldn't cure it (suggestion: Hose Repair Tape, avaible at most gas stations and auto-parts stores, is both waterproof AND heat resistant).
   
   Bottom line: The best pair of headphones I have ever owned. I will buy again when my pair finally wears out.



2. I finally found it! I have been trying some other headphones from other brands because of the nice reviews convinced me. But the Sony MDR7506 is the best.



3. I've owned these headphones for 6 months or so, and finally decided to write a review after testing them substantially. I don't really have anything to compare these to, as these are my first pair of "big" headphones. All I have to say is that hearing music through these is unlike hearing music through a radio or regular earbuds, or even normal headphones. It's so crystal clear, it's really enlightening to listen to your favorite song and hear all kinds of details you never knew existed.
   
   Comfort: I can wear these for about 5 hours before I need to take them off for a break. I find that they're extremely comfortable when on, and the material cups around your ear just perfectly. The phones are even tilted a slight angle and adjust to various head sizes (1 being a small head, and 9 being a very large head) One thing that is really cool is the way these fold up to save space when you're not using them.
   
   Quality/Fashion: These are great looking headphones, but if you're looking for phones solely for fashions sake, there are headphones that look "cooler". These don't look bad by any means however, and the quality is great up close (leather and and make)
   
   Sound Quality: As noted by everyone else, amazing. One thing I also noticed is that it does a good job of muffling surrounding noise, and it's hard to hear anything around you when they're playing music.
   
   For best results: Try using these in the dark, with a high encoded song (320 kbps and up) and you'll be blown away. Hope my review helped. : )
   
   PS: The cord is rather long, and coils in a phone style. Originally I thought this was too long, but after having used it for a while I find that it's a perfect length, you can just tuck the rest in your pocket/bag/ or whatever. You won't even notice it, and the extra length really comes in handy if you need to get up and get something.



4. If you want closed design and very comfortable headphones, these are great. I was greatly disappointed with these. I tried breaking them in for over 100 hours.
   Sound is indeed very clear but the depth is non-existing.
   I have them currently connected through a 4 channel headphone amp. I have my Senn 555 and 650 connected as well. I use a HK AMP reciever.
   Music is just too bright on the Sony.
   If you are only used to earbuds you will not know the difference.
   So if you listen to hip hop, jazz, rock like dire straits, floyd, you will not like these headphones.
   If you like all the goodness with depth (bass) try the Senns
   
   I see a lot of musicians using these, while recording, looking for flaws, mixing. Well it might be great for them but for rest of us who need to listen and enjoy our music, these are not it.



5. I bought these to monitor audio on my videocamera. They seal out ambient sound very well -- in fact, I have trouble hearing anything someone says to me in a normal speaking voice with these headphones on.
   
   Sound is crisp and flat, just what I wanted to monitor audio.

5 comments about ETYMOTIC RESEARCH ER20BP High Fidelity Ear Plugs ( Clear ).

1. Purchased these for a gift - recipient says these work really well and they are much more comfortable than the other alternative earplugs.



2. These are so much nicer than regular triple-flange earplugs. (Which I use all the time at work.)
   I haven't been to a concert with these yet, but mowing the lawn is much more pleasant when you hear all things simply "turned down." That as opposed to having some sounds muffled in a frustrating way that makes you want to take your earplugs out to be able to hear better.
   The paper that comes with these describes how the company's noise reduction rating is higher (around the same as most earplugs) than the OSHA "official" testing that they have printed and advertised. I believe they are right. Getting the plugs in up to the third flange reduces the noise just as much as my "plain" earplugs. It just takes a little wiggling to get them into a comfortable position, as they have a hard plastic section where you grab them.



3. far from the sound quality of the ones that come with the iPhone, this piece of junk has ridiculously high treble and no bass. It's a piece of crap. Airplane headphones are better than this and we all know how crappy those are!!



4. This is the first time I've bought earplugs that are not of the foam variety.
   I'm a drummer and it's important for me to keep my ears healthy. I find that these earplugs do a great job of keeping my ears safe while still allowing me to hear the tone of what my band is playing.
   Great product!



5. It is very comfortable and you can fit it as snugly as you like. The sound intensity reduction is not the maximum, but you can carry out a normal conversation with no problem. The quality of music you are hearing through these is fair in my opinion. For this price, it is very well worth it.