Bose® Aviation Headset X® -- Portable with Straight Cable Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought a Bose Aviation X headset about six months ago. I found it to be very comfortable - the best, in fact. The clamping force is practically nonexistent, so wearing these all day should be no problem. It is a little pricey, but what's a thousand dollars when you want to protect your hearing? No one wants to get a hearing aid. The sound attenuation is pretty good, I'd have to say, noticeably better than cheap (sub-$400) ANRs.
About a month ago, I got a Lightspeed Zulu headset. The Zulu has a marginally higher clamping force, feels like maybe a few grams. I don't think it is noticeable, and I've worn the Zulu for flights lasting several hours with no discomfort. (Cheaper ANR headsets have had me pulling at the phones to relieve pressure.) It does a better job at attenuating noise than the Bose. I'll say it again: IT ATTENUATES SOUND BETTER THAN THE BOSE. ...And it has an audio port for MP3 players and cell phones. ...AND it has Bluetooth, also for cell phones. ...And it has treble, bass, and a sort of "faux surround sound" option called Front Row Center, which makes the sound a bit fuller. ...And it will turn down the music when someone calls you on the radio.
...AND... it is about $150 cheaper, depending on where you get it.
How is it that Bose is charging HUNDREDS more for inferior attenuation and ZERO aux audio input? Hint: They're Bose. People who don't know any better think Bose is the best there is. While you won't HATE your Aviation X headset, the presence of the Zulu at a significantly lower price, with better features, and which simply does a better job at what an ANR headset is supposed to be really good at... sorry. Not a good value. Not at all.
Do yourself a favor. Go to Aircraft Spruce or some other aviation shop. Try them both on. The Bose has only one advantage, and that is a MARGINALLY lighter clamping force. Is that worth $150 to you? It certainly wasn't to me.
By the way, I've sent other Lightspeed headsets in for service and got FANTASTIC help. Lightspeed is known for replacing stuff that's YEARS out of warranty. Go on any aviation forum and ask around. Bose doesn't have that reputation.

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Dared SL-2000A Review

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(More customer reviews)The Dared SL2000A has gotten plenty of positive reviews, and I can see why.
It is solidly well-built, physically attractive, and -- most importantly -- it sounds really good.
The latest version has two inputs and two outputs, as well as a wooden remote volume control.
This compact, versatile unit is a great way to add some tube warmth and liquidity to your system at a reasonable price. It is often available on the used market for about $300, which is what I paid for mine.
My only minor quibble with the unit is a minor aesthetic one: there's a large unsightly engraving of the Dared logo, model number and -- bizarrely -- a toy-like line drawing of tube etched into one side of the chrome body. IMHO, it is an unfortunate aesthetic blunder on an otherwise classy chassis.
That tiny gripe aside, this little preamp has quickly become one of my favorite pieces of audio gear. I find myself listening to the budget system in which I have it more frequently than some of my more pricey systems.
In short, this little Dared is highly recommended -- especially with some nice NOS tube substitutions!
PS - When I first wrote this review, the retail price was in the low to mid 400's. Now I see it has gone up again to 519. At that price, I'm not sure that it is such a bargain. My advice would be to keep an eye out for a used one in good condition.

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Uniden Sc-230 Handheld Racing Scanner Deluxe Package Review

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(More customer reviews)This scanner is just the ticket for those who like to keep up with thier drivers communication during a race. It's easy to program and you can easily add or lock out those drivers you no longer want to keep listening to. It is a little limited to the number of frequencies you program in. So if you follow the trucks, Nation Wide and Cup series you'll have to do some reprograming between races. Overall though I think this is well worth the money I spent.

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Sony DR-BT21IK/B Wireless Transmitter and Bluetooth Headset for iPod Review

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(More customer reviews)I'll have to say Sony has a great product on their hands here. The problem is they don't tell you this at all, neither on the box, on their website, in this listing on amazon or other reviews I have read.
Pros:
-Easy to setup
-Best sound quality out of all bluetooth headphones tested-comparable to a about a $50 pair of wired headphones (good bass, a little scratchy when you have it really loud, great mids and highs)
-Versatility (explained below)
-Most comfortable behind the ear bluetooth headphones, also the lightest, comparable to the weight and comfort to other sony behind the ear wired headphones
-Battery life is very good
Cons:
-Foldable aspect makes them a bit delicate, little worried that could be a problem in the future
-Play/Pause/Forward/Backward control for music is a little tricky and small
Versatility:
What everyone including Sony fails to tell you is these headphones can replace all of the following: your bluetooth headset for your phone (if your phone has bluetooth), your bluetooth headphones for your cell phone (if it supports this profile), headphones for your computer (if it has bluetooth), mic for your computer, allowing you to chat with your friends wirelessly. Also you can use the ipod transmitter to connect your ipod to other bluetooth enabled devices, like your stereo system in your home entertainment system, that is if it supports it. The headphones/headset has a built in microphone, giving you the ability to use the whole system for talking to people on your computer and cell phone. I tested it with multiple systems and I was well impressed. Also worked great on my macs. Another feature not mentioned is while listening to music on your phone, you can receive a phone call, and then go right back to listening to music. The last thing I need to test is if I can have my phone and ipod connected at the same time and it pauses your music when a call comes in.
The beauty of this product is it can be used in so many manners, it ends up replacing so many things. The cost is well justified when you realize it replaces the headphones for your ipod and computer, the bluetooth headset for your phone (easily $60) and mic for your computer. On top of it all what it replaces, it ends up being wireless, making it so much easier and convenient to work while enjoying your music or talking.
Five stars to Sony, now get your marketing department to realize the product you have and bring the price to exactly $99.95 retail and you'll sell tons of these.
Highly Recommended Accessory:
Case Logic makes this case for GPS units, where the DR-BT21IK/B happen to fit perfectly in it. It is made of durable and secure leather and vinyl, very hard to help protect your investment. Because of the folding plastic, I recommend this case (I just got mine from my local computer store this evening) to protect the hinges cause I can see when traveling with the headphones, those could easily get crushed.
http://www.amazon.com/Case-Navigator-Removable-portability-Complimentary/dp/B0016P02UQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1233627859&sr=8-3Sincerely,
Sickboy

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Sony MDR DS6000 - Headphones ( ear-cup ) - wireless - radio - black Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been looking for a wirelss headset that I can use for HDTV watching at night. Previously I had tried the Sony 900MHz wireless headphones and the results were poor; hissing and popping and dropped sound. They just weren't worth the money.
I can't speak for the quality of an analog connection, as I am using these with the supplied optical digital connecting cable. With that I have excellent sound and the headphones worked right out of the box. I can walk several rooms away with no loss of signal or sound quality.
I would buy these again.

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Midland TH4 Tactical Series Throat Mic with Acoustic Ear Tube Review

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(More customer reviews)Overall, I really like this product. The earpiece is what I expected and is very comfortable. It stays in place very well generally, but tends to slip if it gets damp (such as when sweating). The PTT is very convenient and easy to use even with gloves or constricted finger mobility (including through most shirts and jackets), but if you don't hit the center of the button it will often fail to key. The PTT unit itself is a bit heavier than I expected, but the full-rotation belt clip stays comfortably on a 1-inch belt (or sideways on a belt keeper for a security/police duty belt, as I use it). The neck band for the mic itself is a bit tight and isn't very adjustable. I have a 17-1/2 inch neck, and I have to wear it skewed to one side to ensure at least one of the pickups is close enough to my larynx for clear transmission. The mic neck band fits me snugly, and it took a while to get used to it. The transmission quality is somewhat muted, but it's less noticeable if the user articulates carefully. The mic seems to have a little trouble transmitting from a loud environment (such as a dance club), but a careful listener in a quiet environment can make out what you're saying; quiet-to-quiet transmission is excellent. The entire device is a bit bulky and looks awkward on an exposed neck (i.e. without a coat or turtleneck), but that's a symptom of its rugged, durable design. It can easily be concealed under a fully-zipped coat (I have one similar to this: White Sierra Men's El Dorado Jacket). The wires are plenty long with resilient coiling, so you can rig yourself up however you need to for the best convenience and utility (unlike the Midland AVPH3 Transparent Security Headsets with PTT/VOX (Pair), which have limited wire length).
Overall, I would recommend this product to anyone who is considering getting the Midland AVPH3 Transparent Security Headsets with PTT/VOX (Pair) for their Midland GXT1000VP4 36-Mile 50-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) (Black/Silver), unless a more-professional and less-tactical look is required (such as some security posts). Its best feature for me is the ability to key up the mic and communicate without making obvious motions for PTT and holding the mic in an appropriate position. Recommended buy!

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