No, I don't mean that this is the end of days, although it might, we'll find out. I'm merely stating that the end of the year is but 3 days out. As we round out 2013, let's take some time to think about all the things that have happened this year.
In politics, we had a bullshit government shutdown. Shortly after was a shitshow of a software launch in the Affordable Care Act AKA 'Obamacare'. It honestly reminds me a bit of this. I won't go too far into why it ended up the way it did. But looking at it from a computer science background, all I have to say is that it could have easily been implemented for cheaper if it wasn't a government contract. Hell, it could've been done better if politicians simply didn't have their hands all over it trying to make it fail. The decision making process surrounding Obamacare just shows how disjointed and abysmal the current administration is. This doesn't even include the fact that no one in Congress seems to want to agree on anything. If you asked a vote of what the color of the sky was, invariably you'd get that the Democrats say blue and the Republicans say something like 'Oh but it's red right before nighttime'.
Enough about politics though as it makes me angry. Moving onto disasters and tragedies. They haven't ceased. It's as simple as that. From shootings to typhoons in the Philippines, they still happen. While some are directly man-made, the number of natural disasters is nothing to sneeze at.
To start the year I said that 2012 was a jerk. I have to say now that 2013 wasn't much better. The more I think about it, I have to think to myself, was 2013 any better than 2012? Across the board, we repeated the mistakes of last year and many years past. Did we really move forward a year or is this year the same as last? I sincerely hope that your year was good. But for many, many people, this year was the worst possible and to them I hope that 2014 is more kind to you. And with that this post will end my first year doing this. I had some ups and downs but I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. I hope 2014 turns out better than 2013 but I'd be remiss to say the past years have had a good track record.
--CsMiREK
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Gear Days: V-Moda Crossfade LP Striking Sonority
Before the last post of the year, I wanted to leave you with some nicer headphones to look/think about. Forget the under $30 stuff, this is serious. For my next pair of nicer headphones, I have up the V-Moda Crossfade LPs. With an MSRP of $199.99 but a going price closer to $100, these are by no means super expensive. However, that doesn't mean they aren't good or nice; and yes those are two different things as I'll explain. This is going to be a long post, so I'm just going to say that these are closed back headphones like the ATH M50s and stay with that for form. Since these are nicer headphones, I'll go a bit more in depth with the
sound and go into a bit of what kinds of songs I like listening to to
test out new headphones, as such this post will also double as a multiple Top Tracks post.
As always let's begin with accessories. Normally, I'd say something like, these headphones come with a quarter inch plug. Maybe I'd compare it to some other pair of headphones I own. But really, these headphones come with a lot of stuff. Like, I'm gonna just leave this link here to show you. Sorry about the blurry images, unfortunately I don't have the steadiest hands while taking pictures. Also, my camera's pretty old at this point and my phone can't do too much better. Maybe I'll retake them when/if I get some better camera gear. If you can't tell what the V-Moda Crossfade LPs come with I'll walk you through it. First off, you have a pretty nice box, complete with a button clasp which is pretty snazzy. The headphones are held in a plastic hardshell case which is pretty sturdy and fits everything really well. Inside the case you have the headphones themselves along with 2 detachable cables. One of the cables has a built in 3 button remote. It also comes with a small carabiner and a quarter inch plug. Also, all the ties and the holding pieces for the cables are secured with Velcro which I really enjoy. All said and done the accessories are very nice and there are quite a few of them.
Comfort wise they're quite nice. Apparently the pads are memory foam, but all I can tell is that they feel pretty comfortable and the size is pretty decent for over ear headphones. The cups are large enough to fit my ears and deep enough that there is no weird rubbing. The headband is pretty comfortable and doesn't put a lot of pressure on the top of the head. Also the adjusting for the headband makes a nice and satisfying audible click which is always a plus for me. The one thing I don't like about them comfort and form wise is that they don't fold up which isn't necessarily a big deal.
As always let's begin with accessories. Normally, I'd say something like, these headphones come with a quarter inch plug. Maybe I'd compare it to some other pair of headphones I own. But really, these headphones come with a lot of stuff. Like, I'm gonna just leave this link here to show you. Sorry about the blurry images, unfortunately I don't have the steadiest hands while taking pictures. Also, my camera's pretty old at this point and my phone can't do too much better. Maybe I'll retake them when/if I get some better camera gear. If you can't tell what the V-Moda Crossfade LPs come with I'll walk you through it. First off, you have a pretty nice box, complete with a button clasp which is pretty snazzy. The headphones are held in a plastic hardshell case which is pretty sturdy and fits everything really well. Inside the case you have the headphones themselves along with 2 detachable cables. One of the cables has a built in 3 button remote. It also comes with a small carabiner and a quarter inch plug. Also, all the ties and the holding pieces for the cables are secured with Velcro which I really enjoy. All said and done the accessories are very nice and there are quite a few of them.
Comfort wise they're quite nice. Apparently the pads are memory foam, but all I can tell is that they feel pretty comfortable and the size is pretty decent for over ear headphones. The cups are large enough to fit my ears and deep enough that there is no weird rubbing. The headband is pretty comfortable and doesn't put a lot of pressure on the top of the head. Also the adjusting for the headband makes a nice and satisfying audible click which is always a plus for me. The one thing I don't like about them comfort and form wise is that they don't fold up which isn't necessarily a big deal.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Gear Days: Sennheiser CX200 Economical Excellence
We've gone through 2 in ears, 1 on ears, and a pair of earbuds in coming up to this. My favorite under $30 headphones are the Sennheiser CX200s. At $13.99, it is my thought that these represent the best cost to performance rating of any headphones I own regardless of price. Now let's get started with this review.
The Sennheiser CX200s are a pair of in ear headphones. They come with 3 pairs of tips: small, medium, and large as is standard with most in ear headphones. As with all in ear headphones, fit is a big point of importance. In this department, I have to say that the CX200s are a bit hard to put in. However, they fit well and quite snugly when they are put in. After you get them in, these are actually incredibly comfortable so although I gripe about putting them in, they're really not that bad. But enough about this, let's get to sound.
The Sennheiser CX200s are a pair of in ear headphones. They come with 3 pairs of tips: small, medium, and large as is standard with most in ear headphones. As with all in ear headphones, fit is a big point of importance. In this department, I have to say that the CX200s are a bit hard to put in. However, they fit well and quite snugly when they are put in. After you get them in, these are actually incredibly comfortable so although I gripe about putting them in, they're really not that bad. But enough about this, let's get to sound.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Gear Days: Sony MDRPQ5 Funky Freedom
Ah, the Sony MDRPQ5s. These are a bit of a blast from the past for me. I originally got a pair of these from a Best Buy 3 years ago and they've been following me since. At the time they were retailing for $19.99 and now you can get them for as little as $7.99 depending on the colors you get. At the time, I had a pair of Skullcandy in ears that had just broken and another cheap pair of in ears so I just said, to hell with it and picked them up because they looked interesting.
I ended up going with a green pair and surprisingly they've lasted these past few years. I say surprisingly because the build quality is quite shoddy. They do look interesting with the gas mask covers and after you get used to putting them in, I actually find them quite comfortable and snug in my ears. That said, they do feel really awkward when you first put them in and it takes a while until you know that they're in right, at least in my experience. Form wise, they're earbuds, different from in ears, note I'll be calling IEMs and canalphones in ears from now on, just because really. Earbuds rest on the outside of the ear instead of going into the ear canal. Some people compare the difference to being the difference between open and closed headphones but that's not really the case. Open headphones are named as such because they don't isolate sound and sound doesn't reflect off the back of anything. Earbuds generally do. However, the comparison is made because they don't isolate sound the way in ears do. Namely, with earbuds you get more sound leakage and can hear more of your environment.
I ended up going with a green pair and surprisingly they've lasted these past few years. I say surprisingly because the build quality is quite shoddy. They do look interesting with the gas mask covers and after you get used to putting them in, I actually find them quite comfortable and snug in my ears. That said, they do feel really awkward when you first put them in and it takes a while until you know that they're in right, at least in my experience. Form wise, they're earbuds, different from in ears, note I'll be calling IEMs and canalphones in ears from now on, just because really. Earbuds rest on the outside of the ear instead of going into the ear canal. Some people compare the difference to being the difference between open and closed headphones but that's not really the case. Open headphones are named as such because they don't isolate sound and sound doesn't reflect off the back of anything. Earbuds generally do. However, the comparison is made because they don't isolate sound the way in ears do. Namely, with earbuds you get more sound leakage and can hear more of your environment.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Gear Days: Panasonic RP-DJS400 Rainbow Resonance
Let's keep on rolling with the reviews. Up next are the Panasonic RP-DJS400s. These are a pair of on ear (supra-aural), or maybe over ear (circumaural), headphones that come in quite a variety of colors, hence 'rainbow'. I got my pair for $21.95 which is a bit cheaper than it is now at $30.89. But anyways let's jump into the aesthetics and form a bit more.
Aesthetically, they're pretty standard headphones. The colors pop a bit and are fun to look at. Additionally, the packaging is really easy to open which I have to say is a giant plus. The JVC HAFX1Xs that I just reviewed have that really annoying to open clamshell packaging that is just a nightmare to open. As for the form I said that they're supra-aural since that's the case for me. If you happen to have smaller ears I can see them functioning as closed back circumaural headphones as the pads and cups are pretty large for supra-aural headphones. There are reviews saying that they leak sound, which is relatively common for supra-aural headphones but it's hard to tell when you're by yourself and no one's really bugging you about the sound. Comfort wise, I personally find them pretty uncomfortable. My thoughts on that are that one, I don't usually like supra-aural headphones as they apply funny pressure on my ears and that there simply isn't enough padding at the top of the headband so there's more pressure on the top of your head than necessary.
Aesthetically, they're pretty standard headphones. The colors pop a bit and are fun to look at. Additionally, the packaging is really easy to open which I have to say is a giant plus. The JVC HAFX1Xs that I just reviewed have that really annoying to open clamshell packaging that is just a nightmare to open. As for the form I said that they're supra-aural since that's the case for me. If you happen to have smaller ears I can see them functioning as closed back circumaural headphones as the pads and cups are pretty large for supra-aural headphones. There are reviews saying that they leak sound, which is relatively common for supra-aural headphones but it's hard to tell when you're by yourself and no one's really bugging you about the sound. Comfort wise, I personally find them pretty uncomfortable. My thoughts on that are that one, I don't usually like supra-aural headphones as they apply funny pressure on my ears and that there simply isn't enough padding at the top of the headband so there's more pressure on the top of your head than necessary.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Gear Days: JVC-HAFX1X Booming Bass
Next up on the bucket list are the JVC-HAFX1X or more normally called, the JVC Xtreme Xplosives. These can be had from Amazon at a relatively cheap, $16.88. But enough about price, let's get down to it.
First off as always is accessories and looks. If you dig the red cables and black drivers, these are probably right up your alley. With 3 sizes of tips: small, medium, and large these are quite standard and unlike the Nuforce NE-770Xs I just reviewed, there's only one pair of each. Oh well, that's not a deal breaker. The Xtreme Xplosives also come with a small hard case with XX on one of the sides which honestly looks pretty nice. However, I can't say I really enjoy the aesthetics that much as the casings are just much too large for my taste. And by that I really don't mean taste as they have no business actually being as large as they are. But that's a good way to lead into my next topic.
Fit. And these don't really. I find them really hard to get a good fit. I think part of it is the large casings and the other part being the really awkward diagonal angle of the driver off the casings. There are other headphones that do this and I haven't tried them so I can't be sure of that being the cause but in any case I can never get a good feeling fit with these headphones. It constantly feels like they're loose and honestly they're much too easy to take out for in ear headphones, namely they're too loose. Also, because of the large casings they are heavier than most in ears which causes more physical fatigue than necessary.
First off as always is accessories and looks. If you dig the red cables and black drivers, these are probably right up your alley. With 3 sizes of tips: small, medium, and large these are quite standard and unlike the Nuforce NE-770Xs I just reviewed, there's only one pair of each. Oh well, that's not a deal breaker. The Xtreme Xplosives also come with a small hard case with XX on one of the sides which honestly looks pretty nice. However, I can't say I really enjoy the aesthetics that much as the casings are just much too large for my taste. And by that I really don't mean taste as they have no business actually being as large as they are. But that's a good way to lead into my next topic.
Fit. And these don't really. I find them really hard to get a good fit. I think part of it is the large casings and the other part being the really awkward diagonal angle of the driver off the casings. There are other headphones that do this and I haven't tried them so I can't be sure of that being the cause but in any case I can never get a good feeling fit with these headphones. It constantly feels like they're loose and honestly they're much too easy to take out for in ear headphones, namely they're too loose. Also, because of the large casings they are heavier than most in ears which causes more physical fatigue than necessary.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Gear Days: Nuforce NE-770X Colorful Competition
To kick off my headphone review rant once again I will begin with the Nuforce NE-770Xs. For $18, I've gotta say that these are some really good headphones. They also come in 3 different colors so if you don't like blue or white, they also come in a funky what looks to be purple-y grey color. Now that price is out of the way let's get onto the important stuff.
Let's start with accessories as accessories are much more important on in ear headphones than others. The Nuforce NE-770Xs come with 3 sizes of tips: small, medium, and large as per usual for this type of headphone. However, the nice thing is that it comes with duplicate pairs so you get 6 pairs of tips, 2 pairs each of each size which is quite useful as it's not that hard to lose a tip here or there. It also comes with a white Nuforce pouch to hold your headphones in which is quite nice so that's a big plus in my book.
Next up is fit. With in ear headphones, canalphones, or IEMs, whatever you want to call them, fit is of utmost importance. When talking about over the ear or on ear headphones comfort is really important, but fit for in ears is even more important. This is because fit encompasses comfort but also affects the sound you'll end up hearing. The tips you use affect this somewhat in that when the tips you use are too small they might go deep but not form a good seal. Without a good seal you get poor bass response and poor noise isolation which are both things that in ear headphones are meant to do well, assuming a good fit. Personally, I went with the small tips and they fit really well. It took a bit of getting used to as the actual casing is a bit on the larger side, but I find them quite comfortable and pretty easy to get in and out which is always good.
Let's start with accessories as accessories are much more important on in ear headphones than others. The Nuforce NE-770Xs come with 3 sizes of tips: small, medium, and large as per usual for this type of headphone. However, the nice thing is that it comes with duplicate pairs so you get 6 pairs of tips, 2 pairs each of each size which is quite useful as it's not that hard to lose a tip here or there. It also comes with a white Nuforce pouch to hold your headphones in which is quite nice so that's a big plus in my book.
Next up is fit. With in ear headphones, canalphones, or IEMs, whatever you want to call them, fit is of utmost importance. When talking about over the ear or on ear headphones comfort is really important, but fit for in ears is even more important. This is because fit encompasses comfort but also affects the sound you'll end up hearing. The tips you use affect this somewhat in that when the tips you use are too small they might go deep but not form a good seal. Without a good seal you get poor bass response and poor noise isolation which are both things that in ear headphones are meant to do well, assuming a good fit. Personally, I went with the small tips and they fit really well. It took a bit of getting used to as the actual casing is a bit on the larger side, but I find them quite comfortable and pretty easy to get in and out which is always good.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Gear Days: The month ahead
For this month, I'm going to be giving a bunch of headphones reviews for the new pairs that I've gotten. The focus of this set is: cheap headphones. The most expensive of the pairs I'm going to review I got for just over $20. On that note, if you are looking for new headphones, this past week, the week leading up to and immediately after Thanksgiving, is generally a good time to get them for quite a bit cheaper than usual. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the reviews and I'll be getting started with them tomorrow. I hope you stay tuned as I crown my personal 'Best under $30' headphones.
--CsMiREK
--CsMiREK
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Apologies and going forward
I'm truly quite sorry for November. It simply got away from me. Instead of trying to make up the posts that would've taken it up I think I'm going to abandon it. I still have a couple of posts from May that I should really get done and the end of the year is coming up. I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving if you're in the US. This coming month will be a bit on the sparser side with relatively small updates. After this month I'm going to shoot for 2 updates a month with more if I can commit to it. As has been shown I've not been the best at holding myself to my word, although I often do try. That said I hope you enjoy the upcoming posts and keep reading.
--CsMiREK
--CsMiREK
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