I have to start this off here: To create something, only to turn it into a brick... is a D-Bag move. That's a cold hearted shrug in regards to this product potentially ending up in a landfill. I don't see a person simply tossing this out, they may try to get some use out of it in some form, but when its bricked its done... unless someone can crack it with an unapologetic middle finger.
I'm sure Spotify wouldn't like that, but the owners of the device don't appreciate this deactivation crap.
This nifty... cool... eye catching... Spotify Car Thing will be a light paperweight after December 9, 2024. Why? Why can't there simply be an update to turn this thing into a stand alone device that gives supporters... access to spotify? Talk about burning customers. This will not leave a good taste in the mouth of anyone who purchased this. No one pays money on a product to simply have a rug pulled from under them. That's that BS... and it's one of the reasons some tech enthusiasts are paranoid about supporting certain compnaies and their hardware. Is Spotify now on that list? If they don't pivot away from this selfish decision... I believe they will be, and they'd only have themselves to blame.
Proprietary hardware always runs the risk of that company going out of business one day... leaving nothing for that hardware to connect to. It's usually a safer option to get an audio device that doesn't lock you in like that so you can use it freely + add a memory card of sorts and enjoy it that way (if it allows such). Even the least understanding person would understand if a company was going belly up and the device would no longer be supported (as a proprietary hardware), but... that's not Spotify's position.
Spotify explained their decision to discontinue Car Thing, stating, “We’re discontinuing Car Thing as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline our product offerings.” Ladies and Gentlemen, that's a poor ass excuse to screw over customers. An extremely poor ass excuse. Like... WTF?!
If a company burns customers like Spotify plans to do people who purchased Car Thing, forget about these customers buying anymore hardware from Spotify unless it's completely standalone with a Spotify sign-in option. They may even go out of their way to not buy Spotify's first party hardware... regardless of the safety net being added. It doesn't stop there, because word of mouth gets out and a burned customer will tell other potential buyers to beware. That tarnishes a brand, and customers bought the Spotify Car Thing for $89.99... that's nearly 100 freaking bucks only to have the rug pulled from under them. That's a slap in the face with an expectation for you to understand. On top of that... it required a Spotify Premium Subscription.
Spotify went on to say, "We understand it may be disappointing, but this decision allows us to focus on developing new features and enhancements that will ultimately provide a better experience to all Spotify users." Like I said, poor... ass... excuse and I don't think most supporters will accept it. Create a gen 2 or provide a solid firmware update for the device that can allow them to sign-in. It's worth it.
You'll love this (totally being sarcastic)... Spotify recommends that you take your device, reset it to the factory settings and dispose of it safely following local electronic waste guidelines. While I do appreciate the instructions over it just being tossed on the ground somewhere, it's like... how dare they try and recommend how you dispose of something thats working because they don't want the product to be active anymore?
If you want to try and request a refund, this link was provided by Spotify. Good luck! As for the developers, this is another reminder of what not to do, because poor decisions can certainly come back to haunt you.
There are options out there like the two you see below (connect your phone):
The Skullcandy Jib True 2 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds are a great option if you're looking for a pair of super affordable, decent-performing Bluetooth earbuds. Let's review!
The Skullcandy Jib True 2 has a 33-hour battery life with the help of the charging case, so you can keep them charged on the go. They're also tolerable to wear and sound great for the price but don't go expecting top-tier quality here or you're setting yourself up to be disappointed.
The Tile app is great, but how messed up is it that the cheapest earbuds have this feature and more expensive ones don't? This feature alone makes this a great deal to get for someone like my girlfriend because she loses earbuds all the time, and the controls are simple enough to play/pause and skip.
These headphones are IPX4 sweat and water-resistant, so consider them for walking. You have 3 pairs of ear tips ranging from Large to Small and with luck, you can keep them in your ears for more than just a power walk. The charging cable that comes with the Jib True 2 is micro-USB, so don't expect to use one of the USB-Cs you have laying around. The Bluetooth version is 5.2 but I wish the range was better, I can walk out of the room to the kitchen and things get choppy. My room is like 20 steps from the kitchen, but if you keep your phone nearby, you're good.
The 6mm driver gives decent audio, but this is on the lower end of diameters so you can forget about the deep bass of the bigger drivers. Sorry Mario, but the clear high-quality audio is in another pair of earbuds. The Frequency Response of the earbuds is listed as 20Hz - 20KHz, but don't look at this as something set in stone that sounds just like another pair of earbuds. You have to actually listen to them for yourself. For me, the mids are good, the highs are cool, and the lows are okay. Everything I mentioned is cool for the price, and the controls are simple.
Overall, I can't really complain about these headphones aside from the constant reminder to recharge when the battery is low. The battery life makes that a rare experience unless you use them for a long stretch of time. The current price is low enough to make this a no-brainer purchase at $24.99 ($39.99 on the official Skullcandy site), and the Tile app is useful to prevent your investment from being lost.
Many thanks to Audeze for supplying this product a review, my opinions are my own.
Before I jump into the review... you know what time it is, let's unbox!
The Audeze Mobius headphones look and feel great, but how do they feel and sound? Let's find out!
Quality + Comfort:Out of the gate... the look of the headphones matches the feel for the most part. The Audeze Mobius headphones go over the ear... so they aren't pressing directly on them. As you see here, the (replaceable) contoured memory foam earpads are shaped a certain way to better fit on our heads. If I pull it back a tad, the comfort level increases for me so that it's not pressing on the area between the ear and upper jawbone.
If I want to extend my tolerance time, I move the earpads forward until they're touching the back of my ear (resting on the upper back of my cheekbone slightly).
I was a bit concerned about the comfort initially because I am still sensitive regarding headphone comfort but after a slight adjustment, I decreased the clamp pressure on my head by 50% or so without the headphone sag. These headphones don't have a snap adjustment, so the adjustments can be as slight as you want them to be (I haven't noticed a slip). If you feel like the ear cups are pressing against the cheek a little too much, turn them out. This also increased the comfort for me and I was able to turn the initial hour into about 3.5 to 4 hours of enjoyment during my initial test.
After increased use, the memory foam definitely helped.
The earpads have a full DJ-style swivel that doesn't squeeze the neck at all, I'm talking 0%. I absolutely love the fact that these headphones have enough space for the head to do a full turn back and forth... even in a polo tee (and I have a thick neck). If they were for the PC only, that wouldn't matter as much... but you can take these on the go without that uncomfortable cheek or chin rub.
The headphones have a form of artificial leather on them, which feels sturdy and soft around the flexible frame. I checked to find out the level of quality these earpads have as far as the leather is concerned, but I couldn't find anything specific. I will say that they feel similar to those I've experienced that is a higher level and don't feel like it's just a coating.
The beauty of these types of earpads is that they're not as porous as the cloth ones, but if you live in a hot climate like I do... you can work up a sweat so make sure that you take care of your earpads to decrease the build-up of sweat and dirt. You won't have to replace the earpads as often if you clean them after use and store them properly.
You can use a clean soft (slightly) damp cloth to wipe the headphones. Use water or a cleaning product specific to leather. By the way, don't leave the headphones just sitting in direct sunlight, because this will affect the leather by causing them to dry up and crack (trust me). If you have a case... use it!
There will be a time where replacement earpads are needed (in my opinion), so I recommend getting a replacement pair with your headphones to store away. The same model headphones don't remain on the market forever... so if they're above a certain price point, I recommend grabbing these.
By the way, all your controls and connections are all in one place. So you don't have to remember which ear they're on... more so than where they're placed. The 3D centering is the first button, the 2nd is the Mic port, the 3rd USB-C port for charging & PC audio, the 4th is the 3.5mm port, the 5th is the Mic volume control, 6th is the Headphone volume control. Mic mute/Unmute and the Power buttons are on the flat side of the left ear's exterior. The placement works once you figure out the Mic volume from the Headphone volume, and I'm glad they put the Mute/Unmute & Power buttons in a different area.
I've centered the headphones with my ring finger, muted/unmuted and turned on the headphones with my pointer, and adjusted the volume with my thumb. This is how the controls are placed.
Sound: Right off the bat, when I used these headphones... I noticed a stand-out feature. These are 3D headphones, so I was curious about what that meant for these headphones. I've used headphones that mention a 3D feature before... and it was primarily based on the surround sound feature, but these headphones actually track the sound no matter where you turn your head.
That's pretty badass, and some of you may wonder what good is this feature if you need to face the screen... but think about the various screen types and entertainment. If you have a curved monitor and you need to look off to the side, the sound doesn't shift with these headphones... it continues to come from the same direction it did prior to you turning your head.
To be more specific, if you turned your head while talking to your friend (in person)... they wouldn't automatically move to the position where you turned your head. You would still hear your friend talking from the direction they were speaking, which definitely adds more depth to the gameplay and gives an edge as far as competition goes. I won't say that other 3D headphones don't deliver, but this actually delivers more because the sound in the digital environment doesn't shift with head movement.
That's the best way I can describe it, and when you apply something like this to ASMR (yeah... here I go again with the ASMR)... it's even better. I've experienced certain ASMR videos and audio where the direction seemed off like maybe the person recorded in the wrong direction... but all you have to do is turn around.
The features that make this possible are:
Waves Nx Tech for 3D Hardware Processing - Onboard head-tracking tech.
Integrated Low Latency Head Tracking - This decreases the chance of lag when you turn your head.
Anatomy Calibration - Uses the size of your noggin/head to boost audio accuracy.
3D Audio & Ambisonics Support - This is for VR/AR content (which I didn't get a chance to test).
3D Sound Localization
Customizable Room Emulation - Based on research, this delivers sound that you would hear in a certain room size (Could be the "Duh of the Day" for some of you).
I did notice that I had to turn off the 3D feature when using Dolby Atmos in order to increase the accuracy of the software.
As far as the actual audio specs go:
Max SPL: >120dB - Even if these headphones deliver >120dB... just keep in mind that listening at the max sound pressure level isn't recommended based on OSHA safety standards.
OSHA allows for 8 hours at 90dB, 2 hours at 100dB, while NIOSH recommends 8 hours max to <85dB. NIOSH recommends less than 15 minutes at 100dB, and I just want to mention this because with great headphones comes great responsibility.
THD: <0.1% - These headphones are right where they need to be in terms of the ideal percentage of THD... for adults and children. This prevents the various sounds from being similar and allows for better clarity in terms of identifying what something is. This is important for kids especially... because they need to learn what sounds like what.
Frequency response: 10Hz - 50kHz - When it comes to this measurement of the SPL, the lower end represents the bass and the higher end represents the treble.
Transducer size: 100mm - This is your headphone driver and the thing that produces the sound.
Magnetic structure: Fluxor magnet array - This is a brand-patented feature that guides sound waves, and reduces distortion for the most accurate audio they can deliver. Get more detail about that feature, here.
Magnet type: Neodymium N50 - Based on my research, these are the strongest type of permanent magnets available and they can produce better magnetic fields with less. So you get less weight in your headphones, but what they actually do for your audio is produce higher sound output with less power. In other words, you get higher sound pressure levels (SPL).
Diaphragm type: Ultra-thin Uniforce - A wide thin conductor that takes advantage of the magnetic field so that the full diaphragm has the same force. This patented tech delivers virtually distortion-free listening experiences with the greatest accuracy and detail in any headphone (in the known universe), according to Audeze.
All that said, how do they deliver? The mids and highs are great, and I did get the bass to emerge... it just boiled down to what I was playing or listening to (still felt a bit shy, until I jumped into some bass-rich rap, action games, and action movies).
I was able to switch up the sound profiles to tweak the listening experience, but I will get back to that in the next section. Here are some of the movies, music, and games I played using the headphones:
Jay-Z - 30 Something
Rick Ross - Carol City
Just Cause 3
Just Cause 4
Tom Clancy's No Remorse
Army of the Dead
In the box + Features:
In the box:
Audeze Mobius 7.1 3D Headphones
Directional microphone with volume control + a switch that confirms that your mic is muted or not.
USB-C to USB-C cable
USB-C to USB cable
3.5mm to 3.5mm cable
Cloth headphone storage bag
Manual Alignment or Intelligent Auto-Align
Bluetooth w/ SBC + AAC + LDAC
When you mute and unmute... you'll know, because the headphones will tell you.
Under the hood of the earpads, the Audeze Mobius headphones feature:
100mm Planar Transducers
Fazer Wave Guides
Audeze Cipher DSP
Room Emulation
Head movements are tracked per millisecond
Anatomy Calibration
3D Audio Positioning
Audeze HQ is software specifically for the Mobius and Primrose headphones.
As seen in the video preview, you get the option of various sound profiles that do little tweaks here and there. I didn't notice a great change, but maybe that's just me. The Flat was the most noticeable, followed by Music and Foot Steps. Click play for a tour of the UI.
Price: The Audeze Mobius Headphones retail for $399... which is okay based on the onboard head tracking that retails for $99.99 alone. Take away this feature and I'd price them at about $250 to $300.
Quality + Comfort 5
Sound 5
In the box + Features 4 (due to the lack of an IP rating)
It's been a while since I've reviewed headphones, so shout out to 1More for supplying a pair. These headphones may actually look familiar to some of you... because they resemble the Stylish Dual-Dynamic Driver BT In-Ear Headphones, reviewed previously. So let's see what sets the pro version apart... after this unboxing!
Design: 1More has certainly turned some heads with their line of Stylish headphones as they present the latest version, but... I'm going to do some digging to see what makes these headphones the "Pro" version.
Off the bat, these headphones have a magnet in the back end of the headphones that allow them to become an audio-inspired necklace on you... when they aren't in use. That's a win over the standard version because I didn't care for the loose dangle... that was a con that they eliminated in the pro version.
Visually the look has been maintained for the most part, although in the pro version there is a bump-out for the USB cover (which doesn't stay in that well... for me the way it does for an associate of mine).
Specs:Speaking of specs, In the pro-version, you also get a USB Type-C versus the mini USB... which is when my thumb went up. I don't like looking at the port to confirm if I have the USB turned the right way. I'll do it if I have to... but if I don't have to... you know which option I'm going for. The USB Type-C is almost a must moving forward for me, so this is a win for the pro version.
Spec-wise... the speaker impedance is the same at 32. You get a slightly heavier weight when it comes to the pro version... which could be the magnets but it only bumps it up about 5.6 g.
When it comes to Bluetooth, the pro version features 5.0 compared to the 4.2 in the standard version. The connection has been instantaneous for me. Bluetooth range is slightly greater according to specs, but it seemed about the same for me although there wasn't an interruption when going the same distance I went with the standards. Both continued to the audio playback from my home to the curb, but it wasn't choppy in the pro version... which I actually tested inadvertently while hightailing it out of the house with a recycling bin ahead of the pick-up time.
By the way, the headphones remained in my ear during the mad dash outside.
Anyway, my second thumb went up for the pro version in terms of the playback time (big difference). The standard version delivers 6 hours of playtime, while the pro version delivers 12 hours of use according to the specs. As far as my experience goes, it checks out.
I used the headphones during bedtime (to enjoy my usual ASMR), and through my workday (via music, movies, and commentary). I think the low volume extended the battery life overnight (it was at about 20 to 25% volume to prevent white noise), and outside of an hour of standby time... I was able to get over 12 hours in before I began to hear the low battery sound notification.
Speaking of the battery, you get 5 hours of use from the pro version after a 10-minute charge, compared to 3 hours in the standard headphones. 3 hours still isn't bad, but... I'll take the extra 2 (hours).
Audio: The on and off sounds on the pro are... interesting. Previous 1More Bluetooth headphones delivered the usual "Onnnneee More" sound when you turn them on, and "Power Off" (when you... turn them off). The pros give this epic little bass drum sound, which is... okay, but it's lacking what I considered a plus. One thing I like about previously reviewed Bluetooth headphones from 1More is that little battery level notification you get when you turn them on, you don't get that notification in this pair of headphones. I believe an update is possible, they can keep the previous low battery notification.
The audio was tested with this recording
Before you listen to this (if you're wearing headphones)... just keep in mind that you will hear a knock at some point in the test process. This is just a heads up because it jarred me. I thought someone was knocking on one of my office windows. Holy crap.
The 1More Stylish BT Pro In-Ear Headphones, feature aptX HD + AAC. Looking at Qualcomm's aptX HD technology, it delivers 24-bit audio over Bluetooth in high def. To give you an idea of what 24-bit means for these headphones... 16-bit can deliver a dynamic range of 96 dB, while 24-bit can deliver 144 dB. CD generally delivers 16 bit.
The Iron Man vs. F-22 Raptor dog fight scene delivered some very crisp audio through these headphones. I didn't get a lot of bass in this scene, but you could tell that it was there with the roar of the jet engines coming onto the scene. I got the whistle from the missiles, the wind, and those little pops from the gunfire... which were pretty clear. I wanted to experience more boom... so I went jumped into some drumline action, which I enjoyed the most based on recording quality (because bass felt a tad shy beforehand). The frequency for the pro version is 2.400HGz - 2.4835GHz.
The cVc 8.0 microphone with Environmental Noise Cancellation technology is said to help filter out background noise and isolate your voice during phone calls. All I can say about this is that I didn't have to repeat myself during the phonecalls I made while at a local park while playing soccer with my daughter.
Update:
In the initial posting of this review... I said that everything just about checks out on these headphones... except for the USB cover that... covers the port. Well... I have an update.
After doing some tests, an associate was able to confirm that the cover remained in place for him.
Not only did he confirm this, but the company also checked as well... but I wanted to make sure that someone was able to check without being an employee of 1More.
Here are images of the headphones after use, and as seen here... the USB cover hasn't come out of the port.
Thanks, Cameron!
Price: Price wise... the pro version comes in at a competitive price of $49.99, which is $30 less than the initial release price of the standards. Now that I've been able to confirm the USB port cover issue isn't a widespread problem... I feel comfortable giving the headphones a thumbs up for design.
One thing you didn't see in this unboxing... was a storage bag, which was included in the standard version (not sure why, but there needs to be something for the additional silicon ear tips to be stored). My guess is that this decision was made to keep costs down, and on that note... I can find something to store the ear tips and headphones.
Overall, good headphones... at a good price that allows you to double up for about $100 for Christmas or grab two for you and someone to work out in style.
After our recent COD: Mobile review... some of you were wondering how you pair game controllers with your device. I even connected one for an older gamer (game on!)... so I figured this could be useful to some of you. These are the two I've paired... so I'm going to focus on the PS4 controller and the Xbox controller (I connected to Android phones).
Start off by making sure your PS4 controller isn't paired to your... PS4.
Go to your phone settings by swiping up through your icons until you see the little cog icon marked "Settings" or swipe down at the top of the screen to show the dropdown menu. That should have a little cog icon as well.
Go to "Bluetooth & device connection".
Turn on your Bluetooth (Duh of the day)
Select "Pair new device"
Grab your PS4 controller and press the "Share" button and the Playstation "Home" button (the one with the Playstation logo) and hold them both until the player light on the top of your controller begins to blink... then you're ready to pair.
Once you see "Wireless Controller" or equivalent, press it to pair and... you're ready to game!!!
If you don't see "Wireless Controller" or something similar in name pop up, refresh, or go back and then click on "Pair new device" again.
Start off by making sure your Xbox controller isn't paired to your... Xbox or PC.
Go to your phone settings as mentioned above.
Go to "Bluetooth & device connection".
Turn on your Bluetooth.
Select "Pair new device"
Grab your Xbox (One/PC) wireless controller and turn it on by pressing the Xbox "Home" button represented by the Xbox logo. (This is a little simpler than the PS4 pairing.)
Once you see "Xbox Wireless Controller" press it to pair and... you're also ready to game!!!
If this didn't prove successful, follow the step above highlighted in yellow... but you will be looking for "Xbox Wireless Controller".
Some of you might think... duh, but everyone isn't you or me. There are parents, grandparents, and others looking for solutions like this to bring a little light to someone who may not be able to afford a console (medical bills can mount up quick).
This can also be a great option for gamers (kids to adults) in and out of the hospital for treatments like dialysis, chemotherapy, and more. So with that said, share the link... and give the gift of gaming in the new year! HAPPY 2020!
