Cables Unlimited USB1520 Bluetooth, USB Bluetooth Adapter Review

My review is relative to using this device with Lego Mindstorms NXT. My review in no way applies to any other application of the device.

Here are my findings --
I purchased this device because it was in the compatibility listing on the Lego Mindstorms web site.
The version of the "Cables unlimited USB-1520" that I received came with the IVT BlueSoleil software, and driver. I was quite successful in getting the software loaded, and in fact could attach to the NXT with no problem. The problem was that the Lego MindStorms NXT software would not find the NXT through the Bluetooth device. I spent hours combing through forums on the topic trying everything to no avail. The general consensus seems to be that the IVT software simply won't work. Attempts at trying to load a so-called windows generic Bluetooth driver was useless. Question for Lego, "Why is the device in the compatibility list if it's software won't work?" Perhaps the older versions used a different driver. Try and search the Lego site for information and you will be amazed at how little helpful information there is on getting Bluetooth problems resolved. I also suffered many Blue screens of death while trying to uninstall, and reinstall this driver on my Win XP SP 2 machine a number of times before moving on to the solution.

I found a solution, but it requires a bit of patience and PC savvy. You must download and use Widcomm driver to make the device work with Lego Mindstorms NXT software. Your favorite search engine should provide you with what you need. There is a good site out there with detailed instructions and everything you need. This info is for those unfortunate as myself that are determined to make this work.

For the average person that wants to just plug and go, and download programs to their NXT, I can't recommend this device, it will waste your time and frustrate you beyond belief.

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Product Description:

USB-1520 Bluetooth adapter allows you to easily make wireless connections with other Bluetooth enabled devices, such as desktop or notebook computers, PDAs, scanners, printers and mobile phones. Simply plug this compact adapter into your computers USB port to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of Bluetooth wireless technology.


Main Features
Manufacturer: Cables Unlimited
Manufacturer Part Number: USB1520
Manufacturer Website Address: www.cablesunlimited.com
Package Type: Retail
Frequency Band/Bandwidth Details: 2.402 GHz 2.835 GHz Bluetooth 1.1 ISM Band
Transmission Speed: 723Kbps Maximum Bluetooth
Host Interface: USB 1.1
Standard Warranty: 1 Year(s)

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ifrogz EarPollution CS40 Headphones (White) Review

I was looking at the Beats by Dr.Dre and i tryed them on at best buy. They were great but they lacked good comfort. I went online and found these. I decieded to give them a try and they are very good for the price. These are the most comfortable headphones I have ever worn! I can wear them for hours and not have any discomfort. The sound of course is not as good as the Beats, but it is still very good. It has good bass and great tone. these are pros and cons.

Pros: Great comfort
nice design
good sound quality
wear them for hours without discomfort
stainless steel/rubber/glossy pastic designCons: on loud bass songs sound can be pitchy
nothing else that ive found

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Product Description:
Super sleek EarPollution CS40's offer cranium busting sound with supreme comfort. A high gloss finish compliments the black dura-strength rubber cups and headband. The perfect light-weight set of high quality fashion headphones.

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Shure E4c Sound Isolating Earphones Review

So that you know a little about me and this review, I will start by saying that I am a professional classical musician, and I have recently had a hearing test on which I did very well.I am also something of a headphone enthusiast, as I have some very expensive headphones, a high-end source and an expensive dedicated tube headphone amplifier.I am aware of a computer magazine review that recently rated the Etymotics higher in sound quality.

This is a comparison of the E4C and the Etymotic ER-4P, using the Gmini XS200 as a source, with mp3's encoded at either 192 or 256 kb/s.(By the way, the Gmini is a great little DAP!)Both of these earphones are quite good and will provide vastly better sound quality than the typical headphones and earbuds that fill the mass market.I like the included foam tips included by each manufacturer, so that is what I used to compare them.The Etymotic foam tips seal better and provide superior isolation from outside noise.I must note that the Shure's were bought new by me, and the Etymotics are a loaner from a friend.Please be aware that the Shure's require some "burn in", and will not sound their best new out of the package.Have patience at the beginning, and notice the improvement in performance over the first 20-40 hours.I do not know the break-in characteristics of the Etymotics.

I'll cut to the chase.The Shure's are sonically much more impressive than the the Etymotic's.Both are highly resolving and have no major faults.The Shure's however, sound as though they have even greater resolution of detail, and have a flatter frequency response.They represent the subtleties of instrumental timbre much more accurately, and include even more detail in their presentation. One can hear all the qualities of the recording environment, the position of instruments of the orchestra (soundstage), and seem to create a sound that is less bottled up within the ear (headstage).They do not have the least trace of sibilance.Somehow, in spite of all this resolution, they still sound smooth and convey all the beauty and warmth of tone one could want.They have slightly "rolled highs", as this is the practice of Shure in all their products, but this is a very small criticism since the treble region is nevertheless very clear, balanced and controlled.In comparison, the Etymotics have a sound that is a little "tipped up", and can become fatiguing.There is a comparative lack of depth to their sound, and there is much information in the midrange in particular that is lost.Bass is not as present, controlled, or quick.Beauty of tone is lacking.I do not have the same emotional response to the music with them.However, these are still not sibilant, and are still very fine.

The Shure's are also better built.I feel they are sturdier and less likely to be damaged from hard use.They are more microphonic than the Etymotics, though, which will be very annoying if you intend to use them while moving around.One should realize they are both very microphonic because of the nature of their isolating design, and therefore will transmit a lot of unwanted bumping and rustling to your ears if you move around with them.I recommend sitting still.

The Shure represents true high fidelity in a portable form.In many ways, they outperform my expensive home headphone rig.What is more, they sound this good without the need of a separate headphone amplifier.In fact, I recommend you skip the amp, as I felt that mine added too much energy to the treble.I am very impressed with them, and I strongly recommend them.

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Product Description:
Digital edge technologies used for creating, transferring, and listening to digital music has made the iPod and various other Digital Media Players the most popular portable listening devices around the world. Shure recognized that at the start. Highly demanding and critical listeners have appreciated Shure earphones. Shure's E4c extends that enjoyment even further. The cutting-edge industrial design of the E4c is a breakthrough in sound isolating earphone technology. Ideal for the business traveler and on-the-go audiophile, the High-Definition Driver with Tuned Port Technology delivers brilliant highs and extended bass that enhance your listening experience with your portable DVD, MP3 and CD players as well as all other audio sources. The E4c's in ear design works like an earplug to block background noise naturally. This enables you to listen comfortably at lower volumes-even in loud environments. And unlike bulky headphones utilizing active noise cancellation technology, no artifacts are introduced into your listening experience. Sound isolating earphones are also much smaller and don't require batteries. 60 inch cable length 3.5 mm (1/8) gold-plated stereo plugAlthough the E4c comes with an assortment of sleeves to ensure a comfortable fit, some users may want something even more personalized. In this case, we recommend contacting a hearing professional, such as an audiologist, to make custom-fit ear molds for your E4c Color -WHITE

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Yamaha Pro Monitor Headphones Review

GReat Product. I can't stand cheap headphones, but these are a different story. They sound great and cost less than many other inferior headphones.

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Product Description:
RH5MA monitor headphones are recognized by sound experts as superior monitoring headphones capable of producing extraordinarily accurate sound reproduction. These headphones are particularly proficient in the difficult low to mid-low frequencies and can flawlessly replicate even the most precise mix.

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Creative Labs Xmod Wireless Music System with X-Fi Technology Review

The Xmod Wireless comes in 2 parts, a transmitter and a receiver.The transmitter connects very simply to your PC via USB and it functions as a USB soundcard, applying X-Fi sound enhancement to any sound or music that is passed through it.Compressed audio like AAC, WMA and MP3 files are upscaled to 24 bit quality and surround sound effects can be added.

You have to experience this to appreciate it.It really does make your music sound better.Sometimes the improvement is more subtle than at other times, but the quality X-Fi provides really shines when you connect the receiver end of the Xmod Wireless to a good set of speakers that you might have in your theater or family room.

So, on to part 2 of the package.The wireless receiver.This enables you to control and listen to your music anywhere you place the receiver in your house.Your PC music collection is streamed around the house with top notch quality and fidelity.I have my receiver connected to my theater setup and the sound is fantastic.You can purchase additional receivers if you'd like to play your music in multiple rooms.

Cool things about the package overall.The range is great and there is no lag.Plus, it just works.You don't need to have your own network or anything running already.Just turn on the receiver and transmitter and away you go, nothing to fuss with.If you do have a network running, this won't interfere with it at all.I think both units are stylish as well.They fit right in with high end equipment and they are pretty small.

You also get a remote for each side and there are inputs so that you can connect an MP3 player.With the remotes, you can skip tracks, pause tracks, turn on and off the X-Fi features, etc.

I don't really have any negatives other than the price, but I still think it's worth it.Sonos has products with similar features that cost up to $1000.Xmod Wireless gives you what you need with better audio technology for a lot less.It would also be nice to have a small display on the receiver unit so you can see what you are browsing.

Overall, Xmod Wireless is highly recommended.The unique combination of a driverless and simple to use USB soundcard with a high quality streaming device is an excellent way to introduce your PC to your home theater setup or to any room of your house.

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Product Description:
Play music from your PC wirelessly in any room, Make your MP3s sound better than CDs, Connect in seconds - no configuration needed.

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Zune 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) Review

Before I start talking about the Zune I have to say that I've had several mp3 players in the past, from flash-based to HD-based.My newest one is this 8GB Zune.I got my Zune about a week ago, after getting rid of my 3G 8GB Nano, that I was not happy with.So this is why I'm more satisfied with the Zune vs. the Nano...

Hardware
-Shape is easier to hold and use than WS Nano
-LCD is glass, more durable and sharper than plastic on Nano
-Zune Touch Pad is more responsive and precise vs. click wheel
-Wireless sharing/syncing option
-Built-in FM Tuner
-Better sound quality even without EQ...I just hated how bad the Nano sounds even with Shure headphonesSoftware
-Very simple and easy
-Asthetically better than iTunes

User Interface
-No Coverflow but interface is more organized and intuitive
-Customizable background, not an option on Nano
-Easier to read

I have not tested the battery life but it's rated close to the Nano so I'll live with whatever it really is.One thing I haven't checked on but someone else wrote about was the Zune not being a UMS Device when plugged in.Hopefully that's something Microsoft can/will change so that you can store other files on it.Overall, I'm must more satisfied with this player than the Nano.

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Product Description:
Zune starts with a digital media player and adds a twist. You can wirelessly share selected full-length sample tracks, playlists, pictures or your homegrown tracks directly from Zune to Zune. You can listen to the full-length songs that you receive up to three times in three days, flag the ones you like and easily buy them the next time you sync up. You can discover new music in the Zune Marketplace, and show off your favorite pictures and videos on the big, bright screen. Zune has all that and a built in FM tuner, too. Let your inner DJ run wild.

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Sennheiser HD 215 Extreme DJ Sound Headphones Review

I am not a huge fan of excessive bass in headphones. For me many of the sealed cans offer a less than desirable listening experience.I own a pair of EH-250's and like them for a few songs then suddenly listening fatigue sets due to the overpowering bass. My EH350's are better but I absolutely need a sealed set of cans. My perceptions about sealed cans changed the minute I put the HD215's over my ears.

Sound Quality:
I immediately noticed how great the soundstage is on these phones. They provide a very expanded sense of spatial placement, especially for sealed cans.This was the first drastic improvement over the midsized cans I own.

The next thing I noticed is how well presented all the mid and high frequencies are.These phones provide vocals and acoustic arrangments very desireable traits such as great detail and transient repsonse often missing from cheaper phones.

Having said all that, I do have to point out the bass is ever so slightly shy. Litterally a 2db parametric bass adjustment makes it perfect for me and improves the linearity of the phones. Honestly the rated frequency response for my Iriver H320 is 20...20,000hz +/- 2db and usually amps shy the bass away when the volume is turned up because it is the most demanding part of the music.So the adjustment may be for the phones and maybe for the MP3 player either way 2db is perfect.

A breif note on the bass; although less pesent than many phone out there, the extreme amount of detail in the bass reproduction makes some of my other aforementioned phones almost seem muddy. These babies are clean sounding and responsive to very deep bass notes.I love hearing all the hidden detail in the bass and these phones provide me with the deepest growls and transient response for this price range.

Construction:
These babies are top notch.Designed with professional use in mind they are built tough.I have heard poeple complain about plastic exteriors but honestly plastics are fast becoming superior to metal products in durability, tensile strenghth, and price. I don't use the swivel on the right earpiece but it does function as stated.

Comfort:
I place listening fatigue over pressure and weight at all times because I have phones I can keep on my head for hours but I am forced to take breaks due to listening fatigue. Next I consider how comfortable they are when properly adjusted for headsize and seal. I have to say these phones shine in both areas. Well designed lightweight and circumural design does wonders for these phones. I often listen for 4 hours or more at a time.

Efficiency:
Yes they are 32 ohm and they do have a 112db sensitivity rating but they do like a little extra power than other similarly rated pones.If you have a power saving (lasts more than 10 hours on two AA bateries or worse yet a single AAA) cd or mp3 player you will not get the sound these babies can provide and should look elsewhere. Besides why pay more for the cans than the source which is a common mistake in the marketplace.

Remember processing comes from the device NOT the phones, they simply reproduce the signal that is fed into them.Bad source always equals bad sound. A reveiwer below obviosly fell into the misconseption that better phones always provide better sound.

Summary:
Great dynamics and transient response win out over slightly soft but extremely well defined bass.No listening or comfort fatigue. Great sound attenuation.Exception spatialization and great construction make these phones a very good value.

Don't buy if:
You want the overemphasized bass other cheaper options will provide. Like the EH250's or the HD212's.

You don't need a sealed can. there are far more options in open aire full sized designs from Sennheiser that can sound better.

You have a cheap portable source.Get an Iriver Hxxx series or the slighly less good sounding Ipod or Creative Labs for a portable unit. Something that can truly supply a good 10-12mW at 32ohms.

Final thoughts:
These cans take about 15-20 hours to break in properly so expect them to sound slightly bright and lacking in the bass at first.Once they break in they are warmer sounding and much better balanced.

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Product Description:
Enjoy Excellent Sound: The HD 215 has both outstanding sound characteristics and excellent attenuation of ambient noise. The rotatable ear cup for one-ear listening and the sigle-sided coiled cable make them ideal for DJ monitoring. The HD 215 comes with a protective pouch for storage and transportation.

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Zune 120 GB Video MP3 Player, Gears of War 2 Special Edition (Black) Review

This is my 3rd Zune from Microsoft.I used up all the memory on my 80 gig, so I decided to buy a Zune 120, and also decided to shell out the extra 20$(?) for the Gears of War Content. I must say, this Zune is very sexy.It's sleek, shiny, and has has an awesome logo on the back.The only thing I was disappointed with was the standard headphones.They sound good, but the premium ones that came with my 80 gig are exceptionally better.If you are a gamer and want a Zune, this one is definitely the one to get, even for the Gears of War swag that's comes along with it.

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Product Description:
The best-selling Xbox franchises of all time, Xbox and Epic Games Inc. have collaborated with Zune to create this unique portable media player. The Zune "Gears of War 2" special edition is based on the new Zune 120GB device and features a laser-etched Crimson Omen on the new glossy black enclosure, collectible "Gears of War" packaging, and 244 pieces of "Gears of War" media including the original game soundtrack, behind-the-scenes videos, game trailers and concept art galleries.has all that and a built in FM tuner, too. Let your inner DJ run wild.

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