Microphones

Shure MV88+ Video Kit Is Mobile Videography Bliss

At my first CES, I carried a huge backpack with a mirrorless camera and tons of gear. It was a lot. Thanks to the Shure MV88+ Video Kit, my iPhone is now a powerful tool for capturing video on the go. It is light, relatively affordable and, in combination with my iPhone and Shure’s free apps, it gets the job done!


Blue Blackout Spark SL Condenser Microphone Review

Being a podcaster, I’ve learned that a good microphone is hard to find. You can search any group, any forum, and someone will suggest the Blue Yeti Mic as a starter microphone. But what if I told you that while USB microphones are great, Blue Microphones offers better microphones that are more versatile, that will grow with you over time?


Blue Ember XLR Microphone: Making Podcasting Easier

Alright, let just get this out of the way now: If you’ve ever attempted to podcast using a USB Microphone, it’s not the greatest experience you will have. Sure, a USB microphone may be most convenient, but with the Blue Ember XLR Microphone, you can have complete control as you record your audio.




Blue Yeti Nano Microphone: Great Sound, Great Price

Regardless of whether you’re a gamer, podcaster, or just dong voice-overs, the one thing you need to have is a really good microphone. While you can probably find a cheap microphone to get by with for a while, we’re sure you’ve also looked at microphones from Blue.


OnePlus Upgraded Mic Arm Stand Review

I have had a Blue Yeti of some sort for years, and while the mic comes with its own stand, it’s one designed to only work on your desk. I’ve often found there doesn’t really seem to be a good place for the mic with its stock stand.  This changed when I received the OnePlus Upgraded Mic Arm Stand.



iRig Mic Field from IK Multimedia Now Shipping

Watching my son deal with audio recording issues as he completed his portfolio film project for film school applications (in at NYU, yay!), I got a new appreciation of the value of a quality microphone for even the most seemingly simple applications. The iPhone is great for capturing video, but the addition of the iRig Mic Field makes it better!


This Blackout Yeti Microphone from Blue Is Gorgeous

The Blue Yeti is an amazing USB microphone that sounds as impressive as it looks. (I use the Yeti Pro with my Mac and love it.) Now Blue has announced the Blackout Yeti. It adds a gorgeous new style to the company’s best-selling USB microphone family. Considering the quality the sub-$150 price is a bargain. The all new blackout finish on the new Yeti microphone “adds style to your music, gaming, or podcasting setup.” At the same time it offers the same recording prowess that have made the Yeti a hugely popular success.   The Blackout Yeti uses the same…


Listen Up! Samson Meteorite USB Condenser Microphone

I’ve used the Samson Meteor Microphone since first doing the review three years ago. (Read it!) I love the retro look, the ease-of-use, and quality recordings it produces. Now the company has released the Samson Meteorite. A small, USB condenser microphone, it is inexpensive, easy to use, and great if you want something more than what your computer microphone offers. 


Livescribe 3 Is for People Who Need to Be Productive on the Go

I’ve long been a fan of Livescribe’s smartpens. I purchased the very first one and used it constantly. Updates to the hardware and software since then have been notable evolutionary steps forward. With the Livescribe 3 Smartpen, the device takes a huge leap forward, and in the process becomes an extension of your phone or tablet. It is awesome.  


Jabra Solemate Max Offers Big Sound with Lots of Sole

I was an immediate fan of the Jabra Solemate Bluetooth speaker and said so. I was impressed by the Jabra Solemate mini I reviewed last month, and I said so. And I am also a fan of the big brother of the aforementioned speakers. The Jabra Solemate Max is big … and impressive. Here’s our look at this larger Bluetooth speaker.


The Jabra BIZ 2300 Is the Call Center Headset Evolved

When was the last time you called a company and could barely understand the person on the other end. There’s a good chance the person was sitting in a crowded room with other people who were also speaking, and their headset was junk. The Jabra BIZ 2300 can fix that … and it won’t cost an arm or an ear.


With the Zoom iQ5 Your iOS Never Sounded So Good

The iPhone 5S shoots amazing video. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for audio. That’s where the Zoom iQ5 comes in. For under $100, the iQ5 plugs into any iOS device with a Lightning connector and captures impressively accurate audio. Using the free app makes it even better. Check out all the features and see it on video. The Zoom iQ5 comes in either black or white. The product tag line says it all- “Now your videos can sound as good as they look”. I hope it is true since this would be the ideal iOS accessory for shooting future…


V-Moda M-80 On-Ear Headphones – Be Good to Your Ears

The V-Moda Crossfade M-100s stand out as one of the best pair of headphone I had the opportunity to review last year. I absolutely love the way they look, feel and, most importantly, sound. For those who prefer on-ear headphones, I recommend checking out their smaller siblings — the V-Moda M-80 on-ear headphones; they are bound to impress.


Shake Up Your Sound With the earjax Echo by BodyGuardz

We’re not sure if the earjax Echo by BodyGuardz intentionally look like large salt and pepper shakers, but they do indeed look like something you might see at a diner. Rather than add flavor to your food however, these shakers are all about music taste. $79.99 each, the earwax Echo pack some interesting features into a small footprint.



Jabra Goes Big… and Small at CES 2014

At CES 2013 Jabra showed off the upcoming Revo and Revo Wireless on-ear headphones. I have, and love, both! This year at CES 2014 Jabra went large with the Jabra Solemate Max and they went small with the Jabra Rox Wireless. We checked both out during our CES 2014 Booth Tour.



Pioneer Shows Off Its NEX Line Of Products At CES

Car audio has come a long way since the days of my cassette tape portable CD player converter. Touch screens and phone interface are almost standard. Pioneer unveiled their NEX, (Networked Entertainment eXperience) which will combine on-board features with connected services from your devices. Four navigation and one audio receiver is in the lineup. Read the release after the break. PIONEER SHOWCASES NEXT GENERATION OF NETWORK CONNECTED RECEIVERS – ENHANCING EMBEDDED FEATURES WITH CLOUD-BASED CONTENT Networked Entertainment eXperience (NEX) Interface Implemented in Five Pioneer Receivers                                                                                                            LAS VEGAS – CES BOOTH #1201 (January 6, 2014) – Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today unveiled…