2014 Editor's Choice Awards

            2014 has been a great year, with some great products.  Not all are award winners.  Our awards comprise of Value, Recommended, Highly Recommended, and our highest one being the Editor's Choice Award.  This is to honor the best that has come across my desk this year in 2014.  Here are the recipients of this years 2014 Editor's Choice Awards, along with links to the review.

ACS Pro 17 Custom Molded Hearing Protection

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/05/acs-pro-17-custom-molded-hearing.html

Alps Mountaineering Comfort XL

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/07/alps-mountaineering-comfort-xl-self.html

Alps Mountaineering Extreme 3 Outfitter

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/07/alps-mountaineering-extreme-3-outfitter.html

Audio-Technica ATH-OX7AMP Premium Headphones With Built-In Amp

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/04/2014-annual-headphone-shootout-part-1.html

Elite Screens Yardmaster 100" Outdoor Projection Screen

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/08/elite-screens-yard-master-100-outdoor.html

Harman Kardon Nova 2.0 Wireless Speaker System

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/11/harman-kardon-nova-20-portable-wireless.html

Install Bay 100 Amp Power Supply

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/03/install-bay-100-amp-1440-watts-max.html

Kingston SSDNow mS200  mSATA SSD 3.0 Drive

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/09/kingston-ssdnow-ms200-msata-ssd-30.html

Magellan  RoadMate 6230-LM DashCam Navigator GPS Receiver

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/12/magellan-roadmate-6320-lm-dashcam.html

Sennheiser Momentum Headphones

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/04/2014-annual-headphone-shootout-part-1.html

Shuriken HPS AGM Battery

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/03/shuriken-hps-agm-battery-sk-bt60rt-and.html

Sigma Rox 10.0 GPS Bike Computer

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/12/sigma-rox-100-gps-review.html

Velodyne vBold Bluetooth Headphones

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/04/2014-headphone-shootout-part-3-wireless.html

Westone ES50 Elite Series Custom In-Ear Monitors

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2014/04/headphone-shootout-part-2-iems.html

            2014 has been a great year.  I love seeing great products come together with the realization of what the manufacturer envisioned come together and end up in reality being a great product.  Thanks goes to the manufacturers for making these great products, and thanks also to all our readers.  I look forward to 2015, and seeing more great products.  Here's to what 2015 has to bring, and a Happy New Year to all!

Sigma Rox 10.0 GPS Review

After the holidays many of us will look at the scales, or maybe not want to. Many New Year’s resolutions involve getting into shape or losing some weight somehow. A product that will help someone get there could be the perfect gift. Enter the Sigma Rox 10.0 GPS.

Features and specs:

Bike functions
	Current speed
	Average speed
	Maximum speed
	Current vs. average speed comparison
	Distance
	Current expansion**
	Average expansion**
	Current cadence**
	Average cadence**
	Maximum cadence**
Heart rate functions
	Current heart rate**
	Average heart rate**
	Maximum heart rate**
	HR as a % of HR max**
	Average % of HR max**
	Kcal**
	One target zone**
	Four intensity zones**
	Automatic calculation of the intensity/ target and HR zone(s)**
Time functions
	Training time
	Trip time
	Time (12/24 h)
	Date
	Countdown timer
	Stopwatch
Power functions
	Current power (Formula /ANT+)**/***
	Three-second average power (Formula /ANT+)**/***
	30-second average power (Formula /ANT+)**/***
	Average power (Formula /ANT+)**/***
	Maximum power (Formula /ANT+)**/***
	Work in kJ (Formula /ANT+)**/***
	Current power in watt/kg (Formula /ANT+)**/***
	One power target zone (Formula /ANT+)**/***
Temperature functions
	Current temperature
	Minimum temperature
	Maximum temperature
Altitude measurement functions
	Current altitude
	Gradient (%)
	Current incline rate
	Elevation profile for the next 3 mi
	Elevation profile for the last 3 mi
Uphill functions
	Altitude gain
	Maximum altitude
	Distance uphill
	Trip time uphill
	Average speed uphill
	Maximum rate of ascent
	Average incline uphill
	Maximum incline uphill
	Average expansion uphill**
Downhill functions
	Altitude loss
	Distance downhill
	Trip time downhill
	Average speed downhill
	Maximum rate of descent
	Average slope downhill
	Maximum slope downhill
	Average expansion downhill**
Status functions
	Low battery indicator in %
	GPS accuracy
	GPS signal strength
Navigation functions
	Time to destination
	Time at destination
	Distance to destination
	Direction
	Mini track navigation for the next 1 mi
Favorite functions
	Favorites A
	Favorites B
Lap functions
	Maximum no. of laps (784)
	Current no. of laps
	Lap time
	Time since start
	Lap distance
	Distance since start
	Average speed per lap
	Maximum speed per lap
	Average HR per lap
	Maximum HR per lap
	Kcal per lap
	Average cadence per lap**
	Maximum cadence per lap**
	Average power per lap**
	Maximum power per lap**
	Average altitude per lap
	Maximum altitude per lap
	Altitude gain per lap
	Altitude loss per lap
	Average ascent per lap
	Average descent per lap
Miscellaneous
	LOG book
	GPS receiver
	Low battery indicator-computer
	5 available languages
	Automatic start/stop (Can be switched on/off)
	Automatic detection of the second or third bike (3)**
	Backlight
	Backlight duration configurable
	Zone alarm can be switched on/off**
	Adjustable contrast
	Switchover kmh/mph mode
	Integrated storage chip for data backup (total and setting values)
	Battery type - receiver (Rechargeable battery)
	Battery type - transmitter (CR 2032)
	13 h receiver battery life*
	1.4 year transmitter battery life*
	Watertight (IPX7)
Total values
	Total distance for multiple bikes (3)
	Total trip time for multiple bikes (3)
	Total kcal for multiple bikes (3)
	Total altitude gain for multiple bikes (3)
	Maximum altitude for multiple bikes (3)
	Total distance uphill for multiple bikes (3)
	Total trip time uphill for multiple bikes (3)
	Total altitude loss for multiple bikes (3)
	Total distance downhill for multiple bikes (3)
	Total trip time downhill for multiple bikes (3)
Altitude calibration
	3 preset start altitudes
	Calibration using air pressure at sea level
	Calibration via current altitude
	IAC+
PC interface
	PC interface
	Transmission of the settings to the bike computer
	Automatic LOG book
	Memory capacity of approx. 249 hours
	Programmable recording interval (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30 s)
	Rest time calculation for selected memory interval
	Waypoints
	Transmission of the trip values to the PC
	Transmission of the total values to the PC
DATA CENTER 3 functions
	Individual memory evaluation
	Comparison of 2 individual memories
	Summary of total values
	Device settings via PC
	Statistical evaluation
	Calendar function
	Displaying the trip cycled in graph format
	Displaying the speed, cadence, heart rate, and temperature in graph format
	Comparison of two LOGs
	Distribution of the heart rate zones
	Intensity zone distribution
	Start altitude correction available
	Sub-area evaluation
	Print all evaluations
	Note function
	Deletion of LOG sections/parts of the LOG

The Sigma Rox 10.0 GPS is a top of the line product and it showed. It came packaged in a very good looking printed box, with photos and features listed for the Rox 10.0. The box was layered with the Rox 10.0, and all of the accessories. After opening the box you see the main unit. Pulling that out, you then see the main unit. Pulling that out, you then see all the sensors for the speed, cadence, and heart rate monitor. Pull out that divider and now you see all the accessories to mount all the components, as well as a quick start guide and product key for the software.

The quality of the product was excellent. The product and accessories was mostly made of plastic. The materials used were of very good quality. The fit and finish was also excellent. Being a bike computer, it is designed to endure the outdoor environment. So in case you find yourself in a downpour, the Rox 10.0 GPS is water proof. All of the buttons are tightly sealed. I could tell it is a top of the line product and it shows. I also liked the fact it uses an internal rechargeable battery.

Saying that the Sigma Rox 10.0 GPS is loaded with features doesn’t seem to describe it enough. It has all the standard features you would find on a bike computer, and then some. These extra features are functions like heart rate functions, temperature, power, altitude, uphill, downhill, status, navigation, favorite, and lap functions. You can pretty much do it all with the Sigma Rox 10.0 GPS. In addition to the standard bike functions, you can measure things like temperature, heart rate, uphill and downhill climbs and descents, lap times, etc. And with the GPS function you can make sure you stay on course.

The Sigma Rox 10.0 GPS also includes use of the Sigma Data Center 4. Through the Data Center you can track your training sessions and statistics. It also helps to manage your route and download that to the bike computer, through the micro USB cable. Do you have multiple bikes? Not a problem. It can handle up to 3.

Installing the Rox 10.0 GPS was very simple. I really liked all of the mounting options, with the included hardware. For example, plastic zip ties were included to securely mount the computer and sensors. But if you want to use multiple bikes, they included thick round rubber bands, to make it easy to move from one bike to the next. The instructions for the installation, with their pictures was extremely handy, easy to follow, and make the installation a breeze!

As I have come to know with Sigma products, they perform as expected and without a hitch. It was just a matter of mounting the computer, the sensors and securing the heart rate monitor around my check. Once on the bike, everything synched together rather quickly. I really liked having the altimeter and temperature reading, which really added an additional dimension to workouts. And of course being able to track everything on my computer was very cool. Then there is the added ability to be able to manage your routs with the built in GPS! The Sigma Rox 10.0 GPS is a product I can see would be a bit larger of a display and with color for the GPS.

The Sigma ROX 10.0 GPS is a product I can’t see anyone being anything but amazed at what it can do. The functionality you receive truly is the top of the line. Add in the fact that it also has GPs built-in, and the Sigma ROX 10.0 GPs is a game changer. Based on it’s design, features, quality and performance the Sigma Rox 10.0 GPs has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs check out their website at www.sigmasport.com.