2017 Annual Editor's Choice Awards

2017 is about to end.  It has been another amazing year for us at Stereowise Plus.  There have been many great products that have come across my desk this year.  Most have been great, and some exceptional.  The best have earned our Editor's Choice Award.  Below is a list of this years' Editor's Choice Award recipients, and a link to their review.  Check them out!

Audiofly AF1120 IEM

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/09/audiofly-af1120-6-driver-in-ear-monitor.html

Beyerdynamic Xelento Remote IEM

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/09/beyerdynamic-xelento-remote-in-ear.html

Blue Sadie Premium Over the Ear Headphones

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/10/blue-sadie-premium-headphones-with.html

Creative Sound Blaster KatanaX

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/10/creative-sound-blasterx-katana-multi.html

Elite Screens Yard Master 2 Dual Outdoor Projection Screen

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/12/elite-screens-yard-master-2-dual-120.html

JBL Link 300 Voice Activated Speaker

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/12/jbl-link-300-voice-activated-speaker.html

Kingston DataTraveler Bolt Duo 64GB

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/12/kingston-datatraveler-bolt-duo-64gb.html

Metra 2010 Ford Mustang Dash Kit

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/07/metra-2010-2014-ford-mustang-99-5839ch.html

Nextbook Flexx 11A 2-In-1 Windows Tablet

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/12/nextbook-flexx-11a-2-in-1-windows-10.html

Royole Moon 3D Virtual Mobile Theater

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/12/royole-moon-3d-virtual-mobile-theater.html

Sennheiser HD 630VB Hi Res Over The Ear Headphones

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/10/sennheiser-hd-630vb-hi-res-audio.html

Ultimate Ears UE18+ Pro Custom IEM

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/09/ultimate-ears-ue18-custom-in-ear.html

Westone Signature Series W80 IEM

http://www.stereowiseplus.com/2017/09/westone-signature-series-w80-in-ear.html

2017 was a great year for us at Stereowise Plus.  We appreciate the manufactureres allowing us to be part of their 2017, as well as our readers allowing us to be a part of their 2017.  It has been a great year of even better products.  We look forward to 2018, and invite you to be a part of it as well.  Happy Holidays from us at Stereowise Plus to you and your families.

Kingston DataTraveler Bolt Duo 64GB Review

Smartphones are so advanced now, we can use them for everything. Phone calls and text messaging is a given. They also have high speeds for internet browsing. Most also have built in cameras for photos and videos. But photos and especially videos, can take up a lot of space. With iPhones, storage in the phone tends to be a premium. Up for review today is the Kingston DataTraveler Bolt Duo 64GB.

Features and specs:

• Extra space for more memories
• Back up all those priceless photos
• Shoot new pictures & videos directly to the Bolt
• Easy to take with you using the included accessory
• Apple® certified -- designed to be used with iPhones & iPads

Capacity
32GB	Up to 8,000 photos or 2 hours video
64GB	Up to 16,000 photos or 4 hours video
128GB	Up to 32,000 photos or 8 hours video
Specifications
Connections	(1) Lightning® (1) USB 3.1 Gen 1
Dimensions	Bolt - 40.7mm x 12.2mm x 7mm Bolt with accessory - 65mm x 20mm x 11mm
Weight	Bolt - 7.2g Bolt with accessory - 14.4g
Compatible with	iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6+, iPhone, 6s, iPhone SE, iPhone 6s+, iPhone 7, iPhone 7+, iPhone 8, iPhone 8+, iPhone X iPad (4th generation), iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad (2017), iPad Mini, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 4, iPad Pro (1st generation), iPad Pro (2nd generation)
OS Support	iOS 9.0 and newer
Memory type	Flash storage
Warranty/support	2-year warranty with free technical support

The Kingston DataTraveler Bolt Duo 64GB came in a nice printed box with a door window to see the drive. Printed on the box were the specs. The Bolt Duo was made mostly of metal with an excellent built quality. Also included was a rubber keychain holder to protect it. It’s the quality I have come to expect from Kingston.

I loved the design of the bolt. Photos and video can take up a lot of space. Many iPhones don’t have a whole lot of built in storage. They also don’t have an expansion card slot. So Kingston’s Bolt Duo makes a ton of sense! The DataTraveler Bolt Duo connects to the lightning or USB 3.1 slot, and allows you to transfer your photos and videos onto the drive, and frees up all that space on your phone.  The idea of including a keychain holder so you can always have it with you and never worry about running out of storage space was pure genious!

Functionality of the Bolt was extremely simple! Just connect the Kingston DataTraveler Bolt Duo and you’re directed to the app store to download the needed app. Once it’s installed, organizing your media files just got a lot easier! Bolt allows you to transfer, capture and view. To transfer, all you do is press the transfer button, select the files you want to transfer from your iPhone to your Bolt Duo drive and then select if you want to delete those files from your phone once their transfer is complete. Or, choose not to delete them and just use the Bolt Duo as a back-up drive.

Bolt Duo also lets you capture photos or video directly onto your iPhone. There’s no need to capture them onto your phone and then transfer them to the Bolt Duo drive. You can just capture it directly onto the Bolt Duo drive. The last option is to view. This allows you to view all of the photos and videos that are stored on the Bolt Duo drive.

Performance of the Kingston DataTraveler Bolt Duo drive was stellar! Not only is the Bolt Duo drive a great idea, and made even better with the Keychain protective rubber holder, it performs awesome as well. Installation was extremely easy. The interface was so simple a child can use it, and the speed was very fast. Transferring photos, even a lot of photos, was very fast. Transfering video clips was slower than transferring photos due to file size, but it was still just a matter of several seconds, to a minute for a large video file.  Transferring multiple photos and videos at the same time could take a few minutes. Bottom line...speed is not an issue when transferring files with the Bolt Duo.

I have yet to be disappointed by a Kingston product. I was pleasantly not surprised to see the tradition continuing with the Kingston DataTraveler Bolt Duo 64 GB drive. With multi-media getting more and more popular on our iPhones, the Kingston Bolt Duo drive makes for an excellent holiday gift. With an MSRP of $89, it is also a great value. Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the Kingston DataTraveler Bolt Duo 64 GB drive has earned our Editor’s Choice Award.  Kudos to Kingston on another great product. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.Kingston.com.

Elite Screens Yard Master 2 Dual 120" Outdoor Projection Screen Review

When you want to entertain, watching a movie can be a lot of fun. But if you have a large group, that movie may need to be done outside, like in your backyard. If that’s your plan, you’re going to need an outdoor screen. Up for review today is the Elite Screens Yard Master 2 Dual 120” outdoor projection screen.

Features and specs:

Screen Material

·         WraithVeil Dual tensioned front/rear projection material

·         4K Ultra HD, Active 3D, and HDR Ready

·         Black masking borders enhance picture contrast

·         Available in the following diagonal sizes:

·         100", 120", 135", 150” and 180” in 16:9 format

Design and Operation

·         Assembles in minutes with no tools required

·         Corner pull-tabs make installation easier

·         Snap-button attachments on material 

·         Light-weight aluminum square tube construction

·         Single-piece frame system unfolds effortlessly

·         Detachable T-legs included

·         Stakes, rope, and support rings included for additional support and stability

·         Soft-padded carrying bag stores entire product for portability

·         Optional extension legs (ZOMS2-Legs) increase height by 27" - sold separately

Quality and Reliability

·         2-year manufacturer's warranty

·         3-year warranty offered through ENR-G program (Education, Non-Profit, Religious and Government)

The Elite screens Yard Master 2 Dual came in a basic cardboard box. Opening the box revealed the black vinyl bag the Yard Master 2 Dual is kept in. Opening the box showed the internal sections that separated the frame from the legs, and the internal dividers also separated each of the two legs. There was a separate bag that held the WraithVeil screen. Also included was some rope, stakes, and owners manual. Materials used in the frame was all aluminum. The quality of materials used was very good, as was the fit and finish. It’s the quality I have come to expect from Elite Screens.

I absolutely love the design of the Yard Master 2 Dual! The original Yard Master had multiple pieces that snapped into place. And the pieces were labeled with letters, and a diagram of how to put it all together. It worked well, but could have been simpler. New models are usually better than the previous generation. But not always. With the Yard Master 2 Dual, it is significantly better! The Yard Master 2 Dual comes in only 4 pieces; frame, two legs, and the screen.

Setting up the Yard Master 2 Dual is so simple. It’s just a matter of the following four easy steps:

1) unfolding the frame and locking the four corners into place

2) unfolding the two legs and locking them into place

3) attaching the two feet to the bottom of the frame

4) snapping the WraithVeil screen into place

And you’re done. It's that easy. Taking my time, it only took maybe 15 minutes to set up for the 1^st time. But having done it now, it will only take 5 minutes from now on. And if there is a little wind, some tie lines and stakes were included to help stabilize it.

Sound simple?  It really is.  And I cannot emphasize enough how AWESOME it is!  There's really no small parts that you need to worry about losing. No labels on the different pieces that are required to put it together that can wear off or fall off, which would make it much more difficult to set up.  The Elite Screens Yard Master 2 Dual is truly a dream to use.  Unfold the frame, unfold and attach the legs, and snap the screen into place. And no tools to worry about. So simple! And the excitement with the family seeing that it's movie time...outside!.......priceless! And don't get me wrong.  The original Yard Master is a great screen, especially if you're on a tight budget.  But if you can manage to spend a little more...the Yard Master 2 is so worth it!

Not only was it very simple to set up, but it's performance was also very good!  The square metal tubing is very strong, and fits very solidly in place.  The snaps hold the screen material in place very well.  And once it is up and it's movie time, the WraithVeil screen material works extremely well!  Colors were very accurate with lots of pop and saturation.  Yellows popped, blues were warm, reds were nicely saturated and deep. The screen was very transparent giving an image that was true to the colors of the source material. Here's a great example of how well the colors looked with the Disney movie Up.

We all work hard for our money, and want to get the best bang for our buck.  In this regard, Elite Screens with their Yard Master 2 Dual didn't just hit a home run.  The hit the ball out of the park!  It's very well made, puts together very easy, and stores well in its carry bag.  And with its WraithVeil screen you have flexible viewing options of front and rear projection, and you are even 4K ready!  With a $454 MSRP for the 120" version, the Elite Screens Yard Master 2 Dual is a huge bang for the buck!  Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the Elite Screen Yard Master 2 Dual has earned our Editor's Choice Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.elitescreens.com.

Royole Moon 3D Virtual Mobile Theater Review

The future of travel entertainment has arrived? It’s in a product from Royole. It’s their Royole Moon 3D Virtual Mobile Theater. If you’re traveling by plane, especially on long flights, you will want something to do. Sometimes sleep is used, but not much fun. Music on an mp3 player or smartphone, with some headphones, is really popular. So are movies or TV shows on your smartphone. But Royole just introduced a game changer.

Features and specs:

Exterior

ColorBlack, Gold, White

Headset DimensionsExtended 215x220x223mm
Folded 98x220x223mm

Box Dimensions133.6×66.6×14.8mm

Display

Screen Size800-inch curved screen at 20 meters (adjustable screen size)

Resolution1920×1080(x2 displays)

Interpupillary Distance58 to 70mm

Diopter adjustment-7.0 to +2.0 (No need for contact lenses)

Contrast>10000:1

Color Mode24bit RGB

Refresh Rate60Hz

Sound

Noise Cancelling ModeActive noise cancelling

Noise Reduction Percentage>92%

Noise Reduction Rating>22dB

Total Harmonic Distortion<1 db="" khz="" span="">

Sensitivity105±3dB/mW@1kHz

Response Frequency8Hz to 20kHz

Impedance300Ω±10%

Storage

RAM2G

Internal Storage32GB

Battery

Battery capacity6000mAh

Battery Life5 hours of video playback

Charging time2 hours

Connectivity

WLANIEEE 802.11b/g/n @2.4GHz

BluetoothBT2.1+EDR / BT3.0

Cable Interfaces

USBMicro-USB(connect to Flash Memory)

HDMIMicro HDMI (connect to game consoles, PC, and smartphones)

Operating System

SystemMoon OS

LanguagesSimplified Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Danish

Video

3D FormatsSide by side, Anaglyph

2D FormatsMP4, MKV, MOV, AVI, 3GP, FLV, M2TS, M2V, M4V, MPEG, MPG, TS, VOB, WEBM, ASF and other mainstream video formats

Subtitle FormatsSRT, ASS, SSA, etc.

Audio

Supported FormatsMP3, WMA, AAC, APE, M4A, MID, MP2, OGG and other mainstream music formats

Lyrics FormatLocal LRC files

Picture

Supported FormatsJPG, PNG, BMP, GIF and other mainstream video formats

Environment

Working Temperature0 to 45°C

Storage Temperature-20 to 60°C

Working Humidity≤90%RH

Storage Humidity

The Royole Moon 3D Virtual Mobile Theater came shipped in a nice looking color printed box, with photos of the player and it’s specs. They were held in place with custom plastic molding, well protected, and in a soft cloth bag. Materials used in the construction were mostly plastic with some metal and leather. Quality of materials used was excellent as was the fit and finish. They are a solid, well built product, and feels solid in hand. This is a premium product, and it shows.

I love the design of the Royole Moon 3D Virtual Mobile Theater. In terms of travel entertainment, it’s a real game changer. They are a mobile video player with built-in headphones. It looks like a virtual reality device, but instead allows you to watch your movies and tv shows on the go. And it also does 3D!

The concept is actually simple, and the components were high end. The front are closed goggles with a separate small 1080p display for each eye. On the sides is an earcup for the headphones. On top is a headband to hold the device in place. There is a separate controller. The controller is about the size of a smartphone, and also doubles as the battery, and the storage. The outside of both earcups is touch sensitive and provides the navigation. Here is where you will raise or lower volume, pause, fast forward, rewind, and navigate through different media options.

The different parts of the Royole Moon 3D Virtual Mobile Theater are pretty cool. But it’s the synergy of all the parts working together that is off the charts, and the game changer. The video panels were like watching a huge flatscreen TV. The colors were excellent with great contrast and vivid detail. Motion was very smooth with 3D content, the images had excellent depth and really popped off the screen, better so then watching it in a movie theater.

The headphones provided sound that was just as good as the video presentation. Highs were crisp and vocals had nice texture and harmonics. Bass was tight, clean, and provided lots of output with authority, and was only just a tad muddy.

I love the holiday season. I remember as a kid making my Christmas list and sending it to Santa. If you’re looking for gift ideas, the Royole Moon 3D Virtual Mobile Theater is definitely worth your consideration. After all, it has now made its way onto my wish list! And with an MSRP of $799, it's a good deal. Based on its design, features, quality and performance, the Royole Moon 3D Virtual Mobile Theater has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. Kudos to Royole on such a great product. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.royole.com.

Nextbook Flexx 11A 2-In-1 Windows 10 Tablet Review

Computers have come such a long way in the last 50 years. Computers that used to have dedicated rooms now fit easily on our laps. And with the internet, a lot of what used to be stored on hard drives now can be accessed through the cloud. So how much computing power does the average user really need? Can a Nextbook do the job? Up for review today is the Nextbook Flexx11A. MSRP in only $199.

Features and specs:

·         11.6 inch High-resolution 1366 x 768 IPS Screen

·         Intel^® ATOM^™ Quad-Core Processor 1.84GHz (Z8300)

·         2GB DDR3L; 64GB onboard storage

·         WIFI 802.11 b/g/n

·         Bluetooth 4.0

·         Front and Back Camera 2.0 M

·         Micro HDMI

·         Pogo Keyboard with one USB 2.0 port

·         Micro-SD card slot for expansion to 128GB

·         Support 3 -axis G-sensor

·         Built-in microphone

·         9000 MAH Internal rechargeable battery

·         Charging indicator light

·         Windows 10

·         Office Mobile
Get Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote apps that are built for Windows tablets for a rich offline experience.

The Nextbook Flexx 11A came packaged in a great looking color printed box with pictures on the product and specs listed on it. Also included was a charging cord, instruction manual and an easy start up guide. Opening the box revealed the product well protected with cardboard cutouts and custom fit compartments. Materials used in construction were mostly plastic with some metal and the unit was wrapped in a fitted cellophane pouch. Quality of materials as well as fit and finish were excellent and it appears to be a solid construction.  It may not be as polished as some tablets, but it’s also a lot less expensive.

The Nextbook Flexx 11A is a two in one product; tablet and computer combined. The screen and keyboard fit together snugly and are held in place with sturdy magnets that make switching modes a dream. The touch screen is responsive and I really enjoyed being able to touch icons instead of moving the mouse and double clicking on them.

Setup was easy. Upon turning on the computer for the first time, the Nextbook Flexx11A walked me screen by screen through the set up process, including setting up cloud accounts and logging into your Wi-Fi. Switching between the laptop mode and the tablet mode was as simple as detaching the screen. The Nextbook automatically recognized when this happened and would switch modes without any further action on the user’s part. The internet is fast and easy to navigate. While there aren’t many programs preloaded, the Nextbook does have access to the Playstore for apps for the tablet mode. I enjoyed customizing the desktop to my needs.

The keyboard is a tad small for full typing, but not nearly as cramped as these keyboards normally get. It is easily compatible with note taking or working with a document. I especially appreciated that there was no delay in typing on the keyboard and the symbols appearing on the screen. The screen and the keyboard worked together seamlessly. The graphics were very nice, with sharp contrast in the colors and brightness levels to accommodate any circumstance. The speakers were adequate. At higher volumes it did have a tinny quality, but that is typical for small internal speakers, and they worked very well. Most of the games I played on this unit were for the tablet mode, but the screen was very responsive to touch while playing games and there was no lag time involved with response. The battery life was very good, with a run time of about 6 hours while using non-stop combination between games and documents, or up to three days with intermittent use. And it charged quickly and can be used while charging.

The Nextbook Flexx11A proved to be a very capable 2-in-1 tablet.  I loved the versatility of being able to just take the screen off and use it in tablet mode.  Yet keeping the screen on provided a nice built-in screen protector when closed, as the keyboard protected the screen.  The screen was very responsive, graphics looked great, and it sounded good too for a tablet. It provided great functionality, and impressive performance.  It’s bang for the buck is off the charts!  Based on it’s design, features, quality, and performance, the Nextbook Flexx11A has earned our Editor’s Choice Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.nextbookusa.com.