Kenwood DVR-A610WDP GPS Integrated Dual Dashboard Camera Dashcam Review

When it comes to car stereo, it’s easy to think of Kenwood. But Kenwood does more than audio. If you want security and protection, they have you covered there as well. Kenwood has some great dash cams, to help protect you while you’re on the go. Up for review is their Kenwood DVR-A610WDP GPS Integrated Dual Dash Cam.  MSRP is a fair $299.

 

Features and specs:

 

Front Camera                                Rear Camera

Hard specification 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　              Screen size:        2 inches full color TFT                   -

Operating voltage:          DC 5V                                               DC 5V

Current Consumption:   ~630mA                                          ~450mA

Super Capacitor :             Yes                                                    -

Button  Tact:                    -

Wireless Link:                  Yes                                                    -

Microphone:                   Built-in                                            -

Speaker Built-in: :             -

GPS Receiver:                  Built-in                                            -

G-sensor:                         Built-in                                            -

Collision sensitivity:        -4.0G to +4.0G (0.1G Step)          -

Image sensor:                 1/2.8" Sony Starvis / IMX415      1/3" Galaxy Core / GC4663

Valid Pixel:                        8.40M Pixels (3864x2176)            4M Pixels (2576x1472)

Number of Pixel:             8.29M Pixels (3840x2160)            4M Pixels (2560x1440)

Angles of view:                Horizontal : 113°Vertical : 60°Diagonal : 135.6°   

Horizontal : 105°Vertical : 56.8°Diagonal : 123.6°

Image reversal:              Yes (Invert/Mirror)                        -

Lens:                                 F1.8                                                  F2.0

Operating temperature: -10℃ to +60℃                                -10℃ to +60℃

Noise Protection:            Yes                                                    Yes

Motion sensor:               Yes                                                    Yes

Waterproof:                     -                                                        IP67

OSD Menu Language:　 EN/DE/FR/NL/IT/ES/PT//PL/CZ/RO            -

Recording resolution:     3840 x 2160 4K                               2560 x 1440 Quad HD

Frame rate :                      　          30FPS                                 30FPS

HDR:                                  　         -                                          Yes

WDR:　                                           Yes                                      -

Video Length:                                1min                                  -

Voice recording:                            Yes (On/Off)                     -

Video format:                  　         H.265 /  MP4                   H.264 /  MP4

Audio Format:                  　         AAC                                    -

Picture format:                              JPEG (Max.3840 x 2160) -

Recording media:            　         microSDXC/SDHC to 256GB UHS (U3)      -

Port:                                                DC-IN    USB Type-C        -

CAM In:                                           USB Type-C                      -

SD Slot:                                           Micro SD                           -

Dimensions WxHxD (Bracket attached:)  2-5/16" x 1-11/16" x 15/16"

(58.5mm x 42.8 mm x 24.4mm）             with bracket: 1-1/16 x 2 x 1-1/4"

(27.6mm x 31.7mm x 50.0 mm)

Weight (Main unit:)        0.159lbs (72g)    0.66 lbs (300g)

Application PC Viewer:                 Windows/Mac                -

Requirement for Windows:         Windows 11.10               -

Requirement for Mac:                  Mac OS Monterey 12.0 later       -

Languages for PC Viewer:            EN/DE/FR/NL/IT/ES/PT/PL/CZ/RO             -

Smartphone App:                         Android/iOS                     -

Requirement for Android:           Android 10.0.0 and above           -

Requirement for iOS:      　         iOS 15.0 and above        -

Languages for Smartphone App: EN/DE/FR/NL/IT/ES/PT/PL/CZ/RO             -

 

The Kenwood DVR-A610WDP came in a nice-looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the camera. Opening the box revealed a well-protected product, held in place in cardboard. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very good. Also included were cables, mounts, SD card, and manual.

 

I love the design of the Kenwood DVR-A610WDP. It’s a great combo of dash cams. The main 4k camera attaches to your rear windshield and plugs in to the main camera, and provides wide quad HD resolution. The second smaller camera records in Wide Quad-HD resolution. Combined it records what happens both in front of you and behind you. Or if you choose, you can have the second camera record the interior of your vehicle.  With IP67 dust/water resistance, the second camera could even be used for outside of the vehicle, like if you have a trailer you wanted to monitor.

 

The Kenwood DVR-A610WDP also has some additional great features in G-sensor and GPS. Thanks to the G-Sensor, if there’s and accident, vital videos of the event are saved. And thanks to the GPS, vital info like date, location, speed and direction for the accident are also saved. There’s even a parking mode, which when combined with the optional hardwire kit, can record when the vehicle is disturbed. There’s even a wireless link feature, which uses wi-fi to allow you to use your smart phone to access videos.

 

The included Quick Start Guide was well written and easier to follow than expected.  It included diagrams of the products, and locations of different features.  Use of the various buttons, as well as how to navigate the menus was also explained well.  Installation instructions and how to set-up the dash cam was also included, and was quite simple.  Installation and set-up was a breeze.  Now that its installed and set-up, let’s see how it performs.

 

The screen is on the small side at 2 inches, but it doesn’t need to be big. After all, you can pull up the video on your smart phone.  Also a larger screen size would require a larger product, which would be bigger on your windshield.  The Kenwood DVR-A610WDP is small enough you could hide part of it if you chose, with your rearview mirror. The screen provided good resolution to be able to see well what is being recorded.  Colors are also displayed well and true to the source material being captured, with good saturation. 

And for night recording, there was a little bit of graininess and images lost a hair of vibrancy, as would be expected due to the lower light.  But the resolution was still good, and colors still came out very well with good saturation.  Thanks to the HDR/WDR, headlights from oncoming cars did not wash out the scene being recorded.  The extra light from the oncoming traffic was controlled sufficiently well, and was still able to provide a good scene to record for potential future use. 

 

Kenwood has a reputation of providing great products, and it’s nice to see that they do not sit on their laurels, and continue to provide the same quality products. The Kenwood DVR-A610WDP fits in that mold.  It’s a product that not only has great features, but also performs very well!  At $299 it is very fairly priced for what you get.  Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the Kenwood DVR-A610WDP dash cam has earned our Editor’s Choice Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.kenwood.com.

BioBidet by Bemis BB-1200 Elongated Bidet Toilet Seat with App Review

Recently, my wife and I have had the opportunity to do a little more traveling. While we were in Thailand we discovered something that much of the world already knew about, the Bidet. Electronics are getting into all of our devices. And thanks to apps, we can also control a lot of things with our smartphones.  And when I saw Bemis at CES showing off their soon to be announced bidet that comes with a remote control as well as an app to control it with our smartphones, I was intrigued.  Plumbing can be difficult,  but clever manufacturers have found a way around that, that they have added some cool features to appeal to the tech mad society we live in. Up for review today is the BioBidet BB-1200 by Bemis. MSRP is $399, and has a launch date of September 15^th 2024.

 

Features and specs:

App Control

Warm Water

Heated Seat

Warm Air Dryer

Stainless Steel Nozzle

Adjustable Water Pressure

Adjustable Nozzle Position

Night Light

Slow Closing Seat & Lid

Seat Sensor

Wireless Remote

DIY Install

Turbo Wash

 

The BioBidet BB-1200 by Bemis came in a nice-looking cardboard box with drawings and specs of the product on the outside of the box. Opening the box revealed a product well wrapped in plastic and well packaged to avoid all damage that might happen in shipping. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic, with some metal in the hinges. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, is excellent. Also included was the power cord, all the hardware necessary for installation as well as the instructions for the installation, the remote and instructions of use of the remote and app.

 

I love the innovation of the BioBidet’s design. It is meant to be installed on your very own toilet, using everything already in place in the common bathroom in order to turn the common into the inspired. Just make sure you have an outlet nearby.  Installation was surprisingly easy, and the instructions were clear and easy to follow. Once installed, it is also easy to use! I especially appreciate that it is set up to try and protect against any accidental usage by having a built-in sensor on the seat to detect when there is someone using it. The remote, which can be mounted on the wall for easy finding, has 15 different buttons for a fully customizable experience. Some of the many features include a front wash, a rear wash, adjustable nozzle position and an air dryer. Also included (for those of you who, like me, are afraid of cold water in sensitive places) is an adjustable water temperature setting. It is even set up for multiple users so you and your spouse can both be comfortable without having to wake up too much in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.

 

The app is easy to find in both the google app store as well as the apple app store and setting up your account is also easy. Once you are in the app, it’s also easy to connect it to your BioBidet and then you have access to all the same features as the remote gives you on your phone. One thing about this that actually surprised me is that it also included a light so you will never have to worry about falling in on a midnight trip to the bathroom. The seat warmer works great as well.  While I haven’t used it much, it’s definitely a nice feature to have in the winter time. It can be downright dangerous in the dead of winter to try and relieve your bladder!

 

Bemis makes some great products.  When I heard about their new BioBidet, I was intrigued but skeptical. But using it, the Bemis BioBidet BB-1200 performed extremely well.  Not only does it do its job well, providing you with a good clean, it has some great comfort features as well.  And the use of an app also works well.  It’s worth the $399 asking price. And it’s also well made to provide years of use, and may even add to the value of your home.  Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the Bemis BioBidet BB-1200 has earned our Highly Recommended Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at  www.biobidet.com.

Cobra SC 250R True 4K Dash Cam Review

It’s always smart to have protection for yourself. After all, it’s not Mayberry any more.  Crime and accidents can happen. Having a dashcam is a smart investment in your safety. Up for review today is the Cobra SC 250R. MSRP is a fair $259.

 

Features and specs:

Key Specs

Front Resolution: 4096 x 2160 (4K)

Rear Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)

Front Field of View: 140 degrees

Rear Field of View: 120 degrees

Max Capable Camera Views: 3

Screen Size: 3"

Memory: 32GB microSD Card (up to 512GB)

Built-In GPS

Dual Band Wi-Fi

Bluetooth® Connectivity

USB-C

G-Sensor

 

Features

Heads-Up Navigation

Accessory Camera Capable

Loop-Cycle Recording

360 Alerts with the Drive Smarter® App

Emergency Mayday Alert

Automatic Incident Detection & Reports

Parking Mode & Motion Detection

Trip Clips

Privacy Mode

Extreme Temperature Protection

Cloud Video Management

Night Vision (Accessory Interior Camera)

On-Screen Display Languages: English, Spanish, French

 

Unit Dimensions

Weight: 0.36 pounds

Height: 2.56"

Width: 3.27"

Depth: 1.3"

 

The Cobra SC 250R came in a nice-looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the dash cam. Opening the box revealed a well-protected dash cam, held in place by custom cut cardboard. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic, with some metal. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was very good. Also included was the cable, cable management kit, power cord, 32 GB SD card, and owner’s manual.

 

I really like the design of the Cobra SC 250R. It’s smart to have a dashcam. But with the Cobra SC 250R you actually get two. The main camera attaches to the front windshield. The second camera is a rear-view camera. It attaches to your rear windshield, to record what happens behind you. So if anything happens in front of behind you, the Cobra SC250R will record what happened. Or instead you could mount the 2^nd camera to record what happens inside the car.  This could be an excellent security feature, especially for Uber drivers, for example.

 

The Cobra SC250R is also loaded with features. First of all, it records in 4K. So if something does happen and you need to review the footage, you’ll have great resolution to be able to see what happened. But it’s not just video, it records audio in the car as well.  You also get alerts on your display. This includes Red Light and Speed cameras. There’s also the Drive Smarter app, which connects you with a community of drivers, to provide shared alerts on your display. And if that wasn’t enough, through a subscription you can also get heads up navigation with its built-in GPS.

 

The functionality also doesn’t stop there. The Cobra SC250R provides a generous 3-inch display. It also is designed to work with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. So the notifications you get, can also be seen on your car stereo receiver.  And for any fun road trips, you can even create condensed time-lapse videos to re-live those fun scenic drives.  There’s also privacy mode, where you can pause recording video and audio.  Thanks to the built-in Wi-Fi and the Cloud, you can also store, edit, and share the videos. In the event of a severe impact, you can even send a Mayday Alert to your designated contact person.

 

Installation was very simple, thanks to the included sticky glass mounts.  The Cable Management kit even comes with plastic management clips, to assist with your installation and keeping wires out of the way.  Now that it’s mounted, it’s time to put the Cobra SC 250 thru its paces.  You’ll want to start by downloading the Drive Smarter app on your smartphone. Once you have the app open on your smartphone, you can pair it with the Cobra SC 250R and download the latest firmware. You’ll also need to create an account. And once connected to the Cobra SC 250R thru the app, you can receive alerts thru the database, such as red light cameras, Speed cameras, and speed traps.  Setting it up thru the menus was also very simple and straight forward. Now that it’s fully installed, lets see how it performs.

 

The Cobra SC 250R was simple to use, and performed very well.  The 3 inch display provided sufficient resolution to see very well what the camera’s are recording.  Most of the screen shows what it in front of you and recorded on the main camera.  Up in the corner is a smaller picture-in-picture of the real camera.  Colors were more vibrant than I expected, and had not just good resolution, but also had nice saturation of all the colors.  The image on the display was also a little brighter than it was outside, which means when it’s dark out the image being recorded would also be brighter than it is outside. So it gives great low-light performance with a bright lens. 

 

When it comes to night driving, the Cobra SC 250R also performed very well.  While there was a little bit of graininess, overall a great looking image was produced.  And while brightness was much lower than during the day, there was still good color to the images.  Resolution was also better than expected with good details of the images being recorded.  And color saturation was only a little on the low side.  The rear facing camera also provided similar performance.  So even at night, the Cobra SC 250R provided a great looking image.

 

Cobra provides good quality products, and our experience with them has supported that.  I was happy to see that the reputation continues.  It’s a well-made product, that also provides a great image.  And they are very fairly priced at $249.  If you are in the market for a dashcam, the Cobra SC 250R should be on your short list.  Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the Cobra SC 250R has earned our Highly Recommended Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.cobra.com.

JBL Charge 5 Review

When it comes to wireless speakers, one of the best companies is JBL. They have an extensive product line with many products to choose from. And many of them are water and dust proof for use outdoors. Up for review today is their JBL Charge 5. MSRP is a very fair $180.

 

Features and specs:

General Specifications

Output power (W): 40

 

Audio Specifications

Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 60 Hz - 20k Hz

 

Dimensions

Dimensions (cm): 22 x 9.6 x 9.3

Dimensions (in): 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67

Weight (kgs): 0.96

Weight (lbs): 2.11

 

Control and Connection Specifications

Bluetooth profiles: A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6

Bluetooth frequency: 2400 MHz - 2483.5 MHz

Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, π/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK

Bluetooth transmitter power: ≤ 20 dBm (EIRP)

Bluetooth version: 5.1

 

Battery

Charging time (hrs): 4

Maximum music playing time (hrs): 20

 

Features

Bluetooth: Yes

Charging cable: Yes

IP67: Yes

JBL PartyBoost: Yes

Powerbank: Yes

Waterproof: Yes

Wireless: Yes

Rechargable battery: Yes

IP Code: IP67

 

The JBL Charge 5 came in a nice-looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the product. Opening the box revealed a well-protected speaker held in place by custom cardboard, wrapped in a cloth bag. Materials used in the construction was mostly plastic with some cloth and rubber. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish was excellent. Also included was the charging cable and manual.

 

I love the design of the JBL Charge 5. The cloth wrap gives it an elegant look, with the rubber ends for the passive radiators giving a nice touch. All of the controls are on top, for ease of use. And there’s also added functionality, in that it doubles as a power bank that you can use to charge your smartphone. On the back next to the USB-C charging port is a rubber seal, and under the rubber seal is the standard USB port to charge your smartphone. But it doesn’t end there. JBL also includes the JBL Partyboost, which allows you to link multiple speakers together wirelessly.

 

Using the JBL Charge 5 was extremely simple.  First I charged it. Once charged, it was time to put it to use.  Once if the few buttons on the top is the Bluetooth button.  Getting it to pair with my smartphone was extremely simple, and paired without a glitch.  Now let’s see how it sounds.

 

Nat King Cole – L-O-V-E:  Cymbal was really crisp and clean, bass has really good low-end extension for its size and did so smoothly. Piano sounded more natural than I expected. Violins were silky smooth, with trumpets being both very dynamic with great harmonics. Vocals were also smooth like honey, with better-than-expected resolution of the texture of the timbre.

 

AC/DC – Back in Black:  Cymbals were really crisp and clean. Guitar was nice and raw. Vocals were also nice and raw. Drums played with really good low end extension, and with good authority.

 

Pat Benatar – Heartbreaker:  cymbals were really crisp and clean, snare drum was really dynamic. Kick drum was really deep and played with a ton of authority. Guitar was nice and raw. Vocals were silky smooth and also really dynamic. She can really wail, and it came through in spades. You just have to blast this song, and it sounded stellar.

 

The JBL Charge 5 proved to be a great speaker. It’s well-made, has great features, and it all comes together really well to provide a great sound. And it’s also fairly priced. Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the JBL Charge 5 has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.JBL.com.

SoundSkins Dual 12-Inch Sealed Enclosure for 2004 And Later Nissan Titan Crew Cab Review

When it comes to car subwoofers, the driver is only part of the equation. To get the best performance out of the driver, you need a good enclosure. How well a subwoofer performs, is partly determined by the enclosure used for it. SoundSkins is increasing their portfolio of products, and now includes a line of subwoofer enclosures. They offer both universal as well as vehicle specific. Up for review today is an enclosure designed for the 2004 and later Nissan Titan Crew Cab, Model SSK-P212SNT1C. MSRP is a fair $399.

 

Features and specs:

SSK-P212SNT1C Dimensions:

Width:53,

Front Height:8.75,

Rear Height:7,

Height:8.75,

Bottom Depth:14,

Top Depth:14,

Depth:14,

Mounting Depth:5.5,

Total Air Volume: 1.8 FT^3

 

Upgrade Option 1 - SoundSkins Pro Specs:

- Features a triple-layer construction of acoustic foam, foil, and rubber butyl for durability and superior performance.

- Effectively reduces resonance and back wave cancellation, crucial for achieving optimal sound quality in any enclosure.

 

Upgrade Option 2 - Steve Meade Designs - SMD TCR-1 Speaker Terminal Cup Specs:

- Supports up to 2000 Watts, significantly higher than the standard 500 Watts.

- Designed to endure demanding conditions without breaking or leaking.

- Constructed from lightweight, high-strength materials for durability.

- Includes stainless steel hardware to resist rust and corrosion.

- Features a 5/16" bolt terminal for secure connections.

- Cut-out diameter: 2.75 inches.

- Flange diameter: 3.75 inches.

 

The enclosure came in a standard cardboard box. It was protected by custom molded foam. Materials used in the construction was all wood, using ¾ inch MDF, and some nails and glue. Quality of materials used was very good. It also has a bedliner spray finish for extra durability. The spray finish was also done very well, and looked excellent.

 

I really like the design of the SoundSkins SSK-P212SNT1C. It’s a sealed design for two down firing 12-inch subwoofers. It fits under the back seat of a 2004 and later Nissan Titan Crew Cab.  It will also work for the Titan King Cab, but it will stick out from under the back seat a couple of inches. And while it’s designed for a shallow mount subwoofer, it can still handle a lot of power. It features a solid ¾ inch MDF construction throughout. It’s also USA-made.  And while it doesn’t have any additional internal bracing, that didn’t seem necessary based on the design and location of the cuts.

 

SoundSkins has done it right for their enclosure line. Not only are they built solid to handle a lot of power, they also realized the weak link of enclosures – the terminal. An enclosure can be designed for the output that comes from thousands of watts. But if you can’t get that power to the woofer, you’re missing out. That’s why SoundSkins is offering as an option, an SMD terminal cup. Standard terminal cups provided are rated at 500 watts RMS, but the SMD terminal cup is designed to handle up to 2,000 watts RMS.

 

Thanks to SoundSkins we have the full package. It’s a thick, well-built enclosure designed to handle a ton of power. And when choosing the optional SMD terminal cup, now you can maximize the design. You can actually get all that power to the driver. And if your vehicle calls for one of the shallow under the seat enclosure designs, there are new shallow mount subwoofers that can handle over 500 watts. And even more in the future will come out that can handle over 500 watts. So a SMD terminal cup is still a smart upgrade for any enclosure.

 

Based on its specs, the enclosure has a mounting depth of 5.5 inches.  But there is also a circle cut-out at the back of the enclosure for the magnet.  Depending on your driver’s magnet width, and internal cooling design, you may be able to use a driver with a slightly deeper mounting depth.  The subwoofer drivers used to test was Kenwood’s Excelon KFC-XW1241HP 12 Inch 500 Watts RMS with 5.75-inch mounting depth.  The Kenwood subwoofers fit like a glove, no problem.  And the enclosure fit perfect under the back seat of my 2017 Nissan Titan King Cab.  It just stuck out a couple inches since I had a King Cab and not the Crew Cab.  The enclosure came with the stick terminal cups which handle up to 500 Watts, so they should work just fine for the Kenwoods. 

 

With both subs mounted, the enclosure installed and wired up, it was time to see how the enclosure performs.  And both Kenwood Excelon KFC-XW1241HP subs were getting 500 Watts each from my reference Wavtech Link1000.1 mini subwoofer amplifier.   Thanks in part to the enclosure, the Kenwoods played tight, extremely deep, and with a ton of authority.  They hit really hard, like a sledgehammer to the chest!  And what I really liked to see, when the subs were really being pushed hard, was that there was no apparent strain on the enclosure.  There was no flexing of the enclosure walls, which would then affect the internal sound waves.  This helped to ensure that sound quality of the subs was maximized.  The enclosure was not a weak link in the sound quality of the subwoofer system. 

 

SoundSkins makes some great products, and it was nice to see that the trend is continuing with their new subwoofer enclosure line.  They are high quality made in the USA enclosures, and fairly priced at $399 for their Model SSK-P212SNT1C, which is a sealed enclosure designed to fit dual 12-inch subwoofers under the back seat of a 2004 and later Nissan Titan Crew Cab.  And the Kenwood subs sounded great in the enclosure.  Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the SoundSkins Model SSK-P212SNT1C has earned our Highly Recommended Award.  For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.soundskinsglobal.com.