SOL Republic Tracks V8 On-Ear Modular Headphones

Thank you to SOL Republic for providing a complimentary Tracks V8 Headphones sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize. All opinions expressed are my own.

If you have ever read any of my reviews, you already know I am smitten with SOL Republic products. This year I was sent the Tracks V8 On-Ear Headphones to try and review. I will cut to the chase and tell you I loved them (surprise!). I promise to come clean with one imperfection however! As the proud owner of two sets of higher end SOL Republic headphones already, I was very curious to see how the entry level set compared to their pricier offerings.

The Tracks look great and come with the signature indestructible headband that all their sets do. I absolutely love the classic and simple lines of the Tracks, but they somehow also seem to convey a wilder side. The set I chose have a flat red headband and glossy black ear cups. Sizzle. The thick rubber cord is also red with a black volume control mirroring the look of the headset itself. Hot.

If you are not familiar, all SOL Republic headphones are modular and can be broken down for travel. And like all other SOL Republic sets, you can mix and match the components to create a custom pair unique to your tastes and personality (extra components sold separately). The Tracks feature SOL Republics signature thick rubber cord that does an excellent job resisting tangles. Fear not placing the cord in your pocket, for it will emerge untangled!

How do they sound? Great to put it simply. I was surprised to hear how well they compare to my Anthems and Master Tracks, both more expensive models. I can hear a difference for sure, but for $99 headphones the sound is fantastic. The Tracks feature SOL Republics deep bass and the rest of the range is superb.

I see so many celebrity endorsed headphones out there on the market and wonder why people buy them, how much of your money is going to the brand and not the quality of the product? Don’t get me wrong, SOL Republic works with some celebrities too, but they aren't the brand. Every SOL Republic product I own is far better than its higher priced competition and the Tracks aren’t an exception. I don’t know how many times I have tried $300 headphones in stores and think to myself, “My Tracks sound as good (or better!) and cost a fraction of this price.”  This is all my own opinion of course, but I challenge you to go try them for yourself. Compare the $99 Tracks against any Beats by Dr Dre or the Sony X series, regardless of their price.

So what is wrong with the Tracks? I promised one imperfection: The cord is too short! I would love to see an extra foot of cord. The Tracks are designed to work with mobile devices, but a longer cord would be better suited for people using them on their PC’s or sound systems. That’s it, the very worst thing I can say about them!

Big surprise: I highly recommend the SOL republic Tracks with the V8 Sound Engines. They sound nearly as good as my more expensive sets and they are an excellent choice for budget audiophiles. If you appreciate great sound and your budget is tight, you will not be disappointed with the Tracks.  You can purchase this SOL Republic product at Best Buy, Amazon.com, RadioShack, GameStop, and most places where quality electronics are sold.

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Holiday 2010 Review: SanDisk Sansa Fuze+ MP3 Player & slotRadio Cards

Being a gadget nut, I was super excited when I learned I was going to be able to try and test the SanDisk Sansa Fuze+. The very first thing you notice when you open the package is the Sansa Fuze's sleek and compact design. The unit fits nicely in the palm of your hand and is roughly the size of a small mobile phone. The screen is sharp, bright, and large in comparison to the overall size. The face is perfectly flush; the screen blends into the touchpad seamlessly. The touch interface is VERY sensitive and requires a small learning curve to get the hang of it. Although frustrating at first, once you spend a few minutes practicing you will appreciate the sensitivity.

The Fuze+ comes with ear bud style headphones and a USB cable for recharging and connecting to your PC to transfer media. The headphones are BIG, they just barely fit in my giant ears. As large as they are, they still managed to be comfortable and weren’t an issue after extended use. The sound is clear and sharp. The Fuze+ has various pre set audio settings as well as a customizable equalizer so you can fine tune the sound to fit your taste. I was surprised how much bass the Fuze+ could produce.

Overall I was very impressed with the Sansa Fuze+ and its functionality. I like it at least as much as my iPod Nano and in some ways more. It is definitely a better looking and sleek device and the built in digital radio is a huge feature (my Apple requires a separate adaptor to play radio).

As much as I loved the Fuze+ unit itself, I did have some significant issues with my experience. I have yet to transfer any media to the device. My entire review is based on preloaded music on a separate SanDisk slotRadio card, I was unable to transfer my own music to the device. The Fuze+ was not always recognized when hooked up to my Windows Vista based PC and often turned off when connected. I was able to download some updating software from SanDisk that offered a firmware update hoping this would correct my problem. After 3 separate attempts I was unable to complete the firmware update (never advancing past 50%).

I attempted to transfer files to the device manually only to have various issues including endless clocking and unrecognized files after the transfer. The included SanDisk conversion software was also a disappointment. I attempted to convert a 25 minute animated video file to the Sansa Fuze+ format using the provided utility and was also not able to progress past 49%.

Even with the connection and format issues the SanDisk Sansa Fuze is a great sounding and sexy MP3 player. The controls are sensitive and easy to use once you get going. The preloaded slotRadio cards that are offered separately offered me 1000 songs to keep me listening for hours. BUT, as much as I love my Fuze+, I would warn anybody purchasing one to be prepared for connection issues and maybe a few calls to support. If it weren’t for the preloaded slotRadio card I would not have enjoyed the Sansa Fuze+ as much. Until these issues are corrected, I would not recommend this MP3 player to anybody who has only basic PC ability.

To learn more abou the Sansa Fuze+, visit SanDisk.com . This 4GB MP3 player currently retails for $79.99 and is available in 5 colors. You can also find the Fuze+ in 8GB and 16 GB models for a slightly higher cost. View the full selection of SanDisk slotRadio Cards on Shop.SanDisk.com .

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of SanDisk and received the SanDisk Sansa Fuze+ and VH1 slotRadio Card to facilitate my review.

Review: Audiovox earBudeez and Headshox Headphones

If money is tight for the holidays this year, you may not be able to afford buying the sought after electronic gadgets, such as an iPod, but you can afford some accessories, such as these earBudeez (ARV $14.99) and metal Headshox (ARV $24.99) from Audiovox's "me" line of portable audio headphones.

The earBudeez are perfect for tweens and teens and are packaged in boxes resembling a variety of fun characters. You might even be able to find some specially packaged for the holidays, like this snowman. The Emo Green earBudeez my son chose match his Leapster 2 perfectly.

For my nearly 6yr old son, the earBudeez were a little too big for his ears. He was not able to fit them in as they were meant to be. Although they would stay in his ears, they would fall out easily. Because the ear piece could not be inserted all the way, others around him could here the sound faintly. Hopefully, my son will grow into them soon.

The metal Headshox are perfect for teens to adults and actually come with 3 different size ear pieces. My husband, who uses his black metal Headshox with his iPod, says that the sound quality is at least as good as the Apple stock earphones.

My husband uses the mid-size ear pieces, which fit him perfectly. Even when he turns the music up, others around him cannot hear the slightest hint of music. In fact, these earphones fit so well and are so light and comfortable that they are nearly undetectable. My husband often forgets he has them in his ears, which is not something he can say about any other brand of earphones he's tried in the past.

These Audiovox headphones would make practical gifts or stocking stuffers for anyone who loves their MP3 player or enjoys handheld gaming. You should be able to find them at Walmart, Amazon.com, and other major retailers of audio accessories.

Thank you to Audiovox for providing us with sample headphones for this review.