If you watched the video portion of this review you will have learned that I have evaluated may of the iPod docks on the market.

Features and Notes

– The Philips Fidelio DS8530 accepts iPhone, iPods, AND iPads – which sets it apart from many of the other high-end iPod docks on the market. The input adapter is well-designed and will not require you take off *most* of the cases that are on the market (the main exceptions will be with iPads).

– Very good sound performance, especially once you adjust the equalizer settings using the Fidelio app. While the Fidelio works straight with iTunes (Although you will still need to download the Fidelio app) – the sound performance seems flatter to me… maybe I am imagining it…. but I don’t think so. Also, the speaker can be very loud – you will have no difficulty in filling a large room with music.

– The Fidelio app works pretty well. As mentioned it allows you to control equalizer settings, but it also links directly with Tune-in Radio (which in my opinion is the best way to listen to internet radio). This feature works great and is very easy to navigate. I will say that navigating through your playlists using the Fidelio app is not quite as easy. It is also a bit difficult (at times) to forward and replay songs…. I am hoping than an update on the app will fix this.

– Looks- very nice and unassuming design and look. Understated for sure. I love the fact that there are no bright lights to keep you awake at night. Another novel feature is that the Fidelio turns off once you remove the ipod/iphone/ipad – therefore there is no need for an on-off switch.

– Offers an auxiliary input in case you want to use for devices other than Apples.

– The remote is pretty basic – it does the job, but it seems to be a bit slow, and as I mentioned it can be a pain forwarding and replaying songs.

– The speaker will always need a wall outlet. It is not rechargeable nor does it have the ability to accept batteries. Not a disadvantage unless you wanted something more portable.

Final Verdict – There is a lot to like about the Philips Fidelio DS8530, and while there are lots of options to choose from – this may be the best choice for someone who wants a dock that is a little smaller but still offers the sound performance of the bigger units.

4 1/2 to 5 stars

Please note that I received this product for reviewing purposes

Please Note (part 2) – All audio and music is used strictly for demonstration purposes only and are intended to educate the viewer on the speaker’s capability.

There are tons of options for Speakers – see some of my other speaker below!

BlueTooth and wireless Speaker

Turtle Shell Wireless Boom Box by Outdoor Technology http://youtu.be/sZAhUZAE3xI

Braven 625S Bluetooth Speaker and Power Source – model BZ625BGB

Ecogear EcoXBT by Grace Digital (My favorite Bluetooth speaker – to date) http://youtu.be/59xaOBob_P8

A Comparison of Bluetooth Speakers http://youtu.be/7X2esC1ibzg

Philips Shoqbox Bluetooth Portable Speaker System SB7200 – rugged travel speaker http://youtu.be/qJJ1bC73Yog

Philips Shoqbox Bluetooth Portable Speaker System SB7300 http://youtu.be/5nI6KTv0Z-o

Best Small Travel Speakers fo iPod, iPhone, iPads and MP3 devices http://youtu.be/ckMlsqKLwwc

Monster iClarityHD Precision Micro Bluetooth Speaker 100 Portable Bluetooth Speaker (A Great, Great Option!) http://youtu.be/q7unI101I_Q

Bose Wireless Computer Speaker with Bluetooth http://youtu.be/kWM5DZ8zb7E

Or Look at some of the Wired Speaker Reviews

MonsterBass Mini Speaker for iPhone – iPad – iPod http://youtu.be/CNuo52B1scM

Kinivo ZX100 Speaker for iPods, iPhones, iPads and other devices http://youtu.be/tu7xrdBsTQc

WOWee One Power Bass Portable Speaker for iPad, iPhone, MP3 Players, and Laptops ://youtu.be/kWM5DZ8zb7E

Below iPod and iPhone Docks that I have reviewed

Fluance High Performance 2.1 Wood Tower Speaker Dock FiTSD600 (truly a great sounding dock) http://youtu.be/I-ChBn2Zo38

Philips Fidelio Docking Speaker DS8530 iPod, iPhone, iPad dock http://youtu.be/UZnbqKI2rlk

Altec Lansing iMT810 Digital Boombox http://youtu.be/YDcDKiuiHr0

JBL On Stage IIIP Portable Speaker Dock for iPod and iPhone http://youtu.be/4IKlbYaG-gY

Logitech S715i Rechargeable Speaker for iPod and iPhone http://youtu.be/i5kSYvU_2oA

Fluance FiSDK500 Two-way High Performance Wood Speaker Dock http://youtu.be/pN6SKHzgQ7Y

Subwoofers
JBL Balboa SUB 10 – 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer http://youtu.be/Zxmy8jYkUEA

Make Your Own Speaker!

Making a Transducer Speaker, adding sound and vibration to your home entertainment center http://youtu.be/QQpw9sKZzMc

Check out the Adventures of The Assistant and Wiggles! It is our animated series featuring the Assistant, her Dog Wiggles, and science experiements! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoLQ9unpi4OHbJtfVcfgDIoyZw75FHF-E

There is a saying that you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince. This has been our experience with other coffee makers….from Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Cone Coffeemaker, Black to Black & Decker to everything in-between. Finally we decided to bite-the-bullet and buy a Bunn. The Bunn BXT-B is not for everyone and if you don’t plan on brewing a pot every few days you may shun the fact that the Bunn is always on – it really is an expense.

One thing to recognize – please follow the initial set-up guide (I briefly describe it in the video) if you do NOT follow the initial set-up you will likely ruin your Bunn and void your warranty.

Things that I like

– Brew coffee fast…. like 3-minutes fast – I have time to brew a *few* pots in the morning prior to going to work.
– Great Taste – much better than the traditional drip-through method.
– The thermal carafe is awesome – Bunn states that it will keep the coffee hot for 90 minutes, but I find it drinkable for much longer than that.
– Doesn’t steam while brewing – makes it much safer for my cabinets
– Hot water on Demad – just pout the desired amount of water into the top and catch the hot water at the bottom (great for tea….. although it may be a touch warm for hot chocolate).
– Bunn quality – I expect to own this thing for 10 years

Things that you should know PRIOR to purchasing

– Again, this thing is always on… always pulling electricity
– Requires Bunn filters
– You probably will want to buy whole bean coffee such as Batdorf & Bronson Kenya AA, Whole Bean Coffee, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3) and using a burr grinder. I use a cheap one Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill but it works well
– You may want to use filtered water
– Does require an occasional cleaning
– It is higher/taller than a standard coffee maker – save yourself some grief and make sure that you have a minimum of 16″ clearance
– The tank remains warm o the touch..always
– I would HIGHLY recommend in spending the extra $$$ and buying the thermal carafe – absolutely worth the extra expense
– Not programmable at all – no clock or fancy electronics on the Bunn BTX-B. It simply brews coffee

Final Verdict – If you make at least a pot a day of coffee this is likely to be an investment that will pay major dividends. Easily the best coffee maker that I have ever used.

5 Stars

Check out the Adventures of The Assistant and Wiggles! It is our animated series featuring the Assistant, her Dog Wiggles, and science experiements! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoLQ9unpi4OHbJtfVcfgDIoyZw75FHF-E #Familyfun #Familyfunforeveryone #Theengineeringfamily

The Cuisinart DBM-8 Burr Grinder is provides an highly consistent grind at a very reasonable price. It does have flaws, but once it is viewed against products that are 2x its price. I will caution that it is not easy to clean the “guts” of the machine so this may not be the machine for you if you plan to grind a variety of coffee styles or spices. Trust me if you burr grind fresh vanilla coffee beans and then follow it with a bold French Roast… your French Roast will have an unexpected flavor!

Pros –

– Inexpensive
– Multiple settings for grinding – everything from fine to French Press coarse.
– One-button to push then you are able to walk-away
– Not much to clean – but clean-up is a snap.
– 1/2lb bean capacity
– Nice finish – it does not look “cheap”. From the looks you would expect that it cost 2-3x the actual price

Cautions-

– Again, it is impossible to clean the inner-workings of the machine so you will have residual that will be mixed into your next grind.
– Not overly powered – at times it seems like it is straining which makes me worry about long-term durability.
– Pretty loud – I am not sure if it could be made “quiet”
– Pretty large footprint – you may want to make sure that you have counter-space

Final Verdict – I may change my review if the Cuisinart DBM-8 dies a quick death, but for now it has surpassed my expectations. There are better burr grinders available, but be prepared to spend considerably more money.

5 Stars

Check out the Adventures of The Assistant and Wiggles! It is our animated series featuring the Assistant, her Dog Wiggles, and science experiements! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoLQ9unpi4OHbJtfVcfgDIoyZw75FHF-E #Familyfun #Familyfunforeveryone #Theengineeringfamily

The Mosquito Magnet Patriot Mosquito Trap is a bit of an enigma. It is a rather complex, and bulky solution to a rather small insect. It requires a fair amount of both attention (changing everything every 21 days) and expense (more on that to come) and depending on where you place the product it can either be a complete success or a very costly failure. Hopefully, this review will help you decide if this is the right product for you!

Notes-

– The theory is that the Mosquito Magnet attracts and catches so many mosquitos that is interferes with the mosquito ability to reproduce in large quantities which will lower the overall ‘skeeter population in the future.

-Attractant – I did not mention this in the video portion but depending on where you live you will need with the Mosquito Magnet OCTENOL3 Octenol Biting Insect Attractant, 3-Pack if you are in the northern part of the USA or the Mosquito Magnet Lurex3-OD-3 Biting Insect Attractant (3-pack) is you are in the southern portion (especially the Southeast). The Lurex3 is the preferred attractant for the hated Tiger mosquito.

– Placement – You need to place the unit in a spot that has very little WIND even if this spot doesn’t seem close to the mosquitos. This will allow the CO2 and attractant that is admitted to pool underneath the machine in greater quantities. The more CO2 and attractant means the more ‘skeeters you will catch. Now there is one caveat to this…I have hear that the ‘skeeters need a relatively unobstructed view/path to the machine. So it may not be effective to place the Mosquito Magnet in a place that completely protected since the mosquitos may not be able to “find” the unit…. it needs to be in their line of sight. The box states that the Mosquito Magnet is effective for one acre…I am skeptical on that claim.

– Cost – Never-mind the purchase price, the Mosquito Magnet is expensive to own. The propane needs to be replaced every 21 days, a does the attractant. In addition, you will need to buy replacement nets and cleaning cartridges. All told, it is very expensive to maintain. If you find mosquitos to be a minor nuisance you will not find the Mosquito Magnet to be much of a value. However, if your yard is full of mosquitos and especially if you are concerned of the West Nile virus you really may want to consider this unit.

– Other Solutions – Bug zappers are completely ineffective against mosquitos (They are not attracted by light), yard pesticides can be very effective but they are not a very “organic solution” and you can also be a czar in looking for standing water in your yard (this is the breeding spot of mosquitos), however both of these solution only allow you to have an influence on the land that you own.

– As you know – Mosquitoes bites can cause a wide variety of ailments, such as – West Nile Virus, Malaria, Yellow Fever, Rift Valley Fever, and even encephalitis.

Final Verdict – A bit of a mixed bag. I feel that with proper placement (which I still have not found for my yard) the Mosquito Magnet can be a highly effective (albeit expensive) solution for controlling your mosquito population.

4 Stars

Please note that I received this product for reviewing purposes

Check out the Adventures of The Assistant and Wiggles! It is our animated series featuring the Assistant, her Dog Wiggles, and science experiements! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoLQ9unpi4OHbJtfVcfgDIoyZw75FHF-E #Familyfun #Familyfunforeveryone #Theengineeringfamily

–2 month update —

We still use the Makita LXT Blower on a (almost) daily basis. My wife loves to use it to blow off the steps in our garage. It is the useful rechargeable tool we have ever purchased.

——————————————————————————–

I was somewhat skeptical when I ordered the Makita LXT Blower. I was worried that my 1.5aH battery would not fit or even if it did it wouldn’t power the blower. I was also worried that even at full power that something this small wouldn’t be up to the job – mainly blowing out my garage and cleaning the grass of my sidewalk.

The Answers –

– While the 1.5aH battery is not optimal (although I do have two from my Makita LCT300W 18-Volt Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless 3-Piece Combo Kit set), but it does work well enough. The main issue is that the battery life is about 3-5 minutes on the blower’s highest setting. However, 4 minutes will blow a lot of grass off of your sidewalks).

– Plenty of power – IF you are blowing on smooth surfaces. If you are planning to use this to blow your leaves into a giant pile you will be disappointed.

– Ultra light – less than 5lbs

– Pull-the-trigger easy – this is what really attracted me to the Makita LXT Blower since about 75% of my clean-up jobs are simple and do not require my gas powered blower. It is great to have the option to grab a light-weight blower and have the job done within a couple of minutes.

– The Makita blower can be converted into a vacuum – but the attachment is NOT included. I was puzzled for a few minutes as I looked for the dust collecting attachment. This is my only complaint, why didn’t Makita just include the dust collector?

Final Verdict – I really couldn’t be happier. I may eventually buy a Makita BL1830 18v (3.0ah) Lithium-Ion Battery but until then I will be perfectly happy with my current set-up.

5 Stars

Check out the Adventures of The Assistant and Wiggles! It is our animated series featuring the Assistant, her Dog Wiggles, and science experiements! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoLQ9unpi4OHbJtfVcfgDIoyZw75FHF-E #Familyfun #Familyfunforeveryone #Theengineeringfamily

You have a problem. You want to mount your HD television above your fireplace or other remote location, but you can’t (either because of room, cable box placement, or an angry wife) find a way to plug in your other equipment into the HDMI slots. Luckily, for you, there is the Nyrius NAVS500, and while it does have one issue (more on that later) it offers you flexibility with your home entertainment center.

Notes on the device

– The Nyrius NAVS500 allows you to “Untether” your television from the rest of your home entertainment center. Simply plug the device (DVR, Blu-Ray, PS3, Xbox 360, or other HDMI device) into the *Transmitter* and then plug your television into *Receiver* and you are ready to go. The set-up is that easy, in fact, it is easier than hooking up a VCR.

– Quality – The video quality is excellent (true 1080p) with a very minimal delay – less than a second. There is one issue, the audio portion takes about 5-10 seconds to begin (the broadcast is just silent… but it is not out-of-phase). This an be an issue if you are watching broadcast tv- although a DVR can solve part of that problem (it mainly would be an issue if you switching between shows). This delay should not be a noticeable problem with a Blu-ray, PS3, or other device where immediate audio is not needed. For some users this could be a deal killer, but for others it may not even be noticeable.

– Audio and video are in sync. There are no issues where you see lips moving with a delay in the audio.

– What I really like is the flexibility and other possibilities with the Nyrius NAVS500 – with the use of a Ultra High Performance HDMI Switcher, 3to1 Switch you have the ability to run multiple devices into your television. Admittedly, it would be better if the HDMI splitter was integrated into the Nyrius HDMI directly, but external splitters are relatively inexpensive.

– Another possibility is with use of Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter Cable, 6 feet you have the ability to connect your Mac directly into your television. This gives you the ability to watch Hulu, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and/or a Monsoon Multimedia 010410VL TV Tuner/Receiver on your television using only your computer (Read – you can possibly eliminate your cable bill).

Final Verdict – The Nyrius NAVS500 offers you significant flexibility with you home entertainment center. There is an issue with the delay in the audio, but for many issues this will not be a concern. If you are looking for a way to isolate your HD TV from the rest of your home entertainment equipment the Nyrius NAVS500 may be the device for you.

4 1/2 Stars

– Please note I received a Nyrius NAVS500 for reviewing purposes—–

Please Note (part 2) – All video, audio and music is used strictly for demonstration purposes only and are intended to educate the viewer on the product’s capability.

Check out the Adventures of The Assistant and Wiggles! It is our animated series featuring the Assistant, her Dog Wiggles, and science experiements! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoLQ9unpi4OHbJtfVcfgDIoyZw75FHF-E #Familyfun #Familyfunforeveryone #Theengineeringfamily

There are many options in the world of Subwoofers and as a result there are dozens of price points. The question is – what do you need?

Are you using this speaker to –

– As a boomer for dancing

– As a source for bass during movies – as part of your home entertainment center

– General music listening

– All of the above

The problem is that very few subs excel at all of the above or at least at a moderate price – that same is somewhat true for the JBL Balboa Sub10. While it does supply most of your needs it is unlikely to be a jaw dropper if you are using it for a dance party. Having said that…. how often do you host dance parties? However, as a general use speaker and as sub for your entertainment center and general music listening you should be very happy with the Sub10.

What it has

– Nice sound with a frequency response down to 30Hz (published), but with *real* performance to probably the high 30’s. To me this is a nice bass response for a 10″ sub
– 100 watts of power – more than enough to power the 10″ woofer
– The speaker is front-ported but down fired –
– Built in crossover
– You will need a splitter in order to get a true stereo effect (unless your receiver has dual subwoofer outputs)
– phase control 0 and 180
– Volume – just in case you find the bass a little too overpowering (like my wife)
– Some complain that it is too large… but in order to get accurate sound reproduction subwoofers require a certain size so they can push the volume of air needed to reproduce the frequency.

Final Verdict – if you are looking to open a dance club this may not be the speaker for you… and in truth you would be looking for something larger than a 10″ sub anyway. However, for general use, and use in a home entertainment center the JBL Balboa Sub10 is a great and relatively inexpensive option.

5 Stars

Please Note I received this product for reviewing purposes

Please Note (part 2) – All audio and music is used strictly for demonstration purposes only and are intended to educate the viewer on the speaker’s capability.

There are tons of options for Speakers – see some of my other speaker below!

BlueTooth and wireless Speaker

Turtle Shell Wireless Boom Box by Outdoor Technology http://youtu.be/sZAhUZAE3xI

Braven 625S Bluetooth Speaker and Power Source – model BZ625BGB

Accessorise Portable Bluetooth Wireless Mini Speaker System http://youtu.be/o–fEiOttE8

Panasonic SC-MC07 Compact Wireless Music Streaming http://youtu.be/NAghBDpj2N0

Ecogear EcoXBT by Grace Digital (My favorite Bluetooth speaker – to date) http://youtu.be/59xaOBob_P8

A Comparison of Bluetooth Speakers http://youtu.be/7X2esC1ibzg

Philips Shoqbox Bluetooth Portable Speaker System SB7200 – rugged travel speaker http://youtu.be/qJJ1bC73Yog

Philips Shoqbox Bluetooth Portable Speaker System SB7300 http://youtu.be/5nI6KTv0Z-o

Kinivo BTX095 Small Bluetooth Speaker for iPod, iPad, and iPhone http://youtu.be/BGKfPXSx4wY

Best Small Travel Speakers fo iPod, iPhone, iPads and MP3 devices http://youtu.be/ckMlsqKLwwc

Kinivo BTX110 Wireless Bluetooth Mini Portable Speaker review http://youtu.be/AfDw6bIXhBg

Monster iClarityHD Precision Micro Bluetooth Speaker 100 Portable Bluetooth Speaker (A Great, Great Option!) http://youtu.be/q7unI101I_Q

Bose Wireless Computer Speaker with Bluetooth http://youtu.be/kWM5DZ8zb7E

Or Look at some of the Wired Speaker Reviews

Accessorise Your Life Wired Mini-Speaker http://youtu.be/-Cm0BSy5Nlk

Kinivo ZX220 Portable Twin Speakers with Rechargeable Battery http://youtu.be/j8CRiDU42fQ

MonsterBass Mini Speaker for iPhone – iPad – iPod http://youtu.be/CNuo52B1scM

Kinivo ZX100 Speaker for iPods, iPhones, iPads and other devices http://youtu.be/tu7xrdBsTQc

WOWee One Power Bass Portable Speaker for iPad, iPhone, MP3 Players, and Laptops ://youtu.be/kWM5DZ8zb7E

Below iPod and iPhone Docks that I have reviewed

Fluance High Performance 2.1 Wood Tower Speaker Dock FiTSD600 (truly a great sounding dock) http://youtu.be/I-ChBn2Zo38

Philips Fidelio Docking Speaker DS8530 iPod, iPhone, iPad dock http://youtu.be/UZnbqKI2rlk

Altec Lansing iMT810 Digital Boombox http://youtu.be/YDcDKiuiHr0

JBL On Stage IIIP Portable Speaker Dock for iPod and iPhone http://youtu.be/4IKlbYaG-gY

Logitech S715i Rechargeable Speaker for iPod and iPhone http://youtu.be/i5kSYvU_2oA

Fluance FiSDK500 Two-way High Performance Wood Speaker Dock http://youtu.be/pN6SKHzgQ7Y

Subwoofers

VELODYNE ACOUSTICS CHT-12BV Classic Home Theater Series Powered Subwooferhttp://youtu.be/u40bvL5ymFk

JBL Balboa SUB 10 – 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer http://youtu.be/Zxmy8jYkUEA

Make Your Own Speaker!

Making a Transducer Speaker, adding sound and vibration to your home entertainment center http://youtu.be/QQpw9sKZzMc #Familyfun #Familyfunforeveryone #Theengineeringfamily

Yes, the earbuds are terrible, and I mean truly terrible.

However, there is a solution.

Use the Jabra bluetooth unit, but plug in your own earbuds!

There now that is out of the way we can talk about a few of the features of the Jabra Clipper. I really like the idea of the product, since it gives you a means to use a bluetooth unit to switch between music and phone calls. This is perfect for people traveling (trains, subway, and in the airport) and for those who are very active (running, biking, the gym…).

Pros-

– The bluetooth unit works flawlessly (or as far as I can tell). It synced with both my iPod Touch and my iPhone 4.
– The earbuds plug into the bluetooth unit – this means you can use any earbuds or headphones of our choosing. It also means that you can plug other things (like portable speakers) into the headphone jack.
– Completely rechargeable, and it seems to have good battery life.
– The music quality (when using other earbuds) is quite good.
– Pretty decent value – The bluetooth unit alone is worth the selling price

Cons –
– Everything about the earbuds – They are shockingly bad. Why is one earbud cord about 12″ shorter than the other?
– The cord for charging the unit is only about 6″ – Again why?
– It is really difficult to *Clip* the CLIPPER to anything. The jaws are difficult to separate and clip.

Final verdict – Despite the horrible sound from the earbuds, I really like the Jabra clipper. I admit that if I was forced to use the earbuds that were included I would be very disappointed…. but I am not, so I am quite happy!

Please Note – I received this product for reviewing purposes

Check out the Adventures of The Assistant and Wiggles! It is our animated series featuring the Assistant, her Dog Wiggles, and science experiements! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoLQ9unpi4OHbJtfVcfgDIoyZw75FHF-E #Familyfun #Familyfunforeveryone #Theengineeringfamily

Never before have I been so enlightened