EasySMX Gaming Headset VIP003S

This new gaming headset from EasySMX emphasises comfort as one of the main selling points and not without good reason as this is one of the easiest to wear headsets I have tried for some time.

The headset arrived presented in a simple mid-market branded product box inside of which was the headset, Y splitter cable adapter, microphone stalk, pop filter and a large and easy to read User Guide. I enclose a scan of it at the end of my unboxing video, just in case anyone needs to read it.

The headset is of the over-ear type and does a decent job of passive noise reduction to cut down on outside distractions when gaming. The large detachable ear pads are soft and very well padded and the suspended headband adds to the comfort. This would be an excellent headset for long gaming sessions. A plug-in detachable microphone is provided complete with a removable pop filter. The microphone is flexible enough to be moved out of the way when not needed although there is a button on the earcup to switch it off most users will find it easier just to unplug it. The headset has a USB plug – used solely to power the built-in LED lights – and combined audio/mic 3.5mm jack for use with phones or other devices. A splitter is provided which connects to the audio jack to give separate 3.5mm plugs for audio in and out, handy for a computer or some consoles. Take note that as the USB plug is for LED use only this means the headset may not work with some consoles without a separate adapter being used and of course this budget headset has no vibration engine included. There are on-ear controls for volume and to switch the microphone off but no way to disable the LED lights without disconnecting the USB plug, which will not affect the audio or microphone in any way.

Sound quality is excellent for the price. There is plenty of bass, mid-tones are clear and well defined and there is no sibilance or abrasive high-end tones. Using the microphone is fine too and the sound is not muffled as with some other budget headsets.

This is an excellent quality all round headset and although aimed at the gaming market, many hardcore gamers may need more niche features than on offer here. That is no problem for me as at the current Amazon price of £23.99 (with on the day discounts possible) this is still a great buy.

The Good
Good Sound Quality
Good Build Quality
Comfortable
Detachable Microphone
Pop Filter
On-Ear Controls

The Bad
No LED Control

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beibaoke 100ml Aroma Diffuser

This simple but attractive aromatherapy diffuser from beibaoke was supplied in a plain and eco-friendly brown cardboard box which protected the device perfectly well with no annoying and hard to open blister packs or garish packaging. Given the nature of the product, what better way could there be to present it? Inside the box was the diffuser itself, a power supply with a UK plug, a plastic measuring jug and a well written and easy to read User Guide (which I include on the end of my unboxing video).

Made entirely of plastic the device is nevertheless attractively designed with a wood grain effect on the base and above it the usual translucent cover for the LED light display. With a reservoir capacity of 100ml, this unit is on the small size but should still diffuse the oil aroma for several hours and longer when in intermittent mode. I have no reason to doubt the claimed 5 to 6-hour running time.

To operate the device is simplicity itself. Connect the power cable first, don’t attempt it when the tank is full! Detach the top of the unit, fill the unit with water to the indicated mark on the tank, add a few drops of your favourite essential oil, replace the top, plug in and switch on. On the front below are just two buttons, the first controls the light display and you let it auto-scroll through the colours, select one colour or turn it off entirely. The second button selects continuous or 30 seconds On/Off misting. Should it run dry then the misting process will automatically switch off to prevent overheating.

The diffuser is nicely designed and should sit well in a home, office or clinical environment, the lighting is subtle and unobtrusive and the misting process is pleasant and can lift or give atmosphere to the room. Be aware that due to the nature of the misting process some water may be precipitated around the device so do not locate it close to sensitive objects. This diffuser emits a large amount of mist, more so than most of the others I have tried, which is a good or bad thing according to your outlook.

Of the several diffusers, I have experimented with this is one perhaps the best as it simple to use, looks good, works well and has no unneeded or unwanted features.

This is a very attractive and eminently functional unit and should answer all your needs when looking for an entry-level oil diffuser or humidifier.

The amazon price of just £13.99 will be hard to better too.

The Good
Good build quality
Eco-friendly packaging
UK plug
Good User Guide
Safety auto-off feature
Seven light colours

The Bad
No sample oil
Some adjacent water precipitation
No Misting Level Control

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EasySMX COOL 2000 Gaming Headset [2019 Edition]

Updated and with a new reduced price of £11.99 the 2019 model of this classic budget Gaming Headset from EasySMX gives you quite a lot for your money.

The headset arrived nicely presented in a mid-range branded display box. Inside the box were the headset itself, headset splitter cable and a large and easy to read User Guide which I include at the end of my unboxing video.

The headset seems nicely made, robust and strong, and quite attractively designed compared to some gamer headsets I have tried – which is not necessarily saying much. It is well padded on both the earcups, which are of the over-ear type, and on the headband which has a soft sling beneath a rigid frame. It is lightweight, comfortable and easy to wear even for long gaming sessions. The headset does not support Bluetooth, as an increasing number do now, but does have a dual cable adapter to allow for separate mic/audio connections – green for the headset, red for the microphone. The splitter adapter’s standard 3.5mm plug allows the headset to be used with mobile phones and other devices with a combined microphone and audio socket. The earcups and microphone tip have bright red LEDs when connected using the USB plug and in fact, this is the only purpose of the USB plug as USB audio is not supported and there is no built-in vibration engine. There are no in-line controls but instead, all the controls are on the headset: volume control rotary dial, microphone On/Off and, unlike with most rivals, a separate switch to turn the LED lights On and Off.

How is the sound?
The audio quality is excellent and worthy of a higher-priced device and one of the best I have tried in this budget price range. There is plenty of bass, not so much as to be overpowering, with the mid and higher frequencies being clear and well defined without being too sharp or abrasive. When both gaming and listening to music it is becomes a very immersive and enjoyable experience. When making calls the audio quality from the mic was fine with my caller saying my voice was clear, undistorted and easy to understand.

As headphones for general listening, this headset is excellent for the price. As a purely gaming headset, it less attractive. The mic has been improved but I would still prefer a clearer sound. It is worth saying again that the USB connection is to power the LED lights and not to allow for system-level interaction with a gaming console.

These are a large and well-made set of headphones described as being for gamers but really they are fine for general purpose listening with a full and rich sound not often found at this price. If you are a serious gamer and prepared to pay more, particularly a console user then my advice would be to keep looking. If you are looking for a budget headset for music, PC Gaming and general use then this would be a good buy.

The Good
Good sound
Great price
Good build quality
Comfortable to wear
LED Illumination
Audio/Mic adaptor
Adjustable mic position
No Drivers needed
Passive noise reduction

The Bad
Not Suitable for some gaming consoles
No vibration Engine

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Comforday Handheld Steam Cleaner

This small-sized and surprisingly lightweight handheld steamer cleaner from Comforday arrived in a simple but branded heavy-duty cardboard box. Inside was the steamer itself, a nine-piece accessory kit and a large, well printed and easy to read User Guide. I include a scan of the User Guide at the end of my unboxing video, switch to full screen and pause to read it.

All seems well made and robust enough for long term domestic use. The 1.78 Kg, 25 x 14 x 22 cm steamer itself is made from tough but surprisingly lightweight plastic and with the screw assembly for the steam proof lid made from brass. The power cable is shorter than I would like and is hard-wired into the body of the unit. The heating element draws 1050 watts and heats the 250ml capacity tank to operational temperature very quickly, I did not time it but it cannot be much more than a minute or so. The accessories clip onto the front of the standard nozzle, which can be rotated as needed. The full list of accessories includes: Funnel, Measuring Cup, Extension Nozzle, Flexible Extension Nozzle, Brush Head, Angled Head, Fabric Tool, Fabric Tools Towel Sleeve, Window Tool. Using the accessories is pretty much self-evident. Take note that the towel sleeve fastens over the front of the fabric tool and that the window cleaning squeegee clips onto the front of the fabric tool.

To operate, first remove the filler cap and add no more than 250ml of water – the tank will actually hold 350ml, but do not be tempted to overfill it – and then replace the lid and screw it tightly shut. Annoyingly, the supplied measuring jug holds only 200ml of water, so two fills are needed. Then plug fit whichever tool you plan to use and plug the device in. The LED will light and then go off when the working temperature has been reached. You can work with the device plugged in but I found it easier to unplug it as it keeps the steam temperature very well and is sufficient for several minutes of continual use. The steam release button has a safety mechanism and to operate it first push forward and down and then pull backwards and down. This is easier to perform than describe, but you will soon pick it up. The steam jet produced is powerful and sustained and does an excellent job of cleaning hard surfaces and removing grease. I am told it works just as well on fabrics but this I have not yet tried. The tank is quite small so be sparing in your use of the steam. If you are brave you can refill it when the steam level slows but be sure to release all the residual steam first by keeping the nozzle open. I would advise leaving it for a minute or so before unscrewing the cap to refill the tank.

This is an excellent piece of kit and I was very impressed by how easy it was to use and how effective in use it was. For the current Amazon price of £35.99, it is a good buy indeed. I would have been happy to pay more had it been supplied with a storage box and some spare Fabric towels but no doubt these can be sourced separately.

The Good
Great price
Good Build Quality
Good Range of Accessories
Easy To Use
Good user Guide

The Bad
Small Water Tank
Only 1 Fabric Sleeve Included
Short Power Cable
Non-Detachable Power Cable
No Storage Case
Measuring Jug Too Small

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Comforday Digital Plug in Timer, 2 Pack

These days many of us are moving over to Google or Amazon Echo based device timers but these depend on the system being online and the remote servers operating as they should. More traditional stand-alone timers such as this £15.99 set of two from Comforday are inherently more reliable and will always work when the mains power is on.

The set arrived simply packaged in a plain brown box, more attractive presentation would surely help sales, containing just the two timers and a user Guide. The User Guide is large, well printed and easy to read. I attach a scan of it to the end of my unboxing video, switch to full screen and pause to read it.

Build quality seems first-rate. The timers are well made and robust and at 6cm wide by 13.5cm wide should fit into any standard socket or plugboard without impeding adjacent plugs. The LCD screen, although not backlit, is large and easy to read. Below it is a set of eight good-sized buttons to program and control the unit. On the front panel too is a single red LED which can be seen at a distance or in the dark to confirm the system is On or Off.

Unlike many older rivals, each of the ten daily timers can be set to an exact time with the LCD display even showing a seconds display. You can also set the device to power off after a preset time with an on-screen countdown of the time remaining. The device can serve as a simple clock and shows the current time of day when plugged in and configured. Each plug also has a random mode to turn the connected device on and off at irregular intervals. Another nice touch is the easy to select summertime mode which means the clock does not need to be reprogrammed when we enter or leave summertime and the clocks are changed. Each unit has a built-in memory to hold the time of day as well as all the timed events when should the power fail or the unit moved to a new socket. Another feature I have not seen before is that disabled timers can be recalled from memory when needed with no need to reprogram.

This is probably the most feature-rich and easy to use traditional plug timers I have tried and at the current Amazon price is a good buy indeed. The only feature missing here is the lack of a selectable backlight for the LCD display, but that is compensated for in part by the front panel LED which means I can tell at a glance if the plug is turned on or not. That aside, there is little not to like here.

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Fooxon Tropical Hawaiian Luau Flowers Set

I have used faux flower sets in the past and although they have looked pretty enough I found they all shed leaves and flowers. After removing them from the box the table was covered in flowers and foliage. Not so with this £12.99 set of 36 topical garlands from Fooxon. Although seem very lightweight to the touch, in fact, they are surprisingly robust and when filming with them not a single petal was lost.

The garlands arrived simply packaged in a reusable vacuum bag but with no external packaging, branding or paperwork. This is a pity as a good presentation would surely make this attractive set a more inviting buy on the shelves.

Each of the garlands is 37.7 in circumference and has 36 individual flowers. The flowers are on a tough fishing line style cord separated from each other with a transparent short piece of plastic tubing. This allows the garlands to be folded and shaped as wished. They can be used around the neck, as a wrist band, on the head, as a table decoration or surround or any other way you can think up.

For a children’s party, they would be great fun as they would too at a Hawaiian themed barbecue or other outdoor events. Build quality is excellent and their robust strength means that they can be used many times. They are not used once and throw away.

These garlands are a fun buy and can add colour and atmosphere to your next summer party.

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Nulaxy NX11 Bluetooth 5.0 Car FM Transmitter

I suppose this must now be what is termed a niche product. I remember struggling with car FM Transmitters in the past and never finding one that worked reliably. For those that do not know this device takes an audio source and transmits it over short-range FM radio to the car radio. Time has moved on now and most modern cars have Bluetooth built-in but drivers of older or classic cars may still need to send music from their phones or other devices to their car audio player. It is good to see that this new £13.99 transmitter from Nulaxy has moved with the times and has onboard the latest updated technology.

In the simple but attractive box, smaller even than I was expecting, was the device itself together with a well written and easy to read User Guide. Note that the User Guide says the transmitter is Bluetooth 4.2, an oversight from a previous version I assume. I enclose a scan of the User Guide at the end of my unboxing video, set to full screen and pause as needed to read it. Build quality is better than any similar device I have used and the metal-bodied construction gives the unit a quality and upmarket feel which is enhanced by the subtle colour-changing backlight.

The transmitter has a small LED panel on the top of the front face which shows the current FM frequency in use, the Bluetooth status and the car battery level. Below this are the two USB ports, one for rated at 5v/2.4A for QC3.0 quick charging, the other for standard rate charging or a USB stick music source. Below are the two track advance buttons with the large Multifunction dial in between. The MF dial is for Play/Pause and to answer/reject/end phone calls. The dial can be rotated to select the desired FM frequency or change the audio volume. On one side of the unit is the micro-SD card port and on the underside the LED backlight colour selection button.

Using the device is easy enough. Plug it into the car’s cigarette lighter socket and it will display the current car battery power level. The Bluetooth indicator will flash to show that it is in pairing mode. On your phone pair to the device in the usual way, looking for ‘NX11’ as the device. The transmitter will connect automatically next time. The transmitter LED will now show the current FM frequency in use. Tune the car radio to a blank interference-free frequency and tune the transmitter to it by rotating the MF dial. Set your phone to your music app and the audio will be transmitted to the car radio. Inserting an SD card or USB stick with music files on will cause the device to start playing them automatically. Long press the Next button on the device to switch sources.

As with all FM transmitters finding a clean frequency to use can be a problem and you may need to change frequencies during a long journey when interference from nearby sources is picked up. That aside, I have to say I found this device worked well and free from significant issues.

If you are the owner of an older or classic card and want to play your selected music on the car stereo then this bargain-priced unit would be a nice buy.

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