Sony WF-SP700N - The World's 1st True Wireless ANC Headphones are Here

Sony HT-ZF9 Soundbar Review - Is it worth buying???

Check the price - sony ht-zf9

The Design

Sony has gone for quite a minimalist clean design. The bar is slightly wider at (exactly 1 meter) than what I had previously been using a Orbitsound A60. That’s not a bad thing, it actually fits perfectly on my TV stand and really seems like it’s the perfect partner for TV sizes 50” and above.

The majority of the HT-ZF9 soundbar has a textured feel as opposed to hi gloss or brushed metal finish that we’ve seen in the past on sony soundbars.

The buttons are across the top & are a little hard to see if your room isn’t well let, but it does help keep the design very sleek. The onboard controls are capacitive buttons, so there is no tactile feedback when you push them. Maybe a little haptic feedback could have been a nice touch here… just a thought (I don’t think there is a soundbar out there that uses haptic feedback yet).

The ZF9 soundbar does, however, have an onboard display. So if you find yourself feeling around in the dark for the buttons the display will let you know what’s happening. One of the things I really like about the design of this soundbar is the magnetic removable grill. Sony has been doing this for a while. It really doesn’t do much to enhance the sound quality, it’s just cool to be able to change the look of the sound system from time to time.

When you remove the magnetic grill, behold the three drivers. The drivers are fairly small and not quite as aesthetically pleasing as sony’s old magnetic fluid speakers, but these 2” drivers are mightier than they look. I’ll get to that later. Also, Sony has added a nice little bit of bling here with their gold Hi-Res audio sticker. I love stuff like this.

Due to the HT-Z9F’s driver configuration, Sony is calling this the world's 1st 3.1 soundbar. The 0.1 is the subwoofer which is quite a hefty bit of kit (H: 38.2 / W: 19 / D: 38.6 - 8.1KG). The design of the subwoofer is nothing out of the normal. It really seems like Sony designed this not to be seen. It’s just has a really plain look, with a netted front and quite a large glossy port also on the front.

Just in case you didn’t know the port in the subwoofer allows airflow in and out to help the large driver’s diaphragm travel more. This helps to produce those really deep low ends

The remote is slightly nicer than some of Sony's previous designs but not a massive leap forward in usability. It’s pretty standard really just a little more rounded than some older designs. (video explaining better remote layout)

 

Sound Quality

Now the quality of the sound that the Sony HT-Z9F will produce is heavily dependant on the source you are using. It can support Hi-Res audio such as DSD, Wav, Flac, Alac(.m4a only), AIFF, HE AAC, AAC, mp3, Monkey Audio, WMA, Ogg Vorbis.

It also has Sony’s DSEE-HX upscaling tech for improving those lossy sound files. Scaling them up close to Hi-Res. The amplifier is Sony’s S Master HX and it delivers a max output of up to 400 watts and that’s equal to (add your idea here)

This soundbar supports Dolby Atmos, however true Dolby Atmos would normally mean having speakers installed above your head. The HT-Z9F actually has forward firing drivers only, so Sony has worked some audio magic here to emulate that vertical effect.

Does it really work?

It will only work properly if you have Dolby Atmos content... which is a bit scarce right now, but don’t worry the Z9F’s atmos capabilities will make this soundbar future proof for quite a while. A good sound investment one might say. When you have the right content and the soundbar detects it; It’s actually really impressive. Especially when you ramp up the volume.

Also if like me you have pretty much no Dolby Atmos content (except for the provided demo blu-ray) you’re in luck, because the HT-Z9F has a Vertical-S feature which takes your audio and emulates a 7.1.2 channel experience. It creates a sort of bubble of sound around you, it works well but not for everything. I would recommend using the preset sound modes according to what you are watching or listening to, to get the best experience. Each mode is fine-tuned, which helps you keep it simple. Or you can just use the auto sound mode to keep it even simpler.

As for the bass output. The low ends can sometimes overpower the mids and treble but you can fine tune this manually using the remote.

The placement of the soundbar is key for getting the most from that Dolby Atmos effect. You really need to be front and center to really appreciate it. The range of the soundbar to the subwoofer hasn’t been a problem for me except for when I had it really close (less than 1meter). For some reason when I was watching an old episode of game of thrones on Sky+ the bass kept cutting in & out. Very strange.

Usability

The Sony HT-Z9F has it’s own user interface which you can only use if you use the HDMI connection. If you have a slightly older TV like my old plasma with no ARC, you will have to use the provided optical cable and the HDMI cable to get the most from the soundbars software. The onboard software will allow you to customise the soundbar with several settings such as your distance from the speaker & HMDI pass through settings. It’s a little tricky but there are some important settings here especially if you are going to be watching 4K HDR content.

The onboard controls are pretty easy to use and self-explanatory. As I mentioned earlier they’re a little hard to see at times. The remote is a little old school but everything is their so not much to complain about. On the back of the soundbar, you have a good amount of inputs. 2 HDMI ins, 1 HDMI out with ARC. As well as an analog in, an optical in, a USB in and a LAN in for connecting to your local network. The Z9F does also support wi-fi.

Awesome Features

The HT-Z9F can work with Google assistant which means you can control it using your voice. However, you will need a google assistant device, because Z9F doesn’t have its own mic. This awesome feature could make It a really good addition to your connected home set up.

In addition to Google assistant compatibility, the HT-Z9F also supports Google Chromecast so you can actually stream videos and audio straight through the soundbar. Which is great for those with non-smart TV’s.

Another awesome feature is Sony’s very own multiroom software via the SongPal app. If you have other sony wifi speakers around your house you can pair up devices and even stream Hi Res Audio throughout your house thanks to Sony’s LDAC.

The last awesome feature that I want to mention comes at a cost, but I think would be worth it. It’s the Sony SA-Z9R Wireless Rear Speakers. These speakers do need a power supply of course so there will be a cable. So if you want to upgrade your home theatre experience you can always add these on later. I haven’t heard these just how good these are combined with the HT-Z9F, so I guess that’s for you to find out.

WhatGear Sony Video Reviews - playlist

source https://www.whatgear.net/technology/sony-ht-zf9-soundbar-review

Libratone Track+ Wireless Noise-Canceling Earbuds

The 1st thing you probably want to know is, how do the Libratone Track+ headphones sound? The way I see it...is it when it comes to headphones there's really 4 things that matter. Number 1 is sound, 2 build quality, 3 comfortability & 4 awesome features. 

LIBRATONE TRACK+ ON AMAZON

The Sound for your £££

I've heard many...many headphones. So I'll give you my opinion here on the Libratone track plus. Really good clarity, it's not too sharp at the high ends...and the bass is impressive when you turn on the extra bass mode on through the app. Definitely in the top tier of in-ear headphones that I've tried. It does support aptx which will help deliver a higher quality sound over Bluetooth thanks to Qualcomm.

Build Quality & Comfort

The Libratone track + are incredibly well built. You can watch my unboxing video to see my 1st impressions. Even the sound when the earbuds clash together sounds premium. The Track+ feel very rugged. The cables are rubberised which makes them more comfortable against your skin, and rubber finished cables keep them tangle free...which is good! It really doesn't feel like these are the type of headphones that will stop working the 1st time you snag them on something. Also, Libratone has gone out of their way to make these headphones meet the IPX4 requirements. so yes splash & dust resistant... which is good.

I'm also a fan of the weight distribution. Now don't get me wrong these are not heavy at all...but they do have a little weight in all the right places. What do I mean by that? The left & right body units make sure the headphones don't move around to much when your running...so if you are on the move they will sit comfortably around the back of your neck without the cables bouncing around. Which of course makes them great for workouts.

Ease Of Use

The positioning of the button controls is perfect! They are really easy to find thanks to large raised plus & minus and circle symbols...which are a nice touch. They are also really tactile, so you know you've pushed them when you've pushed them. The Libratone app also works really well. It's easy to use and well presented and intuitive. I'll be honest the first thing I did was increase the bass levels...but that's just me.  In the Libratone app, you also have the option to adjust ANC between the 8 different levels. There are more cool features in the app that I'll explain in the next section.

Awesome features

Now let's talk about something. The city mix smart anc. The Track+ has dual mics to assist with anc. For those of you that might be wondering what (ANC) active noise canceling is...it basically takes the ambient noise from your surroundings and plays them in reverse phase over your music.... creating a noise canceling effect. This is perfect It works really well on planes, trains, and automobiles.

There's another really cool feature that will help in these scenarios. it's the Libratone Track+'s headphones ability to connect to another set of Libratone headphones via the app. So you can basically share your audio with someone else who is in range of your device. First thing I thought... This would be amazing for watching films when traveling...so you don't need one of those annoying audio jack splitters.

What does City Mix Smart do? well if you go for a run you don't want to find yourself getting hit by a bus due to your new amazing ANC capabilities. The track + plus headphones will adjust noise canceling levels so that you can remain aware of your surroundings automatically. Or you can bypass the CityMix Smart by using the app or select ANC levels with a quick click of the center button. A nice feature if I do say so myself.

Another really cool feature. There's motion-sensing technology that can detect when they are not being used. So yes they'll automatically turn themselves off...saving your battery life.

Really these are an impressive set of earbuds. The only room for improvement that I can see is...maybe a USB charger would have improved the already impressive charging speed...and maybe Libratone could have thrown in a carry case... Apart from that the Libratone track+ are an awesome choice not just for sports but also for commuting or just chilling.

source https://www.whatgear.net/technology/libratone-track-plus-headphones

Qualcomm’s TrueWireless Headphones May Change Headphone Industry

Today when you go out to buy a pair of wireless headphones you are presented with a plethora of options to choose from. A lot of which are not true-wireless, meaning they come with a band that connects both the earpieces together.

Though there are some true-wireless headphones out there, most of them don’t deliver what they promise. An exception, Apple’s wireless earbuds, do perform really well but come at a great cost. All that is about to change with Qualcomm’s new TrueWireless technology, that promises to deliver three times the performance and better battery life than the banded headphones.

To make this possible, a new Bluetooth Audio System-onChip (SoC) called the QCC3026 has been developed which works on Bluetooth 5 but is backwards compatible as well. This chip is expected to reduce power consumption by 50%, overcoming the battery life problem that persists on true-wireless headphones. In addition to performance upgrade and better battery life, the new chip is supposed to include components that would allow better noise-cancellation and augmented reality audio support.

These chips are also expected to provide sensors for tracking movement and fitness levels. With so much good happening, the price is expected to go high, but Qualcomm claims that with its new chip the price will instead go down, something that took time for people to digest. How can a chip that small do all of it? From what is being claimed it is expected that the chip will sport a quad-core CPU instead of a single-core CPU from previous generations and two DSPs (Digital Sound Processors). All that means is that the chip would be capable of performing multiple tasks effectively and efficiently without any hiccup.

The thing that concerns when so much is being cramped on a chip is the appearance of the headphones, but these chips are expected to be very small considering what they providing, making them fit-in easily inside earpieces without beefing them up. With such a promising technology, we expect to see a lot of cellphone manufacturers wanting to get their hands on the technology.

It didn’t take much time for Oppo to come up announcing their interest in the chip and that they would be manufacturing a true wireless headphone using it, which will come along with the Oppo Find X phone. In the upcoming years, one thing is for sure, people will lean more towards wireless headphones, especially true-wireless headphones. This would make a lot of manufacturers use this new chip or make their own (Apple’s W1), so they don’t become obsolete in the industry. With all this happening, a lot of phone manufacturers will be more likely to get rid of the headphone jack! The Qualcomm true wireless future is not far away.

Qualcomm Videos from WhatGear

Qualcomm were kind enough to fly me out to the MWC 2018! It was an interesting trip. I learnt a lot about Qualcomm and what happens behind the scenes in smartphones. Check out this booth tour hosted by me @WhatGearReview If you enjoyed this video we a have many more just like this SUBSCRIBE now and you will be one of the FINEST subscribers known to Mankind!The future is coming to portable computers! Always Connected Pc Qualcomm - The Snapdragon 835 Windows 10 Performance is amazing - I've been testing out the HP Envy X2. Check out this video to see what I think about Qualcomms always on technology.

source https://www.whatgear.net/technology/qualcomm-true-wireless-headphones

Sony Xperia XA2 Plus Review of What's New!

So Sony only gone and done it. It's another Xperia XA2 variant. 1st things 1st, what's new with this version if the Sony Xperia XA2 Plus. Well it's got different screen from the other two. The Xperia XA+ brings a new 18:9 aspect ratio, and what's more is it is full HD + which is also good. That question is...is what is full HD+ ? It's quite simple really it's 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio & 402 pixels per inch density.

This Sony mid-ranger should have more screen on time thanks to a larger 3,580mAh battery.... I don't know about you but I'm waiting for Sony to roll out a 4000mah battery.

Now call me crazy but I kinda get the feeling Sony want to try and dominate the middle tier smartphone market with this one. With a focus on the entertainment side of things.

Consider this if you're thinking about buying the Xperia XA2 plus 64GB version has 6gb of ram, and that's the same as my Samsung Galaxy Note 8. However Sony have not gone for the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 silicon. Instead they've gone with the Snapdragon 630. Which is a popular choice for phones in the mid-range category. For example the Nokia 6, the Asus Zenfone 4 and the LG G6 all use this same Qualcomm silicon.

Don't get me wrong here, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 just might be one of the most impressive chips in the mid range smartphone category.

So let's talk about the shooters. On the back the Xperia XA2 plus has a classic single lens 23mp f2.0 shooter which supports 4K video at 30fps. That's good. The selfie shooter is also different from the XA and XA2 ultra. The Sony Xperia XA2+ has a

8 MP (f/2.4, 1/4") camera. With a wide angled 120 degree lens. So that means even more embarrassing selfies. So good cameras on the XA2 Plus.

Now let's talk about something else. LDAC...not a Klingon swear word. It's actually Hi Res audio streaming over Bluetooth. This is especially useful if you have other Sony products that also support LDAC. The Sony MDR1000X headphones for example. Another feature on the audio side of things is Sony's DSEE-HX upscaling audio tech. It will basically try to upscale your regular MP3's closer to Hi-Res audio. I also hear the speakers on this thing should be good. We'll have to keep our ears to the street for the launch to really find out how good.

Then last but not least let's talk about the design. The Sony XA2 Plus has these nice diamond cut edges, Similar to that seen on the old Xperia XZ1 Premium. The XA2 Plus also had fingerprint reader on the back nicely placed below the camera. Sony have made a smart move here by lowering the sensor so you won't accidentally put your finger on the lens.

On the front of the device is Corning Gorilla glass 5, and it looks like the XA2+ will thinner bezels. It's not uncommon to see plastic mid-rangers. However this one is not. The XA2 plus has a full aluminium metal body, which hopefully means it can take a few knocks.

So my first impressions. If the Sony Xperia XA2 Plus comes in at under £400 with all things considered...you know what... It's a bargain! It will definitely a contender in the smartphone mid-range weight class.

So let me know what you guys think about this new phone. Is it sound investment?

 

source https://www.whatgear.net/technology/xperia-xa2-plus-review

Are Always On PC's the Future for Laptops?

There's a revolution coming & It's the always on PC. This new generation of laptops bring a whole new class of user experience to people like you and me.

Qualcomm the company behind many of the flagship smartphones processing power are now providing the Snapdragon 835 chipsets for portable computers. In fact Qualcomm were the 1st company to launch 10nm System on Chip, as well as the announced gigabit LTE modem. Today this type of technology is NOW available in full Windows 10 PCs.

PC's like this one the HP Envy X2. Qualcomm also provide this new tech for other companies like Asus, Lenovo & Samsung in the future.

What advantages does a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Always on PC have? 

There are many so many of them. These pointers might help you for when your are looking on getting yourself a new laptop.

Lets start with the always on feature. Right now if you take your phone out of your pocket & login in face ID or pin and it's already connected right? Well thats because even when the phones screen is off... it's still communicating.

Well these Snapdragon powered computers are exactly the same. Instant on loading times and instant data connectivity thanks to the Qualcomms X16 LTE modem. If someone emails you or Skype calls you while your PC is on standby, it wakes up just like phone does & it does this without compromising the battery life.

The Qualcomm X16 Modem's Blistering Speeds

The X16 LTE modem can deliver up 1Gbps (Giga bits per second). Just to put that into perspective. The nearest competitor to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 can right now can only deliver up to 450Mbps...that's less than half the speed. 1 Gbit per second is around 3 to 7 faster than a regular public WiFi hotspot. So it means NO MORE giving out you email address and being bombarded with spam, just because you used a public hotspot. 

So before you buy an LTE Laptop, it would be a good idea to find out what processor is inside.

The Qualcomms Snapdragon 835 architecture is interesting. It actually incorporates the CPU, GPU for graphics, DSP for audio, ISP, and modem and many processors in a single chip. This means (OEM's) manufacturers can make portable computers much more compact at around 30% smaller. This means manufactures can utilise larger batteries and with the Snapdragon 835 there is no need for noisy fans.

HP Envy X2 Battery Life

Let's talk about battery power. The HP Envy X2 which I have had the pleasure to test, can play streaming video continuously for up 20hrs & 21hrs if the videos are locally stored. 20hrs continuous video playback, that's almost the flight time from London to Sydney Australia on a single charge. That is really impressive. 

This kind of battery life makes Always on PC's like the HP Envy X2 a great tool for work, for school, and even for content creators like me. Being constantly connected allows you to be productive on the go wherever you are & whenever you want throughout an entire day.

Snapdragon 835 Laptop Gaming Performance

The Qualcomm Adreno 540 DX12 enable visual processor is present in the HP Envy X2. This GPU supports concurrent 4K internal & 4K external panels. So don't be surprised to see manufactures utilising 4K displays in the future with these devices. The future 5G launch will definitely help when it comes to streaming 4K on the go.

The Snapdragon 835's heat management has a massive advantage when it comes to gaming. You'll be happy to know your prolonged gaming sessions won't be throttled due to over heating. It is a fact that this is something that other processors will definitely do. So it's good point to bare in mind if your thinking about using your laptop mainly for multimedia. If you are shopping around for a Laptop for this type of use. Ask the question 'will the performance be throttled under a heavy workload?'

If you are a real power user or hardcore PC gamer, then the HP envy X2 probably isn't the right fit for you. This device is tailored for people who need a full windows pc for work, school or to use social media, check emails & watch films.

The Snapdragon 850 for PC is coming soon

So the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is already available for pc's, but whats next? Well the new Snapdragon 850 will have some considerable improvements. We should see an AI improvement of around 3X. Which means better face recognition as well as improvements to all the other AI aspects across the board.

The Snapdragon X50 will also house Qualcomms all new X20 modem, which can deliver up to 1.2Gbps. Just case you feel the need for more internet speed. 

Who are Always On PC's made for?

When you look at the market for 2 in 1 compact computers, there are 2 features that the majority of people really want. Longer battery life and 4G LTE connectivity & the HP Envy x2 has both. We're talking about around 2 times battery performance than some well known competitors, and around 2 times faster 4G LTE speeds than it's nearest competitor.

If you want a thin, light & powerful 2 in 1 pc, with a stylus for productivity, with full windows 10, with amazing battery life, with a full backlit keyboard & Bang & Olufson sound, With the power of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835...then the HP Envy X2 is perfect PC. If you have a look at the image above & you find your requirements are in the to section then look no further.

My Thoughts on the Always On PC with Qualcomms Snapdragon

With the specs being so good on the HP Envy X2, I personally feel it's just perfect for being able to edit and upload video content, and manage my social media accounts on go. This is largely thanks it having full Windows 10. Yes you can do basic editing on your phone or tablet but it's just not the same, Honestly this has proven to be a powerful tool for me, and it's definitely something I could used to using everyday. I now actually try and opt to use overground trains so that I can stay connected & be productive even when I'm travelling.

I wonder could this be the beginning of shift in how we use ultra portable pc's... I think so. I heard that 5G is just around the corner. I get the feeling more and more people are going to start opting for devices like this, with super fast always on portable connectivity. As apposed to being tethered to home broadband subscriptions and wifi hotspots.

There will always be people who require wired internet & physical phone lines. However I believe the will be a large amount of people who will no longer need them... Especially once 5G becomes available.

I don't know about you but I'm super excited for 5G and I heard will should see 5G devices at the end of 2018, and we should see 5G flagship smartphones in 2019. I wonder who will be the 1st phone company to test the waters.

HP ENVY X2 2 in 1 - OFFICIAL SITE

So the future is around the corner! The Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, followed by the Qualcomm X50 5G modem with 1Gbps download speeds.

Qualcomm were kind enough to fly me out to the MWC 2018! It was an interesting trip. I learnt a lot about Qualcomm and what happens behind the scenes in smartphones. Check out this booth tour hosted by me @WhatGearReview

source https://www.whatgear.net/technology/hp-envy-xz-snapdragon