12 May
Blog

TCL 85R745 4K HDR TV Review: A Huge Value

TCL 85R745 85-inch 4K HDR TV

"The R745 from TCL beats it."

  • Very high brightness

  • Great black levels

  • Impressive HDR performance

  • Good movement handling

  • Solid gaming performance

  • Wash out of the corner

  • Very broad stance

  • Doesn't clean up noisy videos

TCL has decided to make it big and has now launched its XL collection. You may have heard the news because they did a pretty big deal with it. Let me tell you, however, that "big deal" feels a bit of an understatement.

Welcome to my review of the Roku TCL 85R745 85 inch 4K HDR TV. TCL's XL collection includes three models, so I'll explain where this TV fits in the range. Then we'll go through everything from user experience to performance metrics to see if it's worth spending a few extra bucks to create a seriously big screen in your home.

Video review

Jump to: TCL XL list | Out of the box | Setup | First impression | Image quality | Sound quality | Play | Our opinion

TCL XL list explained

First, let's talk about the new TCL XL collection in general as I think the different models available can be a bit confusing for anyone familiar with TCL's model naming convention.

You may know that TCL has an entry-level 4-series, a slightly improved 5-series, and I think a lot of people are familiar with the 6-series as it has been very popular for a number of years. The XL collection moves a little away from that 4-5-6 range, but it's easy enough to understand the differences between the three models.

The base model of the XL collection has neither local dimming backlighting with full array nor Dolby Vision. The R745 tested here has local dimming with full array and supports Dolby Vision HDR. It also has THX Certified Game Mode. The step-up model of this TV will feature OD Zero technology with mini LED backlighting and will be an 8K model that rounds off the line with something very premium. As the name XL suggests, they are all 85-inch TVs.

Out of the box

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

As big as the 85R745 TV is, the TV box is even bigger. If the retailer you are buying this TV from offers a white glove delivery service with setup, consider adding this option. Not only is it difficult to navigate through the box, but some rooms are not large enough to allow the unboxing process.

This process starts by opening the main box like a giant book, revealing a box in a box surrounded by a large amount of padding – at least the TV is very well protected. Inside the inner box is the TV and its accessories, including two legs, screws, batteries, a Roku TV voice remote, and some product literature.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The inner box is designed so that it can be disassembled into parts with the TV standing upright on a cardboard floor. The legs provided can be installed while the TV is in this position. Then the television can be placed in a very wide media cabinet or sideboard.

The 85R745 also weighs a little over 100 pounds, so wall mounting needs to be handled with care. Again, this is likely a job best left for a professional. I encourage those who choose to do a DIY wall installation to anchor a wall mount that is rated for 100 pounds or more in studs. This is no time to trust drywall anchors.

Set up

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

As a Roku TV, the 85R745 goes through a typical Roku setup process that can take up to 10 minutes. Those who don't already have a Roku account will want to create one and have a mobile device or laptop handy to navigate to multiple questions along the way. When all questions are answered, the TV will download any necessary updates and install any requested apps as well as a number of unsolicited apps. From there, I suggest users move their favorite streaming apps to the top of the home screen for easy access. For example, YouTube installed seven lines down after my setup completed

After unpacking, you have a wide range of image settings options. Make sure to turn off power saving mode as it will reduce the brightness of the TV. For the most accurate picture in SDR, you should then select the "Movie" mode. For HDR, I chose "dark HDR". I choose these presets because they offer the most accurate color temperature. However, don't let the "dark" nomenclature fool you. The HDR image is not dark, as I'll explain in a moment. There are actually five settings for the backlight: Darker, Darker, Normal, Lighter, and Lighter – you can adjust the brightness level according to your preference or needs.

First impressions

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Let's go straight to the brutally obvious: this television is huge. And yes, I know it's an 85-inch TV. So it stands to reason that he would be big. For reasons I can't be precise, the TCL 85R745 seems to be kind of bigger than other 85-inch TVs we tested. For example, we just had the Vizio P-Series Quantum X for review – an 85-inch TV too – and somehow the R745 seems bigger. Maybe it's the stand, which is slightly wider than the television and takes up more space in our media cabinet. It's also quite tall due to the height that the legs give. I think that's why it just seems so big in my test room.

But the point is big, right? The idea is to occupy more of your field of view so that you feel like you're in a small theater while watching TV. And this television definitely delivers that thought. Since it's 4K resolution, you can sit pretty close without seeing individual pixels, and when you look at it from the right distance the picture definitely feels cinematic. Now that debut films hit streaming services the same day as theaters, I think the really big screen argument makes more sense than ever.

Image quality and metrics

When it comes to brightness, the 85R745 is extremely powerful. Using the Calman software and a SpectraCal C6 colorimeter On a profile for an X-Rite i1 Pro, I measured 514 nits at the darkest settings in film mode, and that went over 800 when I went to the brightest setting for the backlight. In Dark HDR, the darkest setting for the backlight resulted in almost 900 nits and ran at the highest setting for the backlight up to 2,100 nits. This corresponds to the Hisense U8G and the Samsung QN90A, which I find very impressive.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

Fortunately, this brightness doesn't come at the expense of the black levels, which are very good on this TV. You see a bit of halo and bloom around bright objects on a black background, but the backlight system manages to minimize that – that is, when you are sitting in the middle of the TV and looking directly at it. Stand up, move around, or turn the TV down when it's against the wall and the backlight will be much more noticeable. This is a given for most LCD-based televisions. Save the most advanced devices like the Samsung QN90A, which uses a slew of panel tricks to get better out-of-angle viewing.

One problem I noticed with the backlight, however, is that if you have a large, bright picture like this one with a moving object, there may be just a little flicker in the areas immediately next to the moving object. An example that I noted was a windmill centered on a bright blue sky. As the windmill turned, I noticed a small flicker in the sky to the left. The effect isn't particularly obvious – in fact, I think most people would miss it – but something I wanted to mention in order to be as comprehensive as possible.

If this TV has a weakness, it's in the processing department.

The color is immediately pretty accurate in Movie and Dark HDR modes as well as Dolby Vision. You'll need to use one of the higher backlight settings to get the highest color volume in HDR, but the TV is perfectly capable of delivering stunning HDR colors. This is what I expected from TCL: quality color performance instantly.

The movement is also very good even with the movement smoothing measures turned off. I've seen less stuttering with this TV than some of the OLED and other QLED TVs I've tested so far this year, although it has decent response time and high brightness (a recipe for picture stuttering). Jerking is not a problem here at all – film cadences with 24 frames per second look, as I had hoped, very similar to a cinema. All around the movement of the 85R745 is very good. However, I wouldn't use the black frame insert feature – it's called LED Motion Clarity – to try to reduce motion blur as it creates significant flicker.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

If this TV has a weakness, it's in the processing department. I have a feeling the 85R745 is having trouble cleaning up images with shallow bit depth. And that's more important with a large TV like this because when you get a noisy picture it becomes more obvious due to the size of the screen. A fairly loud, compressed video that I use on YouTube to measure how well a TV is at removing noise and preventing color streaks turned out to be a little too much for this TV's processor. As the beach scene darkened from day to night in time-lapse, the night sky turned cobalt blue and I saw a few jumbled black and blue boxes as the TV tried to head or tail what the picture should look like.

Even so, most of the premium streaming apps like Netflix, Disney +, HBO Max, etc. look very clean. It's the more compressed content on YouTube and content in free streaming apps like Pluto that sometimes look a bit noisy. The other thing I noticed was the occasional moiré, but only in tight symmetrical patterns like the grilles in the buildings of a New York flyover shot, which I often use to rate how well televisions handle such patterns. Other areas rich in detail, such as the fine details in bird feathers, remained super clean.

Dan Baker / Digital Trends

The uniformity of the panel on the 85R745 TCL that was sent to me was… OK. Due to the large screen size of the TV, you are more likely to see a dirty screen effect (spots on the screen) if it is there and I observed some on the sample that I received. However, I haven't seen major vertical bands like the ones I've seen on many televisions over the years. So that's encouraging.

I think it's important to point out that screen uniformity will be a matter of what is known as the "panel lottery". So, there is not much you can do to predict what the TV you have bought will look like. All you have to do is take the TV home and out of the box to see with your own eyes. Hopefully TCL keeps quality control strict and the XL collection looks clean overall.

Sound quality

The sound quality on this TV is good – actually better than expected. I'm not particularly keen on the fidelity, but I'll say that the subwoofer on the back of the TV case delivers an excellent amount of bass so the sound is as big as the screen itself. However, if you have such a large screen, I recommend that you go for a soundbar. Even an inexpensive soundbar offers better clarity. And it just happens that way, and TCL does it too.

Play

The TCL 85R745 doesn't support HDMI 2.1, but it's still a great gaming TV. The input delay is low in the device's THX game mode and supports a variable refresh rate (VRR) and 4K resolution at 60 Hertz. However, to get 120Hz, the TV needs to drop down to a resolution of 1440p or 1080p. In addition, the solid movement handling and the powerful brightness of the television set deliver very satisfactory HDR images.

Our opinion

Overall, I think the TCL 85R745 offers excellent value for those looking for a big screen TV. Due to its impressive brightness and solid black levels, this model is, in my opinion, an increase in performance over the 6-series TVs that TCL praises. In this case, it is already impossible for me not to recommend this TV. I think the real bonus will be price as TCL offers pretty significant value given the performance of its televisions. To take the bow, this is the same high quality, high quality experience TCL is known for, only … bigger.

Is there a better alternative?

It will be hard to beat the TCL 85R745's image performance without spending much more. For example, the 85-inch Samsung QN90A is priced at $ 5,000 – that's a $ 2,000 premium over the 85R745's starting price of $ 3,000. The rundown Samsung Q80A is getting closer at $ 3,700 and is likely to offer similar performance, but that's still $ 700 more. Note that the 85R745's price is likely to drop over time as well.

How long it will take?

Given TCL's previous track record of the build quality and feature set of the 85R745, I think this TV should hold up well into the future.

warranty

TCL offers a one-year parts and labor warranty for non-commercial users from the date of purchase.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The TCL 85R745 offers tremendous value in a large screen television with impressive picture quality and a satisfying user experience.

Editor's recommendations




06 Apr
Blog

Sonos Roam Review: Tiny Speaker, Huge Value

Sonos Roam

"This magical little speaker could do for Sonos what the iPod did for Apple."

  • Excellent design

  • Lightweight and portable

  • Completely waterproof and dustproof

  • Very good sound for its size

  • Selection of intelligent speaker assistants

  • Wireless charging

  • No Bluetooth stereo pairing

  • Does not work as a speakerphone

  • Less battery life than some other speakers

The $ 399 Sonos Move is a very powerful wireless speaker. When you're at home, it can be connected to the rest of your Sonos gear. Thanks to the built-in microphone, it can act as a smart speaker powered by Google or Alexa. On the go, the Bluetooth radio and 10-hour battery ensure a powerful, portable sound system. Well, maybe not that portable.

As good as the Move is, it will never be a grab-and-go speaker because it's just too big and too heavy. Go out onto the terrace from the living room? Grab the train. Going to the park from the terrace? That’s a different story.

But now we have the Sonos Roam for $ 169. It has all of the features of the Move (and a few more) but is only a fraction of the size, weight, and price of the Move. Is roam a breeze for Sonos fans? Let's try it out.

What's in the box?

Sonos RoamSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sonos has long been a leader in sustainably packaged products, but the Roam is its best performance yet. It even includes a handy label to help you determine which parts can be recycled.

In the small, simply printed cardboard box you will find the Roam, a USB-C charging cable, a printed quick start guide and no reference to plastic or foam.

design

Sonos RoamSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The first thing you notice when you unpack the Sonos Roam is how small it is. Not only is it the smallest Sonos speaker by far, with a hair over 6.5 inches tall, it's also slightly smaller and lighter than many of the Bluetooth speakers it'll compete with, like the $ 120 JBL Flip 5 and the $ 150 Marshall Emberton.

The shape of the roam practically begs you to pick it up and take it with you.

Despite its small size, the Roam's minimalist design is a pure Sonos, regardless of how our test device comes in matte black or matte white.

The Toblerone style triangular shape isn't just for looks. it makes the roam extremely tangible. Point one of the three sides towards the palm of your hand, and your fingers will naturally curl around the curved edges along the other two sides. While the Move's integrated handle always feels a bit risky to grasp, the shape of the Roam practically prompts you to pick it up and take it with you.

The only thing missing is a built-in lanyard option for those times when you need your hands free.

You can stand the Roam vertically or lay it horizontally with the four built-in rubber feet to anchor it securely to your chosen surface.

In any case, the simple elegance of the Roam can be invisibly combined with almost any decor.

Sonos Roam with Sonos MoveSonos Roam (front) and Sonos Move Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The physical controls are also very stealthy – a set of four buttons hidden behind a layer of rubber on the top, barely hinted at by their slightly raised icons. From a distance they disappear completely.

The loudspeaker grille with its thousands of tiny perforations fits seamlessly into the body of the Roam. It looks like it could be badly dented, but behind that thin layer is a much tougher hexagonal grille that gives the grille an impressive level of rigidity.

Two tiny LED lights hidden behind the grille indicate the status of the speaker: one light shows whether you are in WiFi or Bluetooth mode, and one that shows the charge level of the battery. A third light next to the microphone button indicates when the microphone is active. According to Sonos, this cable is permanently connected to the microphone circuit. When the lights are off, you can be sure that no one is listening.

Sonos RoamSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

On the back is the USB-C charging port and a small power switch that is also used for Bluetooth pairing. When you're at home, it's a good idea to keep the Roam plugged in so it's always ready to play your music. However, if you're likely to move it around a lot, you should take advantage of wireless charging.

Sonos sells a custom Qi charger for $ 50 that is shaped to fit the bottom of the Roam and stays magnetically locked until you need it. However, I did not receive a charger to test. Not that it matters – any Qi charging mat does the job, and I found it very easy to just let the Roam sit on one when I wasn't carting it around.

Setup and configuration

If you're a Sonos owner, I don't have to tell you how easy it is to set up the company's wireless speakers. A few taps of your finger on the Sonos app, a few keystrokes on the speaker and less than two minutes later you are done. With the Roam, Sonos has made this process even easier.

Every technical product should be this easy to configure.

After you've connected the Roam to a power source using the supplied USB-C cable (or wireless charger) and opened the Sonos S2 app, the app will automatically prompt you to set up the speaker. It's very similar to how Apple's AirPods prompt you when you first open the charging case.

The next step is to tap the back of your phone against the back of the Roam. This should allow the speaker's NFC sensor to detect your phone for the process to complete.

Unfortunately, this didn't work with my iPhone 11, but after two failed attempts, the Sonos app offered another solution: the Roam gave a beep that was picked up by the iPhone microphone and the setup completed automatically, including adding the Roam to my Wi-Fi network. No buttons to press and no passwords to enter. Every technical product should be this easy to configure.

At this point, you can play music through the Sonos app, manage the roam as a single speaker or as part of a group of Sonos products, or stream audio directly to the roam using Apple AirPlay.

However, since the Roam can also act as a smart speaker, you may want to take the extra step of adding it to the Google Home app or the Amazon Alexa app – it only takes a few extra minutes.

Sound quality

Sonos Roam with JBL Flip 5 and Marshall EmbertonJBL Flip 5 (left), Sonos Roam (center) and Marshall Emberton Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

In line with Sonos' reputation for products well above their weight class, the Roam sounds fantastic for such a small speaker.

It delivers a warm yet clear signature with a decent response considering how compact it is.

Indoors, the Roam is an ideal loudspeaker for smaller rooms.

If you have WiFi, you can use the Sonos app to adjust the bass and treble if you want to override the factory EQ – an optimization that's retained even if you switch to Bluetooth.

Indoors, the Roam is an ideal speaker for smaller spaces – such as a bedroom, bathroom or even a kitchen. Outside, it gets loud enough to host a pool party or a backyard gathering. Speaking of volume, the Roam is virtually distortion-free up to its loudest setting, and the speaker housing doesn't hum in an uncomfortable way, which can be the case with lower-quality Bluetooth speakers.

As you turn up the volume settings, the roam keeps the frequencies in balance – until you hit around 75%. Once you exceed this limit, the speaker simply no longer has a low or mid range and uses the high frequencies to reach maximum volume.

There is simply no way a speaker this size can deliver the deep bass or powerful sound of larger devices. However, when you place the roam in a corner – a tried and true way to improve bass response – it's surprising how deep the sound can get.

The roam outshines that JBL Flip 5 However, for clarity and sound quality, it delivers an almost identical signature to the Marshall Emberton.

The Emberton proved to be a little more flexible for outdoor gatherings thanks to its 360-degree speaker pattern, while the Roam is more directional.

In theory, the roam's automatic Trueplay feature will continually adjust the roam's sound depending on where you place it. It works whether you're using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and you won't find it on any other non-Sonos-branded wireless speaker.

In practice, I found it difficult to determine if Auto Trueplay actually made a significant difference. I moved the roam to different indoor and outdoor locations and turned Auto Trueplay on and off to see if I could see it. For the most part, the changes were barely noticeable even when I placed the speaker in places that should have caused a lot of adjustment (like the corner placement mentioned above).

user friendliness

Sonos Roam Top controls

If you've never used the Sonos app and Roam is your first Sonos product, it's time to pamper yourself. It's the best audio streaming software in the world other than none. Not only is it compatible with almost every streaming music source imaginable – over 100 so far – but all of this music is incredibly easy to navigate and find thanks to the universal search function.

The Sonos software is so good that it's reason enough to buy the Roam over any other portable speaker in its price range.

You can create your playlists and favorites that will work independently from the ones you may have already created in your music apps. If you have more than one Sonos speaker, you can control each speaker independently or as a group.

Most other Wi-Fi speakers rely on Apple HomeKit, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa for their multi-room capabilities. However, these cannot affect the extensive range of functions of the Sonos app.

The Sonos software is so good that it's reason enough to buy the Roam over any other portable speaker in its price range.

As with any other Sonos speaker, the controls are as intuitive as possible. The two volume buttons work exactly as expected, while the play / pause button can skip a track forward with a double press or backward with a triple press.

Switching from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth is also very easy. A long press on the small button on the back will put the speaker in bluetooth mode and the Roam will automatically re-pair with the last paired device.

Pairing a second or third device is a little more complicated. You must turn off the bluetooth radio on the currently paired device so that the roam can re-initiate bluetooth pairing. Once the second (or third, etc.) device is paired, you can control which device the Roam is talking to without repeating the pairing process.

Unfortunately, Sonos does not support stereo pairing of its speakers via Bluetooth. To do this, you need to be on your home Wi-Fi network and have a matching set of Sonos speakers. The roam can only be paired with a second roam in stereo, and even a paired set of roams cannot be used as surround speakers for Sonos Arc, Beam, Playbase or Playbar.

And despite the presence of a microphone, you can't use the Roam as a speakerphone – which is a bit confusing given the number of business people likely to pack the Roam in their pockets when traveling.

Smart speaker skills

Sonos RoamSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Sonos Roam is by far the cheapest portable speaker that can also act as a smart speaker – and one of the few where you can choose between Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

It's amazing how easily the roam can hear and respond to your commands

I set it up with the Google Assistant. This process takes about two minutes and requires that you have the Google Assistant app installed on your phone.

Once you're ready, it's amazing how easily the roam can hear and respond to your commands. For fun, I placed the roam at one end of our yard and called "Hey Google" at the other end – about 40 feet away. The Roam heard and answered immediately.

Smart speakers are pretty darn handy and allow you to do everything from managing music playback to organizing your shopping lists to controlling smart home devices like lights and cameras. But smart speakers usually need to stay plugged in, which is why people often buy a Nest Mini or Echo Dot for every room in their home. Since the Roam is completely wireless, it can be used anywhere and will continue to function as a smart speaker as long as it has WiFi.

The Ultimate ears blast and JBL Link Portable can do this too, but they cost $ 10 more than the Roam and they only work with one assistant (Amazon Alexa for the Blast, Google Assistant for the Link Portable).

If freedom of choice is important to you, the Sonos Roam is clearly the best option.

Extras

Sonos RoamSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

What makes the Sonos Roam such a remarkable speaker is its additional features. Some, like wireless charging, Auto Trueplay, AirPlay, and its ability to act as an assistant-free smart speaker are tangible benefits for anyone who buys it.

However, if you have or want to buy other Sonos products, there are other cool features available, such as: B. Sound Swap, which allows you to transfer a Wi-Fi streaming session to and from the Roam by pressing and holding the Play / Pause button. It only works with newer Sonos products like Sonos One, One SL, Beam, Move, and Arc, but it works just fine.

You can also use the Roam's Bluetooth connection as a source for your other Sonos speakers. For example, if you're away from home and using the roam as a bluetooth speaker, when you return home you can open the Sonos app and group your other speakers with the roam, which will then share the roam's BT session with the group.

It's also a great solution for giving guests access to your Sonos system without giving them your WiFi password or forcing them to download and install the Sonos app.

It's also a great solution for streaming songs stored locally on your phone – a feature Sonos offered in its app.

Battery life

With a claimed battery life of 10 hours, the Roam doesn't set any endurance records, especially when you consider that the JBL Flip 5 packs 12 hours and the Marshall Emberton packs 20 hours. On the other hand, the Emberton weighs 40% more than the Roam.

Still, 10 hours is probably more than enough for a day trip. If you need to add more playtime to the Roam, you can always bring a portable battery pack as the Roam (unlike the Move) can be charged from virtually any USB power source.

robustness

Sonos RoamSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

With an IP67 rating, the Roam can handle just about anything you throw at it, from full immersion in water to a sandy day at the beach. That makes it a great companion for pool parties, as long as you're ready to dive in afterwards when it gets kerplunk: The Roam doesn't swim.

However, I am not convinced that the Roam can withstand drops on hard surfaces such as the JBL Flip 5 or Marshall Emberton.

Despite its thin rubber end caps, the body of the Roam is made of unprotected hard plastic that may crack or flake upon direct impact. Care should be taken to prevent this from happening.

Our opinion

Sonos packed so many features into the roam that it is easily the best value for a portable speaker.

Is there a better alternative?

You can find portable speakers with better sound quality, longer battery life, or louder volume, but you won't find one that offers all of the features of the Sonos Roam at all costs – including its more expensive big brother, the Sonos Move.

But if you're willing to forego WiFi, Apple AirPlay, voice commands, and the Sonos ecosystem, you get $ 150 Marshall Emberton sounds just as good and has a 20 hour battery.

If you're willing to forego a selection of voice assistants, Apple AirPlay, and Sonos Ecosystem, get $ 180 UE explosion has longer battery life and 360-degree sound.

How long it will take?

Sonos products are very well built. If you consider protecting IP67 from dust and water, it should last for many years as long as you protect it from severe shock. All Sonos products come with a one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes, I can only recommend Sonos Roam if you intend to start a new Sonos system, add it to an existing system, or use it all on your own.

Editor's recommendations




27 Feb
Blog

Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell Review: Huge Decision

Arlo Essential Wireless doorbell mounted on brick

Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wireless

"A great software experience is compromised by cheap looking hardware that doesn't match the price."

  • Great software with lots of options

  • Good video quality, day and night

  • easy installation

  • Inexpensive looking hardware

  • Prominent fisheye effect

Package deliveries are becoming more and more common these days. I received two separate deliveries to my door on the day this was written. Arlo recognizes this and wants to help. The newest doorbell, the Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell, has a 180 degree field of view and packet detection, and doesn't need any cables at all if you don't want them or you already have them. Arlo's successes are deeply rooted in its line of surveillance cameras like the mighty Arlo Pro 4. Does the new video doorbell have a chance of staying a relevant gamer in space?

This doorbell is all about choice

You can install the Essential Wireless doorbell with or without a cable. If you have a wired doorbell, the Essential button in your interior will ring. Otherwise, you can wirelessly mount this battery operated doorbell anywhere. Arlo claims this doorbell will last for six months on a single charge. My tests show a little closer to two or three, but in fairness it was crazy cold outside so battery efficiency can be affected. That said, it's nice to have a doorbell that you can easily place anywhere you need it.

Arlo Essential Wireless doorbell mounted on brick

When you set up the app, the doorbell needs to scan a QR code to get the Wi-Fi credentials. I only mention this because the process worked very well which is unusual in my experience. Well played, Arlo. During the set up process, you will be asked what type of subscription you would like to sign up for, which was a bit off-putting.

There's no other way to put it: it's huge

The Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell is a large piece of a doorbell. It's the biggest doorbell I've tested so far. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but if your door invites you to a leaner offering, it's important to keep that in mind. The doorbell is 47mm x 143mm x 37mm which is pretty massive. For comparison: The Netatmo doorbell that I tested a few weeks ago is also huge, but smaller than this doorbell (45mm x 135mm x 29mm) in every dimension.

Size comparison between the Arlo Video doorbell and an iPhone 12 Pro

The doorbell hardware is a combination of matte and glossy polycarbonate that feels solid and sturdy, but exudes a cheap aesthetic. The camera protrudes a little from the top of the bell and gives it a diagonal field of view of 180 degrees. At the bottom is a round button with a ring of LEDs that light up when you approach. The LEDs are not bright enough to illuminate the area. They're only there to indicate where to push. The 6,500 mAh battery is located in the plastic housing. With the pen supplied, you can, similar to most telephones, detach the doorbell from the mounting plate, remove the battery and connect it to a micro-USB cable for charging.

The video feed (resolution 1536 x 1536) is pretty good during the day and night, although a very noticeable fisheye effect can be seen on the periphery of the feed. There is also a noticeable delay when the camera is transmitting audio and video, often up to three seconds. This can make conversations difficult, but not impossible.

The software lights up

On the software side, the app is very comprehensive. You get the usual options like activity zones, notification configurations and the like. What impresses me about Arlo software is the wealth of options it gives you. The doorbell can recognize people, animals, vehicles, movements and even the parcel delivery. This last option is limited to only one Arlo camera at a time for some reason. You can't let your front door camera and doorbell detect a package, which is an odd limitation.

You can also set up an E911 notification and phone friend option. If an intruder appears at your door, the doorbell can contact emergency services. If a package is displayed while you are on vacation, the app can choose a designated contact for you. You can also activate a built-in siren. The siren isn't particularly loud, but it's deafening. Passers-by on the sidewalk in front of your house will hear it. Your neighbors may or may not.

The Arlo Essential video doorbell also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and even Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT. Silent mode bypasses app notifications and / or the physical chimes. This is valuable when young children are sleeping. There are call settings, video settings, motion detection sensitivity settings, and more. Overall, I am impressed with the software experience as it has a ton of features.

While the software is one of my favorite software to date, the hardware leaves a lot to be desired.

This can also be a weakness as the app contains two settings areas. There is one for device-specific settings and one for general settings for Arlo. It takes a while to wrap your head around everyone, but that also ensures that you can really make this doorbell your own.

Our opinion

Overall, this doorbell offers a great software experience with great video capabilities, but with less than impressive hardware. In the software, this doorbell really stands out. The audio and video lag, while not great, isn't terrible either. But the abundance of settings and functions that this bell has to offer makes it very convincing. It's also $ 200. The last two doorbells I checked were $ 30 and $ 60, respectively, and this doorbell seems to go against the grain in that regard.

Is there a better alternative?

The 180-degree diagonal field of view is great, but the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro has a 180-degree vertical and horizontal field of view, making it bigger and wider. Also, the Arlo Essential Wireless doorbell is just huge and difficult to place next to some doors. While the software is one of my favorite software to date, the hardware leaves a lot to be desired.

Will it take?

The Arlo Essential Video doorbell has a 30-day return policy and a one-year limited warranty. The construction is durable and solid. The operating temperature range is -4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, which is good. You can even swap out the battery (for an additional $ 50) if the original battery runs out over time.

Should I buy it?

No. Video doorbell prices are falling. Considering that this doorbell costs $ 199 and requires a subscription, that's too high. For this price, I want a premium look and feel and software experience. In this case, I only get one of those three. The upcoming Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 offers radar sensors and a bird's eye view for a little more. The more economical Ring video doorbell with cable also offers you a first-class software experience and costs less than half the price. The software experience here is great, but the hardware really pulls it down.

Editor's recommendations




03 Sep
Blog

Skullcandy Crusher Evo Review: Huge Bass And Custom EQ

Skullcandy Crusher Evo

Skullcandy Crusher Evo review: tooth rattling bass

"The bone-shaking bass makes the Crusher Evo a solid choice for bass heads."

  • Crazy powerful bass

  • Great battery life

  • Good sound quality

  • Effective sound personalization

  • Tile tracking

  • Mediocre call quality

  • A little hard

  • No bluetooth multipoint

Skullcandy's original $ 150 Crusher headphones introduced the company's Sensory Bass feature, which places a secondary, dedicated bass driver in each ear cup. With an adjustable slider that lets you adjust how much of that head-rattling bass you want, the feature came up next on the $ 300 Crusher 360 and the $ 320 Crusher ANC.

Hoping to prove that good things come to four, Skullcandy tweaks the Crusher formula again with the $ 200 Crusher Evo. By eliminating Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), improving how Sensory Bass works, and using the Crusher ANC's custom EQ feature, the Crusher Evo seeks to occupy the goldilocks zone in the Crusher range. Here's how they work.

What's in the box?

Skullcandy Crusher Evo "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/skullcandy-crusher-evo-00001-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Skullcandy Crusher Evo "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/skullcandy-crusher-evo-00006-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Skullcandy Crusher Evo "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/skullcandy-crusher-evo-00005-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

In the large product packaging you will find the Crusher Evo, a USB-C charging cable, an analog cable and a carrying case. The box itself is heavily coated with specially printed surfaces and has a front flap with a magnetic closure that makes recycling difficult, if not impossible. The internal black plastic shell is made of polystyrene which may also be difficult to recycle depending on the facilities you live in.

design

If you're a fan of Skullcandy's Crusher line, the Crusher Evo, available in matte black or matte gray, is instantly known. Visually, they look identical to the Crusher ANC, with the same deeply padded faux leather ear cups and the same folding design that allows you to store them flat or simply folded.

The Crusher Evo's bag is the best I've seen.

They also use the same physical controls: large, easily accessible play / call / volume buttons on the right ear cup with an on / off switch and the Sensory Bass slider on the left.

They have the fully integrated wiring of the Crusher ANC which keeps everything super clean, but they also fall back on the original Crusher to grab the model's fabric-covered headband.

I am particularly impressed with the tote bag. Usually these items (if they are included at all) are more of an afterthought – just a thin bag to protect your headphones from scratches.

The Crusher Evo's bag is the best I've seen. The outer shell is made of durable nylon fabric, while the inside has a deep plush lining that leads me to believe that it would not only protect the cans from scratches but probably also from bumps. Inside there are two mesh pockets for the included cables, which is a nice touch, but it's the closure design that deserves special praise. No drawstring here. Instead, you get a snap buckle that is combined with a double flip-over opening to keep these headphones really safe.

The bag specifically says it is not waterproof and that's true. The nylon is not coated with a waterproof layer, so it will absorb moisture when it gets wet. However, if you take it out of the bag as soon as possible, you should have no problem protecting the Crusher Evo from the occasional accidental splash.

Control, convenience and ease of use

Skullcandy Crusher EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Weighing in at 11 ounces, the Crusher Evo are a bit heavier in terms of wireless headphones – likely due to their amazing battery life (more on that in a moment) – but they remain reasonably comfortable. The headband offers a lot of clamping force and the ear pads find a nice balance between softness and support.

The only thing that keeps them from feeling comfortable for hours is their relatively shallow depth of the ear pad. My ears tend to protrude more than some people, so your mileage may vary, but I found that after about an hour and a half of use, the edges of my ears became tired of being pressed against the inner surface of the ear cups.

The controls are perfect for me.

On the plus side, the Crusher Evo offers a completely smaller minimum size when the headband sliders are fully retracted, so those with larger than average heads are likely to find these headphones fit them when other models don't.

The controls are perfect for me. They're well placed, well spaced, and large enough that you never have trouble finding the button you want quickly. You can access the volume up / down, watch the jump forward / backward, answer / quit, and voice assistant access (Siri or Google Assistant).

The operation is very intuitive, especially if you are working with the Sensory Bass slider on the left auricle. I love that there are endless customization options, from nothing to pounding your skull and everything in between.

One thing that would have been a great convenience – especially for those of us who jump back and forth between phones and computers – is Bluetooth Multipoint, which allows you to pair two devices at the same time. Unfortunately the Crusher Evo doesn't have it.

Battery and charging

Without an ANC function to discharge the battery, the Crusher Evo can last 40 hours on a single charge. It's very impressive. The RB-M700 from Panasonic, which has a similar bass module, only has an operating time of 20 hours – and then the bass reactor function is deactivated.

The quick charge function with a four-hour boost after just 10 minutes of charging is just as impressive.

We've seen on-ear headphones like the excellent Jabra Elite 45h that can last up to 50 hours, but when it comes to over-ear cans, the Crusher Evo are among the best.

Tile tracking

Skullcandy has started adding tile-based tracking to their headphone products, and it's a fun and practical feature. After pairing with the Tile app, you can use it to view the last known location. As long as the battery is not empty, you can trigger a high-pitched, birdsong-like melody played by the Crusher Evo and physically locate it.

Personally, I think this feature makes sense with a smaller product like the Skullcandy Vert that can easily get lost between a set of sofa cushions. I'm just not convinced it's as valuable to something as big and obvious as the Crusher Evo.

But it works and it's free. So if you're the kind of person who misplaces anything that isn't bolted down, it's a good thing.

Call quality

Skullcandy Crusher EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The calls to the Crusher Evo were very clear, but only when the voices didn't have to compete with background noise. Even light traffic or a brisk breeze presented a challenge with a lot of additional noise. There is no sub-tone feature when calling, so your own voice will sound muffled to you, which is sometimes off-putting.

They are good for occasional phone calls. However, you should find a quiet place if you want your callers to hear you clearly.

Sound quality

Skullcandy Crusher EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Crusher Evo's Sensory Bass System is the main reason to consider these headphones over other wireless models in the same price range. However, according to Skullcandy, the personal audio tuning feature is just as important to the headphones' performance. Personalization was developed with Audiodo, a Swedish company with deep roots in digital signal processing, and is done through the Skullcandy app. After a series of tests that register your ability to hear specific frequencies at different volumes, you will be given a custom EQ setting that you can toggle on or off.

According to the app, my hearing is pretty much “optimal”, but the graph that shows this doesn't explain the frequencies on which I need help.

The Crusher Evo sounds really good without interfering with the EQ settings.

Unlike almost every audio personalization feature I've ever tried, turning it on and off while listening to music has significantly improved the clarity of the Evo's base EQ.

To achieve this, the high frequencies were boosted significantly, and I suspect that if Skullcandy had offered a full set of EQ adjustments, I could probably have gotten results similar to this myself, but considering how easy it was to take the test, why bother?

But even if you don't want to use the personal audio setting (or happen to have optimal hearing), the good news is that the Crusher Evo sounds really good without messing around with the EQ settings.

While these headphones aren't as subtle or precise as expensive high-end models like the Sony WH-1000XM4, they offer a really appealing mix of low, mid, and high frequencies. Your sound stage falls into a middle ground that is just wide and deep enough to give you a good sense of space.

My favorite aspect, however, is the sensory bass slider. With judicious use of the controls, you can bring in just enough extra low end to feel the deep roar of a hand-plucked bass in a jazz quartet.

Slide it on and start your favorite action movie and get ready to let your teeth chatter.

On the high end, it's ridiculous to have the ear cups practically pushing away from your head as they try to absorb the extra air movement from the bass drivers – but why not? You can always dial down if your vision becomes blurry.

Our opinion

With exceptional battery life, a sound personalization feature that isn't just a gimmick, and unholy amounts of bass, the Crusher Evo are great wireless headphones for those who want the chance to loosen up their fills while jamming on their favorite songs .

Is there a better alternative?

For the same price, you get better comfort and sound quality, plus active noise cancellation, from the Sony WH-CH710N, but you certainly won't get the Crusher's crazy bass. Another option for similar boom quantities is the Panasonic RB-M700 for $ 150. However, it cannot keep up with the battery life of the Crusher, the practical folding design or the practical carrying case.

How long will they last?

The Crusher Evo comes with a two-year warranty from Skullcandy – twice as much as what is normally found in this category. They are solid and well built and made from decent materials. If you put them in the included bag when you are not using them, they should last for years.

Should you buy it?

If monstrous bass is your jam, then the Crusher Evo has to be in the running for your next set of headphones.

Editor's recommendations




07 May
Blog

Sony WF-SP800N Review: Huge Stamina, ANC, And Awesome Sound

Sony WF SP800N review presented

"Like a top athlete, Sony's WF-SP800N earphones stand out for everything they do."

  • good sound

  • Best in class battery life

  • Very good water and dust protection

  • Good active noise cancellation

  • Outstanding call quality

  • Bulky charging case

  • No wireless charging

If you've looked at the best wireless earbuds in the past year, you know we know the world of the Sony WF-1000XM3. They excel in so many areas like noise cancellation, sound quality, and call quality that you have to dig quite deep to find bugs.

However, we were much less impressed by Sony's last attempt to create a set of true wireless earphones for the sports audience, the WF-SP700N. The bad battery life was our main criticism and the active noise cancellation did not impress us.

Enter the WF-SP800N: the highly anticipated update from Sony for its sport-oriented real wireless earbuds. At $ 200, they're a little more expensive now, but Sony seems to have learned all the lessons from the WF-1000XM3 to bring the SP800Ns up to date. They are available for Pre-order now from Amazon and Best Buy, with deliveries from the end of May.

Was Sony successful? Let’s take a closer look.

Classic design with a twist

Sony WF-SP800NSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The WF-SP800N follows the same general design that Sony has used for all earphones – it has a slightly elongated body that protrudes from the ear. Gone is the weird lima bean shape of the WF-SP700N, but these are still bulky than most of today's much smaller earbuds. They are also surprisingly heavy. At 9.5 grams, they are 1 gram heavier than the XM3 and almost twice as heavy as the Jabra Elite 75t, which weighs 5.5 grams.

Not that they feel heavy – in fact, adding a silicone ear fin helps them stay comfortably anchored. However, if you knock on the sidewalk, you are definitely aware of it.

To put the ear fin in the correct position, you have to do a double twist when inserting it: a backward rotation to insert the ear fin into your ear and a forward rotation to lock it in place. This tilts the earphones down – a different angle than the XM3.

Sony WF-SP800NSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The combination of the large overall size of the SP800N and the integrated ear fins means that the charging case also plays a major role. It's smaller than the case of the Powerbeats Pro and WF-1000XM3 and much smaller than the chunky case of the SP700N, but compared to the Jabra Elite 75t – a model that I used during my test of the SP800N – it's much bigger and not what I would call pocket-friendly. In the picture above, the blue case is actually that of the Jabra Elite Active 75t, but it is identical to the case of the Elite 75t.

Unlike Apple's more expensive AirPods Pro, there is no wireless charging option, just USB-C.

See the best battery

Sony WF-SP800NSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

When the SP700N's battery life wasn't particularly long, the SP800N was clearly designed to be overwhelming: it offers an impressive battery life of nine hours with the ANC function on and an enormous 13 hours with the battery off. That's three more ANC hours and five more non-ANC hours than the WF-1000XM3. I haven't been able to confirm these statistics during my short time with the earbuds, but Sony's claims are usually consistent with the actual results.

The 13-hour performance without ANC smashes all other real wireless earbuds we've seen

After nine hours with ANC, they're only an hour behind the MW07 Plus from Master and Dynamic, but the 13-hour performance without ANC outperforms any other real wireless earbuds we've seen, including the Samsung Galaxy Buds + that followed 11 hours ahead.

The charging case contains only a single charge, which is a surprise given its physical size. However, you cannot argue with the total wireless time of 26 hours when you need it. According to Sony, the 10-minute quick charge offers up to 60 minutes of music playback for fast charging.

ANC added

Sony WF-SP800NSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sony can very much appreciate the popularity of active noise cancellation on real wireless earbuds – more has been done to promote this feature than any other company.

The SP800N doesn't have Sony's premier ANC technology, the proprietary QN1e ANC chip in the WF-1000XM3, and Sony can't say what ANC technology the SP800N uses. But we know that: it works very well.

When I check a function like ANC during a pandemic, I can't say much about performance on a flight, but when I use a combination of bathroom fans and vacuum cleaners as a replacement, I can safely say that the SP800N shouldn't have a problem with the white noise of an airplane cabin.

Sony won't say what technology the SP800N's noise cancellation is based on, but we do know this: it works very well.

Outside is a different story. When using ANC while walking and jogging, I found that even the slightest breeze made unwanted noise because the external microphones incorrectly tried to compensate for a noise that wasn't really there.

However, it's not a big deal. Thanks to the tight sealing of the earplugs, the earphones offer excellent passive sound isolation, so you probably don't have the need to activate ANC outdoors.

Call to all athletes

Sony WF-SP800NSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Despite the wind-related problems of your ANC, the SP800N offers impressive call quality. I've put many real wireless earbuds through the phone call test, and they're the first ones my callers have described as ringing on my phone – kudos, as most earbuds force you to compromise on the clarity you get Your phone to your ear.

The wind was occasionally felt, as were passing cars, but the overall experience was excellent.

I've had a case where the earphones lost connection to my phone while on a call, but that seems to be an isolated case. Wireless connectivity is generally excellent with the SP800N.

Excellent sound

Sony WF-SP800NSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

One of the advantages of using Sony wireless headphones and real wireless earphones is the company's Headphones Connect app, which allows you to customize a variety of settings, including the EQ. Unfortunately, the app wasn't ready to work with the SP800N during my trial period, so I had to make do with Sony's factory sound settings. And I couldn't have been happier.

If you want your training to be accompanied by a driving bass forward beat, you will love the SP800N.

The SP800N sounds ready to use. The tones are warm and rich, and the lows, mids and highs are well defined so that the vocals stay clear and crisp. The sound stage is both wide and deep, which smaller earphones simply cannot reproduce. And then there's the bass. It's deeply resonant and offers an impressive level of immersion in bass-heavy tracks, but it just stops being shy to be overwhelming. If you want your training to be accompanied by a driving bass forward beat, you will love the SP800N.

If you don't like the big bass, you can adjust the EQ in the Headphones Connect app, but I couldn't test this.

The right touch

As with the XM3 from Sony, all controls are controlled via touch-sensitive areas on the earphones. They are very accurate, so accidental knocking is rare, but only the top half of the earphone can be used. This means that you have to get used to finding the specific areas with your finger instead of just tapping anywhere on the outside of the earphone. I personally prefer the physical buttons on the Jabra Elite 75t, but the controls on the SP800N work just fine. By default, you get play / pause, skip tracks, answer / end calls, access to voice assistants and ANC mode. However, these can be changed in the Headphones Connect app. If you want volume control, you can have it, but you need to decide which of the other features you want to swap for it.

Like many true premium wireless earphones, the SP800N has wear sensors that automatically pause your music when you remove an earphone.

Our opinion

For $ 30 less than Sony's superb WF-1000XM3, the $ 200 WF-SP800N offers everything you can expect from a set of real wireless earbuds, including excellent sound, decent ANC, great battery life, and full protection from an IP55 -Water resistance rating. A somewhat bulky charging case that doesn't allow wireless charging is one of the few downsides, but I suspect that for many, this won't be a deal breaker.

Is there a better alternative?

When you're ready to spend $ 30 more and do without the SP800N's gigantic battery and IP55 protection, Sony's WF-1000XM3 offers better ANC and sound quality. However, we are only talking about a small improvement for both.

For $ 20 less, Jabra's $ 180 Elite 75t may be a better competitor. It can't keep up with the SP800N's battery life and has no ANC, but I think they sound very similar, they're both IP55, and the Jabras are smaller and more comfortable.

How long it will take?

As with most Sony products, the WF-SP800N comes with a one-year warranty. However, this is probably not an indicator of the life of the earphones. They are very well built and with an IP55 degree of protection you can throw very little on them so that they do not survive. Treat them well and keep them in the charging case when not in use. They should be used regularly for many years.

Should you buy it

Absolutely. Currently, the WF-SP800N occupies a unique position in the real wireless world: it is cheaper than most premium earphones and offers fantastic performance in all areas that matter most.

Editor's recommendations