The AuCuTee White Noise Sleep Machine, otherwise known as the AuCuTee Sleep Therapy Sound Machine, is a device that can play white noise and a range of natural sounds. This is a multi-function device, however, and its other features are similarly noteworthy. But first, let’s focus on the built-in sounds.

The box.

The contents.

There are 10 different sound modes, all selectable via slider. The higher you raise the slider, the louder the sound relative to the master volume dial. Each of the 10 sounds, which include crickets, a brook, birds, a lullaby, frogs, white noise, ocean waves, a fireplace, a grandfather clock, and a thunderstorm, can also be mixed together. This powerful feature is definitely a stand-out, and the chosen sound or sound mix can be set to a 30, 60, or 90 minute duration, should you not want it to run all night.

The unit.

The next feature is the AuCuTee’s wireless charging surface. This Qi-compatible surface works with a range of devices, like the iPhone 8/X and later model Samsung Galaxy series phones.

The third and final major feature is its use as a Bluetooth speaker. With the press of the Mode button, you switch from sound effects mode to speaker mode. I tested this particular feature with an Amazon Echo Dot, and pairing was simple and painless. While the AuCuTee doesn’t get particularly loud and isn’t especially impressive sounding as a Bluetooth speaker, it’s still an improvement over what’s in the Echo Dot. On the plus side, there are also dedicated Pause/Play, Previous Song, and Next Song buttons on the AuCuTee.

A post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on May 14, 2018 at 3:03pm PDT

The AuCuTee is powered via a standard microUSB connection. You can use the included adapter with the included cable or simply plug the device into a suitable USB port. There’s even a pass-through USB port to charge most other USB devices.

There really is an impressive range of features packed into this one lightweight and relatively compact device. The fact that it’s powered over USB makes it easy to use in different places throughout your house. This way you can not only hack your sleep, but also hack your concentration, listen to any paired Bluetooth device’s audio, or charge your Qi-compatible phone. It’s hard not to like such a versatile device.

Thanks to BittBoy for the review unit.

Pluses:
– Good selection of natural sounds with easy volume control and mixing
– Qi-compatible wireless charging
– Works as a Bluetooth speaker

Minuses:
– Volume levels over Bluetooth are somewhat low
– Sound quality over Bluetooth is mediocre

Summary:
The AuCuTee White Noise Sleep Machine packs a lot of useful functionality into a relatively small package.

The post Review: AuCuTee White Noise Sleep Machine appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The front of the box for the 1byOne Magic Plasma Wireless Bluetooth Speaker.

Another angle on the box.

The 1byOne Magic Plasma Wireless Bluetooth Speaker outputs a modest three watts for decent, if mostly bass-free sound quality, and has a Bluetooth transmission distance of approximately eight to 10 meters (26 to 32 feet). The novelty part is the “magic electrostatic plasma lighting” globe on the top portion of the unit. It’s a well known and cool effect and something you can influence by touching the outside of the globe. Of course, since it’s integrated with the speaker, you can set the unit to automatically respond to the music input, which, beyond the standard Bluetooth connection that should work with most Bluetooth-capable mobile devices and computers, also has a Micro SD (TF) card slot for MP3s, as well as allows for line in via a standard 3.5mm stereo audio jack (AUX). A short 3.5mm male-to-male cable is included in the package if you need one.

The box contents.

There’s also a mini-USB port on the unit that provides the sole source of power from any standard DC 5V USB port or USB AC adapter (not included). A short, standard mini-USB cable is included for this purpose if you don’t already have one handy.

The 1byOne Magic Plasma Wireless Bluetooth Speaker is available in two styles, one with blue accents and one with red. My review unit has the red accents, which, I must say, looks great. Size-wise, it’s nice and compact at 4.2 x 4.2 x 8.4 in (106 x 106 x 213 mm).

The speaker.

Even if you don’t necessarily want to use the speaker portion much, the plasma effect, which doesn’t require audio input to work, is fun all on its own. While 1byOne recommends that you don’t keep the plasma effect running for more than five hours at a time due to possible overheating of the globe, I actually left mine on for more than 24 hours during this past Halloween to no ill effect.

The plasma effect in action.

At only $23.99 right now on Amazon, it’s definitely a fun, versatile novelty worth investigating.

Thanks to 1byOne for the review unit.

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The packaging for the 1byone Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Smart LED Night Light Bulb.

It’s an attractive bulb with a sleek, modern design measuring 3.15 inches (8 centimeters) by 5.51 inches (14 centimeters) that should fit in most standard light sockets. The top portion features an LED bulb that can convert its seven main colors into over 16 million, including warm and cool white. The middle portion is the speaker.

You can wirelessly connect most Bluetooth-enabled smartphones, tablets, and computers directly to route all audio to the bulb. Google Android 2.3.3 and later, and Apple iOS 7.0 and later devices can use a free app to control LED color functionality.

The contents of the package.

What’s funny is that 1byone doesn’t tell you the app’s name in the manual or on the box. Fortunately, there was a QR code on the box, so I scanned that. Once scanned, the mystery app’s name was revealed to be CHSmartBulb. It automatically added another Bluetooth entry in addition to the earlier one I made on my wife’s Apple iPhone 6 Plus to test the speaker functionality.

On iOS, the app provided direct access to our iTunes library. The advantage the app has over just playing music from any app (in our case, our preferred Spotify) is that the colors will change automatically. There’s also manual or auto color changing options, the ability to turn the bulb on or off, as well as various timing functions. The app is no frills, but gets the job done.

Here’s a sampling of the audio quality:

Light intensity is fair. I’d judge the brightness better than that of a 40 watt bulb, but probably not quite as good as a 60 watt bulb. Speaker quality is excellent. Making the sound loud and room filling is no problem. The only area where the sound quality disappoints is in the bass response, but considering it’s a light bulb with such a small footprint, that’s a minor complaint. Overall, it’s a very cool product.

Thanks to 1byone for the review unit.

The post Review: 1byone Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Smart LED Night Light Bulb appeared first on Armchair Arcade.



The front of the box for the speaker.

Measuring 8.5 inches (~21.6cm) long by 2 inches (~5.1cm) high, the WAVEsteam is about average for mid-sized units. Available colors are Midnight Black (reviewed here) and variations accented with Ocean Blue, Neon Red, or Hot Pink.

The back of the box for the speaker.

Naturally, the WAVEsteam uses the latest Bluetooth 3.0 technology, and should work with most Bluetooth-compatible devices. In my case it paired just fine with my Apple iPhone 6 Plus. It also has a Line In for those devices either without Bluetooth or where you don’t want to bother with a Bluetooth connection. In fact, at least for the time being, this is exactly how I’m using it with my computer.

Speaking of my computer, in my Sound Blaster Recon3D Control Panel tests, it passes the bass response feature trial without issue, which is not true of several other speakers I’ve tested. Thanks to its two 40MM drivers, overall sound gets quite loud while still remaining clear of noticeable distortion. However, if you want serious clarity when watching movies and TV shows, another thing we recommend is getting soundbars for clear dialogues. These gadgets really make voices pop so you never miss a line of conversation.

The contents of the box.

One thing I noticed when using the line out on my computer is that the speaker does not automatically power itself off, so that’s something you’ll have to keep an eye on (it does make a sound when the battery gets low to let you know, but by then it’s already too late). The tiny on/off switch in the back of unit is also harder to use than I’d like, although that’s probably not a deal breaker for most.

The speaker.

The package includes the unit itself, a standard Micro Mini USB charging cable, auxiliary cable cord (3.5mm audio cable), lithium ION rechargeable battery (easy to install and replace as needed and supporting up to 8 hours or so of playback), and a manual.

Here’s a quick look video at the speaker:

When using it over Bluetooth with your smartphone, it works like a speakerphone, accepting calls via the dedicated button on the top of the unit. Other buttons control volume levels and audio playback, the latter of which is also obviously only when connected via Bluetooth.

Although it won’t win any awards for it modest styling, the WAVEsteam sounds great for a great price. Backed by a full one year warranty, this is definitely something to consider when in the market for a good Bluetooth speaker.

Thanks to Bluebiz Web Solutions for the review unit.

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The B-Trek S2 fits in the palm of your hand, presently retails for only$10.99 on Amazon, comes in a choice of six different colors (I’m reviewing the black), and features:

• Rechargable and removable lithium ion battery
• Built-in microphone for handsfree functionality (speakerphone) with a mobile phone
• Audio line in with 3.5mm connector (cable included) for when Bluetooth connectivity is not possible
• FM radio functionality
• Four control buttons right on the unit, including for volume and next/previous audio track
• MicroSD card slot, which means it can also work as a stand-alone media player

The contents of the Sentey B-Trek S2 Bluetooth speaker package.

As is usual with Sentey products, the overall quality of the B-Trek S2, from its packaging to the unit itself, is top notch. When paired with that Amazon price of $10.99, it’s an unquestionable steal of a deal.

A view of the Sentey B-Trek S2 Bluetooth speaker’s control buttons.

A view of the Sentey B-Trek S2 Bluetooth speaker’s various ports.

The package contents include the Bluetooth speaker itself, a 3.5mm audio cable, a MicroUSB cable (both for charging and improving the internal antenna’s FM radio reception), a wrist strap, and a user manual. Despite fitting comfortably in the palm of your hand, the speaker’s removable, rechargeable battery lasts for up to six hours on a full charge.

The Sentey B-Trek S2 Bluetooth speaker’s removable battery.

The only area where the B-Trek S2 stumbles a bit is no surprise: it’s sound quality. There’s really no way for a palm-sized speaker to fill a room with bass shaking audio and this one is no exception. While music sounds a bit “hollow,” the audio quality, and in particular the “loudness,” still far exceed what you’d get out of most built-in phone speakers and the small size does make it easy to carry places where something larger simply wouldn’t be practical.

Special thanks to Sentey for the review unit.

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