The Kofoposo is suitcase-style, which makes it relatively easy to move about, although you still need to carry around the separate plug-in AC adapter. It can handle playback at 33 1/3, 45, and 78 RPM speeds. Naturally, it requires an adapter for 45s.

The unit itself is self-contained, with built-in stereo speakers, but it does have RCA outputs (cables included) if you want to output to your own amplified setup. There is also a handy 3.5mm headphone jack, as well as 3.5mm audio input. Besides 3.5 audio in, you can also play from any Bluetooth-capable source, and even a USB stick. While none of those are particularly compelling use cases for this type of device in my opinion, it’s great to have the options.

Perhaps the most interesting modern convenience is being able to do vinyl-to-mp3 recording. Insert a FAT32-formatted USB stick into the USB port, play a record, then press the PREV/PAUSE/NEXT button until the status indicator blinks red. Pressing the PREV/PAUSE/NEXT button again stops recording. It’s not necessarily the most convenient process because of the timing of when the record plays and doing the button presses, but it does create a usable file without much effort. I don’t see much use for this feature with most albums, of course, but it’s definitely a boon for preserving rarer recordings.

Naturally, the biggest question is how is the sound quality when playing a new album using the built-in speakers? For my test, I used a brand new copy of Abbey Road Anniversary by The Beatles (you were expecting maybe…). Sound through the built-in stereo speakers was wonderfully clear, although there is a distinct lack of bass. Since I’m not a huge fan of too much bass, this is OK for me, but it’s something to keep in mind if you want that extra punch from your records.

Despite the power cord being frustratingly short at only about 3 feet long and the lack of bass from the built-in speakers, there are no other real flaws I can point out. This is a great transportable record player with some nice modern benefits.

The post Review: Kofoposo Suitcase Vinyl Record Player with Bluetooth and USB appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

In the box you get the unit itself, AC power plug, and 3-in-1 USB cable.

The cables.

The first reason I was interested in this is that this unit is incredibly compact at only 1.4 x 5.7 x 3.14 inches. Just like there are four 3A USB ports for the most power hungry devices, there are four 1.1 inch slots for even the largest of your devices to safely reside while charging.

One angle.

The second reason is the included 3.3 foot braided 3-in-1 USB cable. It has connectors for Type-C (newer devices), microUSB (most other devices, including Android), and Lightning (Apple iOS devices). I love having this wild card USB option to be able to plug whatever I need to into.

Another angle.

One of our two USB docks my wife and I have at our respective bedsides will be replaced by this device. It’s far smaller and fits in far better with our needs. The fact that the price is so incredibly low, even with the included 3-in-1 USB cable, was just icing on the cake for this feature-rich product.

Pluses:

– Incredible value
– Includes 3-in-1 USB cable
– Compact
– One pair of USB ports on each side of the device

Minuses:

– Having a pair of USB ports on each side of the device may not be convenient for everyone

Summary:
With the latest USB technology, compact form factor, room for up to four devices, and a killer price, the TOSCiDO W902 4-port USB Charging Station is a winner.

Thanks to TOSCiDO for the discounted review unit.

The post Review: TOSCiDO W902 4-port USB Charging Station appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The packaging.

The box.

Rated for an input of 100-250VAC 50-60HZ/400mA and an output of 5VDC, 3500mA, the adapter works in the US, UK, and EU (each selectable via switch), and related countries that use one of the same standards. While there’s no grounding or voltage conversion, most modern devices don’t need them. In any case, you can basically plug just about any plug type into the input and adapt it on the other side to just about whatever country or situation you might find yourself in.

What’s inside.

On the side are three slider switches for US/AUS, UK, and EU plug types, respectively. Since US plugs are straight and AUS plugs are angled, you just need to perform a slight twist of the prongs to use them with the latter standard. A retract button on the opposite side helps you pull the selected plugs back in.

One angle.

There are four USB ports, stacked in pairs. One side is rated for 2.1A and the other side is rated for 2.4A, the latter of which allows for more effective charging of larger devices like tablets or faster charging of other devices like smartphones. The only consideration when using multiple USB ports is not to overload the device with more than 1000W of power.

Another angle.

At a size of 1.85x2x2.68 in (47x51x68 mm) and a weight of 4 oz (116 g), this small device makes for a great, versatile travel companion.

Pluses:
– Compact
– Versatile

Minuses:
– Styling is a bit hit or miss
– No grounding

Summary:
A compact, versatile travel adapter that makes for a great value.

Thanks to RAGU for the review unit.

The post Review: RAGU International Travel Adapter with USB appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

Like that other product, this docking station combines multiple functions into one unit, not only taking up just a single USB port, but also providing you with access to two USB ports in return in addition to its other features.

The accessories.

Feature-wise, you get a docking station where you can plug in bare 2.5″ or 3.5″ SATA I – III hard drives and SSDs up to 8TB at 5Gbp/s, an SD/SDHC/SDXC slot supporting cards up to 2TB, and two USB ports suitable for both data transfer and charging, the latter at 2.4A for even the most demanding devices, like larger tablets. This is all made possible through the dock’s single USB connection and use of the included 12V/3A AC power supply. While by its nature this is not a portable docking solution, its compact frame takes up little desk space.

The front of the unit.

The rear of the unit.

The docking station is backwards compatible with USB 1.1 and 2.0 devices, and is of course driver-free and completely plug and play on most Windows-, Macintosh-, and Linux-based systems.

The top of the unit.

This is definitely a versatile device at a reasonable price point. Even if you’ll rarely use one of its functions, there are several others that can help prove its value.

Pluses:

• Clever combination of features
• Can charge multiple devices at once over USB, even larger devices like iPads
• Excellent performance
• Discrete on/off switch
• Automatic sleep mode after 30 minutes of inactivity for increased power efficiency

Minuses:

•  AC adapter wall wart is obnoxiously long and bulky

Summary:
Another versatile and value-packed multi-function device from Unitek.

Thanks to Unitek for the review unit.

The post Review: Unitek Aluminum USB 3.0 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station with USB and SD Card Reader appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

At home both as a portable unit and trusted desktop companion, the Unitek device, as the name implies, combines a three port USB 3.0 hub and an SDHC, SDXC, microSD, microSDHC (UHS-I), microSDX (UDS-I), and CF/MD/MMC/M2/MS card reader. I’m particularly thankful for the former, because even though my desktop has lots of USB ports, most of them are occupied, and the ones that aren’t are usually difficult to reach. As such, my current card reader, although only fractionally smaller, occupies a slot for its only occasional use.

In terms of portable usage, I’m in a similar situation with my Surface Pro 3. It has one USB 3.0 port, so I carry both a USB hub and a card reader. Now, I can carry just this one device to do everything I need.

The included accessories.

In the box, you get the card reader, 5V 2A AC power adapter, and a 3 foot USB 3.0 cable. Since the Unitek can be powered off of a USB connection, the AC power adapter is optional and something you can reserve for desktop usage.

The unit.

Feature-set-wise, the Unitek has the three USB 3.0 ports and four card reader slots powered by the GL3233 and VIA VL812 chipsets. It’s also backwards compatible with USB 1.1 and 2.0 devices, and is of course driver-free and completely plug and play on most Windows-, Macintosh-, and Linux-based systems. As is typical for a hub that draws power from a single USB port, it can charge most phones and other smaller devices, but can only sync devices with larger power draws like iPads.

The Unitek is a great way for me to consolidate two functions that I need into one device. It’s a fair price too, costing only slightly more than most standard card readers.

Pluses:

• Wonderful versatility
• Clever combination of features
• Can use up to all three USB ports and one memory card at the same time
• Good performance
• Includes optional AC power adapter
• Good price

Minuses:

• Since it runs off a single USB port or the included 5V 2A AC adapter, it can’t charge larger USB devices like iPads
• Cannot read more than one memory card at a time
• Bulky removable USB cable

Summary:
A clever combination of features makes for a wonderfully versatile device.

Thanks to Unitek for the review unit.

The post Review: Unitek 3 Port USB 3.0 Hub with Card Reader appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

Inside the box.

The compact size makes this charger travel friendly, but, further supporting that, it also comes with four different plug types, which are easy to slide in and out of the secure adapter slot. You get US/Japan, EU/Korea, AU/NZ/China, and UK/HK plug adapters, which support outlets in over 150 countries. Similarly, its voltage capacity should handle nearly any power standard, with its AC 90-240V 50/50HZ 0.2A input range.

With the US adapter, it’s quite compact.

With all of the plug options.

I really like this adapter. It’s solidly built and provides a lot of versatility, even if you aren’t taking it on an international trip. As for me, mine will be going with me on an upcoming Nordic excursion.

Pluses:
– Well-built
– Multiple USB types supported
– Great for international travel
– Includes a carrying case with clip

Minuses:
– Price is a bit high
– Only the US adapter pins retract

Summary:
If you’re looking for a compact, versatile USB travel adapter, the Nucharger makes for a compelling value proposition.

Thanks to Nucharger for the review unit.

The post Review: Nucharger QC31 All-in-one International Travel Charger appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

The V5C (<$14) has a similar basic shape to the V2C, but is a bit more ergonomic and features two additional side buttons and a DPI button, which switches between four resolutions/cursor speeds: 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2400. The nice thing about that feature is that there’s no extra software to install, so changes happen internally within the mouse at the literal press of that button.

What you get in the box.

Mouse movement is quick and silky smooth, as are the two main buttons, which have a short throw, or distance between registering a press. This mouse is indeed fairly silent, although there is a more audible click with the two side buttons and scroll wheel. While I’m reviewing the white model, the V5C is also available in black.

The dongle and included battery are found behind the rear cover.

In the box you get the mouse itself and a short quick start sheet. Behind the rear battery cover is the required USB nano dongle and AA battery. With the typical SROCKER power saving technology, you can expect months of use between battery changes. While testing took place on two different Windows 10 systems, since no special software is required, the USB dongle and mouse should also work on almost any other mouse-compatible platforms. The V5C is a good performer at a great price.

Pluses:

• Low price
• Smooth motion
• Silent operation
• In-mouse USB nano dongle storage
• Comes with a battery

Minuses:

• Left and right mouse buttons have subtle action, which may not be to everyone’s liking
• Mouse is very light even with the battery, which may also not be to everyone’s liking

Thanks to SROCKER for the review unit.

The post Review: SROCKER V5C Wireless Silent Click Optical Mouse appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

With the power switch off, all USB ports are also powered off. With the power switch on, all five USB ports are available, including a single maximum 1500mA charging port.

The device.

It’s a nice unit, although the relative bulk makes it a bit less portable than you might hope. This is really most at home for use with a desktop computer or if you have a larger travel computer bag. However you plan on using it, though, it should still easily prove a valuable device to have in your collection.

Thanks to Cloud Electronic Technology for the discounted review unit.

The post Review: Go2Link Aluminium 4 Port USB 3.0 Hub with Charging Port appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

As stated, besides the six AC outlets, there are six USB charging outlets. Two of the USB outlets are 5V/2.4A for larger devices like tablets (or for faster charging of smaller devices that allow for that), and the other four are 5V/1A.

The whole strip is rated for loads up to 1625W/13A, complete with overload protection. There’s also the expected surge protection and other standard safety features.

The overall design is excellent.

As you can see from the photos, the spacing between the AC and USB outlets is fairly generous. A nearly six foot cord rounds out the notable feature-set. If you’re looking for a good, versatile power strip, the Feelle makes a fine choice.

Thanks to Feelle for the discounted review unit.

The post Review: Feelle 6-Outlet Power Strip with 6 USB Charging Ports appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The box.

I’m reviewing the 10-port version, but there’s also an 8-port version for slightly less money. Each unit is surprisingly compact at only a little over 8 inches (210 millimeters) at its longest point. Each slot is about .75 inches (19.05 millimeters) wide, so they can easily accommodate most tablets, smartphones, e-readers, gaming handhelds, and other devices, including most of the ones in thicker cases.

In the box you get the base unit, two piece AC adapter (100-240 VAC), and an instruction manual.

The AC adapter and instructions.

Set up is simple. Put the AC adapter together, plug it into the wall and base unit, and then plug your device and its USB cable into one of the available outlets. Repeat up to nine more times.

The 10 ports are rated to deliver up to 66 watts of power, which is enough for 10 devices charging between 1A (usually smaller devices) and 2.4A (usually larger devices). This translates to six ports at 1A and four ports with intelligent ICs to auto identify a device’s charging requirements (up to 2.4A) and charge it at the fastest speed possible.

Another angle on the base unit.

The iKits is great for a nightstand, which is where I’m using it, but also for the desktop. It’s a well-built, solid, and attractive unit that offers a lot of benefit for a reasonable price.

Thanks to iKits for the review unit.

The post Review: iKits 10-Port USB Charging Station Dock appeared first on Armchair Arcade.