Over the last few weeks I've started to write this article quite a few times and then have to wait when another new bluetooth audio device shows up for me to review. From tabletop speakers to truly wireless earbuds, and over-ear headphones to ultra-portable speakers. We've received devices at every price point and quality level. $250 on ear headphones from European manufacturers that launched via Indigogo and $70 special edition travel speaker sets from newly established powerhouse Anker.
Read moreForget Bose and Jawbone, can good wireless sound be found under $50?
Everyone has seen the media blitz sent our way from Bose and Jawbone over their “amazing” bluetooth speaker offerings, but aside from paying for the name there isn’t anything really setting them apart from any other bluetooth speaker in the crowded marketplace.
I decided to look at the market most of us would want to shop in, the sub $50 space to see if high quality sound and features could be found in a price anyone could afford. The great folks at Amazon thought it was a great idea and let me pick five speakers that fit my criteria and I put them to the test! Unfortunately, one of the speakers that is part of this roundup went out of stock and is listed as having an unknown return date in the two weeks I spent evaluating them. That being said, here we go!
Is it a wallet, a phone case, a book, or all of the above?
Any time Apple releases a new iPhone I end up getting flooded with cases, and the release of the 6 plus and 6 were no exception. Just in the last two weeks I have gotten the five cases pictured here, all of which are leather and what would be considered "high end" by anyone in the business with regards to not only price but quality.
Read moreReview: Headphones - Are Beats worth the cash?
For quite some time now, the most popular brand of over-the-ear headphones has been Beats by Dre, a brand built mainly on the reputation of hip-hop legend Dr. Dre. They have been called the best headphones in the world. They have worn the tagline "Listen to music as the artist intended". However much like BOSE in the home speaker world, there have been many who have claimed that Beats are over hyped and severely over rated. I decided to put them to the test, so I compared them to headphones significantly cheaper but well rated in two different categories: Skullcandy Crushers, respected as great headphones by those who love strong bass; and V-Moda's crossfade LP2 Voice limited edition headphones, highly rated as among the most durable and best sounding headphones in the world. Both are more than $100 less than the Beats Studio Over-Ear Headphones I compared them to, with the V-Moda's coming in at $199.99 and the Skullcandy's coming in at just $99.99 compared to the Beats at $299.99.
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