The more I travel, the more I realize that my head was not designed for earphones.  I can't find a comfortable pair of earphones anywhere, and I will not relegate myself to wearing a bulky set of 1980's headphones.  I might as well strap a sub-woofer to my face, throw some parachute pants on, and bob my head up and down hoping to understand what I am listening to.  Arctic Sound thinks they can cure my bean head condition by introducing the E461-BM Earphones.

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In my younger days, cough cough.. !NURSE!!, cough cough, I would game like there was no tomorrow.  There was no Microsoft Office, there was no Quickbooks, Open Office, or LANDesk.  There was Unreal Tournament, NFS, Quake, Battlefield, C.O.D. (not this website).  My desk was a war zone, my office was a LAN party, and my friends were my comrades fighting battles on my self hosted gaming server. (more...)

There is a new category of computer user out there that I am discovering.  I have been well aware of the uber geek that accepts nothing more than maxing out their credit cards on the top of the line peripherals and equipment, and I have been versed in the practices of the novice as well.  New to me is what has been defined as "the normal person." Until recently, I haven't been lucky enough to meet many of these, but today I have... and they wanted a set of speakers for their computer that wouldn't break the bank but didn't sound like they were listening to music through a jar of peanut butter either. So, you are normal... or you know someone who is and they need speakers for their computer.  What do you get? Eagle thinks they have the answer. (more...)

Introduction
While Olympus is well known for its quality line of film and digital cameras, less is known about their other products. One that I will be looking at today is the DM-20. It's billed mainly as a digital voice recorder, but triples it's functionality by incorporating a music player and USB data storage device into its duties. It's sleek, portable, versatile and comes equipped with enough accessories to justify the $299 SRP. The one location I was able to find it online, DM-20 (click here), listed it for $269. If you were to look for a voice recorder, MP3/WMA player and USB storage separately you can count on spending three times as much for similar quality devices. (more...)

If you've paid any attention whatsoever to the PC industry, you will recognize the name Logitech®. Long synonymous with quality PC products, Logitech has stepped up the push to broaden its' appeal. You can find Logitech products integrated into just about every facet of personal and business computing today. Keyboards, mice, speakers, headphones, etc. are all encompassed by the retail line manufactured at Logitech. Our time today will be spent taking an enhanced gander at the ultimate gamer's advantage, the headset/mic combo known hereafter as the Precision PC Gaming Headset or PGH for short.

One item I need to mention is the marketing of the headset is, obviously, geared towards the gamer hence the name of the headset. However, those who delight in the audio splendor that is Moby or prefer watching SAW on their PC to spongebob on the telly need not feel neglected. Anyone seeking to enjoy a little solitude from the buzz of the homestead can benefit from these little gems. Gee, does that mean I can have my cake and eat it too? Yes, Jimmy, it sure does. Before we get into that though, let's take a look at the nuts and bolts, shall we? Here are the specs straight from the horses' a.., I mean mouth.

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There is nothing better than getting that heart pounding high quality sound from your PC audio equipment when you are deep in the trenches fragging it out, racing to the finish line, going the green, or just trying to shake the walls with your mp3 collection. Logitech surprised me with their budget Z-640's and now they want to try to do it again with their Z-5300's.

This set is second in command for the top ranks in the Logitech line of speakers. Surpassed only by the z-680's these speakers, the Z-5300's, boast some great features like 280 watts, THX certification, a wired remote, and some how manages to pack them all into a $199.99 price tag; I can easily say that I am impressed so far, and I haven't even opened the box yet! (more...)

While PC system manufacturers have routinely included speakers as part of the package, the quality and reliability of the provided audio units has been spotty at best. Those who desire a more robust, fulfilling sound and those of us in the DIY sector feel the need to upgrade those components. Your choice of acoustical accessory will depend on your needs, your space restrictions, and your wallet.

The audiophile among us may opt for the full blown 7.1, studio quality Klipsch or even the ever popular 5.1 surround sound from a variety of vendors. Others, like me, are bound by our particular work arrangements to no more than the 2.1 arena. For the uninitiated, the designation of 2.1, 5.1, 7.1 etc. describes the number of speakers and their respective types. The first number corresponds to the number of satellite, i.e. smaller, speakers in the setup. The number after the period refers to the woofer or bass unit. This is the largest of the speakers and provides that resounding thump that rattles your teeth and awakens the neighbors from their slumber. (more...)

Altec Lansing offers a wide range (both in price and configuration) of computer speakers for the consumer market. Here we will take an in depth look at their 251 Gaming Theater, It is a 6-piece; 5.1 speaker set which consists of a subwoofer, front and rear speakers, and a center speaker. The computer and gaming markets are crowded with plenty of 5 and 6 piece sets like this mainly due to the growing popularity in PC gaming and the constantly falling prices of computers. Lets find out how the Altec Lansing 251's hold up in this growing industry.

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Introduction
Those of us who enjoy the heart pounding action of tactical games have lately been engulfed in the search for that perfect set of speakers. Speakers that will leave you quivering in anticipation to hear the dredging of feet approaching behind you; while you conceal yourself in the darkness grasping your MP5 Navy, HE grenade and Black Hawk ready for action. (more...)