Omni Archives - Reactual

The Best LED Desk Lamps

Justin Thomas — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 21:56:00 +0000

LED lamps are incredibly energy efficient and produce the closest approximation of natural light of any light source available. LEDs also sport higher safety ratings, improved durability, and offer more control and customization than incandescent and fluorescent lighting.

Best Design: The Z-Bar Mini LED Desk Lamp

The slender Z-Bar High Power LED Desk Lamp features high-tech power-saving LED bulbs in a minimalist frame. With its angular black aluminum housing and unique pivot, it belongs on a Berlin engineer’s desk or in the lobby of an upscale New York architect.

The ingenious design extends beyond aesthetics; this is a seriously bright light that uses very little energy. The Z-Bar’s six daylight white LEDs generate about 240 lumens of light and only expends 9 watts of energy.

If 9 watts is still too much energy usage for your taste, activate the built-in 4-step dimming function to produce a softer light for even less wattage. This feature works incredibly well when you are unwinding prior to bedtime. Lower the light before you fall asleep to adjust your brain to get ready for bed.

The thin circular base is weighted to keep the light from tipping over, and adjustable joints can be placed in almost any position without tightening or loosening knobs or screws, simply move the light to where you need it and the lamp will hold to form.

The Z-Bar is the winner of I.D. Magazine “best of category” award. It is available on Amazon for around $300.

Best Overall: Lumiy Lightblade 1500S

If you find your desk lamp’s brightness underwhelming, buy a Lightblade and let there be light. This is the LED desk lamp for those who want only the brightest crispest replica of perfect natural light. With 1100 lux of brightness and a high CRI, the Lightblade can transform even the dreariest space into a warm and bright zone of productivity.

The Lightblade’s radiant lighting comes from its cool and warm white LED’s for a color rendering index of over 90 CRI. A light’s CRI determines its ability to accurately display an object’s full color. The higher the CRI, the more faithfully the color is displayed as if it would be in natural light. The Lightblade’s high CRI makes it a perfect choice for artists and other professionals who require brilliant vibrant colors.

The lamp has other desirable features, including an omnidirectional pivoting head for better control of the lighting. It also has touch sensors that control brightness and monitor energy expenditure.

The Lumiy Lightblade 1500S is available on Amazon for about $100.

Best Value: TaoTronics Smart LED Desk Lamp

The TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp is perfect for those who want bright light at an affordable price. 30 dollars gets you 410 lumens of power and up to 11 levels of brightness, perfect for any setting. The best feature of this lamp is its versatility. It includes 5 color modes, which function as temperatures that you can adjust depending on your need. The soft uniform light is ideal for reading and doesn’t flicker like other value options, while the natural light is perfect before bed. It also has an incredible lifespan. According to the manufacturer, this lamp is rated to last for 50,000 hours and uses 75% less energy than incandescent lights with similar brightness.

The Smart LED desk lamp also looks elegant. An adjustable gooseneck gives further control over light positioning and brightness, while the blend of silver metal looks modern and can fit in any room.

The TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp is available on Amazon for about $30.

Most Customizable: The Softech DL-90 Multi-Function LED Desk Lamp

Softech‘s latest LED desk lamp offers an astounding amount of customization for total brightness control. You decide the lighting mode you want and the DL-90 will conform to your request. The lamp has 27 high-power daylight LEDs with a 90+ CRI that comes extraordinarily close to natural light.

The lamp has four distinct lighting modes and 40 brightness levels in total for total precision. The first two modes are for desk work: a reading mode with mid-range colors (4300K-5300K) that are easy on the eyes, and a study mode which has a high range color temperature (6000K-7000K). The lamp can also be switched to a relaxation mode and a sleep mode — these have softer, warm color temperatures.

This lamp uses 10 watts or less of power to provide light equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent bulb. It lasts about 40,000 hours or 20 years of normal use. An automatic turn-off feature extends lamp life even further.

The Softech DL-90 lamp is available from Amazon for about $70.

Most Versatile: BYB E-430

Clamp-on desk lamps are a great option for those working who need high-quality illumination but are working with limited desk space. The award-winning design of BYB’s E-430 dimmable LED desk lamp delivers energy-efficient lighting from a slender device latched onto the side of your desk. It has a swivel lock socket that tilts in any direction, whether it’s on the desk or not. The adjustable arm is matched by a flexible head and includes built-in dimming strips.

It delivers 4 lighting modes and 6 levels of brightness, ranging from study mode to bedtime mode. We also like that the lamp is rated for 50,000 hours and comes with a 5-year warranty.

The BYB E-430 is available on Amazon for around $110.

Best Smart Design: TaoTronics TT-DL27 Desklamp

Take advantage of four distinct lighting modes with this versatile smart LED desk lamp from TaoTronics. You can set the lamp to sleep mode, study mode, reading mode, or relax mode, each delivering a customized LED distribution designed to satisfy your needs. And if study mode is likely to become sleep mode, you can just activate the 1-hour off timer on the lamp to make sure it shuts off as you drift to sleep.

I also enjoyed that you can swivel, rotate, and bend the head and neck of the lamp to fit your lighting needs. Just tilt the head to activate a wide 62cm2 area of light, enough to illuminate your entire desk area. The metal arm and sturdy base are hallmarks of great construction, making sure the light doesn’t fail on you.

The TaoTronics LED Desklamp is available for around $35.

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Best USB Microphones For Podcasts

Justin Thomas — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 15:04:16 +0000

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A good microphone is a must for those who make and broadcast podcasts. While traditional electronic microphones from Shure, Sennheiser and Neumann transmit with crystal-clear quality, they come with ¼” or XLR microphone plugs. XLR plugs generally do not correspond to computer input jacks, creating headaches for startup podcasters. They only work with musical-instrument interface, and these are often not of the highest quality and can affect the sound. At the very least, they’re an additional annoyance when you just want to hook up a mic and go.

However, there are newer mics made with USB plugs that are intended to plug straight into a computer system with no interface and little difficulty. They are perfect for podcast hosts because they simplify the operation and cause fewer links in the power chain between microphone and computer.

USB mics do have their limitations. Many of the less-expensive models have lower sound quality than a traditional XLR mic of comparable cost. In addition, the USB-only setup makes it difficult, if not impossible, to record the podcast on multi-tracking equipment using signal processors to manipulate the sound before transferring the file to the computer. If this is not an issue, however, a good USB mic is an invaluable addition to a podcast setup. This is a rundown of the best USB microphones for podcasts.

Best USB Microphone Overall: Blue Microphones Yeti Pro

This entry from Blue Microphones is an amazingly versatile tone monster. To begin with, it utilizes no less than three condenser capsules for the accurate capture of sound, and offers four different pattern settings for different tonal applications: Bidirectional, Cardioid, Omnidirectional and Stereo. This allows for recording in a variety of sound conditions. This mic will deliver the best possible sound through judicious use of its controls.

This microphone utilizes a powerful A-D converter chip for a clear, crisp tone. In addition, the Yeti Pro offers a separate XLR output jack for recording and live use, making it quite flexible. The XLR jack is accompanied by a separate traditional analog circuit path for excellent tone when used with recording machines or PA systems.

Other features of this superior entry include a built-in headphone microphone to allow for clear monitoring of the signal, a headset volume control, mute button and microphone gain volume control. In general, this entry offers enough control to replace both a traditional mic AND a USB computer mic. It is the clear choice for best USB mic of 2016.

Best Sound Quality: MXL USB.009 Condenser Mic

Audiophiles will love the MXL USB.009 Condenser Mic, which commands a clear tone with good forward projection. It is a cardioid microphone, which makes it ideal for those recording podcasts because it is best for picking up a single sound source such as one voice.

However, what really makes this a solid choice is that it is the first USB mic to record at 24 bits and 96 kHz without the use of pricey sound-enhancing equipment. This is the equivalent of DVD-level sound quality, which is unusually clear for a digital microphone. It has a versatile frequency range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and a dynamic range of 114 db.

The controls on this mic include volume/gain and a mix control that can control where the sound goes in a stereo mix. For those who make podcasts including calls from listeners, sound effects, or other additions, this control can make for a creative stereo mix.

Like the Yeti Pro, it also includes zero-latency monitoring, which is useful for those who like to use a headset to monitor their sound. The MXL is a solid choice for those who are concerned about USB mic sound quality.

Best Side-Address USB Microphone: Audio-Technica AT2020

Many podcast hosts trust the Audio-Technica AT2020USB PLUS Condenser Mic. It is a side-address mic, which means that the condenser is aimed at the sides rather than the top of the mic; this makes it easier to place for those who make podcasts and helps to get a more complete sound.

It features a standard USB output, a high-quality A-D converter for crisp sound, zero-latency monitor system with headphone jack and volume control and it is compatible with both Mac and Windows. This mic is made of metal parts for durability, and its low-mass diaphragm that gives the sound excellent frequency response.

This mic, like the MXL, has a cardioid pattern that creates a strong, powerful sound with excellent clarity. The onboard mix control allows the user to blend the direct mic signal with pre-recorded audio signals to get an idea of how the material sounds with other sources included.

Like the other choices in this article, this microphone includes a zero-latency monitor control system. The A-D converter with 16-bit, 44-kHz sampling rate ensures that there is little to no loss in sound quality as the signal is transferred to computer. Another top product from Audio-Technica, you can’t go wrong with the AT2020USB.

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Best Omnidirectional Outdoor Speakers

Justin Thomas — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:19:55 +0000

A recent Reactual post profiled four of the top directional outdoor speakers, which are an excellent choice for a defined area like a small deck or patio. But if you have a large yard or an open outdoor space like a pool, managing volume levels and sound coverage from a pair of directional speakers is tough. Enter the “omnidirectional” speaker, which broadcasts uniform sound evenly around the source. Here are four of the best choices available to provide full sound coverage in these types of outdoor settings.

Bose Free Space 51 Outdoor Speakers

The Bose Free Space 51 outdoor speakers provide even 360-degree sound, and their rugged design makes them perfect for permanent outdoor installation. Each speaker can be mounted on a deck or directly on the ground, and they are rated to withstand sun, snow, ice, and even saltwater spray. The Free Space 51 uses a 4.5” downward-directed driver, and features a domed central port to balance high and low tones. These speakers are fairly sizeable at over a foot tall, but their green color makes them easy to camouflage in grass or plants.

Bose Free Space 51 specs at a glance:
Dimensions: 14.2″H x 12.6″W x 12.6″D
Power: 100 watts

The Bose Free Space 51 outdoor speakers are available from Amazon for $449.00 per pair.

NXG Omni Planter 75 Outdoor Speaker

Instead of hiding in the bushes, the NXG Omni Planter 75 speaker can be disguised in plain sight: the omnidirectional 6.5” coax speaker is integrated into a planter pot perfect for an outdoor space like a large deck. High tones are projected at a slight upward angle to compensate for the speaker’s low position, and users report well-balanced bass tones. The weather-resistant planter speaker is available in terra-cotta or natural gray color to match your décor.

NXG Planter 75 specs at a glance:
Dimensions: 18″H x 20″W x 20″D
Power: 75 watts

The NXG Planter 75 outdoor speaker is sold individually, not as a pair. You can find it for $258.21 at Amazon.

Soundcast OutCast Outdoor Speaker

The OutCast from Soundcast doesn’t come cheap, but it delivers serious performance to match its price tag. First of all, the SoundCast is totally wireless, using a rechargeable 10-hour NiMH battery and a transmitter that can be positioned up to 350 feet away from the speaker. Packed inside the cylindrical case are a downward-firing 8” woofer and four 3” tweeters, arranged to project 360-degree sound. The water-resistant OutCast is big and heavy (weighing in at nearly 40 pounds) but it delivers excellent bass tones and serious volume levels for an omnidirectional outdoor speaker.

Soundcast OutCast specs at a glance:
Dimensions: 26″H x 11″W x 11″D
Power: Built-in 100 watt amplifier

You can find the Soundcast OutCast outdoor speaker, including the iCast transmitter, at Amazon for $799.99 (available in gray or white).

TIC GS-3 Omni Outdoor Speaker

The TIC GS-3 Omni is an affordable outdoor speaker that delivers solid omnidirectional performance. The durable ABS plastic case can be surface mounted or installed in the ground, and the green finish blends easily with surrounding plants. 360-degree sound comes from an 8” woofer (with a butyl rubber surround) and a 2” aluminum cone tweeter. Best of all, the low price tag means you can install multiple speakers to blanket your yard or pool with music.

TIC GS-3 Omni Specs at a glance:
Dimensions: 12.5×12.5x13in
Power: 125w (continuous), 200w (peak)

The TIC GS-3 Omni Outdoor Speaker is available from Amazon for $65.45 per speaker.

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