Apple Music Lossless, Amazon Music HD, Spotify Premium, Tidal Masters – But Your Phone Doesn’t Have a Headphone Jack? DAC Buying Guide!

It’s been one of the most frustrating trends in tech over the last several years.

Instead of improving the built-in headphone jacks on premium phones, manufacturers removed them to encourage more accessory sales. Bluetooth audio only became more popular when cabled audio was made more difficult to use.

Recently however, consumers have shown more interest in higher quality streaming. Despite all the tech reviewers claiming you “can’t even hear a difference”, or downplaying the audiophile community, it seems enough folks out there ARE interested in better audio and the gear to play that audio properly.

We know this market is real when Apple offers a streaming solution that their own phones can’t properly support.

Apple worked aggressively to make cabled audio a pain point, other manufacturers followed to make more sales, LG left the smartphone market, so now it’s up to us!

Here’s a (not so) quick primer on some different solutions for hooking up some headphones to a smartphone! Better music! Better movies! Better gaming!

Your ears will thank you! Continue reading “Apple Music Lossless, Amazon Music HD, Spotify Premium, Tidal Masters – But Your Phone Doesn’t Have a Headphone Jack? DAC Buying Guide!”

#SGGQA 217: Apple Destroys Privacy, Galaxy S21 Sales Tank, Xiaomi Top Smartphone Brand

The FCC launches a new map to compare LTE coverage. Podcasters are pushing back against Spotify. Galaxy S21 sales are tanking while iPhone 12 Pro sales are on the rise. Xiaomi jumped up to the top smartphone brand last quarter.

And we definitely need to talk about Apple. Yikes.

Let’s get our tech week started right!

Continue reading “#SGGQA 217: Apple Destroys Privacy, Galaxy S21 Sales Tank, Xiaomi Top Smartphone Brand”

Did you buy a Surface Duo on a CRAZY Sale? Welcome to the Dual Display Club!

Easily one of my favorite gadgets of 2020.

The Surface Duo helped change my mind on using Android for tablets. It hasn’t been all roses, but this extremely ambitious folding tablet was a refreshing change of pace from the rest of the gadget lineup last year.

It’s so good, it makes me a little concerned for a Duo 2…

Continue reading “Did you buy a Surface Duo on a CRAZY Sale? Welcome to the Dual Display Club!”

Where we can finally admit the Samsung Galaxy S21 is just a dog?

Hot takes! Samsung stories get all that tasty SEO traffic! OUTRAGE HEADLINE!

Sales figures are in, and the Galaxy S21 is selling poorly. Expectations were high on this line of phones, but even with price drops, Samsung’s premium offerings are failing to impress consumers.

Galaxy S21 sales are down about 20% over last year’s S20, and SIGNIFICANTLY lower than the S10 from two years ago. We’re seeing roughly a 45% drop from the S10, which has to be concerning for Samsung. That two-year period is often prime for consumers looking to upgrade.

There are obviously numerous issues facing technology manufacturers right now. We’re still in the middle of a global pandemic. Component shortages are affecting distribution. Consumers are wisely budgeting more conservatively for big purchases like electronics.

However, if the Galaxy S line is supposed to be a premium tier, where purchases are often as emotional as they are practical, Samsung’s 2021 phones aren’t inspiring consumers to part with their cash. Continue reading “Where we can finally admit the Samsung Galaxy S21 is just a dog?”

Ikko Gems OH1S Review: Earbud Audio Jewelry

Premium earbuds that feel fresh. The Ikko gems bring a hybrid dual driver design, but the tuning is lighter than I was expecting. They look good. They sound good. And I LOVE the way the Ikko accessorizes their products. Let’s take a listen!

More info on the OH1S https://ikkoaudio.com/product/ikko-oh1s-gems-earphones/
OH1S on Amazon https://amzn.to/3A1mh62 Continue reading “Ikko Gems OH1S Review: Earbud Audio Jewelry”

#SGGQA 216: Audeze’s $4500 Headphones, Pixel 6 Pro Details, More People Paying for Spotify

Sky News has been blocked on Youtube! Apple might be confirming iPhone 13 delays or shortages. Spotify brought in more paid users than free listeners. EVERYBODY suing Disney these days.

Google dropped a TON of info on the upcoming Pixel 6!

And I GOTTA ramble a bit on these expensive cans I played with at Audeze’s headquarters!

Let’s get our tech week started right!

Continue reading “#SGGQA 216: Audeze’s $4500 Headphones, Pixel 6 Pro Details, More People Paying for Spotify”

Audeze CRBN: $4500 Headphones! Electrostatic Technology Built for UCLA!

Audeze’s FIRST Electrostatic Headphones!

These kinda blew my mind.

The CRBN are PREMIUM tier headphones, but beyond just “sounding gooder”, they come from a real medical grade need. The story of how they were built, in cooperation with UCLA, is kind of incredible.

I was excited to take a listen, and here are my thoughts!

Audeze CRBN UCLA Announcement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41LIK4_0-Rk Continue reading “Audeze CRBN: $4500 Headphones! Electrostatic Technology Built for UCLA!”

Apogee Groove USB DAC in 2021: Tiny Stick, HUGE AMP!

Apogee Groove 2021 Review! It’s new to me!

The Groove has been out for a while now, but it deserves a second look today!

Originally built as an enthusiast travel solution, now more consumers are getting interested in higher quality audio streaming. In a world where LG has left the smartphone market, what does it cost to pair a HUGE amp with a “Quad Sum DAC”? Continue reading “Apogee Groove USB DAC in 2021: Tiny Stick, HUGE AMP!”