SteelSeries Siberia V3 Review

Back in January and during my review of the SteelSeries Sensei Wireless, I questioned and applauded SteelSeries' audacity to try and reinvent one of their favorite products on the market. The product I'll be reviewing today is no different, for the last ten years, the Siberia brand has been synonym with some of the most competent and relatively affordable headsets on the market. Unlike the Sensei Wireless, this new addition to the Siberia line-up is a lot more subtle when it comes drastic changes. It retains the same basic formula, changing only a few things here and there. But has SteelSeries done enough to justify the investment over the V2? Let's find out.

In terms of packaging it's SteelSeries standard, black and orange cardboard box, with lots of pictures and features listed on all sides in order to properly enlighten and inform the consumer before purchase.
Inside you won't find a ton of things, just the essentials, like the manual, sticker and an adapter/extension used to connect the V3 to your PC.
It's definitely not the greatest bundle ever, some might even argue that it is somewhat lacking in terms of accessories and extras. I would have to agree, this type of bundle feels lackluster in comparison to some competitors.

It's hard to talk about the V3 in terms of visual design since it looks almost exactly like its older brothers. Aside from a few changes in terms of size and slightly different ear-cups, the original Siberia design is still alive (and well).
The classic suspension system is still present and has been improved thanks to the reduced weight of this new model.
Probably the biggest change in terms of visual design and functionality would be the removal of the in-line volume controller, it's actually something that baffles me, with the Siberia V3 there's simply no easy way to adjust your audio on the fly. Why SteelSeries though this was a good idea is beyond me but it's a definite no-no in my book.

I would say that comfort is the V3's biggest strength, the lightweight structure combined with the always amazing suspension system and the new ear-cups allows the V3 to be used for hours on end without much distress to your head or neck. I would say that this is the first headset from SteelSeries that competes with the 9H in this department.

Unfortunately, and outside of games, the sound quality of the V3 is probably lower than the one from the V2 or the aforementioned 9H. In-game though, the V3 performs admirably well, with footsteps, explosions and that sort of thing coming to life and allowing you to improve your game.
The retractable microphone sounds ok but feels very quiet in my opinion, almost demanding a boost.

Final Thoughts

It's hard, maybe even impossible, to talk about the V3 without mentioning or comparing it to the famous and popular V2. Unfortunately for SteelSeries and gamers around the world, this new revision feels weaker in almost every aspect, I'm not saying that the V3 is bad, I'm saying that the V2 edition was one of the best headsets to ever be produced and its successor, the V3, falls short by comparison.
With that said, if you can't find the V2 on shops anymore, the V3 is still a very decent gaming headset. If you can spare the extra cash though, I would opt for the superior 9H.

The Good
+Familiar territory
+Comfort
+Visual design
+Great sound for games

The Bad
-Microphone sounds very quiet
-No volume controller
-Lack of extras
-V2 is still a better choice

Thanks to SteelSeries for providing the review copy

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Fractal Design Node 804 Review

In the last few years the demand for compact cases has increased, both micro and mini systems have seen their popularity grow exponentially. With both the quality and quantity of components available expanding, it is important to offer users a wide range of options when it comes to the enclosures for the aforementioned components, aka a nice computer case.

Fractal Design has in the past, with its Node series, presented a few interesting options for compact builds, namely the 304 and the 605. The product we will be reviewing today, the 804, also belongs to the Node family and visually looks somewhat similar to the 304, in terms of functionality though, it is a whole other beast, but more on that later.

The Node 804 comes in a standard cardboard box that while not colorful, does the job of protecting the case (hard styrofoam) and listing most of the main features present on the 804. The final layer of protection is a plastic bag that will prevent dust and other debris from reaching the case.

Inside the cardboard box, and bundled with the case, you will find a very detailed user manual with step-by-step instructions on how to assemble everything inside the 804. While this level of detail could be considered overkill on a standard case, in this context, and considering the uniqueness factor associated with the 804, it's just the right amount of information to allow you a quick and uneventful build.

Aside from the manual, you will also encounter all the screws and standoffs you could ever want, more importantly, inside the actual case you will find 3x120mm fans from Fractal's Silent Series. Taking into consideration the dual-chamber design of the 804, having only 1 or 2 fans pre-installed would not suffice, thankfully Fractal decided to include a third cooling unit that should help out quite a bit.

Finally, and much like the Core 2500 that we've reviewed previously (Link), the Node 804 also comes with a built-in fan controller that allows you to manually control the speed (high, medium or low) of 3 fans. While this is a great extra, a more accessible spot for the controller would've been nice to see.

The unique cube-like shape of the Node 804 will certainly appeal to a lot of users and enthusiastic builders out there. While it's an incredibly compact case, the way Fractal designed and structured its interior space allows for multiple configurations. Support for long power supplies, a colossal number of hard-drives(10-12 depending on your cable management abilities), multiple graphics cards (5 expansion slots), great flexibility in terms of cooling options, the 804 seems to have it all.

Going back to the aforementioned cooling options, there are a total of 10 slots where you can place your fans, all of the intake positions - namely the front, top and bottom - are filtered, preventing dust from accumulating inside your machine. On top of that, all the filters are very high-quality, particularly the one from the top of the case.

Regarding CPU coolers, you can fit one that goes up to 160mm in height, meaning that even a "beast" like the Noctua NH-D14 is an option here. Liquid cooling is also a very viable alternative, both the right and left chamber of the Node 804 support the installation of radiators.

Visually we've got to give credit to Fractal Design, the Node 804 looks amazing. While its shape is basically a cube, the sleek curvature on the front panel combined with its brushed aluminum texture, give it a unique and charming personality.

Much like every other case from Fractal, the 804 feels very minimalist in terms of visual design with only a small hint of a logo at the bottom right corner accompanied by a discreet power led.

On the left side of the case there's a generously sized side-window that reveals most of your internal components.

Moving to the right you will find the power button, 2 usb 3.0 ports, your microphone and headphone jacks and a slot for a slim ODD, unfortunately no reset button is present.

At the top, and like I previously mentioned, you will find quite a large and high quality mesh that should prevent dust from settling into case, while at the same time acting as a sort of noise-blocker.

Finally at the back, besides the slots for your exhaust fans and the fan controller, there's not much to see.

In regards to construction quality, the little cube holds up pretty well, showing no signs of flex or flimsiness. The side panels in particular are extremely solid, even the left one with the window feels strong and sturdy. With a price tag of $109 (give or take), the Node 804 is certainly an impressive little case.

Final Thoughts

Even considering the tough competitors that it will be up against, the Node 804 easily holds its ground by presenting itself as something completely different. While it's still a relatively tiny case, the ingenious dual chamber design grants users with a ton of space to keep the interior of their case all neat and tidy, improving air flow, adding expandability thanks to the many HDD and SDD slots available and even separating your cool components from the ones that produce the most heat.

At the end of the day, and taking everything into consideration, Fractal did a great job with the 804 and I would recommend it to everyone who is looking to build a more compact system.

The Good
+Great design
+Brushed aluminum at the front
+Multiple configurations
+Solid construction
+Detailed manual
+Dual chamber
+Price
+A ton of dust filters included

The Bad
-No reset button
-Filter at the top can be a pain to clean
-Fan controller could be located in a better position
-Tough competition (Air 540, SG13, Prodigy M, HAF XB, among others)

Thanks to Fractal Design for providing the review sample

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SilverStone AP81, FW81, FQ81, FM84 Review

While having a competent CPU cooler is great, as it allows most users to rest easy in knowing that the "brain" of their computer is nice and cooled, keeping the temperature around the aforementioned cooler as low as possible is also extremely important.

Managing temperatures inside computer cases is not always a simple process, especially when small form factor cases are thrown into the mix, while in your typical mid-tower or full-tower case you can easily move components and fans around in order to keep everything going smoothly, in cases designed for HTPCs for example, that same luxury is not always present. Choosing the correct and most effective fans is key if you want to have any sort of success when cooling your miniature systems.

Today, we're going to take a look at four SilverStone options for cooling your "wee" computers, the AP81, FW81, FQ81 and finally the FM84.

While the four products we're reviewing today differ in appearance from one another, in terms of packaging they are basically the same. All of them come tucked inside some see-through plastic that does a decent job of protecting the fans, there's also a sheet of cardboard that reveals not only the product's name but also its main features. I'm not a big fan (puns ahoy!) of plastic enclosures, they tend to be a pain to open and you can't exactly reuse them like you can with a cardboard box.

Bundled with the fans you will find quite a few extras, this is nice to see, especially when you take under consideration how affordable these cooling solutions from SilverStone are (7-10€). The FM84 model in particular is quite nice since it includes a helpful fan controller. Aside from that you will also find your typical screws and rubber washers to help reduce vibrations even further and a four pin to molex adapter.

The fans themselves have a nice weighty feel to them, this lends a sense of sturdiness and stability to these 80mm cooling solutions. They are also color coded, this way you can easily discern which fan is which and it aids the enthusiastic builder keeping the colors within their machines properly matched.

Besides being a lot more solid than what you might expect from such an affordable product, the blades also have three different designs to them ("mixed fan blade design"), according to SilverStone this reduces noise frequency.*

Aside from the differences in colors and cable sleeving, the design of the fans is pretty much the same. The only exception being the AP81 that has an air channeling grille, this gives the air flow a narrower path, making it more effective when cooling a single component is the objective.

Regarding the aforementioned cable sleeving, it would have been nice to see all four models come with it, unfortunately only the FQ81 brings that to the table.

Functionality-wise, all of them - exception once again being the AP81 - feel very similar both in terms of airflow and noise. But, as we can see from the table shown below, the FM84 can go a bit further in terms of cooling performance, while the AP81 is stuck at 3000 RPM which produces 30dB of noise. Finally, both the FQ81 and FW81 have the added value of a PWM connector, allowing them to adjust their speed automatically.

Another major difference between the four models is their bearings, both the AP81 and FM84 have your typical sleeve bearing, meaning silent operation as long as the lubricant holds. The FW81 has a long life sleeve bearing, which one assumes it's an improved version of the normal sleeve bearing. The FQ81 presents itself as the superior option with its fluid dynamic bearing, this may also explain why the FQ81 is the only version with sleeved cables.

Model	Speed	Airflow	Noise (dBA)	Life-Time (Hrs)	Bearings
AP81	3000	29.5	30	25000	Sleeve
FM84	1500~3500	15~36.87	18.1~34.8	25000	Sleeve
FQ81	1200~2800	12~27.53	15~28.5	50000	Fluid Dynamic
FW81	1200~3000	12~29.5	15.3~30	40000	Long-Life Sleeve

Final Thoughts

With more and more HTPCs and other forms of small computers inhabiting not only our offices but also our living rooms, size and silence become two of the most important factors when building a machine.

Since their RPM's don't need to be as high, keeping a 120 or 140mm fan silent is a much simpler process than doing the same with an 80mm model. Fortunately SilverStone did a fine job in keeping these fans silent, for the most part at least. At higher speeds they are noisy, and considering the speed adjusting limitations of the AP81, I wouldn't recommend it over the others unless you have a very specific purpose for it.

I would recommend the FQ81 for most builds, in very specific cases, I can also see the FM84 being somewhat useful. At the end of the day though, choosing the right fan for your system depends on what you want to do and your own personal preferences and priorities.

The Good

+Different colors

+Good airflow

+Various configurations

+Well built

+Fan controller (FM84 only)

+Price

The Bad

-Lack of cable sleeving (exception being the FQ81)

-Noisy at higher speeds

*Edit: The mixed fan blade design does not affect the fans airflow.

Thanks to SilverStone for providing the review samples

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Thrustmaster Y-250CPX Review

I may be wrong about this, but I think the number of gamers who own more than one gaming system is growing with each console generation. At least that's my personal experience in regards to myself, friends and some acquaintances. All the major manufacturers in the gaming industry also seem to support this theory, at least judging by the fact that more and more gaming peripherals are being designed to be compatible with most modern consoles, PCs and mobile devices.

With the aforementioned theory in mind, today we will be taking a look at the Thrustmaster Y-250CPX, a versatile gaming headset that seems to further back up my previous claims.

For the people out there who may not know them, Thrustmaster has been around for quite some time now (1992 according to their website), designing and manufacturing all sorts of gaming accessories and peripherals. Personally, I know them mainly due to their high-quality and high-performance flight sticks and steering wheels.

The Y-250CPX comes packaged in a good looking medium-sized box that does a pretty good job in listing most of the main features of the headset, it also shows a few pictures of the actual product in order for buyers to know exactly what they're getting. On top of that it also seems to be sturdy enough to withstand a bit of abuse, a very important factor if you're planning on shipping the headset to you, we all know the horror stories after all.

Inside, and bundled with the actual headset, you will find a couple of interesting items such as a removable microphone, a few different manuals that cover the installation process for most systems and finally all the necessary cables in order to hook up the Y-250CPX to your favorite console or PC.

In a time where companies try to cut costs in every little thing, it's great to see that Thrustmaster decided to include different manuals for all the systems that are compatible with the headset. This shows great attention to detail and it helps younger or inexperienced users who may need a hand in setting everything up.

Thanks to an interesting combination of black with a few details in silver, this headset from Thrustmaster looks very elegant indeed. It's definitely not the best looking headset out there for sure, but it's also far far far from the worst.

I think the designers tried to lend an extra bit of class and charm to the Y-250CPX by moving away from your typical gaming headset design with bright lights and aggressive colors. The simple design certainly seems to have been the right choice, at least in my opinion.

Comfort-wise the headset itself performs extremely well, above average I would say. The only real issue in this department comes from the bulky in-line controller and the absurd amount of cable that Thrustmaster forces you to carry around with it.

I understand that the Y-250CPX was designed with several systems in mind and because of that, a longer cable might be helpful in some situations. But please, give us an extension instead, otherwise the excessive length of cable gets annoying really fast, trust me. The "generous" size of the in-line controller also does not help.

Moving back to the actual headset and having used it for long periods of time in games such as Alien Isolation and The Banner Saga, I noticed a slight increase in comfort after a brief break-in period. The headband protection in particular is very tough out of the box, because of this, if you're planning on buying the Y-250CPX be sure to give it some time for it to properly adapt to your head.

The ear cushions on the other hand felt great right from the get go, no problems there at all.

Like I mentioned in a previous paragraph, the Y-250CPX was mostly tested with two titles, Alien Isolation and The Banner Saga. The Alien game in particular practically demands to be played with a high quality audio solution in order for you to survive more than a couple of minutes. The Banner Saga on the other hand has a varied and very pleasant soundtrack.

In both cases the peripheral from Thrustmaster performed well.

Listening to music with the Y-250CPX on the hand felt a bit underwhelming, heavy bass tracks in particular suffered quite a bit, even after adjusting the bass nod that is present on the in-line volume controller.

Finally the microphone, it sounds decent enough and the in-line controller allows you to easily adjust its volume on the fly. A cool feature especially for console users.


Final Thoughts

Let me start out by saying that the competition is ferocious in the gaming headset world, we got a ton of big and small companies releasing new products and innovating with each new model almost on a daily basis. With that said, and taking into account a somewhat hefty price tag ($70-$90), it's hard to recommend the Y-250CPX if you're planning on using it exclusively with your PC. Thanks to the fierce competition I previously mentioned, there are a lot of other options out there that probably won't cost you as much and you give you a similar performance.

On the other hand, if you regularly use more than one platform for gaming, especially more than one console, then I can see the Y-250CPX being a very valid option.

The Good
+Elegant design
+Very versatile
+Comfortable

The Bad
-Bulky cable and in-line volume controller
-Lots of competition

Thanks to Thrustmaster for providing the review sample

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Sharkoon Skiller PRO Review

There are a ton of gaming keyboards currently on the market, lots of different options and configurations to choose from, finding one that suits both your gaming needs as well as the contents of your wallet can be a challenging task, it's all about achieving a perfect ratio between cost and quality.

With the previously mentioned objective in mind, today we will be taking a look at the Skiller PRO, a membrane keyboard from Sharkoon that promises to deliver a lot of interesting features while at the same time keeping the price tag relatively accessible to most gamers out there (25€-30€).

We have in the past reviewed several other products and peripherals from Sharkoon, so if you don't know them very well I invite you to check those reviews out. Hopefully you will be able to notice a pattern emerging, inexpensive and well built products that deliver all the core features most gamers require.

In terms of packaging Sharkoon did a fine job with the Skiller PRO. For one, the actual color scheme on the package matches the one from the keyboard, aside from that, you will be able to quickly read all the most important features right on the front of the package, this will help consumers who may be looking at several different products in an actual physical retailer. Simple details like this can go a long way, especially at this price point where impulsive purchases are frequent.

Bundled with the Skiller PRO you will find only the most basic accessories such as a couple of rubber feet to stop your keyboard from sliding around and your typical CD with the customization software and drivers. No fancy stuff here sure, but at this price point it's hard to ask for more.

Visually, and while I'm not a big fan of the over-the-top design, I loved the illumination present on the Skiller PRO. It's only available in blue, and maybe because of that, the color feels a lot more consistent and bright when compared to other keyboards from the same price range. While I don't think that each key is individually illuminated, Sharkoon did a fine job simulating that effect because it certainly looks like it.

I gotta say that personally my preferences tend to lean towards minimalist keyboards, because of that, and despite the awesome illumination, the PRO is not really my cup of tea when it comes to appearance. Still, I can acknowledge that for people who prefer more aggressive designs, this will be a good choice.

In terms of functionality, comfort and build quality the Sharkoon Skiller PRO performs admirably well.

While the limitations of a membrane keyboard are present here, for what it is, an inexpensive non-mechanical gaming keyboard, the PRO delivers probably everything that you could possibly want. Macros, multi-key rollover, three profiles and even multimedia keys for your more mundane tasks.

Build quality is also pretty acceptable. It can easily compete with other non-mechanical keyboards that cost quite a bit more.

Finally, I would like to mention the rubberized finish that the PRO has, it feels great to the touch and will certainly improve the user experience in the long run.

Final Thoughts

Sharkoon has done it again. The Skiller PRO is an outstanding keyboard, everything about it feels just right and even though I don't particularly like its visual design, I can see other gamers finding it really attractive.

If you're on the market looking for an inexpensive gaming keyboard then I can't recommend the Sharkoon Skiller PRO enough.

The Good
+Price
+Blue lights
+Comfortable
+Solid
+Gaming features (macros,n-key rollover, etc.)

The Bad
-Visual design
-Too flashy to use around the office
-A bit loud when typing

Thanks to Sharkoon for providing the review sample

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SteelSeries Sensei Wireless Review

How do you improve upon one of the best gaming mice ever conceived? According to SteelSeries, you remove its wires, add a rubberized finish and conclude the process by including a nice and long-lasting battery so that your gaming sessions can last as long as you want.

Upon first hearing about SteelSeries' decision, I was honestly baffled, a wireless hardcore gaming mouse? A thing of science fiction surely!

Joking aside, there are a few wireless gaming mice out there that perform really well, particularly the G700S from Logitech and both the Mamba and Ouroboros from Razer. That's definitely some tough competition, can the Sensei Wireless surpass them? Let's find out.

As with previous products that we've reviewed from SteelSeries, the packaging of the Sensei Wireless does not disappoint. Visually it has a very attractive design, keeping SteelSeries traditional orange and black color scheme. In terms of protection, it also excels, ensuring that your peripheral will arrive in pristine conditions in most cases.

Inside you won't find a great deal of accessories unfortunately, besides the actual mouse and charging base, you will encounter the manual, a usb cable and finally a sticker with the SteelSeries logo. For a product that costs around 160€ at the moment of this review, this lack of extras is a bit disappointing.

Visually this new iteration of the Sensei does not distort the original design, it perfects a few details here and there, keeping everything else pretty much unchanged. For people who loved the original Sensei then this will be good news, if on the other hand you never really liked the minimalist design, then this Wireless revision probably won't change your mind.

One of the changes made by SteelSeries was the addition of a rubberized surface very similar to the one found on the Rival (Our review: Link), this apparently small change adds a new level of comfort to an already extremely pleasant product.

Functionality-wise don't expect to find any differences in this wireless revision, this is a good thing mind you. The Sensei Wireless delivers the same performance as the wired version, keeping input lag out of this equation thanks to its proprietary 2.4 GHz wireless connection.

On the other end of the aforementioned wireless connection, you will encounter a very sexy and very well built charging base. It not only looks good but will also be able to provide you, the player, with a bit of visual information regarding how much battery is left on the mouse. Customization is obviously an option here as well, if you don't like the default color scheme just change it in the "Engine 3" software. This is also true for the LED's present in the actual mouse.

Finally let's talk about the build quality, I've been using this new Sensei for a couple of months now and I've gotta say that it is top notch in terms of construction. A small feature that shows great attention to detail is the the metallic "outline" present on the charging base, it may or may not be pointless in terms structure integrity, but it certainly looks good.

Final Thoughts

Going wireless was certainly a risky move by SteelSeries, fortunately it seems that this revision of the Sensei has everything to be another success. Yes, the price tag is certainly an obstacle that will keep some people away, on the other hand, the sturdy construction ensures that the Sensei Wireless will last you for a very long time.

At the end of the day it's up to you to decide if these upgrades are reason enough for you to spend the extra cash.

The Good
+Wireless without latency
+Precise
+Sturdy construction
+Minimalist design
+Customization options
+Comfortable
+Long battery life
+Ambidextrous design

The Bad
-Lack of extras
-Price

Thanks to SteelSeries for providing the review sample

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Cherry MX-Board 3.0 Review

If you're even a little bit familiarized with mechanical keyboards then you probably already know the name Cherry, they are one of the most important companies in the "switches" business and their branding is everywhere, from gaming to office keyboards you can't really go wrong with their Cherry MX switches.

From what I've read, Cherry has been developing input systems for computers since 1967(!), hopefully that shows how well this company has been adapting and evolving throughout the years.

Today we will be taking a look at one of their products, the MX-Board 3.0 with red switches, a very affordable mechanical keyboard that stands out from the competition thanks to its thin design and very slim keycaps.

The MX-Board 3.0 packaging is relatively simple, most of the cardboard box obeys to a black and blue color scheme with a few details such as the Cherry logo coming in other colors. It does its job well and because of that, the keyboard arrived in perfect conditions. I can also see the amount of information displayed on the box being really helpful if you're planning on buying this keyboard directly from a physical retailer, it shows which MX switches are present on the keyboard inside the box and also explains the differences between the four main types of switches (black, brown, blue and red).

Bundled with the keyboard you will only find a couple of accessories, a PS2 adapter and a manual that comes in a few different languages. Nothing fancy here, but when we take the lower price point under consideration this is more than understandable and acceptable even.

At first glance the MX-Board 3.0 doesn't even look mechanical, it's only when you start typing that you realize how comfortable and responsive these slim keycaps really are. Mix this responsiveness with the extremely "light" red switches and you got a winning combination. While I haven't tried the other versions of the 3.0, I can safely assume that this version with the red switches would probably be my favorite as it seems to adapt perfectly to the idea and concept of slim keycaps.

The aforementioned features are not the only differences you will encounter when you buy the MX-Board 3.0, besides being a lot thinner than most mechanical keyboards, it is also a lot lighter, this combined with the removable USB cable gives the 3.0 a very portable "feel" to it. This also means that it has a lot more flexibility in its structure, still and as long as you don't drop it constantly, this extra flexibility shouldn't affect the durability of the product at all. As a side-note, Cherry predicts the operating life of individual keys to be up to 50 million presses, so it's pretty much in line with all the other mechanical keyboards with MX switches.

If you're concerned about the 3.0 sliding away because it is lighter than its competitors, don't be. Cherry included two extremely large strips of rubber to attach to the bottom of the keyboard so that it doesn't go anywhere you don't want. If you are like me and enjoy having the keyboard tilted just a little bit, then the 3.0 also got you covered with 2 foldable feet. Unfortunately these feet are probably my biggest issue with this keyboard, while they feel sturdy enough and the rubber caps do their job well, they are very vertical, if that's even a thing, what this means is that when you adjust the keyboard sideways, these feet tend to fold back into place, leaving you with an unstable keyboard, this can quickly become annoying and I would like to see it fixed in future revisions of this product.

If you're planning on using the Cherry MX-Board 3.0 for gaming then keep in mind that it has no macros or any sort of back-lighting except for the part at the top with the Cherry logo. 

What it does have is the ability to turn on and off the windows key and the always welcomed anti-ghosting feature. This means that even though it doesn't look like a gaming keyboard at all, it can easily be used as one, giving it a versatility rarely found in regular gaming keyboards.

Final Thoughts

With mechanical keyboards growing in popularity, it is good to see one so simple yet effective and affordable at the same time.

The MX-Board 3.0 is one of the thinnest mechanical keyboards out there, the slim keycaps are super responsive and will probably improve your ability to type faster and more consistently. 

Aside from the obvious problem with the foldable feet, there's really nothing wrong with the 3.0, Cherry has certainly delivered us a great product here.

The Good
+Lightweight
+Slim keycaps
+Thin
+Well-built
+Affordable

The Bad
-Foldable feet

Thanks to Cherry for providing the review sample

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Energy Headphones BT3+ Bluetooth Review

Technology is basically everywhere these days. While some people may complain about this and that, the fact of the matter is that technology allows us to at least make those boring trips from home to work and vice-versa, a little bit more bearable. Want to read a book, listen to your favorite songs or watch the latest movie? It's simple and easy with all the devices available on the market, from smartphones to laptops you can easily access your favorite source of entertainment on the go.

With the aforementioned ideas in mind, today we will be taking a look at the BT3+ Bluetooth from Energy Sistem, these light-weight and very portable headphones allow you to enjoy your favorite music and look good doing so.

This is the first product from Energy Sistem that we will be reviewing, they are a Spanish company that designs and produces a lot of tech products such as tablets, smartphones, headphones and a few other interesting devices. According to their website, they mainly target people who are interested in high quality technology at an affordable price.

The BT3+ headphones packaging is not the most sturdy I've ever seen, it does look good though, with an interesting orange, brown and black color scheme that gives the box a very elegant look. Since the headphones are so light-weight, the fact that the packaging is somewhat flimsy should not be a huge problem, still it's something to keep in mind if you're ordering and shipping them from far away.

Bundled with the actual headphones you will only find a usb cable, the manual that explains how to operate the headphones in several different languages, a paper that mentions the 36 month warranty and finally a leaflet that shows all the other products from Energy Sistem.
I personally would've liked to see included at least a little bag or pouch that would protect your headphones during transportation, since the BT3+ focuses so much on the portability factor, that seems like a really weird accessory to be missing.

When it comes to their visual design, I would say that the BT3+ headphones are among some of the most elegant units we've had for review here on NRLB. The matte black finish that covers most of the headphones blends in perfectly with the little details presented in a darker gray, nothing looks out of place here, even the somewhat small ear-cushions seem appropriate for this sort of subtle design.

One of the things that surprised me after a few hours of use was how light the headphones feel on your "noggin", while the headband has little to no padding and the ear-cushions are extremely small, the headphones still felt like they were secure to my head at all times, allowing me to move around the house without many problems. The only comfort issue I had with the BT3+ was the almost total lack of padding on the ear-cushions, it does take a toll on your ears after a while.

Functionality-wise the BT3+ worked almost flawlessly, the very discreet side buttons for adjusting the volume and changing tracks are easily accessible and straightforward to use, even without looking directly at them you can clearly feel which button is which and press them according to your needs. The bluetooth connection worked without a hitch, never having any issues pairing with the various devices I tested it with.

With each full charge, the battery life was more than sufficient to last me for at least a couple of days, it probably depends on a few factors but I would estimate the battery life to last anywhere from 6 to 8 hours using it only for music.

In terms of sound quality the BT3+ had an alright performance, I'm not an audiophile in any sort of way, shape or form, but I did feel that the highs and mids were a bit lacking when compared to the lows, the small on-ear cushions also didn't help with sound definition since they don't provide any sort of seal.

On the other hand I didn't notice any sort of distortion, even when playing music at higher volumes, the BT3+ performed admirably well.

Final Thoughts

I would consider the BT3+ headphones biggest issue to be the 39,90€ price tag. While they are well built and look absolutely gorgeous, the competition within this price range is fierce and brutal. Small details such as the lack of a carrying pouch and the almost non existent padding, both on the headband and ear-cushions, can really make a difference.

Still, I can easily recommend the BT3+ to anyone searching for a great looking pair of headphones to accompany them during their travels.

The Good
+Very elegant design
+Well built
+Intuitive side buttons
+Very light-weight
+No sound distortion

The Bad
-Lots of competition
-Lack of a carrying pouch
-Very thin padding

Thanks to Energy Sistem for providing the review sample

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Noctua NH-D15 Review

Computer components have a new ally when it comes to their eternal battle against heat, the NH-D15 is the latest dual-tower heatsink from Noctua and it promises even lower temperatures than the ones from Noctua's amazing NH-D14.
If you still don't know Noctua by now, they design and produce some of the best air cooling solutions on the market both in terms of performance and quietness. Not only that but they also have an excellent customer service and extended warranties that go up to 6 years, providing mounting kits for free to customers who might need them.

The NH-D15, much like every other cooler that we received from Noctua, comes extremely well packaged, layers upon layers of protection assure that the product you just bought will arrive in pristine condition and perform its intended function with no problems.
Manuals and mounting kits for both Intel and AMD are included and come in separate boxes to help users in the process of mounting their cooler correctly. Aside from that you also get a few accessories like thermal paste, a screwdriver, low-noise adapters and clips to set-up the (also included) second 150mm PWM fan.

Where looks are concerned, the NH-D15 keeps Noctua's traditional brown and beige color scheme. This visual design is certainly unique, it works almost as a branding of sorts, allowing users to identify components from Noctua almost instantly. On the other hand its color scheme is so unique that it will stand out in almost every build, possibly ruining a carefully color matched build.
Noctua is well-know for the attention they dedicate to the construction quality of their products, thankfully the NH-D15 is no exception. Nothing feels cheap or flimsy here, from the heatsink to the fans everything is solid and very well-built, the SecuFirm2 mounting system in particular is incredibly tough and easy to set-up, but more on that later.

Installation Process
Thanks to the detailed and easy to understand manual, mounting the NH-D15 is a breeze (pun intended). Not only that but the actual process for securing everything into place is super simple and easy to execute, even for someone who may not have much experience in this business the SecuFirm2 system should not present any major problems or complications.
Compatibility issues with memories should not occur thanks to the recessed lower fins, providing clearance for memories with tall heatsinks (up to 64mm in single fan mode or 32mm in dual or triple fan mode).

Performance and noise levels
For testing purposes I've used the NH-D15 with my old but reliable AMD A8-5600K, a cooler this powerful shouldn't really have any issues with the 5600K, especially when you consider how well ventilated my testing rig is and the fact that I'm using the dual fan configuration.

Regarding the test itself, we stressed the CPU with the System Stability Test from AIDA64 for about 30 minutes for each cooler, after this period we recorded the minimum, maximum and average temperatures during that half an hour. While not the most demanding test ever, I find it quite realistic when comparing its temperatures with the ones I get from long playing sessions.

Noise levels were virtually non-existent, even when under load the fans were silent and only when I manually cranked them up to 100% (1500 RPM) was I able to hear them from inside the testing rig's case.


Final Thoughts
Noctua has done it again, the NH-D15 is an improvement over its D14 predecessor in almost every way.
It's actually amazing to see a company such as Noctua keeping their standards high not only when it comes to performance and numbers but also in the construction quality and customer service departments, it shows a level of commitment and dedication to their products that we just don't usually see anymore.
If your wallet and your computer case can handle such a behemoth of a cooler (165mm in height) then I can't recommend the D15 enough.

The Good
+Construction quality
+Multiple fan configurations
+Performance
+Noise level
+Elegant design
+Great price to performance ratio
+6 year warranty

The Bad
-Color scheme is not for everyone

Thanks to Noctua for providing the review sample

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