Martinlogan Grotto I High Performance

Grotto i deploys the full array of MartinLogan’s modern subwoofer technologies to achieve deep, rich, satisfying bass while sustaining electrostatic-like accuracy and detail. Its innovative low-distortion switching amplifier and sophisticated servo control system extract the very best possible performance from Grotto i’s high-resolution 10-inch aluminum-cone driver. A powerful 300 watt (900 watt peak) low-distortion, high-reliability amplifier gives Grotto i exceedingly articulate bass without need of exaggerated amplifier power ratings or transient-blurring ported or passive radiator enclosures mutual to a heap of innovative subwoofers. A proprietary servo scheme further ensures that output from Grotto i’s 10-inch high-resolution aluminum cone woofer is dramatically free of distortion and provides a faithful reproduction of the audio input signal. An optimized selection of connections and controls concede connection of both 2-channel stereo music and multi-channel home theater while permitting each connection to have distinctive crossover and level settings. LFE input efficaciously uses no low-pass filter, leaving crossover control to the processor. Left/right line level and speaker level inputs integrate six discrete audiophile grade low-pass filters amid 30-80Hz permitting a dissimilar level and crossover point when playing back two channel music. RCA output allows multiple Grotto i subwoofers to operate in series. A distinctive 25Hz level control allows adjustment of scheme response by ±10dB to eliminate low-frequency build-up or suck-out at a room’s most problematic bass frequency. ETC spikes couple the sub directly to the floor, minimizing lost energy and permitting tight, well specified bass in any system.

Most helpful customer reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Point of No Return in ML Sub Line
By Beachdood
Smartly packaged and designed. Fits nicely in a corner. Easy to set up with excellent instructions. Sub produces a strong and focused low end. Great with music and provides that “wow factor” with movies. Can’t go back to the 700.

See all 1 customer reviews…

Martinlogan Grotto I High Performance Pic

Martinlogan Grotto I High Performance Pic

Martinlogan Grotto I High Performance Photo

Martinlogan Grotto I High Performance Image

Martinlogan Grotto I High Performance Photo

Martinlogan Grotto I High Performance Photo

Sony Mdr Ex300 Blk Vertical In The Ear

Vertical in-the-ear style for wearing ease – Multiple layer diaphragm and newly developed 13.5mm driver unit for reproducing high solution sound

Most helpful customer reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful.
Nice upgrade from the Sony Line
By Bob
I use a few different MP3 Players including a Sony S Series, but also own a couple of i-Pod products and a Zune. In the past my favorite mid-priced earbuds where the Sony MDR-EX90LP which I thought had a slight edge over the SENNHEISER CX500′s. This set has Chrystal clear clarity, outstanding Bass and outstanding highs. Honestly these are the most articulate set of earbuds I’ve used, and with the price ranging from well under $100.00 I would recommend this set to anyone.

Over all outstanding Bass and clarity with very articulate definition make these new earbuds from Sony a must have.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Great sounding but not without trouble
By R. Hanson
I have been a fan of Sony headphones for quite a while. The sound quality is pretty stellar – and there are better reviews than mine if you want to get technical. However, my impressions are still worth mentioning.

I remember when I got my first pair of MDR 70 buds and was taken by surprise when I found that the sound quality was simply amazing. It was comparable, and depending on what I was doing or listening to, better than my MDR VJ700s. Eventually, I wore them out and tried some of the new models, hoping for something that carried the feeling of awe that I felt listening to the first pair. None of them, even the mid to high end sets, sounded vastly different. Sure, most of the models were just as good, but some were worse, and found some of the high end models generally disappointing. As the years passed, I grew accustomed to the sony earbud sound quality, was fairy happy with them, and stopped looking for something new and wonderful. The MDR 500s took me by surprise, broke me from my trance, and filled me, once again, with feelings of awe that I had somehow forgotten.

Durability

The main problem I have with the buds is that they simply aren’t built for wear. Right out of the package, the right earbud drops to less than half volume if the cord twists just a smidge – The issue lies somewhere underneath the plastic Y divider on the cord. My biggest complaint, in trying to resolve the problem, lies in the difficulty I have had in attempting to contact Sony. Attempts to reach them through their website have been futile – they didn’t even have the MDR 500 listed on on their support so I couldn’t submit a problem report. (Of course, I will try again and hope for the best – a replacement that I don’t have to fight for. If that fails, I will eventually get through on the phone.)

My expectations are similar to that of all other sony buds – If you get a flawless pair and treat them right – they will last a year or more – many years, if you are diligent. If you get a dud, they won’t more than a couple months. (It has only happened to me once, so it isn’t fair to base my opinion on this, but it can happen – I had a pair where the rubber disentegrated 2-3 months after I started using them.)

If you wear them 5 days a week, wrap them up nicely when you put them away (a couple times a day), they will probably start to fail in 6 to 12 months. I use mine daily, treat them well, and wear them out regularly. All of mine have failed due to cord problems – approximately 40% lose contact with the plug, 40% fall apart near the Y, and 20% lose contact somewhere within the bud itself.

A reasonable expectation of headphone lifetime is 6-12 months under normal wear and tear conditions. I would definately consider a new brand/model if they were more durable as long as the sound quality and price were comparable. I have yet to find anything worth mentioning.

The bottom line:

If you own an ipod you won’t get much benefit out of these buds. Most mp3 players aren’t capable of producing a signal that brings out the excellent sound on the MDR 500. Stick with the low end models (30 or the 70 series) and you, quite literally, won’t know the difference.

Nevertheless, the sound quality of the MDR 500 is outstanding and it is definately a good value when paired with the right sound source. If you know you want a 300+ model and are having trouble deciding whether the more expensive drivers are worth it, or even if you intend to use them a lot, try the 300s first and upgrade down the road. While I don’t have a pair of the 300s I am betting they sound almost identical to the 500s. An added bonus with the 300s is that you won’t feel quite so upset if you buy a new pair next year. On the other hand, when it only costs $25-$30 more for the 500s, you might as well splurge.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Crystal clear sound quality
By Tom
Let me first start with saying that although I don’t like the over-pretentious word “audiophile”, I am very picky about my personal sound equipment, and wouldn’t touch those cheap and crappy earphones that so many music players come bundled with. Throughout the last decade I have been a great fan of Sony’s in-ear headphones. My last earphone was the Sony MDR-EX71, but when it finally broke (as my earphones for some reason tend to do after a few years) I thought that I would try out something different.

So after having read some stellar reviews, I bought the Sennheiser CX400II – but even though it is generally considered a very good earphone, I found its high-frequency response seriously lacking, and its bass range much too boomy for my taste. I just couldn’t stand it, so I was back to Sony again. For some time I pondered between the more traditionally designed MDR-EX77 and the MDR-EX300 – the slightly unorthodox vertical design of the latter seemed a bit intimidating and I was afraid that they would not fit my ears properly or keep falling out because of the weight of the driver unit.

But in the end I decided to take the plunge and went – not for the EX300, but instead its big brother, the MDR-EX500: the brushed metal design looked really nice and I hoped that they would have a slight edge in performance. Ironically, just after placing my order, I learned that these phones are now discontinued and being replaced by the (probably superior) MDR-EX510. But then again, who knows how long it will take before they are available outside Japan?

The EX500 comes delivered in a normal paper/plastic box, and not one of those horrible laser-welded hard plastic containers that require power tools for opening and which might cut your fingers in a heartbeat. Thank you Sony! By the way, I also noticed that the phones are manufactured in Thailand and not in China like everything else these days.

Inside the box are a the beautifully crafted earphones, the ubiquitous set of silicone buds (small, medium and large, all appropriately color-coded), a cord length adjustor gadget (just a piece of plastic that you can wrap your cord around if you would need to make it a bit shorter) and also a very neat nylon/leather carrying pouch with an integrated plastic winder. The pouch is actually really nicely designed and (if used) will surely help prolonging the expected life length of the earphones.

As you probably know, the cord to the right earbud is a lot longer than the one to the left earbud, as it is supposed to go around the neck behind your head. If you didn’t know, it might leave you a bit baffled, but it is no big deal really. The only problem it causes is when trying to use the storage winder – since the cord to the right earbud is a bit longer, it doesn’t “match up” around the winder without creating a small extra loop.

The main cord is medium length and does not require any extensions (“LP” in the product designation means “L-plug” and is usually the long cord version, while “SP” means “Straight plug”, which normally is the short cord version). The EX500 has a tiny gold-plated L-shaped connector, but no integrated volume control, which I personally don’t really see as a problem as it would inevitably sooner or later lead to cable breakage.

The cable seems a bit fragile and I am sure that it will need to be handled with delicate hands to stay in one peace. These are not the kind of earphones that you just throw into your bag together with your gym shoes and towels – they deserve a better handling.

A bit worried about poor fit, I carefully inserted the earbuds into my ears – and I was immediately relieved with nice and comfortable fit. The disc shaped driver unit part resides just outside the ear canal, but since it is so small and light, it doesn’t feel a bit strange at all and is not heavy on the ears.

I however noticed that the silicone hybrid earbuds do not offer a total isolation from outside sounds. This might be an issue for somebody using these phones in noisy surroundings, such as during commuting. If you use the earphones in moderately silent surroundings such as the office or at home, it should however not be a problem. Sound leakage seems absent.

Earphones normally require a certain break-in period to achieve their optimal sound quality and especially the EX500′s with their larger sized drivers, so after having played a few tracks on my iPod just to make sure that I hadn’t gotten a dud, I connected the earbuds to my computer and left it running through a number of various albums in iTunes in an endless loop on normal sound level for a weekend, and tried to forget that they were there.

Finally I decided it was time to assess the sound quality of the EX500′s. Well, I must say that I wasn’t disappointed. The sound immediately struck me as having a purity and clarity of a pristine character – transparent, very musical and very pleasant indeed.

The bass is quite laid-back and never threatens to take over or drone out of control, like some other cheaper earphones often have a tendency to do. For some music genres, like heavy techno or dance, I have a feeling that some people may feel that the bass may be a little bit on the light side. For electronic, acoustic or classic music, the Sony’s are just perfect. The Sony has a neutral and flat sonic reproduction without exaggerating any part of the frequency range.

If you initially think the bass is too weak, I would first recommend you to test the fit of the earbuds, and maybe try a different sized bud. I would also strongly recommend leaving the equalizer on your music player turned off and to stay away from any kind of “loudness” or “bass boost” functions, as they will just ruin the fine-crafted sonic balance of the earphones and may even induce some nasty distortion. Let your ears get used to the even and flat frequency response of these earphones, and you will no doubt discover a new world of sonic detail.

If you wish, you can purchase third-party earbuds to replace the original silicone ones, and these have been reported to emphasise the bass response while also improving the sonic isolation. So far I have been sticking with the originals, so I cannot tell.

The midrange and the high frequencies are incredibly clean and clear without ever sounding metallic or “glossy”. The richness of the musical detail is simply breathtaking, and it would be a complete waste to throw low-bitrate music tracks at these phones, as they will relentlessly reveal every compressing flaw that cheaper earphones may get away with.

If I have to say anything slightly negative about the EX500′s besides the lack of a complete sonic isolation, it is that they are not *quite* as comfortable as my other in-ear phones and will cause some slight fatigue like after an hour or two. But maybe that’s a good thing, you need to give your ears a break from time to time. I have been using the EX500′s while walking, and althoough they definitely do not fall out or cause any discomfort during moderate excercises, they are probably meant for relatively static usage and when listening to the music is your primary goal.

I am not sure about the differences between the EX300 and EX500, but I find it unlikely for anybody to go wrong with any of these earphones. Because of the slight shortcomings mentioned above, I cannot full-heartedly give a five star rating, especially considering that these earphones are probably out of reach for many people with limited financial freedom, but if you are serious about your music, I can nevertheless strongly recommend them.

See all 23 customer reviews…

Sony Mdr Ex300 Blk Vertical In The Ear Picture

Sony Mdr Ex300 Blk Vertical In The Ear Pic

Sony Mdr Ex300 Blk Vertical In The Ear Photo

Sony Mdr Ex300 Blk Vertical In The Ear Picture

Sony Mdr Ex300 Blk Vertical In The Ear Picture

Sony Mdr Ex300 Blk Vertical In The Ear Pic

Tecsun Pl 380 Portable Dsp Fm Stereo Mw

TECSUN PL-380 DSP (Digital Signal Processing) FM stereo.MW.SW.LW multi band portable radio. This radio is using DSP si4734 Micro-chips (from Silicon Labs in USA) to digitalize the analog MW / FM / SW broadcasting signal base on the innovative software engineering science and radio principles. It may highly improve on radio’s sensitivity, selectivity, S/N ration and anti-interference.

This TECSUN PL-380 with New Function – ETM (Easy Tuning Mode)

This function is similar to ATS (Auto-tuning Storage).ETM may scan through the whole frequency band and select all the available stations. However, not similar to ATS, ETM will not store or replace those exiting memories with the new scan. It works just like a fast tuner; it is effortlessly tune to the next available station by a click of the tuning wheel. You may find this function is utile when you are travelling to other country! Because you may use ETM to scan through the frequency band without delete or replace any of the memory that is stored back home.Moreover, I found that ETM may scan for more weak channels than ATS. It seems like ATS is only search for those strong available channels for enjoyment; but on the other hand, ETM is competent to search for rest of missing link.

The alarm functions that you may wake by buzzer or to your favored radio station. And the temperature function may be chosen as Celsius or Fahrenheit .

Radio Specs:
FM : 87 ~ 108MHz (Russia 64 ~ 108MHz, Japan 76 ~ 108MHz, USA 87.5 ~ 108MHz)
MW : 522 ~ 1620kHz (USA 520 ~ 1710kHz) with 9kHz / 10kHz tuning step selectable
AM IF bandwidth : 1, 2, 3, 4, 6kHz
LW : 153KHz to 513KHz
SW : 2300KHz to 21950KHz

Seven tuning mode selectable:
1) Easy Tuning Mode (ETM)
2) Jog dial manual tuning
3) Auto scan tuning (VF)
4) Pre-setting manual scan tuning
5) Memory pre-setting automati scan tuning
6) Memory pre-setting address direct entry tuning

Most helpful customer reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful.
TECSUN PL-380
By Jerry Brookman
I’ve been a Short Wave Listener for over 60 years now. I have, or have had, a number of portable SW receivers including the Sony ICF-2010, and the Eton and G6 and G8. My “home” receiver is the Kenwood R-5000, so I have quite a bit of experience with different models. After reading the review of the Tecsun PL-380 in the 2011 WORLD RADIO & TELEVISION HANDBOOK, I decided to get one and try it out. It’s well worth the price. One failing that a lot of small portables have is “overloading” when connected to an external antenna; the Eton G6 and G8 suffer from this tendency. The PL-380 doesn’t. I’d recommend it to anyone interested in a small, relatively inexpensive AM/FM/Shortwave receiver. The Shortwave Broadcast bands have not been very good recently due to propagation conditions, but they are starting to improve and in a year or two I expect that reception will be a lot better. Unfortunately, many SW Broadcasters, such as the BBC World Service and Deutsche Welle have been dropping their transmitters as they believe the rebroadcasts of their programming on local FM stations (Public Radio, in the US, mainly) fulfill the public’s need for them. That’s fine, if you don’t mind getting up in the middle of the night to listen to them but I much preferred to receive them direct on SW, “back in the good old days”.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Convenient as all get-out, good sound
By PermaTourist
Have been listening to this little radio for over a month now, and am rather impressed with it. Does a good job pulling in AM/FM stations, and sounds a LOT better than you’d think for the necessarily small speaker it has. When using the included clip-on antenna, it does a fine job of picking up shortwave stations and holding onto them. Not much bigger than a couple desks of cards, it fits in a larger shirt pocket or packs away easily. Runs a long time on 3xAA batteries, and can charge rechargeables through the mini-USB jack. The manual is a little “terse”, but if you’re willing to play with it a little bit, it isn’t hard to figure out. MADE IN CHINA, but of surprisingly good quality. Just keep in mind that this is a small, portable receiver, and not a full-on high-end AM/FM/SW/LW rig, and you won’t be disappointed. Would highly recommend for hikers, campers, backpackers.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
nice small radio
By J. Simonis
This radio sounds pretty good for the small speaker it has. It is the same as the larger pl390 with one speaker instead of two. The other difference is the AM antenna inside is much smaller. This makes it less sensitive to weak signals. This is a problem if a weak station is your favorite. Small radios always mean some loss of sensitivity and this one is no different. My pl390 receives WGN Chicago very well, the 380 needs help with a loop antenna to work as well or close to it. If weak stations or DXing are your thing i would suggest skipping this one and going with the 390 if you want a Tecsun.

See all 23 customer reviews…

Tecsun Pl 380 Portable Dsp Fm Stereo Mw Pic

Tecsun Pl 380 Portable Dsp Fm Stereo Mw Pic

Tecsun Pl 380 Portable Dsp Fm Stereo Mw Image

Tecsun Pl 380 Portable Dsp Fm Stereo Mw Photo

Tecsun Pl 380 Portable Dsp Fm Stereo Mw Photo

Tecsun Pl 380 Portable Dsp Fm Stereo Mw Image

Cerwin Vega Pro Int 118s Intense Series

The 118S subwoofer features a single 18-inch transducer with a cast aluminum frame that is designed for added strength and reliability. This special subwoofer employs a 3-inch voice coil for sustained high power handling capability–the greatest in it is class! With a frequency response of 38Hz to 500Hz, the 118S is ranked at 1000 watts and may provide plenteous low-end fullness for a wide potpourri of SR applications.

Most helpful customer reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Boom Boom Pow
By Tom
I recently purchased this sub for a Home Theater install. I usually use smaller powered subs from “higher end” companies but wanted to try something different. NO body does bass like Cerwin Vega. We’re running this sub with a 900 watt amp and an 80 Hz crossover. It moves an incredible amount of air and is capable of damaging not only your ears but the room and furnishings contained within. It will take some time to dial it in, location, gain, crossover etc. but if you want a LFE experience that will knock your socks off (literally) try this sub.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Wrong Specs
By C. Ward
The specs you have written there for this sub are incorrect. Here’s the link for the correct specs: [...]
Power Handling (Watts): 225W RMS / 450 Program / 900W Peak at 8 Ohms.

Please spec speakers that are worth their price correctly. Thankyou.

See all 2 customer reviews…

Cerwin Vega Pro Int 118s Intense Series Image

Cerwin Vega Pro Int 118s Intense Series Pic

Cerwin Vega Pro Int 118s Intense Series Photo

Cerwin Vega Pro Int 118s Intense Series Photo

Cerwin Vega Pro Int 118s Intense Series Picture

Cerwin Vega Pro Int 118s Intense Series Photo

Compatible Samsung Ml 2010d3 Toner

ML-2010D3 – REMANUFACTURED TONER CARTRIDGE – Samsung ML- 2010 – Meets OEM Specs – 1 Year Money Back Guarantee. All Cartridges Made in USA. To view more of our remanufactured toner, laser or inkjet cartridges please visit our internetlocation All of our remanufactured productions are OEM compatible and environs friendly. – ML-2010D3

Most helpful customer reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful.
Works Great
By Robert Grochowski
I’ve had the toner for several weeks now and everything is in working order. I’m in the process of starting up and running my own small business and needed toner to make flyers and cards to hand out to people. I was originally worried that maybe a cheaper toner would be of a lesser quality. I assure anyone who is debating between this and Samsung’s pricey version, go with this. I will buy from them soon again.

32 of 38 people found the following review helpful.
Vertical Stripe
By Adam Gulley
After reading the reviews, I was hoping for a product that wasn’t defective in any way. But, as is the case when taking advantage of deals like this, I apparently got a bad apple.

The toner went in the printer and began working immediately, producing clear and dark print. But it was also printing a vertical stripe down the right edge of the page that when touched turns your fingers black. I thought it might eventually fade away, but so far it has not.

Looks like I’ll have to find a better deal on one of these, disappointing considering the money spent on the toner + shipping.

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful.
“Do Not Buy This” in my opinion.
By Serious/Sirius
The box came in the mail slightly opened. The cartridge comes in a bag. I tore the bag open and the toner dust immediately went all over my face, up my nose, in my clothes and hands. The cartridge was covered in toner dust.

The instructions that came with the toner explained that a tape like string must be pulled from the toner before using it. The string had been removed before the toner arrived.

I placed the cartridge in the printer and the printer did not recognize that the toner cartridge was inserted.I removed the toner cartridge and threw the toner out. There cartridge left toner residue in the printer itself.

See all 220 customer reviews…

Compatible Samsung Ml 2010d3 Toner Picture

Compatible Samsung Ml 2010d3 Toner Picture

Compatible Samsung Ml 2010d3 Toner Image

Compatible Samsung Ml 2010d3 Toner Picture

Compatible Samsung Ml 2010d3 Toner Image

Compatible Samsung Ml 2010d3 Toner Image