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Private Notes
A full Review of a dash-cam that's particularly suitable for a taxi driver.
Another trip down HiFi memory lane ... but probably more like a magical mystery tour, since very few people remember this one.
In this Beginners Introduction to Compact Cassette - I'm using Metal Tapes and Dolby S for the first time to see if a cassette tape really can sound 'almost as good as a CD'.
This is a video about two HiFi components that could do with making a comeback.
The video features two devices, The first is the Realistic APM-200 - an external add-on VU meter sold in the 1970s & 1980s through Radioshack and Tandy. The main subject of the video though is the Onkyo U30 - an RCA Switchbox/Pre-amp.
I really don't see why an enterprising manufacturer couldn't bring back either one or both of these types of devices. If they were to go a step further and add in a DAC, then we'd really have an handy all-in-one HiFi component. Perhaps I've just given someone the idea for a Kickstarter.
The Teac AI-501DA is an attractive amplifier & DAC, made more attractive by a heavily discounted price.
A review of the Chinese language Xiaoyi Car Camera. With sample clips. CLICK SHOW MORE - to reveal all the info.
In this video I demonstrate the Ring WiFi Video Doorbell - THE FIRST GENERATION RECHARGEABLE VERSION. I ultimately decide that it's not suitable for me. However the majority of Ring reviews are very positive so if you would like to try it out for yourself - below are a couple of Amazon links.
A look at Akai's impressively complicated 1972 Invert-O-Matic Cassette Auto-Reverse mechanism. Features a New-Old-Stock Akai CS-55D tape deck.
A full review of the Polaroid Cube Plus Mini Camera.
A half hour video looking back at the RCA CED Videodisc system, thirty two years after it was discontinued in the UK.
Includes a brief history of video on a disc, a look at how CED works, repairing some common player faults and I finish by playing a 'new' disc on a 'new' machine.
A doorbell that can wirelessly transmit a signal 100M without a battery.
A follow-up answering a few questions generated by this earlier video: https://youtu.be/o9CpalDdd04
A look at the DrivePro Body 10 Body-worn Security Camera.
A look at a New-Old-Stock Boombox from the 80s/90s.
A look at the Vantrue OnDash R2 Dashcam.
The first of two videos featuring HiFi components for adjusting sound to your preference. This one is the Akai EA-A7 Graphic Equaliser
In this video I'm trying out a Reverberation amplifier to see if it's something I need in my HiFi.
A look at the New Smaller Rechargeable Square Nixie Watch from http://www.cathodecorner.com
A short video showing how it is possible to send Component Video down a headphone extension cable that can fit through a 5mm drilled hole.
A look at the short-lived D-Theater format which offered HD movies on VHS.
Captured D-VHS Demo Tape showing New York in 1993: https://youtu.be/fT4lDU-QLUY
D-Theater tapes can be found on eBay: http://goo.gl/AfCHUy
A full list of D-Theater titles is on LDDB.com: http://goo.gl/jGHA82
DVHS on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-VHS
JVC's D-Theater machines: http://goo.gl/uKMBki
Full specs on the machine shown:
http://support.jvc.com/consumer/produ...
The machine demonstrated records and plays D-VHS (HS, STD, LS3) S-VHS (SP, EP) S-VHS ET (SP, EP) HiFi VHS (SP, EP) VHS (SP, EP) it doesn't have upscaling. It will output anything over Component or iLink.
Extra resolution is the headline feature of a UHD Blu-ray...but this may not be the thing you notice.
NOTE - THE EFFECT OF HDR ...IS.....NOT...VISIBLE...ON...YOUTUBE
WHAT I AM DEMONSTRATING IN THIS VIDEO IS THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE...HOWEVER YOU CAN ONLY SEE HOW THIS LOOKS IN PERSON ....ON YOUTUBE IT JUST LOOKS DARKER
The TV used in this video is an LG 65EF950V (aka 65EF9500) - a 65" 4K HDR capable OLED with a 10 bit panel, HDCP 2.2, HDMI 2.0a.
Notice when I said that I couldn't see a MASSIVE difference in resolution on a 65" TV when sat 10 ft away.....this is not the same as not being able to see ANY difference - It is of course noticeably sharper, but not MASSIVELY so. What makes a BIG difference though is the HDR..but this can only be appreciated IN PERSON.
The intention of this video is to suggest that you don't just think of a UHD blu-ray as being a blu-ray with more resolution - because that's just one of the features and frankly quite probably the least interesting one.
New movies still come out on the VCD format, 23 years after its introduction. How does a VCD stack up against the latest video format - 2016's UHD Blu-ray
VCDs were purchased from YesAsia https://www.yesasia.com/global/en/movies-videos.html
The Floating Record Vertical Turntable was a successful Kickstarter campaign.The idea was to make a quality turntable that takes up less shelf space, looks great and sounds good. Did they deliver - watch the video to find out.
*** I thought this was a simple quick tip - however a few people in the comments have suggested that it is not a good idea to power things from the OBD port as this might damage your vehicle....but others say that it's fine.
A look at the largest music cartridge format ever made
....and the machine that played it, the 3M Cantata 700.
Launched in the 1960s but still used in some places until the 1990s.
You can download a poorly recorded sample of the music here: http://goo.gl/zxC6OA
The problems with dubbing -
I've spooled one cartridge onto my reel to reel machine and there is a lot of leakage between tracks (the sound of the mono music recorded on the left output can be heard on the separate mono music played from the right). Also the sound is very low when played at 3.75ips and then slowed 50% in editing. A number of people said they used to record their own tapes at home...but given the fact the mono tracks aren't in line with the tracks on a home 4-track reel to reel I feel this may be mis-remembered.
A review of the Vantrue N1 Dashcam
A look at a Harman Kardon Aura Airplay Speaker.
A cheap and bright little dimmer light powered by USB - do you have a use for one?
A demonstration of the Cellink B a 12V battery pack that will keep your dash-cam running when your engine isn't.
In this video I demonstrate DBX Discs, and am blown away to find that that this forgotten 40-odd year old technology sounds as good (or better) than anything that I've ever heard.
A demonstration of the Uoplay smartphone gimbal from AiBird
A demonstration of the limited edition Holographic Vinyl Soundtrack to Star Wars The Force Awakens
Electro-Luminescence USB cable tells you when a device is charging.
Full Review of the best Mini Dashcam I've used. This is my Favourite Dashcam.
The Wire Recorder was expected to take over the world but disappeared almost overnight. In this video I take a look at this now largely forgotten technology from the past..and piece together its history.
A look at the new amp at the heart of my HiFI...and a re-cap of the other components that make up the rest of the system...(this week).
A look at a Panasonic Stow-away. You won't believe the secret hidden inside this radio!!!
A look at the Xiaoyi 4K Action camera - a camera that claims to be the "Best Action Camera Ever. Period."
The prop replica - that actually works.
What do you do when new releases dry up for your car stereo's tape format but you don't want to install a whole new head unit? The answer is to buy an adapter*. In the video below you can see two adapters. One that ushered in the compact cassette age and the other that saw them out again 25 years later.
Original idea suggested by Mike Finnell https://twitter.com/techfinnell/statu...
For the last few years I've being trying to find a ready-made nixie clock that I could recommend. This video shows what I've found - and the links below will take you to the ebay stores that both make and sell these clocks.
Retro-Tech: According to the adverts - the Panasonic RS-296US could play 2.5 days of music non-stop...that's roughly the same play time to the '1000 songs in your pocket' that the first 5GB Apple iPod boasted in 2001.
NOTE
2.5 days of play time equates to 60 hours which would require 20x 180-min cassettes. Whilst these tapes did exist at one point, 180-minute lengths were also very fragile and best avoided.
A more realistic play time is to load this machine up with 20x 90-minute cassettes which gives you 30 hours, and that's why I refer to the 'day and a half' of continuous music at the end of video.
Magnetic Micro USB and Lightning Cables seem to be a thing, so in this video I try to find the best one.
I have a number of old devices I want to demonstrate in upcoming videos that require a 60Hz power supply in order to run at the correct speed. In this video I show what components I used to convert the UK's 230V 50Hz power supply to the US 120V 60Hz standard.
The Netgear Arlo is the only HD wireless HD home security camera system where the cameras are powered by batteries. In this video I install the system...and record some garden wildlife.
The SAE Mark 6 Tuner is the HiFi component I never thought I'd be able to own, but after years of searching I finally managed to buy one. In this video I'll show you what makes it special to me.
A retro flip clock that looks like a miniature 1970s HiFi component and has build quality to match. Just one of a number of HiFi Timers sold in the 70's and 80s - that can still be put to good use and can be found on eBay (links below).
When I reviewed this camera in 2013 it cost £99. It now costs £23 but is it still worth buying?
In this retro HiFi video - I'm looking at a tape cartridge system that introduced a number of innovations and ideas that were incorporated in subsequent formats, but was itself a massive failure.
The full demo cart recording can be heard here: https://youtu.be/iVnMnzfftq0
The full RCA promo film can be seen here: https://archive.org/details/Revoluti1958
The music visualisation RGB laser show projector for home entertainment and DJs.
NOTE - This video features a demonstration of an early beta version of the visualisation software.
In this video you can see amateur repairs performed upon the Commodore SX-64 Executive Computer involving the SID, PLA, Graphics Memory, Keyboard Cable, Disc Drive.
Quick tip - unusual wall art with laserdiscs.
An old reel-to-reel tape obtained from eBay that has an interesting tale to tell.
NOTE 19:27 -19:41 muted due to a content match claim by John Lennon's Ghost.
Needing a scanner in a hurry, I ordered this TaoTronics TT-DS011 model from Amazon - here's a video.
I love a good bad idea - and this was one of the best.
Sony's 1998's Ruvi was a one-off camcorder experiment. In the video you can find out what made this a unique failure.
The A119 Dashcam is suitable for someone looking for an easy to use, fit & forget system. Headline features are Discreet mounting, GPS, Capacitor, 1440p30 & 1080p60 video modes.
