Celebrity endorsed technology has a chequered history. From David Beckham’s £1000 Motorola Aura, to Hulk Hogan’s unpredictably flammable (and, ultimately, recalled) Thunder Mixer, the road to the ultimate A-lister/gadget tie-in is littered with expensive failures and laughable mis-steps.
However, with the head of Dixons recently name-checking them as one of the products keeping instore electronics shopping afloat in 2011, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones seem to be bucking this trend. A mixture of the right type of celeb (he is a doctor after all) and a sleek, Apple-like design seems to have created a genuine phenomenon.
But as with any consumer craze the question remains, are Beats really worth the hype? Wearing them on the high street might get you a few looks but with most pairs retailing comfortably over £100, does the quality justify the enormous price tag? We compared Beats headphones to other brands of headphones using 4 standards: sound quality, design, comfort and value for money – using our impartial, verified reviews to find out whether Beats are all style or all substance.
Beats Breakdown
Overall, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones scored highly in most categories. They enjoy an impressive 9.3 average in sound quality, as opposed to all other headphones which only score 8.8. Beats by Dr Dre Solo HD are a particularly high scorer in this category with an excellent 9.4; Adam, a music loving reviewer, claimed they had “incredible sound”.
Similar results appear when considering design, with Beats scoring 9.2 and all other headphones scoring an average of 8.5. The same applies to comfort, with Beats scoring a 9.0 and all other headphones averaging at 8.6.
At this point, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Beats are the be all and end all of headphones. This would be the case if it wasn’t for the 8.0 they scored in value for money. The cheapest pair of Beats are the Beats by Dr Dre iBeats which start at a whopping £52 and can go for as much as £96.
However this is pennies compared to the Beats by Dr Dre Pro Detox which start at £450. Although the average for all other headphones isn’t much higher at 8.3, the difference demonstrates some reviewer worries about pricing.
Despite this Beats still come out better on overall rating, with a superb 8.8 compared to all other headphones coming out with an 8.3.
Opinions From the DJ Booth
Now it’s all well and good having parents comment on how their little darlings love their new headphones, but what do the professionals think? While feedback for the brand is generally positive among reviewers who have identified themselves as DJs, there is a slightly wider range of opinions. Jaz, a DJ from Glenrothes called Beats by Dr Dre Power Beats “overpriced junk” and claimed “sound and design quality could be picked up at a third of the price at any high street shop”.
However, other DJs had praise for the headphones. Mark, a DJ from Swindon called the Beats by Dr Dre Pro “the most amazing set of headphones I have ever owned”, giving them an 8/10, saying they lost marks for the price. A pair of non-Beats that scored highly among DJs was the Sennheiser HD 202. Paul, a DJ from Bordon said they were “the best headphones I have ever tried in this price range”.
The average score amongst DJs for Beats was 8.5 while the average for all other headphones was 8.7. So, are Beats a great brand of headphones or just a fashion accessory? Judging by reviews it would seem they are both, but their high price points remain an issue for DJs and casual listeners alike.
For more headphone reviews and the cheapest prices on the latest models, visit our headphones category.
December 25 is the make or break for aspiring and experienced family chefs alike; shouldering responsibility for the annual Christmas lunch – in which everything from soggy sprouts to flaming brandy sauce are potential hazards – requires tenacity, timing and, most importantly, a top notch cooker.
We can’t help with the first two, but our goldmine of genuine, impartial customer reviews can help you find the best kitchen companion – a cooker with a range of settings and helpful gimmicks to make the big day go smoothly. These are the top 5 highest-scored cookers for features and programmes, by reviewers who have identified themselves as a family cook (NB the scores next to product are their average overall score).
The oven is very efficient, heats up quickly and produces excellent results. Susan, Walthamstow
The FSE60I is a solid electric fuel all-rounder, with an A energy-efficiency rating and family cooks rate is as the best cooker for its range of features and programmes.
Love the close down lid which means I do not have to polish ceramic hob every time I use it! Wendy, Co. Durham
The top rated of the cookers in this list in terms of design, confirmed owners of the Stoves Richmond 550E praise its ‘country kitchen’ look as well as its performance.
Light permanently on in bottom oven which is good. Knobs do not heat up when grill is on (like my previous double oven cooker did).Sarah, Stoke on Trent
A reasonably priced model, the FSE60MF scores well on value for money and our reviewers highlight its cooking efficiency.
Looks nice in my small kitchen. The handles are much more shiny and silver than I was expecting! Mairi, Hertfordshire
The most affordable cooker in this list, this gas-fuelled Flavel is well like for its performance and is also the thinnest model in this list; its 50cm width being useful if you’re strapped for space.
To see more pricing information and customer reviews for these cookers, go to this Reevoo.com list.
So you’ve decided that a digital camera is an ideal gift for a loved, or a well-deserved treat for yourself. But should you spend £20 or £2000? Do you need 15 different lenses or will just the one do? If you’re not that familiar with the latest developments the range of options on offer can be a little bit baffling, so we’ve picked out 6 different recommendations to suit different needs (and wallets).
Best Compact Camera (Under £50)
Really good value for the product purchased. Recommend for someone wanting a camera for basic use with nothing too technicalBenjamin
Ideal for absolute beginners or anyone who’s just looking for something cheap and cheerful to do the odd holiday snap, the AV200 also records HD video and can automatically stitch together pictures to create panoramic photographs.
Best Compact Camera (Under £150)
Well built, solid construction, great features, great for beginners or advanced users.Geo, Stockport
This nifty compact packs in a 12x optical zoom lens, as well as manual control over aperture, shutter speed and exposure. Ideal if you want something pocket-sized and wallet friendly that’ll take very respectable photos.
Best Advanced Compact Camera
Fantastic range of features in a small, portable body. Wide angle lens allows you to capture buildings close up, sweeping landscapes or big crowds, then you can zoom in for portraits etc.Tony, Dublin
Our last compact pick is for those who want to go all out without scaling up to the bulk of an SLR or Hybrid camera; the Canon G12 offers brilliant image quality and lots of manual control to get the most out of your shots (and there’s even a flip-out screen to help you out if you need to snap something at an awkward angle). It’s a hard camera to beat in terms of image quality, unless you want to leave compacts behind altogether and go for something a bit bigger…
Best Hybrid Camera
How can Panasonic build such a camera as the Lumix DMC-FZ45 at such price. It powers up at a fraction of a second ready to shoot stills or video.Thomas, London
The traditional halfway point between the compact and the fully-featured SLR camera is the hybrid, with pseudo-SLR styling, advanced features, but with a fixed lens. The DMC-FZ45 is the current cream of the crop and at £240 is very good value indeed, with an impressive feature set including a 24x zoom.
Best Entry Level Mirrorless Camera (Under £500)
Most of the benefits of an SLR in a more compact package. Can be used daily as a point and shoot compact digital with a pancake 17mm lens (separate purchase ) , and as an SLR replacement with the zoom lenses.Dave Atherstone
Then there’s the mirrorless (Also know as compact system or occasionally as EVIL cameras. It stands for Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens, apparently.) camera. These maintain a relatively compact size whilst incorporating advanced features like being able to swap out the lens. This Olympus kit comes with 2 different lenses so would make a great starting point for someone looking to get a little more advanced than your basic point and shoot.
Best Entry Level DSLR Camera (Under £500)
Excellent camera, I am so happy with it. I think it makes the perfect step up from a point and shoot to something more advanced.Confirmed purchaser
And last but certainly not least, if you’re buying for someone who’s starting to get more serious about their photography, there’s the digital SLR, bringing with it better image sensors and interchangeable lenses. You could spend over £10,000 on an absolutely top of the range SLR body and lenses, but there are some very good entry level options. Just over £350 for Canon’s 1100D, very much aimed at the first time SLR buyer, is exceptionally good value.
Like dutiful moths drawn to a gleaming flame, we’re all currently hankering for an iPhone 4S. Yes, it doesn’t look any different, yes, we’re probably not all ready for the iCloud and yes – sadly – Siri will largely be used for disturbing virtual pillow talk. But be honest, none of these facts has stopped that ‘want-it-coz-it’s-new-and-shiny’ reflex from working overtime in your fevered brain.
However, if you’re going to give in to your cravings, do pay close attention to the likely corresponding effect on your wallet. As usual, networks are at war to provide the best monthly deal, but with handset costs still at a premium, the cheapest overall total cost (at the time of writing) is £618 for an unlocked 16GB model direct from Apple and a 12 month Pay As You Go contract from Giff Gaff.
But, hang on, don’t other people make phones? Can’t I get similar performance, style and apps from another product without paying as much? The answer is a resounding ‘yes!’, and here for your enjoyment are Reevoo’s top 11 (not 10) alternatives to the iPhone 4S and the cheapest way we know of getting them*.
1. Samsung Galaxy SII Best deal:Affordable Mobiles – £459.72 Price breakdown: Free handset, £25.54 a month for 18 months on T-Mobile Standard tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “Huge screen, crystal clear quality, faster than any Iphone I’ve used” Darren, Swindon
Best deal:Buy Mobiles – £361.99 Price breakdown: £109.99 for the handset, plus £10.50 a month for 24 months on Orange Dolphin 10 tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “Best phone since sliced bread, better than the iphone” Caroline, Newark
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3. HTC Desire Z
Best deal:Carphone Warehouse – £551.99 Price breakdown: £299.99 for the handset, plus £10.50 a month for 24 months on O2 Standard tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “Packed with features, great camera and music player…Im really pleased with this phone overall and am glad I switched from being an Iphone user!” Pete, Derby
Best deal:E2 save – £461.75 Price breakdown: £269.99 for the handset, £7.99 a month for 24 months on Talk Mobile Saver tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “It’s my 1st android phone after 2 years on an iPhone, the transition was easy. I have not been disappointed” Neil, Rugby
Best deals:Affordable Mobiles – £490.08 Price breakdown: Free handset, £20.42 a month for 24 months on T-Mobile Standard tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “Fantastic looks, having an iphone previously I was initially cautious however the functionality and display are both tremendous” Stephen, Wirral
Best deal:Phones 4U – £252 Price breakdown: Free handset, £10.50 a month for 24 months on Vodafone Standard tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “With the difference in cost between this and the iPhone it was a no brainer unless you are hooked on Apple products” Chris, Devon
Best deal:Dial A Phone – £252 Price breakdown: Free handset, £10.50 a month for 24 months on Orange Canary tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “small, fast, easy to use, can do everything I could do on an iphone but much better value for money” Lizzy, London
Best deal:Affordable Mobiles – £361.99 Price breakdown: £109.99 for the handset, plus £10.50 a month for 24 months on O2 Standard tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “The operation is natural and does everything an iphone might do but so much easier” Simon, London
Best deal:Mobiles.co.uk – £367.56 Price breakdown: Free handset, £20.42 a month for 18 months on T-Mobile internet tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “Screen is brilliant indoors, nice design – a better execution of the format than the iPhone” Pete, Belfast
Best deal:Into Mobile Phones – £323.99 Price breakdown: £71.99 for the handset, plus £10.50 a month for 24 months on O2 10 24MTH tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “Its like an Iphone but smaller and without apple limitations” Frank, Netherlands
Best deal:Affordable Mobiles – £441 Price breakdown: £189.99 for the handset, plus £10.50 a month for 24 months on O2 50 tariff How our reviewers say it compares to an iPhone: “this Torch is amazing, is a blackberry bold and Iphone concept wrapped up in one” Abbey, East London
*Please note that these deals are correct at the timing of writing; online mobile phone deals don’t stick around for ever, so get in there quick to grab these bargains.
It might be another two months away, but Christmas will be here sooner than you know it. Why not beat the crowds and get your Chistmas shopping done early from the comfort of your own home?
Need a gift for him? For her? For Mum? For Dad? No matter who you’re buying for, we’ve dipped into to our bumper sack of consumer reviews to pick out some of the most desired Christmas gift ideas for the coming season.
He might embarrass you every year with his awful jokes, but Christmas probably wouldn’t be the same without your dad. To help you find a great gift for your old man this year, we’ve picked out some of the best items that reviewers have been raving about by specifically mentioning the word ‘Dad’. Check out our best Christmas gifts for Dad.
The end of the year is time to express the gratitude and love you hold for a mother who nurtures, loves and supports you for an entire lifetime. We’ve picked out some of the flashiest phones, the niftiest appliances and the greatest gaming ideas to let you break away from the norm this yeas and get a truly memorable gift. To browse through our selection, see our best Christmas gifts for Mum.
For the gadget-loving men of the world, we have a huge bag of goodies including the latest and greatest boy’s toys and other products where reviewers have specifcally mentioned how good the item is ‘for him’. To see our selection, have a look at our best Christmas gifts for Him.
To help you think of the perfect gift for her this year, we’ve gathered together the best products where our jolly reviewers have mentioned how good the item is ‘for her’. With some of the shiniest mp3 players, flashiest phones and cutest accessories, you’ll no longer be short on festive gift ideas. To browse these choices, check out our best Christmas gifts for Her.
To help bring the magic of Christmas alive for your little ones, we’ve dipped into Santa’s bag of children’s toys to find the most fun and fabulous gift ideas for your kids in 2011. Our marvelous selection includes the best dolls, puzzles, scooters, lego sets, train sets and learning tabs. For reviews and pricing info, check out our best Christmas gifts for Kids.
When we asked shoppers about their attitudes to reviews back in March, almost a third said they were worried about faked reviews, or businesses that hide bad reviews and only show good ones.
It’s not surprising: every few months there’s a scandal where a business is caught out doing just these things. It’s unethical and it’s illegal, but some people obviously can’t resist the temptation.
That’s why we’ve put together our review ‘manifesto’. It’s a series of promises we’re making to consumers about our reviews. We promise:
never to let fake reviews get in
never to let businesses tell us which reviews to show and which to hide
always to make sure all our reviews come from people with real experience of what they’re reviewing
We only work with shops, businesses and manufacturers who will keep these promises too. So whether you’re reading our reviews on Dixons’ website, or Sony’s or on Reevoo.com, you know that you’ll only see genuine, uncensored reviews from real people who really know what they’re talking about.
Everything seems to be going all 3D lately, films, televisions, camcorders, radios*. In this guide we’re going to focus (it’s a sort of a pun) on 3D still photography, and the different sorts of devices you can get to do it.
The obvious approach to creating 3D pictures is (to get a little vague) to model it after the way people are able to see things in 3 dimensions in general: use 2 lenses and some clever technical stuff to display them as one 3 dimensional image, standing in for 2 eyes and a brain. Several such cameras are available; the more affordable being the likes of the pocket-sized Sony Bloggie 3D and the Fujifilm W3, which both do still photography and video in 3D.
At the more sophisticated (and sadly, more expensive) end of the spectrum is kit like the JVC Everio GS-TD1 and the Sony Handycam HDR-TD10 which are grown-up camcorders with all the whistles and bells you’d expect, except with twice the number of lenses.
Rather than going to all the bother of having to fit a whole extra lens into their cameras, some camera manufacturers have gone for a different approach to stereoscopy: you pan the camera across whatever exciting thing you want a “3D photo” of, it takes several images in quick succession and then combines two of them to produce a 3D effect that’s pretty close to what you’d get by combining 2 images taken at once as in true 3D cameras. The advantage of this is that it’s not adding any extra hardware to the camera, so it’s obviously less expensive than specialist kit. This is usually listed as something along the lines of a ’3D panorama mode’ on a camera’s specification.
Of course, you’ll also need a 3D television or monitor (or digital photo frame) to view them on. Alternatively you could just put two photographs next to each other and make yourself go cross-eyed.
So, 3D home entertainment then. It’s big, it’s scary and it’s pretty much in its infancy; meaning that, though there’s a decent number of 3D TVs out there, specifications, quality and price all vary widely. Although you’ll have plenty of choices to make, it’s fair to assume that if you’re after a product that will make those eco-warrior Avatar aliens practically leap into your front room, you’re probably concerned about picture quality.
With that in mind, we’ve brought together our top five – in no particular order – 3D TVs for eye-melting, experience-shaping, mind-bending image quality, all fuelled by our impressive booty of genuine Reevoo customer reviews. Oh, and while you’re thinking in three dimensions, pick yourself up a stylish pair of 3D glasses…the last thing you want is a blurry Na’vi.
This is my first plasma, and my socks have truly been knocked off.Andrew, Film and documentary lover
Currently the top-rated 3D television for image quality on Reevoo, the Panasonic TX-P50VT20 consistently earns ecstatic reviews for its clarity, depth and contrast of picture. One reviewer went as far as to say that their experience of the television was “better than the cinema”.
I was very dubious about buying an LCD with such a large screen but I needn’t have worried…this TV is AWESOME!!!!Neil, Suffolk
The larger of the two Samsung C750s in the list, this television scores very highly on image and design quality. The C750 range is also singled out by our reviewers for its multi-functionality, with some owners using the device to stream films from a laptop, watch Youtube and gaming on various consoles.
excellent picture(in fact the best i have seen). John, Walsall
Regarded by our reviewers as superior in terms of image quality, particularly when it comes to gaming, the Samsung LE40C750 is also widely praised for its fun extras and neat functions; one reviewer mentions the automatic shut down for compatible 3D glasses when 3D signal is turned off, and also the ‘cool noise’ the product makes when turning on.
My mate has a 50 inch LCD, and this is as good if not better than his and cost £600 less!Alan, Rhoose
With prices sitting comfortably below the £1000 mark, the Samsung PS51D550 is a steal for a 51 inch, full HD 1080p, 3D television. In addition to an excellent value for money score, reviewers have consistently praised the TV for being easy to use and set up, as well as light enough to move around and mount easily.
Image quality is superb in SD and mind blowing in HD. mike, Aberdeen
In addition to comments praising image quality in both 3D and HD, the Sony KDL-46NX713 scores highly for its sleek, elegant design, which reviewers claim is impressive without being overpowering. Sound quality is reported as average by some owners.
To read more pricing information and customer reviews for these 3D TVs, go to this Reevoo.com list.
To celebrate the launch of Gears of War 3, one of the most anticipated games of 2011, we’re giving one lucky winner the chance to get their hands on a quality Xbox 360 250GB console, the latest Gears of War 3 game AND the renowned Turtle Beach Ear Force X41 headset.
To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, you need to be a member of Reevoo Plus. This competition ends 11am on the 19th of October 2011.
To enter this competition, you need to be a member of:
If you are already a member of Reevoo plus, log in to your account and head to our competition page to enter.
Enthralling Cinematic Action in Gears of War 3
The third installment of the best-selling Gears of War series continues the story of Marcus Fenix, an ex-war hero acting as the leader of the Delta Squad. The war against the Locust has raged on for eighteen months since the fall of the last human city in “Gears of War 2”, and now new and foul enemies have emerged. A new threat is rising from deep beneath the surface of the Earth itself, Lambent, who is infecting the planet from within. With civilizations in ruins and survivors scattered, Marcus and his comrades are running out of time to rescue humanity from its dire fate.
Explosive Multiplayer Gaming
Using the Turtle Beach Ear Force x41 headset, you can get the fullest multiplayer gaming experience possible. Featuring 7.1 channel Dolby Surround Sound, XBOX LIVE chat and a digital RF wireless connection, the Ear Force x41 headset takes online gaming to the next level.
Overall, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones scored highly in most categories. They enjoy an impressive 9.3 average in sound quality, as opposed to all other headphones which only score 8.8. Beats by Dr Dre Solo HD are a particularly high scorer in this category with an excellent 9.4; Adam, a music loving reviewer, claimed they had “incredible sound”.
Now it’s all well and good having parents comment on how their little darlings love their new headphones, but what do the professionals think? While feedback for the brand is generally positive among reviewers who have identified themselves as DJs, there is a slightly wider range of opinions. Jaz, a DJ from Glenrothes called Beats by Dr Dre Power Beats “overpriced junk” and claimed “sound and design quality could be picked up at a third of the price at any high street shop”.
However, other DJs had praise for the headphones. Mark, a DJ from Swindon called the Beats by Dr Dre Pro “the most amazing set of headphones I have ever owned”, giving them an 8/10, saying they lost marks for the price. A pair of non-Beats that scored highly among DJs was the Sennheiser HD 202. Paul, a DJ from Bordon said they were “the best headphones I have ever tried in this price range”.
