Impartial buying advice

Beats by Dr. Dre headphones: Style or Substance?

Nathan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:02:00 +0000

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.

Reevoo Deals on the Toshiba 42HL833 Television

Mark — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:04:41 +0000

Get the fabulous Toshiba 42HL833 Full HD LED TV for just £380 from Amazon! That’s £70 cheaper than the nearest competitor!

Excellent picture quality and value for money.
James, Nottingham

The 5 best cookers for Christmas lunch

Dan — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:08:16 +0000

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).

1. Belling FSE60I, from £649

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.

2. Stoves Richmond 550E, from £609

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.

3. Belling FSE60MF, from £492

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.

4. Cannon C60DH, from £539.99

Having the 2 ovens made christmas dinner for 11 a doodle. Alison, Wakefield

This gas-fuelled cooker is the highest rated for ease of use in this list, and also has a helpful cool door, which won’t get hot while you cook.

5. Flavel ML51NDSP, from £279.99

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.

Digital camera Christmas gift guide

Ed — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:45:52 +0000

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

Fujifilm Finepix AV200, from £45

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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8, from £142

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

Canon PowerShot G12, from £351

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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45, from £240

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

Olympus E-PL1 with 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses, from £350

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

Canon EOS 1100D with 18-55mm lens, from £351

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.

Reevoo Deals on the Samsung Chat 335 Mobile Phone

Mark — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:51:30 +0000

Get the highly-rated Samsung Chat 335 for just £55 from Tesco, including delivery! The perfect Christmas gift for someone who loves to text!

Easy to use, battery lasts for days, cheap, option to access the internet, great value for money.
Chloe, Brighton

Reevoo Deals on the Samsung Galaxy Mini S5570 Smartphone

Mark — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:39:01 +0000

Grab yourself a bargain on the fantastic Samsung Galaxy Mini at Tesco. Get the phone for just £85 including delivery by using voucher code TDX-NTRY, that’s £30 cheaper than the nearest competitor!

Great phone to use with lots of useful apps, small enough to fit in your pocket.John, Colchester

11 alternatives to iPhone 4S that will save you money

Ed — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:44:59 +0000

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

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2. Nokia N8

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

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4. HTC Sensation

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

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5. Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc

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

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6. Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830

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

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7. HTC Wildfire S

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

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8. BlackBerry Bold 9780

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

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9. HTC Desire

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

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10. Sony Ericsson XPERIA Ray

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

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11. Blackberry Torch 9800

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.

Get Ready for Christmas with Reevoo Gift Ideas

Mark — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:26:14 +0000

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.

Christmas Gifts for Dad

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.

Christmas Gifts for Mum

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.

Christmas Gifts for Him

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.

Christmas Gifts for Her

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.

Christmas Gifts for Kids

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.

Reevoo Deals on the Google Nexus S Smartphone

Mark — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:18:54 +0000

Grab yourself a great deal on the Google Nexus S Android 2.3 smartphone at Simply Electronics. Get the phone for just £245 sim-free. Over £50 cheaper than the nearest competitor!

Fast, easy to use, feature packed.Bob, East Sussex

Reevoo Deals on the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W350 Digital Camera

Mark — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:06:32 +0000

Get the flashy Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W350 for just £90 from Currys, with free delivery! Save over £25 off the nearest competitor!

Compact sized, Quality Metal casing, Fantastic pictures.IAN, Cheltenham