Showing posts with label retractable headphones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retractable headphones. Show all posts

Casio PX150 BK 88-Key Touch Sensitive Privia Digital Piano with Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action

Casio PX150 BK 88-Key Touch Sensitive Privia Digital Piano with Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: $499.99
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  • Keyboard: 88 keys, weighted scaled hammer action
  • Sound Source: AiR (Acoustic & intelligent Resonator)
  • Polyphony (maximum): 128
  • Tones: 18 Built-in tones, Duet Mode, Layer, Split, Octave Shift
  • Simulator: Hammer Response, Damper Resonance, String Resonance, Lid Simulator

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Let me start by saying that I picked this up primarily to use for silent practice. I am an adult taking lessons and have a Yamaha acoustic piano that I love. I wanted something that I could use without disturbing the rest of the family (or driving them crazy listening to the same piece a hundred times over). I'm not using any of the interface functions as of yet (and probably won't). I had picked up the Yamaha DGX-530 initially, but discovered a defect in the keyboard so returned it. I wasn't pleased with the "lightly weighted" keys of the DGX-530 (though all of the voices were fun to play with), so decided its replacement needed a more piano like action.

This Casio has a heavier touch than my Yamaha acoustic does, but makes it easier to transition between the acoustic and the Casio than the DGX-530 would have. It does have a few voices (eighteen I believe, some of which are piano variations) and the ability to do some dual voices with the strings, but again, my desire for this was primarily for silent (or at least quiet) practice. The speakers in the Casio are average, I tend to start out with the speakers but transition to headphones if I'm going to sit for any length of time, the sound coming thru headphones just sound nicer. I get some noise from the keys, but it is more thuddy than clicky. I am impressed with how the keyboard mimics the audio nuances of a piano, acting very much like an acoustic when you manipulate the keys with different pressures, quite realistic. The texturing of the keys is nicer than your typical digital keyboard (at least in this price range). The power adapter and a cheaper style sustain pedal are included. I picked up a Stagg KXS-A6 X style stand for it that works nicely, but be aware that the PX150 seems to be a thicker unit, as it sits a little higher on this stand than I'd like when sitting (and I'm a little over 6' tall, so that stand probably wouldn't be a good one for kids).

Overall I'm very pleased with the build quality and realism of the PX150. A better speaker system would be nice, but is an acceptable trade off for me given the other features and price. The PX150 has been a great unit for the purpose I was searching for!

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I decided to learn to play the piano after years of watching others.Since that time I have had 5 different digital pianos Casio CDP120(love the feel of this one but it didn't have an organ sound),KorgSP170S(loved the feel of this one as well but it didn't have a USB midi, conuldn't properly connect it to my computer with midi to usb cord), Casio px130(I hated the sounds of the keys on this model, the sounds were all bad), casiowk7500(this is a great system for someone other than myself although the drawbars are disappointing for someone interesting in true hammond sounds...nevertheless it was a great system. Not for someone who just wanted piano sounds and a few organs). Now on the to the PX150 I really like this system the keys feel and sound great not clicking sound not really plastic feeling with the new ivory touch. Overall it has everything I like although, I wish they could add fully functional drawbars for the jazz organ section that would be wonderful. You can't go wrong with this model. Also I bought mines from proaudiostar.com open box full warranty for 469....great buy.

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I am a piano teacher, I also accompany, and play for weddings, funerals, school plays, etc. I am always at the mercy of whatever piano is at a facility any time I want to have a recital or program. Sometimes I can get the venue to tune their piano but not always so I would have to pay to get that done myself. I have been jealous of other musicians, like guitar players, that always bring their own instrument, they practice on it, it is in tune, and they chose it. I purchased this a couple of months ago and used it at my Christmas recital. My students did not complain about playing on a keyboard since it feels and sounds like the acoustic in my studio. It is in tune and sounds and feels like a real piano. I did not want a synthesizer so other sounds are not all that important to me but I did have fun with the included sounds and may use them from time to time with my own projects. Again, I am not an instrument snob since I have played on broken down-stored-in-the-basement pianos and still have gotten the job done. But I think this is as nice a sound and feel of some of the nicer pianos I have played. Overall, it is a nice keyboard that delivers for a performance.

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I'm a professional keyboardist but not a pro piano player.

OK. This keyboard doesn't have any of the bells and whistles of the higher model Privias and Celviano digital pianos. It doesn't have an LED screen. It only has 18 voices. It doesn't have line outs. It doesn't have lines in. It doesn't have a USB flash drive input. It comes with cheap speakers.

But this keyboard has the same key bed and the same sound engine for its concert grand piano that the higher models have. So through headphones or through a stereo system, the PX-150 will sound just as good as Casio's highest model.

And let me tell you, this keyboard has a fantastic set of keys and a superb grand piano.

The keys are made to feel like ivory and ebony keys. They have a light grain to them. They feel like expensive piano keys, not like plastic keyboard keys. The keys are progressively heavier and slower as you go down and lighter and faster as you go up the scale like a real grand piano. The keyboard has wonderful resonance. On a real piano, if you play three notes with the damper pedal pressed, you will hear the sympathetic vibration of the strings that aren't being played. Casio has modeled this effect. A typical MIDI keyboard will transmit 127 different levels of velocity depending on how it's played. The Casio delivers 16,256 levels!

Only one voice on the keyboard has all of this detail, the concert grand piano. Through my $130 200W Logitech speakers that have a subwoofer and two satellites (keep the satellites resting on top of the PX-150 speakers) the Casio sounds just breathtaking. I can get thunderous fortes and the quietest pianissimos. There is balance throughout the keyboard's range. Casio's previous model had a quick decay in the midrange that frustrated me. The PX-150 has detailed expression. I am in love with this keyboard.

The other pianos and voices? They're very good. The electric piano is excellent. It has a great Rhodes sound.

Part of me wishes that I had spent the extra $200 for the PX-350 so that I could have the lines in and the USB flash input. The PX-150 does have a USB to host, and it can be used with some iPad apps. I would recommend that people buy the PX-350, but I was on a budget. And my PX-150 through these Logitechs sounds better than the PX-350 would through its onboard speakers.

All I can say is that I couldn't be any happier with the piano feel and the piano sound on this keyboard. It sounds just astounding through my $130 speakers. I can only imagine what it would sound like through an expensive sound system.

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I'm new to keyboards, and I got this one to tie me over untill I have space to unpack my piano.

My first impressions were dissappointing, as the keys were noisy and the sound quality was poor.

As soon as I got myself a decent pair of headphones my impression changed dramatically, the sound quality is excellent and you can't hear the key action anymore (at a high enough volume). Its not a piano-but I'll happily hang onto it even after I've got space for the real thing-It means that I can play when others would otherwise rather be sleeping ;)

If you are looking for a keyboard with good playability and sound then this is a safe bet. This and a good pair of headphones (or two).

Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Keyboard

Yamaha EZ-200 61 Full-Sized Touch Keyboard
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $319.00
Sale Price: $155.99
Today's Bonus: 51% Off
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  • 61 touch sensitive keys with Guide lights - the EZ way to learn
  • GM plus Yamaha XGlite compatible - connect a computer
  • Portable Grand: Industry's Best Piano
  • Yamaha Education Suite with music book: helps you learn to play
  • Chord Dictionary for learning chords and built-in metronome

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I am a 36 yo man, I've always wanted to learn piano so I thought I'd get this keyboard which I thought had built in lessons that would guide my learning to play the piano...

For all intents and purposes, doesn't the description seem to infer that? That with the Y.E.S.5 teaching system and all those built in songs you'd have a well thought out lesson plan built in. That was my misunderstanding:::

What it actually is is a nice keyboard that you can learn on, but it won't teach youthe emphasis is on getting out what you put inyou have to really stumble your way thru learning the built in songs that the keyboard lights up the correct keys you're supposed to strikethere is not a good fluid way to learn a little piece at a time (It does have an A-B feature but it's not so much a loop as it is a measure to measure cycle with a 2-4 bar intro, each time!) So its not like you can just sit there and play it over and over and over again until you and your fingers get it, its: play the 2 or so bars you select (A-B) and then at the end, it goes thru at least a 2 bar beat count and then resumes the 2 bars of the song you're trying to learn.... does that make sense?

There are not lesson plans. In the book it says to "Listen to and Learn" the song. My memory isn't that fantastic that I can learn the songs by listening to them and then just learning, I think it would be a vast improvement to have a real loop feature that you could use to select a portion, loop it ad infinitum until you learn it and them move on. Also, I was really thinking that with the latest Learning System (Y.E.S.5) that there would be beginner lessons on reading the sheet music, finger drills, scales, etc... all the stuff you learn when you're learning pianothis piano system is for prodigies and people who already know piano.

So while it is a nice keyboard, it is not the EZ piano that will teach you how to play, you will have to look elsewhere to learn, or teach yourself, but this keyboard with all its songs and such will not be a step by step tutor....

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I did a lot of research before I finally order YAMAHA EZ-200 a week ago from Amazon ($150+plus shipping)

I had a couple years of basic piano lessons and wanting a keyboard for myself to learn some songs for self-entertaining purpose, using synthesia program. The features that I was looking for:

-Minimal 61 keys/regular size keys for basic beginners

-lighted keys for guided practice

-LCD for guided fingering

-realistic piano sounds

-piano like touch (Touch sensitive keys)

-ability to download MIDI from the computer

After playing with YAMAHA EZ-200 for a week, it delivers what I am looking for:

-content in the box include: EZ-200 keyboard, a product manual, a song book and a demo DVD of YAMAHA products.

-the keyboard was well made (made in China), elegant look; does not have that cheap plastic feeling

-YAMAHA education suite allows you to set a section between A point and B point, which let you practice that segment repeatedly

-the keyboard does simulate a stand-up piano quality

-"Waiting" function allows lighted key to pause and wait for you to catch up the music

-Allows practice separate right hand and left hand practice

-Allows to slow down the tempo the the song (included) that helps practice

A few things I'd like to address, not related to how EZ-200 was made, but probably would have affect my purchasing decision if I had known it ahead of time:

-AC adapter NOT included with YAMAHA EZ-200.

I was shocked when I realize the AC adapter is not included, especially when the product manual stresses the importance of using an AC adapter for environmental friendly reason. After seeing many sellers include AC adapter in their package, I did suspect AC adapter may not included in the box, but I still choose to purchase EZ-200 without any other bells and whistles. A friend purchased the YAMAHA PSR-E230 bundle with a keyboard stand and earphones. She reports the stand was flimsy and not sturdy for the keyboard. I really don't need a filmsy stand that doesn't serve the purpose, but a AC adapter that can spare the use of batteries and prevent environmental pollution, I can use one.

-USB MIDI Cable Converter (PC to Music Keyboard) NOT included

The YAMAHA EZ-200 keyboard itself is excellent!!! I'll give it a 5-star rating. As for the overall package, until it comes with AC adapter, I'll give it 4 star.

C'mon, it's like a boom box radio that did not provide a AC adapter. YAMAHA, WHAT R U THINKING???

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I used to take piano when I was 4 until I was a teenager. I'm only getting back into learning now, and I decided I didn't want to spend too much money until I'm dedicated to piano again. This is perfect for a beginner. It's not going to teach you entirely how to play piano, but the lighted keys are fun for playing along with something complicated you wouldn't normally try. It doesn't work as great as I hoped, especially on "Waiting" mode. If you play in time with the song, the key does not register and you have to press it twice. I haven't found an option to mute the instructional playing and allow you to play alone with the background music. But you can always play without song mode and set your own background tempo. This keyboard does not teach you how to read sheet music, or anything about the notes, so don't expect that when buying the EZ-200. You need to purchase a book or take lessons if you can afford it. I love that the keyboard has a metronome, and you can change the tempo easily. Overall this is a nice keyboard to practice with while learning.

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The only two options in this category seem to be this and the casio, and I think the yamaha is a better product hands-down. It feels a bit more substantial, and the sound seems (to me) much improved.

The actual lighted feature is nice, and I enjoyed a few of the songs, but I was a bit dissapointed that additional songs could not be added to the keyboard itself. They do have free software online (and a few free songs) that can talk to the keyboard through MIDI, and with that you can sort of play new songs, but it doesn't take full advantage of the lighted keys.

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My 6 year old kids love it, I have had it for last 2 years and it is still working fine, my kids have learnt lot of songs on this. Lights from the keys are very good.

AUDIOQUEST - GOLDEN GATE MINI-TO-MINI 1.0M

AUDIOQUEST - GOLDEN GATE MINI-TO-MINI 1.0M
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $69.00
Sale Price: $68.75
Today's Bonus: $0.25 Off
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anyone intend to buy this cables for headphones should also get an adapter for the 3.5mm port recess. some headphone with 3.5mm jack which is detachable kind,due to the form factor unable to fit entirely. For audiophiles intend to take it along for mobility,FYI the cable is solid stiff unlike ordinary cable which is softer easy to drape it around neck/shoulder to waist. Overall it is a premium first grade hi-end product.well built for desktop/immobility usage.

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The Sharper Image Digital 6-piece Electronic Drum Set

The Sharper Image Digital 6-piece Electronic Drum Set
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
List Price: $110.00
Sale Price: $67.23
Today's Bonus: 39% Off
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  • 8 digitally-sampled drum presets provide a wide variety of authentic beats and rhythms
  • 4 drum pads, 2 cymbals, hi-hat and bass drum foot pedals
  • Headphone jack perfect for quiet practice
  • LCD screen with multi-function controls
  • Click track with tempo adjustment

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Wow, I bought this for my 9 year old son and was so disapointed! It is such a piece of junk that it would not even make a good toy. All the pads have serious delay and only register a hit at random times. Don't waste your money!

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My nephew started to get into drumming and I thought this was the perfect answer for him (and for his parents to get a break from the noise since headphones can be used). It has lots of presets with different sounds (I thought the steel drum sounded cool). Probably not superior enough quality for an adult, but perfect for an 8+ kid. Also, couldn't beat the price!!

UPDATE: Within a day or two, the product stopped working completely (tried battery replacement, checking connections etc) It's obviously not made well enough for long-term use. Returned for a full refund.

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The drum set does everything it's supposed to do, and I haven't had any problems with it. It's a lot of fun. This makes a great gift for a kid.

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Excelllent Product

Arrived on time and in the expected conditions. This is a perfect drum for kids which are on their way to consider playing drum

Beyerdynamic DT-250-250OHM Lightweight Closed Dynamic Headphone for Broadcast and Recording Applica

Beyerdynamic DT-250-250OHM Lightweight Closed Dynamic Headphone for Broadcast and Recording Applications, 250 Ohms
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
List Price: $259.00
Sale Price: $173.37
Today's Bonus: 33% Off
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  • Closed dynamic headphone, 250 ohms
  • Good ambient noise attenuation
  • Lightweight, low-profile design
  • Single-sided, detachable cable
  • Powerful neodymium system for accurate reproduction

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These cans, the Beyerdynamic DT 250 250 Ohm headphones, has:

Moister mids than the Sennheiser HD555;

Better detail retrieval than the AKG K701(holistic detail[DT 250] over microdetail[K701]);

MUCH tigher bass than the Victor JVC HP-M1000!!!!!!!!!;

Forwardness and aggressiveness like Grado sr-80, but infinitely wider soundstage than the AKG K701...and simply a lot more so, than the Beyerdynamic DT 150. Hmm.;

Infinitely better handling of "low bitrate"(128k) mp3 music, than Koss r80;

Much more comfortable, than even the Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro;

More natural bass reverberation, than even the Beyerdynamic DJX-1!!!!!!!!¿;

MUCH better 3d sound locationing(imaging) for hardcore gaming even, than even(pun, intended^_^) the Ultrasone hfi-780!!!!!!!!!;

A capability to handle HIGH *power* outputs--unlike both the Ultrasone Pro 900 and the Beyerdynamic DT 990 600 ohm cans--both of which headphones' drivers blew, when I had listened to music on them for a few days...with My Home Theater Receiver...when I had used this receiver at various and loud volumes output[this receiver has a nifty auto-volume/power adjustment feature for headphones; but this feature seemingly only works...when a headphone is plugged into the receiver's headphone socket during times, when the receiver's volume is exactly set on 0 decibels, of volume!!!!!!!!!];

=========

Comparison of this headphone--the Beyerdynamic DT 250--to the relatively unknown AKG K272 HD, will be posted in the comment section, of this here review...

...God Willing...

...in a few days ^_^

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I bought these looking for the DT 250 Velour Pads for my Sony MDR 7506

Clearly, the pads in the headphone picture is velour, but the ones I received are pleather!

A huge waste of money, that is worse than the actual Sony pleather pads

Micro Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds w/ Microphone for iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, smart phones, and o

Micro Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds w/ Microphone for iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, smart phones, and other Bluetooth devices By Audiosynq
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $46.99
Today's Bonus: 53% Off
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These are the best Bluetooth headphones I have owned. Sound is way better compared to the others, there is actually bass coming out of these rather than sounding flat like the other Bluetooth headsets I have owned. They also show the battery life on my iPhone so I know how much juice is left in them! They are very well made for the price and I haven't had any problems. So far I have used them at the gym and when I go jogging and they are very comfortable and stay in my ears really good. Its really nice not to have any cords getting in the way while I exercise!

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Wow!! Very Bassey which I love in earbuds,also look like hearing protection if you paint them orange!! keep that on the d-low

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I got mine in the mail the other day and it worked great on my first attempt. Really cool product. Highly Recommend!!

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pros; fit very snug in ear and really cuts out any background noise, esp at my gym which plays their music too loud.

cons; signal is weak, it drops even with my iphone sitting next to me while i do my stretching. it has about less than 10ft range..hopefully they'll improve this on their next release.

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The sound quality is okay but the earpieces are too big, even if you're using the smallest silicone buds, to the point that they become uncomfortable in extended use. My maximum tolerance is 2 hours. The microphone/phone function is useless because it's built into the right earpiece. From the other end of the line, it sounds like you're too far away. The BT connectivity is not as good as the LG HB700/730. The connection cuts off easily when you move even if the phone is just in your pocket. Anyway, I'm just okay because it isn't expensive.

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XtremeMac Headphone Splitter - Y Adapter Mini Stereo Plug Headphone Splitter

XtremeMac Headphone Splitter - Y Adapter Mini Stereo Plug Headphone Splitter
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: Price Unavailable
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
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Just what my wife needed to hear music on my bike. Without this she could not hear the music coming from the handle bar mounted speakers after about 45 MPH.

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It's a splitter. It combines two into one. I WORKS. What MORE could I want. I have been very happy with this.

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Yamaha ARIUS YDP-V240 Digital Piano With Bench

Yamaha ARIUS YDP-V240 Digital Piano With Bench
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $2,699.99
Sale Price: $1,999.99
Today's Bonus: 26% Off
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  • Dynamic Stereo Sampling AWM piano with 64-note polyphony
  • 131 Voices + 361 XGlite Voices + 12 Kits; 160 styles; 30 preset songs
  • 6-track recorder with hands-separate practicing
  • USB connectivity for storing data or interfacing with software
  • 88-key Graded Hammer Standard weighted-action keyboard

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The Yamaha Arius YDP-V240 home digital piano is as good as it gets, short of being a Clavinova. I can't wait to get mine.

I went to a music store about an hour's drive from my home to choose a digital piano. My main keyboard is an eight-year-old Yamaha DGX500, which was the closest I could come to owning a Clavinova at the time. The DGX500 has a lot of nice features, but it still performs and sounds like a keyboard, as opposed to a digital piano.

The moment I sat down at the Arius I found it a true joy to play. It was sitting next to a CVP503 Clavinova, which I also played for comparison. The piano sample in the Clavinova was slightly better than the Arius, but not by much. There was also a slight difference between the Graded Hammer Standard and the Graded Hammer touch, but again, not by much. People talk about the Graded Hammer Standard mechanism being noisy. Perhaps it depends on how one plays and the type of music one plays. I didn't find noise to be an issue at all. The touch was satisfyingly pleasant to me. It is certainly better than any of the other keyboards I currently own.

This Arius model has everything anyone could possibly want in a fine digital piano. There is a ton of instrument voices and loads of rhythms with automatic accompaniment styles. I even hooked up a USB portable disk drive to play some piano MIDI files. And wow! The sound blew me away! It sounded as if someone were sitting at the piano playing this wonderful recital for me.

This instrument even looks like a piano, with its wood cabinet design, three pedals, and sliding key cover, which not only conceals the keys, but also the instrument's knobs and buttons. What's not to like? The fact that I wasn't in a hurry to get up from the piano bench speaks for itself. I said to the salesman, "This piano has my name on it."

I decided to purchase the instrument from this particular Yamaha dealer because we came up with a comfortable payment plan and the store will deliver it to my house fully assembled.

For 20 years I've been clamoring for a Clavinova, which always seemed just beyond my reach. Until the Yamaha Arius YDP-V240. I look forward to owning this instrument because it's as good as it gets.

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I have played on many different acoustic pianos in the last forty years. I admit I was a snob about digital pianos, I didn't believe there was one anywhere that could compare to a good acoustical piano. I had only had experience with some inexpensive keyboards that were lacking, to say the least. I did play a friend's digital piano about 4 years ago that had weighted keys, but it was not very impressive at all. I planned to keep my good console piano forever. However, moving into a smaller place made piano downsizing a must; there just wasn't room for my beloved console piano.

So I went shopping for digital pianos, and I was amazed to find so many good choices that are out there today. Things had changed dramatically since I had played my friend's digital with the weighted keys. I discovered the Yamaha's and fell in love with the graded hammer action, I can't believe how much like a real piano the touch is. And for me the touch is everything, that's what makes this digital piano feel like the real thing. And if you close your eyes, I don't believe you will discern any real difference in the sound, either. Simply amazing.

I wasn't sure I really needed all the bells and whistles such as all the voices and I really didn't think I would do any recording or anything like that. But after wading through the manual I decided to try some of the different voices, as well as record accompaniments so I could play duets with myself, and I've had a blast. It's a lot of fun to try different things on this piano, and I'm constantly glad that I didn't go for a model with less features after all.

The finish is really very nice, and it does look like a nice piece of furniture, and like a real piano, especially with the cover that pulls down over the keys.

Having played classical music for many years, I didn't want to have to "settle" for less than what I was used to. And with this piano, I don't feel like I "settled" at all. I don't think I could have asked for or found anything better without spending many thousands more.

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This piano has a really decent sound for this price range, and is also notably quite aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I regularly play on a Bosendorfer Impereal concert grand piano, and obviously you will notice differences in sound between the two. However, the sound of this Yamaha Arius is definitely on par or above the Casio models that I tried in this price range. The handful of available piano voices are different enough from each other that it is fun to mix it up for some variety. There are also a number of other instruments and sounds that aren't too bad either, though I admittedly use the first grand piano voice 99% of the time.

Setup is pretty straightforward, and I was able to do it alone fairly easily. For some, setup may take 2 people because the whole keyboard and upper cabinet is all one piece, and I'd guess that one piece weighs around 150lbs alone.

The manual is a tome, and I have yet to get into it too far. Thus I have not tried out all the available features like the easy song arranger or the performance assistant.

The keys cover slides out to cover not only the keys but the whole digital display and controls, so when it is closed, the whole piano has a really beautiful classic dark wood look. I think it's actually quite beautiful, and looks better in person than even the pics online.

One additional thing I really like is the dual headphone jacks underneath the piano, and the headphones hanger also conspicuously underneath. Note that if you do not ever intend to use headphones, or don't want them hanging underneath, you can choose not to put the hanger on, and you will never notice the headphone jacks (since they are underneath the keyboard).

All-in-all, I am very pleased with this piano and would definitely recommend it for those looking for a nice digital piano in this price range, with a number of extra digital goodies to keep you amused.

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August 28th, 2013 update My wife is an intermediate level piano player and I am a newbie. After checking on several Yamaha and competitor models at different music stores in San Francisco, we became interested in the Arius and Clavinova models from Yamaha. The Clavinova models are (as best we can tell) higher end instruments with several models that are fully analog (non-digital) "classical" standard pianos and several models that are fully digital and a step or two higher than the Arius. They are made for the more serious performer who practices often and their price is likewise higher as well. In comparison, the V240 is really a higher end keyboard with some piano like features (such as the piano wooden frame, speaker placement, addition of pedals, etc....) and that sounds and operates just as a classical piano does (at least when compared to a stand alone keyboard). What attracted us to the Arius over a traditional classical piano, was:

1 More reasonable price for our playing schedule

2 Fully digital so you can add in a flute, guitar, drums, etc... to accompany any piano piece. (cannot do on a classical piano and some Clavinovas). You can also signal process with the YDP-V240 so that your piano takes on the sound of say a 17th century harpsichord, a Greek lute or dozens of other instruments.

3 If you are learning and dont want to disrupt others in nearby rooms, you can plug in headphones and the piano music will pass only thru them (so anyone nearby will hear nothing). (obviously, cannot do on a classical piano) This allows my young son to start learning how to play without driving me mad in the next room.

4 Accepts USB keys, so you can add music files digitally or store your own creations in a USB memory stick.

5 Fully compatible with Windows 7 and Windows 8, so you can alter and manipulate your own music from piano to PC and back again. (cannot do with some Clavinovas)

6 Has a nice sliding key guard to prevent dust when the piano is not in use.

7 Has a slightly smaller form factor than regular sized pianos and will be easier to accommodate if you live in a apartment of smaller home.

This Arius model also comes with the pedals and bench. The piano is also easy to assemble and is made from a nice solid wood. It is a bit heavy at perhaps 140 lbs (65 kg) when first delivered, so if you are a smaller woman/live alone, etc... you might need a hand with getting it inside the house and setup. While our piano may not have the full acoustic effects that some purists and many professional artists look for in their piano, my wife and I are very happy with this YDP-V240 model. For now, 4.9 stars out of five.

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Here is a review from the perspective of an adult beginner: I'm very happy with my Yamaha Arius YDPV240. I am a beginner at piano (in my late 40's) as is my 6 year old daughter. We've had the piano for about six months. I did not buy the piano from Amazon, but purchased from Kraft Music.

Before I started playing piano six months ago, I thought there was not any real difference between a digital and acoustic instruments except for the modern conveniences. However, I must say that whenever I am able to play a "real" piano I find the differences quite stunning. In fact, when I see an acoustic piano I do my best to sit down and play it if I can! Real pianos have a wide variety of "touches"--some are much stiffer, some less so, and getting notes to sound is different than on my Yamaha digital piano. Also, acoustic pianos are full of strings, of course, and these strings VIBRATE, and that vibration comes through strongly in the keys and can be felt with the fingers and also with the body. This is a very different feeling. Experiencing these things makes me also want an acoustic piano, and realize that if I really had the $$$ the thing to get would be a Yamaha Disklavier, which is an acoustic piano and digital piano in the same instrument. Maybe some day ...

Back to the Yamaha Arius YDPV240. I am happy with my purchase. It was a reasonable amount to spend, but I know we will enjoy this for years. I love being able to practice with headphones when my children are sleeping, and to be able to control the volume when not using headphones. Acoustic pianos are VERY LOUD. It's nice that the digital piano does not have to be. However, if I turn it up to maximum volume, the volume feels like that of a real acoustic piano. I also love being able to record what I play and play it back. This is nice for practicing, as it forces me to find a tempo where I can play my piece through without mistakes. And it is nice to be able to listen to myself more objectively (than I can when playing at the same time). My daughter very much enjoys having the different instrument "voices." She will play with a variety of voices during her practice sessions and when she is fooling around. I think it is a lot of fun for her. She's taking conventional lessons, but I also teach her what I'm learning with the "Simply Music" method. She fools around with the Simply Music pieces quite a bit, playing them in different positions on the piano and it is interesting that when she transposes to a minor key she will choose a "spooky" sounding organ, for example. It's also fun to be able to play baroque music using the harpsichord, etc. I like the different expressive options one has with the digital piano--it is many instruments in one, in a sense.

My main disappointment with this piano was the bench. It is too small to accommodate me and my daughter to play four-handed piano. I just bought a new bench (see my review of the piano bench I just bought, Griffin's "Ebony Black Leather Piano Bench Wood Double Duet Keyboard Seat with Storage") so that we can more comfortably play together. I wish Yamaha provided bench options, as a storage bench that seats two seems to make sense to me!

I'm glad to recommend this piano!

MEElectronics NoiseSHIELD Active Noise Canceling Headphones with Headset Functionality, Black

MEElectronics NoiseSHIELD Active Noise Canceling Headphones with Headset Functionality, Black
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $119.99
Sale Price: $117.99
Today's Bonus: 2% Off
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Want to know how these noise canceling headphones stack up against the more expensive competition? More importantly, want to know how they sound and if they're worth a shot? Check out our in-depth video review and decide for yourself! Spoiler alert: WE LOVE THEM. Watch to find out why.

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I compared the MEE NS63 headphones against my everyday Sennheiser HD-201's I've had for years. With the MEEE's over three times the current price of the HD-201s I hoped the difference in quality would be noticeable. Frankly I was blown away, first by the sheer difference in volume with identical settings on my fairly ordinary AIWA shelf sound system. But the spaciousness, separation, and bass clarity were simply in other league from the Sennheiser's.

I used a range of reference recordings that included large ensembles such as orchestra, chamber groups, and jazz trios, rock bands, to solo instruments like cello, classical and steel string guitars, mandolin, piano and solo violin. They represent a variety of production points of view (i.e. ambient, dry, closed and distant miking acoustic, electric instruments and electronic sound.

The difference across the board was one of richness and presence. I was especially surprised at the bottom end because the MEEE write up indicated the phones were especially designed for balance rather than the bass-heavy specs other consumer brands often go for. There's clearly no shortage of bottom end here.

The NS63 includes a noise suppression function that requires two AAA batteries. You can engage the NS function with or without the audio playing. To be honest it's not a primary use for me but to check it out I took both pairs of phones on a recent trip by commuter train into and out of Grand Central in Manhattan and put them to work against the typical din of cell phones, noisy kids, and the ubiquitous excessively loud conversationalist two rows back.

I have to say the masking effect was not spectacular: I noticed it mostly in the high frequency range and, when compared to wearing the passive HD-201, yes, I could tell the difference but not overwhelmingly so.

Trying later at home upstairs behind a closed door while my wife played an acoustic piano downstairs I confirmed the effect is most noticeable in the higher frequencies. The NS63s are the only noise-cancelling phones I've ever tried; I can't really say how they compare to BOSE or other brands known for NS.

Regarding the mechanics of the phones:

I wish the battery compartment were hinged or otherwise tethered to the phones. It repeatedly slipped out of my hand onto the floor at home while opening it and I can easily imagine it doing the same on a train and bouncing away under a seat or worse. Opening and closing the lid really could be smoother, especially for someone using the NS feature on a regular basis as battery life is rated at 32 hours.

The detachable mini-plug cable is a nice idea, although the supplied cable is only about three feet long compared to at least twice that on the Sennheisers. Another practical feature the NS63 has is a large audio mute button built-into the outer left phone that's very easy to grab and press suddenly very practical.

The ear pads are slightly smaller and rounder on the MEE's than on the HD-201. I have big ears and appreciate the extra size; the MEE's fit my ears more snugly, which perhaps suits the noise suppression function better. However there's no lateral side-to-side play in the MEE phones at all, as there is in the HD-201's, and this makes them slightly less comfortable for longer listening periods.

Speaking of size, there's every bit as much adjustment `pull' in the MEE phones as the HD-201's and my big head had plenty of clearance on top.

The pillbox-style carrying case is a great idea that should fit easily in an average shoulder bag and certainly a suitcase. The MEE's phone cups are hinged and work comfortably regardless of how far they've been pulled out to adjust for head size. The hinges themselves are made from brushed metal with plastic reinforcement. Although they feel fairly solid I'd get in the habit of using two fingers thumb outside, index inside to gently open and close them, especially if you plan to store the phones frequently.

I've used my HD-201s for home recording and always regarded them as a nicely balanced, if not spectacular, pair of phones. Hearing the NS63's reminded me of the sheer joy of listening I had as a kid with my massive `water-filled' KOSS headphones. If you're looking for a similar kind of rush, I'd recommend them.

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Since I wear earrings, I like how these headphones fit over your ears and doesn't make it uncomfortable on your ears. I owned another pair of headphones of a different brand which would press on my earrings into my skin behind my ears which made it very uncomfortable. In addition, the MEElectronics headphones have a better value as they also have great sound quality and come with multiple cords and a sturdier carrying case compared to the other brand headphones I used to own. I highly recommend this product for anyone looking for high quality headphones without breaking your wallet.

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I primarily use my MEElectronics NoiseSHIELD headphones when recording MIDI loops for worship at my church. Deep, rich bass and crisp, accurate highs create an amazing listening experience. The headphone design naturally isolates the listener from most unwanted background noise. When ANC is engaged background noise is attenuated to an even greater degree. Whether I'm working with MIDI software, or listening to music, my MEElectronics NoiseSHIELD headphones do a fantastic job for a fraction of the cost of similar products. With superior comfort, sound quality, and noise-canceling ability, these headphones rock!

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I have only owned one other noise canceling headphones (search my reviews) and these headphones by MEElectronics are by far superior. The sound quality was on par with a $600 pair of headphones I own and use for recording voice overs. I love the sleek, fold-able design and compact carrying case. I just toss these in my Coach tote bag and am good to go. I used these on my NYC subway commute and was more than pleased with the performance over the louder than life subway and occasional subway-preacher. The only negative comment I have is with regards to the weight. I am user to lighter headphones and these felt a bit heavy on my head after a few hours of wear.

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Sennheiser ME 3-EW headset EW microphone

Sennheiser ME 3-EW headset EW microphone
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $139.95
Sale Price: $137.16
Today's Bonus: 2% Off
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  • Model# ME3-EW

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I have tested several microphones on several computers for Dragon NaturallySpeaking software, and one thing is very clear: to improve the accuracy of Dragon, you need to invest in a high-quality microphone. I am using the Sennheiser me3 (which I bought on Amazon), and the results are outstanding. I believe that it is not the sensitivity of the microphone, but its capability to cancel noise that determines the quality and the accuracy of your speech recognition. Clearly, not all microphones are smart enough to understand what "noise" is and what "speech."

I am using the Sennheiser me3 at work in a loud office with many staff members walking in, with printers calibrating all the time and an air conditioning unit running constantly. With all this noise, it works perfectly.

If you want to invest in a high-quality microphone and significantly improve the accuracy of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, consider the Sennheiser. Before you do so, please note the following:

The ones I bought on Amazon were not "modified." The modification has nothing to do with the electronics or the accuracy of the microphone. It only has to do with the plug at the end of the cord. All you need to do is buy a little adapter for the nonstandard 3.5 mm plug of the microphone that comes with a locking ring.

I could not find this little plug adapter on Amazon: you need to search the Internet for these. You will find them by searching the Internet for "Sennheiser ME3 Plug Adapter". It would be great if Amazon sells these plug adapters as well.

The standard plug that comes with this microphone is different from the standard 3.5 mm plug. Because of the locking ring of the Sennheiser microphone, it does not fully go into the audio port of your computer. But perhaps more importantly, you should use this microphone with a USB adapter.

I do recommend the Andrea USB adapter that is available on Amazon AND-C1-1016600-4 ANDREA USB ADAPTER. I tried the microphone without the USB adapter and plugged the microphone directly into the soundcard of my laptop ASUS G73SW-A1 Republic of Gamers 17.3-Inch Gaming Laptop (Black) together with the plug adapter to make it a standard 3.5 mm plug. Although this is a very good laptop with a great sound card, the results were significantly better when I used the USB adapter.

The microphone comes with a strap which you can adjust. I'm using mine without problems. Please also note that you can use the microphone only on the right side of your mouth.

You do not wear the microphone on top of you head but behind your head.

If you are in the market for an excellent microphone and you want superior speech recognition with Dragon NaturallySpeaking (especially when you work in a noisy environment and it seems most of us actually do), the investment in this microphone with the plug adapter and the USB adapter is worth every penny.

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I've been trying Microsoft's built in Windows Speech Recognition (WSR Vista and Windows 7 only) to see if I could somehow play poker and chess, hands free, while running on a treadmill. After trying a bunch of microphones, this is the first one that practically eliminates the noise of the treadmill and other background noises from being passed to WSR. The others I tested would cause WSR to interpret voice commands from background noise, even when I wasn't speaking into the microphone.

With this headset I did not have to repeat a command once while playing several poker tournaments, and no superfluous commands were generated from background noise. WSR recognized every command I issued perfectly. For Poker these were commands like "check", "raise", "quit", "push". I used WSR macros to tie these voice commands to keyboard sequences on the computer. For example CTRL F is fold, and by speaking the word "fold" that keyboard sequence would be initiated on the active window. I'm able to play multiple games simultaneously without ever touching the keyboard now. Who'd have thought, play poker and exercise at the same time!!

One caveat though. The connector on these headphones, that plugs into the pc microphone port, has a metal ring around it that prevents it from fully engaging with the PC. You will have to buy or make an adapter to get these to work on a PC. If you do an internet search with something like "Sennheiser ME3 voice recognition", you'll find at least one site that sells this inexpensive adapter. Thus 4 stars, the PC adapter should be included with the headset or at least be an option.

One other point, in order to use WSR to control applications that are not already part of the WSR package, you'll need to download a free update from Microsoft that allows User defined voice commands to be added. A search for "WSR speech macros" should lead you to the appropriate download link for that.

I use this product: SurfShelf Treadmill Desk and Laptop Holder to allow my laptop to be attached to the treadmill.

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I am dictating this review using my Sennheiser ME-3 and Dragon NaturallySpeaking Medical 10.1. I previously used the Andrea NC-181 headset which came with Dragon. The NC-181 is highly rated by Nuance and gave me good results in perfectly quiet conditions but left something to be desired in other conditions. I frequently dictate with my young children playing (screaming) nearby, and their noises were constantly picked up by the Andrea headset.

The Sennheiser headset is extremely accurate, an improvement even under perfectly quiet conditions, and absolutely game-changing under noisy conditions. It near completely blocks out external noises, and my dictations are far less frustrating as a result.

I purchased the Sennheiser ME-3 headset from Emicrophones.com, who sell the headset with the proper connector and USB pod so that it will work great "out of the box", in contrast to the item being sold here. I have no relation to Emicrophones other than being a satisfied repeat customer.

Amin Sabet, M.D.

Boston, Massachusetts

February 9, 2012 update: My opinion of the ME-3 has not changed. It is superb. However, I found another headset which has similar performance to the ME-3 but better comfort (for me), and that is the Audio Technica PRO8HEX. The PRO8HEX build quality is not up to the Sennheiser standard, but overall the former suits me better because it is more comfortable, doesn't interfere with my glasses, can be worn on either side, and has a boom that can swing out of the way when I talk on the phone or eat/drink. The PRO8HEX has an XLR termination, but there is another version, the PRO8HEmW, which differs only in that it has a 3.5mm termination. Most people who want this mic for speech recognition will want to choose the PRO8HEmW unless you are going through a mixer.

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I bought the Sennheiser wireless base unit and the mic it came with was all over the side of my head, it moved constantly.

It was the kind that fit over only one ear, it is flesh colored and looked good, but, as I preach and teach, it moved.

This mic is solid, a little cumbersome at first, but after our first concert (playing congas and doumbek) and teaching afterwards, I love it.

It stays put and works well, very solid.

Pastor Brian Howard

New Water Fellowship

Sumner, Wa. 98390

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I recently purchased the Sennheiser ME 3-EW headset EW microphone to use as a voice-recognition microphone with Dragon Dictate for Mac. In fact I'm using it right now, and it's working quite well. Although I'm very happy with my purchase there are a few things you should know before purchasing this microphone. After doing some reading it sounded like the best way to hook up this microphone to my Mac was with a USB connection. I purchased the AND-C1-1016600-4 ANDREA USB ADAPTER along with the microphone to hook it up to my iMac. The problem is that I never read in any other review is the Sennheiser ME 3-EW does not make a good connection to the ND-C1-1016600-4 ANDREA USB ADAPTER. The microphones connection is a little recessed so it does not fit flush against the adapter. The problem was easily fixed with a 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) stereo male to 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) stereo female adapter from RadioShack. Total cost $5. Not the end of the world and like I said, the setup works really well with the additional adapter I brought from RadioShack. Obviously, you can buy the adapter from anywhere you like; I even saw a few on Amazon. But without the adapter the microphone is hit or miss and when it comes to voice recognition you want as much accuracy as possible.

Smokey Amp Mini Amp Clear

Smokey Amp Mini Amp Clear
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $37.99
Sale Price: $31.95
Today's Bonus: 16% Off
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  • Great tube amp tone
  • Sympathetic overdrive
  • Speaker out jack (can be used with headphones that have their own volume control)

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This thing is awesome. Never imagined so much sound can come out of such a small thing. I take this when I travel with one of my guitars. It is perfect when practicing somewhere in the house or hotel room etc...

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These Amps are Fantastic ! Got my first Smokey Clear Today , and I am Very Impressed ,

( 1 ) The design = A+

( 2 ) Function = A+

( 3 ) Tone , alone is good for 2" speaker

( 4 ) Tone , driving a 10" 4 ohm speaker = loud and crunchy , really louder than you think

( 5 ) Tone , in front of another amp as fuzz box, = loud and punchy

I tried the rotor effect and , Yes a nice modulation, fast or slow , sounded cool

I tried as talk box and was able to vocalize some cools tones

I used this as a Wah wah on the floor with my foot and loved it , chica Wah wah

I tried using as a slide and the feedback is cool with sustain up the wazzoo,

I really like these little amps , best thing for guitar players since , well a very long time.

As I have been playing 35+ years and have had most every gear know to man, this Smokey Amp Clear is clearly one the best designs i have ever seen , simplicity at its best,

I can go on all day about these Smokeys , Thank you for your contribution to the guitar industry. Hats off !!!! The best deal around !!!

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Bought for my husband for Christmas, he really likes the product! It has an awesome sound to be so small.

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The only thing which is lacking from this "unit" is a clip to attach to self with. Home Depot here I come to remedy this oversight. PEACE

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This is awesome to use as a travel amp love the portability and it works great. Would buy it again.