Max Mutter
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Articles by Max Mutter
Tribit XSound Go Review
The Tribit XSound Go might be small in size, but it packs quite a punch thanks to a strong bass output courtesy of its built-in subwoofer and stereo sound. While there’s no companion app to fine-tune its rich, well-balanced sound performance down to your specific preferences, sound output is still pretty good out of the box, and its tested 19.25-hour battery life places it in the top 30% compared to how long other speakers in our certified, tested list last.
The 4 Best Chromebooks
Best for Most People The Samsung Pro is a great Chromebook with an intuitive interface, responsive touchscreen, and integrated stylus. Although it lacks the super high-end components of the Google Pixelbook, we still found it to have plenty of power for constant daily use. It has 4GB of RAM, 32GB of solid-state storage, and an Intel Core m3 processor. It is still considerably expensive for a Chromebook but remains a great deal when compared to the Pixelbook.
The 6 Best Cat Beds
Large enough for two cats If you have two cats that are friendly with one another, the Long Rich Reversible Rectangle may be a good option. This larger than average bed is easily able to accommodate two snuggling kitties. The walls around the side allowed our cats to burrow and get comfy with ease, whether sleeping alone or with a buddy. It also features some plush fuzz that is lofty enough to be cozy, but not so much so that it can get matted down.
The 4 Best Turntables
Best Sound Quality Drive Method: Belt | Operation: Manual ThePro-Ject Debut Carbon has a simple look with clean lines that will look attractive on any shelf or table in your home. The care that went into the aesthetics of this device carries over into the sound quality, treating us to the fullest and most well-balanced sound of all the models in our test fleet. The mid and treble ranges have impeccable clarity, with refined sound and evident nuances.
The 5 Best USB Flash Drives of 2023
Max write/read speeds: 70/356 MB/s | Available sizes (GB): 32, 64, 128, 256 If you need a super slim and portable thumbnail-style drive, the Samsung Fit Plus 128GB is sure to please. Despite its small stature, it was one of the fastest drives we tested, writing our 5GB testing folder in less than 4 minutes. Perhaps more importantly, its read speeds are phenomenal - it read that same folder in a mere 41 seconds.
Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Review
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 is a mid-range portable Bluetooth speaker that hit the market in 2018, intended to provide deep bass and waterproof construction to indoor and outdoor users. It has a 360-degree design, providing immersive sounds, just like select products on our best speakers list today. It has an excellent 259.2-foot Bluetooth range. Continue reading our Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 review and see how this device measures up against the best Bluetooth speakers on the market today.
The 4 Best Wireless Headphones of 2023
Best Bang for Your Buck Active Noise Cancelling: Yes | Battery Life: 40 hours Soundcore has a reputation for producing decently performing audio products at an affordable price, and the Soundcore Life Q20 headphones do not disappoint. Resonant yet controlled bass sets a solid foundation for a warm overall sound that lends itself to practically any music genre. That sound is backed by active noise cancellation.
The 5 Best Memory Cards of 2023
Best MicroSD Card Max measured write speed: 86 MBps | Sizes (GB): 64, 128, 256, 400 We've been impressed with SanDisk's Extreme Pro line, and the MicroSD version is no exception. For those seeking a MicroSD card for pretty much any use, the SanDisk 64GB Extreme Pro MicroSDXC is our first recommendation. We measured a fast write speed of 86 MBps, making this card perfect for everything from expanding tablet or phone storage to capturing high-quality imagery.
The 3 Best MicroSD Cards of 2023
Best Overall UHS-I MicroSD Card Max measured write speed: 86 MBps | Available sizes (GB): 64, 128, 256, 400 Do you have a need for speed? For a fast-writing SD card, look no further than the SanDisk 64GB Extreme Pro MicroSDXC. This card easily handled every task we threw at it in our testing, from 4K video shoots to rapid-fire RAW images, and achieved an impressive maximum write speed of 86 mb/s.
The 3 Best Smart Locks of 2023
Best Value Smart Lock ANSI Rating: Grade 3 | Use Existing Deadbolt or Full Replacement: Existing The Wyze Lock is a solid budget-friendly smart lock that performs well in all the ways that matter. It's a great option for a standalone smart device or a first step into creating your smart home, as it comes with its own smart hub and integrates easily into the Wyze ecosystem of smart devices. If you already own an Alexa or Google Nest, this affordable lock pairs easily with them also.
The 4 Best Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds of 2023
Best for Travel and City Commutes Battery Life: 5 hours | Weight: 0.4 oz The Apple AirPods Pro are the perfect companions for airports or crowded subways. They feature impressive active noise cancellation, a slim carrying/charging case, and a fit that is still comfortable after hours of wear. In crowded or loud situations, we found the noise cancellation to be effective enough to listen to music or podcasts at a reasonable volume without being distracted by the outside world.
The 5 Best Smart Plugs of 2023
Best for Outdoor Use Number of Outlets: 2 | Smart Home Support: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, Nest, Home and Away The TP-Link Kasa Outdoor, in our opinion, is your best bet for outside use. It provides a lot of functionality for a relatively low price. It offers two independently controlled outlets attached to a single plug, which allows you to have a set of deck string lights and a birdbath bubbler on separate schedules.
Best Noise Cancelling Headphones
Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds Style: Earbud | Weight: 0.47 oz Although the original iteration of the Amazon Echo Buds offered Active Noise Reduction, the updated 2nd gen version now boasts full-blown Active Noise Cancellation. Coupled with the buds' tight seal, they block noise better than the vast majority of earbuds in our test fleet.
The 3 Best Running Headphones
Best for Running on a Treadmill Battery life: 5 hours | Weight: 0.4 oz Active noise cancellation Have you ever cranked the volume of your earbuds to uncomfortable levels to sufficiently drown out the din of a noisy gym, only to leave the gym with your ears ringing? Even when running on home treadmills, we've committed the same sin to block out the sound of the motor bouncing off the walls. This scenario is where the Apple AirPods Pro excel.
The 3 Best Exercise Headphones of 2023
Best for High-Impact Workouts Battery life: 11 hours | Weight: 0.8 oz Interferes with sunglasses The Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro is the obvious choice if your preferred workout includes Crossfit or some of the more intense P90X-style programs that include lots of jumping, twisting, and quick changes in direction, and you want to be 100% certain your headphones are not going to fall out.
The 5 Best Over Ear Headphones of 2023
Best Wired Model Active Noise Cancellation: No | Weight: 10 oz Opting for a pair of wired headphones can often get you excellent sound quality for a lot less than competing wireless models. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is perhaps the best example of this. These headphones produce exceptional sound, balancing sharp, punchy bass with phenomenal clarity and separation in the higher registers.
The 5 Best Scanners of 2023
Best Overall Scanner Pages Per Minute: 17 | Automatic Document Feeder Capacity: 50 If you are looking for the best scanner today but wouldn't mind saving a hundred bucks without giving up much of anything, check out the Canon ImageFORMULA R40. It seriously challenges the most premium models we've ever tested. Alas, this scanner could not match the speed of Fujitsu's incredibly fast ScanSnap iX1600 but did much better regarding optical character recognition.
The 4 Best True Wireless Earbuds of 2023
Best Bang for the Buck Battery life (buds only): 5 hours | Weight (buds only): 0.47 oz Comfortable for most people Those on a budget should check out the Amazon Echo Buds for their winning combo of high performance and low price. These are priced significantly lower than the top-shelf competitors while still providing remarkably immersive sound and a reasonably comfortable fit.
The 3 Best Workout Headphones
Best Overall Workout Headphones Battery Life: 9 hrs | Weight: 0.47 oz Very stable, athletic fit Our favorite workout headphones are the Jaybird Vista 2, hands down. These buds are super comfortable and stay put, withstanding squat jumps as well as rugged mountain bike trails. The Vista 2 buds sound fantastic listening to anything from the motivating thump of the bass to get you through demanding reps to your favorite podcast while cooling down.
Jabra Elite 65T Review
The Jabra Elite 65T earbuds are an entry-level pair launched in 2018. The earbuds have an IP55 water resistance rating and are also capable of multi-device pairing. Unfortunately, they don’t offer Active Noise Cancellation for ambient noise reduction as most premium headphones do, but there’s a companion app for sound customization, and they ship with three pairs of silicone ear tips for different comfort levels and a stable earbud fit.
Bose Home Speaker 500 Review
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is a top-end Bluetooth speaker that was first announced in late 2021. Most of the best speakers in the industry have a particular wow factor, and for the Bose 500, it is its color LED screen. The screen displays data such as volume adjustments and pairing info. The speaker also has WiFi support and excellent Bluetooth connectivity, with a range of up to 195 ft and a latency of 57 to 88ms on Android and iOS devices, respectively.
The 3 Best Toasters of 2023
Best Overall Toaster Size: 12.7" x 7.7" x 7.6" | 4-Slice Version Available: Yes Our favorite toaster is the Smeg 2-Slice thanks to its sleek look and perfect bagel toasting prowess. If a supreme bagel or stylish good looks appeal to your morning routine, the Smeg is the one for you. This slot toaster is the only one we've tested that creates the ideal bagel crunchy on the cut side and doughy on the back. It's no one-trick pony; it also produces near-perfect toast and frozen pastries.
The 5 Best Sleep Sound Machines of 2023
Though it's geared towards babies, we think the Hatch Rest would serve anyone well who's looking for a sound machine/wake-up light combo. The associated app is intuitive and allows you to easily set a wake-up routine, where progressively louder sounds and brighter lights gently wake you from your slumber. You can also set sleep routines with any combinations of lights and sounds you'd like.
The 4 Best Computer Speakers of 2023
Another Viable Low-Cost Option Only average sound quality If all you need is something that sounds a bit better than the tiny speakers built-in to your laptop, the Sanyun SW102 may work well. While these speakers won't blow anyone away, the well-constrained and fairly tight sound is a noticeable upgrade from most laptop speakers. The simple and relatively small USB-powered design also makes them easy to incorporate into pretty much any desk setup, no matter how crowded.
The 4 Best Air Quality Meters of 2023
Wireless: Yes | Measures: CO2, temp, humidity Doesn't provide trends or averages For folks mainly interested in keeping an eye on CO2 levels, the Forensics Basic CO2 Meter offers simple, straightforward, and accurate monitoring. In our testing, it consistently read very close to our professionally calibrated CO2 meter, providing us with confidence in its accuracy. This meter is powered via a micro USB cable and has an internal battery that can last up to 12 hours.
The 5 Best Paper Shredders of 2023
Best Desktop Style Model Security Level: Cross-Cut | Sheets per Minute: 24 Not particularly powerful The Aurora AS420C Desktop is an excellent choice if you've managed to keep your paper documents to the bare minimum but still need a convenient way to dispose of the occasional sensitive page or two. This tiny, no-frills paper shredder is powerful enough to chew through a few pages at a time or a credit card on its own.
The 3 Best Projectors of 2023
By Michelle Powell, Jessica Riconscente, and Hale Milano ⋅ Jan 6, 2023 Deciding on a new projector for your home, school, or office? Our team has evaluated over 60 models since 2019, landing on the top 6 in this review. We use each projector for movie night in our home theaters, presentations in the office, and slideshows in our living rooms.
Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 Review
The Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 earned a high overall score in our testing, standing out for solid performance in its price range, and even rivaling some binoculars that cost considerably more. It offers users a clear and bright viewing experience, which is enhanced by comfort features, ease of adjustability, a decent field of view, and great close range focus. Performance Comparison Clarity The Monarch 5 is exceptionally clear, earning it a high score in this metric.
The 4 Best Heating Pads of 2023
We tested heating pads from Sunbeam and Pure Enrichment to find the best solution for your heat therapy needs By Max Mutter ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Nov 21, 2022 Aches and pains got you down? We bought and tested 5 of the best heating pads to find the best heat therapy for your sore muscles. We objectively measured how quickly each of these pads heat up, how hot they actually get, and the evenness of their heat.
Best Wireless Speaker of 2022
By Max Mutter, Michelle Powell, Steven Tata, and Conrad Salonites ⋅ Jul 6, 2022 Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Learn more Looking to fill your rooms with music? Our team of audio experts spent weeks living with the 8 best home wireless speakers.
Leica Ultravid BR 10x25 Review
This compact and lightweight binocular offers a great balance of optical quality and portability 1 2 3 4 5 Price: $799 List | $799.00 at Amazon Pros: Small and compact, the lightest binoculars we tested Cons: Short field of view Manufacturer: Leica By Max Mutter ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Jan 11, 2022 Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
Steiner Predator 8x42 Review
Product Update Note — January 2022 The Steiner Predator 8x42 has been updated since our test period. The minimum focus decreased from 6 feet to 6.6 feet, and the field of view narrowed slightly from 381/1000 to 375/1000. The aesthetics have changed, too, as you can see in the comparison photos below. The image on the left is the Predator we tested, followed by the updated version on the right. Marketed toward hunters, the Steiner Predator earns mid-range scores for clarity and brightness.
Leica Noctivid 10x42 Review
The Leica Noctivid 10x42 offers the kind of exceptional quality you'd expect from this venerated optical company. However, both its in-hand comfort and close focus range are bested by other models in the same price range, so if those things are important, you may be better off investing in Swarovski or Zeiss instead. Performance Comparison While the Leica Noctivid 10x42 was one of the top-scoring pairs of binoculars we tested, it fell slightly behind the other two high-end models.
Zeiss Victory HT 10x42 Review
Product Update Note — March 2020 Zeiss discontinued the Victory HT in the 10x42 magnification. They're now offered in 8x54 and 10x54. We're linking to the 10x54 version above. Hands-On Review of the Zeiss Victory HT 10x42 The Zeiss Victory HT is a superb pair of binoculars, but not the best in its price range. If you can find a great sale, you should snatch these bins up, but if you're paying full price, we would suggest you check out the Swarovski EL instead.
Vanguard Endeavor ED II 10x42 Review
The Vanguard Endeavor ED II scores well across our range of metrics. This pair of binoculars ranks near the top as a total package, with exceptional close focus range being the stand-out feature. Performance Comparison Clarity The ED glass and phase-corrected coating on the prims make the Vanguard Endeavor ED II very sharp. On the ISO 12233 chart in our clarity test, zone 9 was clear almost to the very edge. Looking at distant objects, you could notice a little bit of defocusing around the edges.
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Review
Product Update Note — January 2022 The successor to the Monarch 5 we tested is the Monarch M5. This updated model has new streamlined aesthetics, better resolution, and a slightly wider field of view (335 feet at 1,000 yards, compared to the Monarch 5's 330/1000.) The close focus distance dropped a few inches, from 7.8 feet to 8.2 feet. They're also waterproof, fogproof, and a couple ounces heavier than their predecessor.
Zeiss Terra ED 8x32 Review
Product Update Note — January 2019 There have been some changes to the outer of the Terra ED 8x32 in the form of a rubberized grip, which was absent from the pair we tested. The Terra ED we initially tested is pictured on the left, followed by the updated version, right. As a brand with a quality reputation, Zeiss makes quality products.
Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 Review
The Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 offers a near-perfect balance of optical performance and price, providing an experience that feels high-end yet falls squarely into the middle of the price range. Performance Comparison Clarity Outside of the uber-expensive, multi-thousand dollar binoculars we tested, the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 provided one of the clearest images we experienced throughout our testing. In all of our tests, the Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 consistently provided crystal clear images.
Athlon Midas G2 8x42 UHD Review
The Athlon Midas G2 8x42 UHD is a good pair of binoculars that gets a bit lost in a price range that has a number of slightly better options. Performance Comparison Clarity The Midas G2 8x42 UHD provides a level of clarity that feels fair given the price, but other models that cost the same manage to outshine that price point. The clarity of these binoculars is good — we had no trouble picking up small details in birds 30 feet away. However, the clarity fades a bit towards the edges of the image.
Celestron TrailSeeker ED 8x42 Review
The Celestron TrailSeeker ED 8x42 is one of many options with good optical quality in our best binocular review and decent construction but falls short of other similarly priced models. This is a common plight in this very competitive price range. Performance Comparison Clarity We'd classify the clarity of the TrailSeeker ED 8x42 as above average but not fantastic, a perennial B that gets outshined by a handful of straight-A students.
Celestron Nature DX 8x42 Review
The Celestron Nature DX 8x42 really impressed us in our testing, especially considering the relatively low list price. With good clarity and smooth focus, these bins certainly punch above their weight class. Performance Comparison Clarity The Celestron Nature DX put in an impressive performance in our clarity testing, staying within a respectable distance of the top-performing binoculars.
Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 Review
The Vortex Diamondback HD 8x28 impressed in most of our binocular test metrics, offering great clarity and performance, especially considering the low price and compact size. Just don't expect any miracles if you're using them in low-light situations. Like with pretty much any other 28mm lens on the market, things can start looking dark fast once the sun touches the horizon.
Nikon Monarch 7 ATB 10x42 Review
Product Update Note — January 2022 Nikon released the Monarch M7 as the successor to the Monarch 7 ATB we tested. The ATB stood for All Terrain Binoculars, which meant they were waterproof, fogproof, and had a shockproof rubber coating, but now Nikon offers this across all their Monarch binocular models, so they've dropped the ATB from the title. The Monarch M7 has a wider field of view than the 7 (362/1000 vs 351/1000). Below, compare the Monarch 7 we tested (left) to the Monarch M7 (right).
Best Espresso Machine of 2021
Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
Vortex Viper HD 8x42 Review
This model is our first choice and offers just about the best clarity and brightness you can get from a binocular without a quadruple-digit price tag 1 2 3 4 5 Price: $639 List | $479.95 at Amazon Pros: Very clear and bright, easy to adjust, comfortable, high-quality construction Cons: On the expensive side Manufacturer: Vortex By Max Mutter ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Nov 11, 2021 Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products.
Swarovski EL 8.5x42 Review
One of the best all-around models that we tested, but they also carry a high price tag 1 2 3 4 5 Price: $2,954 List Pros: Incredible clarity, brightness, comfort, and construction quality Cons: Prohibitively expensive Manufacturer: Swarovski By Max Mutter ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ Nov 11, 2021 Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
Best Dash Cam of 2021
Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
How To Choose Binoculars For Your Needs and Budget
Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Learn more Choosing the Right Binoculars Binoculars are optimized for different uses. This guide will help you understand these instruments a little better so that you can make an informed decision when choosing a pair for yourself. Refer to our comparative review of binoculars to see which we like best and why.
Gevi Review
Offers good taste and overall quality at a far below average price 1 2 3 4 5 Price: $130 List | $165.99 at Amazon Pros: Good espresso and milk steaming, quite inexpensive Cons: Doesn't quite achieve cafe quality results, somewhat slow, no built-in grinder Manufacturer: Gevi By Michelle Powell and Max Mutter ⋅ Jun 24, 2021 Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products.
Best Wireless Speakers of 2020
Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
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