In general you should take online reviews of anything with a grain of salt. Because everyone’s experiences vary.
I’ll speak to many examples because I’m interested in a lot of hobbies – guitar, audio equipment, electronics, video games, movies
Guitar/Amp reviews are like reading or watching someone else’s opinion about a piece of clothing. I feel guitars and amps are highly personal to people and you really have to try out a guitar and have it in your hands, and then play that amp with it in front of you to really know if you like it or not. A person’s review of a guitar or amp is really just going to be colored by that person’s own personal preference of that sound. And the level of comfort and playability is completely dependent on person. You have to really feel the neck in your hands, it’s not something easily described online or through a video. Guitar/Amp reviews are sort of trustworthy – if their preferences match yours.
Speaker/Headphone reviews are even more subjective because everyone hears differently and has different ears. These are amongst the least reliable reviews online. Someone might prefer a v shaped or harman sound signature, others might prefer neutral etc and then you have people like Amir from Audio Science Reviews who only measures the device and bases his judgment on that and doesn’t tell you how it sounds at all, or people like Crinacle who use a graph to judge everything. Definitely do not trust the majority of reviews for speakers and headphones or other audio equipment like amps, dacs or cables. Try it yourself.
Electronics reviews of things like laptops and phones are fairly reliable because reviewers like Dave2D and Marques Brownlee thoroughly review the device usually and will go over all the functions that matter. This co-relates highly to how people use the device so in general yes electronics reviews are usually quite trustworthy if they review the device thoroughly
Video Game reviews are more of a mixed bag because bigger sites like IGN and Gamespot do not thoroughly review games they just play through them quickly to get a rating so that they can move on to the next game. Smaller sites like Noisy Pixels and Destructoid are generally better in this regard and are more thorough and/or reviewed by fans of that game’s genre. Trust smaller review sites more than bigger review sites for video games.
Movie reviews are similar to video games – the bigger sites like Rotten Tomatoes just aggregate critics views and alot of those critics might be viewing the movie with a different lens than the common audience or might not even care much for those movies because they got a lot of movies to review and want to just quickly give an opinion and move on. So with movies it’s similar Trust smaller movie review sites not Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic.
Food reviews are the most unreliable because everyone’s tastes in food vary! Food might be the most subjective topic out of all these! Definitely do not trust Yelp reviews because everyone’s tastes and standards in food is completely different. “Great food” for some might be “bad” for others and vice versa.
Every 6 months I do an update on the state of my gadgets and what I use.
Computers HP Dragonfly Elite G3 (2023) – replaces 2020 HP Dragonfly Elite, 2017 Google Pixelbook, 2017 Porsche Design Book One My old HP Dragonfly Elite had heating issues, so I was finally forced to replace it after almost 3 years of service with.. what else other than another Dragonfly Elite? The G3 has some enhancements, better speakers, a 3:2 display, quieter keyboard and more powerful processor, but loses the convertible hinge.
Alienware m15 Ryzen (2021) – replaces 2020 Alienware m15 R2, 2016 Alienware 15 R3 I’m back to my Alienware m15 Ryzen as my main gaming laptop, the issue of overheating was fixed by having a notebook cooler constantly running with it, but regardless, it’s a very capable gaming machine due to the RTX 3060 GPU and also having a low profile cherry mx mechanical keyboard too!
Macbook Air M2 (2022) – replaces 2020 Macbook Air M1, 2016 Macbook Pro 13 Just overall a very convenient laptop to use. It’s got a smaller footprint than the M1 Macbook Air (almost as small as the HP Dragonfly Elite in fact), weighs only 2.7lbs, increased the RAM to 16GB so its snappier, and has a faster processor and new increased display size 13.6″ and upgraded design to boot.
Custom Lian Li case gaming PC (2021) – replaces 2019 Cyberpower Syber C Xtreme, 2015 Asus ROG G751, 2016 ThinkPad P70 Parts: Case: Cyberpower Syber C -> Lian Li TU150 Mobo: ASrock Z390M -> Asus ROG Strix B550i -> Asus ROG B760i CPU: Intel Core i5 9600k -> AMD Ryzen 7 5800X -> Intel Core i7 12700K GPU: 8GB Zotac RTX 2070 -> 8GB Asus RTX 4060Ti RAM: 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 -> 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 Storage: 1TB Intel 660P PCIE + 1TB Samsung 970 Evo PCIE + 3TB Seagate Barracuda Hybrid HDD -> 1TB Crucial P3 Plus M2 + 1TB Samsung 970 EVO M2 + 4TB Sandisk SATA III PSU: Corsair 600 80 PLUS Gold SFW -> Corsair 850 80 PLUS Gold SFW CPU Cooler: Zalmann CNPS8900 -> Noctua U12A Fans: -> Cooler Master Sickle Flow x3
Decided to move to the AMD AM4 chipset to upgrade my performance, going from 6 cores with no hyperthreading on the Intel to a massive 8 cores 16 threads on the Ryzen 7 3800X. This is mainly to speed up things like video editing which I do a lot of. I also added some more storage, changed the CPU cooler to something a bit more high end and changed out the case to be the Lian Li TU150 as I think it’s the perfect balance between portability (aluminum so it only weighs 3.6kg), size (its not the smallest case but it supports a lot of configurations and has good thermals), affordability (only $100 USD), and appearance (very minimalistic). Also looked at ITX cases by FormD, NCase, Cooler Master, NZXT, Fractal Design, BeQuiet, Razer, Corsair, Thermaltake etc but Lian Li had the best balance for me.
Tablets/Phones Motorola Razr+ 2024 (2026) – replaces 2024 Asus Zenfone 10, 2022 Galaxy Fold4, 2021 Galaxy Z Fold 2 My Zenfone 10 served me well for 2 years (it had a pretty good camera), but the USB port stopped working making it a hassle to recharge or to use for data transfer. I now switched to the Razr+ 2024 which has a comparable camera and also a very usable smaller secondary display and eSim functionality to boot (necessary for traveling).
Vivo X300 (2026) – replaces 2024 Sony Xperia 5 V, 2023 Xperia 5 IV, 2021 Galaxy Z Flip 3, 2021 Google Pixel 4, 2020 iPhone 12 mini, 2019 iPhone 11 Pro, 2017 Google Pixel 2, 2016 iPhone SE, 2014 Sony Xperia Z3C Well my Xperia 5 V has issues with recording video (no audio recorded) and the back cover fell over so I have to cover it with a case so it’s not fully waterproof either, plus the camera wasn’t that great either… it was time to replace it. I was looking for any compact phone with a decent camera – Asus doesn’t make phones anymore and the Zenfone 10 was the last of its kind – and seems that the Vivo X300 is the only phone left that’s sort of compact and also has close to flagship level specs so it’s really my only option left here.
Music Nostalgia Audio Tesseract (2025) – replaces 2022 ThieAudio Monarch MKII, 2021 Noble Audio Khan, 2021 AK Solaris X After lots of experimentation with different IEMs in the past few months (including the $4500 UM Multiverse Mentors, $3300 Quill Satins and $4200 VE Phonix) I’ve settled on the $3700 Nostalgia Tesseracts as my main IEM of choice now. It has beautiful mids, a very wide soundstage, and decent treble extension and ok bass. I just wish the bass quality could be a little bit better but that’s really my only complain with these.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 (2025) – replaces 2024 Bang Olufsen Beoplay EX, 2022 Master & Dynamic MW08, 2021 Nura NuraTrue, 2019 Sony WF-1000XM3 So I decided to dump the B&O EX because I only really used one pair of wireless earbuds, so the Bowers&Wilkins is staying with me (they were similar in terms of sound and NC but I just liked the smaller form factor of the Pi8)
Lotoo PAW Gold Touch (2025) – replaces 2025 Astell&Kern SP3000M, 2021 Astell&Kern SE100, 2020 Motorola Razr Fold After trying a few different high end DAPs including the $1900 Cayin N7, $3000 Astell&Kern SP3000M Copper Nickel and $4100 Luxury&Precision E7, I settled with the former $3200 flagship Lotoo PAW Gold Touch. While the user interface is quite simplistic, it is very fast and responsive and the sound is very dynamic, fun and engaging.
Aperion Verus V5B + Rotel A12 Integrated Amp + REL Tzero Mk3 – replaces 2022 Monitor Audio Bronze 50, 2022 DALI Oberon 1, 2021 PMC DB1 Gold, 2019 Klipsch R-41PM, 2017 Creative SoundblasterX Katana, 2017 Klipsch the Three, Cambridge Audio Solo Preamp, 2022 Leak Stereo 130, 2021 Rotel 1572 I got a really good deal on the Aperion Audio Verus 5B and it’s a well regarded speaker from a lesser known but stellar American audio company so decided to try them out. It has now replaced my combination of the Monitor Audio Bronze 50 + DALI Oberon 1s which I had before.
MartinLogan B10 + Technics C600 (2025) – replaces 2021 Neat Acoustics Ministra + 2024 MartinLogan 30i + 2020 MartinLogan 2i + 2020 MartinLogan Dynamo 400 + 2023 Marantz Cinema 60, 2020 MartinLogan 15i / Marantz NR1510, 2019 LG SL10YG + SPK8, 2018 Sony HT-ST5000, 2020 Marantz NR1510 I decided to simplify and replace my receiver (Marantz Cinema 60) and my center channel (MartinLogan 30i) and surround speakers (MartinLogan 2i) with a stereo amp (Technics C600) and downgrade my bookshelves to MartinLogan B10s (from the $3000 Neat Acoustics Ministra). Overall I think the sound quality is still quite good and I get to save some space and money.
Ruark R1 Deluxe Mark IV – replaces 2017 Yamaha Clock Radio The Ruark R1 Deluxe replaces my Yamaha Clock Radio/Alarm
Cameras DJI Pocket 3 (2024) – replaces 2022 DJI Osmo Action 3, 2021 DJI Pocket 2, 2016 Sony HDR-AS300 The Pocket 3 is great, it has a much larger display than the Pocket 2 did and a better camera, and for all cases except for water activities and biking (I still use the Action 3 for that), it’s been my main vlogging camera.
Sony ZV-1 (2020) – replaces Sony A6000, DJI Osmo+ The best camera for Youtube videos and Vlogs, it’s such a good value for the quality as it comes with a lens very similar to the 24mm Zeiss 1.8 prime I had before except this one is a 24-70mm zoom, making this one a great all around camera for everything, especially paired with a Zhiyun M2 for moving stability, plus 4K and HLG (HDR) capability so it’s a strict upgrade over my old Sony and DJI Osmo (with the Zhiyun). Also, the microphone is great, so I don’t need to use a dedicated Sony X/Y mic or my Shures anymore.
Main Computer collection Lian Li Custom Desktop (2021) – AMD Ryzen 5800X, 32GB RAM, 5TB SSD+HDD, Geforce RTX 2070, 20lbs – main gaming pc HP Dragonfly Elite G3 (2023) – Intel Core i7 1265U, 16GB, 256GB SSD, 2.4lbs – main portable laptop Apple Macbook Air M2 (2020) – Apple M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 2.7lbs – secondary portable laptop Alienware m15 Ryzen – AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Geforce 3060, 5.5lbs – main gaming laptop Asus Zenbook Pro Duo – Core i7 12700H, 16GB, 1TB SSD, Geforce RTX 3050 Ti, 4.6lbs – secondary gaming laptop
Horizontal Sliders: Nokia N900, Sony Xperia Play, TMobile Sidekick 3
Unique form factor: Nokia E90, Cosmo Communicator, MS Surface Duo, Palm phone, Blackberry Key2, Neptune Pine, LG Wing, HTC Advantage 7500, Toshiba Portege G910, Samsung Exclaim
PDAs: Sharp Zaurus, Sony UX50, Zipit Z2, HP iPAQ 210, HP Jornada 720, Casio BE300, Sony Mylo 2, Nokia N810, MS KinTwo
Unique OS: Amazon Fire Phone (FireOS), ZTE Open C (FirefoxOS), Samsung Z1 (TizenOS), iPhone 12 Mini (iOS), iPhone 4S (iOS), HP Pre 3 (WebOS), HTC Universal (Windows Mobile), Blackberry Passport (BB 10 OS), HP Elite X3 (Win 10), Palm Treo 650 (PalmOS), Sony Xperia XA2 (Sailfish X), FxTec Pro1X (Ubuntu Touch), Essential Phone (LineageOS), BlackBerry Porsche P9981 (Blackberry OS)
Displays: LG C9 OLED TV (main TV), LG 27LQ625S (bedroom TV), Alienware AW2725DF (gaming monitor), LG 29WK600 (ultrawide work monitor), Gaems Sentinel Pro XP (portable monitor), Meta Quest 3 (VR), Viture Beast (video glasses)
Controllers: Nintendo Switch Joycons (Switch), Nintendo Switch Pro Controller (Switch), Sony PS3 Controller x2 (PS3), Sony PS4 controller x2 (PS4), Sony PS5 controller x2 (PS5), Razer Wolverine Ultimate (PC), Hori Fighting Commander (Nvidia Shield, Switch), Hori Arcade Pro Stick (PC, Switch), Hori Split Pad Compact (Switch), 8Bitdo controller (backup)
-smooth relaxed all around balanced tuning -nice detailed mids -detailed but non fatiguing treble
Cons:
-might not be energetic enough for some -bass might not be enough for some -stock cable could be better -appearance is a bit tacky
Sound Rhyme is a chifi company that isn’t very well known outside of China but they have been actually making IEMs since 2017. The DTE500 is a $460 USD tribrid IEM that has a 5 driver configuration – 2BA, 2EST, 1DD. The presence of EST at this price range is appreciated. My source used for review is the Lotoo Paw Gold Touch.
The packaging for DTE500 is very good and expected from a chifi brand at this price level as they generally offer good bang for buck. You get 6 pairs of silicone eartips and 2 pairs of foam eartips, cleaning tool, microfiber cloth, aluminum puck case, and a SFC cable with swappable terminations.
Bass: The bass is slightly pushed up but not too much so. This is not a bassy IEM or for bassheads nor does it have the level of bass harman lovers enjoy. For me, it has just the right amount where it’s good quality, doesn’t bleed into the mids and generally well executed with good subbass response since it has dynamic drivers.
Mids: The mids are a standaout – they are not pushed too forward but also not too recessed but rather at a neutral level and well detailed. I love my vocals and mids so I think this is very enjoyable and a good change from v shaped IEMs that often recess the mids too much, while also not pushed up enough to be shouty either.
Treble: The treble are also well detailed and extended thanks to those EST drivers and while they are pushed up, it is not to a level where they ever feel fatiguing or harsh. It is forward just the right amount in my opinion creating a nice sense of airiness.
Technicals: With the stock cable, they are just average so I would highly suggest upgrading the cable a bit as this IEM has potential and with a swap to the Eletech Raphael, this IEM easily clears some $1k+ IEMs like ThieAudio Monarch MK4 or Dunu Glacier.
Overall: I think this is one of my favorite IEMs around this price range, my only minor quabbles are with the stock cable being very average and the appearance being a bit tacky. Some might find the bass a bit weak in quantity but for me this is a very well tuned IEM for a nice relaxed balanced type of tuning. Since nothing is pushed up too much or recessed too much it’s a very smooth laid back listen and with a cable upgrade it can start competing with IEMs like Aful Dawn X, Fiio FX17 or UM Mest Jet Black in tuning and technicals.
I mean, out of all NBA players to beat Kobe’s 81 pts… Bam Adebayo??? I mean, I’ve always expected *some* player to beat it at some point, given the increased scoring and fast pace we have seen the past couple of seasons, but you would think it would be somebody like Steph Curry.. Kevin Durant.. Luka Doncic.. Nikola Jokic.. Giannis.. SGA.. you know, the usual suspects for high scoring.
Bam Adebayo was not on my bingo card – a player who averages about 19 PPG for the season. Scoring over 83 was not as shocking to me as *Bam scoring over 83*.
As for beating Kobe, well let’s just say there are alot of salty Kobe fanboys out there
I mean jesus.. look at all that cope
But what do you expect? I already been telling people Kobe fans are the worst fanbase in sports. A bunch of whiny bitchy losers who always have some excuse for Kobe and willing to jump off a bridge to defend him.
Kobe only has 1 MVP? that’s because he was robbed and the media ‘overhated’ him for the rape trial
Kobe shot his team out of the 2004 Finals? Well he had too much drama from the rape trial and Shaq
Kobe blew a 3–1 lead and quit on his team in the Game 7? Well he did it to spite Phil Jackson
Kobe averaged 15 PPG in the 2000 Finals? That’s because he was injured (for 2 games out of 6 fyi)
Kobe missed the playoffs in the middle of his prime? he was injured!
Kobe shot his team out of the 2008 Finals? Nah man.. INJURIES again!
Shaq carried Kobe? Nah look at these cherry picked games from the WCF!
Kobe beat all these 50 win teams all by himself!
Kobe willed the 2008 Olympics team to the medal all by himself!
Kobe carried Gasol and a bunch of scrubs to 2 rings all by himself!
The league denied Kobe the CP3 trade because they didn’t want Kobe to keep winning!
Kobe chased Dwight and Shaq out? Well that’s because they weren’t tough enough to play with Kobe!
Kobe got swept by 2011 Mavs? Well that’s because he was too fatigued from carrying the Lakers to 3 Finals in a row!
Seriously the amount of excuses and BS I’ve heard from Kobe fans is another level.. for all the hate Bron fans get online (and believe me, ANYONE defending Bron gets insulted and called a bunch of lameass childish phrases online), I’ve never heard Bron fans say oh he was robbed of MVP in 2006 cause he was like second place in voting you know? or say anything about Donovan Mitchell scoring 71 as a Cav beating Bron’s record.. or say anything about Bam scoring 83 as a Heat player (overtaking Bron’s 61). With Kobe fans though, it’s always a bunch of whining and BS.
They say Wilt’s 100 point game doesn’t count because there was no footage of it (stupid, I know. So most of human history didn’t happen then?)
Now they say Bam’s game doesn’t count because too many free throws (free throws are part of the game last time I checked)
Oh Bam was stat padding you say? You really think Kobe was not a stat padder? Pretty sure at the end of the 81 point game he was padding some stats cause they didn’t need 81 to beat them at the end.
Oh Kobe’s team was down you say? How come Kobe fans never think about WHY his teams are down in the first place. 2006 Raptors were one of the worst teams in the league. Kobe the ‘best player in the world’ was down to them why exactly? It aint Kobe’s teammates fault cause they dont even get a chance to shoot since Kobe never passes to Smush or Kwame.
Oh they played better defense back then? Then explain to me why in 2006 literally the top 14 scorers were ALL perimeter players – Kobe, Arenas, Lebron, Iverson, Pierce, Melo, Wade etc pretty sure the 2006 season – especially the Finals – was basically watching a bunch of free throws as well
tldr; Yes Bam’s game was shocking to me – out of all the players I would have never expected him to be the one to break Kobe’s record. And Kobe fans keep crying – at least your guy will still hold the record for most FGAs in a game with 50. He’ll forever be the biggest gunner in NBA history.
I don’t think she really asked for any of this and it’s coming mostly all from MAGA side creating this culture war.
Did any liberals or Dems care? No. This is something that’s totally fabricated by MAGA to create an us vs them divide, as they always do. MAGA loves to divide the country and then accuse the other side of doing what they did.
And the best part about it? Alysia is totally not a MAGA or right winger. She’s a Cali liberal through and through which makes it kinda weird and comical because MAGA is pitting two childhood friends against each other when they have literally always been on the same side and share similar backgrounds it’s just one chose to compete for China and one chose to compete for USA being literally the only difference.
