Lauren Dragan

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Tech2
Oppo PM-3 and HA-2: Practical, Affordable, High-End Portable Audio
Lauren Dragan  |  Mar 20, 2015  |  2 comments
To enjoy their gear, high end audio enthusiasts have generally been trapped at home. From speakers, to receivers and amplifiers, none of the means of reproducing quality sound were exactly portable. Even the enthusiast-level headphones that have arrived on the scene over the last few years are large, unwieldy, unfashionable, and require at minimum a decent headphone amp to function. (See: most Audeze, Oppo HA-1, HiFi Man, etc.)

In addition, most planar magnetic headphones are open-backed, which means listening in less-than-quiet or public situations can be a challenge. Well, my fellow audio recluses, the PM-3 by Oppo aims to change all that.

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CES 2015
Oppo Shows PM3 Planar Magnetic Headphones for on the Go
Lauren Dragan  |  Jan 07, 2015  |  0 comments
Sometime this spring, Oppo plans to release its first ever closed-backed planar magnetic headphones. Meant for audiophiles on the go, the headphones are much more the size of traditional closed-backed over-ear headphones.
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Tech2
Parrot Zik 2.0: So Much Potential, Potentially Wasted
Lauren Dragan  |  Nov 21, 2014  |  1 comments
I am not a luddite. I love buttons that make things happen. I love touch screens, I love customization, I love the newest thing. So it would only seem natural that I would love the newest addition to the Parrot family, the Zik 2.0 headphones. They are a tinkerer’s headphone. Touchpad earcups, customizable sound, active noise cancellation, Bluetooth… if there’s a headphone feature available, the Zik 2.0 have it. And yet, despite all of these wonderful features, I can’t recommend them. And it breaks my heart.
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Headphone Reviews
Parrot Zik 3 Headphones
Lauren Dragan  |  Jun 23, 2016  |  0 comments
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $400

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent ANC
Decent Bluetooth sound (with ANC off)
Wireless charging
Minus
Inconsistent sound quality
App mandatory for major functions

THE VERDICT
While the Zik 3 has allure with fun features, it falls short on core functionality, especially against its price competition.

Since their first version, Parrot Zik headphones have been consistently beautiful to look at and have featured technology that is a nose ahead of the competition. It’s the combo of pretty and new that has made the Ziks the darlings of the tech-enthusiast set. Now in its third iteration, the new Zik 3 is packed with all sorts of bells and whistles. Some will be familiar to users of the Zik 2.0: touch-sensitive controls on a sleek-looking earcup, deeply customizable noise cancellation and EQ via an app, sensors that trigger a pause in the music when the headphones are removed. And some are new: wireless charging, USB audio, Apple Watch, and Android Wear compatibility.

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CES 2015
Parrot Zik Sport 'Phones Do More Than Play Music
Lauren Dragan  |  Jan 06, 2015  |  0 comments
Parrot yet again gets us all excited with the potential of a new and innovative pair of headphones.
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Tech2
Personal Safety Tech: Everyday Wearables in Case of Emergency
Lauren Dragan  |  Feb 06, 2015  |  1 comments
When I left for college, my parents gave me a little personal safety alarm: a small black box about the size of a deck of cards with a pull cord that unleashed a squelching 140 dB siren. I tested it out at home. The din was horrifying. But to be honest, walking around by myself at night, I can’t say that knowing a potential attack could be made noisier really made me feel any safer. Plus, it was kinda bulky to have in my hands at the ready at all times. It’s no wonder then, that tech companies have since flooded the market with all sorts of personal, alarms, alerts, and trackers that are tinier and more wearable than ever.
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CES 2015
Phaz Bluetooth Headphones Charge Your Phone While You Listen
Lauren Dragan  |  Jan 11, 2015  |  0 comments
New headphone company Phaz has announced a line of Bluetooth headphones that charge your phone while you listen to music.
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CES 2015
Polk's New Wireless Speaker: A Stylish Chameleon
Lauren Dragan  |  Jan 08, 2015  |  0 comments
Polk plans to release a stylish portable Wifi speaker this March, the Omni S2.
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Tech2
Pretty Fly for a Bike Cam: Cycle Safer with Fly6
Lauren Dragan  |  May 01, 2015  |  0 comments
The weather is warmer, and you can’t wait to pull your trusty 2-wheeler out of the garage. Or maybe you’re a dedicated bike commuter, saving the planet and burning off your morning donut on the way to work. The thing is, unless you live the country life, it can be a real (urban) jungle out there. Dodging traffic, animals, and other cyclists can be a bit nerve wracking. And, sadly, hit and runs happen. More and more motorcyclists have started wearing rear-facing cameras on their bikes or helmets, so why shouldn’t the pedal pushers of the world have their own solution? Enter Fly6, a rear facing HD camera and bike light that not only sees, but helps you be seen. I took one for a spin, and came back convinced. Read on to find out why.
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Headphone ReviewsTech2
RBH EP-SB Wireless Earbuds Review
Lauren Dragan  |  Feb 16, 2015  |  Published: Feb 15, 2015  |  0 comments
Editor’s Note: This review was first published on 1/31/15, based on what proved to be a defective sample, and revised on 2/15/15.

Speaker company RBH has expanded their headphone lineup with new Bluetooth in-ears, the EP-SB. Lightweight and sweat resistant, RBH want the EP-SB to be your go-to headphones for on-the-go and at the gym. I got my hands on one of the first pairs available (literally!), and put them through their paces. How did they hold up? Lace up your sneaks and meet me after the jump.

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