Hardware & Tech

iFi GO Link Audio DAC Review
Hardware & Tech

iFi GO Link Audio DAC Review

As the world moves onto all things wireless, sound quality can be sacrificed by doing so. Depending on how much of an audiophile you are, wired is still the best way to listen to music. It is strange to think that an analogue signal can carry more data than its wireless digital counterpart. This is due to the analogue data being uncompressed rather than being sent through Bluetooth codecs. These will compress the audio data before sending it to your wireless listening device and it has a big effect on sound quality for certain audio formats such as ALAC/FLAC & WAV. Cost-Effective Audio Enhancements Ok, so you want to listen to some high-quality lossless music via Tidal or Amazon Music. You don't want to use your wireless headset or buds. But your device doesn't have a 3.5mm stereo ja...
EcoFlow River 3 Review
Hardware & Tech

EcoFlow River 3 Review

Landing on my desk at TC HQ recently was one of EcoFlow’s latest portable power stations to soon hit the market, the River 3. The technological successor to the River 2 series. Launching around November time, the River 3 series units are compact in size, especially when compared to the larger Delta series. Options There are 2 power units in the latest series; the River 3 and the River 3 Plus. The River 3 Plus can be expanded by a separate stackable battery to form the River 3 Max and the River 3 Plus Max. Through the available expansions, the River 3 series offers varying capacities and differing outputs. Choosing the right unit for you comes down to a couple of questions. How much power do you need? How long you need it for? For comparison: The River 3 has a capacity of 245Wh an...
Krafted Connex – Hardware Review
Hardware & Tech

Krafted Connex – Hardware Review

Today we’re diving into a new piece of kit: the Connex device by Krafted. This little gadget is compact, clever, and has a bit of a Swiss Army knife charm. On paper, it promises to handle all your charging and connecting needs in one neat package. But does it deliver, or is it more of a "nice-to-have" than a "must-have"? The features Krafted for you Arriving in cardboard/ paperboard packaging. The Krafted Connex is small and lightweight, with a size of (95mm x 31mm x 19mm) and weighing 87.5 grams. (Their website says 875 grams, but this must be an error, with six flip-out connectors. Each item is encased in a flexible silicone that allows just enough movement. But here’s the snag: the connectors don’t fold out completely straight. So there’s a fair bit of adjusting to get them to plug in...
UGREEN Uno Series Released
Hardware & Tech

UGREEN Uno Series Released

UGREEN recently revealed their Uno Series, and we were lucky enough to get some hands-on time with some of the range. Join me as we check out three of the products in the line up, with a further article with an unreleased product coming soon. Bear in mind not all of these products are available on the UK UGREEN site, but we are working with UGREEN to find out when they will hit this side of the sea. UNO REVERSE Advertised as Fast & Fun accessories for the iPhone 16 line up, I can confirm that they work just as well with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. UGREEN Uno 6-in-1 USB-C HUB The first product from the UGREEN Uno Series is one of the cheapest, coming in with an RRP of $19.99. It offers a multi-port option for plugging into your current laptop or computer. Expand your connectivity...
Edifier MG300 Bluetooth Speaker Review
Hardware & Tech

Edifier MG300 Bluetooth Speaker Review

Another week, and another set of speakers dropping into the TC HQ. This time it's the Edifier MG300 Bluetooth Speakers. A neat little computer tabletop speaker designed for sitting just under your monitor. BOOM BOOM BOOM So just what is under the skin of the MG300? Well, we will do our best to enlighten you, so join us as we dive into the exterior of these tabletop speakers and find the goodies. Design Coming in at around 49cm in width, and only 7cm high, the Edifier MG300 Bluetooth Speakers are sleek. They will quite easily sit underneath a monitor or even a TV with ease. The black slanted edges are even designed to minimise those dreaded desktop reflections. The metal mesh finish gives the impression that a high-quality piece of kit sits on your desk. Moving to the top of the spea...
Edifier W320TN Ear Buds Review
Hardware & Tech

Edifier W320TN Ear Buds Review

First released on 12 Jun. 2023 the Edifier W320TN Earbuds may not be a newcomer to the audio scene, but does that mean we should skip them? Read our review to find out! True Sounds For Everyone We've reviewed many different sets of earbuds over the years, so just what do the W320TN bring to the party? Design The design of the W320TN is subtle, coming in either grey or ivory colours, the earbuds are the open-fit design. With an ergonomic fit to be as snug as possible without being uncomfortable for those long sessions. They are designed to have zero pressure giving a low level of fatigue for your ears. Features There are many features that the W320TN has under its hood. Firstly, what seems to be a pretty standard feature among the earbuds out these days, and that is the Adaptive N...
Hecate GX05 Wireless Gaming Earbuds
Hardware & Tech

Hecate GX05 Wireless Gaming Earbuds

Welcome to the Hecate GX05 Ultra Low Latency Wireless Gaming Earbuds review. For those that haven’t heard of Hecate. They are the professional gaming brand of audio company Edifier. So, some pretty high pedigree. Choosing a new set of earbuds can be an absolute nightmare. It really is a minefield out there. But there aren’t many that are specifically labelled as gaming earbuds. So how does the GX05 stack up in this category? Do they warrant the pretty high price tag? Read on to find out what we think. Gamers RGB Delight If you love all things tech and audio, feel free to check out some of our previous hardware reviews here. Design First things first, the design. Edifier isn’t afraid of some bold design choices and the Hecate GX05 is no difference. In fact, it’s quite possibly th...
Edifier HECATE G5BT Headset Review
Hardware & Tech

Edifier HECATE G5BT Headset Review

First released in 2022, the Edifier HECATE G5BT wireless gaming headset are still some of the best selling Edifier gaming headsets available. The Thumb Culture team are no strangers to reviewing Edifier products, just check out this list, and so when Edifier once again landed in our inbox offering another headset to check out, of course the answer was yes. With a price point of £120 I was most intrigued to find if this gaming headset stood the test of time. Edifier HECATE G5BT - Gotta Get Yourself Connected! And what better way to get connected than with a headset so you can chat to your friends and game? Design and Control Opening up the box the Edifier HECATE G5BT are made up of a matte black band connected to two leather-effect plush-padded ear cups. To break up the matte look a...
Fantech World Shooter 3 & Nova Pro Controller Review
Hardware & Tech

Fantech World Shooter 3 & Nova Pro Controller Review

Who doesn't love fancy new controllers when they're playing games? We got our hands on two new Fantech World multi-platform controllers and have been trying them out for the past few weeks. With a simple set up, the Nova Pro and the Shooter 3 controllers were easy to use straight out of the box  - a perfect plug and play pairing that works for any type of gamer. After testing them out, there are pros and cons for both controllers so let's get into it! New additions to the Fantech Catalogue Design The Nova Pro The Nova Pro features a standard PlayStation controller layout with a responsive touchpad. Despite it's relatively low price point in comparison to a standard PS controller, it feels like a high quality piece of equipment. I received the Polaris variant of it and I have to...
Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Controller Review
Hardware & Tech

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Controller Review

It's Razer time again, this time we have the Wolverine V3 Pro controller. On paper this controller sounds incredible, but does it actually live up to it's own hype? We were lucky enough to get hold of one of the controllers on release and have been playing with it for the last couple of weeks. This Wolverine Shows Its Claws So come with us as we dive into the specs that make this controller worth every penny of it's £199.99 price tag. Design Straight out of the box, you can tell that the Wolverine V3 Pro is made of premium materials. Unzipping the included carry case you are greeted with the controller, a USB cable, 2 spare thumbsticks and the USB Bluetooth Dongle. Weighing a generous 304g, the controller let's you know that it's there without causing any strain. Being posed as a co...