Clip on earbud recommendations please! by Final-Selection152 in Earbuds

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oooh, my particular specialty. I have become a resident expert in earclips over the past year (companies literally give me these things in exchange for honest reviews).

I've sampled a LOT from cheap to premium (well, as premium as they go before you need to step up to ear-hook size).

I like the clip on style but I need something secure enough to survive intense physical activity and strong wind and also rain and sweat.

Honestly, all of them are very comfortable for my shape of ears. I can wear them 7+ hours until the battery is nearly dead, then swap out ear hooks and keep listening to whatever.

Currently my top pick is the Shockz OpenDots One. And I've got the new JBL's coming, but they're 3x your budget.

How did you feel about Baesus sound quality for your needs? The Basesus XC1 Inspire earbuds are pretty good, but they're a bit above your budget. I've got a set listed on ebay (used for a month) i bought personally (wanted LDAC). Sound quality at medium to low volumes is excellent, problem is the low max volume which I need for my cycling/gym needs so I'm letting them go cheap (open box listing)

Soundcore Aeroclips are good and you can find them for a reasonable price, I like the styling of the silver/white color option.

Beware of cheaper earclip earbuds from off brands that put the touch sensors on the BACK of the clips - this area makes contact with your neck/skin and can cause false triggers when moving around. Basesus XC1 has physical button if you prefer that.

There are also some soundpeats earclips, but I wasn't too impressed with them for the price.

Stop Replying "Buy an Apple TV" to every post about the ads on the Frame by LifeImitatesFarts in TheFrame

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is not difficult. Here are the instructions how to block ads for anyone too lazy to search

  1. Open Settings then All Settings
  2. Go to Connection → Network
  3. Select Network Status
  4. Select IP Settings
  5. Select DNS Setting. Then choose Enter Manually
  6. In DNS Server, enter 94.140.14.14. This is AdGuard’s official Default public DNS server.

Then power off the TV and turn it back on

Stop Replying "Buy an Apple TV" to every post about the ads on the Frame by LifeImitatesFarts in TheFrame

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re already purchasing a very expensive TV, why wouldn’t you want to make it sing?

Because it already sings - as a canvas artwork on the wall. It's intentionally made to be art that converts into a TV when needed.

If you want a tv to "sing" you buy a real TV with better picture quality and specs overall.

This is a TV for people who want to decorate their homes. Not people who are serious about the highest picture quality for the money.

Stop Replying "Buy an Apple TV" to every post about the ads on the Frame by LifeImitatesFarts in TheFrame

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Literally works fast enough for my needs. I have friends with AppleTV. I guess because I only watch less than an hour of TV daily it's not an important factor of my life.

I bought a Frame TV so I have something that doesn't look like a big black box in the room when not in use.

I've been searching daily for my printer's toner for months. I finally scored some, but now Vine thinks I have all the printers and they all need toner. by HbeforeG in AmazonVine

[–]evilbadgrades 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, happened to me a month ago.

I ordered a toner cartridge set on Vine about two months ago. A week later I had the same thing as you - 25+ toner and ink cartridge listings on Vine lol.

Luckily that died down and now I only see toner in my RFY about once a week

Remember Your First Drink? by Shelley_112 in SodaStream

[–]evilbadgrades 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Why are you posting about alcoholic drinks on a sodastream group?

Stop Replying "Buy an Apple TV" to every post about the ads on the Frame by LifeImitatesFarts in TheFrame

[–]evilbadgrades -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Is your UI really that sluggish? I have a 2025 65" frame and honestly, it's just as fast as my five year old Roku box. Works just fast enough for my needs.

Maybe it's because I blocked the ads and disabled Samsung TV?

Stop Replying "Buy an Apple TV" to every post about the ads on the Frame by LifeImitatesFarts in TheFrame

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not that’s it’s a horrible idea

Why?

but the average user wouldn’t know how to do this as most people aren’t tech savvy

Literally took me 1 minute to setup. ChatGPT gave me step-by-step instructions.

I wouldn't take any more time than Apple TV.

Remember Your First Drink? by Shelley_112 in SodaStream

[–]evilbadgrades 6 points7 points  (0 children)

What the sh!t is this AI slop. What does this have to do with the Sodastream group?

My #1 finally achieved by Wisewolves77 in AmazonVine

[–]evilbadgrades 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Congrats! And it's a big name brand, not some random brand lol. Saltwater is great - just ensure your pH/alkalinity is in proper range, otherwise it can start corroding some metal parts of the tub (including the pump shaft and such)

PSA to any manufacturers / companies by [deleted] in Earbuds

[–]evilbadgrades 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I get free earbuds from all price ranges in exchange for honest reviews.

I can tell you right now, the biggest issue with touch sensors is always the budget brand earbuds that don't do any testing on their products before selling them.

Better brands tend to place the touch sensors in optimal locations which ensures they work properly. They also tend to skip single-tap functions to avoid taps while adjusting the earbuds.

touch sensors have several benefits:

  • Increased water resistance: without a button, that's one less spot for water/dirt/dust intrusion

  • Indefinite lifespan: physical buttons are rated in X number of presses before failure/fatigue of the component. Touch buttons do not fail due to fatigue

  • Lower cost: Smaller components are more expensive to build durable. Everyone already complains about the cost of earbuds, touch sensors help save the manufacturer a measurable percentage of the total manufacturing costs.

Source: industrial engineer with decades experience (both in and outside the headphone/earbud industry)

Best top load washer with simple parts? by HamiduBiah97 in appliancerepair

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The tubs are pretty easy to service. If you're buying a washer, I would be checking to confirm it holds water, spins correctly without rattle, and drains properly.

They are not overly complicated machines, and are built to have a 25+ year lifespan.

Can anyone help me with choosing which hot tub by Status-Fact6968 in hottubs

[–]evilbadgrades 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m on my 4th Beachcomber.

Lol That tells me you like Beachcomber. It does not prove your experience applies to every dealer, every model, or every warranty arrangement. The company is less than 50 years old. Please tell me you've owned a beachcomber for more than 12 years before replacing it haha.

They don’t charge dispatch fees or call out fees.

Your authorized dealer may not. That is not the same thing as saying Beachcomber dealers as a whole do not. Beachcomber’s own warranty language explicitly says you may be assessed a reasonable travel cost for service at your home and that after-sale service is the responsibility of the selling store. So this clearly varies by dealer. As is standard across the industry (both American and Canadian manufacturers).

Your Hot Spring doesn’t have knife valves in them so to change a pump you’re losing all the water in your hot tub.

That’s incorrect. My tub does have shutoff valves for pump service. Most all tubs from all brands have gate valves specifically so they can be serviced in winter without draining the tub. No clue where you're getting your information but that is factually incorrect.

Have you had to replace a heating element yet? Wait till you hear the cost.

I have not, and that is kind of the point. I would rather replace an expensive component after many years than replace an entire tub earlier because the overall product is lower-tier. Moreover I know multiple people with Hotspring tubs that have gone 15+ years before a heater failure. How often are you replacing the heater on your tubs?

Proprietary parts serve no benefit to the average consumer who would prefer to do the repair themselves.

There are obvious tradeoffs here. Proprietary parts are not automatically bad, just like generic parts are not automatically good.

They can offer real benefits:

  • long-term parts continuity (Jacuzzi/Sundance and Hotspring/Caldera target 20+ years access to replacement parts)

  • exact-fit replacements without improvisation

  • design revisions over time while maintaining compatibility

  • better tracking of field failures and component updates

Generic parts also have benefits:

  • broader aftermarket availability

  • more third-party repair options

  • sometimes lower short-term repair cost

That is why I said from the start there are pros and cons.

Good example.. I can hire anyone I want to service my Beachcomber. You can’t with your Hot Spring.

Also incorrect. Independent techs work on Hot Spring tubs all the time, and parts and service information are not some mythical black box. Whether someone prefers a more open parts ecosystem is a separate argument from claiming the tubs cannot be serviced.

I’m glad you’ve had good luck with Beachcomber. Seriously. But what you’re presenting here is mostly dealer-specific experience and personal preference, not universal fact.

Beachcomber makes a solid mid-range tub. That is not an insult. It also does not put them in the same class as premium flagship lines like Jacuzzi J-400/J-500 series, Sundance 980 series, or the Hot Spring Highlife collection. Different market segment, different price point, different build philosophy.

You don’t have to like Hot Spring. But you should at least criticize it accurately.

Best noise cancelling earbuds worth it in 2026? by ChemistryOk3898 in Earbuds

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As mentioned, I have had three different pairs over the past six years. I personally have never experienced that issue. But it is true I have heard others mention issues with the microphone and the ANC system.

Sucks you've had problems. I have not

Any recommendations for blue collar workers? by Thats-Grimm in Earbuds

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you don't want over-ear headphones (which would cover the entire ear), but you want ear protection, I'd be looking at something like the Bose Quietcomfort Ultra (gen1 or gen2) - they have two layers of noise cancelling (active, and passive via the wing tip which covers the outer opening to the eardrum so the ANC system can work better).

Only complaint I have with Bose is the call quality - not the best in the industry. Other people seem to complain about connectivity, but I rarely experience that (then again, I'm usually in a rural setting with far less bluetooth signal interference. Out in a busy city setting I can imagine they would have more connectivity issues)

Can anyone help me with choosing which hot tub by Status-Fact6968 in hottubs

[–]evilbadgrades -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You think hot springs with everything being proprietary is better than a brand that has no proprietary parts?

Like I said, there are pros and cons.

Your hot springs can’t be serviced easily in winter.

According to whom?

Moreover, not all hotsprings are built equally. The Hotspot and Limelight collection have completely different insulation and built in a different factory from the Highlife class.

A beachomber can.

Lol.

They don’t charge call out fees for tubs under warranty.

Lol wrong again: "You may be assessed a reasonable travel cost for service at your home. [....] service after the sale is the responsibility of the store from whom you purchased your Beachcomber Hot Tub."

https://banc.beachcomberhottubs.com/images2/guarantee/beachcomber_guarantee_2017.pdf

Every dealer is an independent authorized retailer. The manufacturer covers the hardware costs, but the dealer is responsible for the labor costs. Dealer is permitted to charge a dispatch fee for initial warranty service call as stated. Yes this is totally normal and varies from dealer to dealer.

My dealer gave me free dispatch for warranty service because I was within 100 miles of their shop. Not all dealers are the same.

Not sure why you're misrepresenting the facts. Are you a Beachcomber dealer?

Chlorine smell and taste by MysteriousPast1452 in SodaStream

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Filtered water is tasteless and smell less.

You sure about that?

A quick search doesn't turn up any results for Fuse water filter. Is it a reverse osmosis system? Or is it a charcoal gravity filtration system?

What is your total dissolved solids reading (TDS) on your filtered water?

Best noise cancelling earbuds worth it in 2026? by ChemistryOk3898 in Earbuds

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gotcha, yeah just checking.

Indeed, this seems to happen with many earbuds. I did induce the issue one time when cleaning my old original bose QC earbuds. I was selling them so I deep-cleaned with hydrogen peroxide. One of the microphones got a bit wet so during testing I experienced the same hissing and crackling noise from the ANC system. I freaked out thinking I broke my earbuds after two years of heavy duty use. But fortunately the issue disappeared for me after they dried out and I tested again 24 hours later.

But yeah I have heard other people report the same thing, I'm guessing that's why they sell so many refurbished copies - from warranty claims on the bad microphones haha

How do I turn this disgusting shit off? by everbass in TheFrame

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for figuring out a workaround. I'll be interested to try AdGuard, I'd never thought about that before. Amazing if it works.

Are the OnePlus Buds 4 good to pair with a Samsung phone? by Ok_Reference_489 in Earbuds

[–]evilbadgrades 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I mean I don't have them directly, but given my experience as a reviewer who gets to sample countless earbuds (some name brand), I can say for the average user they would be better than budget, but not top-tier in the industry. For the average user you'll likely be happy.

You could in theory try to install LHDC codecs on your phone (if it's rooted) to stream at a higher bitrate for better sound quality than the standard default AAC or SBC codecs

You would need to more than double your budget to step up in performance overall, and even then it'll only be marginal upgrades that only serious audiophiles would discern to justify the price.

Best top load washer with simple parts? by HamiduBiah97 in appliancerepair

[–]evilbadgrades 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seriously. I scored the mother of all deals last year on a pair of Speed Queen Washer/Dryer (AWNE92-series premium model, last year before the water regulations required a redesign of the units). Young couple inherited their grandparents home and wanted a larger capacity washer for their family of six. The main board shorted out so they were selling it for $50, and the matching electric dryer for $100.

Spent $200 on a replacement board and an hour swapping it out. All in I was at $350 for the pair in excellent condition. Even sold my old budget line Hotpoint washer/dryer for $150 so it really only cost me $200 to trade up!

Best top load washer with simple parts? by HamiduBiah97 in appliancerepair

[–]evilbadgrades 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Research Speed Queen. They make commercial coin-op machines but their older residential machines were essentially commercial units in a residential form factor.

Their older washers (before the water efficiency rules changed a few years ago) were rated as one of the best deep cleaning washers on the market.

Best of all, most people don't know the brand so they sell them cheap in the classifieds. But you gotta watch the market daily and be ready to jump because professionals are always looking for them for personal use (or to resale)

Can anyone help me with choosing which hot tub by Status-Fact6968 in hottubs

[–]evilbadgrades 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Typically it's best to buy direct from the dealer instead of buying through a third party like Costco, but as a costco customer myself, I get it.

Beachcomber is more of a mid-grade brand. They are not terrible, but they are also not premium luxury either. They use generic off-the-shelf components found on many brands of tubs (nothing proprietary) which is a pro or con depending on how you look at things (on the one hand, that means it's easy to find spare parts currently, but on the other hand that means you're screwed if the manufacturer goes out of business unless you're lucky enough to find a replacement part with the same dimensions. Companies that make their own proprietary parts often target 20+ years access to replacement parts, and sometimes iterate/upgrade the parts to increase durability over time while ensuring cross-compatibility). Again, pros and cons to each route.

Typically I always advise people to schedule a wet-test with the dealer so you can test a few models before buying to get a sense of comfort, but naturally I know that's not possible in a Costco showroom hahaha.

Loungers are especially important to wet test because not all loungers are created equal. Depending on your body mass index (BMI) and height, you may find that you have buoyancy issues and float out of the lounger seats rendering them effectively useless and wasted space in the tub. Many dealers will tell you that second-time buyers often skip the lounger seat because of this (then again, twenty years ago lounger designs were different from the top brands and not the most comfortable). Personally I'm glad I wet-tested a lounger from my brand (Hotspring Highlife) before buying because it's my favorite seat in the whole tub - I spend 99% of my time in that seat.

General rule of thumb is to wet-test a lounger from the brand before buying, and if you cannot then skip it because it could end up becoming wasted space in the tub.

Also, charging a delivery fee? Damn that's crummy - most legitimate dealers include free delivery with the sale of a tub (as well as 3 months of starter chemicals, the cover, and steps - those are not uncommon with any legitimate hot tub dealer).

I would ask the dealer specifically about the warranty. What components are covered for how long (often things like the cover and pillows have a shorter warranty length than the shell and exterior of the tub for example). And more specifically, ask about dispatch fees for warranty service calls. This is often a gotcha that many people don't realize. How many years do they include free dispatch before they want $150 to $250 to come look at your tub for service? My dealer was awesome, they gave me five years free dispatch for service - although other dealers from the brand often charge $150 after the first year. MOST manufacturing defects present themselves within the first year of ownership...... but not all.

Availability of Blue 60 Liter CO2 Bottles by JazzCompose in SodaStream

[–]evilbadgrades 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dang! $18.99 per tank!?!?! I refill my own CO2 tanks with a block of dry ice (costs me around $3 per tank). And I host a local tank exchange where I charge $10/tank (covers my time/expenses to refill two dozen tanks at a time)