AKG N400NC TWS

I have been recording and listening to music for a long time, just about over 40 years that I can remember. I was introduced to music from before I could walk. I took up an instrument in Intermediate school (Middle School) and continued into high school, however, it seems playing music wasn't what I was meant to do, it was more with recording. So in the last 2 years of high school, I took up sound engineering and recording concerts for the high school band.

From there, I got into being a disc jockey to eventually back into recording. 

Just a little disclaimer, everyone has a different perception to sound. What I may find as great, another may not, what I may hear, someone else could miss and vice versa. So what I would recommend is to listen to it yourself and judge if you like it or not (same goes with food, except the listening part, food you eat...)

So here is the headset, the AKG N400NC TWS

I've been a long time fan of the AKG headsets. I was introduced to AKG from when I first volunteered at a summer fun program and the Leader I was paired with, was also a musician. Turns out, his father was part of a famous group and an Uncle had played in the same band.

Skipping ahead, after graduating high school, I got a job working at a local radio station. Remembering the sound that the AKG headset I was introduced to, I ending up purchasing a pair of AKG K240 Studio, these were reference headsets.

Reference headsets basically doesn't alter the sound, so your bass, mid and highs are all at the same level, which for sound engineers allow them to adjust the sounds to bring out the maximum quality and the ideal feeling for everyone.

The K240 Studio is what I used as a control to measure the sound of the different headsets, for the  Audio, I used a Sony Walkman MP3 player (yes, Sony Walkman do still exists)

The Sony, NW-A100 Series. Sound file formats that this supports are MP3, AAC, FLAC and DSD. 

AAC and FLAC provide the highest quality and cleanest sounds in a digital format.

There are other models available that either have less internal memory or higher end models that start from about $1,000. The higher end models cater to the absolute audiophiles that are extremely particular of their sound. If I were able to, I would like to hear for myself and see if I can hear the difference from my middle ground player to the higher end player.

One of the added feature of this particular model, is that there is a Cassette display when the music is playing, kind of to give it a nostalgia look and nod to the early days of the walkman.

So, first up, was the K240 as a control. I used a FLAC file from the Hires download site:

Mozart: Violin concerto in D major - Allegro

Marianne Thorsen / Trondheim Solistene

With the K240, The sound was warm, crisp and precise. From the solo violin to the strings and brass. I could hear the french horns, the oboe, the flutes occasionally peaking out from the group. It was almost like I was in a private performance in some grand orchestra hall.

Next, with the same piece of music, I connected the AKG N20 Ear bud, also reference headsets. These 

make it easier to commute and listen to music or as of recently, started listening to pod casts and eventually, audio books.

However, the sound didn't seem as warm and full as the K240's, but still had that crisp and precise sounds from the Violin and strings.

Taking into consideration, these are ear buds with a foam ear piece. I suppose it is to be expected with the smaller sound conductors in each ear piece.

Again, using the same musical piece, I then connected the N400NC TWS. Not sure why, but it seemed the sound was a little bit fuller than the N20. One other item, there is a EQ specifically for these ear buds. Unlike some other EQ software, this is very flexible when sculpting the way you want your sound.

Although you can see the points, the whole line is flexible, but a bit difficult to fine tune with my large fingers, so with what I could adjust, it was pretty close to how I wanted my music to sound like.

This EQ is specifically for the N400 and does a pretty good job of sounding almost as good as the K240's and make it sound definitely better than the N20's which I keep as a backup in the event I forget to charge my N400's and speaking of charge, I've been running it for about 4 days now without noticing any decrease in power charging in the holding case.

The N400 does allow for talking, however, I already have ear buds for my phone and just want to use it for listening to music. One feature I really like about it is the Ambient Aware, a feature that allows for sound from the surrounding area to be heard while listening to music. This makes for a great safety feature when walking about the city, and if you want to drown out the sounds, the Active Noise Cancelling does an excellent job, so if you are riding on the bus and that guy next to you insists on talking on the phone, or that other guy that tends to talk to a non-existent person, you don't have to listen to their conversation.

The headset is IPX7, so if you want to use them while working out, you don't have to worry about damaging it with perspiration. Depending on the ear plug and wingfins you use, it make it secure so you don't have to worry about it falling out or losing it. 

One of the biggest feature I am a really big fan of, is the charging port, it uses a USB-C connector, thus decreasing the number of different cables I need to carry if I should need to charge it. 

For the wireless connection, it is Bluetooth Version 5, which uses less energy and doesn't cause the host device to drain faster. It also allows you to connect an additional bluetooth headset so that you can share the music or both watch a video at the same time, together. With Bluetooth V5, it allows for faster connections and much better quality audio.

Another feature of the N400, since AKG is part of the Samsung family, there is more integration with the Samsung family of mobile devices. You can use Bixby, which is Samsung's version of the Google Assistant. It will still work with Google Assistant if you do not have a Samsung Device.

Additional features which I haven't taken advantage of, is the touch and swipe controls on the N400.

Since my intended use is for listening to music and such, I don't need them, I have headsets just for my mobile phone, which, by the way, is a Pixel 6 with the Pixel Bud-A. To be fair, I also have a iPhone 13 with the Airpod Pro, but just want to keep my music listening separate from my phone so that if I need to and don't have to worry about running out of power if I need to make a phone call.

I do have to add, that I did also compare them to my previous favorite headsets, the JVC Truly Wireless (Marshmallow). The first JVC headset I had were the Marshmallows, a really inexpensive, but really

good sounding headset. For the price of under 10 dollars, it had some really good bass and decent highs. These were about $50 and prior to getting the N400, were considered to be really good wireless headsets.

All in all and so far, the AKG N400's are the best and my absolute favorite headsets. For my commute and occasional at home use, these will be my every day drivers. Right now, the AKG N400's are on sale for just under $50, a little over a $100 off from the regular price, so if you want some really great headsets, give them a try and order them before the price goes back up. You can order them direct from this link - AKG N400 NC TWS

つづく ( To be continued... )

Open Letter to Amazon

I am extremely disappointed by Amazon as a Amazon Prime Member. Especially since I am paying for that membership. I have had several bad experiences with orders that were shipped by Amazon that have been mostly delayed prior to this Pandemic and twice during.

In the most recent, I had ordered a desk from them and was given a date of arrival to which it didn't show up only to learn it was "lost", however after a week, it was "found" and delivered after being refunded.

I have since decided to keep the desk and accept the charge for it, however, the condition it arrived was in poor condition and there was slight damage to the product.

I've been told each time that they will fix the issue, but it seems it doesn't and all I'm getting is just something to calm me by the representative which doesn't get fixed.

Each time, I've been professional and calm, however, I'm finding that each time this happens, so far, five times already, I'm finding it harder and harder to keep calm and cordial. 

It is getting to the point where I don't want to have anything to do with Amazon as a customer and campaign to have other customers to purchase items elsewhere.

つづく ( To be continued... )

Since the other one is down...

I'm not sure what to write anymore, not sure of anything, what used to be clear is now not so clear and what I didn't care for, I'm close to becoming.

I'm still technically out of work, although I am working as a contractor, but the work isn't consistent. My truck just started to have some issues with the "Service engine soon" light coming on, after I start it and put it in gear, the engine dies.

I've tried and applied for every kind of job from jobs that I am qualified for to jobs that I am over qualified. I can't seem to get employment anywhere. I don't know where to go, who to turn to and if there is some kind of hope for me, anywhere.

I was once a proud person, a person with purpose, a person who held his head up, a person that was self sufficient and now, that has all changed since being out of employment since July 5th of 2009. I should've made the move sooner from Minnesota to Colorado or anywhere else for that matter. I don't know why I stayed as long as I did, maybe I thought there was some purpose or maybe I had hope that something would happen or something else, maybe I got lazy and didn't want to move, just got too comfortable.

I think I had a feeling that I should've moved, it was back in 2002 or 2003, I should've listened to that feeling, I'm sure that all this would be different and I'd be writing about something different today...

つづく ( To be continued... )

A short reprieve...

I've got a little more time to find something to keep living where I am now... at least the stress level has decreased, but only for a little bit.

If things don't work out the way I need them to, I'll need to decide on where I'm going to go and what I'm going to do...

To be clear, suicide is not an option, but I'm thinking Kwai Chang Cain....

I'm giving up....

This is it... I've exhausted all my options and have nowhere else to turn to. I needed to come up with rent for May and had till Monday, May 8th, 2011 before 09:00 MDT. The agencies that do offer assistance require that I have children or a job, both, which I don't have.

It's Sunday, May 7th, 2011 and I still don't have the money or even the 75 percent of the total rent due to keep me here. I've been looking for employment since July of 2009, sent out about 5 to 600 resumes since then. I've only got about 4 call backs but that is about as far as it goes.

I'd always thought things would end with me doing something heroic, in battle or suddenly... It's been a slow, torturous and agonizing end. I'm tired of fighting, I'm tired of just getting by, but mostly, I'm just tired and giving up.

I guess this is it...

The final hour is fast approaching for me, but I guess I don't really have any regrets. I should really feel happiness, but can't help the way I really do feel.

You could say that I've lead a life that had it's ups and downs, of privilege and poverty and of companionship and loneliness.

As of late, I suspect that I've been living on borrowed time that didn't really belong to me and should have been returned a while ago. I can't say that I've cheated death or made a deal, but it seems I'm already past my date of expiration.

There was a time when I felt like I was being watched over, but now... I think they just gave up because it seems that I was always in need of help.

I do have to say that I've been privileged to experience the taste of caviar, fine wines and spirits. The warmth and love of a woman, fine meals and the finest confections that life had to offer.

I've had the privilege and honor of traveling to my ancestral homeland, the exotic beauty of the outer Hawaiian Islands and the new and exciting sights some of the mainland states had to offer.

I've observed history in the making, from the return of Apollo 13 splashdown in the Pacific Ocean to the tragedy of 9/11 and the fatal accident with the space shuttle Columbia and finally the end of a terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden, with everything else in-between.

I had the opportunity to listen to all kinds of great music and how it has changed through the years, seen great concerts and met all kinds of people, both famous and not.

There were things in my life that I am extremely proud of and there are things that I am not. However there seems to be a saying I once heard that I feel relates to my life - To be born in the shadows, you die in the shadows...

You may ask, “What is this all about?” Well, it started in July of 2009, when I lost my job and due to some things in my background, it has made it impossible for me to find a job. I have the experience and the knowledge, but it doesn’t matter to them. Since then, my unemployment has run out and since that day, I’ve been sending out numerous resume’s, either getting very few responses or no responses at all and without any income, I’ve since sold just about all my possessions to pay my bills.

The only thing left to sell is my computer, the school laptop and my phone. My computer currently is the only other thing that is keeping me together, if I didn’t have a TV tuner in it, I wouldn’t know what else to do… but it seems that may have to be sold in order to keep my apartment… and considering the vultures out there, I wouldn’t get much for it because they want “a bargain”.

I’ll post it anyway to see what kinds of offers they’ll make… It's that or get rid of everything and just be homeless... In April of 2010, there was an article about a woman that committed suicide after not being able to find a job and sending out about 200 resumes, she was very intelligent and very skilled, you can read the article here

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

If there is, I can't see it. After selling my TV and only getting a third of what I was expecting and a quarter of what I paid for, I'm running out of money again and still don't have enough to pay my rent or other bills.

I still don't have a job and 2 weeks ago sold my prized camera to try and pay some bills and get gas for my truck so that I can go on a job search. Just today, I only filled the tank with 20 dollars, which may not last long... I still have school to get to.

I"ve tried adding a donation button here and on my website but it's understandable that there are other people out there looking for moneytary assistance, I just wished that those that could, would donate, help the economy like the oil companies, they profit big time and those that need the money, have none.