![]() ![]() The set comes with four glasses, making it an excellent gift for the wine lovers in your life. They’re made of 100% lead-free crystal and are cut specifically to direct wine to the center of the tongue for optimal palette use. □️♂️Įlixir Glassware Square Red Wine Glasses (4-Pack) THE DUPE Priced at just $8 each, these wine glasses are the perfect example of why you should always SPY before you buy. So if you want to get the same vibes for half the price, check out the Elixer Square Wine Glasses below. The large, square shape is perfect for the type of wine pour she prefers after a long day of work they’re easy to clean because of the wide rim and look sleek AF sitting on her home bar next to her other bar cart accessories. SPY Senior E-Commerce Editor Taylor Galla has used these glasses in her own home and loves how they feel in your hand. After trying it out for ourselves, we had to tell you about it. If you love the Crate & Barrel square wine glasses, then you should know that we recently found a cheaper dupe on Amazon that looks, feels and sips like the real thing. Stock Up for the Semester: Purell Clip-On Backpack Hand Sanitizers Are on Sale Today We Loved Testing Bowflex's Adjustable Kettlebells, and Now They Have a Perfect Rating on Amazon It's Happening Again: The $299 iPad Is Back at Amazon If You Hurry! Unless, of course, you appreciate a really good deal. And since it would feel sad to buy a single solitary wine glass, we know you’re going to spend at least $60 for the full set. The problem? Not everyone wants to spend $14.95 on a single Crate & Barrel square wine glass, even if it is the latest viral serveware for sale at the moment. At the same time, TikTok has become a platform for influencers to showcase their collections of expensive home decor and everyday essentials, including pillows, throw blankets and the infamous Stanley Adventure Quencher. ![]() With countless brands creating affordable yet accurate versions of the trendiest designer goods, there’s never been a better time to shop for deals. Store these with your bar accessories in a less formal area of the house to make fun, lightweight drinks, like a wine cocktail or spritzer.Finding a cheaper knockoff of the same product is a tale as old as time, and e-commerce has made this trend even easier. These glasses are casual and suited for intimate gatherings. Stemless glasses have been trending in home bars for long enough that they're becoming a new classic. ![]() Keep these handy for the holidays and special occasions. These tall, slim glasses allow the bubbles of Champagne, Prosecco and other sparkling wines to rise to the top in an alluring helix. Remember to stock up on Champagne glasses. ![]() It is completely within reason to own 24 glasses or more if you entertain even occasionally. Some people just decide to buy a large number of one style of white glasses. The fuller wines belong in bigger glasses, because the stronger aromas collect in the glass and let you enjoy a powerful taste experience when drinking.These glasses are made for floral aromas and let the wine's acidity stand out. For lighter wines, select the glass with the smaller bowl.Many experts make a clear distinction between a glass for a light-bodied white wine, like a Riesling, and a glass for a full-bodied white wine, like Chardonnay. In others, it's only just visible, but still spills the wine into your mouth as it was meant to.įor white wine glasses, you may have an easier time shopping. Burgundy glasses have a slight curve at the lip or opening of the glass.This is another good one to stock at home. It looks a little like an oversized white wine glass. The Bordeaux glass is the tallest of the red glasses.Fill them like you would any other glass-just over the widest part of the bowl. These wine glasses are extra wide, so they're easy to spot. A great first specialty glass to choose is the Pinot Noir glass.They have wider mouths and fuller bowls to allow the deeper aromas and tastes of red wine to become prominent at each minute stage of enjoyment, from inhaling to swallowing (or spitting, in some cases). Red wine glasses are generally bigger than their white wine counterparts. Let your guests share in the pleasure of a well-paired meal and bottle served in the perfect glass. If you love to entertain, it's even more crucial to round out your set of glasses. That way, your next tasting can impart the exact notes of your favorite wines without missing a flavor. Take a look at your collection of wine glasses today and see where you can fill in the gaps. Any wine aficionado knows wine is delicious in any glass, but becomes superlative and reaches its full potential in the right glass. ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() So, get ready to find and buy all your desirable products from your best-loved brands on Ubuy. Searching for your preferred products and brands across towns and cities may not be necessary for this modern technological era since your products are just one click away. You can discover the latest offers on Lx Free products and save money each time you decide to purchase. To find a perfect collection of unique and popular global products from Lx Free, Ubuy online shopping can help you to get the right product that suits your specific requirements. It is also the right place to find products that are not easily available elsewhere. Ive always been fairly happy with it but know of a lot people who have had problems with. If you are looking for exclusive Lx Free products online in Doha, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, etc you can find it effortlessly on Ubuy which is a one-stop-shop to explore from over 100 million products and brands from international market. My Joystick Maxx had to be sent back as the battery was running dead at 2 hrs not the 3 it should be. ![]() A good online store is a quintessential stop to discover a galaxy of brands and products to suit every requirement. Hence, it is very essential and beneficial to find a genuine, reliable and trustworthy online store to buy Lx Free products. Most people would love to find all their essential products in one location, whenever they choose to buy anything. If you are looking for all the best international brands and genuine quality global products, your search ends here. ![]() ![]() ![]() You’ve to test and discover these for yourself, and by the time you discover them you won’t have much faith in YouTube’s ability or willingness to remind you to stop watching videos on their platform.įor YouTube’s break reminders to work, you’ve to only use the YouTube app on your phone without doing anything else for long periods of times. I don’t believe that anyone who configure YouTube to remind them to take breaks would reasonably expect any of the above situations to cause the reminders to not to be triggered. Accurate cross-device tracking is apparently only to be used for YouTube’s own purposes. Even though YouTube keeps track of every second of every video you watch for revenue-share and engagement tracking purposes, they can’t keep a running tally of your watch time across multiple devices even when you’re signed in with the same account on all of them. The watch-duration timer don’t carry on if you switch to watching on another device.You won’t know for sure, and that causes friction and the feature will fail to live up to people’s expectations. Switching to a messaging app temporarily and switching back may reset the counter. ![]() Modern operating system close background apps at their own discretion to manage device battery and performance. Whether an app runs in the background or is killed is out of users’ control. The watch-duration timer is reset if you (or your operating system) close the YouTube app.Reminders don’t work when you’re watching offline videos (YouTube Premium and YouTube Go) or playing videos in the background (YouTube Premium and YouTube Music.) This might indicate that it requires an internet connection, and that it may still work as long as your device is online.However, Google could still send a reminder to your phone while you’re watching on another device. This would require tigher integration with these playback devices. Reminders don’t work while you’re controlling or casting video to a Google Chromecast or a Google Casting compatible device like a TV or gaming console.It also unavailable on both the mobile and desktop websites. Reminders don’t work in the YouTube Gaming app or in the YouTube Go app (only available for Android Go edition phones in developing markets.) The YouTube Gaming app in particular is geared towards hours-long programming and long live streams. You can only configure break-reminders in the Android and iOS versions of the main YouTube app.Here is a list of some of the limitations to when and where you’ll see break-reminders. Depending on how and where you use YouTube, you may never see any reminders even after you’ve opted-in to seeing them. However, there are a bunch of limitations to how and when the reminders will work or not. The reminder system is a good idea for those of us who find themselves having unintentionally spent two hours watching YouTube and are unable to account for the intervening time. The first option is to dismiss the reminder and resume the video you’re watching (presumably after taking a short break), and the second option is a one-tap shortcut to Settings were you can disable the reminders again. You’ve to discover it and enable it on your choosing how often you want to be reminded to take a break in the setup process.Įvery time you get a notification, you’ll be presented with two options. The new option is found in the YouTube app for Android and iOS since late May 2018, and is off by default. Who’d willingly remind people to stop giving their service people’s full and undivided attention? YouTube claims that’s exactly what they’re doing with their new break-reminders. The web’s economy and the major platforms all run on one scares commodity: people’s attention. These reminders aren’t very reliable, however, and you shouldn’t rely on them for your health. The YouTube app on Android and iOS has an option that will pause video playback and remind you to take periodical breaks from staring at videos from hours on end. ![]() ![]() The game's main villains appear before they're even properly introduced a Tolkien fanatic may be intrigued by their identities, but Shadow of Mordor does too little to make them anything more than mean guys in fancy armor. But for every recognizable character there is a less-established one, and both variations weave in and out of the story with little explanation, kickstarting the plot when necessary and then departing before you can truly come to know them. Gollum is as disquieting a presence as ever, and actor Liam O'Brien's excellent vocal performance is so on point, you would assume Andy Serkis, who portrayed Gollum on film, had reprised the role here. Shadow of Mordor hits the ground running, referring to the past and future both while crafting its own story within the crevasses left unexplored in book and movie form. Had I been more invested in the game's outcome, I might have appreciated those glimmers even more. There is hope in the hearty laugh of a dwarf that becomes your hunting partner, and in the gentle words of a daughter protective of her sorcerous mother. It is in the details that you find the glimmers of light, even though you know that no happy ending is nigh. They say that the devil is in the details, but in Mordor, the devil is plain to see. The same-ish landscapes wear thin in time, though a mid-game change of scenery allows you to breathe in air not yet fully spoiled by the evil Sauron's rancid presence. Your ears are invaded by the growls and grunts of the grotesque Uruk-hai that roam the land, and your eyes are overwhelmed by the crumbling ruins of once-proud buildings. To exist here is to suffer a heavy heart. The game's occasionally iffy frame rate doesn't make a strong argument for the power of the new console generation, but the burnt orange-brown cliffs and clouded skies are nonetheless given their proper due. These touches give Shadow of Mordor a gossamer coating it greatly needed. Vague whispers and murmurs bring an eerie chill to an otherwise parched setting it's as if there is danger of being frozen even in this grim hellscape. When the wraith's anger becomes all-consuming, Talion's face melts away to reveal the apparition underneath. The ghostly wraith slides out of Talion's body from time to time to talk with him and then dissipates in a vaporous sigh. In any case, the Talion/wraith dichotomy leads to Shadow of Mordor's slickest moments. The wraith's identity has been previously revealed, but I'd prefer not to disclose it here: the murky flashbacks that depict his past deeds are all the more impactful when you've denied yourself the spoiler. Talion certainly seems like a good fit for Tolkien's universe, with his stringy shoulder-length hair, his stoic manner, and his three-syllable moniker, which recalls names like Faramir and Aragorn. I'll allow the more erudite Middle-earth experts to debate the authenticity of this wraith-ranger hybrid. Their journey of discovery takes them through Mordor and a nearby region, where the cracked earth and the sight of suffering slaves serve as warning signs Death here is more common here than the healing herbs that sometimes rise from the decayed soil. For all purposes, Talion should be dead, but his spiritual homecoming has been delayed by this unholy union. You are a ranger called Talion-but you are also a bitter wraith who shares Talion's body, the two cursed by unknown forces, each seeking the answers that would allow for peace. Shadow of Mordor's hero-or heroes, as it were-shares little thematic DNA with Desmond Miles and his kin, however. ![]() ![]() These perk cards give you different abilities and bonuses and can be upgraded by combining cards of the same type together to increase whatever bonus they give. Enemies that are quick-moving like the Wendigo, VATS help hit the target without wasting ammo. It’s great for dealing damage on Scorchbeast, Mothman, and the Flatwoods Monster. A random mod is normally better than no mod. This is an AP-based build that works great with non-automatic weapons. Lone Wolf This is an amazing Perk if you are really going for pure damage, and we are with this Build so we take this Perk first. Weapons: Unarmed Gauntlets Weapon Mods: Depends on what you can get your hands on. ![]() Each point you spend in a stat gives you, in essence, another slot that you can fit a perk card into. What The Noob Build Excels In: Learning the ropes Not wasting Perk Cards Better early gameplay Preparing for a better build in the future No ammo Higher carry weight Build Details. By level 50, you'll have gotten all of the skill points that you're going to get (and probably some mutations along the way, and though they're going to be left out of this build guide, they can be useful tools for a build), leveling out at 56 points to spread across the seven different stats. Plenty of players are still making their way through the Appalachians in the post-apocalypse of Fallout 76, and at this point, many of those players have gathered the max amount of points to spend on their S.P.E.C.I.A.L. It is located south of Goodsprings, and south-southwest of the Goodsprings source. Here are the best Fallout 76 weapons.(Updated on December 27th, 2019 with five more builds to include updates to Fallout 76) Lone Wolf Radio is an abandoned trailer in the Mojave Wasteland in 2281. The below Fallout 76 builds allow players to make a character that dominates the. Sitting Wolf / Lobo Solitario / Lone Wolf / Lobo Sentado / Hombre Lobo Sentado /. But most importantly, they are as destructive as fun. Fallout 76 lets players build their own nuclear wasteland survivor from the irradiated ground up. Browse the best of our Fallout 76 image gallery and vote for your. They come in different shapes and forms, and have different types of ammo and unique effects, too. Something that keeps players coming back is the gear that you can use, and that's why you should know about some of Fallout 76 best weapons. ![]() Updated on May 4, 2023, by Axel Bosso: Over the years, Fallout 76 became a much more polished game when compared to how it came out. From rifles to melee weapons, here are a few of the most powerful Fallout 76 weapons that will help you combat the many threats of the wasteland. Additionally, you can filter them to only show builds with specific Perk Cards or a focus on your favorite S.P.E.C.I.A.L. You can sort them by votes and the date they were last updated. Gain improved control and hold your breath 75 longer while. In our Fallout 76 build directory, you can find builds representing different play styles. Your rifles have 30 more range and excellent accuracy when sighted. Your non-automatic rifles now do +20 damage. Whether due to their Damage Output, their attributes, or their customizability, each weapon offers a unique approach to every situation. Take 45 less damage from your opponents' melee attacks. ![]() This build is meant to make you a one-person slaughter machine. lvl 8 3 Expert Rifleman Your non-automatic rifles now do +20 damage. lvl 21 P 15 3 Rifleman Your non-automatic rifles now do +20 damage. Let’s take a look at some popular and effective builds. Fallout 76 Character Build Planner & Calculator Lone Survivor build Share add loadout Pts left: 0 S 3 3 Blocker Take 45 less damage from your opponents' melee attacks. Weapons are easy to come by in Fallout 76, but there are a select few that stand out from the rest. If you don’t want to deal with raiders and miscreants out to ruin your precious time youll want to know can you play Fallout 76 single player Short answer: the game does have some meaningful. Unlike SPECIAL points you can use Perk Cards situationally before a battle or when you need to hack a terminal and then switch to the regular build. The most important resources include food, water, medicine, armor, and most importantly, a good weapon. Contents 1 Quick walkthrough 2 Detailed walkthrough 3 Quest stages 4 Notes 5 Gallery 6 References Quick walkthrough Section needed This section is required but has not been written yet. You can basically take down most enemies with just one headshot with VATS. The Lowe-Down is a quest in the Fallout 76 update Wild Appalachia. Every Vault Dweller needs a few key items to survive out in the nuclear wastelands. These will boost the power of shotguns by over 40. ![]() ![]() ![]() The 80 to 120 gram sizes have gained huge popularity in the Mid Atlantic and New England coastal areas where anglers have found great success using them to mimic a sand eel when jigging striped bass and bluefin tuna.Īll Streaker jigs come fitted with super strong and super sharp BKK 5X Strong jig assist hooks matched perfectly to the size of the jig and are ready to fish straight out of the packet.Īvailable in a wide range of sizes (40 gram all the way up to 320 gram) and 9 colors. Deadly on kingfish, tuna, and other mid-water dwelling predators the Streaker has an erratic action with a strong glide on the initial fall. The longer and slimmer profile allow the jig to sink faster, making it ideal for deeper water or areas of increased water movement due to current. ![]() Nomad Design’s The Streaker a high pitch speed jig designed to be dropped and worked faster. The Streaker is a long jig designed to sink quickly in high current and deep water then worked. The longer and slimmer profile allows the jig to sink faster, making it ideal for deeper water or areas of increased water movement due to current. Streaker 80g Rigged High Pitch Long Metal Jig by Nomad Design. Available in a wide range of sizes (40 gram all the way up to 320 gram) and 9 colors. Nomad Designs The Streaker a high pitch speed jig designed to be dropped and worked faster. Nomad Design The Streaker (One Pack) Visit the Nomad Design Store.80 to 120 gram sizes are perfect for mimicking sand eels when fishing for striper and bluefin tuna.Deadly on kingfish, tuna, and other mid-water dwelling predators.DESIGN: asymmetric cast- rhombi in back, multi-actions under water. Erratic action with a strong glide on the initial fall. HIGH QUALITY jig with stinger: each flat fall jig rigged with a pc of SJ-51 flat fall jig hook,at least 250 LB strength.These are very effective and have been hard to find. Nomad Design’s The Streaker a high pitch speed jig designed to be dropped and worked faster. For anyone interested Meltons Tackle has received a shipment of 320 gram and 420 gram Nomad Streaker knife jigs in Crimson Tide (red/glow) and Silver Glow. ![]() ![]() ![]() Now at home with Ferrari, the Spaniard will be looking to deliver with more consistency. Without doubt capable and unafraid of taking the fight to Verstappen, if Ferrari can deliver the goods.Ĭarlos Sainz Jr (Sp, 28) No 55 Debut Australia 2015 Wins 1 Poles 3 Titles 0 Best season finish 5th Last season 5th. Showed his pace with some mighty qualifying last season but could not convert the poles and lacked consistency, not least in an unforced error, spinning off in France. The engine reliability has been improved allowing them to turn up the wick, adding straight-line pace that puts them closest to Red Bull.Ĭharles Leclerc (Mon, 25) No 16 Debut Australia 2018 Wins 5 Poles 18 Titles 0 Best season finish 2nd Last season 2nd. A mighty task for new boss Vasseur but he at least has a good car to work on. Optimism turned to bitter disappointment last year with technical failure, strategy and driver errors so the Scuderia must rectify to challenge for the title. FerrariĬar SF-23 Engine Ferrari Principal Frédéric Vasseur Debut Monaco 1950 GPs 1,052 Titles 16 Last season 2nd. Will expect better as he believes he is more suited to the new model, while Red Bull will be looking for strong support from the Mexican to back up his teammate’s title challenge should a real fight emerge. Eclipsed last year by his teammate but took two wins despite struggling with a car designed to Verstappen’s style. Sergio Pérez (Mex, 33) No 11 Debut Australia 2011 Wins 4 Poles 1 Titles 0 Best season finish 3rd Last season 3rd. ![]() Dominant last season, the Dutchman displayed a maturity and control that was hugely impressive and makes him strong favourite for a third title. ![]() Ominously assured and at ease in testing, the world champion clearly has huge confidence in a car which has been honed to his style and will be quick out of the blocks. Max Verstappen (Neth, 25) No 1 Debut Australia 2015 Wins 35 Poles 20 Titles 2 Last season Champion. ![]() ![]() Do not email us if you are requesting a status update or you have a travel emergency. Email us only if you need to cancel an appointment at a passport agency or center.embassy or consulate if you are applying outside the United States. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-88 for TDD/TTY teletype services.Eastern Time, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. This cost includes a 135 service fee as well as a 187.56 government fee. For our 4-12 week option, you will need to pay a total cost of 323. Issued more than one year ago and legally changed your name. During the passport renewal checkout process, you will need to pay some fees based on the passport renewal processing time that you selected. ![]() Passport is ONE of the following: Expiring or has expired in the last 5 years. passport must be in your possession, not damaged, and issued when you were 16 or older. So, if you need any help in getting a passport in Seattle, we can help with a variety of types (new US passport, passport renewal, lost, child passports, etc) and also help with travel visas (including China visas, Brazil visas, India visas and Russian visas). Representatives are available Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. Fast and Easy Way to Get Your Passport Renewal.Appointments are limited and we cannot guarantee that one will be available.ĭo not call us unless you need a foreign visa within the next 28 days. You must have an appointment to go in person to a passport agency or center. When I applied in late January, the online renewal portal through MyTravelGov. I recently renewed my passport for the first time, and it was quite a tumultuous experience. They are also a pain in the you-know-what to renew. I have not applied yet I'm traveling in 14 days or less.Ĭall 1-87. Passports are your key to the world, allowing you to cross borders, explore new places and experience different cultures. ![]() Processing times only include the time your application is at one of our passport agencies or centers. Mailing times are not included in processing times. Continue to check online for status updates. You can expedite at an acceptance facility or expedite a renewal by mail. We are working around the clock to issue your passport. VisaDC delivers fast and reliable full-service passport services including new applications, passport renewals, name changes, damaged, lost/stolen passports, and more. If you renewed online, complete these changes on your own in your MyTravelGov account up until the time your application is approved. Department of State in addition to the normal application fee. ![]() Do not call unless you applied in person or renewed by mail, and you are changing your mailing address, upgrading to expedited service, or requesting 1-2 day delivery of your completed passport. Expedite a Passport Be sure to include the 60 expedite fee made payable to the U.S. ![]() ![]() Since the device is already paired with your Xfinity internet account, the Flex automatically connects to your in-home Xfinity Wi-Fi. Setup takes just five steps: 1) Connect the power adapter to the back of the Flex receiver 2) Connect the HDMI cord into the back of the Flex receiver 3) Connect the power adapter to a nearby power outlet 4) Connect the HDMI cord to your television 5) Turn on the Flex receiver with your remote control. There are just four items included with the device: The Xfinity Flex setup process was painless. Xfinity keeps the ecosystem locked down to its partner streaming apps: You can’t download an outside service like you would on a more customizable app.Ģ Things About the Xfinity Flex That I Liked 1. The bad news is that you’re out of luck if you prefer a streaming service that’s not preloaded on the Flex device. That’s a change for a company that has an incentive to funnel existing customers to traditional cable TV. In 2021, the Xfinity Flex started adding some live TV streaming services, such as YouTube TV, as apps available on the device. You also can stream music with the Flex, using popular services like Pandora, iHeart Radio, YouTube and Amazon Music. Amazon Prime Video (subscription required).Peacock (subscription required for premium levels).When you turn on the Flex device, you’ll instantly have access to the following: The good news is that many popular streaming options are already loaded on the device. It’s also a great way to promote NBCUniversal-related content, such as the Peacock streaming service (subscription required for premium content). And in that process, Comcast is keeping customers within its content ecosystem so you’ll be more inclined to rent movies, subscribe to HBO or even opt into additional Xfinity services such as cable TV or home security. Presumably, Xfinity offers the Flex as a way to keep a competing streaming device - like a Roku or Amazon Fire product - out of your hands. If you’re like me, you may be wondering: What’s the catch? ![]() This device is not for sale on the open market and isn’t compatible with non-Comcast internet service.Ĭontact Xfinity or log into your Xfinity account to request a Flex device for your account. You must be an Xfinity internet subscriber to get access to the Xfinity Flex. The Flex also lets Xfinity customers use their TVs to control other Xfinity services, such as parental controls for the internet and in-home security (if they use Xfinity Home). Streaming customers of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video can access their subscriptions on their televisions through this Comcast device. It streams on-demand television shows and movies as well as some live streaming content. The Xfinity Flex is a TV streaming device offered free-of-charge to Xfinity internet-only customers. Xfinity Flex: The Basics What Is the Xfinity Flex? I’ll also compare the Flex to some of the most popular streaming devices. In this review, I’ll tell you what I liked and didn’t like about the Flex after spending a few days using it as the primary streaming device on one of my televisions. I was skeptical, but he left it with me to try.Īfter reviewing several streaming devices for Team Clark, I decided it was time to put the Flex to the test. The Comcast installation technician told me I was eligible to receive the Flex device for free since I was an internet-only customer. I signed up for Xfinity internet to try it out. Xfinity is offering its internet-only customers a free way to stream TV in 2023.īut is the Xfinity Flex device good enough to consider giving up your Roku Express or Amazon Fire TV Stick? ![]() ![]() ![]() parallel (simultaneous) recording for recording to two tapes at the same time.A-B repeat play mode repeats a selected portion of a tape (maximum 20 times before auto-stop).1/4" microphone input + headphone outputs on front panel w/ independent gain controls.USB output for digital recording to a computer.pitch control (tape 1 only) changes playback speed +/-12%.built-in Dolby B noise reduction system (switchable on/off).independent cassette mechanisms: when one deck is playing, the other can play, stop, rewind or fast forward without disrupting playback or recording on the first.dual cassette deck, plays and records cassette tapes from one to the other or via line in.That saves you the trouble of normalizing the signal.Cartridge Headshells / Alignment / Cleaners Both sounded very good, with the USB signal coming in at unity gain, which is as hot as you can go without clipping or other issues. I recorded the 202MKVII’s output using both the analog out and the USB port. Everything else sounded better on the 202MKVII. When I say off the street, I mean I literally picked it up off the street after someone ditched it. Indeed, the tapes most affected by warble displayed less of it on my off-the-street Akai deck than on the 202MKVII. It does suffer, however, an oddity that I remember from back in the day: Pricier decks, and TASCAM’s in particular, handle iffy cassettes poorly. I threw a number of cassettes at the 202MKVII, which handled most of them just fine. Still, I’d call the 202MKVII’s sound significantly better than average. The sonic quality was very good, although to be honest, I wasn’t as blown away as I was by some of the very last cassette decks that came to market in the 1990s. I was also quite happy with the noise reduction, which indeed seemed to function like Dolby B, reducing hiss without significantly impacting the overall frequency response. While the 202MKVII might induce some sticker shock, it is definitely a huge step up from Ion Audio’s Cassette 2 PC in terms of sound, features, and feel, and that goes for every other USB cassette deck I’ve looked at as well. ![]() The 202 has always kept it simple to reduce the complexity of the transport mechanism, limit failure points, and increase reliability. There’s no automatic reverse, as was found on many consumer decks. Off to the side are three two-position switches: Play Mode (Normal or Special, for monitoring the deck that’s not using the main outputs), timer (Off/Record/Play), and noise reduction (On/Off). Up top there’s the usual LCD readout with buttons for counter reset, return to zero (one for each well), dimming the display (several levels), repeat, parallel record (record to both decks at once), and dub start (copy from one well to the other). The 202MKVII’s front panel has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a top-notch cassette deck, though it omits some that might affect playback quality, such as automatic rewind. There’s a microphone input with a rotary gain control, and a headphone jack whose output is controlled with the same type of control. Aside from the two dampened transport doors with their eject buttons, each deck has stop, play, record, pause-record, record-mute, fast-forward, and rewind buttons. With nothing radical to see on the inside, I proceeded to replace the cover and peruse the front panel, which is decidedly more impressive. Both wells are belt driven, and the main logic board is labeled TEAC. Two-head mechanisms mean there is no monitoring of what’s being recorded, but that’s never been a feature of the 202. I, of course, opened the enclosure to check, and what I saw was neither scary (i.e., hugely cheap) or particularly impressive. TASCAM assures me the components used in the 202MKVII’s are new and manufactured to the company’s specifications. ![]() |
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