Music to my Ears
A few months ago, the remote controller that I used to operate the Bose home theatre system for my TV stopped working - I cannot switch the speakers on and it is the only means to activate them. I think the problem is the contacts of the power button on the controller is defective. So, I bought an alternative replacement controller via Shopee, but unfortunately that wasn't the exact model so it didn't work. I didn't want to get an original replacement model from Bose as it was too expensive to purchase. This meant that I had to revert to using the TV's speaker instead, which sadly sounded somewhat lame. This also meant that the games I play on my PS5 Pro had to endure the audio deficiencies of the tiny TV speakers.
Today, I decided to buy the wireless headphones made for Playstation that is the Sony Pulse Elite headset, for RM699. Since Sony bought over the Audeze company that makes the incredibly awesome Maxwell gaming headset, the technology of planar magnetic drivers has been incorporated into the Pulse Elite giving it superb sound reproduction quality. You can read a review by IGN on this headset.
All I can say about its performance is wow! This is especially true after Sony released the latest PS5 system update just a few days ago that improved its audio features. I listened to both modes, with the audio focus deactivated and then activated, and the difference is astounding. With the audio focus enabled, the surround sound effect is much more profound, and the separation of audio elements is way more distinct. Playing PS5 games with this headset is amazingly more immersive than listening through the Bose system, what more the weaker TV's built-in speakers. Luckily, I didn't splurge out to buy a better speaker system, that would have been a huge waste of money.
Take a look at a few more pictures of the Sony Pulse Elite.
The Father of Camera Bags
Although I had recently purchased the Domke F2 camera bag, it was not suitable to carry the telezoom Tamron 150-500 lens, unless I rearranged the layout of the Domke bag. Even then, it didn't have a way to carry an external water bottle that I usually need if I went for a trip to the Zoo or to some outdoor activity.
I still can carry the Nikon Zf + Tamron telezoom if I used my Crumpler 7 Million Dollar shoulder bag, or perhaps with my Kata 3N1-30 backpack, but both didn't have a means to hold a water bottle or a tripod.
After searching for a suitable bag, I found the Think Tank Darklight 20L backpack.
It ticked all the necessary boxes and costs just RM 900: -
- Feature rich backpack that can carry a water bottle or tripod externally
- Can fit the Nikon Zf + Tamron 150-500 telezoom attached
- Can fit my other lenses and accessories such as flashgun and microphone
- Has a top flap that can access the camera directly
- Can only access the internal content from a back flap - more secure than a front opening flap
- Can access the internal content without removing bag from oneself - you do this by swiveling the bag around the waist belt and opening its back flap
- Can easily access all the internal content - this is unlike the Kata 3N1-30 bag that somewhat obscures some of the equipment as the flap doesn't fully open flat out
- Can store a 16" laptop inside a padded sleeve and has a separate front pocket to store an iPad Pro.
It's very comfortable to carry the bag even with full load, especially once you attach the chest and waist strap.
You can see more pictures of it here.
Z Tele Zoom
I decided to buy the Nikkor 70-180 f2.8 Z tele zoom lens that cost me RM 5,755, so now I have the entire focal length covered: -
You can see a few test shots I took, all SOOC, over here.
Internet Speed Boost
Telekom Malaysia (TM) came over today to do a free upgrade to the existing modem and router and replaced them with a new single device modem-router and now my Internet speed has been improved from a download of 800Mbps to 1Gbps and an upload of 200Mbps to 500Mbps!
Here is the new modem-router device: -
Everything tested wonderfully. Thank you TM 😀
Just-in-time Laptop
Although I have only about three months left to work before I retire, I've been provided with a new laptop, to replace my old one! This comes with an Intel® Core™ Ultra 7, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, running on Windows 11 Pro.
It's never too late, I guess, and it unsurprisingly is faster than the older machine. 😆
More pics can be viewed here.