Teac reference 300 - best mini system under £1000

Advantages: Great Sound, Great Looks, Great Price
Disadvantages: Remotes a bit cheap, no USB port,

...Having been in the market to downsize my old hi fi for something more compact, I've settled on the Teac reference 300 mkIII with DAB tuner. Its a 3 box system as opposed to the other smaller one box systems manufactured by Teac and others such as Denon, Arcam and Onkyo. As such, although being larger, it is more user friendly to use and has more power at 45 wpc RMS. At around £500 rrp it stands up favourably in price to the Arcam Solo Mini and comes in silver or black finish with machined aluminium fronts and a classy blue display on each unit. It actually appears slightly retro in appearance although the remotes are a bit cheap looking. The silver units can be found for as little as £349 without speakers so its quite a bargain. Sound quality for such a small unit is really clear and well defined with a warm bass typical of Teac...

psilk 22.04.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Teac REF 300 DAB MK III

"THE REF" WHY CHANGE THE TITLE?

Advantages: Very funny / very cheap to buy
Disadvantages: Wot no special features

...Once there was film called "Hostile Hostages" starring Kevin Spacey and Denis Leary and some other woman whose name I can't remember from any other film and this film was hilarious. Then due some overwhelming terrorist incident in 2001 the name was changed to avoid offending stupid people because as we all know stupid people are offended by seeing a word and cannot find the time to understand the context as their satisficing nature prevents it. Still the film became known as "The Ref" for no apparent reason. There are no footballs, no field of dreams and no whistles to be seen, but anyway back to the review: This film is very very funny. Denis Leary is in full stand-up mode and Kevin Spacey is in even better form than he was later in American Beauty as a cynically spiteful husband. Why this film is funny is because it is non...

coleecip 20.09.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of The Ref (DVD)

Homedics SBM-300H

Advantages: Good quality massage, does as described
Disadvantages: Can't really think of any

...I've had some quite bad back pain for over twelve months now, with the main symptoms being lower back pain and stiffness. I've tried a few of those hand held massagers and one day when on holiday in Spain I used one of those massage chairs that you pay one Euro into and get a five minute shiatsu massage. It was absolute bliss and seemed to loosen up the muscles in my back considerably so I've been in search of something similar that won't break the bank ever since. Having done some research and read reviews I decided to purchase the Homedics SBM-300 from amazon.co.uk as it was quite cheap at £85.45 plus delivery. Having decided to splash out and have the guaranteed next day delivery it arrived very quickly and I eagerly opened the box. This particular model is described as a massage cushion and is able to fit to most chairs...

tor0908 15.08.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Homedics SBM-300H

300 - okish

Advantages: everything
Disadvantages: everything only if you watch another film before

...I have to admit I did do something wrong when watching this film. I happened to have watched "Meet The Spartans" before I watched this, so I kind of already knew the plot and sort of seriously got bored with this film, as I was expecting the funny bits come leaping out, unfortunately there was no funny bits and it was deadly serious, so at first I couldn't understand it but then I settled down to it however I have to admit I really do prefer the soundtrack over this film! The Director of the film is Zack Snyder, who is quite a new director and has only directed 3 films, "300" "Dawn Of The Dead" (Which I really do want to watch) & "Watchmen" (Which I'm not too sure about), he is not only a director but he is also a Producer and a writer! I don't know whether he is a good director considering he has only directed this film (That I have...

Jonni_boi 03.01.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of 300 (DVD)

300 v's How Many?????

Advantages: excellent story, amazing effects, hunky half dressed men!
Disadvantages: Bit far fetched with creatures at the end

...this news very well and kills the messenger and sets about getting his army prepared for battle. He gets an army of 300 Spartans prepared, only men who have sons are allowed to fight so that their name can continue if they were to die in battle. The 300 set off in the face of danger whole hearted and ready to defend Sparta and their king. Will the 300 be able to take on the whole of the Persian Army and just what will become of King Leonidas and Sparta? This film did not appeal to me at first but after watching t many months ago I thought I would give it another go as I understood more now about the Spartans and the Persians. The first time I watched this I was constantly asking hubby questions about who was who and why they were fighting but this time I understood all of this and it did make it much easier for me to watch...

sewbizzie 25.09.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of 300 (DVD)

Ref 150 Mk II

Advantages: sound quality easlly high enough for true hi fi stereo applications, flexibility, controls, price
Disadvantages: understated looks, no go faster branding.

...right down to a true sub 15-13hz was amazing. And a pleasant surprise was the attack and speed of the output. It kept pace perfectly with the Zingali's, showing the MJ Acoustics speaker to be of very high quality and the on board amp likewise. Plus it did all this without smearing the all important holy grail of 300b amps, the sweet midrange. In fact it added an extension of ambiance and depth to what was already their. My initial reaction on set up was to add bass to the mix, to actually really notice the sub. Because the Ref 150 is so fast and punchy, you can get carried away. But this is not the way to go. I found after a day's careful adjustment, the best (for my ears) setting was to extend the response, not change the balance. This marriage of the main speakers and the sub system is crucial to create a seamless and realistic sound...

Astrostar59 17.09.2007 (16.09.2007) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Mj Acoustics REF 150

The HP 300's bigger, stronger brother

Advantages: prints lots
Disadvantages: none

...This range of print cartridges from HP is the bigger and better version of the HP300. Those of you who remember my stunning, wrongly uncrowned review of the HP300 will remember how it ran out after just 140 pages. Well, this time I splashed out on the upgrade. Basically, these cost £30 each, although I picked them up on ebay for around £19 brand new and sealed. They are print cartridges that do a lot more than the HP300. The black and white cartridge will give 600 pages of print (4 times what I got out of its baby brother at just twice the price). The colour one gives 440 pages. The cartridges are tidy and easy to install ? they just click into place. There?s no ink around and you won?t get ink everywhere which is ideal. The quality of the ink is stunning ? rich and dark, intense and thick, it looks brilliant. It never...

bruffyboy 17.10.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of HP 300XL - print cartridge (CC644EE)

Sennheiser CX 300

Advantages: Sound quality, bass, ability to block out background noise
Disadvantages: Very flimsy for the price and no case included

...I bought these roughly a year ago and they only lasted a few months. The sound quality is very, very good. Having been stuck using the basic iPod earphones prior to these, the CX 300 were a refreshing change. The bass on them is certainly more than adequate. Although some in-ear headphones don't block out background noise very well you won't have that problem with these. As long as you have the correct sized cover on the headphones the background noise will be blocked out completely meaning you can have your mp3 player on below half max volume and hear the music very clearly. Prior to these I'd never used in-ear headphones before and was somewhat concerned as to whether they'd be to hard and rough on my ear. The Sennheiser however are very soft, not too large and quite easy to use. So, why didn't they last me very long? The wire...

CloudRuler 21.09.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Sennheiser CX 300

  Frank Miller's 300

Advantages: Six packs abound in a graphic and bloodly epic
Disadvantages: Highly stylised violence, perhaps not for everyone

...Background 300 is the second Frank Miller graphic novel to be adapted for the big screen. The first was the critically acclaimed Sin City and the director Zack Snyder has used the same process of photocopying panels from the original comic book to plan out the finished look of his latest movie. The final result is a visually stunning combination of live action and CGI that is remarkably faithful to Miller's original artwork. It is quite literally a comic novel brought to life and the superb quality of Miller's graphic creations are a guarantee of stunning eye candy throughout. Plot Summary The story of the movie is based on the Battle of Thermopylae, 480 BC in which 300 Spartan warriors held off a Persian army of up to 1 million indigenous and mercenary soldiers against all the odds. The two main protagonists are King Leonidas...

britum2000 03.04.2007 (06.04.2007) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Frank Miller's 300

300% Amazing!

Advantages: Another Miller classic brilliantly brought to life.
Disadvantages: Errrrm..... there won't be a sequel.

...When I saw the trailers for this on TV, after having already enjoyed Sin City (also based on a Frank Miller graphic novel), I thought, 'wow, that looks really good!' I was not disappointed. THE HISTORY Based on the Battle of Thermopylae (Ancient Greece) of 480 BC this movie focuses on the stand of 300 Spartan warriors against the Persian army numbering over 1 million, not good odds. At the time the Persians also ruled most of the known world and seemed unstoppable having absorbed the warriors and technology of countries they'd conquered so becoming stronger with each conquest. The Spartans were no push over either. A tough warrior race trained from childhood in combat and survival, each and every one a dedicated soldier with a lifetime's training who lives to die a 'beautiful death' in combat! Despite this they are not simple...

richb90 14.10.2007 (11.10.2007) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of 300 (DVD)