You can find this review in full at GBAtemp.net:
https://gbatemp.net/review/targus-strike-gaming-backpack.1730/

Backpacks are probably the last thing on your mind at the moment. After all, in the midst of a pandemic, you’re not exactly planning many outings. Having said that, I’ve found myself with a problem. I have a friend that’s a two mile walk away who lives alone. I like to check in with him and play some games while I’m there, but I’ve never really had the right bag for it. While I love the Sefu bag I reviewed many moons ago, that’s only really useful for the Switch. If I want to bring my laptop, a keyboard, some controllers, maybe even some snacks, you want something bigger, but also something comfier. Having never owned a backpack specifically designed for gaming, I was eager to see what makes Targus’ Strike gaming backpack different to any old bag.

Now pulling it out of the box for the first time was when I realised just how big a 17 inch laptop actually is. The bag designed to house a laptop to this size, I soon realised just how poultry my 13 inch Razer Blade Stealth was. Nevertheless, I began to explore what the Strike had to offer. On the surface, there’s nothing that necessarily screams gamer to your average onlooker. The bag has three key compartments. The largest of these sitting closest to your back is designed to house the aforementioned 17 inch laptop. Moving forward, the middle compartment contains a large pocket to stow a keyboard, as well as a small zippable mesh pouch at the bottom. It’s here I found myself storing most of the random things I carry with me. There’s even a Velcro loop at the top of this section for hanging a set of headphones. It’s really quite marvellous. The front compartment, though the smallest, still offers ample space, and again has pockets for specific items. It’s here you’re expected to store a mouse, an external HDD, and even some spare wires. Beyond these pockets, there’s also again a reasonable amount of space, this being where I keep my spare USB controller.

Outside of the main three compartments, you also have a few smaller pouches. The one right at the front of the bag is somewhat of a mystery to me, and I really haven’t found anything I’d want to put in it. While it’s always nice to have more options, there just isn’t enough give to fit much more than a few wires. On one side of the bag you have a mesh pouch to hold a drink, and to the other a small pocket fit to hold something around the size of a phone. Hidden away on the back of the bag, you have a final pouch that’s completely hidden from view when worn. This one in particular is a really nice addition for keeping your valuables close to you.

Putting the bag on for the first time was an odd experience. At first, it felt like a turtle shell. There’s no real way to avoid this as somebody who has only ever really indulged in smaller bags. The straps being quite heavily padded, they rest on my shoulders incredibly comfortably, with me feeling no noticeable strain after a 20 minute mostly-uphill walk. There’s also a chest strap that I think helps with the weight distribution, but I’ve never been too fond of these myself. It’s a bit of a shame there’s no noticeable way to remove it, but it’s a minor complaint. All in all, the Strike is by far the most comfortable bag I’ve ever owned.

One interesting area Targus put effort in was visibility. This does make a lot of sense should you find yourself cycling or traveling at night, and the majority of their efforts are quite subtle. Including reflective strips in the front of the bag is a nice touch, and complements the larger design while still being functional. There is one more thing they added though, that may not be to everybody’s taste. This is the integrated rain cover. It’s stored right at the bottom of the bag behind a zipper you would probably miss if you didn’t already know it was there. It’s tethered to the bag and provides quick and effective shelter from the rain. My issue with it? It’s luminescent yellow. Don’t get me wrong, it’s functional. I threw some water over the bag and nothing got through, and you would certainly have no issue spotting me on a rainy night. It’s just a bit much for me, though I understand I’m somewhat splitting hairs here.

After all of this, there really remains one burning question: exactly what can you fit into the bag? To run you through my own setup, we’ll again go from back to front. As mentioned before, I don’t actually have a 17 inch laptop, so putting my smaller laptop in the largest compartment feels a bit of a waste. With that in mind, I decided to instead throw my original PS4 in there. It’s a really nice fit, and it feels secure and safe thanks to the padded innards, with some spare space above the console. In the middle compartment, I stowed my laptop and a set of headphones, as well as the power cable for the PS4 in the mesh pocket at the bottom. I also threw in a 65% mechanical keyboard in its designated spot. At the front, I have a mouse and external hard drive, as well as a loose PS4 controller. And that’s everything! It’s worth adding that I didn’t use the frontmost compartment due to it just being too tight for anything else I might want to carry. A phone charger probably wouldn’t go amiss here though, if you’re looking to utilise every available space. 

While it’s easy to say any large bag excels in storage, I’m really fond of the details Targus put in here, especially given this is their only specialised gaming product. Everything inside the bag feels safe, and wearing it is certainly comfortable. Targus have gone out of their way to make sure everything you might want to take with you has its proper place, and that it’ll get there safely. To be honest, I’d love to see Targus experiment a little more with the gaming market to come up with smaller bags with the same quality and comfort on show here for smaller laptops and consoles like the Switch. Ultimately though, the Strike is a fantastic backpack, and I wholeheartedly recommend it should you soon find yourself outdoors again.

You can find this review in full at GBAtemp.net:
https://gbatemp.net/review/beyerdynamic-dt-880-pro-headphones.1710/

Everybody wants the best sound, but for many the cost of perfection is too steep to justify. Having visited a friend a while back and trying his headphones, beyerdynamic’s own DT 1990 Pro, I felt I had reached an Eden in both comfort and quality I had yet to encounter; the price of entry, however, made this Eden somewhat unattainable. Looking now to the company’s more affordable and ever-popular DT 880 Pro, I’m eager to see how they fare from a somewhat casual standpoint as an average consumer just wanting great sound for my Simoleans.

The unboxing experience for the DT 880 Pro is nothing special. The box itself is fairly unassuming with a large image of the headphones, and a few buzz words to express the build and sound quality you’re to expect. Holding them for the first time, I found they had a weight to them that feels durable but not bulky at 306g. Both the fabric ear pads and the thick headband cushioning can be detached and replaced, as well as a surprising amount of the unit’s casing. I’m really in love with the overall design of the headphones; they look and feel premium, and I’d be entirely confident in their longevity if it weren’t for one major let-down. The cable: it isn’t detachable. There isn’t all that much to say about it, outside of my surprise given how much of the headphones can be repaired and replaced easily. Both the cable itself and the points of connection to the headphones and the input feel well-made, but knowing this all too common weak point only has one life is a real disappointment.

It’s worth saying here that there are two models of the DT 880: the standard and Pro. The difference in model stems not from audio quality, but a few choice design changes. The Pro have a coiled cable and a firmer fit, while the standard model come with a straight cable and a softer headband. As somebody who would be more likely to fall into the target demographic for the standard model, I can say I find the Pro perfectly comfortable, and am a big fan of the coiled cable for how it’s basically its own cable management solution. Despite recently being made aware of my somewhat peanut-shaped top of head, making certain headphone bands uncomfortable in prolonged use, the DT 880 Pro have remained comfy even after more than six hours of continuous use. While the band remained comfortable, I did notice towards the end of this session a slight ache behind one of my ears, this could likely be attributed to how firmly the ear pads grip to the head. It’s possible this could be alleviated by purchasing a different set of ear pads, or even by opting for the standard model over the Pro, but with me only noticing this after very long sessions, it may not be all that big an issue for most.

When it comes to sound quality, these headphones are sublime. Having said that, you won’t get the best quality out of them by themselves. While the headphones do feature a 3.5mm jack, and this does work fine with phones and handheld consoles in a pinch, they really shine when paired with a DAC and amplifier. Being really quite new to this world until recently, I enlisted my sound wave-researching PhD buddy to help me pick out something suitable, ultimately purchasing Fiio’s K5 Pro.

Reading off the tech specs sheet, these headphones can put out frequencies between 5 and 35,000 Hz, though I must admit those numbers are somewhat lost on me beyond knowing a wider range of frequencies is generally a good thing. From a casual perspective, I can say the audio is crisp, with lyrics and all parts of songs coming through in a somewhat balanced way. In that regard, they may be a little lacking with the bass some crave, but I don’t find it so much of an issue personally. The headphones natively using a 3.5mm jack for its connection, and coming with a 6.35mm adapter, you have two interesting use cases: with a DAC and without. Without, the 880s sound fine. It’s understandably quieter with less power behind it, but the convenience is difficult to pass up. Thanks to the jack’s ability to screw the adapter tip into place, you’re left with a bit of a neck to the 3.5mm jack. Though this might be annoying in some cases, the jack not going all the way into a given port, I did find it incredibly useful when trying to use the headphones with my phone. With so many earphones and headphones, I’m simply unable to use them due to my case obstructing the jack. The neck, as I so fondly call it, gives you that little bit of extra breathing room, and adds a small but noticeable degree of additional convenience.

What particularly stands out with beyerdynamic’s headphones is that you can pick between different models to suit your specific needs. While I’ve already mentioned the standard and Pro models, there’s actually more to it. With the Manufaktur model, you can customise the majority of the 880’s design, but most interestingly, the impedance, something not all too common among other headphone manufacturers. In short, a higher impedance means less distortion in the sound, but requiring more power. 32 ohms is largely the standard for your battery-powered devices. Your iPods, your phones, your Switches, those kinds of things. If you’re wanting the best sound on these devices, or even on your PC if you’re not wanting to fork out for a DAC/amp combo as well, this will be your best bet. The 250 ohm model I have is the standard for mains-powered devices, while the 600 ohm model is best suited to a studio environment. I won’t go much deeper into the subject because frankly I’m still quite new to it and I’m already touching on the depths of what I know, but for newcomers such as myself, it’s an interesting topic well worth looking into.

Currently retailing for around €180, and the Manufaktur model being just a touch more, the DT 880 Pro is an interesting set of headphones. Incredibly comfortable, highly repairable, with a number of customisation options to get the sound that’s right for you, they are fantastic. As an entrypoint to the world of audio bliss, they’re well-priced, but be aware there are extra costs if you’re wanting the best quality out of the standard 250 ohm Pro model. Check them out, I doubt you’ll regret it.