by Sarri » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:47 pm
Well, got my Soundwave on Wednesday (together with Rumble and Frenzy), managed to get an miniSD card yesterday.
I didn't try to actually use a 2GB miniSD, did anyone else?
Despite the specs saying that he'll only do up to 128kbit, he has no problems playing 256kbit mp3s (didn't try any higher).
He should come up at the six hour mark soon (that's supposedly cut off time for the battery). I'm using AAA "Stamina Plus" from Sony.
Since I feel ridiculous wearing headphones at home, I plugged the computer speakers into him, they have their own energy supply, no idea, if that has any effect on the life of the battery.
Concerning the sound, I have hardly any experience with headphones and I haven't listened to Rumble and Frenzy for long. I noticed some white noise in the background while using Rumble and Frenzy (Soundwave apparently doesn't like it when one plugs them in too far), but those may be due to the recording (test conducted with Transformers - The Movie OST at 128kbit. I listened to a different album, the one on 256kbit, didn't notice the white noise on that).
One should be a bit carefully with the automatic cable roll up function of Rumble and Frenzy, that thing packs quite a punch and can drag Soundwave around quite easily (so unplug him before rolling up the cable, or keep a tight hold on him, while not inhibiting the cable roll up).
As I said, I also plugged my computer speakers into him. The sound is definitely deeper and slightly muffled, though I managed to alleviate the last problem by fiddling around with the volume controls of the speakers and Soundwave and the speakers sound setting. I think my speakers might not have enough range to do the bass justice. I didn't notice the basses with Rumble and Frenzy on, but on the speakers it is quite prominent, I haven't decided yet whether it's a good or a bad thing (probably have him do "One Winged Angel" and decide afterwards).
Transformation is fast and simple, even for somebody inexperienced, altough the first time with the Japanese manual can be a bit difficult till one has figured out what the pictures want you to do (not to pull straight to the side, but slightly down and to the side).
I think he might get a color problem when transformed too often. There is a step in the transformation when his legs are turned sideways to the back, that makes the silver bits (got the Spark Blue version, what else) under the controls scrap against the underside of the controls. I'd say that's the most likely point for scratched off color.
As for Frenzy and Rumble, it took some time getting used to them. I'd've liked the clip to hang a bit lower, but than it would probably have interfered with my glasses and the headphones would have gotten too low.
Once I managed to get over the initial weirdness of having something hanging on my ears, it felt quite natural to wear them, I didn't notice them to be uncomfortable or feeling like they would slip off if I made a wrong move.
Transformation is rather simple (the pictures were helpful, I expected the transformation to be slightly different just from looking at Frenzy in robot mode).
I haven't yet found a good way to get the head to disappear. Usually I just put a finger nail behind the whole head structure, but I think one is supposed to slowly press it down by the slightly upraised parts at the side (didn't work for me, hence using the finger nail).
Hmm, he should be over the six hour mark now. Still going strong. I'm starting to get bored, shouldn't have decided to wait for the battery to die before feeding him more music.
All in all, I'm very happy I got him, wouldn't have gotten an MP3 player otherwise, the novelty sold me, and I now have the means to play music without the computer or the adventurous way of feeding my PS2 sound backwards through a cheap splitter into the computer speakers).
My only wish would be a way to run him not by battery but directly off the mains.
Altough, I now have a craving for an iPod, as an excuse to buy Musiclabel Convoy (if only they weren't so hideously white).
edit:
Battery still running, but I decided to test a few more sound files.
Soundwave was playing files at 64k, 160k and 320k. Interestingly enough he wouldn't play the file that was at 32k, don't whether it was just that file or something else.
Btw, careful when putting the card in and out, Soundwave is quite capable of shooting it clear across the room.
Last edited by
Sarri on Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
I litterally gave that a shot... hurt like hell. But it did distract me from the fan lust I gots goin on for that thing. It is seriously one of the best looking anythings I've ever seen. 
Oh well, he's an awesome Soundwave anyway.
[ Click to attempt signal recovery... ]
