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Tier1 4 Port USB HUB for Xbox One + Thumbstick Gel Caps product review

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If you liked the previously reviewed products from TIER1, today we bring you two more items: The 4 Port USB Hub and the Thumb Stick Gel Caps.

4 Port USB HUB
First lets take a look at the USB hub. This is a small but useful hub that you can plug into the side of your Xbox One. This is excellent for local game play with friends because it enables you to charge 4 controllers at once . A plus to the hub is the shape. It is made to the same shape of the Xbox One, and once installed its pretty easy to forget it is even there. Having the hub located on the front provides easy access so you don’t have to reach around the console to plug one cord in the back.

TIER1 designed the hub to utilize USB 3.0 technology so you can expect a fast connection if you plug in a hard drive to the hub.Other items you can plug into the hub include accessories like Guitar Hero drums, microphones, and even fight sticks.  Fight stick accessibility definitely comes in handy for tournament play since players will have to plug their fight stick directly into the console. Lastly, this is a big deal for the current gen issue of game storage, you can use this hub to expand your Xbox One memory with all 4 slots and maximize your storage capacity.

The 4 Port USB hub can be used in multiple ways and well worth the $19.99 price tag.

Thumb Stick Gel Caps
 I bet you’re telling yourself, “But what makes these stand out from other thumb caps?” While there isn’t much difference compared to other brands these gel caps are definitely more comfortable than any other thumb caps I’ve purchased. The quality of the material did not feel like a cheap knock off. One thing that did stand out to me was that you don’t actually have to remove your entire thumb stick to use them.  Just slip them on over the top and you’re good to go. The gel caps have a custom shape, which is not only more comfortable, but more responsive because of the nicely formed gel grip section directly in the middle. This became very useful during shooters or games where precision is an absolute must.

The only drawback I can say about these is that the rubber toward the bottom of the caps will occasionally rub the controller, but nothing that would really mess up your pwnage, and the logo on the caps will spin around after a few gaming sessions. Other than that, I can say these are more of a check out before you buy, rather than a must buy. What I can say for the price they are set at ($9.99), you do get enough caps to cover two controllers, something most companies do not offer.

You can find these items plus many more here.

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NCG Review – TIER1 Tactical Communicator

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The TIER1 Tactical Communicator is a throat mic designed to cancel background noise and eliminates breathing feedback.

13883770_1269874436380574_133367091_nThe unit itself looks like a tiny pair of over the head headphones. I made the mistake of trying to put it over my head and thought “This is too small!” Then, I realized it’s supposed to go around your neck.  When I fit it around my neck it wasn’t too loose or too snug, and there was just enough pressure to keep it from sliding around. It feels a little odd at first, but once you get into your game it becomes an afterthought.

The audio comes through clearly and is a step up from the default headsets that come with the systems. Since the microphone is sub-vocal, you don’t have to keep adjusting the microphone -it always stays in the same place. I like this feature because it means I can keep my hands on the controller at all times.

The Tactical Communicator can be used on mobile devices, PS4, and the Xbox One, 13900849_1269874439713907_468100394_nhowever, the Xbox One needs an adapter as the headset only has a 3.5mm jack. Overall, it works best for the PlayStation 4 -but that’s what it’s advertised for anyway.

One thing I would like to see is more color options.  The Arctic Camo styling is neat for those who really like camo gear, but (and I’m sure many others would agree) I would prefer to see it in black or in other color options.

If you’re looking for something comfortable, compact, and reasonably priced with good sound quality to use on your PS4, the TIER1 Tactical Communicator is a good way to go.   you’re getting a lot more than what you pay for. You can find this neat little gadget here for $14.99.

Have you tested out the TIER1’s Tactical Communicator? Do you think you will try this out? Let us know in the comments!

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Tier1 Full Metal Jacket Earbuds Review

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Headphones come in so many different varieties that it’s hard to decide which kind to buy. Do you want great quality sound? Does the material matter? Are they easy to use? Portable? Bulky? Eventually I said screw it, and starting using whatever is available.

Now, after getting my hands on Tier1’s Full Metal Jacket earbuds (FMJ’s) I started questioning life itself: why have I been using sub par quality headphones? I scrounged up all the headphones I have and did some comparing and found out I really do prefer the FMJ’s and here is why.

Features:

  • The earbuds themselves come in a magazine shaped carrying case, which is pretty neat if you’re into that sort of thing, but more than a gimmick, it’s actually a very good storage case to keep your earbuds untangled.
  • The cord is covered in plastic which I feel made them harder to tangle and easier to untangle.
  • The earbuds and jack are made of machined metal making them pretty sturdy and allowing for less interference.
Not machined metal mic
easy to use carrying case
Machined metal casing

I really liked the audio. The quality was much better than any of the other headphones I own. I believe the machined metal truly did help the audio quality and the fact that they are in ear helped cancel out ambient noise.  The in-line mic also captures your voice crisply and clearly and can be used on your mobile device or your controller.  The only thing I did not like completely about these earbuds was the plastic covered wires, after being in the carrying case for a while they start to take on the shape so when you remove them they like to twist and bend. If you like straight wires then don’t use the carrying case. Overall, for the price of $29.99, I definitely recommend these earbuds.

If you are interested in getting your own pair, you can find them here.