![]() ![]() There’s an im-3 too, which has a range of up to 75 miles, though the beefier battery seems to be the only discernible difference between this and the im-2.Īll models are available in small/medium or medium/large and, this being Halfords, you can choose to have your bike built for you at a local store and pick it up without additional cost. There are two variants of the Carrera Impel Electric Hybrid Bike on the Halfords website, with the non-geared im-1 and geared im-2 editions offering a maximum range of 50 miles using power from a 250W hub motor. We like it.īundled editions, where you can add mudguards or get the benefit of deals on bike racks as part of the package are worth investigating too.įor context, our current top-rated electric bike, the Cowboy 4, currently sells for around twice the price. That makes it perfect for everyday commuting through to longer treks our into the countryside. ![]() It’s not too heavy either, unlike many e-bikes, and delivers a decent experience across the ride spectrum. While it might leave a little bit to be desired on the looks front, the understated appearance of the Carrera Impel is actually part of its charm. Build quality is generally good, while the bike itself is very rideable thanks to Shimano gears and Tektro stopping power on the im-2 model we tried. This is a no-frills meat-and-potatoes e-bike, which might be short on thrills in the design department, but does tick the right boxes if you’re looking for a solid, battery-powered experience. Like every other company in the business of selling two-wheelers, it's now entered the burgeoning e-bike market, and its latest adult's electric bike offering is the Carrera Impel, which comes in a couple of variants. You’ll find HDMI and optical cables in the box, which will save you from having to buy or dig one out of your cable collection.Everyone in the UK knows Halfords – it’s the go-to solution for many people looking for an off-the-shelf bike. There are two auxiliary ports - one for regular analog stereo signals and one that’s dedicated to smart speakers. If you plug an Amazon Echo or Google Nest mini into this jack, the soundbar can automatically drop the volume of your TV show or other audio while you’re talking to your preferred voice assistant. It also acts as an input for whatever your smart speaker can play, from streaming music services to audiobooks and games. You can connect a phone, tablet, or computer wirelessly via Bluetooth for another way to stream music, or you can go really old school with the available USB port - connect a thumb drive and the speaker will play any MP3 or WAV files you’ve saved.Īn additional HDMI input would have been nice, though also shocking - multiple HDMI inputs on soundbars are exceedingly rare these days, even when you pay a lot more than $178. Setup and controls Simon Cohen / Digital Trends Wi-Fi, on the other hand, would have been even more welcome, as would Apple’s AirPlay 2 and Chromecast built-in, but alas, none of these are included. It’s a breeze to get going with the M215a. Plug the soundbar into your TV via HDMI or optical, plug the soundbar and subwoofer into a wall outlet, and you should be in business. After a few moments, a confident-sounding male voice will let you know that the soundbar is looking for active connections and will tell you if there’s been a problem while trying to connect to the subwoofer. If all goes well, you should be able to turn on your TV and hear a much better sound than you’re used to. Simon Cohen / Digital Trendsīut that’s just for starters. Vizio includes a remote with its own built-in, backlit LCD screen, and it’s a handy way to delve into the M215a’s deeper settings. ![]() You can choose different listening modes (movie, TV, music, game, or direct), adjust specific levels (bass, treble, subwoofer, and dialogue), and enable/disable features like DTS Virtual:X, DTS TruVolume, and night mode, which reduces dynamic sounds so you don’t wake your kids/housemates/neighbors. If you’re upgrading from your TV’s built-in speakers, you’ll be thrilled by the M215a. ![]() Though the screen is backlit, the buttons aren’t, so you might still need a bit of ambient light to use the remote. It can be a bit tricky with Vizio’s soundbars to know exactly what’s going on. The only visual indicator is a series of small LED dots on the left side of the grille that must be interpreted via the user manual and/or the color-key label on the back of the remote. But here’s a hint: Long press on the OK button at any time and that voice will let you know what input you’re on and what kind of signal the soundbar is receiving. Sound quality Simon Cohen / Digital Trends #Irip 2.1 review movieįor instance, when watching a Dolby Atmos movie on Disney+, it said, “HDMI ARC, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus,” which is everything you need to confirm what’s going on. ![]()
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