Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Wordle hints and answers, Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too.

Look, there are a lot of Prime Big Deal Days discounts floating around. No one would argue otherwise. That includes a ton of fantastic smart home deals. But we can all agree that sometimes, there are deals worth calling out separately when they are really good. That applies to this next deal on the new Ring Battery video doorbell. Normally $100, it’s only $60 today, saving you $40 or 40%. It’s super easy to install, runs on a built-in rechargeable battery, as the name implies, and offers head-to-toe color night vision support. You can see a lot more of what’s going on at your front door. If you don’t already have a video doorbell, do not skip this deal folks. It’s my favorite thing in my smart home.

Why shop this Ring Battery smart video doorbell deal?

A video doorbell, if you’re not familiar, allows you to answer your door and talk to whoever is there without ever opening the front door. More importantly, you can connect remotely to the doorbell even if you’re not home. That allows you to communicate with mail or package delivery pros, for example. Or, even communicate with someone bringing your Uber or Doordash order. The Ring Battery is a video doorbell that offers all of that, with better features than previous generations. We loved our time with the Ring Battery Pro model at Digital Trends. Reviewer Jon Bitner gave it four and a half stars praising its crisp video resolution, easily removable battery, and versatile installation support.

Ring claims this model offers 66% more vertical coverage from head-to-toe so you can see more of the people or persons at your door. You can see what they’re doing or not doing, and even respond via two-way audio. You’ll get smart alerts and notifications on your phone when movement is detected. That allows you to respond nearly instantly and in time with what’s happening.

Ring’s smart devices connect with Amazon Alexa, too. So, you can receive custom notifications on Echo devices, launch videos with an Echo device that has a screen — like Echo Show — or even interact via Alexa-enabled devices. The Ring Security and Privacy Control center ensures you’re always informed, plus you can customize the settings to make sure you’re only getting the information you want to know.

Normally $100, the Ring Battery is only $60 today which saves you $40. That’s a great deal, especially on this new model that’s super easy to install and use.

Raal Immanis: The Headphones That Triggered an Audiophile Civil War, A Battle for Audiophile Integrity!

Recent events surrounding the Raal Immanis headphones have exposed significant issues within the audiophile community, highlighting the need for more rigorous standards in product evaluation and transparency in reviewer relationships. This controversy is particularly striking given the Raal Immanis’ stellar reputation among experienced audiophiles and owners.

The Controversy Unveiled 

At the heart of this controversy lies a series of harsh criticisms directed at the Raal Immanis headphones by influential YouTubers and reviewers associated with a popular online headphone retail and forum site. What’s particularly troubling is that these criticisms were based on extremely limited listening time—merely initial impressions rather than thorough, professional reviews.

This situation raises serious questions about the responsibility of influencers and the weight given to their opinions, especially when those opinions can significantly impact consumer perception and potentially harm a product’s reputation.

The Disconnect: Rushed Judgments vs. Owner Experiences

It’s crucial to emphasize that no proper, in-depth review of the Raal Immanis was conducted by these influencers. Their comments were based on brief listening sessions, which is insufficient for evaluating high-end audio equipment. This rushed approach stands in stark contrast to the overwhelmingly positive feedback from actual Immanis owners and many independent reviewers who have spent significant time with the headphones.

The vast majority of Immanis owners – many of whom are experienced audiophiles with extensive exposure to top-tier headphones – express high satisfaction with their purchase. Those who have spent significant time with the Immanis often describe them as among the best headphones currently available. While they may not be perfect for everyone – no headphone is – the overwhelmingly positive response from owners suggests that the Immanis deliver exceptional performance for many listeners.

Beyond Measurements: The Larger Picture

While measurements and frequency response graphs provide valuable data, they don’t tell the whole story of a headphone’s performance. The Raal Immanis, despite not perfectly aligning with popular benchmarks like the Harman curve, has garnered significant praise for its real-world performance.

This discrepancy highlights the subjective nature of audio appreciation and the importance of personal experience over rapid judgments or strict adherence to measurements. The pursuit of audio perfection is ongoing, and different manufacturers approach this goal in unique ways that may not always be captured by standard metrics.

The Problem with Rushed Judgments

High-quality headphones often require significant time for proper assessment, including:

1. Extended listening across various genres of music
2. Comparisons with other high-end models
3. Testing with different amplifiers and sources
4. Consideration of build quality and long-term comfort

Without these elements, any “review” is, at best, an initial impression and should be presented as such. It’s irresponsible for influencers with large followings to present such limited experiences as definitive assessments.

The Conflict of Interest Conundrum

Compounding this issue is a clear conflict of interest: the harshest critics are involved in developing a competing product or their coworkers are. This collaboration with a direct competitor to the Raal Immanis creates an inherent bias that should disqualify these individuals from offering public opinions on the Immanis, let alone presenting those opinions as authoritative.

This conflict raises several ethical concerns:

1. The potential for biased opinions influencing consumer choices
2. The integrity of the review process in the audiophile community
3. The responsibility of influencers to disclose their industry relationships

Trusting Your Ears: The Ultimate Test

Given these issues, the importance of personal listening experiences cannot be overstated. While initial impressions and measurements can provide a starting point, they should never be the sole basis for judging high-end audio equipment.

For those interested in headphones like the Raal Immanis, it’s crucial to seek out opportunities for extended personal auditions. Audio shows, local meet-ups, or loaner programs can provide chances to experience these headphones firsthand over a meaningful period.

A Call for Integrity in the Audiophile Community

This controversy serves as a wake-up call. It’s time to demand:

1. Clear distinction between initial impressions and full reviews
2. Full disclosure of potential conflicts of interest from reviewers and influencers
3. A more balanced approach to evaluating audio equipment, considering both objective measurements and subjective experiences over time
4. Greater skepticism of overly harsh critiques, especially when they contradict widespread user experiences or are based on limited listening time
5. More opportunities for consumers to personally audition high-end equipment before making purchasing decisions

A Scathing Indictment of Audiophile Influencer Culture

The recent controversy surrounding the Raal Immanis headphones serves as a damning indictment of the current state of audiophile influencer culture. The actions of certain YouTube personalities and online reviewers have exposed a rot at the core of what should be an impartial, enthusiast-driven community.

Let us be unequivocally clear:

1. Rushed Judgments: The practice of offering authoritative “opinions” based on fleeting listening sessions is not just unprofessional—it’s ethically bankrupt. High-end audio equipment demands thorough, extended evaluation. Anything less is a disservice to manufacturers, consumers, and the entire audiophile community.

2. Measurement Obsession: While measurements have their place, the over-reliance on graphs and numbers at the expense of actual listening experience is a dangerous trend. It reduces the rich, subjective world of audio appreciation to a simplistic numbers game, ignoring the nuanced realities of personal preference and musical enjoyment.

3. Conflicts of Interest: The revelation that some of the harshest critics are involved in developing competing products is nothing short of scandalous. This level of conflict goes beyond mere bias—it borders on corruption. It’s a betrayal of the trust placed in these influencers by their audiences.

4. Industry-Wide Implications: These actions don’t just harm individual products or companies—they corrode the integrity of the entire audiophile industry. When consumers can’t trust the impartiality of reviews or the motivations behind critiques, it undermines the very foundations of informed decision-making in audio purchases.

5. The Illusion of Impartiality: Perhaps most egregious is the attempt to present these biased, rushed judgments as impartial, authoritative reviews. This deliberate misleading of audiences is not just unethical—it’s a form of consumer deception.

Conclusion

The actions surrounding the Raal Immanis controversy represent a low point in audiophile discourse. They expose a world where rushed judgments, conflicts of interest, and measurement obsession threaten to overshadow the true joy of music appreciation and the real-world experiences of dedicated audiophiles.

As consumers and enthusiasts, we must be vigilant. Question every review, scrutinize every opinion, and above all, trust your own ears. The audiophile journey is deeply personal, and no amount of graphs, hastily formed opinions, or influencer proclamations should overshadow your own listening experience or the collective wisdom of experienced owners.

In the case of the Raal Immanis, as with any high-end audio equipment, reject the noise of biased influencers and superficial assessments. Seek out opportunities for extended personal listening. Engage with owners who have spent significant time with the product. Form your own opinions based on what matters most—your personal enjoyment of the music.

The audiophile community stands at a crossroads. We can either allow this culture of rushed judgments, hidden agendas, and measurement worship to persist, or we can demand a return to integrity, thoroughness, and genuine passion for audio. The choice is ours, and the future of our hobby depends on it.