Transformers

By DConnell
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Grand Master

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I've thought about getting the Optimus at least - I collect Optimus Primes, and this guy would be an interesting novelty, like Alternator & Alternity Prime (pickup truck and car respectively) and Optimus Exprime (bullet train/dragon).

Grand Master

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WP_20150812_09_17_33_Pro.thumb.jpg.db770

3 Kabaya model kits, basically licensed miniature DIY versions of the figures. All of them are inspired by Convoy/Optimus Prime, though only one is actually Prime. Star Convoy (Japanese-only Optimus Prime) on the left, God Ginrai in the middle, Ultra Magnus on the right.

Grand Master

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WP_20150812_11_54_01_Pro.thumb.jpg.cab35

Same three, with third modes.

Star Convoy retains the base mode of the full-sized figure, with little simplification. The little red Chicklet on his ramp is actually a ludicrously small Hot Rod, non-transforming of course.

God Ginrai is now in his full super robot mode, with his 2nd trailer, Godbomber, adding height, armor, a shoulder cannon and flight capability.

And Magnus is just awesome without a 3rd mode.

Not bad for tiny model kits you get with gum!

Grand Master

Aergan

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Cops, Cybertronian style. Classics/G1 Prowl on the left, RiD Strongarm on the right. Wonder if Prowl feels bad that the girl has a bigger gun than he does?

Doubt it, he never lives long enough to use it.

Grand Master

Aergan

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I much prefer G1 Metroplex to Fortress Maximus. He seems very 'hollow' by comparison. Mine has long since departed from this world but I was tempted by the re-release and did attempt to secure the War for Cybertron edition but was unsuccessful.

Anychance you have a G1 Omega Supreme in your collection? I've always wanted one of those.

Grand Master

DConnell Member

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I much prefer G1 Metroplex to Fortress Maximus. He seems very 'hollow' by comparison. Mine has long since departed from this world but I was tempted by the re-release and did attempt to secure the War for Cybertron edition but was unsuccessful.

Anychance you have a G1 Omega Supreme in your collection? I've always wanted one of those.

Nope, no Omega. He's on my list to get eventually, but not a priority.

I prefer G1 Metroplex to Max as well. The city mode seems more convincing, and there are so many ways to configure it. The same is true of Classics Titan Metroplex, once I upgraded with 3D printed parts from MegaMoonMan on TFW2005. New transforming hands, ramp extensions so his ramp reaches the ground, improved knees so you can have his leg roadways straight. Well worth the money to add in features the figure should have had in the first place.

My main complaint about Classics Metroplex is that his city mode is so big, it's hard to display. It doesn't fit in the N scale train loop I've set up, and I don't have many display areas big enough for it.

WFC version? To me Titan Metro is clearly G1 Metroplex - too many features are taken directly from the original, down to including Scamper with Metro. I do wish they'd used sound clips from the original cartoon, though. That's the main FOC element - the sounds for better or worse. (I love WFC/FOC but they're not G1.)

There's a few 3rd party figures definitely based on the FOC character, though. Utopia I think uses some FOC elements in the design.

Grand Master

Aergan

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Nope, no Omega. He's on my list to get eventually, but not a priority.

I prefer G1 Metroplex to Max as well. The city mode seems more convincing, and there are so many ways to configure it. The same is true of Classics Titan Metroplex, once I upgraded with 3D printed parts from MegaMoonMan on TFW2005. New transforming hands, ramp extensions so his ramp reaches the ground, improved knees so you can have his leg roadways straight. Well worth the money to add in features the figure should have had in the first place.

My main complaint about Classics Metroplex is that his city mode is so big, it's hard to display. It doesn't fit in the N scale train loop I've set up, and I don't have many display areas big enough for it.

WFC version? To me Titan Metro is clearly G1 Metroplex - too many features are taken directly from the original, down to including Scamper with Metro. I do wish they'd used sound clips from the original cartoon, though. That's the main FOC element - the sounds for better or worse. (I love WFC/FOC but they're not G1.)

There's a few 3rd party figures definitely based on the FOC character, though. Utopia I think uses some FOC elements in the design.

I think they were planning on a 'Masterpiece Metroplex' for a long time then decided to tie it in when High Moon wanted to include him in their second Cybertron game. The Takara version is very nearly a 1:1 match to the in-game model (aside from the slightly too tall proportion issues). I do wonder if they just made him so tall on purpose to distinguish him better apart from Devestator and the recent combiner wars models.
I don't think WFC Omega Supreme was any near as planned or a relation to the previous incarnation though as it's too radicially different (not really in a good way either in my opinion). I'm aware the orgiinal Omega toy came from a non-diaclone or microman source similar to Jetfire, so I'm not sure if that is why. I also wonder if he was going to become a Bayformer, then dropped.

Grand Master

Aergan

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Ultra Magnuses

 

Did your G1 head cover come painted/reissue or after market upgrade? Guessing it's a reissue as it's blue rather than turquoise.

I really want the MP-22 "perfect edition".

Grand Master

DConnell Member

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Did your G1 head cover come painted/reissue or after market upgrade? Guessing it's a reissue as it's blue rather than turquoise.

I really want the MP-22 "perfect edition".

Nope, it's an original, old enough that the colors could have shifted due to light exposure. Or a trick of the lighting.  It was the later all-plastic release with a completely unpainted head - I painted the silver areas myself. I really should pick up some Reprolabels for him.

Grand Master

Aergan

Posted
Posted

 

Nope, it's an original, old enough that the colors could have shifted due to light exposure. Or a trick of the lighting.  It was the later all-plastic release with a completely unpainted head - I painted the silver areas myself. I really should pick up some Reprolabels for him.

Your mini / WST version looks more accurate colour wise to my old G1's (which is in my parent's attic, so I can't compare). I had two versions of mine; one second-hand and another that was new. The second-hand one was the metal / painted version and the other was plastic-fantastic. Both were the same colour though.

I've only just learned that the forehead crest slot fits onto the chest plate to form a type of vehicle. Diaclone Transformers are certainly no short of hidden surprises.

 

Grand Master

DConnell Member

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WP_20150901_07_53_08_Pro.thumb.jpg.c53b5

Decepticon City, using Legends Class `Cons. Note the "staff meeting" on the right - Megatron meeting with his top men - Scourge, Starscream and Shockwave

WP_20150901_07_53_01_Pro.thumb.jpg.f1909

True to his bio, Skywarp is being a prankster, to Acid Storm's annoyance!

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    • Creative Sound Blaster AE-X PCIe review: your headphones will love it

      By Steven P. · Posted

      Creative Sound Blaster AE-X PCIe review: your headphones will love it by Steven Parker If you have been reading Neowin for any length of time, you may remember that I reviewed the Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro back in April. I found it to be an excellent budget sound card, even though it lacked support for formats such as DTS over the included SPDIF port. Anyway, Creative reached out to me again asking if I was interested in reviewing the Sound Blaster AE-X. It is a card mainly targeted at headphone wearers, which I'll get into a bit later. Before we get underway, here is a disclaimer: Creative Labs provided a free sample without any review pre-approval. Here are the full specs of it: Creative Sound Blaster AE-X Dimensions: 179 x 126 x 18 mm Weight: 263g / 9.28 oz Platform: PCI-e DAC: ESS ES9039Q2M Connectivity Options Side: Rear: 1 x HD Audio Front Panel Connector, 1 x ⅛“ Headphone port, 1 x RCA Line-out (Left) port, 1 x RCA Line-out (Right) port, 1 x Coaxial SPDIF-out port, 1 x ⅛“ Mic in/Line-in port, 1 x TOSLINK SPDIF-in port Surround: No DNR / SNR: THD+N: 0.0001% Dynamic Range 130 dB Recording Resolution: PCM up to 32-bit / 192kHz (Stereo) Direct Mode: Line Out (Stereo): PCM up to 32-bit  384 kHz Coaxial SPDIF Out: PCM up to 24-bit 192.0 kHz Headphone Amp: PCM up to 32-bit / 384kHz (Stereo) Native DSD: DSD64, DSD128, DSD256 Output Impedance: 1Ω, Supported Headphone Impedance: 8–600Ω, IEM: 0.5Vrms, Low: 1.5Vrms, Mid: 3Vrms, High: 6Vrms, Maximum output power: 350mW @ 32Ω (High), Maximum output voltage: 6Vrms (High) Front Panel Headphone Amp: PCM up to 32-bit / 192kHz (Stereo) Native DSD: DSD64, DSD128 Output Impedance: 10Ω, Supported Headphone Impedance: 32–300Ω, Maximum output power: 40mW @ 32Ω, Maximum output voltage: 1.9Vrms ASIO: ASIO 2.3 Total Harmonic Distortion: THD+N: 0.0006% Dynamic Range: 114 dB Scout Mode: Yes EMI shielding: No (but it passed all the FCC emission tests) Operating temperature: 0–45°C Input Power: 12V⎓0.5A Warranty: 1 Year (MSRP) Price: $179.99 / £169.99 The Sound Blaster AE-X was announced at the end of May, and it becomes clear that it is mainly for headphone wearers. I should also note that the card does not support DDL/DTS encoding technology, but it is said to support decoding through the coaxial SPDIF port. I was able to test this working with the classic Windows Sound properties, but I could not get a DTS (decode) signal through my Logitech Z906, it defaulted to 3D sound whenever I played DTS content through Plex or Emby. In addition, this card only supports two channels (stereo) over the speakers. The surround support is limited to the Headphone Amp, so before I get underway, what we have here is a card mostly intended for headphone use, especially with its SPDIF In (Toslink) port where you could connect another device like a console. So what about the highlights of this card? The AE-X is powered by the ESS SABRE DAC (ES9039Q2M), which is capable of a 130 dB dynamic range. In addition, it supports 32-bit/384 kHz playback for deeper detail and clarity. The headphone amplifier delivers up to 350 mW @ 32Ω, which admittedly far surpasses standard onboard audio, offering support for studio-grade headphones. DSD256 and ASIO 2.3 are also supported. What doesn't it have? No support for What-U-Hear, Super X-Fi, or the SmartComms Kit No EMI shielding, but it passed all the FCC emission tests (from the FAQ) I also want to make it clear that I am no audiophile. For me, it's purely subjective and it should just "work" out of the box. First impressions As I said in the introduction, I was a bit sad to see that the AE-X only supports stereo output, meaning it would not be on par with my ALC1220 over my speakers, as I mentioned it seems like this card is marketed toward headphone users. Since I am not an avid gamer that would rule me out as a potential customer, but I can still test its capabilities! The card arrived in a nice-looking box, as shown above. It's quite a bit larger than the Audify FX Pro that I reviewed back in April, and at first I thought the covering meant that it was EMI shielded, but it isn't as mentioned above in the highlights section. What's in the box: 1 x Sound Blaster AE-X PCIe card 1 x 3.5 mm CTIA TRRS to Dual TRS Headset Splitter Cable 1 x Quick Start Guide Aside from the Quick Start Guide, which someone at my age (I guess) needs a magnifying glass to read thanks to the tiny fonts, Creative Labs also has the manual online, which first requires you to prove that you're human in order to access it (so I can't direct link it). Anyway, the box is mostly made up of cardboard, and the only plastic in it is the anti-static bag for the card itself. Design Top Bottom The card itself looks pretty cool and actually wouldn't look out of place in an all-white build. There's only one connector, and for some reason it is awkwardly placed on the side (front-facing) that is for the front panel audio connector, which will let you use the headphones through the front PC audio jack. Since the front panel Headphone Amp has fewer capabilities than the rear headphone port, I decided not to use it. Rear of card PCI-e interface The rear of the card is completely open and is normally where you would find the front panel connector. The PCIe interface side is completely covered, which initially made me think it was EMI shielded. I/O panel Side (front-facing) with Front panel connector On the outer rear bracket side we have the TOSLINK SPDIF in, Coaxial SPDIF out, RCA line out (Right), RCA line out (Left), Headphone out, and Mic/Line in ports. On the front facing portion of the card itself is the F-panel connector. Usage Test System Our test system consists of the following: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Gigabyte X870E AORUS MASTER (BIOS F12) Corsair RM1000x (2024) Thermal Grizzly Kyronaut (33x33x0,2mm) 2x 32GB Kingston Fury Beast RGB DDR5 6000MT/s CL36-38-38-80 T-Force Z540 2TB (PCIe Gen5) NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition (NVIDIA) Creative Sound Blaster AE-X Windows 11 25H2 Pro I installed the card into the Gigabyte X870E AORUS MASTER which includes the RealTek ALC1220 onboard audio. For our subjective listening tests, I used the Coaxial SPDIF port to my Logitech Z906 speakers. For headphone tests I used the OneOdio Studio Max 2 Wireless DJ Headphones that I reviewed last month. After installing the audio driver, I installed Creative Nexus, which is a relatively new app designed for the latest Sound Blaster cards. Then I discovered the AE-X needed both a driver update from 1.00.15.0001 to 1.01.09.000 and a firmware update from 1.00.06.0000 to 1.00.06.0002, then I was set to go. It should be noted that the card did not work without the driver (not Plug and Play). As you can see above, you can manage the firmware, driver, and inputs via Advanced Settings on the Device tab. By default Nexus enabled "Direct Mode". Upon clicking on Acoustic Engine, the Equalizer can be enabled and set to four different presets, which are: Gaming Music Movies Footsteps Enhancer There's also a dedicated Scout Mode for gamers. I mainly used Tidal and Spotify in the past week to listen to some of my Liked Songs (which now total over 700) in Shuffle mode; there were no pops or interference that I could hear. I also found a 5.1 Surround Music playlist on Tidal that sounded really great over Studio Max 2 headphones. When I reviewed the Audigy FX Pro, I went out and purchased a Logitech Z906 set second-hand for €100 specifically to use with the card, but in this instance all I could get on the AE-X was the 3D output of surround sound through Coaxial SPDIF and although it still sounded great, it isn't quite as good as DTS Interactive via my onboard Realtek ALC1220. Conclusion So what have I learned? The AE-X lacks multi-channel support for 5.1/7.1 setups and drops support for modern surround technologies like Dolby or DTS, functioning strictly as a stereo output device. So to really benefit, you will need Studio-grade headphones to "hear" the benefits of this card. With that being said, I can imagine it will appeal to gamers who are switching between console and PC. By utilizing the SPDIF in port, you could just plug your headphones into the AE-X (front or rear port) and then switch between PC and Console without having to move the headphones to a different port. As I said in the Sound Blaster Audigy review, the EQ in the Creative Nexus app offers safe presets, which allows a user to further tweak the lows, mids, and highs for a personal listening experience. Of course it all depends on the headphones you hook up to it. Speaking of headphones, I kind of wish I had higher-quality Studio-grade headphones to really test this card with; I'm not usually wearing headphones in my day to day duties. The only time I will wear them is if I want to listen to music very late at night and I don't want to disturb my neighbors, so my rating (verdict) is based on this fact. Someone with a PC/Console setup and wears headphone religiously to game, and consume media will benefit much more than I from the high-quality Headphone Amps that are included in the AE-X. Once again, I do feel like Creative could have gone the extra mile to support the S/PDIF port a bit more. Why include it if you're not supporting the main popular digital formats? It seems like the decision was more of a legacy-based one, offering uncompressed 2-channel PCM audio, for users with high-fidelity audio systems and external DACs. Maybe I will be lucky enough to review a card that truly includes all these features in the future. I am sure readers with far more knowledge on audio systems than me will correct me in the comments below. I'll just say I am happy to learn what I don't know! Where to buy The Sound Blaster AE-X is available to purchase now in preorder for $179.99 on the U.S. Creative website, or for £169.99 on the Creative UK website and will start shipping to customers from June 25.
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