Tenth Doctor Sonic Screwdriver Remote (Wand Company) REVIEW

[Bluebox303]

Hello, this is a review of the tenth doctor's remote

Overall, great product, I like it a lot, but it could use some improvements.

DETAILS
For more information about this product go to:
Sonic Screwdriver Universal Remote Control

GOOD things
-Recharges very fast
-Makes pleasing rattle sound
-has reasonable weight
- nice, bright light
-aluminum is shiny( I think it is lightly anodized)
- blue strip is neat and well done
- "doppler" sound when extended back and fourth
- turns of TV's effectively
- all function work normally
- ridges are a nice, somewhat half-teardrop shaped
- smooth sliding motion
- quite durable
- lacquer is not damaged by constant slider sliding

BAD things
- black bulb was scratched
- Black bulb is grey
- Strut profile is somewhat odd
- Slider channel doesn't go back to the 2nd ridge
- teeth are odd(will be fixed soon)
- crackle needs more depth(can be done by owner)
- button is a bit hard to press
-scuffs over the "acrylic" rod
- mold lines on the "acrylic" rod
- shrink-wrapped wires

MFX COMPARISON w/ Co products + multiple images of the sonic and its glory

a comparison of the slider slot, as well as the sliders


The heads and channel tubes


Tail Connectors and end bulbs


I couldn't get my camera to focus, so it is a blurry image of the ridges


The ball joint. I don't see anything wrong with this, except when examined closely the TWC ball doesn't sit flush on the " acrylic" rod channel. I am guessing that this is because it is cast.


The emitter. if you look closely at the struts, you can probably see the difference between the MFX and the TWC. Also, The MFX usually has more Matte effect, but it has been somewhat polished, which is why it is so shiny.


Recharging port


The inner bits of the head and a bit of the teeth, as well as the spacer blocks


more photos of the head( anyone see a certain joints in the head cavities? ) However, i looked at the scanning pics, these do not appear, therefore I conclude that these are merely for the purpose of construction.


The back of the sonic


THE HEAD AGAIN



General Comparison( On the struts, you can see that the TWC is similar to the CO version. This is probably to do because those surfaces may have been areas that were actually extruded, as those sections are lacking CNC lines)


Blurry strut comparison( Does anybody see the invert rectangle and the rectangle?)


Head comparison. The head on the MFX is more squat and stubby, while the TWC is more elegant and pristine looking.( THANK YOU FOR ANODIZING IT!)


TWC and MFX

Conclusion: This is a very good product for both Collectors and the simple Whovian. The remote Feature works well, and there were minor dings on the sonic when it came, most are easily ignored. For me, my screwdriver works up to the nominal four meters away from the receiving device, and I have discovered how to make friends think that you are a genius by opening their Ipad to the lock screen.(Close Range) The sonic is very Durable, I've dropped it several times, and it hasn't acquired any more dings than it already has. I would think that this is a result of the anodizing, which is very nice, as it keeps the sonic at a nice shine, unlike the MFX, which is tarnishing. The speaker is unusually loud, during a Halloween celebration,(A very Noisy One!) I was able to hear the remote functions just fine. I absolutely LOVE the Doppler sound effect that the screwdriver makes when you extend it back and fourth, it gives a feel like you are increasing the power to maximum. While the end bulb is easy to turn, you Can uTilise it to perform clockwise functions. The emitter bulb is a tad bit too transparent for my liking, but I can live with it. Overall, a great product, and Hats Off to Chris and Richard at the Wand Company!

 

[Roninart]

Thank you for the close up comparison, it's actually better quality than I thought it would be.

 

[UntimelyVideos]

Wait....Because he is banned his products can't be discussed? That's extremely factious, don't you think? Either way, thanks for the review, BlueBox. Nice pictures!

 

[kristen jones]

Well I'll just say that the fit and finish of the TWC remote is far better than the MFX one. Everything about it looks better, but most notably the detailing inside the head looks so much better than the MFX one. Also, though the crackle may not be as pronounced, it isn't painted on either, so it isn't going to wear off in time as it appears to have done in a few places on the MFX one shown above. Also, the slider slot may not go to the second ridge, but the button *does* extend all the way to the neck ring which looks much better than the MFX one which leaves a gap past the end of the button.

Richard, Chris & The Wand Company knocked it out of the park IMO.

 

[TheNickFox]

Wait....Because he is banned his products can't be discussed? That's extremely factious, don't you think? Either way, thanks for the review, BlueBox. Nice pictures!

It has nothing to do with the banning. It has everything to do with the disruption that always comes about when those particular replicas are discussed. Let's just leave it there because we're getting off topic. (Which is exactly what we try to avoid)

Now back to the REAL topic at hand: how awesome The Wand Company's sonic is and how well it holds up against a much more expensive piece like MFX's. These pictures are really great. Thanks for sharing them.

-Nick

 

[The Barn Owl]

I have to say there are only 3 things keeping the Wand Co.'s sonic from being the best on the market.
1: The black end cap cannot be snapped still and has a dot instead of a flat back
2: The wire channel is not a solid piece
3: The lens is see through
However, all of these things were sacrificed to give us, FINALLY, actual functionality from a sonic replica. Im tired of people asking me "OH what does it do? Light up and buzz?"

As for the crackle effect, it's easy enough to personally modify if one wishes, BUT, this particular take on it will always set the Wand Co. seperate from others in a big way in terms of accuracy.

 

[Bluebox303]

However, all of these things were sacrificed to give us, FINALLY, actual functionality from a sonic replica. Im tired of people asking me "OH what does it do? Light up and buzz?"

I've noticed that too! I usually respond by turning off the nearest T.V.
I also discovered that you can use the magnet on the end to activate an Ipad(2nd gen or above)

 

[The Barn Owl]

whawawhaaat? Hoooowww?

 

[Bluebox303]

whawawhaaat? Hoooowww?

Try waving the end over the area near the volume control rocker. On the bezel
However it will not turn it off, it will only turn it on. as the magnet needs to be constantly on the are in order for it to be off. This is a feature of the smart cover.

 

[VortexRunner]

Nice review and comparison pics, but....

- The struts on the MFX are NOT accurate - as for many other things for that matter
- The slider doesn't go past the second ridge for the reason being the internal components had to be fitted there. Also, I have my suspicions that is so the charge port isn't too far exposed when the cap is removed.

 

[Bluebox303]

Nice review and comparison pics, but....

- The struts on the MFX are NOT accurate - as for many other things for that matter
- The slider doesn't go past the second ridge for the reason being the internal components had to be fitted there. Also, I have my suspicions that is so the charge port isn't too far exposed when the cap is removed.

I know about the slider issue, i've subscribed to the main thread.
I'm just pointing out that it is inaccurate. This is a simple thread specifying inaccuracies and accuracies.

About the struts...

I'm really not seeing what you are. these screwdrivers have undercuts, although the MFX is inaccurate, it has hint of an undercut, which makes it a mediocre prop replica in my book. I got this MFX for a low price, and I am satisfied.

 

[Bluebox303]

Bump: Added conclusion along with slightly more info on the pictures

 

[Skippy2k]

I was curious as I remember reading when it came out and it's noted above that the the teeth "will be fixed soon", did this ever happen or were they changed at all from the initial release?

 

[RayR]

I read somewhere the Wand company had a second release of the 10th doctor sonic with some minor adjustments. Can someone please tell me what the changes are and how to distinguish which one I am looking at.