Let me start by saying this LED light bar is pure eye candy. The moment I plugged it in, my workspace transformed into a mini cyberpunk nightclub. The glass-covered RGB LEDs mimic vintage nixie tubes but with a futuristic twist – it’s like having a tiny Blade Runner prop on your desk.

The 8 display modes and 11 color effects are where this shines (literally). My favorite is the ‘audio wave’ mode where lights dance vertically to music – though fair warning, as other reviewers noted, it does max out easily at normal volumes. At lower volumes though? Pure magic watching the colors pulse to piano melodies.

Build quality surprised me – the CNC aluminum base feels premium, not like cheap plastic. The USB-C power is convenient (though I wish it had an on/off switch instead of needing to unplug). Pro tip: Place it where the glass can catch ambient light – the reflections create amazing atmospheric glows on walls at night.

Is it practical? Not really. But as a mood piece or gift? Absolutely. My partner keeps stealing it for their gaming setup, and friends always ask about ‘that cool tube light’. Just manage expectations – this is about aesthetics, not precision audio analysis.

Final verdict: 4/5 stars. Loses one star for the sensitivity issues, but gains infinite cool points for being the most conversation-starting $40 decor item I own.