Share havanajoe8's profile
havanajoe8
havanajoe8's stats
- Review count49
- Helpfulness votes407
- First reviewOctober 21, 2009
- Last reviewAugust 4, 2017
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
- Review comment count10
- Helpfulness votes4
- First review commentDecember 7, 2013
- Last review commentJuly 22, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count26
- Helpfulness votes58
- First answerDecember 1, 2010
- Last answerJune 5, 2017
- Featured answers0
- Best answers10
Achieve optimal shots with this Nikon SB-300 AF Speedlight 4810 external flash that is compatible with most Nikon cameras with an accessory hot shoe and features i-TTL (intelligent through-the-lens) flash coverage technology to enhance dramatic lighting.
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I used to have the SB-400 and I LOVED it! The SB-300? I like it. Not quite as good, although the small size is good on my D3400. I wish it took AAs instead of AAAs, bounce is adequate but seems like it's just barely adequate. Recharge time is a bit slow. I'm keeping it since it fits nicely and DOES make an improvement over built-in flash, but I really wish I hadn't sold my SB-400!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Support your professional DSLR camera with this Manfrotto Element monopod. It extends up to 59 inches in height, and it supports telephoto lenses up to 500mm in focal length for enhanced stability when shooting landscapes and events. This lightweight red Manfrotto Element monopod has a 15kg capacity, and it collapses to 16.34 inches for easy portability.
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
Well built, study enough for my Nikon DSLR and Sony RX10M3. Fit and finish is very solid, I was going to by a cheaper one but you get what you pay for and Manfrotto is worth the money!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Capture low-light scenes and stunning portraits with this Insignia TTL Nikon flash. An integrated bounce card and wide-angle lens make this flash easy to adjust to suit your needs. Simply attach the Insignia TTL Nikon flash to your compatible DSLR camera~s hot shoe to illuminate your subject and achieve a better shot.
Customer Rating
4
Great with one minor issue
on July 7, 2017
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I bought the same flash but for Sony to go with my RX10M3, and on that camera it works perfectly! I was so impressed that I decided to get the Nikon mount version for my D3400. I have a larger flash for the D3400 already, but I wanted something for daily use that was smaller. Flash works great 90% of the time- occasionally I'll take a picture and it will be completely white. It doesn't happen often, and seems to happen more often when I am bouncing the flash off the ceiling. Unfortunately, I like to bounce the flash most of the time. This doesn't happen with my larger flash and this doesn't happen with this model flash on my Sony, so it seems to be an issue with this flash itself. It's not a deal-breaker for me and not worth returning the flash because it happens rarely and when it doesn't happen the results are excellent!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
Bring the party wherever you go with the LG X-Boom speaker cube. Wirelessly stream music from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, or use dual USB ports for playback or recording when connected to a USB device. Download the free LG Remote app from the Google Playstore to control the LG X-Boom speaker cube from any Android device.
Customer Rating
4
Better than expected!
on June 5, 2017
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I like to listen to music in the background while working from home, my girlfriend likes to dance in the kitchen when she's cooking, so we wanted something that sounded good at low levels but could also really "pump" for dancing. I had a nice system on top of my refrigerator- an Insignia mini receiver/CD player connected to a powered 8" subwoofer and a pair of Polk T15s, with an old netbook hooked up and playing my MP3s through Winamp. Unfortunately, the receiver died and my girlfriend wanted something simpler (one remote, one unit, etc.) so after reading reviews online I decided to go with this LG unit.
Overall we are happy with it- with a few small dislikes. The unit is actually a little smaller and lighter than expected, which is good considering the space on top of the fridge. Single CD with USB is all we need, we have tons of CDs and I have around 1,700 MP3s on a flash drive. Sound quality is good overall, but not great; keep in mind it's only one speaker unit (one woofer, one tweeter) so there is no separation or imaging, but that's fine for our use. Voices sound fine, bass is where one issue is- it's very "boomy", but that's to be expected given the size of the woofer (6.5") and the fact that the woofer is driving most of the sound. Specifications say it goes to 80hz, which seems right, but right around 100hz is where it "booms" a bit which can be distracting. We like the lights, but found that they don't really pulse to the music all that accurately, unless the track has loud, deep bass, otherwise it kind of just flops around. Also, you can't change the lights on the remote, only on the unit, which is a bit puzzling to me.
My main issue is in finding the right EQ setting- I narrowed it down to two, the "Afro" setting under Region EQ and "Rock" under the "Sound Effect" setting. "Afro" is good for general use, it's less boomy and more accurate, but "Rock" is more "dance-able" and definitely has a boost in bass. All of the other settings were a bit muddy to me, luckily it's easy to switch between them on the remote.
My other issue is with USB playback- I found that each time you turn the unit on it does a new search. If your files are directly on the flash drive the search is fast, but with folders it takes a few minutes. The unit remembers the last song you were on, but forgets that you had it set to "random" so you have to set that each time if that's how you listen to your collection. Also, on random going forward goes to a random song, but going backwards ALSO goes to a random song; that is a pain because sometimes a song comes on that you like and after a few more tracks you want to go back a few songs to hear it again but you can't as it just selects a new random song. Luckily we listen to a lot of CDs and so that's not an issue with them.
Minor complaints but enough to deduct a star; that being said, overall it meets our needs and this thing can JAM- it gets a lot louder than expected! I'm happy with it, she's happy with it, plenty of other functions I haven't even used yet that should make this a win for most people!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+7points
9of 11voted this as helpful.
Create permanent snaps with this HP Sprocket photo printer. This tiny little printer is barely bigger than a smartphone, letting you quickly print off photos whenever you like. Compatible with HP ZINK sticky-backed photo paper and controlled via Bluetooth, this HP Sprocket photo printer is easy to connect to and use.
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
Recently I was looking for something in my closet and I found my old Polaroid Pogo... I had put it away around three years ago and had forgotten all about it! Unfortunately I lost the AC adapter and they are difficult and expensive to find online. I remember how much fun I had with the Pogo so I figured I'd buy a newer version!
The Sprocket seemed to have better reviews than the Polaroid Zip so I bought the Sproket. It functions similar to my old Pogo, minus the full-size USB connector for connecting to a camera with Pictbridge technology. Size is similar, it fits in my Pogo sleeve. One huge improvement is no separate power adapter, it charges via mini-USB!
Picture quality is ok at best- black and white pictures come out with a reddish hue, and colors are muted; however, you can use the Sprocket app to edit the picture before printing, the wizard feature seems to increase brightness a bit which does make for a better print. It takes about a minute to print, plus the time to go into the app, select the picture, edit if needed and send to the printer.
I do miss the ability to directly connect a camera to the printer, nowadays it's done through your smartphone. This is fine if you take pictures with your smartphone or want to print from social media, but if you use a separate camera to take pictures you'll first have to get the pictures to your smartphone or social media account, which is an extra step from the Pogo. This is ok for me because I can send pictures from my camera to my smartphone and in turn to the Sprocket.
One downside seems to be that HP Zink paper is hard to come by; in fact, when I bought this Sprocket my local Best Buy was out of paper, and there was a woman asking the employee when they would be in stock, and he said it's sporadic and they sell out quickly. Get used to ordering online if you do a lot of prints! Luckily there is an alternate solution- you can use the Polaroid Zink paper IF you keep the HP sheet with the bar-code and put that in the Sprocket instead of the Polaroid one. Discussion forums online indicate that the paper itself is very similar if not exact, so this solution should work. I bought some packs of the Polaroid paper but have not used it yet, so fingers crossed!
Overall I'm happy with the Sprocket, it's a fun little gadget as long as you keep your expectations reasonable. It's a great conversation starter, bring it to a gathering take a few pictures and print them out and I guarantee people will ask you to take their picture!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+29points
37of 45voted this as helpful.
Enjoy a DSLR-like body and sensor with a fixed lens with this Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 III camera. Powerful zoom ensures you get close up to your subject, and you can also film at up to 4K resolutions. Ultra-powerful intelligent autofocus and heavy-duty image processing ensure this Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 III camera captures the images you want..
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I have a Nikon DSLR and multiple lenses, but I was looking for something that is all-in-one yet delivers great performance. I did a lot of research online, most sources say that this camera is the best bridge camera on the market right now. Overall I'm quite happy with this camera; quality is very good (not as good as my Nikon but probably about 80%), the 24mm-600mm range is impressive, and there are a ton of features. Some minor complaints- the menu system is not intuitive, autofocus is slow past 400mm, and the wi-fi transfer is slow. My biggest complaint is the built-in flash; it's weak and it casts lens shadows at wide focal lengths. It's so bad that I bought an external flash, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise because this camera really comes to life with an external flash! I got the Insignia flash for Sony for $100 at Best Buy, and using it as a bounce flash has really improved the quality of my pictures; if you are spending the money on this camera I highly recommend that you get this flash! Keep in mind that the focus-assist beam on the flash will not work with this camera, another minor complaint but this is a known issue with Sony E mount and RX cameras. Overall I love this camera, well worth the high cost!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Turn low-light situations into photographic opportunities with this Insignia TTL Sony flash. Adjust the flash~s movable head horizontally and vertically, and use the device~s focus-assist light to produce crisp, clear shots in the dark. This Insignia TTL Sony flash has an automatic mode for quick, easy operation as well as a manual mode for more precise results.
Customer Rating
4
Works well with Sony RX10 iii
on May 12, 2017
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I love my RX10 iii but found the flash lacking, plus it cast lens shadows in wide shots. Bought this flash figuring I'd try it out and see how it worked, if not well I'd return it and buy the more expensive Sony flash. I'm very happy with this flash, it's a good size without being too big. Built in diffuser works great, especially for bounce flash. I even like that the orange LCD matches the orange LCD on my camera! My only complaint is that the focus-assist beam does not work with my camera, but this seems to be an issue with many flashes on Sony cameras (e mount, RX, etc.).
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Only at Best BuyImprove your home theater experience with this Insignia mini sound bar. Bluetooth technology lets you wirelessly stream audio from your smartphone, tablet or other device, and you can choose from three digital sound fields to optimize your enjoyment. Easy one-cable connection lets you sync this Insignia mini sound bar to your TV.
Customer Rating
4
Great solution for a small TV!
on December 23, 2016
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I have the Insignia 19" TV and I'm very happy with it, but the sound is not great. I've been trying various computer speakers that I have in storage but either the sound is poor or they block the screen (the TV is on a small table in my kitchen so I have limited space). I saw this as I was walking through my local Best Buy and figured I'd try it out! Sound is quite good, and the unit fits in front of the TV. The syncing with the TV volume control is a bit odd, it detects when you turn the volume up and down and adjusts it's own volume but it can quickly become "off", so that 50 on the TV is loudest, but then soon it's 30, or 70... It works fine if you just ignore the volume level on the TV and set it by ear. Overall I'm happy with this product and would recommend it for a small TV in a small to mid-size room.
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Carry your Nikon digital SLR camera in style with this bag. The rugged nylon construction and padded shoulder strap combine for comfortable portability.
Customer Rating
5
Perfect for the D3400 two lens bundle!
on December 18, 2016
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I recently bought the D3400 two lens bundle, and picked up this bag as well. It's a perfect match for this bundle! I also bought the 35mm 1.8 lens and the Platinum flash, I was able to BARELY fit everything in the bag, but it fit. I've got my D3400 with the 35mm inside the case, and then two dividers to hold the 18-55 and 70-300 lenses, with the flash on the outside pocket, the charger, body cap and extra SD card in the inside zipper pocket, the flash manual in the back compartment, the stand for the flash in the left outside compartment and 8 AA batteries in a plastic bag in the right outside compartment. I had to adjust the closing straps to their maximum, and zippering shut the outside front compartment with the flash is a bit tight, but everything DID fit. I'm hoping that in time the bag will stretch out just a little, but even if it doesn't I'm very happy to have my camera, three lenses, and a large flash plus extras all in one bag! Quality is superb, it feels well-built and sturdy. Highly recommended!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
Take stunning photographs in low-light conditions with this Platinum i-TTL PT-DFLEXT1N auto external flash that features S1 and S2 slave modes for off-camera operation. The focus assist light helps provide quick focus in dark areas.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent but big!
on December 18, 2016
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I recently bought the D3400 two lens bundle which went on sale for $100 less a few days later, so I went back to Best Buy for a price match and ended up paying $2.10 for this flash! It works much better than expected; bounce flash is exceptional, especially with the wide diffuse panel pulled out. Flash will zoom out to 105mm, which is fine for most situations. Flash takes about 10 seconds to charge once turned on but cycles reasonably fast. The unit is big and a bit heavy, but feels sturdy. Soft blue light on the menu is perfect- highly visible but not blinding. Big auto-focus assist light works much better than the one on the camera.
My only complaint is the hot shoe mount is plastic and has the gear style instead of the latch style. Due to the size and weight of the flash I feel like this is a weak point and possibly where breakage could occur. I found myself being very careful not to bump the flash for fear that I would snap off the connector. Other than that, I have zero complaints and would highly recommend this flash!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
havanajoe8's Review Comments
Add Bluetooth compatibility to your laptop with this convenient and compact micro USB adapter.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Fails with Windows 8.1
By barrywertz
from Zionsville, IN
You're Bluetooth products with this product will fail. They have not come out with version 8.1 windows driver updates. I called the company and they said it will be a few months. I laughed and returned it. I attempted to run it in compatibility mode in other versions of windows and it couldn't verify the product. I called Microsoft as well with no avail.
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
December 7, 2013
I got it to work with the driver download from Broadcom. Windows 8.1, recent install...
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
The T15 are those bookshelf speakers whose high versatility is built to impress. Engineered with Polk's proprietary Dynamic Balance technology, they're primed to improve your home theater experience and take on your entire arsenal of tunes without fail. Think brighter highs, a wide-open mid-range and surprising bass response - the perfect entry into high-performance audio. What~s more, it~s easy to setup, supports Dolby and DTS, and connects to most home theater receivers, stereos or home theater processors. The best part is that it won't drain your wallet! Go big on great sound made for everyone. Add the T15 bookshelf stereo speakers to your home audio setup today.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Excellent value!
By havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
My apartment is odd- it's basically two small apartments connected together separated by a door. In the larger room I have a home entertainment system with a real stereo system- receiver, sub-woofer, larger speakers, etc. However, the kitchen is in the smaller room and I like to listen to music while having coffee. About six months ago I bought the Insignia 50 watt mini bookshelf system and connected my iPod to it via an Apple iPod dock. It's on top of the refrigerator. I like the system, but the speakers were never quite right- I felt that the 4 inch drivers were a little small and with the bass ports on the back the bass would hit the wall and I felt like it sounded a bit weak and muffled. I decided to go to Best Buy to see what I could get as an upgrade. I had done a little research online and I wanted to compare three speakers- these Polks, the Pioneer SP-BS22-LRs and the Insignia NS-SP213s. The Pioneers are power-hungry, and since this system is only 25 watts per channel I eliminated them first- plus they still had a rear bass port. The Insignias sounded ok, but seemed a little muffled. These Polks sounded the clearest, but I could not really tell how they sounded in the store, so I took them home. I'm VERY happy with the results! They are a little bigger than the original Insignias but not too big. Binding posts connected easily too. At first the sound was just ok. It took about an hour of breaking them in for them to really shine. First thing I noticed is that they are efficient- comfortable listening level with the Insignias was 16 on the volume setting, with the Polks it's 12. Second thing I noticed is that the upper midrange is much more clear- voices really carry, especially higher pitched ones. Finally, although they don't have exceptionally deep bass the response is certainly better than the Insignias. Not sure if it's because of the bigger woofers or if it's the bass ports being on the front but there is no longer any muffled bass. I'm hearing details in my music that I generally only hear through my main stereo system. If you have limited space and reasonable expectations I think you can't go wrong with these speakers!
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
One thing to be aware of...
June 6, 2014
...and this is not a complaint, but something to be aware of- these speakers like to be played relatively loud- or, to be more precise, they do not excel at being played too softly... For example, if you have the volume low for background music sometimes the music cuts in and out- especially when a song is fading away at the end. They will often just cut off during the fade.... This does not happen with higher volumes. My review rating still stands, but this is something to be aware of!
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
The T15 are those bookshelf speakers whose high versatility is built to impress. Engineered with Polk's proprietary Dynamic Balance technology, they're primed to improve your home theater experience and take on your entire arsenal of tunes without fail. Think brighter highs, a wide-open mid-range and surprising bass response - the perfect entry into high-performance audio. What~s more, it~s easy to setup, supports Dolby and DTS, and connects to most home theater receivers, stereos or home theater processors. The best part is that it won't drain your wallet! Go big on great sound made for everyone. Add the T15 bookshelf stereo speakers to your home audio setup today.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Excellent value!
By havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
My apartment is odd- it's basically two small apartments connected together separated by a door. In the larger room I have a home entertainment system with a real stereo system- receiver, sub-woofer, larger speakers, etc. However, the kitchen is in the smaller room and I like to listen to music while having coffee. About six months ago I bought the Insignia 50 watt mini bookshelf system and connected my iPod to it via an Apple iPod dock. It's on top of the refrigerator. I like the system, but the speakers were never quite right- I felt that the 4 inch drivers were a little small and with the bass ports on the back the bass would hit the wall and I felt like it sounded a bit weak and muffled. I decided to go to Best Buy to see what I could get as an upgrade. I had done a little research online and I wanted to compare three speakers- these Polks, the Pioneer SP-BS22-LRs and the Insignia NS-SP213s. The Pioneers are power-hungry, and since this system is only 25 watts per channel I eliminated them first- plus they still had a rear bass port. The Insignias sounded ok, but seemed a little muffled. These Polks sounded the clearest, but I could not really tell how they sounded in the store, so I took them home. I'm VERY happy with the results! They are a little bigger than the original Insignias but not too big. Binding posts connected easily too. At first the sound was just ok. It took about an hour of breaking them in for them to really shine. First thing I noticed is that they are efficient- comfortable listening level with the Insignias was 16 on the volume setting, with the Polks it's 12. Second thing I noticed is that the upper midrange is much more clear- voices really carry, especially higher pitched ones. Finally, although they don't have exceptionally deep bass the response is certainly better than the Insignias. Not sure if it's because of the bigger woofers or if it's the bass ports being on the front but there is no longer any muffled bass. I'm hearing details in my music that I generally only hear through my main stereo system. If you have limited space and reasonable expectations I think you can't go wrong with these speakers!
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Ignore my last comment
July 9, 2014
I figured why they were cutting out. I had the volume on the receiver turned up high and would then control the volume on the iPod. It was the weaker iPod signal that was causing the speakers to cut out. By lowering the volume on the receiver and keeping the volume on the iPod output higher the speakers no longer cut out when adjusting the volume.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Only at Best Buy Enjoy your music with this Insignia~ boombox, which plays CDs and cassettes for flexible listening options. The 10 AM and 10 FM presets help you find your favorite radio programming with a simple touch.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Gift for my Girlfriend
By havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
My girlfriend has been using a boombox on her shelf for the last 10 years or so and one of the speakers finally stopped working. This Insignia unit made a nice little replacement for it! She likes the sound quality, it's small enough to sit on her shelf or she can take it outside when she sits on her patio. Only disappointment is that it only plays regular CDs, not CD-R/RWs with MP3s. Her old one didn't either but it would have been a nice option. However, the unit DOES have an aux-in port so she can hook her iPod to it with a small patch cable. Overall very pleased!
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
My mistake! It DOES play CD-R/RWs!
February 15, 2015
We re-tested this unit with a different CD-R with MP3s and it played just fine- first disk may have been the issue. 5 stars now, I wish I could edit the review! My bad, I hate making mistakes on reviews!
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Listen to music and more on the go with these Insignia~ speakers that deliver 1.5W RMS total system power to ensure quality sound. The magnetic design enables easy portability.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Very low volume!!!
By nervedoc
from Grapevine, TX
I purchased these speakers to plug into my Samsung laptop to listen to some business audio presentations. The sound on my laptop was not loud enough, so I wanted an external pair of speakers to boost the audio capability. These speakers are not even as loud as my built in speakers! There is no additional volume control on the speakers either.
Nice design, but inadequate! Returning back to Best Buy!!!
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Settings?
February 28, 2015
I'd suggest checking your various sound mixer settings on your computer as these speakers should be plenty loud; at 3/4 volume I can hear music clearly in the next room. Make sure your volume control is up and each slide bar on the mixer is up as well, and finally raise the volume on any music/video software you are using. Any of these being set low (or even worse, more than one being set low) will limit the maximum volume of the speakers.
+3points
3of 3voted this comment as helpful.
The T15 are those bookshelf speakers whose high versatility is built to impress. Engineered with Polk's proprietary Dynamic Balance technology, they're primed to improve your home theater experience and take on your entire arsenal of tunes without fail. Think brighter highs, a wide-open mid-range and surprising bass response - the perfect entry into high-performance audio. What~s more, it~s easy to setup, supports Dolby and DTS, and connects to most home theater receivers, stereos or home theater processors. The best part is that it won't drain your wallet! Go big on great sound made for everyone. Add the T15 bookshelf stereo speakers to your home audio setup today.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Excellent value!
By havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
My apartment is odd- it's basically two small apartments connected together separated by a door. In the larger room I have a home entertainment system with a real stereo system- receiver, sub-woofer, larger speakers, etc. However, the kitchen is in the smaller room and I like to listen to music while having coffee. About six months ago I bought the Insignia 50 watt mini bookshelf system and connected my iPod to it via an Apple iPod dock. It's on top of the refrigerator. I like the system, but the speakers were never quite right- I felt that the 4 inch drivers were a little small and with the bass ports on the back the bass would hit the wall and I felt like it sounded a bit weak and muffled. I decided to go to Best Buy to see what I could get as an upgrade. I had done a little research online and I wanted to compare three speakers- these Polks, the Pioneer SP-BS22-LRs and the Insignia NS-SP213s. The Pioneers are power-hungry, and since this system is only 25 watts per channel I eliminated them first- plus they still had a rear bass port. The Insignias sounded ok, but seemed a little muffled. These Polks sounded the clearest, but I could not really tell how they sounded in the store, so I took them home. I'm VERY happy with the results! They are a little bigger than the original Insignias but not too big. Binding posts connected easily too. At first the sound was just ok. It took about an hour of breaking them in for them to really shine. First thing I noticed is that they are efficient- comfortable listening level with the Insignias was 16 on the volume setting, with the Polks it's 12. Second thing I noticed is that the upper midrange is much more clear- voices really carry, especially higher pitched ones. Finally, although they don't have exceptionally deep bass the response is certainly better than the Insignias. Not sure if it's because of the bigger woofers or if it's the bass ports being on the front but there is no longer any muffled bass. I'm hearing details in my music that I generally only hear through my main stereo system. If you have limited space and reasonable expectations I think you can't go wrong with these speakers!
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Paired with a small sub- MUCH better!
May 3, 2015
I ended up finding a small, flat subwoofer designed to slide under a couch. It had an 8 inch driver and fits behind the speakers on my refrigerator. SO much better now! The 5.25" drivers on these Polks handle mid-range fine but were lacking bass. With the sub connected and handling the bass these speakers really shine! Great little system!
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
The T15 are those bookshelf speakers whose high versatility is built to impress. Engineered with Polk's proprietary Dynamic Balance technology, they're primed to improve your home theater experience and take on your entire arsenal of tunes without fail. Think brighter highs, a wide-open mid-range and surprising bass response - the perfect entry into high-performance audio. What~s more, it~s easy to setup, supports Dolby and DTS, and connects to most home theater receivers, stereos or home theater processors. The best part is that it won't drain your wallet! Go big on great sound made for everyone. Add the T15 bookshelf stereo speakers to your home audio setup today.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Smooth and pleasant
By Perfectionist
Bought four of these little fellows to serve as front and surround satellite speakers, along with two other speakers and a Klipsch subwoofer in a 6.1 surround system (using a Sony STR-DH750 7.2 surround receiver). These little speakers produce a warm, balanced, and detailed sound, that is very pleasant on the ears and produces absolutely no listener fatigue. After taking off the grille of one of them when playing at a loud volume, I observed the woofer pumping away with quite a bit of excursion for such a small driver. This observation, along with the tight, punchy sound the Polks were emitting, makes me believe that even if used without a powered subwoofer, these little guys could produce very nice bass for bookshelf speakers. The soft dome tweeter is unbelievably pleasant on the ears, yet detailed, and the woofer is very tight and punchy.
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
With a sub...
June 7, 2015
...they are even better! I've been using these on my kitchen stereo system connected to a little 25x2 receiver/CD player unit with an iPod on a dock connected via the AUX in. They've always sounded good but were missing that lower octave. I finally bought a small 8 inch powered sub and routed the speaker output through the sub and then into the Polks with an 80hz cutoff- MUCH better. With the sub handling the bass the Polk drivers produce much better midrange now, they sound about 90% as good as my main system which has much larger speakers and a 10 inch sub, plus a 200 watt receiver.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Play back audio from a wide range of sources with this Insignia~ NS-SH513 compact shelf system, which features Bluetooth technology, a USB port and a CD player for flexible use. The FM tuner features 30 presets for simple station recall.
Overall
3 out of 5
3 out of 5Good but limited
By havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I am moving into a bigger apartment and will have room for a small stereo system for background music. I was interested in this system due to the USB connection plus the ability to play CDs (my girlfriend has tons of them). Overall I am happy with the system except for one glaring issue- random works only with regular CDs. This means no random with MP3 CD-Rs or with USB. Not only that, but if you change sources or turn the system off and then on again it forgets what song you were on last and starts from the first track! I have over 1,500 MP3 files so this is unacceptable. I tried using Bluetooth, which gave me the ability to use my phone and shuffle tracks that way, but the sound was not very good- may be a reflection on my phone, as it's a cheap one. Finally I realized that I could connect my iPod and get what I wanted that way. One strength of this system is that it offers so many connection options- Bluetooth, USB, RCA, CD and FM. Once I got the iPod connected I was happy- sound quality is quite good, a little weak in the bass but good highs and mids. Volume is plenty for a small room. Remote works well, has a lot of range and the unit looks nice- understated and "adult", not too bright or high-techy. Black wood finish matches my main stereo system so that is a nice bonus. I decided to keep this unit, happy with it but just cannot understand how the random only works with CDs... This would be a 4 or maybe even a 5 star item if that one feature existed!
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Made this into a killer system
June 5, 2016
Since my review I've made some upgrades which really turned this into a killer system. First, I replaced the speakers with a pair of Polk T15's from Best Buy- MUCH better sound. Then I added an 8 inch sub-woofer from another vendor. Finally I took an old netbook and set it to boot into Winamp with Milkdrop 2.0. I also added a mini wireless keyboard to use as a remote. Sound is FANTASTIC, and the Insignia works great, plus gives me Bluetooth and CD playback. If you are looking for a mini receiver/CD player to make your own system I highly recommend this!
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Enjoy a DSLR-like body and sensor with a fixed lens with this Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 III camera. Powerful zoom ensures you get close up to your subject, and you can also film at up to 4K resolutions. Ultra-powerful intelligent autofocus and heavy-duty image processing ensure this Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 III camera captures the images you want..
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Small sensor
By BusStop
Bitter sweet, good zoom but small sensor will not give you the professional looking photos of a full frame camera.
Good for traveling anyway.
Good for traveling anyway.
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Hmmm...
July 3, 2017
You really can't compare a camera with a 1" sensor to a full-frame... APS-C would be a closer comparison, but even still, you won't get a 600mm equivalent lens @ 4.0 for less than $12k even with an APS-C camera, and the quality on this camera is about 80% of an APS-C...
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Bring the party wherever you go with the LG X-Boom speaker cube. Wirelessly stream music from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, or use dual USB ports for playback or recording when connected to a USB device. Download the free LG Remote app from the Google Playstore to control the LG X-Boom speaker cube from any Android device.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Great Sound and Bass
By mmcdon
Good overall purchase but the only feature lacking is a shuffle feature if you have a usb connected.
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Random
July 22, 2017
Press the "repeat" button until the display says "random". I think it's four or five clicks. You have to do this each time you turn the system on, but it works.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
havanajoe8's Questions
havanajoe8 has not submitted any questions.
Play back audio from a wide range of sources with this Insignia~ NS-SH513 compact shelf system, which features Bluetooth technology, a USB port and a CD player for flexible use. The FM tuner features 30 presets for simple station recall.
Does this unit have any sort of preamp out for recording or connecting to another device?
Does this unit have any sort of preamp out for recording or connecting to another device?
No- just speaker level outputs
12 years, 1 month ago
by
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Designed for use with most 2.5" Serial ATA hard drives, this Dynex~ enclosure features USB 3.0 connectivity and is USB-powered, so you can power your drive without an adapter or cord. The aluminum material offers a durable design.
took harddrive from broken ps3 that wont turn on i want to save everything from that harddrive to the new one i do not want to format it thats why i
bought this device is there anything i can do to get the information out of it
PS3 hard drives are different than regular hard drives- they require more power. You may need to find an enclosure with a power cord to make that work.
12 years, 9 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Designed for use with most 2.5" Serial ATA hard drives, this Dynex~ enclosure features USB 3.0 connectivity and is USB-powered, so you can power your drive without an adapter or cord. The aluminum material offers a durable design.
Do you have Windows 8 drivers available?
Worked fine for me on Windows 8- plug and play, worked as soon as I plugged it in!
12 years, 9 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Designed for use with most 2.5" Serial ATA hard drives, this Dynex~ enclosure features USB 3.0 connectivity and is USB-powered, so you can power your drive without an adapter or cord. The aluminum material offers a durable design.
Why can't I get it to be recognized on my Macbook Pro for more than a few minutes?
When I plug into the USB port to get info off a Dell laptop HD, it will run (I hear it and the blue light flickers), I see it look enough to start a virus scan with MacKeeper but, after a few thousand files are scanned and it looks like it is progressing, it stops, disappears and I get a message that the disk was "...not ejected properly" and "to select it in "Finder" and eject it. Also, that Mac OS wil attempt to repair any damage to the info on the disk. I can not see it anywhere to eject properly. Can you help me retrieve the old data and then formate it for an external HD?
Are you using USB 3.0? I had errors with this enclosure on USB 3.0 but it worked fine on USB 2.0.
12 years, 10 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Standard Lens: Whether you're a beginner or professional, you'll love this compact, lightweight lens from Nikon. The normal angle of view captures approximately what the human eye sees, making it a great all-around lens. Plus, the f/1.8 maximum aperture is ideal for creating softly blurred backgrounds and shooting in low light.
what is the maximum optical zoom it can give and whether it will fit with D-5000 DSLR
It has no zoom, it's a prime lens, meaning it's only at 35mm. On a Nikon DX camera it's right around 52mm, which means what you see with your eye will look the same distance as what you see through the lens. You will need to move closer to / further away from your subject to change the view. It will work fine with a D-5000. It's a great lens!
15 years, 6 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Standard Lens: Whether you're a beginner or professional, you'll love this compact, lightweight lens from Nikon. The normal angle of view captures approximately what the human eye sees, making it a great all-around lens. Plus, the f/1.8 maximum aperture is ideal for creating softly blurred backgrounds and shooting in low light.
Does this fit a nikkon d40?Nikon - AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 Lens for Nikon F-Mount Digital SLR Cameras
Yes, it does, and in fact is the PERFECT lens for the D40. You'll be amazed at the picture quality and color depth!
15 years, 6 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA