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    8
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  • First review
    June 24, 2014
  • Last review
    June 1, 2016
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  • First review comment
    November 20, 2015
  • Last review comment
    November 24, 2015
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    August 6, 2014
  • Last answer
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ryantheoc's Reviews
 
Reduce allergens and pollutants in your home with this Dyson Pure Cool air purifier. The intelligent design automatically responds to conditions in the air, and the Dyson Link app lets you control the purifier with your smart phone. Replaceable filters keep this Dyson Pure Cool air purifier running smoothly, and the integrated fan delivers cool air when you need it.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Effective Fan + Filtration
on June 1, 2016
Posted by: ryantheoc
from West Linn, OR
The mechanical setup of the Pure Cool Link Tower Air Purifier is trivial, a simple click in and it is ready to go. Plug it in and use the remote and it will be ready to go.
I found the software setup to be as expected. One of my main frustrations is that like many WiFi connected devices, the setup only works using a 2.4 GHz SSID. So I had to login to my 2.4 GHz SSID to complete the setup. The application clearly states this on the app which is helpful to let you know that you have to connect via this method.
All you have to do is connect to the device, enter in the provided password and the setup will do its thing. It also registers the product which is nice as it saves a step.
The application itself is intuitive to use and gives you direct control over the device. The remote is still more snappy in terms of applying changes but it is nice to have the option of changing settings if in the other room.
I found it takes about a minute to update a change in quality of air. I have it setup in a bedroom that has a window open a night. I leave it running only at night and it the filter should last well over a year. If you run it non-stop it will last about half a year as advertised.
I would recommend this product to anyone that wants to have some air purification while also having a fan. The big benefit of this device is that you can have it on a lower speed, I use 3, and it will still remain very quiet. I anticipate that I will move it into the living room area of my apartment in the coming days to help filter more air in the primary space.
If you have used previous Dyson fan products you will appreciate the design of this one. I have a circular and a hot+cold and this is a very nice compliment to the set. I do not expect my power usage to rise by much at all given the past performance of my Dyson fans.
In the time of writing this it has improved the air quality back to good which is a great sign.
My Best Buy number: 2195198715
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
+19points
25of 31voted this as helpful.
 
Your household is busy streaming media, working online, and playing games every day. This Linksys Wi-Fi Router will expand your network coverage, send signals directly to your devices, and deliver a lag-free connection, even when you’re all online at the same time.
 
  • My Best Buy® Member
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Performance meets Utility
on May 22, 2016
Posted by: ryantheoc
tl;dr Best available router for larger homes with high connectivity requirements and data needs, flagship model that beats the rest
The Linksys EA9500 is the first consumer router that finally meets the performance required for a technological family living in a large home.
This router means business from the moment you take it out of the box. It is very large in size; it makes my Linksys EA6400 look tiny in comparison. The large antenna gives you some confidence before you even set it up that this is going to solve all of the issues you have been having.
The number of devices connected are as follows: 4-6 smartphones, 3-4 laptops, 2-3 tablets, 4 desktops, 2 TV's and a wide variety of WiFi enabled home devices, e.g. security, locks and some Belkin stuff.
The Linksys setup is easy to use for beginners and has a lot of neat customization for those that want to really make the best use of the system. I setup 4 primary SSID's and 2 secondary ones for guests. 1 of the SSID's is strictly for the TV's while the other three are 2.4, 5.2, 5.8 respectively.
I do not give much credence to wireless throughput tests but the wired throughput tests that came through the modem maxed out at the maximum for the connection from Comcast. The real test that we used was maximum load on late Sunday night.
Effectively this test is multiple users on smartphones, tablets, computers and TV's. The biggest test was streaming Breaking Bad from Netflix in 4K while simultaneously streaming Game of Thrones over HBO Go app to Chromecast on TV. The buffer time for the Breaking Bad was not all that bad and there was not a single interruption during the episode. Meanwhile GoT streamed flawlessly all while someone was gaming on desktop and likely downloading something.
The beamforming is truly remarkable in this router. Specifically, in two instances: long distance from router and through stucco. These two scenarios have always been very hard but this router crushes all previous router issues and performance. Even on the second floor on the other end of the house, RSSI is very good. Previous routers have at times had zero connection. Also through the stucco is very good. Previously the router would have trouble 20ft from the router outside through stucco but no longer. A weekend gardening with Pandora and the occasional video were no problem and never dropped any connection.
In conclusion, if you have multiple devices and need a lot of flexibility in connections this is the router for you. I am an experienced user having put custom DD-WRT firmware on routers to maximize performance. This is the first router ever that has met every single performance and customization metric that I have really wanted and frankly needed. For the price this router will solve all of your wireless connectivity issues in even the biggest and hungry of homes, assuming you have a quality ISP (Comcast @ 115MB DL, 30MB UL).
I recommend this to anyone that has had an issue with a bad connection in their home or needs a lot of flexibility in creating networks so that all devices can have the data rates they need. When you have multiple people that can have all of their devices just work all the time and it eliminates the WiFi issues, it is a no brainer. Absolutely worth the cost to never have to worry about WiFi connectivity issues for the next couple of years.
My Best Buy number: 2195198715
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
 
This Yamaha AVENTAGE RX-A2050BL receiver's built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to access instant Web content. Includes HDMI 4K Ultra HD and 3D pass-through technologies for compatibility with 3D TVs, Blu-ray players and gaming consoles and 4K Ultra HD TVs.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Legacy Compatibility meets Modern Utility
on February 25, 2016
Posted by: ryantheoc
from West Linn, OR
Yamaha is one of the few manufacturers to maintain legacy compatibility. I define legacy compatibility as having ample Pre-Outs for both 7.1 and zones. This receiver has 7.2, Zone 2 and Zone 3. This is great as I have a bunch of monaural amps which I use to power a network of in-ceiling speakers throughout my home. It is nice to have the flexibility of using my existing amps with the receiver.
I can actually wire up both Pre-Out and speaker outputs and drive a very large number of speakers. This is perfect for hosting as I can use the Party Mode button and I effectively get all channel stereo through every speaker.
The room calibration tool is very nice. It accurately detected my initial 5.1 setup upon first test. I setup all of the listen locations and it pretty accurately made a profile for it. I am excited for incorporating some presence speakers for a Dolby Atmos setup when I have the patience to rewire for it.
I was surprised at the 2160p upscaling. I picked up one of the 70" Vizio 4K's and I must say that many titles look quite nice with the upscaling from the receiver. I still notice the same edge artifacts as if the TV were upscaling but I feel like much more of the motion artifacts are reduced, it certainly seems better than the Vizio. I used The Dark Knight Rises scene in the beginning with the plane flying across the landscape, great scene and it is IMAX so it fills the screen.
I recommend this receiver to anyone that is planning on having a future proof receiver for the coming 5 years. Also, it is great if you have floor standing speakers as there are plenty of configurations to let you have a dynamic 7.1 while bi-amping a good amount of speakers.
The user manual is well written and has very good details for features that are not intuitive right off the bat. That being said, the on screen display is very helpful in the initial setup process.
Great For: 4K, Dolby Atmos, floorstanding speakers, connection to legacy devices and amps
Bad For: those looking for a basic receiver
Worth the asking price and you can probably convince the Best Buy people to give a deal if you purchase speakers or a TV.
Setup Tip: Label everything and have zip ties as there are going to be tons of wires and HDMI to connect everything, just be patient and thorough in setup. It will make any debug or changing of the configuration much easier.
My Best Buy number: 2195198715
I would recommend this to a friend!
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
 
These JBL Everest Elite 700 V700NXTBLK headphones feature NXTGen Active Noise Cancelling technology and JBL Pro Audio Sound with 40mm drivers, so you can enjoy rich, enhanced audio for all your favorite music. Bluetooth enables simple wireless syncing.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
GreatSound and Value at 299.99
on November 20, 2015
Posted by: ryantheoc
from West Linn, OR
I used my Bose QC20i as my primary noise cancelling headphones for a long time but became frustrated with the in ear style so I decided to pickup an over-the-ear set. It boiled down the offering by Bose, beats and JBL.
I noticed these in the Sunday ad and how they were a "Best Buy Exclusive" so I went down to a store to check it out. They have a really nice display that worked which went a long way. If you have been to stores sometimes this is not the case.
Before I tried them on I did a quick Google search for some details and it came up with all the of marketing splash, it is all words until you try them out in my opinion. What struck me initially trying them on is the seal around the ears. They are very comfortable on the ears and seal very well. After wearing the headset for about an hour it starts to fatigue the top of the head. Looks like they chose to make the ear the comfortable spot which is fine.
The audio sounds great, comparable with the beats in a good way. I am not a fan of the sound of the Bose headphones, they have that Bose sound which is like audio Doritos, always the same consistent sound but never blows you away lol. The NXTGEn Active Noise Cancelling technology is very interesting. Having come from Bose I had very high expectations and I would say that JBL has met those expectations and exceeded them in a few key ways, namely the Ambient Awareness. This feature is cool in that it allows you to hear what is going on around you to a degree based on preference. This would have been perfect for studying with my cohort back in school when you wanted to kill all of the background non-sense but wanted to still be able to hear someone crack a joke or ask an interesting question on a tough problem.
I think one of the coolest parts of this product is the app that you can download. I did not even know about it until I Googled it and it makes all the difference. You can set your own EQ, turn On/Off the Noise Cancel and set the level of the Ambient Aware independently for each each with is great. The hearing in my left ear sucks from driving with the window down all the time so it is nice to customize to each ear.
I attached some pictures of the app. One of the other cool things which I still do not understand how they do it but it is called TruNote. I guess it measures your head and tunes the headphones for it. I really like this feature as I usually am wearing glasses of some kind so this really helps when they are on. I did an A/B comparison with it on and off it the music was especially clear when I used the TruNote calibration.
The built-in mic is okay but it seems like it is too far up on the headset for it to be really legit. It works but I would say that I get better performance from the QC20i hanging dongle thingy.
I would recommend this to anyone looking at a 299.99 price range headset that wants great sound and utility. I cannot stress the utility enough the app really makes this headset very versatile, whether for use in the office to drone out the HVAC that always runs or for general listening in any situation.
My Best Buy number: 2195198715
I would recommend this to a friend!
User submitted photo
User submitted photo
+13points
16of 19voted this as helpful.
 
This Cuisinart FreshEdge CFS-TC-S8BS 8-piece system includes two 16-oz. square containers and two 32-oz. square containers with a vacuum pump that removes air, so you can keep food fresh for long periods of time.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Effective Food Storage
on December 11, 2014
Posted by: ryantheoc
from West Linn, OR
The Cuisinart FreshEdge system provides an easy way to seal perishable items to lock in freshness.
There are two sizes in this set, one is the size of a large apple and the other two large apples. The plastic is a very thick and durable plastic that gives the impression of quality upon first inspection. There are no directions describing how to use the system but after a few minutes the system becomes intuitive. The central silver Cuisinart top can be turned to unlock the top and pumped. As the resistance to pumping increases, you know that it is now being sealed. A small black release valve lets air escape to open the lid.
I noticed that fruit and vegetables will last nearly twice as long in these containes. Cheese seems to last even longer which is very nice for the more expensive small portions that would otherwise sit in ziplock bags. I use the 32 oz containers on their side to keep my pricey lunch meats fresh. This is invaluable given that the fridge will only keep these meats fresh and not dried out for around 10 days. This system keeps the meats fresh and moist for nearly double that, around 21 days I have found. Loose salad can be kept for a few days without developing wilt which is nice.
I have not found any glaring drawback yet but I know that I am going to pick up the larger sizes as well to house cereal and dog food; SKU: 9027111.
This product is useful for leftovers and any sort of perishable food storage, well worth the investment.
- ryantheoc
My Best Buy number: 2195198715
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Learn moreabout Magnolia PremiumInstallation   This AudioQuest Dragonfly DRAGONFLY1.2 digital audio converter is designed to bypass your computer's internal sound card and provide dynamic audio. The digitally controlled analog volume control simplifies use.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Dragonfly Enhances Listening Experience
on August 6, 2014
Posted by: ryantheoc
from West Linn, OR
How Often Used:Daily
Here are some of my observations of positive aspects as mentioned above:
The size of the Dragonfly is equivalent to that of a standard thumb drive. It fits smoothly into existing USB ports, whether a laptop or desktop.
The industrial design of the Dragonfly is excellent. Firstly, the exterior is strong yet smooth to touch given the finish. Unlike thumb drives that are plastic and light, this device is metal and has just enough weight to rest comfortably in ones hand. The Dragonfly logo nicely accentuates the rest of the design just prior to the output. You get the feeling the moment you grab Dragonfly that it is well machined product.
The LED indicator is a nice way to know that your device is on and running. Depending on the mode in which it is operating, the color of the Dragonfly will change. I typically run it at 24-bit/96 kHz to take advantage of oversampling. See the attached picture showing it in action.
The noise suppression on the Dragonfly is managed well. It is clear that they implemented some sort of decoupling circuity as the power supply noise present on the headphone jack of my work laptop is completely decoupled when using Dragonfly. Minus background office noise, one cannot hear any noise or distortion whether low or high volume. I mentioned above oversampling and this is very beneficial when listening to streamed audio, through Pandora for example. The oversampling helps round off some of the oddities of lower bit rate music to give it a more flat sound.
Here are some of my observations of negative aspects as mentioned above:
For devices that have USB, this product is fantastic. It will enhance the work laptop listening experience and augment any other USB capable machine. Still, it has to be USB and it is not compatible with smartphones or other devices. This is not a huge frustration though as one buys it knowing it is a USB DAC!
I recommend the Dragonfly to anyone who wants to get the most out of listening to music or movies. It enhances the often generic laptop audio experience to one that is deserving of even decent headphones. I use a pair of Bose® - QuietComfort® 20i Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones (SKU: 9154082) and it creates a brilliant noise free environment to enjoy audio free from all other distractions.
-Ryan the OC
My Best Buy number: 2195198715
What's great about it: Size, Industrial Design, LED Indicator, Noise Suppression
What's not so great: USB
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Bose - QuietComfort® 20i Headphones (iOS) - Black
4.7 out of 5(875)
 
 
 
 
 
Sound Quality
5 out of 5
5
Comfort
5 out of 5
5
Durability
5 out of 5
5
User submitted photo
+15points
15of 15voted this as helpful.
 
Everything changed with the arrival of the Traveler. It sparked a Golden Age when our civilization spanned our solar system, but it didn't last. Something hit us, knocked us down. The survivors built a city beneath the Traveler, and have begun to explore our old worlds, only to find them filled with deadly foes.You are a Guardian of the last safe city on Earth, able to wield incredible power. Defend the City. Defeat our enemies. Reclaim all that we have lost.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Destiny Ups the Ante and Wins
on August 4, 2014
Posted by: ryantheoc
from West Linn, OR
Here are some of my observations of positive aspects as mentioned above:
The gameplay is smooth between all actions. A primary first person shooter with a third person in the Tower City and vehicles, you are able to dial in your preferred playing style. Special abilities for each Guardian class, of which there are three, allow you to really change your play style. As a Warlock I was equally comfortable using a Sniper Rifle and charging with a Shotgun. The ability to upgrade weapons and customize class abilities really enhances this style of play.
The visuals are impressive in a few key ways. The texturing is very realistic looking at moderate distance and only become visibly rendered up close, specifically things like texture on brick or concrete. The lighting is fantastic, especially in tandem with weather. There is a layer of fog that sits just outside of the Tower that will change naturally over time changing the view of the surrounding landscape. Even more impressive is the sunrise; the cloud cover will change how much light is displayed. Shafts of lights, known as sunshafts, are prevalent both in Tower and in Old Russia. The waterfalls in Old Russia create rainbows when viewed from the proper angle. Combat visuals highlight with weapon effects and class abilities. See the screen capture I took that shows 3rd person view.
The story is exciting as you learn about the past and how it has shaped the current conflict in Destiny. The story primarily follows you on your characters story arc while integrating aspects of the city where you recharge, Tower.
The music is the first thing that you hear upon launching the game and all the updates installing. It is of the same feeling you get if you ever played an epic game where the music set the stage for very high expectations and excitement. The game, even in beta, delivers on these expectations.
The community is large, with just under 900,000 players participating in the beta. This should translate well for launch. There should be plenty of people available for matchmaking unless you grind levels too quickly.
The multiplayer aspect of the game is interesting. A combination of many successful elements from first person shooters is mixed with some MMO-style mechanics which offers some fun gameplay. The world events are fun though if some are designed to be done by at least two players. The world events on the moon I found to be very difficult but manageable for those with a grasp on mechanics. Strikes are the 3-man teams which can be queued for directly in-game by selecting it. It will pair you with other players and you must take out progressive waves of enemies until you take on a boss or two. The waves can be easily destroyed by skilled solo players but often the carelessness of players in these strikes makes having 3 beneficial. You can be revived in moments by your teammates so the frustration curve is not horrible if you die.
The mobile app is a great feature that really increases the excitement with the game. You can check your character, see what is in your inventory and browse many other features. It is a nice way to see where you are at and plan out what you would like to do if your time to play is limited. It is easy to give a couple minutes to check your current state while not being at your console. See the captures of the app.
Here are some of my observations of negative aspects as mentioned above:
The load times that are experience are not horrible, but they are noticeable. I would estimate that 5% of my gameplay was load time. Obviously load times will be less of an issue of you are exploring, for example the exploration in Old Russia. However, if you run strikes and Crucibles frequently, you will have some load time at the start and end. Then if you rejoin it is additional time. This is unavoidable and is really just something that gives you time to be productive in something else for a minute or two.
The game can feel “grindy" at times. What this means is that you must continually do the same actions over and over again to obtain the resources that you need to obtain more desirable items. This is especially true if you are trying to get a bunch of glimmer for example which is a primary currency. You can mitigate some of this by using items that you find to increase the collection rate. That being said, the Crucibles already seem grindy especially if you are not playing with friends and just randomly join.
The crucible player skill seems to vary greatly. There are some very skilled players mixed with average and novices. There is also the occasional AFK player that frustrates all. As the game matures there will likely be a solid matchmaking system that pairs you with similar skill players. Otherwise, you get beaten fairly easily or beat the other team easily.
Overall Destiny upped the ante with features and gameplay and it works, and Destiny wins. I recommend this to anyone who wants a good story with reasonable multiplayer aspects. Not to mention it is a fun shooter at its core.
September 9, 2014 is release date with a very likely saturated weekend on September 13, 2014. I hope to see you all in game.
- Ryan the OC
My Best Buy number: 2195198715
What's great about it: Gameplay, Visuals, Story, Music, Community, Multiplayer, Moblie App
What's not so great: Load Times, "Grindy", Crucible Player Skill
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Sony - PULSE Wireless Stereo Headset - Elite Edition for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PS Vita - Black
4.4 out of 5(391)
 
 
 
PowerA - Charging Station for PlayStation 4 - Black
4.6 out of 5(7,686)
 
 
 
Sony - PlayStation Plus 12-Month Membership
4.8 out of 5(8,056)
 
 
 
 
 
User submitted photo
User submitted photo
+18points
36of 54voted this as helpful.
 
Prepare yourself for a whole new level of entertainment with this PlayStation 4 Console Destiny Bundle, which features a DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller, headset and Destiny game disc. Experience thrilling virtual worlds in arresting clarity, plus a host of streaming media waiting at your fingertips. Team up with your friends to execute missions and dominate the court, or brutalize the competition by connecting with gamers around the world with PSN and PlayStation Plus. There's never a dull moment when you're armed with this entertainment powerhouse.In the ruins of a destroyed solar system, only one city remains in what used to be Earth. Accept the role of a Guardian in Destiny and wield their amazing powers as you work with your Fire Team to explore the red dunes of Mars, lush jungles of Venus and all the other mind-blowing landscapes left behind in the devastation of what once was. Team up with friends to carry out co-operative Strikes and explore exciting multiplayer maps. Arm yourself to the teeth with an enormous arsenal of weapons sure to destroy even the most lethal foes. Wage epic battles with other online players in the struggle to salvage humanity's future. Our planet is depending on you — can you return Earth to its former glory?
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Value Package
on June 24, 2014
Posted by: ryantheoc
from West Linn, OR
The Glacier White PlayStation 4 Destiny Bundle takes the hype of Destiny and imbues it into a value package for those who have waited to upgrade to the Playstation 4.
Here are some of my observations of why this package is great option compared to the standard console package:
- You get the added items: Destiny game, 30-day Playstation Plus Membership ($65 value). This is a good option for those who have not yet experienced online multiplayer, which is at first look going to be a great experience in Destiny.
- You get the alternative Glacier White color which is a nice change from the black of the standard console. While this may clash for some, for others it will highlight their entertainment system.
- You get the built in apps to access cloud content such as Netflix. If you do not already have a SmartTV or other content streaming devices, this console will provide it.
Here are some of my observations of why this package still frustrates me:
- The Playstation 4 does not support 4K upscaling like many of the Blu-ray players priced above $150. This is a major frustration as one would still need an additional 4K upscaling Blu-ray player to push upscaled 1080p movies to a 4K TV. If Sony were to implement this feature in its console, it would be the defacto standard for 4K upscaling Blu-ray players.
- You will not be able to enjoy the beta access for Destiny if preordering this console. By preordering the game at BestBuy, one can obtain beta access to the game. This is a great way to explore the world prior to the game being available. This is a great way to verify all of the hype behind the game. Still, the value presented here is worth the preorder.
With this game I would recommend a second controller and perhaps a headset to enjoy some of the subtle environmental sounds likely to be seen in the game.
The beta begins July 17, 2014 while the game is scheduled for a release date of September 9, 2014. It is likely that this bundle would be available on September 9, 2014 at a midnight opening if available.
- Ryan the OC
My Best Buy number: 2195198715
What's great about it: Value, Glacier White Color, Performance
What's not so great: Does not support 4K Upscaling
I would recommend this to a friend!
 
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Sony - DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for PlayStation 4 - Glacier White
4.8 out of 5(3,127)
 
 
 
Sony - Gold Wireless Stereo Headset for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 - Glacier White
4.6 out of 5(149)
 
 
 
Sony - PlayStation Plus 12-Month Membership
4.8 out of 5(8,056)
 
 
 
 
 
+100points
130of 160voted this as helpful.
 
ryantheoc's Review Comments
 
These JBL Everest Elite 700 V700NXTBLK headphones feature NXTGen Active Noise Cancelling technology and JBL Pro Audio Sound with 40mm drivers, so you can enjoy rich, enhanced audio for all your favorite music. Bluetooth enables simple wireless syncing.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
GreatSound and Value at 299.99
By ryantheoc from West Linn, OR
I used my Bose QC20i as my primary noise cancelling headphones for a long time but became frustrated with the in ear style so I decided to pickup an over-the-ear set. It boiled down the offering by Bose, beats and JBL.
I noticed these in the Sunday ad and how they were a "Best Buy Exclusive" so I went down to a store to check it out. They have a really nice display that worked which went a long way. If you have been to stores sometimes this is not the case.
Before I tried them on I did a quick Google search for some details and it came up with all the of marketing splash, it is all words until you try them out in my opinion. What struck me initially trying them on is the seal around the ears. They are very comfortable on the ears and seal very well. After wearing the headset for about an hour it starts to fatigue the top of the head. Looks like they chose to make the ear the comfortable spot which is fine.
The audio sounds great, comparable with the beats in a good way. I am not a fan of the sound of the Bose headphones, they have that Bose sound which is like audio Doritos, always the same consistent sound but never blows you away lol. The NXTGEn Active Noise Cancelling technology is very interesting. Having come from Bose I had very high expectations and I would say that JBL has met those expectations and exceeded them in a few key ways, namely the Ambient Awareness. This feature is cool in that it allows you to hear what is going on around you to a degree based on preference. This would have been perfect for studying with my cohort back in school when you wanted to kill all of the background non-sense but wanted to still be able to hear someone crack a joke or ask an interesting question on a tough problem.
I think one of the coolest parts of this product is the app that you can download. I did not even know about it until I Googled it and it makes all the difference. You can set your own EQ, turn On/Off the Noise Cancel and set the level of the Ambient Aware independently for each each with is great. The hearing in my left ear sucks from driving with the window down all the time so it is nice to customize to each ear.
I attached some pictures of the app. One of the other cool things which I still do not understand how they do it but it is called TruNote. I guess it measures your head and tunes the headphones for it. I really like this feature as I usually am wearing glasses of some kind so this really helps when they are on. I did an A/B comparison with it on and off it the music was especially clear when I used the TruNote calibration.
The built-in mic is okay but it seems like it is too far up on the headset for it to be really legit. It works but I would say that I get better performance from the QC20i hanging dongle thingy.
I would recommend this to anyone looking at a 299.99 price range headset that wants great sound and utility. I cannot stress the utility enough the app really makes this headset very versatile, whether for use in the office to drone out the HVAC that always runs or for general listening in any situation.
Customer Avatar
ryantheoc
West Linn, OR
Re
November 20, 2015
In terms of isolation, I would say that it is very good. When you turn on the ANC you can really only hear people about two cubes away. That being said, if you turn on the Ambient Awareness you can hear quite a bit more based on the setting.
If your aim is to have enough cancellation so that you can enjoy listening while still having the option to hear something important, these will provide that. Compared to the QC20i they do not totally obliterate all sound so if you are looking for complete silence you may want to take them for a spin yourself at a store. Hope this helps.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
 
These JBL Everest Elite 700 V700NXTBLK headphones feature NXTGen Active Noise Cancelling technology and JBL Pro Audio Sound with 40mm drivers, so you can enjoy rich, enhanced audio for all your favorite music. Bluetooth enables simple wireless syncing.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
GreatSound and Value at 299.99
By ryantheoc from West Linn, OR
I used my Bose QC20i as my primary noise cancelling headphones for a long time but became frustrated with the in ear style so I decided to pickup an over-the-ear set. It boiled down the offering by Bose, beats and JBL.
I noticed these in the Sunday ad and how they were a "Best Buy Exclusive" so I went down to a store to check it out. They have a really nice display that worked which went a long way. If you have been to stores sometimes this is not the case.
Before I tried them on I did a quick Google search for some details and it came up with all the of marketing splash, it is all words until you try them out in my opinion. What struck me initially trying them on is the seal around the ears. They are very comfortable on the ears and seal very well. After wearing the headset for about an hour it starts to fatigue the top of the head. Looks like they chose to make the ear the comfortable spot which is fine.
The audio sounds great, comparable with the beats in a good way. I am not a fan of the sound of the Bose headphones, they have that Bose sound which is like audio Doritos, always the same consistent sound but never blows you away lol. The NXTGEn Active Noise Cancelling technology is very interesting. Having come from Bose I had very high expectations and I would say that JBL has met those expectations and exceeded them in a few key ways, namely the Ambient Awareness. This feature is cool in that it allows you to hear what is going on around you to a degree based on preference. This would have been perfect for studying with my cohort back in school when you wanted to kill all of the background non-sense but wanted to still be able to hear someone crack a joke or ask an interesting question on a tough problem.
I think one of the coolest parts of this product is the app that you can download. I did not even know about it until I Googled it and it makes all the difference. You can set your own EQ, turn On/Off the Noise Cancel and set the level of the Ambient Aware independently for each each with is great. The hearing in my left ear sucks from driving with the window down all the time so it is nice to customize to each ear.
I attached some pictures of the app. One of the other cool things which I still do not understand how they do it but it is called TruNote. I guess it measures your head and tunes the headphones for it. I really like this feature as I usually am wearing glasses of some kind so this really helps when they are on. I did an A/B comparison with it on and off it the music was especially clear when I used the TruNote calibration.
The built-in mic is okay but it seems like it is too far up on the headset for it to be really legit. It works but I would say that I get better performance from the QC20i hanging dongle thingy.
I would recommend this to anyone looking at a 299.99 price range headset that wants great sound and utility. I cannot stress the utility enough the app really makes this headset very versatile, whether for use in the office to drone out the HVAC that always runs or for general listening in any situation.
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ryantheoc
West Linn, OR
Re
November 24, 2015
On the left ear button control interface, there is a central button. This button can be held down for a moment and it will prompt Siri for you.
The volume level on this headset does get very loud, too loud if you have it all the way up in my opinion. It is good to have the high range of volume though as with the 10 -band EQ you can really customize the listening profile to your liking.
I have been using this now for a bit and am discovering more and more that this headset is superior to similarly priced Bose and beats offerings. Plus the app the you can download and use for free really makes it worth the price. I found that I will have the headset on outside on smoke breaks and it will completely get rid of all the background noise and with the Ambient Awareness on high I can hear people very clearly. Plus I can have the volume at a low-moderate level and still hear everything very clearly. Useful for keeping the ears warm and enjoying music too!
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Learn moreabout Magnolia PremiumInstallation   This AudioQuest Dragonfly DRAGONFLY1.2 digital audio converter is designed to bypass your computer's internal sound card and provide dynamic audio. The digitally controlled analog volume control simplifies use.
 

Is this good for DJing?

This device works by telling windows that it is a USB Audio device. Thus, if your goal is to have a low noise and low distortion analog output from a computer, this device would fit that bill. It does have a built in preamp so it can drive devices that need a little higher than the standard analog output levels.

My advice: give it a try and take advantage of Best Buy's return policy. 15 days to try it out and determine whether or not this device will work for you. I imagine for a DJ setup this would be a great solution and the Dragonfly illumination would offer a nice addition to your existing hardware/software setup. Obviously you would get the best results by using one of Audioquests 3.5mm cables too.
9 years, 7 months ago
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ryantheoc
   West Linn, OR