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havanajoe8
 
 
 
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  • Review count
    68
  • Helpfulness votes
    468
  • First review
    October 21, 2009
  • Last review
    August 4, 2017
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    4.1
 
  • Review comment count
    12
  • Helpfulness votes
    4
  • First review comment
    December 7, 2013
  • Last review comment
    July 22, 2017
  • Featured review comments
    0
 
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  • Question count
    0
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    0
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    None
  • Last question
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  • Featured questions
    0
 
  • Answer count
    40
  • Helpfulness votes
    69
  • First answer
    December 1, 2010
  • Last answer
    June 5, 2017
  • Featured answers
    0
  • Best answers
    16
 
 
havanajoe8's Reviews
<< 1 ... 3 4 5 6 7
 
GE JES0736SPSS Compact Microwave: Practical and simple to use, this compact microwave is a good fit for a small apartment kitchen, dorm room, snack area or anywhere else where space is limited.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Good little Microwave
on September 10, 2012
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I had an "accident" with my last microwave- specifically I was using my indoor electric grill too close to the power cables and my old microwave's cord melted to it and then shorted out. So, I bought this one. It works well, but I have noticed it takes more time to cook something than the old one did, and they were both 700W units. That being said, I've read that a longer and slower cook will actually heat the food more thoroughly, so maybe this is a blessing in disguise! This unit looks great- black and stainless matches with my other appliances and it fits right into the space where the old one was. Beep is loud but not unreasonable. Display is green, I'd prefer blue but that is a small detail. Overall I am happy and hope that I don't kill this one like I did my last one!
What's great about it: Looks good
What's not so great: Needs extra cooking time
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
4 out of 5
4
Features
4 out of 5
4
Performance
3 out of 5
3
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
 
This SanDisk Cruzer Fit SDCZ33-016G-A11 flash drive features a 16GB capacity to store your media and documents. SanDisk SecureAcces software uses password protection and encryption to safeguard your files.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
GREAT for card USB ports. A little slow, however.
on May 6, 2012
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I just bought a 2012 Veloster and it has a USB/iPod music port. Initially I was using my SanDisk Cruiser 16GB drive, but then I read about some guy whose hand slipped off the shifter and hit his USB drive, snapping it off. So, I went to Best Buy to see if they had a smaller drive. This drive is GREAT for car stereos! It fits flush against the port and looks like an integrated part of your stereo versus awkwardly sticking out. I also like the orange LED light when it's in use, although it does not come on very often in my car. A lot of people seem to be complaining about this drive being too small, but I don't see that as a flaw at all- it's MEANT to be small, if it's easy to lose that is the fault of the owner, not the flash drive. I will say that the speed is slower than I had hoped. As a point of reference my music collection is about 7GB. To copy it to this drive took 25 minutes. To copy it to my Sony 16GB flash drive takes 18 minutes. To copy it to my SanDisk Cruiser 16GB drive takes 28 minutes, so this isn't the slowest drive out there but it's slow. I also didn't like the included software, it tried to install itself and force a reboot but I cancelled it and formatted it. I wish the software would ask if you want to use it before trying to install itself. Overall, great little drive, but be prepared for slow transfer times.
What's great about it: Small size, great value
What's not so great: Slow USB transfer time
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5 out of 5
5
Performance
3 out of 5
3
Capacity
5 out of 5
5
+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
 
Shred unnecessary papers or old credit cards with this cross-cut shredder that can shred up to 5 sheets of paper at a time.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Does the job!
on February 11, 2012
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I needed a shredder because I had to reprint my state tax return and I ended up with 40 pages that had my SSN on each and I didn't want to rip them up manually. I've had good luck with Dynex products, so I picked this one up.
Shreds paper fine, I only do 3-4 sheets at a time and it doesn't jam. I have not used it for credit cards but some of the other reviews seem to indicate it has trouble with them.
Overall a nice shredder, good price, I have no complaints!
What's great about it: Basic, does the job on paper
What's not so great: Others have had reliability issues
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
4 out of 5
4
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
This helicopter features flashing multicolor LED lights for a realistic look and gyroscopic stabilizer technology for precise omnidirectional flight. The 3-channel IR remote allows for easy control and hours of fun.Fly Responsibly:The FAA requires operators of unmanned aircraft weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) on takeoff (including everything on board or attached), and operating outdoors, be registered at www.faa.gov/uas/registration. If you are under age 13, you must have a parent or someone age 13 or older register for you. Additional state or local requirements may apply. Check your local jurisdiction. The following websites may help you make informed decisions about how regulations impact you: www.knowbeforeyoufly.org and www.modelaircraft.org. Some manufacturers recommend minimum age requirements for operating certain models of unmanned aircrafts. See the Specifications tab on this page for the Recommended Minimum Age for this product.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Just excellent!
on December 29, 2011
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I bought a more expensive copter for my dad for Christmas, but decided to buy this one for myself to play around with. I have a small apartment, so I was looking for something small yet accurate. This copter rocks! It did take me a few times to get good at flying it, but now I can take off, fly around, go over and under things and then land right back on the take off spot. Charging takes awhile but you can plug it right into the controller, into a USB port, or use a USB wall charger. Flight time is about 6-7 minutes. I did have one small issue- after about the 10th crash it wouldn't fly any more, it would just bank to the right and crash. I bought the repair kit from Protocol for about $7, and took the copter apart. I turns out that a piece that connects to the gyro and top blades had broken, but I was able to fix it in under 15 minutes. And hey, fixing it added even more fun since I like to tinker!
My suggestion? Buy two of these copters so you can have another charged and ready to go, and buy at least one repair kit from Protocol, and you have have a blast, I guarantee it!
What's great about it: Easy to fly, accurate, easy to fix
What's not so great: Low battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
5 out of 5
5
Features
5 out of 5
5
Durability
4 out of 5
4
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
This cable sends audio signals through RCA jacks with 24K gold-plated connectors that ensure an ideal fit to keep your home theater system connected.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Does its job well
on November 30, 2010
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
Using this wire to connect the Insignia 200W 2 channel amp to the Insignia 6 ½" bass reflex speakers. The wire certainly does its job, which is simply to carry the signal from my TV audio out to the receiver audio in. No complaints here, red and white colors were easy to distinguish, cable fit snugly into the RCA jacks, long enough wire to hide behind the equipment, and sound quality is great, meaning no failure in any of the equipment or this wire.
What's great about it: Tight grip, easy to use
What's not so great: nothing
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
4 out of 5
4
Performance
4 out of 5
4
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Connect audio components across large spaces with this Dynex speaker cable. It comes with 50 feet of cable to handle large projects or multiple installations.
 
Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Needs better markings
on November 30, 2010
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
Using this wire to connect the Insignia 200W 2 channel amp to the Insignia 6 ½" bass reflex speakers. The wire certainly does its job, which is simply to carry the signal from the receiver to the speakers. Speakers sound just fine, even at high volume. However, I do need to agree with other posters that the "++++" markings on the wire jacket for the positive connection is very, very hard to see. Not only are they a small font, they are a charcoal-gray color which is hard to see. I had to check several times before each connection to make sure I had the right polarity. A simple dashed red line would have been better. Crossing the polarity won't damage anything, but will reduce your sound quality significantly, especially the bass response, and most people will blame the speaker, receiver, or source material rather than a crossed speaker wire.
What's great about it: Gets the job done
What's not so great: Positive markings VERY hard to see
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Quality
2 out of 5
2
Performance
3 out of 5
3
+7points
11of 15voted this as helpful.
 
This receiver creates layers of stunning sound for an improved audio experience when listening to music or enjoying a movie.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great for a small apartment
on November 29, 2010
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I'm using this receiver with the Insignia 6 1/2" bass reflex speakers. Overall it's a nice unit, provided plenty of power in my studio apartment. It's a pretty basic receiver, but certainly meets my needs. It has several inputs, all analog RCA connections. I run my PS3 and HD cable through my TV, with the audio out fed into the receiver. My only real issue is with FM reception- the little antenna that comes with it only got me about 5 stations, and none of the ones I was trying to get. My boom-box type stereo gets many more. Controls are basic but easy to use. Basic bass and treble controls, some EQ settings would have been a nice touch. I'd also like a subwoofer output, as I do plan to run a sub in the future and will need to find a line level input one, which is not as crisp as a line-level one. The receiver runs a little hot, but I have not had any shut-down issues that some reviewers have mentioned. Overall, gets the job done, but just the basics.
What's great about it: Simple, clean controls, good power
What's not so great: Only the most basic features; poor tuner reception
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
4 out of 5
4
Ease of Use
4 out of 5
4
Features
4 out of 5
4
+4points
6of 8voted this as helpful.
 
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.
 
  • Top 1000 contributor
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
If you have a D40/D40X/D60 youwill want this lens!
on October 21, 2009
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
This is truly a great lens. Have you ever wondered why your pictures from your Nikon DLSR look good, but not great? This lens is the answer. Good glass makes such a difference! A 1.8 lens gathers 4 times as much light as a 5.3 lens, so this will blow away the 18mm-55mm kit lens as well as the 18mm-200mm all-purpose lens. What this means that in good light the pictures will be tack sharp and have great color. It also means this lens works great in poor light- in fact, I have dimmer switch on my room lights and I tested this lens by dimming the lights and taking pictures as it got darker and darker. I had to turn the lights completely OFF before I could get the lens to not focus. Most of the time you won’t need a flash with this lens, which makes it perfect for weddings and churches. It will work with any current Nikon DX, the AF-S means it works with the D40/D40X/D60 line perfectly. Set your auto ISO to 1600 and 1/30 trigger and you will get sharp pictures in almost any lighting. The 35mm on a DX camera is equivalent to 52.5mm on a full-frame camera, which is almost a 1:1 or “normal” lens. This means that what you see with your eye will be the same as what you see through this lens, as far as apparent distance. It’s neither a wide-angle nor a telephoto lens. The lens is a bit smaller than I thought, but this works well with the small size of the D40/D40X/D60 line. It’s lightweight due to use of plastic in its construction, although it does have metal ring where it connects to the camera. A nice touch is that to manually focus all you do is turn the focus ring; you don’t have to move a switch first. Price was right at $199.99, and my local Best Buy had several of them in stock and none on display, which makes sense since this is a very popular lens and those who know about it won’t need to see it on display. My only complaint with this lens is that VR would have been a nice feature, even if it added a few dollars to the price.
What's great about it: Great low light lens, awesome colors!
What's not so great: Mostly plastic, no VR
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5 out of 5
5
Durability
4 out of 5
4
+27points
29of 31voted this as helpful.
 
<< 1 ... 3 4 5 6 7
 
havanajoe8's Review Comments
1 2 >>
 
Add Bluetooth compatibility to your laptop with this convenient and compact micro USB adapter.
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Fails 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.
Customer Avatar
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 55 out of 5
Excellent 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!
Customer Avatar
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 55 out of 5
Excellent 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!
Customer Avatar
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.
 
This shoulder bag is compatible with most ultrazoom digital cameras and features an adjust-to-fit design with a padded divider that is removable for larger cameras. Pockets provide space for memory cards and other accessories.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
Great bag!
By havanajoe8 from Mansfield, MA
I recently bought a Canon SX170 IS which came with a Lowepro Newport 30 case as part of a bundle. I didn't buy the bundle but I did buy the case separately. It's a good case, but did not have a strap nor enough room for the charger, spare battery, and extra memory card.
I gave that case to my girlfriend since she had a small camera and needed a case. I bought this case because it's a bit bigger and comes with a strap. The bag is big enough to hold my camera in the back section of the bag and the charger/extra battery in the front. There is also a small pocket inside- just the right size for an extra memory card. I did notice that in the back of the bag there are two slots to each hold a AA battery; these slots are of no use to me because my camera does not take AA batteries. I wish this had been another pocket instead, but that is only a minor issue. Great bag overall!
Customer Avatar
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Whoops! My mistake!
July 11, 2014
The little slots in the back of the bag are for SD cards, there is even a little tag with a picture of an SD card on it... I thought it was for AA batteries! Bag is even better in my opinion now as it has slots specifically for backup memory cards! Great bag!
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
Samsung NX300 Mirrorless Camera with 18–55mm Lens: You can capture the important moments in your life in rich detail with the Samsung NX300, which comes with a 18–55mm lens and features a Samsung NX mount that lets you switch out your lenses (additional lenses sold separately). Once you've captured the images and HD video footage you want to share with loved ones, just connect to your devices via the camera's built-in Wi-Fi.Memory card sold separately.
 
Overall4 out of 54 out of 5
Very simple to do almost anything
By Photonoob
This camera makes taking decent pictures in almost any condition a breeze. Disappointed that for the money it didn't come with an SD card. The 60 fps video is amazing. Very smooth motion.
Customer Avatar
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
SD card
December 7, 2014
They recently had a deal with a free SD card but only if ordered online. I brought the printout to the store but they couldn't match it- the deal stated online only and the SD card was a model not stocked in the store. That's ok, it was not a great SD card by the specs, and was only priced at about $12. While I somewhat agree that a camera at this price level should have an SD card it really would take away from the overall satisfaction since you really need a high quality card with this camera- a basic card will slow down performance, and that is not the camera's fault. High quality cards cost money, too much to include with the camera.
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 54 out of 5
Gift 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!
Customer Avatar
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 51 out of 5
Very 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!!!
Customer Avatar
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 55 out of 5
Excellent 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!
Customer Avatar
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 55 out of 5
Smooth 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.
Customer Avatar
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.
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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.
 
Overall3 out of 53 out of 5
Good 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!
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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!
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havanajoe8's Questions
 
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havanajoe8's Answers
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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 the "random" feature work when playing music from a USB memory stick via the USB port?

No, random only works with standard CDs. It does not work with USB drives or .MP3 CDs. Major flaw in my opinion.
9 years, 10 months ago
by
havanajoe8
   Mansfield, MA
 
Capture important moments with this Canon PowerShot SX170 IS digital camera, which features a 16.0-megapixel CCD sensor that enables you to shoot crisp photos. The dedicated movie button lets you easily record high-definition videos with stereo sound.Memory card sold separately.
 

can this battery be powered by AA batteries?

No, has small rechargeable battery pack only
9 years, 10 months ago
by
havanajoe8
   Mansfield, MA
 
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.
 

how many cd's does this system hold at one time

how many cd's does this system hold at one time
1
9 years, 11 months ago
by
havanajoe8
   Mansfield, MA
 
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.
 

Will not play music though USB Port

Just bought this shelf system and when I insert a USB Stick is says USB CH. It will not play any mp3 files and gives me no options. I press the play icon and nothing happens. One reason I bought this was to play music form a flash drive. It is a 32 Gig flash drive, formatted fat 32. Any ideas?
Make sure all the files are on the stick without being in folders.
9 years, 11 months ago
by
havanajoe8
   Mansfield, MA
 
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
10 years ago
by
havanajoe8
   Mansfield, MA
 
With an 8,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and up to 250 cd/m² brightness, this Dell S2340M LED HD monitor displays crisp, brilliant visuals. The tilt function allows you to easily adjust the viewing angles to suit your preferences.
 

This monitor blacks out here and there.

I just bought this monitor and love it but, for some reason, it will black out for a second a couple times a day. Any reason for that?
The VGA cable that comes with it has thicker plastic on the PC connector than most. I had issues getting a good connection and my screen would black out from time to time. Used an older VGA cable with thinner plastic on the connector and it works perfect!
10 years, 6 months ago
by
havanajoe8
   Mansfield, MA
 
With an 8,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and up to 250 cd/m² brightness, this Dell S2340M LED HD monitor displays crisp, brilliant visuals. The tilt function allows you to easily adjust the viewing angles to suit your preferences.
 

Can monitor connect to laptop using a usb cord?

No. VGA connector only.
10 years, 6 months ago
by
havanajoe8
   Mansfield, MA
 
With an 8,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and up to 250 cd/m² brightness, this Dell S2340M LED HD monitor displays crisp, brilliant visuals. The tilt function allows you to easily adjust the viewing angles to suit your preferences.
 

How do I plug in my speaker to the Dell 23 inch monitor?

I took the clip-on speaker off my old monitor but I don't see how I plug-in the speaker on my new monitor?
There are no options for mounting a speaker to this monitor.
10 years, 6 months ago
by
havanajoe8
   Mansfield, MA
 
This Sony DSC-HX300 20.4-megapixel digital camera features an Exmor R CMOS sensor for crisp photos and 1080/60p videos. Enhanced Superior Auto mode helps ensure clear results when shooting dynamic motion, even in dim light.Memory card sold separately.
 

Can you turn the flash off if desired and can you also force the flash to be on?

Yes to both. I set the flash to "always on" and then simply don't raise the flash if I don't want it. If it's not raised it won't flash, if it is raised it will. Works great for me!
10 years, 6 months ago
by
havanajoe8
   Mansfield, MA
 
With an 8,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and up to 250 cd/m² brightness, this Dell S2340M LED HD monitor displays crisp, brilliant visuals. The tilt function allows you to easily adjust the viewing angles to suit your preferences.
 

Can I play blu-ray DVD/Movies on the S2340M?

Yes- it's full HD
10 years, 8 months ago
by
havanajoe8
   Mansfield, MA