mkcar1's stats
- Review count155
- Helpfulness votes663
- First reviewDecember 24, 2014
- Last reviewApril 23, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.4
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- Answer count4
- Helpfulness votes2
- First answerApril 28, 2019
- Last answerDecember 20, 2021
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Enjoy a morning beverage with this Breville drip coffee maker. It has six modes for achieving the taste you prefer, and it includes flat bottom and cone filter baskets for making small or large batches. This Breville drip coffee maker has cold brew and iced coffee settings for preparing refreshing beverages from the brewed extract.
Customer Rating
4
Nice but loud
on May 10, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
K-cuppers need not apply – strictly grounds only.
Easy to unbox and seems very sturdily built (a lot of metal).
There are a multitude of settings – to many to go thru here – suffice to say that you can pretty much dial in the brew to your exact likes/specifications. One word for the gold setting – wired!
We found that the mesh filter tasted a bit plasticky, maybe that will go away as it is used more. Using the paper filters it produced a great brew.
Downsides;
It is LOUD. Seems to be from it “sucking” the water out during brewing. It also shakes during this time too. We tried positioning it on other counters, etc. – but it did the same thing.
No built in coffee grinder.
Overall a great alternative to k-cups.
My Best Buy number: 2197654424
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy premium sound from a streamlined package with this Sony sound bar. The Vertical Surround Engine ensures an easy fit in your entertainment space, and the 3.1-channel Dolby Atmos technology supports an immersive experience. This Sony sound bar operates on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi for streaming your favorite songs, and it comes with a wireless subwoofer to improve bass output.
Customer Rating
4
Surpassed my expectations - but not perfect
on May 1, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
This Sony 3.1 soundbar with its compact design, wireless subwoofer, optional wireless speaker(s) (turning into 5.1) and onscreen setup display makes it worth a very serious look.
My review includes the optional wireless SA-Z9R rear speakers.
In the HT-Z9F soundbar box;
Soundbar
Soundbar grill (attaches with magnets)
Wireless subwoofer
Remote control
HDMI cable
Wall mount template and hardware
Assorted instruction/guides and ATMOS experience DVD
Soundbar
Soundbar grill (attaches with magnets)
Wireless subwoofer
Remote control
HDMI cable
Wall mount template and hardware
Assorted instruction/guides and ATMOS experience DVD
In the optional SA-Z9Rwireless speakers box;
2 wireless speakers
Assorted instruction/guides
2 wireless speakers
Assorted instruction/guides
Pros;
Lets get this out of the way first – I think the sound is awesome. I am not an audiophile so I cant really speak in technical terms but I would describe the sound as very spatial. With 3.1 processing (5.1 since I have optional rear speakers installed) it seems to fill the room and makes your movies/games/music come alive. This is one of the first soundbars to process Dolby ATMOS and luckily enough I have a 4K Blu-ray player which can process ATMOS. So I was able to listen to the provided ATMOS experience DVD - and it was short but pretty impressive. I also happened to have the “Commuter” blu-ray which also has Dolby ATMOS – and I was really impressed with its sound as well. I also listened to Dolby digital movies/shows and they sounded great too. Power output was more than enough for me but it doesn’t have rattle the windows, wake up the neighbors output.
I also happen to have a Sony ES 7.2 receiver which is a few years old and as such cant process ATMOS, but I did a comparison with its overall sound to this soundbar. Since I have the space I would still pick my ES receiver as it is more powerful and I can pick its speakers. Having said that - IF you lack the space or inclination to mess with running speaker wires, buying additional speakers, etc. - then this soundbar is a VERY good option.
Its nicely designed with flat black metal band around the back half and high gloss glass band around front section. It looks good with or without the black mesh grill (easily attaches/detaches using magnets). Its size should make it easy to use on a TV’s pedestal or to mount on the wall. Also just in case it blocks your TV’s IR it has 2 built in IR repeaters on the back. It didn’t block mine so cant speak to how they actually work.
Has easy to understand inputs/output attachments on the back of the sound bar. There are 2 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI ARC output. There is also a fiber optical in, aux in (3.5 mm) for analog input, hard wired Ethernet port, USB (for playing music). Has built in Wi-fi but I used hard wired ethernet connection. I had it all connected and ready to roll within 15 minutes – including synching the subwoofer (was synched before I could get to it after plugging it in). Same thing with the rear wireless speakers – connected before I could even check. A green light appears on each to show they are synched. Adding it to Google Home app on my phone was pretty straight forward too.
There is a front panel LED display to indicate inputs, messages, etc. – it can be turned down or off completely if desired. I think the biggest plus, for me, is that all of the remote functions show on screen so you don’t have to decode a series of lights or try to guess what audio codec is being used, etc. All controlled thru the provided remote that fits easily in your hand and has a myriad of options available. It has cinema/music/game/news/sports/standard audio presets, a night feature that cuts back ambient sounds and focuses on voice. You can turn up/down the rear or subwoofer speakers volume independent of overall sound level. There is a HOME main menu where you can drill down to set speakers response, run sound test for each speaker, set whether soundbar comes on when attached equipment is turned on, set it as passthru (I really like this option as you don’t have to have the soundbar on to and can use the TV speakers), etc. Suffice to say you should be able to pretty much fine tune this system exactly how you want it to sound/function. There are also controls built into the top of the sound bar as well.
Chromecast audio is built in and was easy to use once synched with my Google home.
Bluetooth is also built in. The GREAT twist is you can use it as a receiver (play your connected devices thru it as is usually the case) OR use it as a transmitter. This is great as using transmitter mode allows you to synch blue-tooth wireless headphones and use them without disturbing those around you. Just make sure when synching that anything the headphones may already be synched with is off or out of range and then drill down into soundbar settings to make sure Bluetooth is set to transmit.
It does have a USB 2.0 input but its for audio only and with its connection being in the back it doesnt make it easy to get to. I guess you could get an extension but with built in Chromecast and Bluetooth I wonder when someone might actually use this?
The sub-woofer wont win any design awards but has a pleasing functional shape. It weighs around 17 lbs. so I am sure that speaks to the size of its magnet. It has a nice unobtrusive light on the front of it that glows red when not on, green when on and connected. Around back is a synch button in case of issues as well as an on/off button. As mentioned this can be turned up/down from remote with more tuning options using Home menu.
Rear speakers are somewhat small as most back speakers are - but have good heft to them as well. No indicator on the front for these but around back is power indicator (same light info as sub-woofer), power button, a link button, a wall mounting hole and another hole if attaching to a speaker stand. As mentioned these can be turned up/down from remote with more tuning options thru Home menu. I would definitely suggest purchasing these if you want to truly hear all this system can do.
I did not try mounting anything to a wall.
Cons – at least for me
With great power comes great responsibility. You have a lot of options to set this exactly how you want it – BUT some settings interact with others. I.E – I made a small change to a sound setting and it wound up turning off all of the sound modes. Took me awhile to figure what the issue was. So be careful and document what you change – just in case.
It only comes with an HDMI cable – no fiber optic or auxiliary cable included.
Remote is not illuminated and makes it hard to find or use in dark room.
Only 2 HDMI input connections. Also the HDMI connection area is inset and slanted to allow for flat connection to wall but you better have small hands to get into the space. The connections are pretty close together too so may have issue if using wide HDMI connector.
While it has Chromecast built in its only for audio – you cant stream videos from your phone or Google Home thru to TV. Seems a tad odd to me since it is connected to TV? Maybe future firmware upgrade – hopefully….
While the soundbar, subwoofer or rear speakers do not have a power “brick” to contend with, none of them have removable power cords. So if running cord thru a wall you will need to have enough space for the plug to pass thru/clear.
No option on the provided remote to run/learn other devices. As such every time I use the provided remote to turn on/off the soundbar – it also turns on/off my Sony ES receiver. I assume that if you have other Sony components within this remotes IR range – you may have the same issue. I was able to setup my Cox Cable remote using its auxiliary option to at least turn on/off and raise/lower volume of soundbar – with purpose of trying to reduce number of remotes I have to use.
Overall a very nice unit that is one of the first soundbars to be able to provide ATMOS decoding but do consider purchasing the wireless rear speakers for full sound experience.
My Best Buy number: 219765442
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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16of 21voted this as helpful.
Remove pet hair from carpets and hard floors with this BISSELL floor cleaning machine. Its motorized brush lifts and removes stubborn hair and dirt, and helps to clean hard-to-reach areas. This BISSELL floor cleaning machine dispenses detergent with the pull of a trigger for hassle-free shampooing of carpets and upholstery.
Customer Rating
5
Great - between a steamer and carpet cleaner
on April 18, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
I wasn’t sure exactly what this product could do. What I found is it fits perfectly between my steam cleaner and carpet shampooer. You don’t have to vacuum before using as I do with the steam cleaner nor do I need to worry about damaging my area rugs (small or large) as I do with the shampooer. Overall this is a well thought out product but I would expect nothing less from Bissell. I am really impressed with it and would recommend.
It is nicely packaged and comes with 2 brush rollers, 2 small bottles of cleaner, a rinse/storage tray that cleaner sits in, drying/rinse tray for the brush rollers and a rinse cup.
Positives;
Very easy to put together – was ready to use in 5 minutes.
Has separate hard floor and area rug cleaning modes, easily selected on the handle. Very comfortable to use and unit is nicely weighted.
Very well designed for access/cleaning;
Easily accessed clean water/solution tank with easy to read solution/water mix markings. Has large or small area markings for mixing.
Easy to use/clean dirty water tank.
Cleaning head is easily taken apart to access/clean brush roller and wipe out accumulated “gunk”. Its kind of unique too as it consists of soft “cloth” and little soft plastic “nubbies”.
To use cleaning solution, you press and hold a trigger button. This also turns the lights on cleaning head.
To me it has pretty powerful suction that left areas clean and got most of the water Getting out spots etc. from tile.
I don’t have any wood floors but I did use on light colored tile as well as and darker wood resemblance tile. with no streaking.
I used the large area mixing and was able to clean about 500 to 600 sq feet of tile and a couple of area rugs. This used up one of the bottles of solution supplied with unit.
Very easy to maneuver but on our thick area rugs it was a little hard to push around.
3 year warranty
Negatives:
The only issue I have is you cant lay handle flat so cannot get completely under beds, dressers, etc.
My Best Buy number: 2197654424
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
Enjoy your favorite songs with this Bluetooth Sony speaker. Its multicolored line lights and flashing strobe turn any gathering into a party, and the 12 hours battery keeps the music playing all night long. This portable Sony speaker is resistant to water, dust and rust, so you can supply the tunes for any adventure.
Customer Rating
5
Great speaker in a small package
on March 27, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
Great speaker option if you are looking for portability and sound quality. It is small (easily fits in your hand) but mighty. It is nicely designed and seems heavy for its size but I think that speaks to good construction and speaker magnets. It sits on 4 nice little rubber “legs”.
In typical Sony fashion there are buttons on the top of the speaker that you can use to control an attached device (such as moving forward/back thru your playlist), pause/play. To do some functions you have to know the "combination" to use (multiple taps on certain buttons
You can download Sony’s app for added control. With it you have access to a lot of different settings/functions such as bass/mid/treble, light affect, chaining other Sony speakers, etc. As such you should be able to tune the speaker to your particular preferences/sound.
A unique speaker feature is – depending on where you tap it – a sound affect will play. You can set the sound you want such as percussion or drum kit, etc. Could be fun at a party I think.
On the back there is a "port cover" under which you will find a USB attachment you can use to keep your device charged. An external input using I believe 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) jack - so you could use your old non-bluetooth devices - I used it with an old ipod and it worked fine. There is also the plug to charge the device as well as buttons to turn light on/off, VPC and to add a speaker to “chain”.
On the back there is a "port cover" under which you will find a USB attachment you can use to keep your device charged. An external input using I believe 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) jack - so you could use your old non-bluetooth devices - I used it with an old ipod and it worked fine. There is also the plug to charge the device as well as buttons to turn light on/off, VPC and to add a speaker to “chain”.
Speaker has a nice battery voice feature. If you press the battery button within the back port it states how much battery charge you have.
As far as charging – make sure you are use 1.5A to get it done ASAP (rather than 500mA).
The only “negative” I have is since our speaker is black and the control pad is black – it was a little hard to see/navigate. But we have old eyes! Oh and it could have google or amazon built in…
I would definitely recommend this speaker. It is water resistant, VERY portable, and certainly loud when both speaker and device are turned up full blast. It is supposed to play 12 hours on a charge (I only tried 8 hours and it was still going strong).
My Best Buy number: 2197654424
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0of 0voted this as helpful.
Only at Best Buy Keep an eye on what matters most with this wireless SimpliSafe security system. It provides full-time professional monitoring of your home's surroundings, and it detects intruders with advanced sensors to keep your family safe. This SimpliSafe security system continues working for 24 hours when the power fails for added protection.
Customer Rating
4
Nice system but plan to pay to get full use
on March 17, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
This is a truly wireless DIY yourself system that is very easy to use/install/expand. But it does not really support self monitoring so be sure you don’t mind having to pay the reasonable monthly monitoring fee. Also there is no contract, just pay month to month.
Positives:
Totally wireless.
Included in the nicely packaged box is;
1 Keypad – very easy to read and navigate
1 Base Station – very stylish and reminds me if a nuclear cooling tower
2 Motion Sensors
6 Door/Window Sensors
1 Key Fob.
Large SimpliSafe monitor security sign for front yard with stakes
1 Keypad – very easy to read and navigate
1 Base Station – very stylish and reminds me if a nuclear cooling tower
2 Motion Sensors
6 Door/Window Sensors
1 Key Fob.
Large SimpliSafe monitor security sign for front yard with stakes
Everything is nicely designed.
Also if you go to SimpliSafe website you can easily order additional parts/accessories such as water or freeze detection.
Initial setup was very easy – to start you just pull the plastic battery shield for each component, press it in place using its adhesive tape (you don’t have to screw it in unless you want to), press its test button and the keypad (which I carried with me while setting up) picks it up and asks you to name it (has a long list of pre-set naming options). Took about 25 minutes to get all setup. Took longer deciding where I was going to put the sensors than installing them.
The keypad is navigated by pressing the screen edges (top/bottom/right/left) and I found its screen easy to read and its instructions easy to follow.
It is very simple to add additional security codes as well as a panic code.
Was easy to add to my wifi network
The base station has a lighted ring that changes colors that corresponds to certain activity (white – all is good), red (alert occurred), etc…You can turn this off if you choose.
Occurred to me this would be a great option if you are renting as it requires no drilling, etc…..
Negatives;
I have so far chosen not to activate the monitoring so I cant speak to how it works or how easy it is to contact SimpliSafe. As such some of the following may be due to not having it monitored.
I choose to use my desktop to create my account and some of SimpliSafe website pages do NOT load if using Firefox. I had to switch to Chrome to complete. I refuse to use MS Edge – but that would be a different review
There is a SimpliSafe android app but pretty much useless if not paying for monitoring.
When home I was hoping to use the door sensors to warn us when a door had been opened as we have a 2 ½ year old grandson and an in-ground pool. The keypad does chime but it is so faint to be virtually useless and we do have it set to high.
Key Fob is nice option but a tad large for my pocket.
Also I could not get any alarm to sound when using away and entering without entering code. I tried several times and the only thing that happened was keypad had an alert and Base Station had a red ring.
My Best Buy number: 2197654424
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Big machine suction power*. But with cord-free versatility. The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal cord-free vacuum has a 40% bigger bin than the previous V8 Animal and up to 60 minutes of fade-free runtime. The new torque drive cleaner head removes more dust from carpets, and suck up pet hair and ground in dirt. The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal cord-free vacuum quickly transforms to a handheld for quick cleanups, spot cleaning and cleaning difficult places.*Suction tested to ASTM F558 at the flexible inlet.
Customer Rating
4
Suction thy name is Dyson
on March 3, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
This vacuum is very powerful and would recommend to anyone looking for something that will vacuum up the smallest particles. Having said that there is more and more competition in this segment so do your homework.
Positives;
Nicely packaged. Was easy to un-pack and put together
Nice, thoughtful design and seems sturdily built
Powered floor attachment is easy to dis-assemble to clean beater bar
Nice powered furniture attachment is also easy to dis-assemble to clean its power bar.
Normal array of un-powered secondary attachments
Very easy to maneuver but that is no surprise given Dyson more or less was the first to use the “ball” design.
VERY powerful vacuum motor with 3 power modes;
High – using with powered floor attachment I got 11 minutes of run time. This is extremely powerful suction to the point I felt I could actually see the head lower when running. A tad difficult to maneuver on tile or carpet due to the extreme suction.
High – using with powered floor attachment I got 11 minutes of run time. This is extremely powerful suction to the point I felt I could actually see the head lower when running. A tad difficult to maneuver on tile or carpet due to the extreme suction.
Medium – using with powered floor attachment I got 27 minutes of run time. You could feel the difference between this and the “High” setting. Still very powerful suction but easier to maneuver.
Low – using with powered floor attachment I got 40 minutes of run time. While this is the lowest suction setting it still is powerful and I think this would be used as your normal everyday setting. Again I could tell a difference from the other 2 settings. This was the easiest to maneuver while still providing excellent suction.
There is also an adjustment on the floor attachment you can use to control some of the suction as well. Using this seemed to make some difference.
I did not due a run time test using any of the non-powered attachments but would assume longer run time than 44 minutes due to not running the beater bar.
Has HEPA filter but still surprised it picked up as much dirt as it did in areas I had recently vacuumed.
Bag less design is easy to view and empty. Dust collection area is VERY large and you do have to disconnect the vacuum attachment to be able to empty.
Bag less design is easy to view and empty. Dust collection area is VERY large and you do have to disconnect the vacuum attachment to be able to empty.
Filter is easily accessed and cleaned using water.
It comes with a wall attachment you can use to hang and charge your unit. There is a power meter on each side of the handle indicating its amount of charge during charging or use.
Negatives;
2 year warranty
Somewhat heavy for my wife. Maybe adding a “top” handle would help (like a leaf blower). This would allow using holding it lower during use.
Also no way to lock the button to run so you must keep it pushed it in. I found this very tiring so I wound up using a twist tie to keep it pressed which worked nicely.
Due to its suction it was hard to use on our throw rugs as it just wanted to suck them up (eat). It can damage other finer carpets (mentioned in manual) too. A lower setting option might help or maybe add an area that can slide open/closed to help better adjust/control suction strength
Battery took just over 3 hours to fully charge. Took me 2 days to do review as after each run I had to wait 3 hours for it to charge before running another test. This is pretty standard charging time but was hoping for shorter.
Battery seems to be part of the power handle assembly. I could find no easy way to get to it if needing replacement or just wanting to exchange it for an extra charged battery when wanting to finish vacuuming.
The power unit dust collection area is so large that trying to use in your car or in tight spaces is almost impossible as it is heavy and is hard to see where you are vacuuming.
Overall a nice option with more and more competition……
My Best Buy number: 2197654424
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+7points
8of 9voted this as helpful.
Stream your favorite shows on this 60-inch Hisense television. Its 3840 x 2160 resolution and 8 ms response time bring scenes to life, and 4K upscaling transforms lower quality video into HD resolution. This Hisense television is equipped with HDMI inputs to connect to a gaming console or Blu-ray player.
Customer Rating
5
Great option regardless of price
on February 25, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
If you are looking to get into 4K and not break the bank, Don’t need a lot of useless bells and whistles and not concerned that it is not a “big” name manufactured TV – this is the set for you.
I wasn’t sure where I was going to place this but I was so impressed I moved my main family room Samsung UN65ES8000FXZA 1080P TV - which a few years ago was 4 times this units cost – to make room for it. This is no slap at Samsung it just illustrates how quickly advances in TVs and competition have driven down prices and raised consumer expectations.
Comes in a box that once you remove the 4 lock handles on the sides - the box slides right off. It was easy to attach the stand legs (I used a piece of Styrofoam from the packing to raise bottom of TV up to attach). Weighs about 45 lbs.
Has 3 HDMI inputs, 1 USB 2.0, digital audio out and antenna - all connect on left side of screen. Straight out the back is 1 component/composite, audio out and LAN connection. Power connection is on back right side. Also there is a service port which is supposed to be used only by technicians for service.
Positives;
Easy to setup as TV presents step by step onscreen instructions to setup wifi and date/time.
Supports 5GZ AC wifi as well as hard wired LAN, which I didn’t use, as I have Orbi AC3000 mesh network and was able to stream 4K Netflix using wifi only with no issues at all.
Picture quality is very subjective but I do agree with some others that the presets seem dark. But every 1080P TV I have initially had the same issue.
So I spent a bit of time trying different settings on this set. Using Theater option as my base I wound up with these settings;
Backlight – off,
Contrast – 55,
Brightness – 55,
Color – 53,
Tint – 0,
Sharpness – 5,
Overscan – On,
Color Temp – Low,
Digital Noise Reduction – Medium,
Active Contrast – Off.
So I spent a bit of time trying different settings on this set. Using Theater option as my base I wound up with these settings;
Backlight – off,
Contrast – 55,
Brightness – 55,
Color – 53,
Tint – 0,
Sharpness – 5,
Overscan – On,
Color Temp – Low,
Digital Noise Reduction – Medium,
Active Contrast – Off.
Once I set this up the picture was very good watching 1080P HD Cox cable channels including movies or sports. The 120Hz helps.
The picture was GREAT when I streamed 4K content using its built in Netflix app.
I also have a 4K blu-ray player but don’t have any 4K DVD’s. However DVD player up converted blu-ray to 4K and it looked great on TV as well. Yes DVD player did the up conversion but wanted to include.
I tried attaching a USB thumb drive and it played M2ts formatted videos with no problem.
Comes with a lot of apps installed and has an option to add more. I am only interested in Netflix and Amazon at this time and they have dedicated tabs on the remote. They load quickly.
Has several sound options and while not the greatest sounding it more than matches any of my Samsung or Sony TV’s.
Remote is pretty well thought out with fairly large and tactile buttons. But isn’t fluorescent nor does it have a “light” button – so not easy to use in dark room.
I found the onscreen options, etc. well thought out and easy to follow.
Screen looked good from all the angles we watch TV from.
Negatives(?)
The 2 stand attachments are towards the outside edges of the TV – not in the center as most other TV’s allow. This requires a larger table to set it on. I was able to get it to work on my current table, but just barely. My 65 inch Samsung using center stand fit easily. It does however allow an area to place a soundbar.
Not as thin as some other TV’s. This is not an issue for me since I am not planning on wall mount but wanted to mention. It is about twice as thick as my Samsung. One advantage of this that occurred to me is it makes it more sturdy when moving around or mounting.
Digital Audio out does not pass thru Dolby if watching cable or dvd. Same issue as Samsung.
“Only” 3 HDMI connections. Again not an issues for me as I was able to connect my Cable, DVD and Chromecast.
Only 1 USB and it is only 2.0.
I wasn’t able to find a “display” function to easily show me the TV resolution so I am not sure if this TV up converts non-4K content.
Overall a worthy option to explore if looking to get into 4K TV.
My Best Buy number: 2197654424
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+11points
13of 15voted this as helpful.
Only at Best BuyFind your favorite songs with the simple sound of your voice with this Insignia voice-activated wireless speaker. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity let you pair with compatible devices for more enjoyment, and Google Assistant is included to answer questions or search the internet. This Insignia voice-activated wireless speaker features a compact footprint and brilliant display.
Customer Rating
5
Nice compact clock with Google
on February 12, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
Nice nightstand alarm clock replacement with Google
Positives;
For me using it as an alarm clock on the nightstand is perfect. You can change the brightness level of the fulltime clock display. Also setting an alarm is easy and you can use hand motions above the speaker to access some functions.
Insignia site states speaker is built by Sony. I have had good luck with their products so hope that continues here.
The speaker is compact - as it is more or less a small tower design – and feels quite solid. Very nicely packaged.
Its comes with an AC adapter and also has a usb port to charge a device. Kind of nice if you have your phone on the nightstand too and want to keep it charged and frees up an outlet.
This is not portable as it needs to be plugged in to work.
It has Chromecast audio capability built in but I could not find whether it uses 2.4 or 5 Ghz wireless or both
Initial setup was done quickly as I already had Google Home installed on my android phone. Bluetooth sync is done separately, so be advised
Sound quality is fine for the bedroom with 8 watts RMS rating. It is sufficient to be able to hear in adjoining room. But if you need something to really pump out the volume – this probably isn’t what you are looking for.
A nice feature is if you ask it to turn volume up/down it shows the percentage of volume you are at for a few minutes. Also you can ask it to increase/decrease volume by a percentage or just say volume 70%. If asking what the outside temperature is, it shows for a couple of minutes on its display also.
I have another Google assistant speaker by a different manufacturer and they synched up with no problem. You can play music on 1 or the either or both by stating to it exactly which one you want to play..
Negatives;
The display to me isn’t as clear as it might be, but the lower the lighting on the unit, the clearer it seems to get.
To this point you cant change the alarm sound or use music to wake up to. Firmware update?
If you turn off the microphone there are 4 lights at the top that turn red and stay on to let you know it is turned off.
Cant make calls – but I cant on my other Google assistant speaker either (different manufacturer). I did some research and it seems you need certain firmware version for Google Home (1.28.99351 or higher) and Google app version (7.17 or above). I have the latter but not the former and cant seem to figure out how to update Google Home on my phone.
Overall a nice addition to my “smart” home.
My Best Buy number: 2197654424
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Only at Best BuyAnswer all your questions and share your playlist with this Insignia portable wireless speaker. Featuring Google Assistant, this compact speaker lets you search the internet or set your schedule with just the sound of your voice. Bluetooth compatibility on this Insignia portable wireless speaker allows sharing and casting to multiple devices, including phones, tablets and even other speakers.
Customer Rating
4
Nice dorm or nightstand alarm clock replacement
on January 23, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
Positives;
For me using it as an alarm clock on the nightstand is perfect. You can change the brightness level of the full-time clock display. Also setting an alarm is easy and you can use hand motions above the speaker to access some functions.
Insignia site states speaker is built by Sony. I have had good luck with their products so hope that continues here.
The speaker is compact - as it is more or less a small tower design – and feels quite solid. Very nicely packaged.
Its comes with an AC adapter and also has a usb port to charge a device. Kind of nice if you have your phone on the nightstand too and want to keep it charged.
It has Chromecast audio capability built in but I could not find whether it uses 2.4 or 5 Ghz wireless or both
Initial setup was done quickly as I already had Google Home installed on my android phone. Bluetooth sync is done separately, so be advised
Sound quality is OK with 8 watts RMS rating. If you need something to really pump out the volume – this probably isn’t what you are looking for.
A nice feature is if you ask it to turn volume up/down it shows the percentage of volume you are at for a few minutes. Same goes if asking what the temperature is (outside), it shows for a couple of minutes
I have another Google assistant speaker and they synced up with no problem. You can play music on 1 or the either or both.
Negatives;
The display to me isn’t as clear as it might be.
States its portable but it went “dead” when unplugged. Portable to me means it has its own battery and can be used with no AC power.
To this point you cant change the alarm sound or use music to wake up to. Firmware update?
If you turn off the microphone there are 4 lights at the top that turn red and stay on. While you can change the brightness it seems a tad much to have to do that at night on the nightstand.
Cant make calls – but I cant on my other Google assistant speaker either (different manufacturer). I did some research and it seems you need certain firmware version for Google Home (1.28.99351 or higher) and Google app version (7.17 or above). I have the latter but not the former and cant seem to figure out how to update Google Home on my phone.
Overall a nice addition to my “smart” home.
My Best Buy number: 2197654424
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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7of 13voted this as helpful.
The Polk MagniFi MAX maximum-performance home theater sound bar and wireless subwoofer system provides bigger, more dynamic sound than traditional sound bars—and is optimized to make movies, TV, sports and music come alive. It features patented SDA surround technology for a wider, more immersive listening experience and Voice Adjust technology for crystal clear dialogue—and it’s equipped with Polk Smart Remote technology, so it works with your TV’s remote control right out of the box. Includes HDMI and optical cables for quick and easy setup. Includes Google Chromecast built-in and Bluetooth technologies let you stream all of your favorite music. Compatible with most major TV manufacturers.
Customer Rating
4
Nicely packaged but lacking on some fine details
on January 12, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
I would not replace my main 5.1 system with this but if you want to add some sound punch to a room without any current equipment - this unit with its wireless options and compact design make it worth a serious look.
Also this does have the wireless sub-woofer but did NOT include the wireless back speakers.
First the positives;
Nicely designed and its minimal height/weight/length makes it easy to use on a TV’s pedestal and still not block the TV’s IR control. I tried with Samsung and Sony with no issues.
Easy to see/read inputs/outputs on the back of the soundbar. Its height and weight make it easy to move about while setting it up. There are 3 HDMI inputs with 1 HDMI output. There is also an fiber optical in, aux in (3.5 mm) , hard wired Ethernet attachment, USB (for service only) and LED lights to indicate that sub-woofer and/or back wireless speakers are synced.
It comes with pretty much everything you need to get it connected – 6 ft HDMI cable, 6 ft fiber optic cable, 6 ft 3.5 mm aux cable, sound bar power cord, sub-woofer power cable, 2 mounting brackets.
The remote fits in your hand easily. You can use it to fine-tune the bass and/or voice. It also has movie/sports/music presets. It has a night feature that cuts back ambient sounds and focuses on voice. There are also controls built into the top of the soundbar that are easily accessed, depending on how you have it mounted of course.
There are lights that come on the front of the soundbar when using the remote to indicate sound, bass, voice levels when pressing those buttons on the remote. These lights also indicate what input you are using as well as indicating dolby, dts, night mode, bluetooth or chromecast is on or being used.
I had it all connected and ready to roll within 15 minutes – including syncing the sub-woofer (very easy, just press the sync buttons). Adding it to my to my Google Home app on my phone was pretty straight forward too.
Sound is awesome. Spatial I think best describes the sound as it seems to fill the room. The sub-woofer gives it that punch in the chest boost to make your movies/games come alive.
It has Chromecast capability built in and I believe it uses 2.4 or 5 Ghz wireless but I didn’t try this and instructions are not clear as to its use.
Bluetooth sync was easy and sounded good using music from my phone.
I did not try mounting to the wall.
Negatives – at least for me ;
While remote fits nicely in your hand it is not illuminated and makes it hard to find or use in dark room.
No outgoing Bluetooth, aux output or headphone jack. Would have been nice to have at least one of these to be able to use (wireless) headphones as a direct option.
No onscreen display so its hard to tell how much bass, voice or preset you are using as there is no indication unless you press one of the settings buttons on the remote. So EQ support is not very good.
Sound bar comes on when it detects an input signal. Since there are times I don’t want to use the soundbar this is an issue. It seems this would easily be solved by just turning it off if not wanted. Augh – there is the rub. I did just that and if I changed channels or paused what I was watching and re-started it – the sound bar turned itself back on!!!!! If you are always going to use the sound bar this is a useful feature, but it is an issue for little old me. I did get around it by just unplugging the fiber optic connection – but that’s a pain. Also that wont stop it from coming on if using an HDMI input.
My Best Buy number: 2197654424
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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4of 4voted this as helpful.
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SoloCam L40 2K is a completely standalone security cam that you can access via your app. No need for a Homebase, or wires, as SoloCam is completely wire-free and battery-powered, so you don't have to mess with anything. Every eufy Security product is engineered to ensure your security data is kept private. Have peace of mind that you will have a secure record of everything that happens around your home. Adjust the brightness and color temperature of the spotlight in case you don’t want to wake the neighbors. Takes just minutes to install the mount using a drill and the included pack of screws. No wires or cords needed. Chat to anyone passing by—invited or not—and hear their response up to 8 meters away in real-time via SoloCam L40’s two-way audio. Connect SoloCam L40 to the Google Assistant or Alexa for complete hands-free control of your home security. Designed to protect your home as well as your wallet, SoloCam L40 is a one-time purchase that combines security with convenience. Only receive the alerts which matter. Customize the area in which detection takes place to suit your home.
Can you shut off the light option on the camera?
yes spotlight is adjustable but I have it totally shut off
2 years, 4 months ago
by
mkcar1
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.
How many devices can connect on wireless at the same time?
box states over 50. I have 27 and no issues so far
4 years, 6 months ago
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mkcar1
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Can you confirm if this has an in built speaker?
no internal speakers but it does have a headphone jack but its on the back of the monitor
4 years, 10 months ago
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mkcar1
Protect yourself in the event of an accident with this ESCORT dash cam. The built-in collision detection system stores important footage in the event of a crash, and Wi-Fi connectivity lets you instantly share data with your insurance company. This ESCORT dash cam uses super-capacitor technology to keep recording, even in extreme temperatures.
the BestBuy site recommeds buying 128gb card, however the Escort website says: Q: What is the largest size microSD card I can use with the Escort M1? A: The Escort M1 supports up to 32GB microSD cards. WICH SIZE IS THE CAM MEM. LIMITED TO?
I swapped out the 16GB with a 256GB micr-sd and it formatted fine (fat32) and has been recording fine. I have not recorded enough to actually confirm it will use all 256GB, but it accepted it.
5 years ago
by
mkcar1