NAMO's stats
- Review count156
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- First reviewJanuary 28, 2017
- Last reviewJune 23, 2024
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- Average rating4.1
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- Answer count16
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- First answerJune 2, 2017
- Last answerDecember 9, 2021
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Bring your television audio to life without compromising the beauty of the room. As an alternative to traditional sound bars or bookshelf speakers, this system allows you to enjoy premium television audio while hiding the electronics and wiring in the wall and behind the TV. This package includes two in-wall speakers with paintable grilles; when painted, the speakers almost disappear into the surrounding space. The included Sonos amp provides 125 watts of power per channel, which lets you enjoy high-resolution sound from the Sonance speakers. Also included is an in-wall power kit that brings power to the entire system without calling an electrician. A metal back box is provided to hold the in-wall power kit, Sonos AMP®, and system electronics with extra room for streaming video devices like Apple TV® or Roku®.
Customer Rating
4
Excellent Audio Performance / Disappointing Mount
on October 17, 2020
Posted by: NAMO
INSTALLATION
Let me start off by admitting that I am in no way a professional installer. Not even close. I do consider myself an avid DIY’er and not afraid to tackle most home theater installations, wiring changes, light remodel items, etc. That being said, if you don’t consider yourself a moderate to advanced DIY’er or are not comfortable with basic electrical or wiring, this kit is best off left installed by a professional.
Let me start off by admitting that I am in no way a professional installer. Not even close. I do consider myself an avid DIY’er and not afraid to tackle most home theater installations, wiring changes, light remodel items, etc. That being said, if you don’t consider yourself a moderate to advanced DIY’er or are not comfortable with basic electrical or wiring, this kit is best off left installed by a professional.
When presented with this kit, I found the concept to be very appealing. One complete kit that organized your stuff behind your wall mounted flat panel TV. It includes an awesome Sonos amp, 2 very nice Sonance Mag 6 LCR speakers, and everything you need to get power into the box. Unfortunately, this kit is no exception.
Sonance did their homework when designing the dimensions of the metal box. The box is approximately 13 inches wide, by 14 inches tall and about 3 inches deep. It is designed to fit in an ordinary 2 x 4 studded wall cavity where the studs are 16 inches on center. A wall utilizing 2 x 4 studs, 16 inches on center is pretty much the standard for building codes across the U.S. Understand, that if you choose to mount this box on an exterior wall, you will need to remove most all insulation from behind the metal box and from behind the speakers to get them to fit. Choose your mounting location wisely.
Sonance did their homework when designing the dimensions of the metal box. The box is approximately 13 inches wide, by 14 inches tall and about 3 inches deep. It is designed to fit in an ordinary 2 x 4 studded wall cavity where the studs are 16 inches on center. A wall utilizing 2 x 4 studs, 16 inches on center is pretty much the standard for building codes across the U.S. Understand, that if you choose to mount this box on an exterior wall, you will need to remove most all insulation from behind the metal box and from behind the speakers to get them to fit. Choose your mounting location wisely.
MOUNTING SYSTEM
Like I stated earlier, the metal in-wall mounting system was of great interest to me. I have always wanted a tidier way to mount items behind my flat panel TV’s. I’ve always prided myself in my abilities to mount my TV’s and hide any and all wiring, making for a complete and custom looking installation. But, in the end, there is only just so much room behind a wall mounted TV and while I am always able to get power, cable, and ethernet to my TV’s without running any unsightly cabling up the walls, there are always compromises behind the TV for mounting things like cable boxes, etc. I couldn’t wait to try this out. Cutting open the shipping box honestly left me quite disappointed. My hopes of a fancy mounting solution with custom brackets, modular components, and specifically engineered accessories were immediately shattered. Quite honestly, the only unique product to this system is the single, flat bracket that mounts to the back of the Sonos amp to mount it in the box. Everything else seems like an afterthought. Reinforcing that opinion was the fact that everything besides the speakers, mounting box, and amp were just thrown in bottom of the product’s box. I had to dig through the box to get all the loose screws, grommets, spacers, etc. They didn’t fall out of a plastic bag or anything, they were literally just loose items, thrown in the bottom of the kit. Not a good start.
Like I stated earlier, the metal in-wall mounting system was of great interest to me. I have always wanted a tidier way to mount items behind my flat panel TV’s. I’ve always prided myself in my abilities to mount my TV’s and hide any and all wiring, making for a complete and custom looking installation. But, in the end, there is only just so much room behind a wall mounted TV and while I am always able to get power, cable, and ethernet to my TV’s without running any unsightly cabling up the walls, there are always compromises behind the TV for mounting things like cable boxes, etc. I couldn’t wait to try this out. Cutting open the shipping box honestly left me quite disappointed. My hopes of a fancy mounting solution with custom brackets, modular components, and specifically engineered accessories were immediately shattered. Quite honestly, the only unique product to this system is the single, flat bracket that mounts to the back of the Sonos amp to mount it in the box. Everything else seems like an afterthought. Reinforcing that opinion was the fact that everything besides the speakers, mounting box, and amp were just thrown in bottom of the product’s box. I had to dig through the box to get all the loose screws, grommets, spacers, etc. They didn’t fall out of a plastic bag or anything, they were literally just loose items, thrown in the bottom of the kit. Not a good start.
Like I stated, everything else aside from the mounting box and back plate of the amp are just plain off the shelf parts. Not that it is necessarily a negative. Quite honestly, maybe I had my expectations set too high. I had assumed at the price point, this was some fancy well engineered kit, but again, fully admit that was just my expectations, so that is on me. For example, while the small power strip fit perfectly in the bottom of the box, the solution sent to get power into the concealment from your existing power in your house is unnecessarily complicated and quiet honestly a waste of time. I didn’t use any of it. I found it difficult and cumbersome trying to get all those pieces routed and connected, so much so, that I went to “Big Orange” and bought a 15amp outlet, cover plate, and old work box (you know the ones that have the little ears that swing out when you tighten them in a whole in your drywall). Simpler, easier, more professional looking. Done.
AUDIO PERFORMANCE
Luckily the audio performance saved this system from a 2-star rating. This is not only my first Sonos product, it is my first set of Sonance speakers. I’ve seen Sonance around for years, but have never given them much of a shot. I nearly always choose a Sonance competitor when I set up a new theater for myself or friends. My go-to speakers used to be a boutique brand, sold only at custom A/V installers, before they branched out to Magnolias and other authorized retailers. While I wouldn’t say I’m an audiophile, per se, I definitely consider myself an audio snob. I would rather not listen to any music than to listen to music through a cheap set of speakers with metallic tweeters so harsh, they make your head hurt. No thanks!
Luckily the audio performance saved this system from a 2-star rating. This is not only my first Sonos product, it is my first set of Sonance speakers. I’ve seen Sonance around for years, but have never given them much of a shot. I nearly always choose a Sonance competitor when I set up a new theater for myself or friends. My go-to speakers used to be a boutique brand, sold only at custom A/V installers, before they branched out to Magnolias and other authorized retailers. While I wouldn’t say I’m an audiophile, per se, I definitely consider myself an audio snob. I would rather not listen to any music than to listen to music through a cheap set of speakers with metallic tweeters so harsh, they make your head hurt. No thanks!
The Sonance speakers sound quite good. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised! Are they perfect? No. But they do sound very good. Each Sonance speaker houses two 6.5-inch glass fiber cones and a 1-inch silk dome tweeter. Sonance claims frequency response is 45Hz to 20kHz with a 90dB sensitivity. That is pretty much par for the course for this type of speaker and similar to Sonance’s competitors. Reviewing speakers is difficult. Everyone’s opinions are subjective and what I like, isn’t necessarily what the next person will like. To me, I like the performance a well-designed electrostatic tweeter, followed by an aluminum (or better yet, titanium) dome tweeter. Again, it has to be well designed. If not, those hard-domed tweeters suck and ruin your music. Done correctly, a hard-domed tweeter has a much brighter, more detailed, and clearer top end than any soft dome (again, this is my opinion). The Sonance is no exception. However, for a soft domed tweeter, these speakers sound great up top. They are more laid back and subtle than what I own from their competitor, but what they give up in brightness, they make up for in clarity. The only real flaw I could find in the Sonance speaker is an odd shallowness I hear right around the crossover frequency of the tweeter and woofers. Vocals get shallower in that part of the frequency spectrum. However, once the frequency rises above or below that odd crossover-ish area, things get back to normal. This is one of the few in-walls I have had (I’ve had a lot from many different manufacturers) that have decent extension in the lower octaves. I’ve seen a lot of speakers fall off sharply below around 200Hz and their bass just seams to fizzle before a sub jumps in and saves the day, but these Sonance speakers do a great job of maintaining the full-bodied sound down in the lower octaves, making for a very natural and smooth transition to the sub (not included). Job well done!
FINAL THOUGHTS
If I were judging the product simply on the mounting box and accessories, I’d probably give this product a 2. The only really custom piece in the whole kit is the one lone bracket that holds the amp to the mounting box. Everything else seems like an afterthought. Additionally, once the Sonos amp is mounted in the box, there isn’t room for much of anything else. Not a DirectTV receiver, nothing. I was able to squeeze in a 5-port gigabit switch, but that was about it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If I were judging the product simply on the mounting box and accessories, I’d probably give this product a 2. The only really custom piece in the whole kit is the one lone bracket that holds the amp to the mounting box. Everything else seems like an afterthought. Additionally, once the Sonos amp is mounted in the box, there isn’t room for much of anything else. Not a DirectTV receiver, nothing. I was able to squeeze in a 5-port gigabit switch, but that was about it.
Thankfully, the amp and Sonance speakers steal the show, and so they should. The Sonos amp works great and provides plenty of power for the Sonance speakers. You can push these speakers to fairly loud volumes without the amp sounding thin and strained. The speakers’ sensitivity and power rating pair nicely to the specs of the amp. Like I stated earlier, these speakers aren’t perfect, none are. Speaker opinions are like belly buttons, everybody has one and some have more than one opinion. At the end of the day, I think any one who buys the system will enjoy the flexibility it offers. The Sonos infrastructure is excellent and works flawlessly. Music, even lossy music, sounds great on the Sonance / Sonos system. Add to that, the Amp has an HDMI input for hooking up to your ARC port on your TV, just makes the system that much better. If that wasn’t enough, the Sonos infrastructure allows you to add a full surround sound set up using this configuration as a starting point, is just icing on the cake. If all you have used is your TV’s speakers for audio, you will never go back after getting this system. It will spoil you instantly.
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eufy Security Wired 2K Video Doorbell. 2K Resolution, 5-Day Continuous Video Recording (CVR) on Secure Local Storage, No Monthly Fees, Human Detection, 2-way Audio, and Free Wireless Chime included.
Customer Rating
5
Modest Improvements Make This a Winner
on October 15, 2020
Posted by: NAMO
INSTALLATION
This doorbell requires AC voltage to operate properly. It does not have a battery backup like other Eufy products. Fortunately, if you already have an existing doorbell, it will most likely operate at the required 24V AC that this unit requires. However, you should check voltage with an appropriate meter prior to installation to verify.
This doorbell requires AC voltage to operate properly. It does not have a battery backup like other Eufy products. Fortunately, if you already have an existing doorbell, it will most likely operate at the required 24V AC that this unit requires. However, you should check voltage with an appropriate meter prior to installation to verify.
Once, I removed my old doorbell, installation took just a matter of minutes. Eufy includes several pigtails to make installation into your existing system frustration free. Anker’s instructions are easy to follow and they cover everything from how to install the doorbell, to how to modify and/or test your existing chime (a wireless chime is also included in the kit and works flawlessly), if you have any issues. All said and done, this hassle-free installation took about 10 minutes total.
EUFY APP
This is where Anker has spent a great deal of time making this an outstanding product. The installation and configuration of the doorbell couldn’t get much easier. Was it 100% issue free? No. But it was 99.9% issue free and a very well thought out and pleasant experience. Other manufacturers should do themselves a favor and sample the well-designed Eufy app. The one and only issue I encountered was a firmware update that wouldn’t install. For some reason, the app notified me that the doorbell needed an update, but wouldn’t push it to the device. The doorbell checks for updates every single night and updates itself automatically. The first night after installation, the doorbell downloaded its update installed it without issue. Weird.
This is where Anker has spent a great deal of time making this an outstanding product. The installation and configuration of the doorbell couldn’t get much easier. Was it 100% issue free? No. But it was 99.9% issue free and a very well thought out and pleasant experience. Other manufacturers should do themselves a favor and sample the well-designed Eufy app. The one and only issue I encountered was a firmware update that wouldn’t install. For some reason, the app notified me that the doorbell needed an update, but wouldn’t push it to the device. The doorbell checks for updates every single night and updates itself automatically. The first night after installation, the doorbell downloaded its update installed it without issue. Weird.
The app seamlessly walks you through the entire installation and configuration process. The app seems to touch on everything. I can’t really think of any issues left uncovered during installation. Anker did an outstanding job. The app covers everything from checking for the proper voltages, to setting activity zones, to programming what the doorbell looks at every day, etc. A user doesn’t need to read and interpret technical jargon. The app goes through step by step on how to properly configure your doorbell to get the most accurate notifications with minimal false alarms. Everything is represented by a series of pictures and examples. I hate to use this term, but it is literally fool-proof.
PERFORMANCE
This is my second Eufy doorbell. My previous Eufy doorbell has worked flawlessly since installation. This is now my second Eufy doorbell and I now have one on each of my entrances. I had owned Eufy’s competitor’s product for quiet some time before switching. I was hesitant at first, but am glad I did. I really do prefer Anker’s product over their main competitor. The images are clearer and have a higher resolution (2560 x 1920) vs (1920 x 1080). It is not just a higher resolution picture or image that makes the difference. The images are more detailed and less washed out in bright light or the dark of night. The Eufy uses WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) video processing and captures far more details in bright and dark scenes than my previous Pro model from their competitor.
This is my second Eufy doorbell. My previous Eufy doorbell has worked flawlessly since installation. This is now my second Eufy doorbell and I now have one on each of my entrances. I had owned Eufy’s competitor’s product for quiet some time before switching. I was hesitant at first, but am glad I did. I really do prefer Anker’s product over their main competitor. The images are clearer and have a higher resolution (2560 x 1920) vs (1920 x 1080). It is not just a higher resolution picture or image that makes the difference. The images are more detailed and less washed out in bright light or the dark of night. The Eufy uses WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) video processing and captures far more details in bright and dark scenes than my previous Pro model from their competitor.
The notifications are slick too. Anker uses an AI chip in the doorbell that can distinguish what kind of activity the doorbell is capturing. When it sends you a text, it will tell you if it is an automobile or a human. If it is a human, the doorbell will analyze the image and give you an up close image of the person’s face, or if it can’t get it, will give you an image of the person in the text. It works nearly perfectly. One thing I do appreciate is the lack of redundant notifications. The competitor’s product would send me tons of notifications repeatedly. For example, if I was playing catch with my son, Eufy’s competitor would send me an alert every single time we would pass within viewing distance of the door. Same thing when I would mow. Every strip I cut, generated notification after notification. I don’t get that with the Eufy. I get one notification when it first senses an event and then similar events get ignored without my intervention. Not sure how Anker does it, but it works, and works great!
ISSUES
There are only 2 issues with this doorbell that I can think of:
There are only 2 issues with this doorbell that I can think of:
The first, and most significant issue is the lack of compatibility with the Eufy Homebase 2. Anker has promised compatibility is coming, but so far has not delivered. Why is this important? The Homebase 2 is a storage device that resides inside your house. It has 32GB of memory and records events from Eufy products. My older, battery powered doorbell uses this for its storage. This doorbell has 32GB of memory too, but it is built into the doorbell. So, if someone were slick enough, they could run up to your doorbell and snap it off with a large screwdriver. There goes your evidence.
The second complaint is that the doorbell seems a tad slow to respond at times. If someone runs quick enough to your door, the doorbell will occasionally miss an image or fail to record the event. I may be able to solve this with a tweak to the doorbell’s sensitivity, but aside from this issue, the doorbell works just the way I want it with minimal false alarms, so I hate to tweak the settings too much.
CONCLUSIONS
This is an excellent product. In my opinion, Anker has a real winner on their hands. They have designed a product that performs nearly flawlessly with an app and user experience that is second to none. The Eufy app is one of the few apps that work as well on Android as it does on iOS. Great job Anker!! Even better, is that Anker doesn’t require you to pay a monthly fee for video storage. With an excellent, well detailed image, great 2 way communications, and an outstanding installation experience, Anker’s Eufy doorbell is an excellent product!!! I won’t be going back to their competitor. Well done Anker!
This is an excellent product. In my opinion, Anker has a real winner on their hands. They have designed a product that performs nearly flawlessly with an app and user experience that is second to none. The Eufy app is one of the few apps that work as well on Android as it does on iOS. Great job Anker!! Even better, is that Anker doesn’t require you to pay a monthly fee for video storage. With an excellent, well detailed image, great 2 way communications, and an outstanding installation experience, Anker’s Eufy doorbell is an excellent product!!! I won’t be going back to their competitor. Well done Anker!
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Designed for the perfect puree. This KitchenAid® Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender features an 8" removable blending arm with 4-point stainless steel blade to blend everything from smoothies, to milk shakes, soups, sauces and so much more. It is easy to use with the variable speed trigger switch and includes a US patented removal pan guard to help protect your cookware. The 3-Cup BPA-Free Blending Jar with lid is great for individual blending jobs, and can be used to serve direct from or to store your blended creation for a later use.
Customer Rating
5
Sturdy, Well Designed Handheld
on September 16, 2020
Posted by: NAMO
The package includes the blender, a removable blade and drive unit (blending arm), protective cover for the blade and guard assembly, and a mixing container.
The eight inch blending arm connects to the motor housing with a simple, quarter turn lock. The ability to remove the blending arm for easy cleaning a thoughtful feature. It not only makes storage more compact, it also keeps you from inadvertently getting soap and water on the motor assembly. Also included in the box, is a plastic protector that snaps over the blade guard to help prevent scoring and scratching when using the blender with pots and pans. The plastic protector for the blade guard fits nicely and is secure when snapped in place, but I’m not sure how long it is going to last as it seems to bend quite a bit when fitting it over the blade guard.
The best feature of this blender has to be the variable speed trigger. KitchenAid seems to have put a good deal of effort getting the sensitivity of the trigger just right. The resistance of the trigger seems spot on and the ability to regulate the speed and power is easily accomplished without the trigger being too aggressive. I tried mixing a variety of different things and never had any issues with inadvertently applying too much power. Job well done.
This is a well-designed handheld blender. It has a nice heft without feeling overly heavy and difficult to use for an extended amount of time. All the components have an excellent fit and finish and make for a well-balanced, premium feeling product. The motor is very torquey and never had issues blending what I asked of it. The variable speed trigger is great. It has a nearly perfect balance of resistance and power application. A good product and recommended.
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Say goodbye to clutter and hello to this multi-functional toaster oven! Enjoy a variety of delicious dishes with ease and convenience using the Chefman Toast-Air Dual Function Air Fryer + Oven. No more heating up your kitchen with a full-size oven – get the same results as a traditional convection oven with the convenience of countertop cooking for faster and more evenly cooked food. This countertop convection oven is a useful tool in any busy kitchen with variable temperature controls and cooking functions to air fry, bake, broil, convection bake, toast, and more, as well as a temperature range from 200-450° F to set at the desired temperature. 9 preset options make any kitchen task easy, while the interior cooking light allows you to easily monitor cooking process. The extra-large 20-liter interior can fit up to 4 slices of toast, a 10-inch pizza, or most baking pans. With the highly efficient rapid-air technology and high-speed convection system, you can achieve an even, crispy fried texture using little to no oil. The rack positioning is designed for maximum space and even air flow – if using multiple racks, rotate them halfway through for best results. The air fryer function is perfect for cooking once-frozen leftover foods and making them taste fresh again. This counter oven features an option to select the desired level of toast, from light to dark. With a 60-minute countdown timer and ready signal bell, you always know when your food is ready. The air fry basket, flat wire rack, broil pan, and crumb tray are easily removable and dishwasher safe for convenience and quick clean up; plus, the non-stick interior and stainless-steel exterior wipe down easily. It’s easier than ever to conquer any cooking need with this toaster-oven air fryer!
Customer Rating
4
Nice Sized Air Fryer With Glaring Oversight
on September 12, 2020
Posted by: NAMO
UNIQUE FEATURES
Ability to Dual Bake Items
Easily Accessible Crumb Tray
Large Internal Cooking Area for Taller Items
Capacitive Touchscreen User Interface
Ability to Dual Bake Items
Easily Accessible Crumb Tray
Large Internal Cooking Area for Taller Items
Capacitive Touchscreen User Interface
USE
I’ll admit that I was late to the Air Fryer bandwagon. Having seen these do-it-all machines on infomercials, I dismissed them as sales gimmicks. I had the opportunity to obtain Chefman’s martial arts-based competitor’s product some time ago. I honestly don’t know why I didn’t buy one sooner. The air fryer has become my go-to device and has replaced many devices in my house. The air fryer’s unique versatility has earned it a top spot as one of the most used devices in my kitchen. Honestly, the only thing that limits its use, is the lack of vertical space for cooking. After seeing Chefman’s unique take on an Air Fryer, I had to try it. Chefman solved my issue of the space requirement, expanding the ability to cook taller items by almost 2 times its competitor. With the increased interior volume, I find that the Chefman requires approximately 10 – 20% longer cook times, but that is a fair trade off, if nothing else, just for the increased potential the Chefman offers.
I’ll admit that I was late to the Air Fryer bandwagon. Having seen these do-it-all machines on infomercials, I dismissed them as sales gimmicks. I had the opportunity to obtain Chefman’s martial arts-based competitor’s product some time ago. I honestly don’t know why I didn’t buy one sooner. The air fryer has become my go-to device and has replaced many devices in my house. The air fryer’s unique versatility has earned it a top spot as one of the most used devices in my kitchen. Honestly, the only thing that limits its use, is the lack of vertical space for cooking. After seeing Chefman’s unique take on an Air Fryer, I had to try it. Chefman solved my issue of the space requirement, expanding the ability to cook taller items by almost 2 times its competitor. With the increased interior volume, I find that the Chefman requires approximately 10 – 20% longer cook times, but that is a fair trade off, if nothing else, just for the increased potential the Chefman offers.
The capacitive touchscreen is sleek and functional and gives the Chefman Air Fryer a premium look and feel that its competitor can not match. The buttons and programming are responsive and without lag. The slick white lettering turns a royal shade of blue to indicate the cooking mode. It is an extremely attractive addition to the traditional air fryer and in my opinion, exudes a premium look and feel.
Chefman’s engineers appear to have really done their homework with this unit. This model includes several thoughtful design and engineering ideas sorely missed in its competitor’s model. One of the simplest ideas is the easily accessible crumb tray. One of my biggest gripes with Chefman’s competitor is the hassle to access the most often needed maintenance item: the crumb tray. Chefman wisely made the crumb tray accessible from the front of the unit with needing to open the cooking door or tipping the unit on its back. Awesome!
As equally as impressive, is that Chefman included the ability to the unit to be able to cook two items at the same time. A simple setting on the touchscreen enables the dual cooking mode. This is where the Chefman reigns over its competitor’s product. That huge increase in vertical volume pays dividends in the amount and type of foods that can be prepared. It’s a great design element and Chefman wisely includes multiple cooking grates and baskets with the unit.
As equally as impressive, is that Chefman included the ability to the unit to be able to cook two items at the same time. A simple setting on the touchscreen enables the dual cooking mode. This is where the Chefman reigns over its competitor’s product. That huge increase in vertical volume pays dividends in the amount and type of foods that can be prepared. It’s a great design element and Chefman wisely includes multiple cooking grates and baskets with the unit.
I have tried many different items in the machine prior to writing this review and I have not been disappointed in any of the results. The machine does a great job of evenly distributing the heat in the cooking area, ensuring items are cooked consistently regardless of their position on the cooking baskets or grates. Of the many items I’ve prepared, the two items that I test regardless of what else I prepare are: toast and take-home French fries. If an air fryer can’t do the basics, what’s the point of having it? I am happy to report, my first two test items didn’t leave me disappointed. Toast came out uniformly brown on the top and bottom. Take home French fries (often a sad outcome of the pandemic) turned out just as good. My French fry loving kid no longer complains about eating soggy take home fries. A quick heat up on the air fry option and the fries are as good as when they came out of the restaurant. Excellent!
NEGATIVES
As much as I like this unit, there are a few negatives that leave me scratching my head.
As much as I like this unit, there are a few negatives that leave me scratching my head.
The first is the overall design of the exhaust. This unit draws air in and exhausts out the top rear of the unit. While I think this top, rear airflow is a superior design compared to others, it makes me uncomfortable in how I place my air fryer. To maximum counter space, I like to keep my air fryer as far back on the counter as possible. This unit exhausts some very hot air out the back. So hot, that I keep it out much farther on the counter than I would have to with its competitor. Yes, I can move it back when its not in use and pull it out some when I go to use it, but I don’t like having to do that. Call it lazy, or whatever you would like, it is frustrating.
The second and biggest negative for the entire user experience is the lack of a physical knob or way of modifying your cooking. The problem is once you start the cooking process, whether it’s baking, air frying, toasting, etc. you are committed. With the Chefman’s competitor, if I need to change something quickly, I can just rotate a knob to add time or temp. Say, my toast isn’t brown enough, no biggie, twist the knob clockwise one detent and it adds 15 seconds to my cook time. French fries need a little more heat on air fry to get crispy? No problem. Give that same knob a twist to crank up the heat a few more degrees. There is no option for this on the Chefman. For example, if I select my toast doneness on 3 of 5 and decide with 10 seconds left, it needs a little more time, to get it just right, there is no way that I’ve seen to do it without starting all over and reprogramming another cooking / toasting cycle. It is the same with baking, frying, etc. That to me, is a glaring oversight.
CONCLUSIONS
It’s clear that Chefman has put in a lot of thought and effort into making a great air fryer. They have several unique and innovative features that make their product better than its competitors. The capacitive touch screen is sleek and elegant and automatically powers down the machine after a few minutes of non-use. It makes the whole product feel upscale. The easily accessible crumb tray is an outstanding design idea. As simple as a crumb tray is, the Chefman implementation is outstanding.
It’s clear that Chefman has put in a lot of thought and effort into making a great air fryer. They have several unique and innovative features that make their product better than its competitors. The capacitive touch screen is sleek and elegant and automatically powers down the machine after a few minutes of non-use. It makes the whole product feel upscale. The easily accessible crumb tray is an outstanding design idea. As simple as a crumb tray is, the Chefman implementation is outstanding.
This is a good product. There are many great ideas here. But like I stated in my review, it is the simple things that are important to me. There are two deal breakers here for me. One is the way the unit exhausts all the hot air directly out of the back. Feeling like I can’t safely place the unit toward the back of my countertop and use it, is a hassle. The second, is the lack of ability to make simple adjustments to the cooking time and temperature without having to start over from scratch. That is a glaring oversight and one I can’t believe made it through the design stage.
In the end, I would I recommend this product? Yes, I would. While it has its own unique set of quirks, it does its job well and has some unique elements missing from its competitors’ models.
In the end, I would I recommend this product? Yes, I would. While it has its own unique set of quirks, it does its job well and has some unique elements missing from its competitors’ models.
But, would I buy this for myself or my family? No, I would not. That complete lack of being able to make simple changes is a deal breaker.
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Vertuo Next takes the full range of Nespresso coffee styles even further with five cup sizes available to brew at the touch of a button. With a sleek new design made from 54% recycled plastics and stylish chrome accents, Vertuo Next will fit any kitchen and to go the extra mile, even connects to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to ensure its software is always up-to-date.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent Cup of Coffee That Rivals Gourmet Shops
on September 5, 2020
Posted by: NAMO
KEY FEATURES
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Connectivity for Updates
Automatic Adjustment of Brewing Parameters
Multiple Serving Sizes and Flavors
Milk Frother
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Connectivity for Updates
Automatic Adjustment of Brewing Parameters
Multiple Serving Sizes and Flavors
Milk Frother
INITIAL SET-UP
Initial set-up and cleaning were straight forward and very well documented in the owner’s manual. Initial set-up consisted of washing the reservoir tank and a lengthy self-flushing of the machine to rid itself of any possible internal contaminates. Approximately, 5 minutes later, the machine was clean and ready to make coffee.
Initial set-up and cleaning were straight forward and very well documented in the owner’s manual. Initial set-up consisted of washing the reservoir tank and a lengthy self-flushing of the machine to rid itself of any possible internal contaminates. Approximately, 5 minutes later, the machine was clean and ready to make coffee.
USE
Full Disclosure – I own Nespresso’s largest competitor’s machine and have been a happy customer for several years now. I have seen these Nespresso machines around for some time, but since I am invested in the competitor’s ecosystem, I did not pay Nespresso a great deal of attention. Why would I? It is just a new version of the same thing, right? Nope, wrong!
Full Disclosure – I own Nespresso’s largest competitor’s machine and have been a happy customer for several years now. I have seen these Nespresso machines around for some time, but since I am invested in the competitor’s ecosystem, I did not pay Nespresso a great deal of attention. Why would I? It is just a new version of the same thing, right? Nope, wrong!
The machine heats up very quickly. Far quicker than its competitor’s machine. The actual operation consists of nothing more than a locking lever and a brew button. You unlock the lever to open the lid, place the coffee pod in device, close the lid and lock it, press the brew button. That’s it. The machine uses some form of tech to read the pod that was inserted and adjusts its brewing parameters accordingly. Nespresso says that machine adapts the aeration, water flow, etc. to each unique pod. Whatever it does in the background, it works.
NEGATIVES
This thing is noisy. It makes twice the racket of its primary competitor’s machine. Nespresso spins each pod up to 7000 rpm for brewing and it sounds like it. Those first few minutes are annoying. But after the spin down, it is quieter than the competitor.
This thing is noisy. It makes twice the racket of its primary competitor’s machine. Nespresso spins each pod up to 7000 rpm for brewing and it sounds like it. Those first few minutes are annoying. But after the spin down, it is quieter than the competitor.
The Nespresso app is basically worthless, in my opinion. It really is not anything more than Nespresso’s way of selling more coffee. Granted, you need it to setup the machine on Wi-Fi so that it can receive firmware updates and register itself with Nespresso, but after that, the only thing the app is used for is to turn on the machine. It heats up so fast, turning it on ahead of time is pointless. So, after initial setup, the app just becomes a marketing tool.
The water tank resides on the back of the machine and its small size makes adding water to the reservoir frequent and inconvenient. I prefer the side mounted reservoir of its competitor. That machine does not require me to move the machine out each time I need to add water.
Lastly, is the high price and overall lack of variety of the pods. I can pick up the competitor’s coffee for less than 50 cents a pod anywhere and anytime, cheaper if I can catch a sale. The Nespresso Vertuo pods are at least a $1 per pod, if not more. I see that other companies are offering pods for Nespresso’s other machines, so I’m hopeful as time goes on, others will make compatible pods and the available variety and pricing will come down.
CONCLUSIONS
My negatives of this system are honestly just nit-picky. I concur with other reviewers’ sentiments that this product makes a superior cup of coffee compared to its competitor. I do wish Nespresso had more variety in their selections and the pods were a little less expensive. But, to be fair, I am sure it is just that I’m spoiled by all the selection and price offered by Nespresso’s competitor. They have enjoyed many more years to get their infrastructure established.
My negatives of this system are honestly just nit-picky. I concur with other reviewers’ sentiments that this product makes a superior cup of coffee compared to its competitor. I do wish Nespresso had more variety in their selections and the pods were a little less expensive. But, to be fair, I am sure it is just that I’m spoiled by all the selection and price offered by Nespresso’s competitor. They have enjoyed many more years to get their infrastructure established.
I have drunk coffee nearly every day since college, and do not consider myself a coffee snob. I can drink nearly any coffee. I am NOT the person to go out and spend $5 -$10 per day at the gourmet coffee shops and drive thru’s (though, I have tried the big national shops and many of the local shops). But, after using this machine a few times and sampling some various blends, this is a whole new way to make coffee. Quite honestly, this machine makes the smoothest, most flavorful coffee I have had to date. I am rapidly becoming THAT coffee snob and my tolerance for any kind of coffee or brew is rapidly deteriorating. Thanks Nespresso. Excellent Product!!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
Freshen up your smile with this Procter & Gamble Oral-B iO Series 9 electric toothbrush. Seven smart modes, including daily clean, gum care and tongue clean, allow for personalized brushing, while Bluetooth connectivity lets you track your brushing with a smartphone. This Procter & Gamble Oral-B iO Series 9 electric toothbrush comes with four replacement brush heads for lasting use and a charging travel case for clean teeth on the go.
Customer Rating
5
Feature Rich Toothbrush That Cleans Great
on July 30, 2020
Posted by: NAMO
Key Features
7 Cleaning Modes (Daily Clean, Whitening, Gum Care, Sensitive, Intense, Super Sensitive, and Tongue Clean)
Oral-B Brushing App for iOS or Android
16 Zone Brushing Analysis
Li-Ion Battery with up to 12.5 days of battery life
7 Cleaning Modes (Daily Clean, Whitening, Gum Care, Sensitive, Intense, Super Sensitive, and Tongue Clean)
Oral-B Brushing App for iOS or Android
16 Zone Brushing Analysis
Li-Ion Battery with up to 12.5 days of battery life
INITIAL SET-UP
I must admit, the need to set up and configure a toothbrush seems odd to think and write about. But this is far from an ordinary toothbrush. Luckily, it appears Oral-B invested a considerable amount of time in their toothbrush and the associated app. Initial set-up and configuration were extremely simple and completely hassle-free. The app installed without issue and paired with my Samsung Galaxy S10 instantly. After charging the toothbrush to 100%, it was ready to start using.
I must admit, the need to set up and configure a toothbrush seems odd to think and write about. But this is far from an ordinary toothbrush. Luckily, it appears Oral-B invested a considerable amount of time in their toothbrush and the associated app. Initial set-up and configuration were extremely simple and completely hassle-free. The app installed without issue and paired with my Samsung Galaxy S10 instantly. After charging the toothbrush to 100%, it was ready to start using.
The toothbrush’s color display reports all relevant information relating to the brush (including battery level) and your brushing sessions. It is super intuitive. The toothbrush “wakes up” when you remove it from the case. You can just put the brush head on and brush, or open your Oral-B app for a guided brushing session. Either way, your teeth feel great afterward.
USE
Full disclosure: I have been an Oral-B customer for many years and have purchased several generations of their toothbrushes. Using manual toothbrushes resulted in frustrating trips to the dentist’s office while they spent a great deal of time scraping tartar from my gum lines. Sick of the creepy, grating sensation of the pick scraping my teeth, I decided to give Oral-B a go many years ago. So, when I saw this product, I was really looking forward to trying it out.
Full disclosure: I have been an Oral-B customer for many years and have purchased several generations of their toothbrushes. Using manual toothbrushes resulted in frustrating trips to the dentist’s office while they spent a great deal of time scraping tartar from my gum lines. Sick of the creepy, grating sensation of the pick scraping my teeth, I decided to give Oral-B a go many years ago. So, when I saw this product, I was really looking forward to trying it out.
Spoiler alert: I was not disappointed. This new iO9 toothbrush builds on the success of their previous generation of brushes with significant improvements. Most notably, this toothbrush now combines powered brushing with what Oral-B calls “micro vibrations”. These vibrations are supposedly inspired by dental instruments and results in a deeper, more thorough cleaning. In addition to the micro vibrations, Oral-B has redesigned the brush heads and the drive mechanism. While I am still happy with my previous generations, the new drive mechanism in the iO9 really is smoother during operation and has a more refined feel.
The Oral-B app is a great companion to the iO9, but is not necessary to use just to brush. If you choose to use the iO9 without the companion app, the toothbrush will notify you just like all other Oral-B toothbrushes after every 30 seconds of use. This notification is your signal to switch to the next section of your teeth. Note, this feature is disabled if you use the app. However, for best results, Oral-B recommends using the companion app. The app tracks your brushing performance in real time and follows the location of the toothbrush in your mouth. The app divides your teeth into 6 sections (3 top / 3 bottom) and the brush and app can tell which part of your mouth you are brushing. It is very slick and works nearly perfectly. As your teeth are brushed, the app uses an algorithm to determine your brushing performance. As you work on a section of your teeth, the app’s teeth will gradually go from a dark blue to white indicating that section is clean. Super slick!!!! The app also tracks what cleaning mode you are using along with the pressure you are exerting on the toothbrush.
At the end of your brushing, the app will evaluate the results of your session and give you a detailed breakdown of the entire time spent brushing. It has already proven to be quite enlightening. I discovered that I have been using way too much pressure during my brushing sessions throughout the years. The app is smart and gives you a graphical representation of your brushing performance on the various sections of your teeth. Like I said earlier, the results are highly informative.
NEGATIVES
There are only a couple of items that I can think of that could be improved upon, but do not necessarily detract from an overall great product.
There are only a couple of items that I can think of that could be improved upon, but do not necessarily detract from an overall great product.
The first is that I must have my location enabled on my Android phone for the app to pair with my toothbrush via Bluetooth. This seems unnecessary, as once the phone has paired with the toothbrush, it should not need location to re-pair.
The second is that the Oral-B app can use just a little more refinement. While using the Daily Clean function and the app, the app reported that my teeth were all clean and that I had done a great job brushing, even though I purposely hadn’t touched the inside of my teeth or the top surfaces of the molars. Not a deal breaker, but I am sure this is something Oral-B can fix with an app update and maybe a firmware update of the toothbrush.
Lastly, I wish the toothbrush and the brush head would snap into their travel case like my older generations of toothbrushes have done. The motor assembly and brush head just sit in this case and pop out when I open it.
CONCLUSIONS
I am extremely impressed with the performance of this product. Oral-B appears to have started with a clean sheet, holding nothing back during the redesign. There are meaningful improvements everywhere. These include a Li-Ion Battery, Color Display, Travel case with a built-in charger, real-time pressure indicator under the brush head (There is a color ring under the brush head. When using the appropriate brushing pressure, the ring is green. When the pressure builds, it goes from green to amber to red), just to name a few.
I am extremely impressed with the performance of this product. Oral-B appears to have started with a clean sheet, holding nothing back during the redesign. There are meaningful improvements everywhere. These include a Li-Ion Battery, Color Display, Travel case with a built-in charger, real-time pressure indicator under the brush head (There is a color ring under the brush head. When using the appropriate brushing pressure, the ring is green. When the pressure builds, it goes from green to amber to red), just to name a few.
The list of changes and differences between a “normal” Oral-B rechargeable toothbrush and this toothbrush is extensive. I have been a satisfied customer for many years now, and while perfectly happy with my older generation of brushes, this iO9 has raised the bar. A bar that I did not even realize could be raised. Who would have thought a toothbrush could be changed so drastically?
Great Job! 5 Stars.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
8of 11voted this as helpful.
Customize your home theater system with this Samsung sound bar. The 1.5-inch tweeters and the 6.5-inch subwoofer deliver crisp, powerful sound, while the included remote control allows easy multimedia handling. This Samsung sound bar has Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio files from compatible devices smoothly, and the wall-mountable design helps declutter your space.
Customer Rating
4
Decent Soundbar that is a Great Value
on July 20, 2020
Posted by: NAMO
Key Features
Dolby Atmos and DTS: X Support
3.1.2 Audio Channel Configuration
Multi Connection Options (Bluetooth, eARC, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Optical Digital)
Works with Amazon Alexa
Compatible with Samsung Wireless Surround Sound Speakers
3.1.2 Audio Channel Configuration
Multi Connection Options (Bluetooth, eARC, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Optical Digital)
Works with Amazon Alexa
Compatible with Samsung Wireless Surround Sound Speakers
INITIAL SET-UP
The initial set-up had a few challenges, but I can’t put the blame on the soundbar. The important thing to note is that during initial configuration, really dig into your TV settings if you are experiencing connection issues like I was. Luckily, even though I was initially unsuccessful at getting the soundbar to work with HDMI, the Optical Digital input proved easy enough and the sound bar worked instantly without any additional fuss.
The initial set-up had a few challenges, but I can’t put the blame on the soundbar. The important thing to note is that during initial configuration, really dig into your TV settings if you are experiencing connection issues like I was. Luckily, even though I was initially unsuccessful at getting the soundbar to work with HDMI, the Optical Digital input proved easy enough and the sound bar worked instantly without any additional fuss.
Like most other soundbars, this model can be either wall mounted or set on a piece of furniture. Samsung provides additional rubber feet if you wish to set it on a piece of furniture. To mount it on the wall, the soundbar uses 2 metal “L” brackets that are secured with one screw each to the soundbar and one screw each to the wall. While the mounting system is effective enough, it is one of the least elegant solutions I’ve encountered.
Samsung provides a small display on the right side of the speaker that relays important information about the status of the soundbar. Things like current input, channel levels, subwoofer output, sound mode, etc. are all displayed via a scrolling text in the information display. The display is nearly imperceptible when off and even with its small size, I found it easy enough to configure the speaker using just it alone. Great implementation!
As welcome and informative as the display is, the speaker is best set up using the SmartThings app. I installed the app on my Samsung Galaxy S10 and set-up went without issue. The app is informative, easy to use, and allows you to fully configure every aspect of the soundbar’s output. While the speaker’s display is great to have on a day-to-day basis, I really appreciate the time and attention Samsung put into the SmartThings app to make the speaker set-up experience polished and issue-free.
USE
Sound quality is quite good from a speaker with such small drivers. This soundbar includes a dedicated center channel speaker, left and right drivers, and 2 up firing drivers for surround sound. While not as room filling and believable as dedicated in-ceiling Atmos speakers, the soundbar’s up firing speakers did do a nice job at increasing the sense of spaciousness during action scenes in movies.
Sound quality is quite good from a speaker with such small drivers. This soundbar includes a dedicated center channel speaker, left and right drivers, and 2 up firing drivers for surround sound. While not as room filling and believable as dedicated in-ceiling Atmos speakers, the soundbar’s up firing speakers did do a nice job at increasing the sense of spaciousness during action scenes in movies.
The soundbar has several sound modes built-in to help customize the vocals and output to the user’s preference. Samsung touts the “Adaptive Sound” mode, so that is what I tried and use the most. I will admit that this mode does do a great job of keeping the vocals clear and level during movie playback. What I hate to admit even more is that it does a better job at dialog enhancement and leveling than my much more expensive soundbar in my family room. Ouch!
Music reproduction is also decent. While not as crisp and clear as my family room soundbar or dedicated speakers, it still does an admirable job for music listening. My Galaxy S10 finds the speaker nearly instantly and the Bluetooth streaming and connection has proven reliable and trouble free. A feature which I thought would be pointless was the “Touch and Play” but has proved itself to be very convenient. With NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled on your phone, you can walk up the soundbar and touch your phone to the top of the soundbar, the phone and soundbar pair up via Bluetooth and both automatically switch to stream your content. Super cool!!!
NEGATIVES
First. While I have this first item listed under the negatives, I don’t consider it a negative toward the soundbar in any way. I’m putting this out there to hopefully help save others some of my frustrations. I initially had issues getting the soundbar to work correctly with my Vizio PX75-G1. I hooked the soundbar to the ARC (Audio Return Channel) of the Vizio and the eARC output on the soundbar. No matter what I tried, I got no sound. The soundbar reported that the TV ARC was unavailable. After some manual reading (Ugh, who does that?) and some Googling, I figured out that it wasn’t a soundbar issue, but a TV and end user issue. On Vizio (and I assume other brands of TV’s), you must have CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) enabled for the TV to communicate with soundbar via the ARC or eARC channel. Once I enabled the ARC option under the CEC menu, everything has worked spot on since.
First. While I have this first item listed under the negatives, I don’t consider it a negative toward the soundbar in any way. I’m putting this out there to hopefully help save others some of my frustrations. I initially had issues getting the soundbar to work correctly with my Vizio PX75-G1. I hooked the soundbar to the ARC (Audio Return Channel) of the Vizio and the eARC output on the soundbar. No matter what I tried, I got no sound. The soundbar reported that the TV ARC was unavailable. After some manual reading (Ugh, who does that?) and some Googling, I figured out that it wasn’t a soundbar issue, but a TV and end user issue. On Vizio (and I assume other brands of TV’s), you must have CEC (Consumer Electronic Control) enabled for the TV to communicate with soundbar via the ARC or eARC channel. Once I enabled the ARC option under the CEC menu, everything has worked spot on since.
Second. I am not impressed with the output of the subwoofer. When I think subwoofer, I think bass. When I think bass, I expect a thump that makes music fun and lively, and power that vibrates the floors when something explodes in action movies. If your idea of bass is like mine, this is NOT the set-up for you. To be fair to Samsung, the subwoofer does a decent job of adding to the lower octaves of movies and music. It does help fill the void that the small drivers in the soundbar cannot reproduce. But, those massive guttural slams and booms that really liven up the action in movies just aren’t there. As a matter of fact, with the sub sitting directly on the floor, I don’t even feel vibrations in the floor. Even though the bass isn’t anything like what I was expecting, it did add just enough to my experience to make it more enjoyable. The bass is subtle and definitely not overpowering.
Third. Connections. While there are quite a few options for connecting to the soundbar, it appears that Samsung intends on the end user utilizing the TV as their primary input source and letting the eARC or ARC channel serve as the audio transport. Users should really consider their options on their TV before purchasing the system. This soundbar may not be the best option for TV’s that don’t support at least an ARC option. The one, lone HDMI input or eARC input is the only way to get true lossless audio to the soundbar. ARC, optical digital, etc. won't pass full high-resolution lossless audio like Atmos. So, if your TV doesn’t have the eARC option and you want to experience lossless audio, that leaves your choice of just the one HDMI input (assuming you don’t want to complicate the setup with a switcher).
CONCLUSIONS
While there are some negatives to the system, there are also many positives too. As a matter of fact, I feel there are more positives than negatives and those positives outweigh the negatives.
While there are some negatives to the system, there are also many positives too. As a matter of fact, I feel there are more positives than negatives and those positives outweigh the negatives.
The sound quality is quite good, even with just 1.5” drivers, the sound is far superior to any TV speakers on the market. Purchasing the soundbar will greatly improve your TV, movie, and music experiences. It should be noted too, that this soundbar is compatible with Samsung’s wireless surround sound kit. This kit makes it simple to add dedicated surround channels without the need to run wires everywhere.
The SmartThings app is well designed and very informative. Installation, configuration, and operation of the system is simple. Any frustrations that I experienced were my own fault, were easily worked through, and the system has been rock solid since.
There are numerous, small touches that make the system user-friendly and unique. Things like the small display window with scrolling text that allows you to make configuration changes without the app and the awesome cover on the soundbar. The soundbar has a perforated, metal cover instead of the basic, black cloth that nearly all others have. Why is that great? Anyone with small kids knows why. No more little fingers poking through the cloth cover!
In the end, I would give the soundbar 4 stars. There just isn’t enough bass for my personal preference. But, if you aren’t a bass head, or don’t need an overpowering system that would wake the kids, then this system should warrant a look. It offers good sound quality and I think represents an excellent value, especially if you currently own a Samsung Q LED.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+66points
67of 68voted this as helpful.
Record and view impressive video with this powerful security system, providing 4K Ultra HD resolution with superior definition and detail. This system also features Smart Motion Detection, so you only receive notifications that are important to you. Smart Search technology allows you to quickly and easily filter motion events, saving time when reviewing footage. Listen and speak to visitors on your property thanks to the listen in audio and two way talk feature in each camera. As part of the Lorex Fusion™ collection, you can pair this security system with additional Lorex Products, such as Wi-Fi cameras, doorbells, sensors, and floodlights. With convenient voice control and smart home compatibility, 4K Ultra HD resolution, and Smart Motion Detection, this security system has everything you need to start protecting what's important to you.
Customer Rating
2
Decent Cameras - Poor Hardware / Software
on June 6, 2020
Posted by: NAMO
UNBOXING
The Lorex NVR system arrived shipped inside another non-descript brown cardboard box. After initially opening the outer box, I noticed the “Sealed for My Security” sticker was misaligned, and the original Lorex box had been taped up. It did not appear to have been as a result of the shipper taping it up, it appears it left Lorex in this condition. After opening the box, part of the contents also had the “Sealed for My Security” stickers missing. 2 of the 4 cameras were unsealed, as were the cat-5 cables (Lorex supplies 4, 100ft rolls of Cat-5 cable for installation).
The Lorex NVR system arrived shipped inside another non-descript brown cardboard box. After initially opening the outer box, I noticed the “Sealed for My Security” sticker was misaligned, and the original Lorex box had been taped up. It did not appear to have been as a result of the shipper taping it up, it appears it left Lorex in this condition. After opening the box, part of the contents also had the “Sealed for My Security” stickers missing. 2 of the 4 cameras were unsealed, as were the cat-5 cables (Lorex supplies 4, 100ft rolls of Cat-5 cable for installation).
INITIAL SET-UP
It was very nice to see the Lorex cameras now supporting a POE (Power-Over-Ethernet) option instead of using old school coax cable for video. The POE option is a great one-stop alternative for video and power and greatly simplifies the installation process. The Lorex NVR can provide the necessary power to the cameras, thus eliminating the need for a separate POE switch or POE injector. In order to access the system remotely and receive Event Notifications, you must connect the NVR to your home network via ethernet.
It was very nice to see the Lorex cameras now supporting a POE (Power-Over-Ethernet) option instead of using old school coax cable for video. The POE option is a great one-stop alternative for video and power and greatly simplifies the installation process. The Lorex NVR can provide the necessary power to the cameras, thus eliminating the need for a separate POE switch or POE injector. In order to access the system remotely and receive Event Notifications, you must connect the NVR to your home network via ethernet.
Using the supplied HDMI cable and power brick, the NVR was up and running in a matter of minutes. It took longer to get my ladder out and remove my old cameras, than it did to install the new ones and hook up the NVR. Very nice.
Initial configuration was accomplished at the NVR, using the supplied HDMI cable and a compatible 4k TV. A 4k TV is required during initial set-up (and for the ability to view the cameras at full resolution) as the Lorex GUI uses the extra pixels to display all the on-screen options and buttons. As a long shot, I tried repeating the set-up with a standard HDTV (1080p) TV and it is something you can accomplish, as there are just a little of the edges cut off during the initial configuration, but you can easily figure out what do. Surprisingly, after initial installation was completed, the Lorex asks you what the resolution of your current display is. I selected 1920 x 1080 and it scaled the image appropriately to match my TV’s resolution. To me, this seems somewhat illogical, as I feel that should be the first option during set-up.
USE
Each camera can be configured with 4 different, customizable motion detection zones. Each zone can be individually configured with their own unique sensitivity and motion thresholds. That is an extremely slick feature! Furthermore, each camera can be individually configured for what I call the “Theft Deterrent” features. One of the absolute best features of this system is that the cameras can configured to illuminate or strobe 2 individual LED lights with detection of motion. Additionally, you can have the cameras also emit a siren further enhancing their deterrent feature. AWESOME!
Each camera can be configured with 4 different, customizable motion detection zones. Each zone can be individually configured with their own unique sensitivity and motion thresholds. That is an extremely slick feature! Furthermore, each camera can be individually configured for what I call the “Theft Deterrent” features. One of the absolute best features of this system is that the cameras can configured to illuminate or strobe 2 individual LED lights with detection of motion. Additionally, you can have the cameras also emit a siren further enhancing their deterrent feature. AWESOME!
The cameras feature motion, person, and vehicle detection built in. Based on the installation location of the camera, you can turn these features on and off as necessary. For example, I have cameras at my front and back doors, so I disabled the vehicle detection algorithms for those cameras, but left motion, person, and vehicle detection enabled for the cameras that watch my driveway and garage. The logic works quite well. Golf carts are popular in my neighborhood. Instead of alerting me to a vehicle, I receive a Person Alert with a snapshot of the golf cart. Slick!!! Like, I said the logic works very well and the included snapshot of the person, motion, or vehicle is cool!!
As an added benefit, from what I can discern, the theft deterrent features appear to be built into the logic of the cameras and operate independently of the NVR. I could absolutely be wrong, but based on my issues with the NVR, that I will discuss below, the lights have never failed to illuminate upon motion detection. As expected with a camera system, all the motion detection zones, warning responses, recording parameters, etc. are all customizable to suit the users’ needs. Recording can be motion activated, continuous, etc.
APP
The Lorex Home app links your NVR to your smartphone or tablet. I will give Lorex major kudos for a job well done with their initial set-up and configuration. I set-up the NVR using my Android smartphone. Having never had a Lorex product in the past, it prompted me to create an account. Within a minute, I had the account created and was ready to add my NVR. There was zero hassle linking my gear to my new account. You no longer must be a network engineer to configure your NVR, network, account, etc. Not in the least. A simple scan of a QR code on the side of the NVR and the app instantly linked my account to my NVR. Super easy. Super simple. A very well configured and designed app (at least for initial configuration). Great Job Lorex!
The Lorex Home app links your NVR to your smartphone or tablet. I will give Lorex major kudos for a job well done with their initial set-up and configuration. I set-up the NVR using my Android smartphone. Having never had a Lorex product in the past, it prompted me to create an account. Within a minute, I had the account created and was ready to add my NVR. There was zero hassle linking my gear to my new account. You no longer must be a network engineer to configure your NVR, network, account, etc. Not in the least. A simple scan of a QR code on the side of the NVR and the app instantly linked my account to my NVR. Super easy. Super simple. A very well configured and designed app (at least for initial configuration). Great Job Lorex!
The Lorex Home app must be installed on your mobile device to receive alerts and images of the events. Not uncommon and the app works consistently. However, I have received a few alerts from my Android phone about excessively high battery use from the Lorex app. I will keep an eye on the battery drain and see just how much it is negatively affecting performance.
NEGATIVES
First. The Lorex software and app are not fully baked and need more refinement. After being thoroughly impressed by the initial setup experience, I’ve had the DVR installed for a while now and have already had to reboot the system because the Event Notifications have stopped. After rebooting, the notifications resumed, but have since stopped and I think another reboot is in order. Speaking of notifications, the app only allows 1 person to log in at a time. So, I cannot use the app on my phone and my wife’s phone at the same time. If she logged into the system to check a camera or notification, I am logged off and my notifications stop, while hers continue and vice versa.
Second. I have the NVR placed directly under my 5 bay NAS. Until I received the Lorex, it served as my primary home security and surveillance platform. In my subjective opinion, the Lorex NVR is twice as noisy as the NAS, even with the NAS having 5 spinning hard drives in it. The Lorex’s cooling fan is obnoxiously loud and you can hear almost every single move the platter and read/write heads make in its hard drive. My guess is there is no isolation of the hard drive from the metal chassis and to keep costs down, they traded fan noise for price. This may not be an issue to most, especially if you place your NVR in a spot that sees little or no people, but it would be noticeable if it is in a small office.
Third. Remote access. I’m pretty sure Lorex intends this product to be hooked to a monitor all the times for surveillance and monitoring. If you need to make any adjustments, configuration changes, review video, etc. they assume you will just use the supplied mouse and a monitor. However, I don’t use my NVR in that manner and surely, I’m not the only one. I would rather my NVR sit on the server rack and any changes I need to make or video I want to review; I want to do it from my PC. Therein lies the problem. While you can access the NVR via its IP address, it is far more difficult to make adjustments via a web browser. The Lorex NVR will prompt you to install a web viewer with browsers like Chrome and Firefox. They even provide you with a link to install the recommended Lorex software. But, that is where it stops. I have been unable to view any camera feeds using the Lorex supplied software with Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. None of the browsers will retrieve the feeds. The only browser that can access the cameras correctly is: Internet Explorer.
Fourth. Cameras. I will fully admit that I am huge fan of the built-in LED deterrent lights and siren. That little bit of extra is extremely valuable to me. But to be quite honest, after that, the cameras really aren’t anything that special over cameras from other vendors. The Lorex cameras support a max resolution of 4k @15 fps @ 4096bps. Furthermore, the Lorex implementation of WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) isn’t well implemented. While the processing does help brighten darker images, it also washes out the brighter images, something that my previous cameras did much, much better.
Lorex also claims that these cameras support color night vision. I haven’t had any luck getting that work. No matter what I have tried, the cameras still resort to black and white at night. I think all these issues could be easily fixed via a firmware update, as my NVR software shows all 4 of the cameras’ status as: “To Be Updated”. But there is no way to update the cameras. When I go to perform the update, it asks me for a file on a USB drive. That is OK, but I can’t find any updates on the web. I searched numerous forums and others appear to be experiencing the same update issues.
Fifth. Redundancy. There is ZERO redundancy in this system. Granted Lorex does offer the option to back up the system to an external hard drive or thumb drive, but ultimately, there is still only 1 hard drive installed. If that hard drive fails prior to your next scheduled backup, you have lost all video. There is no option to mirror the drive in the event of failure. There is also no way to expand the storage of the system without a full hard drive replacement. Continuously recording 4k cameras 24 x 7 doesn’t take but a few days to fill up that 2TB hard drive.
CONCLUSIONS
While there are some definite bright spots in this system, there are also a lot of negatives. Unfortunately for this Lorex system, the negatives are outweighing the positives at this point in time. There are just too many shortcomings and bugs to make it a best option solution. Granted, some of these shortcomings could be addressed via software and firmware updates, some issues cannot be addressed so easily. Until Lorex can get the kinks worked out, I would look elsewhere.
While there are some definite bright spots in this system, there are also a lot of negatives. Unfortunately for this Lorex system, the negatives are outweighing the positives at this point in time. There are just too many shortcomings and bugs to make it a best option solution. Granted, some of these shortcomings could be addressed via software and firmware updates, some issues cannot be addressed so easily. Until Lorex can get the kinks worked out, I would look elsewhere.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Experience high-quality acoustics with this JBL Quantum 400 over-ear wired gaming headset. The voice focus boom microphone enables clear communication, while the memory foam ear cushions keep you comfortable during extended gaming sessions. This JBL Quantum 400 over-ear wired gaming headset features multiplatform compatibility for flexibility and QuantumSOUND Signature technology to enhance audio clarity.
Customer Rating
4
Basic Headphones with Some Advanced Features
on June 3, 2020
Posted by: NAMO
Key Features
98dB Sensitivity
Full Range Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20,000Hz
JBL Quantum Engine Compatible
Supports JBL Quantum Surround and DTS Headphone:X v 2.0
Full Range Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20,000Hz
JBL Quantum Engine Compatible
Supports JBL Quantum Surround and DTS Headphone:X v 2.0
These headphones offer a great deal of value and features for the money. While not my favorite headphones ever, they are a good product where the pluses outweigh the minuses.
CONNECTIONS
The headphones ship with a generously long, 10ft USB-A to USB-C cable and a good ol’ fashioned 3.5mm headphone cable. Old school, but awesome to still see it! On the left cup is the microphone (that auto mutes when rotated in the up position) and controls for volume and chat/music mix. A nice feature that you can adjust the bias of the game and chat volumes. I would like to see the headphones ship with a USB-A to USB-C adapter. This would broaden their compatibility with devices that ship with the more universally available USB-C port.
The headphones ship with a generously long, 10ft USB-A to USB-C cable and a good ol’ fashioned 3.5mm headphone cable. Old school, but awesome to still see it! On the left cup is the microphone (that auto mutes when rotated in the up position) and controls for volume and chat/music mix. A nice feature that you can adjust the bias of the game and chat volumes. I would like to see the headphones ship with a USB-A to USB-C adapter. This would broaden their compatibility with devices that ship with the more universally available USB-C port.
JBL QUANTUM ENGINE SOFTWARE
The JBL Quantum Engine software, installed on my Windows PC, offered a lot of customization options for a product at this price point. The software allows the user to adjust the EQ curve, custom tailoring the playback to his/her liking. The JBL software also unlocks the option to use the JBL Quantum Surround Engine. This is a unique software solution to resemble 7.1 surround sound using only stereo headphones. It is customizable for a person’s height and head size. I found it a ton of fun on both FPS and racing games. The simulated surround sound made games more enjoyable and immersive. The large, bass capable drivers made on screen explosions much more entertaining.
The JBL Quantum Engine software, installed on my Windows PC, offered a lot of customization options for a product at this price point. The software allows the user to adjust the EQ curve, custom tailoring the playback to his/her liking. The JBL software also unlocks the option to use the JBL Quantum Surround Engine. This is a unique software solution to resemble 7.1 surround sound using only stereo headphones. It is customizable for a person’s height and head size. I found it a ton of fun on both FPS and racing games. The simulated surround sound made games more enjoyable and immersive. The large, bass capable drivers made on screen explosions much more entertaining.
The DTS Headphone setting was well implemented and made overly compressed mp3 music much more enjoyable and satisfying. I tried the Quantum Surround option for music and video playback, but found it made the material unnatural sounding. The DTS Headphone setting was a nice option between not having any form of audio processing and too much.
NEGATIVES
This is a corded set of headphones and I found the cord’s placement very annoying. It constantly rubs on my shirt and for whatever reason, the cord rubbing on my shirt is transferred directly into the left ear. It’s not static or anything, just the actual rubbing sound. Very annoying.
This is a corded set of headphones and I found the cord’s placement very annoying. It constantly rubs on my shirt and for whatever reason, the cord rubbing on my shirt is transferred directly into the left ear. It’s not static or anything, just the actual rubbing sound. Very annoying.
The JBL Quantum Engine is very slick and offers a lot of trick features to customize and personalize the headphones to your liking. Items like surround mode, lighting, EQ curves, etc are all customizable and easily accessed in one place. However, I found the Quantum Engine software routinely eating up 15 – 20% of my CPU resources. Granted the PC isn’t a powerhouse, but that is a considerable amount of resources.
Speaking of the Quantum Engine, the only way to fully enjoy what the software and headphones have to offer is using the headphones with a PC. While JBL touts near universal support for these headphones, but what is glossed over is that all the slick features that the Quantum Engine offers isn’t available on other platforms. These headphones resort to plain stereo headphones without the USB cable, a PC, and the Quantum Engine software installed.
CONCLUSIONS
These are one of the few headphones in this price range that I have found to support the full range of human hearing: 20Hz – 20kHz. While smaller, cheaper headphones skimp on driver size, and in turn, low frequency response, the 50mm drivers installed in these did not disappoint. I found myself surprised numerous times when listening to bass heavy music how low they can reach.
These are one of the few headphones in this price range that I have found to support the full range of human hearing: 20Hz – 20kHz. While smaller, cheaper headphones skimp on driver size, and in turn, low frequency response, the 50mm drivers installed in these did not disappoint. I found myself surprised numerous times when listening to bass heavy music how low they can reach.
At the end of the day, would I buy them? Most likely not. I would spend some additional money and get the wireless JBL Quantum 600 headphones, if no other reason, for the convenience. However, these headphones offer lots of options and good sound quality for the money, and while they may not be my first choice in headphones after using them for a while, it still doesn’t take away from what they have to offer for the buyer.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep a visual record of your visitors with this eufy Security wireless video doorbell. Advanced WDR and distortion correction technologies help ensure your 2K video recordings come out clearly, and a 180-day battery life provides long-lasting performance. This weatherproof eufy Security video doorbell offers military-grade AES-256 data encryption to protect your footage during transition and storage.
Customer Rating
4
Good Hardware, So-So Software
on May 4, 2020
Posted by: NAMO
INSTALLATION
The installation of the Eufy doorbell and the Eufy HomeBase 2 (Eufy is a division of Anker) was very simple. Anyone that has installed a "smart" doorbell before will have no issues with installation. Using either the supplied rechargeable battery or your existing doorbell wires expands the installation options and eases restrictions should you not have both options available.
Installation of the HomeBase 2 via the Android App was fairly smooth, but not without its faults. Documentation is minimal, but sufficient. I connected my HomeBase 2 via an ethernet connection for maximum reliability, but it is also able to be connected to your home network via WiFi should you so choose. The Android app and supported documentation didn't cover how to connect the HomeBase 2 to your wireless network very clearly, and hooking up the HomeBase 2 via ethernet, seemed to confuse the app during set-up. Again, not a huge issue, but not a seamless, issue-less experience that should be expected from a company as consumer focused as Anker.
Once I worked through the hiccups with the getting the HomeBase 2 up and running, the actual connection to the doorbell was very slick and completely pain free. The HomeBase 2 emits and audible statement, that the doorbell must be able to hear. Just a word of warning for those wanting to use the doorbell hardwired. I recommend fully charging the doorbell’s battery before installing. Using this method will ensure enough charge in the doorbell to bring it in close enough to the HomeBase 2 so that it can "hear" the HomeBase 2. Once the doorbell hears the HomeBase 2, all is done and linked up. Again, easy and pain free, but just be aware that the pair will have to be close enough "hear" each other prior to final installation.
USE
The doorbell connects to the HomeBase 2 wirelessly. Like I stated earlier, my HomeBase 2 is connected to my network via an ethernet cable. Any events / recordings captured by the doorbell are transmitted wirelessly to the HomeBase 2 and encrypted using a 256 bit AES encryption algorithm. A clever and wise solution for Anker. The ability to store your recordings locally and not have them, and your account, potentially breached like their competitor's did is a huge bonus for the end user.
Those events and recordings are easily accessible via the EufySecurity app. You aren't required to have a cloud storage account to take advantage of the remote access to your doorbell. The app will connect to your HomeBase 2 and automatically log you in allowing full access to any activity captured. Very slick.
Here is the issue with the Anker solution. The HomeBase 2 saves its recordings on a proprietary eMMC drive housed within the HomeBase 2. The storage is fixed at 16GB with no option to expand. As of this review, my doorbell has recorded a total of 11 events, using .17GB of the total 14.7GB available. This is my main rub. While there is no way to add additional storage at the device, Anker is more than happy to sell you a subscription-based service, just like their competitors. That, to me, defeats some of the purpose of the Anker solution. With the limited storage on the device, adding more cameras, doorbells, etc will just fill the HomeBase 2 up that much quicker. There is also no option to automatically delete the oldest recordings (at least not easily found yet).
The touted Sony 2k HDR image sensor does work very well. Images are crisp and clear in both daylight and night. The Sony sensor supports resolutions of 2560 x 1920 at 15 fps. vs Anker's main competitor’s Pro model (that I also own) at 1920 x 1080. Side by side comparisons between the Eufy and their main competitor's model show a more consistent, even night image with the Eufy. Their main competitor has more "hot spots" on their image, while the Eufy is more consistent and less prone to image flair. Faces are brighter and easier to see against a bright background. This is a big improvement over their competitor’s Pro model.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The hardware appears to be very well designed and thought out. The doorbell and HomeBase 2 work very well together. Hardware installation was easy and well documented. The Sony image sensor provides a very good image both during the day and at night. The doorbell feels just as well built as the Eufy's primary competitor. One thing that Eufy totally wins the game with is battery life. The Eufy can go up to 6 months on a charge. I have installed several of Eufy's competitor's doorbells and none have given battery life anywhere close to the Eufy. Job well done.
Even with the excellently designed hardware, the lack of expandability of the HomeBase 2, I feel, is a huge miss. The whole point of this ecosystem is the ability to store your information locally, without the need for a cloud account. 16GB on a proprietary storage system without room for expansion is a no-go. Additionally, just like Eufy's competitors, Eufy also does not provide you a way to expand your storage to an existing device on the network either (NAS, Networked HDD, PC, etc).
The software has proven to be reliable. Even with the minor hiccup during installation, the software is intuitive and easy to manipulate without much effort. The software alerts notify you of the type of alert (human or other) and even show you a quick snapshot of the face of the person, if it can. Very nice!!
One item that doesn't appear to be fully baked is the "facial recognition" AI. This was a huge selling point for Anker, it is all over the Eufy website. The software even says that the doorbell has the ability to utilize the AI, but there is no known way to take advantage of it. I can't get the software to "store familiar faces to minimize false alarms". Turning to the interwebs revealed others are also experiencing similar issues with the much-touted AI.
I was able to successfully and easily integrate my Eufy with my Echo smart devices. Very well-done Anker. The Eufy will sound the doorbell chime through all my Echo devices when the doorbell is rung. Cool. That is a great solution compared to using my old school chime. You can also use your Echo Shows or Google Assistants to display the image at the doorbell. That is a great feature. Unfortunately, the great feature is a little tempered by the lengthy time required to get the image to the Echo Show. It takes approximately 18 seconds from the time you request the image, to the time the Echo can retrieve the feed and display it.
In the end, I give the Eufy doorbell a solid 4-star rating. It does everything just as well as its competitor does, but does not mandate the end user use an online, cloud account. That is a huge plus. The motion zones are just as easy to configure, the false alarm detection are just as good if not better. The app is not quite as easy to use as Eufy's primary competitor, but it can easily be updated, even so, as is, it isn't hard to use and find your way around. Anker just needs to fully implement their “facial recognition” AI to complete the package.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
How many cores are there in this pc
8 Cores / 8 Threads. Intel has disabled hyper-threading on its i7 processors.
5 years ago
by
NAMO
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
The advertisement and stated processor says its a 9th gen i7-9700 however if you click on the pdf information for this computer it states that it is an 8th Gen i7-8700? Also indicates that graphics are onboard and not the GPU?
It is the 9th Generation 9700 processor with an nVidia GTX 1660Ti graphics card. I believe all the Intel processors include onboard graphics.
5 years ago
by
NAMO
This Pioneer BDR-XD05S external drive allows you to archive up to 128GB of data on BD-R QL media and up to 100GB of data on BD-R TL media, plus supports DVD and CD formats, so you can burn your favorite movies and music to discs.
can a windows 7 computer boot from this drive ?
You should have no issues as long as your bios supports this feature.
6 years, 10 months ago
by
NAMO
This Pioneer BDR-XD05S external drive allows you to archive up to 128GB of data on BD-R QL media and up to 100GB of data on BD-R TL media, plus supports DVD and CD formats, so you can burn your favorite movies and music to discs.
Is this compatible with a Surface Book?
Mine did not work correctly with a Surface Pro, even with a powered hub. It has worked perfectly with every other computer and/or laptop I've tried it with, though.
6 years, 10 months ago
by
NAMO
Relax and enjoy your favorite films, sporting events or shows on the expansive 65-inch screen of this LG 4K HD TV. Active HDR with Dolby Vision creates an immersive experience with clear images. This LG 4K HD TV features a thin OLED design, giving the television a slender silhouette that doesn't take up much space.
Difference between the 2016 vs 2017 models? Any one what the pros/cons?
From my research, it appears the big differences are that the 2017 models come with LG's latest OS installed (WebOS 3.5 vs WebOS 3.0). LG has also worked some magic on the video processing too. They are now able to get more detail in the very darkest portions of an image, where the 2016 models would sign off on the darkest details earlier & just represent them as total black. Lastly, they able to tweak the light output on the panels to improve overall brightness, which was a common complaint of the 2016 models that were installed in fairly bright rooms from what I have heard.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
7 years ago
by
NAMO
Relax and enjoy your favorite films, sporting events or shows on the expansive 65-inch screen of this LG 4K HD TV. Active HDR with Dolby Vision creates an immersive experience with clear images. This LG 4K HD TV features a thin OLED design, giving the television a slender silhouette that doesn't take up much space.
When is bestbuy going to sell the LG B7 65 inch model?
I don't think they will. It is my understanding that the B7 is identical to the C7, but intended for Costco and/or Sam's only.
7 years ago
by
NAMO