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MiketheD
 
 
 
MiketheD's stats
 
  • Review count
    38
  • Helpfulness votes
    205
  • First review
    February 27, 2009
  • Last review
    August 6, 2017
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    4.6
 
  • Review comment count
    14
  • Helpfulness votes
    55
  • First review comment
    July 11, 2010
  • Last review comment
    November 27, 2016
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    0
 
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  • Answer count
    3
  • Helpfulness votes
    3
  • First answer
    July 23, 2014
  • Last answer
    May 6, 2017
  • Featured answers
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MiketheD's Reviews
<< 1 2 3 4 >>
 
Designed for use with a variety home automation and entertainment devices, this Logitech Harmony Elite 915-000256 remote allows easy control through closed cabinets or walls for flexible use. The remote works with Alexa, and the Harmony mobile app supports simple on-to-go operation.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Best Remote yet!
on June 24, 2016
Posted by: MiketheD
from Lafayette, LA.
Have been a Harmony 1 fan for years. This one was on sale via a price match so what the heck. Controlling multiple components including a number of Lutron dimmers as well as fans. Simple to set up. Simple to use. Simple. But also very effective. My wife is very happy as she can run the remote. Having the Hub be the source of all the commands makes it much easier than having to point your remote at the device - particularly pesky with the light and fan controllers. Controls 75" 4K HDR Sony 940D TV, Marantz AV7702mkII Pre-pro, Samsung UBD-K8500/ZA 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player, Oppo 103D Blu-ray Player Darbee Edition,
Mirage HDT Home-Theater Speaker System (LCR [OM-5s for L&R, HDT-F for center], SR, SL, SBR, SBL [HDT-Rs]), Dual SVS PB12-Plus Subs; Outlaw Audio Model 7900 Power Amp, AudioControl BijouTM THX® Equalizer, Rega RP1 Turntable, Dual Panamax M5300-PM Power Conditioners, Dual Monster Power HTS 2500 Power Conditioners, Dual Monster Power HDP 1800 Power Conditioners, Clearplay Blu-ray Player, Motorola DCX3200 HD cable receiver & Logitech Harmony Elite Remote. The included RF blasters make that easy pickins. Very highly recommended,
My Best Buy number: 0953167959
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Designed for use with home entertainment and home automation devices, this Logitech Harmony Ultimate Home remote integrates a full-color touch screen, motion sensing and vibration feedback for a seamless, intuitive Harmony control experience.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Much better than I expected
on June 23, 2016
Posted by: MiketheD
from Lafayette, LA.
Have been a Harmony 1 fan for years. This one was on sale via a price match so what the heck. Controlling multiple components including a number of Lutron dimmers as well as fans. Simple to set up. Simple to use. Simple. But also very effective. My wife is very happy as she can run the remote. Having the Hub be the source of all the commands makes it much easier than having to point your remote at the device - particularly pesky with the light and fan controllers. Controls 75" 4K HDR Sony 940D TV, Marantz AV7702mkII Pre-pro, Samsung UBD-K8500/ZA 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player, Oppo 103D Blu-ray Player Darbee Edition,
Mirage HDT Home-Theater Speaker System (LCR [OM-5s for L&R, HDT-F for center], SR, SL, SBR, SBL [HDT-Rs]), Dual SVS PB12-Plus Subs; Outlaw Audio Model 7900 Power Amp, AudioControl BijouTM THX® Equalizer, Rega RP1 Turntable, Dual Panamax M5300-PM Power Conditioners, Dual Monster Power HTS 2500 Power Conditioners, Dual Monster Power HDP 1800 Power Conditioners, Clearplay Blu-ray Player, Motorola DCX3200 HD cable receiver & Logitech Harmony Elite Remote. The included RF blasters make that easy pickins. Very highly recommended,
My Best Buy number: 0953167959
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Nest 3rd Generation Smart Learning Thermostat: Take control of your home's heating and cooling without lifting a finger with this thermostat, which learns your habits and adjusts to automatically regulate your home's temperature based on your schedule. The Nest Leaf feature alerts you when you choose a temperature that's energy efficient.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Easy to setup and very functional
on March 24, 2016
Posted by: MiketheD
from Lafayette, LA.
Bought this on a lark. Was intrigued by the ability to control remotely when away by using my iPhone. I am no electrician by a longshot but the installation instructions and website interactive help made the setup very simple. Offsite control with my phone is easy, and I can also control with my Amazon Echo. Self learning as well as programmable more. Attractive unit. Would recommend without hesitation.
My Best Buy number: 095316795
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Samsung UBD-K8500 4K Ultra HD Smart Blu-ray Player: This HDR-compatible, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player offers 4x the resolution of a standard Blu-ray player. The built-in UHD upscaling technology enhances the picture quality from standard Blu-ray discs and DVDs, and built-in Wi-Fi allows you to stream 4K movies and shows from your favorite services.Learn more about 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray ›
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Excellent, but limited benefit over 1080p
on March 5, 2016
Posted by: MiketheD
from Lafayette, LA.
Have a number of 4k TVs (Sony, Samsung) and also a 1080p Sharp Elite Pro-70X5FD. I still prefer the picture on the Elite. But on to the comments. No doubt about it, coupled with the Sony 4k set the picture quality is very good. No. Extremely good. However, at the distances we normally sit from the set (8-9 feet) I am hard pressed to say that their is any discernable difference in the perceived picture quality between the 4k and 1080p versions. I have read that the human eye just can't resolve the difference. Nothing bad to say about the unit. $399.00 is a great price for it. Just not significantly better that quality 1080p setups. And the picture quality on the Sharp Elite is still superior to all my 4k sets. Just my unscientific observations.
My Best Buy number: 095316795
I would recommend this to a friend!
+11points
22of 33voted this as helpful.
 
Enjoy rapid Internet connectivity with this ARRIS SURFboard SBG6900-AC cable modem and Wi-Fi router, which feature download speeds up to 686 Mbps and Wireless-AC technology with Wi-Fi speeds up to 1900 Mbps.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Best gateway combo so far
on January 24, 2016
Posted by: MiketheD
from Lafayette, LA.
Fast and great coverage. Easy set up. No drop outs so far. Nothing else to say really. It does what it is advertised to do and does it well.
My Best Buy number: 0953167959
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Asus Laptop: Surf the Web and stay up to date on social media using this laptop, which offers a spacious 15.6" display, plus an HDMI output for connecting to your HDTV or high-def monitor. With a 1TB hard drive, you have plenty of room to house personal files.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Bang for the buck!
on December 22, 2015
Posted by: MiketheD
from Lafayette, LA.
My review is not suggesting that this is the hottest machine on the market - far from it. But an i5 processor w/ 6 GB memory for less that $450.00 is a pretty good deal! Built in CD/DVD drive adds weight but grants function. No BT and only integrated graphics and short anticipated battery life (just bought this morning). i5 is quick enough to accomplish most "ordinary" computing tasks (WP, Internet, streaming) and basic gaming. If you need more be realistic and spend 3-500 bucks more. But at the price level this is a very nice machine and merits consideration. Would give a 4.5 if that choice were available.
My Best Buy number: 0953167959
I would recommend this to a friend!
+20points
25of 30voted this as helpful.
 
Maximize your productivity with this HP LaserJet Pro M277dw printer, which copies, scans and faxes and features built-in wireless networking that supports remote printing from compatible Android, Apple® iOS and Windows mobile devices.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
low priced wireless color workhorse for home
on November 17, 2015
Posted by: MiketheD
from Lafayette, LA.
Had an inkjet AIO and a low priced color laser to handle the spectrum of my print jobs at home. Wanted to cut down on the number of devices in the home computer room and looked around. This HP unit seemed to fit the bill. Fast printing speeds, nice text and OK color. Fax, scan and copy as well. For the price hard to beat. Will see how long the toner cartridges last, but most of my HPs have had decent life and no reason to think this will be any different. Wireless was very easy to set up. So far solid connections. Good solid buy.
My Best Buy number: 0953167959
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Sony BRAVIA KDL48W600B LED HDTV: This Sony BRAVIA TV features a 1080p display and X-Reality PRO technology to showcase your movies, TV shows and sporting events with rich detail. Built-in Wi-Fi makes it easy to wirelessly stream shows, movies and your favorite songs.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Good price for almost 50" of crisp clean HD
on September 23, 2015
Posted by: MiketheD
from Lafayette, LA.
I was looking for a 50" TV as a gift for a family member. This one caught my eye. Center stand attachment made sure that her table would be able to hold the TV (many of the new models have feet at the edge of the TV making it difficult to place the TV on a lot of TV tables). 60Hz native but the technique Sony developed to deal with motion blur seems to work very well. Lots of HDMI inputs (some sets in this price range have only 2). Wireless connection is easy to set up and so far no drops. I do not hesitate to recommend this set.
My Best Buy number: 0953167959
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
The NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi Range Extender boosts your existing network range & speed, delivering extreme dual band WiFi up to 1900Mbps. The 700mW high-powered amplifiers provide extreme range, while the dual core 800MHz processor enables maximum WiFi performance.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
tops Netgear's 1200
on August 12, 2015
Posted by: MiketheD
from Lafayette, LA.
Owned the NETGEAR - AC1200 Dual-Band Wireless-AC Range Extender and while helped some I still had signal issues on 2nd floor on the end of the house away from the router (Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3200). Read a number of favorable reviews and took the plunge. As with the previous unit, set up was a breeze. No more signal strength issues anywhere in the house. Problem solved.
My Best Buy number: 0953167959
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
4of 5voted this as helpful.
 
Only at Best BuySharp AQUOS LC-55LE653U LED HDTV: Update your living room with this stylish smart TV than can display videos from your phone and stream your favorite shows. The dual-core processor and automatic volume adjustment ensure smooth playback on the crisp HD screen and down-firing speakers.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Price/Performance has to be considered
on June 29, 2015
Posted by: MiketheD
from Lafayette, LA.
This is a 55" HDTV that costs less than $600.00. In evaluating this set you need to take that into consideration. Is it the same picture as a $7000 Sharp Elite? No. Is the picture as good or better than any 55" + set on the market for under $600.00? I think so. Want great sound? Buy a receiver and speakers or a sound bar. In my opinion, the picture is very nice - good color, not over-saturated, nice contrast and good off-angle viewing (comparatively speaking - as good as any other LED/LCD I have seen recently). Could not find an Amazon app for Prime, but can use other devices for such if required (ROKU, PS$, XBOX 1). Got this for my daughter in college and she and her roommates are thrilled. Nice buy from Best Buy!
My Best Buy number: 0953167959
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
1of 2voted this as helpful.
 
<< 1 2 3 4 >>
 
MiketheD's Review Comments
<< 1 2
 
This Sony 4K HDR TV boasts 4K technology for vibrant hues. Its X940D series features a bold 75-inch screen and slim design. Wires remain hidden, and the unit is easily wall mounted. This television has a 4K Processor X1 and 4K X-Reality PRO for crisp video. This Sony 4K HDR TV is easy to control via voice commands.
 
Overall3 out of 53 out of 5
Pretty good TV with weaknesses
By AnnaK
This is overall a pretty good television. It have very good picture quality in terms of color and and overall brightness in normal content. HDR content can reach very high brightness level, which is good. Although the brightness is not as high as the complementary 2016 Samsung SUHD televisions, I have yet to notice a difference at such high brightness levels.
However, this brings up a big weakness: black levels. Many other customer reviews claim that this television has very good black levels, but I have not found this to be the case. Perhaps they watch the television in bright areas, but I watch in a home theater setting, with close to zero ambient light. Sony used a full-array backlight to power this television, but its algorithm is very conservative in turning off zones. The pro of this is that blooming is near absent in most content. The con is that the black levels are far from good for a television of this caliber. Even turning up local dimming did not alleviate the problem. I am very disappointed by this aspect of the television, especially since this is a full-array backlit television. With dark room viewing, I actually found that the Vizio-P series is better.
That being said, the X940D is excellent at upscaling non-HD content (ages better than that of the P-series), and motion handling is good, though the brightness has to be reduced to reduce motion blur (though this may be ubiquitous with LED-backlight TVs). However, a glaring problem is that the motion handling is buggy when streaming content. During content with fast motion, blocks form on the screen. I have not noticed this with blu-rays, so I assume the issue is with software, not hardware, allowing for a firmware update-based solution.
The TV has some flashlighting (uneven backlighting) when turning off local dimming and playing back a black screen, but I rarely notice this when watching actual content.
Overall, the X940D is a good televison with great color, brightness, upscaling, motion handling, and disappointing contrast levels. It is, in my opinion, the best 75 inch television that you can get for the $6000 price tag for daytime viewing and upscaling. I have yet to see the newly released 75 inch KS9000, so I can't compare to that.
I have also had some big problems in trying to get those 4 free movies that should have been redeemable due to promotion that was present during the time I purchased the television. I put in my email and made an account for the Sony Ultra service and still have not received the code for the movies. I have contacted Sony customer service at least four times. They claimed to send two 'official' requests, but I have yet to receive the codes.
Customer Avatar
MiketheD
Lafayette, LA.
surprised at the contrast perception.
July 16, 2016
Hi. I don't necessarily agree with your perceptions of this unit's ability to handle black levels and contrast. My experience has been vastly different, and particularly so given that I have directly compared it with the Sharp Elite Pro-70XFD, a set with universally excellent reviews and praise for its black levels. 4k.com reviewed the 940D and had favorable results as well:
"Replicating black truthfully and with near perfect darkness onscreen has been a challenge only LG and Panasonic have been able to successfully take on to date and only with their OLED models. Sony’s X930/40D however comes pretty close. Thanks to new LED backlight technology, the Slim Backlight Drive, which uses a grid-array edge-mounted system rather than a back-lighting system that distributes the back-lighting source precisely to each different region of the screen. As content plays, the screen is able to recognize high contrast areas and dynamically adjust the backlight, highlighting blacks and making other colors comparatively more vivid, a process called ‘local dimming’, but taken to a relatively new degree of precision and light isolation. The larger 75 inch X940D features a slight and somewhat more precise and powerful variation on this backlighting technology with its full array LED backlight, which improves even further on Slim Backlight Drive."
I can say that I have seem some reviews commenting on this as an issue with the 930D but not the larger model (940D).
Also, I had no trouble at all redeeming the 4 movie offer.
I guess its possible that you had a set with issues, or that my subjective perception is off and colored by my desire for the set to perform as I think it does and in concert with the reviews I have read. Regardless, I hope you find a set that you can enjoy, as I am enjoying the 940D.
+4points
5of 6voted this comment as helpful.
 
Samsung UBD-K8500 4K Ultra HD Smart Blu-ray Player: This HDR-compatible, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player offers 4x the resolution of a standard Blu-ray player. The built-in UHD upscaling technology enhances the picture quality from standard Blu-ray discs and DVDs, and built-in Wi-Fi allows you to stream 4K movies and shows from your favorite services.Learn more about 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray ›
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
good product,but pricey
By thumper from calumet city,il
great product so far.learning more about it every time i use it.
Customer Avatar
MiketheD
Lafayette, LA.
not really pricey when compared to 4k players?
July 26, 2016
While it is more expensive than standard Blu ray or DVD players, for a 4k player I disagree. The upcoming Xbox One S will be available for a bit less, I think, but the Panasonic DMP-UB900 coming out in September 2016 will reportedly go for $700.
+5points
10of 15voted this comment as helpful.
 
Create gorgeous hairstyles quickly with this high-velocity Dyson Supersonic hair dryer. The rapid air flow and a temperature gauge that monitors the heat level 20 times per second ensure efficient drying without overheating tresses. The motor of this Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is in the handle for better balance and reduced arm fatigue during use.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
Time Saver
By Nannypen from Pensacola, FL
I love this hair dryer. I use some heat protectant and a dab of oil before drying and in less than 8 minutes my hair is straight enough that I don't need to use my flat iron. I have a lot of fine hair and don't dry on high as I get tangles. With a little practice you'll get the settings right for your hair. The only con for me is the price, but it's a Dyson so expect the best.
Customer Avatar
MiketheD
Lafayette, LA.
$400.00 for a hair dryer???
October 8, 2016
Title says it all. I am not adverse spending money for good electronics, but I see nothing so far anywhere that would justify paying this amount of money for a hair dryer. Wife is on board with this observation as well. What are we missing?
-2points
3of 8voted this comment as helpful.
 
Enjoy your favorite shows on this Samsung 40-inch 4K Smart TV. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth display, even during complex action scenes, and the 2160p resolution lets you see the smallest details. Multiple ports make it easy to connect gaming systems and media players to this Samsung 40-inch 4K Smart TV.
 
Overall2 out of 52 out of 5
No sound output
By Travis
I'm rating it 2 stars because picture is only half the reason I purchased this TV. I wanted a TV for the bedroom. I like to watch TV late at night when everyone is sleeping. This TV does not have the option to output external sound. I can't believe Samsung would build anything that could not use external sound. No bluetooth or anything. You can't even put headphones on it. Best Buy shouldn't even sell a TV that can't use external sound. I'm going to return this TV.
Customer Avatar
MiketheD
Lafayette, LA.
optical out
November 27, 2016
This set has an optical out. I am using it connected to a ZVOX.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
 
MiketheD's Questions
 
MiketheD has not submitted any questions.
 
MiketheD's Answers
 
Listen to music wherever you want with this Pioneer wireless audio receiver. It connects via wireless technology to music services such as Pandora and Spotify. Any mobile device connect to program the receiver, which uses the Google Cast app. This Pioneer audio wireless receiver delivers quality sound with 400W of power. Includes HDMI 4K Ultra HD and 3D pass-through technologies for compatibility with 3D TVs, Blu-ray players and gaming consoles and 4K Ultra HD TVs.
 

How do I find the amperage of a receiver? What brands tend to have higher amperage? Isn't higher amperage what produces better audio clarity and depth? Why isn't it listed in audio equipment specifications any more?

That is a great question. Used to be (in the "good old days") that receivers, amps, etc. had a pretty standard power rating system (X watts into 8 ohms all channels driven). Today, harder to gather from the ads and you really do have to go to the manufacturer's site to look at the specific specs. From the Pioneer site for my bedroom receiver (Pioneer LX101) the site gives these reports:

140 W/ch (6 ohms, 1 kHz, THD 0.9 %, 1ch Driven FTC)
80 W/ch (8 ohms, 20 Hz-20 kHz, THD 0.08 %, 2ch Driven FTC)

When you see an amplifier wattage rating of 100 watts-per-channel at 1 KHz with one channel driven, the real-world wattage output when all 5 or 7 channels are operating at the same time across all frequencies will be lower, possibly as much as 30 or 40% lower.

A better indicator is to base the measurement when two channels are driven, and use 20Hz to 20kHz tones as opposed to 1KHz. However, that still doesn't fully take into account the amplifier's power output capability when all channels are driven.

Compare the specifics with other products and find the common denominator. That's the best way for me to make a determination of receiver/amp power.

I am no expert by a long shot, but it is more than amperage that goes into the issue of sound quality. The effect of amplifier power is demonstrated by this excerpt I found online:

Sound levels are measured in Decibels (db). Our ears detect differences in volume level in a non-linear fashion. Ears become less sensitive to sound as it increases. Decibels are a logarithmic scale of relative loudness. A difference of approximately 1 db a minimum perceptible change in volume, 3 db is a moderate change in volume, and about 10 db is an approximate perceived doubling of volume.
To give you an idea of how this relates to real-world situations the following examples are listed:
0 db is the threshold of hearing
Whisper: 15-25 dB
Background noise: about 35 dB
Normal home or office background: 40-60 dB
Normal speaking voice: 65-70 dB
Orchestral climax: 105 dB
Live Rock music: 120 dB+
Pain Threshold: 130 dB
Jet aircraft: 140-180 dB

Other features such as THD (total harmonic distortion) can go into the equation, although on most modern equipment I think the THD is so low as to be negligible.

Hope that helps! Good luck.
7 years ago
by
MiketheD
 
Enjoy dramatic sound for your TV shows with the Bose® Solo TV sound system, featuring speaker array technology for deep, rich sound and digital signal processing that enhances detail in dialogue, sound effects and music.
 

Lose audio

Have my Bose solo hooked up to optical out on TV . Good quality but ever so often I lose audio and only way to get back is either to channel up or down.. Any idea how to correct.
I do not have an answer, just an observation. I got a Bose Solo for someone and had the same problems with another brand of TV. Got a ZVOX 555 the next time the need arose (less expensive) and IMHO better sound for a cheaper price.
9 years, 8 months ago
by
MiketheD
   Lafayette, LA.
 
Samsung UN50HU8550FXZA LED 4K Ultra HD TV: Step up to a new world of picture resolution with this Samsung Ultra HD TV. Display 4K content at 4x the resolution of Full HD, plus upscale all of your current TV shows and movies in amazing detail. You can also download the newest software and features, so you'll never get left behind as new 4K TV standards and smart technologies arrive.
 

Does this tv have amazon instant video?

Yes.
9 years, 9 months ago
by
MiketheD
   Lafayette, LA.