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ryanmcv's Reviews
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Enjoy lag-free gaming with this Linksys dual-band Wi-Fi router. Its Killer prioritization engine works with Killer-enabled computers to minimize peak ping by up to 77 percent, and the 1.8GHz CPU delivers super-fast speeds with wired and wireless connections. This Linksys dual-band Wi-Fi router has a custom-built user interface that lets you manage your gaming network performance.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
A Gamer's New Best Friend
on September 21, 2017
Posted by: ryanmcv
from Phoenix, AZ
In a crowded market of accessories that aiming to enhance the PC gaming experience, the new WRT32X router claims to cut down latency and prioritize gaming bandwidth. It's equipped with the Killer Prioritization Engine. If your rig has a Killer ethernet or wireless card, the WRT32X will prioritize gaming traffic from that device above all other network activity. In my experience, it lives up to its claims.
PROS:
- Easy set-up and sleek packaging. Like all other modern Linksys routers, setup is as easy as connecting your modem and then navigating to 192.168.1.1 in a browser. The router is simplistically packaged, giving the feel of a premium device.
- The router configuration interface at 192.168.1.1 is by far the nicest I have ever used. It's incredibly simple yet very powerful. See the attached screenshot. The main dashboard shows current network traffic, speed test results, and connected devices. Advanced settings like prioritization, port forwarding, etc. are easy to access and don't feel overwhelming. If nothing else, Linksys has hit a home run with the design of this new configuration page.
- Seamless prioritization of Killer-enabled devices. The router automatically detects my Alienware PC with a Killer E2500 ethernet card. In the router's prioritization page, my PC is shown at the top with the option to manually prioritze non-Killer devices.
- Gaming latency on Killer devices is noticeably reduced when there is high activity on your network. If your gaming PC is the only device utilizing the network, you're not going to see much difference. In fact, while playing Team Fortress 2 with no other network traffic, I saw a decrease in ping of only 3 to 5 ms versus my previous Linksys router. I tested it again while two smart TVs were streaming 4K video. On my old Linksys router, gaming latency immediately increased to more than 100 ms. On the WRT32X, latency remained steady at about 30 ms while my TVs continued to stream 4K video without interruption.
- Solid Wi-Fi performance. The router is certified for Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS), meaning the 5 GHz band can operate on channels normally reserved for radar. In high-density housing environments like my apartment complex, this will grealy reduce interference from neighboring networks. A local file transfer between two laptops connected via 5 GHz showed transfer speeds up to 500 mbps at 30 feet: more than acceptable for my purposes.
CONS:
- The LEDs on the front of the device might be useful to some, but to me they are rather annoying and flash excessively. Luckily they can be disabled via the configuration page.
- The router includes one USB port and one eSATA/USB combo port to connect external storage devices. However, I could not get the router to report the correct storage capacities of my 3 TB hard drives. When accessing them through the SMB protocol on both Windows and Mac, the reported storage capacity was only 100 MB. I tried reformatting to both NTFS and FAT32 file systems, but the issue persisted. If network storage is important to you, this should be a consideration until Linksys issues a firmware update.
- This is not a "smart" router, so you cannot use the Linksys app to setup or control the router remotely.
OVERALL:
For the first time in a while, I can easily recommend a product targeted towards gaming enhancement. If you have any Killer-enabled devices, this is a no-brainer: the router will greatly improve your gaming experience on high-traffic networks. Even if you aren't a gamer or don't have any Killer devices, this is still a solid router with a beautiful configuration interface, solid wireless performance, and DFS. Hopefully Linksys will improve external storage performance. Recommended!
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
 
The Keurig K-Select single serve coffee maker in Matte Black combines sleek design and more intuitive features to help you brew your perfect cup every single time. It features four brew sizes, so you can brew 6, 8, 10, or up to 12 oz. of your favorite coffee, tea, hot cocoa, or iced beverage with the touch of a button. And for those who like a stronger cup of coffee, the Keurig K-Select brewer is the perfect choice. The Strong Brew feature kicks up your coffee’s strength and intensity, so you can enjoy a bolder brew. Choose from hundreds of delicious varieties of K-Cup pods, or brew your own ground coffee with the My-K-Cup Universal Reusable Coffee Filter (sold separately). With the K-Select brewer, you can brew 5 cups between refills of the large 52 oz. water reservoir.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Keurig Goes Back to the Basics
on September 8, 2017
Posted by: ryanmcv
from Phoenix, AZ
When Keurig released its "Version 2.0" brewers a few years back, the company was criticized for over-complicating what should be a relatively simple device. With this new K-Select model, Keurig has brought over some of the better features of its 2.0 brewers and left off the unnecessary gimmicks.
PROS:
- No "digital rights management" technology. On most of its 2.0 brewers, Keurig implemented a technology that forces the consumer to use only Keurig-approved K-Cups. The company has since rolled back this technology, and luckily this brewer does not seem to include it at all. Generic brand K-Cups and reusable filters work with no problems on this K-Select brewer.
- Includes an option for strong brew. I believe this is the first brewer in Keurig's "Classic" series to include the option, and it works well.
- Uses simple buttons instead of an LCD screen. Some may prefer the screen, but the buttons allow you to begin a brew much quicker without having to tap through menus on a screen. I use my Keurig in a busy office and I love being able to just press one button and be on my way.
- Surprisingly large water reservoir. With its compact size, I was expecting it to hold much less water. However, the 52-ounce reservoir is perfect for a busy office or home kitchen with limited space.
- There's no need to wait for the brewer to heat up before inserting a K-Cup and selecting your cup size. While it's still pre-heating, simply select the cup size button and it will brew as soon as it's ready.
- It has a matte-black finish that doesn't show fingerprints or dust.
- Very quiet. This is probably the quietest Keurig brewer that I've owned.
CONS:
- The lid of the water reservoir is not attached by a hinge and is easy to knock off the brewer if your hand touches it with too much force.
- The plastic that makes up the Keurig feels rather cheap. The brewer is very lightweight, but I'm hoping that didn't come at the cost of poor design and reliability. Time will tell.
OVERALL:
If you're looking for a simple, no-frills Keurig brewer, this is it. It offers the best parts of Keurig's 2.0 brewers without any of the bloat. It's fast, quiet, has a large water tank, and is very compact. Highly recommended!
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+60points
63of 66voted this as helpful.
 
Experience stunning Ultra HD content with this LG Blu-ray player with multi-HDR compatibility lets you enjoy the full image quality and features of an HDR TV. This LG Blu-ray player has two HDMI outputs to accommodate a HDTV and a cable box. 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.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Good Player; Skimps on Features & Build Quality
on August 10, 2017
Posted by: ryanmcv
from Phoenix, AZ
Having used two other 4K UHD Blu-ray players, I can say that the LG UP970 feels decidedly more entry-level than competing models. It does the job without any major issues and is fast with a sleek design. However, it lacks many advanced options and doesn't feel as solidly built compared to other players.
PROS:
- Easy set up. Simply connect an HDMI cable (make sure it's a Certified Premium cable), plug it into a power outlet, and then follow the on-screen instructions.
- Very fast and responsive. Discs are fast to load and the unit responds to commands from the remote quickly.
- Dual HDMI outputs. HDMI 2 is reserved for audio-only output. Perfect for those with older soundbars or receivers that can't pass through an HDR signal.
- Great picture quality. I've tried several UHD Blu-rays, 3D Blu-rays, regular Blu-rays, and even some old DVDs. All look very nice, if not a bit softer-looking compared to my other 4K players. For UHD Blu-rays, the player automatically engages the HDR mode on my TV without me having to do anything.
- The remote control is lightweight and comfortable to hold.
COULD BE BETTER:
- Other reviewers have stated that this player sounds like a "jet engine" while spinning Blu-ray discs. I certainly don't think the player is THAT loud. Louder than competing brands/models? Sure, but not by much. As soon as I move more than 3 feet from the player, I can't hear it at all.
- Compared to my other 4K player, the overall build quality of this LG seems average at best. The LG UP970 is very lightweight and the plastic feels rather cheap. This likely contributes to the slightly louder noise during disc playback. Not a major issue, but because this player is priced identically to competing models, it's something to consider.
- There is no "subtitle" button on the remote. If you want to turn on subtitles during movie playback, you'll need to press the "info" button and then turn on subtitles via an on-screen menu.
- LG has stated that this player will support Dolby Vision, but there is no sign of such support at the time of this review. Hopefully a firmware update will be released soon.
CONS:
- The user interface design of this player is archaic - like something out of the early 2000s. It's a shame that LG couldn't implement a version of webOS that it uses on its smart TVs.
- The settings menu is extremely limited. There are no advanced audio/video settings. No Bluetooth connectivity for wireless headphones. No obvious way to stream media from a home network.
- Only two streaming services - Netflix and YouTube - are available at the time of this review. I'm hopeful that Vudu, Amazon, and others will be added in the future, but there's been no word from LG.
OVERALL:
If you're looking for a basic, no-frills 4K Blu-ray player, give this one a look. However, competing models in the same price range offer more advanced features, more streaming services, and better build quality. If/when LG updates this player to support Dolby Vision, that will help it stand out.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+27points
34of 41voted this as helpful.
 
Get seriously clean floors without the effort thanks to this Roomba robot vacuum. It automatically navigates across your carpet or vinyl while avoiding hazards and keeping track of its location all the while picking up dirt, debris and mess. Automatic recharging keeps this Roomba robot vacuum powered so that it's ready to go.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great Vacuum, But Scatterbrained
on July 24, 2017
Posted by: ryanmcv
This is a great vacuum for picking up the small messes and crumbs that accumulate on your floor each day. It's simple to use and is very powerful, but it often fails to clean a majority of my floor.
PROS:
- Fairly easy setup, but allow for a few minutes of planning. You'll need to place the dock in an open area where the Roomba can easily access it. Place the barrier device in front of any room or obstacle that you want the Roomba to avoid. Configuring the smartphone app is also painless and allows you to begin and schedule cleaning via the app.
- Excellent vacuuming abilities on both hard floors and carpets. I use the vacuum in the lower level of my home, which covers the kitchen, hallway, office, and dining room. After 5 days of use, I have noticed a huge decrease in the amount of food crumbs, dust, and hair on my floors.
- Navigates under furniture very nicely, including my kitchen counter, office desk, and stools.
CONS:
- This Roomba is scatterbrained at best. If you watch it clean, you will notice that it aimlessly bumps into walls, furniture, and other obstacles until it finds its way around them. There is no discernible pattern to its movement. As such, it tends to completely miss some areas of my floor and spends too much time on others. I've learned to run the Roomba when I'm not home so I don't go crazy while I watch it bump into a wall for 5 minutes.
- The dust bin seems to get full very quickly. I typically have to empty it each time the Roomba runs.
OVERALL:
Is this Roomba going to replace your standard vacuum? No, and you shouldn't expect it to. What it does -- at least for me -- is clean up small messes and debris between my regular vacuuming and cleaning days. I no longer find myself stepping on food crumbs and dust on my floor. If you want a more customizable Roomba, you'll have to step up to a higher model at almost twice the price. Those caveats in mind, I'd recommend this Roomba to those looking to augment their regular cleaning routine.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+30points
36of 42voted this as helpful.
 
Immerse yourself in music or movies with this LG TONE Studio wearable speaker. It has four drivers to let you experience three-dimensional surround sound and feel low-frequency vibrations from the bass through your body. This LG TONE Studio wearable speaker is Bluetooth compatible for easy connection to your smart devices.
 
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Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Mediocre Sound; Overall Strange Concept
on July 13, 2017
Posted by: ryanmcv
LG's TONE Studio headphones attempt to combine Bluetooth headphones with a personal speaker worn around the neck. It's an intriguing idea, but after a few days of use, it just doesn't seem practical to me. Here's my take:
OVERVIEW:
- LG has designed a large, horseshoe-like neckband that, simply put, looks absurd. I certainly have no desire to wear this in public, but perhaps it's fine at home or at work.
- At each end of the horseshoe are small earphones attached to a thin wire. Speakers on the neckband fire upward towards your ears. You can switch between the earphones and speakers using a switch on the inner portion of the neckband.
- A feature called Wearable Bass provides haptic feedback through the speakers to supposedly create a more immersive experience.
PROS:
- Despite the awkward design, the neckband is actually pretty comfortable and lightweight. It's rather flexible and doesn't push in on my neck.
- Very easy set up and pairing process. I paired with my iPhone, iPad, and LG Smart TV with no issues.
- Excellent battery life. After 6 hours of use (mixture of both earphones and speakers), the battery was still at 70%.
CONS:
- Both the earphones and speakers sound very flat and lack the "surround sound experience" that LG promises with this product. With the earphones, bass notes sound like gentle taps; vocals are clear and crisp, but surrounding music sounds hollow and tinny. The speakers don't fare much better: bass is a bit more powerful, but again, they just sound flat and lackluster. The surround sound effect from the speakers is questionable: I paired these with my Blu-ray player and listened to a 5.1 Dolby Digital track, although I would have thought I was listening through my phone speakers. In fact, I think the speakers on my iPhone 7 might be more immersive.
- The Wearable Bass feature seems to do more harm that good. The haptic vibrations actually bothered the skin around my neck, so I had to disable it.
- The earphone wires are extremely thin -- so thin, that I'm worried I might break them by accidentally yanking too hard. Getting the thin wires to retract properly into the neckband takes a bit of patience.
OVERALL:
Audio quality issues aside, this product confuses me. I can't imagine myself in a situation where I would want to listen to audio via speakers around my neck. In public, you'll look strange and you'll bother those around you. At home, I suppose you could use these to listen to music or TV without bothering the neighbors. But honestly, I think your TV's speakers, even at their lowest volume settings, would likely sound better than the LG TONE Studio. If you're looking for portable audio, I would suggest investing in a dedicated portable Bluetooth speaker. Likewise, if you're looking for headphones, you should get a pair of dedicated headphones from a reputable brand. LG has tried to combine the two, but their effort has quite literally fallen flat.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+3points
4of 5voted this as helpful.
 
Ensure maximum comfort from this Logitech mouse. The precise ergonomic design ensures you stay comfortable throughout the day even if you're a power user, and the additional side button lets you create a custom setup. Smooth gliding is assured from this Logitech mouse thanks to the low-resistance base that slips over any surface.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
The Wireless Mouse Perfected
on June 30, 2017
Posted by: ryanmcv
As a writer and researcher, I spend most of my work days in front of two monitors and two computers scrolling through long documents and reports. I previously used a Logitech keyboard/mouse combo - which I loved and didn't think could possibly get any better. That is, until I discovered the MX Master S2. For those who are serious about productivity and multitasking, this is the new pinnacle of wireless mouse technology.
PROS:
- Easy setup. The mouse connected to both of my Windows computers (one desktop and one laptop) via Bluetooth. The real power of this mouse is in the Logitech Options program (free download on Logitech's website), which allows you customize the buttons, pointer speed, scrolling direction, and so much more.
- The Flow feature really surprised me -- I wasn't expecting it to work as well as it does. After installing the Options program on both computers and ensuring that both are on the same network, this mouse has essentially combined both of my machines into one dual-monitor setup. Just like if you had two displays side-by-side, if you move the cursor through the right side of one screen to the other, the cursor passes over to the other computer on the opposite side. You can even copy text and files on one machine, move the cursor over to the other machine, and paste them. There is a slight delay when pasting, especially with large files, but it's so much more convenient than emailing or swapping an external drive.
- Incredibly comfortable. The ergonomic shape and thumb rest really make this mouse easy to use for hours on end. It may sound weird, but I actually look forward to holding this mouse because it feels so comfortable.
- Possibly my favorite feature: the different scrolling modes used by the center scroll wheel. You can choose from either ratchet (a slight "click" feedback while scrolling) or freespin, which allows you to spin the wheel as fast as you want, and it will keep scrolling until you stop it. Freespin is perfect for when I need to scroll through 300-page reports.
- The mouse seems to work on practically any surface. I've tried a wooden desk and even a clear glass desk - both worked flawlessly.
- Long battery life. Logitech claims 70 days on a full charge. The battery is rechargeable via USB cable, so you don't have to worry about having spare batteries lying around.
CONS:
- The forward/back buttons near the thumb area seem just a bit too small. On several occasions, I've accidentally hit the "forward" button when I meant to hit "back." Not a huge deal - I'm sure I will get used to it.
OVERALL:
For me, the MX Master S2 is the perfect wireless mouse. Anyone who considers themselves a "multitasker" or who works in front of multiple computers should strongly consider this mouse. Even if you're not a power user or multitasker, this mouse still offers incredible battery life, comfort, and customization options. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+20points
24of 28voted this as helpful.
 
Create an intelligent home network with this all in one Samsung mesh WiFi Router and Smart Home Hub. Not only does it deliver an optimized Wi-Fi signal to every corner of your home, it also works as a SmartThings Hub, connecting compatible cameras, lights, voice assistants, and more to create your smart home. Now you can manage your Wi-Fi and all your smart devices from the palm of your hand with this Samsung Mesh WiFi Router and Smart Home Hub.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Great Smart Hub, Not-So-Great Router
on June 29, 2017
Posted by: ryanmcv
With more and more smart devices entering our homes, the new Samsung Connect Home products appear to offer a great all-in-one solution: a wireless router/mesh Wi-Fi system that can also act as a central hub to control all of your connected smart devices. Samsung has delivered a great smart hub device, but the router itself doesn't quite live up to the "pro" name.
PROS:
- Very easy setup. The Connect Home Pro comes in a small, compact box with the router, power cord, and ethernet cord. Simply connect the router to your modem, plug it into a wall outlet, and launch the Samsung Connect app on your mobile device.
- Small, compact size. This device will fit practically anywhere and has a sleek, modern design.
- Wi-Fi coverage is good for such a small device. For this Pro model, Samsung claims it will cover 1,500 square feet. In my 1,000 square-foot apartment, it provides full coverage in almost every corner.
- The SmartThings Hub functionality works wonderfully. I love the ability to control my Philips Hue lights and Arlo Pro camera system within a single app. Best of all, the Connect Home Pro recognizes compatible smart devices as soon as they connect to the Wi-Fi network, and it's super easy to set them up and control them within the Samsung Connect app. The more devices you have, the better it gets. If you have a smart vacuum, for instance, you can configure the app to activate the vacuum when your other devices detect that you've left the house. Simply put, the Hub portion of this router enables communication between your smart devices, allowing you immense control over scheduling and scenarios.
CONS:
- As a wireless router, this device lacks almost every advanced setting you can think of. As far as I can tell, Wi-Fi settings can only be adjusted through the app, and the app only has a few basic settings such as guest network, Wi-Fi name and password, and device prioritization. You can't separate the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. I don't see any options for port forwarding. All settings are controlled through Samsung's smart service, so if that or your Internet connection go down, you won't be able to access the device's settings. This is a far cry from a "pro" router.
- There is only one ethernet out port on the back of the router, so if you want to hard-wire more than one device, you'll need to use an ethernet switch.
- Speeds drop off quite significantly the farther you get from the router. Standing next to the router, I can max out my 200 mbps Internet connection. However, once I get about 30 feet from the router, my speeds are cut in half. A local file transfer between two wirelessly-connected computers within 10 feet of the router indicated that speeds fluctuated between 20 and 250 mbps with no real consistency. In my testing, devices connected to the slower 2.4 GHz band first and then hopped over to 5 GHz when I did any bandwidth-intensive activity. But even on 5 GHz, I rarely saw transfer speeds of over 200 mbps.
- Not a huge issue, but this device has an internal fan that can be audible in very quiet rooms. I heard it kick on three times over the past two days.
- This pro model is sold individually and not in packs of three like the standard model. So if you want to create a mesh Wi-Fi network with the supposedly faster speeds of the pro model, you'll have to buy additional pro units at full price.
OVERALL:
As a SmartThings Hub, the Connect Home Pro really shines. Just make sure your smart devices are compatible with Samsung SmartThings, or else this device will not recognize them. As a router, the Connect Home Pro seems to fall flat. It will likely work fine for smaller homes with basic Wi-Fi and streaming needs, but busier homes with tons of devices may want to look elsewhere.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
10of 19voted this as helpful.
 
Fill your space with rich surround sound by using this 7.1.2 channel Sony Dolby Atmos sound bar. Its S-Force PRO front surround and wavefront technology distribute dynamic, three-dimensional audio details via the included coaxial speakers. This Wi-Fi-enabled Sony Dolby Atmos sound bar supports high-definition A/V components with its four HDMI ports.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Powerful, Immersive Soundbar Experience
on June 28, 2017
Posted by: ryanmcv
I've been excited to get my hands on the HT-ST5000 soundbar ever since it was announced at CES this year, and I'm glad to say that it was well worth the wait. If you're a cinephile looking for the easiest way to bring theater-quality sound into your home, this may be the answer.
SETUP AND CONFIGURATION (5 Stars):
The soundbar ships in a heavy, awkwardly-shaped box with no handles anywhere, so I would recommend having someone help you out. Once unpacked, the system is incredibly easy to set up. A 4K-capable HDMI cable is included. Plug the HDMI cable into the ports labeled HDMI ARC on the soundbar and your TV (if supported), and then connect your other devices to the HDMI IN ports on the soundbar. The subwoofer is wireless and automatically connects to the soundbar once its plugged into a power outlet. You can optionally connect a magnetic mesh cover to hide the front-facing drivers. Follow the on-screen setup procedures, and you'll be up and running in mere minutes.
DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY (4.5 Stars):
At first glance, there is no doubt that this is a premium product. The soundbar and subwoofer are heavy and substantial, but should easily blend in with any home theater setup. The top-mounted, upfiring speakers are placed behind sturdy metal grilles. There is a crisp display on the front which shows the volume level and current input selected. There are even keyholes on the back if you want to wall-mount the soundbar. Connectivity is very generous, with three HDCP 2.2-capable HDMI inputs on the rear and a USB port on the right side of the soundbar. You can connect to your home network wirelessly or via the ethernet port on the back. My only gripe is the design of the remote. It looks way too similar to my Sony Blu-ray player remote and feels very cheap in comparison to the rest of the system.
FEATURES AND OPTIONS (4 Stars):
Sony has made it very easy to customize and adjust the settings of this soundbar. By pressing the Home button on the remote, you can access the Setup screen and adjust the settings for ceiling height, seating distance from the soundbar, advanced HDMI settings, and much more. Spotify and Chromecast are built-in as easy ways to stream content to the soundbar. There are several preset options for sports, music, etc., but I find that "ClearAudio+" suits most content. Unfortunately, there is one glaring omission in supported formats: this soundbar does not support any type of DTS signal. Luckily, my Sony UBP-X800 Blu-ray player seems to detect that the soundbar does not support DTS and sends an LPCM signal instead. But I have read reports of DTS tracks simply not playing on this soundbar with other Blu-ray players. Rumor is that Sony may be preparing a firmware update to enable DTS later this year. But regardless, this is a huge oversight by Sony that will hopefully be corrected.
SOUND QUALITY (5 Stars):
Simply put, I've never heard anything sound so amazing in my home. Granted, I've always owned soundbars and not dedicated surround systems. But this soundbar delivers rich, enveloping sound. I watched the UHD Blu-ray of Magnificent Seven and actually turned my head several times due to the sensation of bullets flying around the room. The UHD Blu-ray of Mad Max: Fury Road also impressed, with the soundbar clearly separating dialogue, music, and explosions and placing sounds all around my living room. I can't say that I really noticed any sounds coming from directly overhead, but this might require some more fine-tuning of the distance settings. Dialogue is clear, loud, and crisp. There is no distortion at higher volumes. The subwoofer is absolutely thunderous -- anything above volume level 5 is overkill to me. I am absolutely amazed at how Sony put such capabilities into a sleek, compact soundbar.
OVERALL:
I'm not an audiophile, but the overall package of the HT-ST5000 is amazing to me. Hats off to Sony for delivering such an immersive experience in a product that can be used and installed by practically anyone. I sincerely hope that Sony adds support for DTS formats, as I know that this will anger many potential buyers. That issue aside, you'd be hard-pressed to find another soundbar with such capabilities. Highly recommended!
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+114points
130of 146voted this as helpful.
 
Kick your listening experience up to a whole new level with wireless JLab Audio Epic Bluetooth earbuds. The 10-hour battery life lets you enjoy your music all day, and crystal clear radical sound creates a smooth, precise and memorable listening experience. Get the most out of your music, phone calls and audio books with JLab Audio Epic Bluetooth earbuds.
 
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Customer Rating
1 out of 5
1
Cheap Materials, Bad Sound, Poor Quality Control
on June 27, 2017
Posted by: ryanmcv
I wanted to like these, but JLab really dropped the ball with my set of Epic2 headphones. I'd normally list the pros first, but I'm so disappointed that I'm starting with the cons.
CONS:
- The Epic2s are supposed to come with 6 pairs of silicone ear tips. Well, I got 6 ear tips, but not 6 PAIRS of ear tips. My box only had 1 of each type of ear tip. Yes, I looked everywhere - inside the carrying case, in every plastic bag -- they're not there.
- After I removed the headphones from the box, I noticed that the black coating on the cord was starting to peel. This is probably because JLab forcefully bends the cord to fit it into the awkward box. Not a good first impression, and I'm sure it's only going to get worse.
- It's too bad that JLab didn't provide all of the ear tips, because the ones that come installed by default do not fit me well at all. They are way too small for my ears and slide out while I'm running. It would have been nice to try another set of ear tips, but I obviously can't do that.
- These things just aren't comfortable on my ears. The over-ear loops just feel awkward and don't allow much room for adjustment.
- The cord is just ridiculously long. The headphones come with 2 cable clips (which I actually got - yay!), but they are awkward to use and you're warned that using them might kill your Bluetooth connection. No thanks.
- The volume and track control buttons are horribly placed. I feel like I have to reach around and grab the back of my neck if I want to adjust the volume.
- Speaking of sound and volume, these headphones just don't sound good. They are way too bass-heavy and voices/dialogue sound extremely muted.
PROS:
- They turn on and connect to Bluetooth as expected.
- Comes with a nice carrying case.
- Battery life estimate of 12 hours seems to be accurate.
OVERALL:
I've emailed JLab to see about getting replacement ear tips, but even with those, I think I'll still avoid these headphones. I wouldn't want the cord to start peeling apart mid-workout. The title of this review says it all: these headphones are made from cheap materials, have bad sound quality, and apparently go through minimal quality control processes. Avoid at all costs.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+4points
11of 18voted this as helpful.
 
Toss this waterproof LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker in the pool and watch it float. The crisp audio doesn't stop for snow, dirt or ice, and this Bluetooth-enabled speaker can withstand a drop from 1.2m. The battery of this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker keeps going for 15 hours, and it charges your phone while it's playing.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Perfect Outdoor Companion
on June 24, 2017
Posted by: ryanmcv
I’ve been waiting for a portable speaker to use by the pool, at the lake, and during all of my outdoor trips here in Arizona. While there are some compromises in sound quality, LifeProof has designed a speaker that truly delivers a complete package. Here’s my take:
PROS:
- Lightweight and easy to handle. Don’t be fooled by the heavy box that houses the speaker. This thing feels lighter than it looks and the handles on each corner make it very easy to pick up and carry around.
- Sturdy and rugged build quality. LifeProof claims that the speaker can survive drops from almost 4 feet, and I believe it. There is no flex anywhere on the speaker’s body and the buttons on top are a thick, dense rubber that won’t wear out.
- I absolutely love the waterproof and buoyancy features. The drybox on the bottom easily fits my iPhone 7 Plus. I tested the buoyancy in my pool, and sure enough - it floats! During a long afternoon of being splashed and submerged in the pool, the speaker powered through it all and kept playing all of my music —- from my iPhone which was in the drybox. There’s even an auxiliary port and a USB charging port in the drybox.
- Long battery life. LifeProof claims 15 hours. After 6 hours at the pool, 3 of the 4 battery indicator lights near the power button were still illuminated, indicating about 75% of battery remaining. Couldn’t ask for anything better than that.
- With the built-in microphone, this speaker can act as a speakerphone if you get a phone call while connected via Bluetooth. I tried it once indoors and it seemed to work well.
COULD BE BETTER:
- Honestly, the sound quality isn’t perfect. It’s rather hollow-sounding at times and could use some more oomph when it comes to lows/bass. That being said, it still sounds good and the volume gets very loud. Considering that this is going to be used mainly during outdoor activities, it’s more than acceptable.
- The charging cable is a proprietary wall plug. You can’t charge this via USB, so if you’re outdoors without easy access to a wall outlet, this could be a challenge.
OVERALL:
For anyone who wants to bring their music with them during outdoor adventures, LifeProof has delivered an excellent speaker that will survive almost anything that you throw at it. Sound quality could be better, but I didn’t get this speaker expecting studio-quality sound. The versatility and durability of the speaker more than make up for any shortcomings. Highly recommended!
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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User submitted photo
+7points
9of 11voted this as helpful.
 
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