YourMainDude's stats
- Review count115
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- First reviewNovember 4, 2016
- Last reviewMay 2, 2024
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- First answerNovember 1, 2018
- Last answerNovember 1, 2018
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Take music wherever you go with this Marshall Kilburn II Bluetooth speaker. It produces clear midrange sound with deep, powerful bass, and it provides 20 hours of playtime on a single charge, so you can listen to playlists all day. This Marshall Kilburn II Bluetooth speaker has a solid metal grille for durability.
Customer Rating
5
Not what I expected ...
on September 9, 2018
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
I've put my hands on various Marshall products at Best Buy over the years but I truly thought it was a marketing gimmick with no real prowess behind the insignia. Much to my surprise, I have to admit I was wrong.
The Marshall - Kilburn II Portable Bluetooth Speaker is a quality piece of equipment. From the velvet lined handle, to the reinforced corners, to the feel of the knobs ... right down to the audio performance - this speaker was a complete surprise. As a preface summary, this speaker unit is in a league of it's own and shouldn't be confused with all those other 'pill' style speakers - which are cool products - but not nearly as powerful or long lasting.
The knobs have a nice legacy Marshall feel to them. Beyond those controls, the LED battery indicator is large and functional. Pairing with my phone was quick and flawless. The rear port/speaker is probably the defining attribute with this box. Sound is loud, clear and comes through with an amazing about of spacial depth I thought impossible until I looked more closely at the porting at the rear of the speaker cabinet. Versus a handful of other Bluetooth speakers I've owned & tried, this one is distinctly Marshall in sound character. Some people may not like the staging of this beast compared to other speakers and those product attempts at 'wide' sound dispersion, but for an outdoor music blaster - this thing cuts through ambient stuff with solid fidelity and with an adequate about of sound staging ...like a Marshall should.
Charging is relatively fast and I like the fact that the power cord has an IEC type plug instead of a barrel connector. I would make an educated guess that this was done to provide for a more solid power connection while using the speaker plugged in and for wear & tear longevity. Nice touch Marshall. Battery life is outstanding at moderate listening levels and I've repeatedly surpassed the rated spec of 20 hours. 2.5 hours to fully charge is not a lot to ask for a device that lasts this long and the 30 minute quick-charge feature is handy.
The aptX 5.0 hardware is a nice compatibility facet for the future. Luckily my current mobile device support this new specification. Range easily exceeds 30 ft, around corners/through walls and I haven't noticed any dropped or choppy connections during playback.
This thing is loud, so be prepared for a lot of gain in the volume range. Bass and treble seem a tad bit limited but then again, I've not used this unit long enough to have it run through a proper break-in period. The treble control has enough head-room to cut through the din of noise when used outside with that little bit of extra 'slice'. Bass is punchy but doesn't rattle the chassis at full bore. We'll have to see how the construction holds up over time and after the drivers loosen up a bit.
A solid design throughout.
You've done good Marshall!
You've done good Marshall!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience lag-free, immersive audio with this wireless Plantronics gaming headset. It has support for lifelike Dolby Atmos sound, and the sound-isolating ear cups and noise-canceling microphone keep your focus on the game. This lightweight Plantronics gaming headset has a 24-hour battery life and convenient analog adjustments for custom game audio settings.
Customer Rating
3
Hard to pick an overall rating ... Too many misses
on August 9, 2018
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
Presentation
The packaging is typical and nothing noteworthy. The complete omission of comprehensive instructions was a complete shock. Not what I would have expected in a $100+ product.
The inclusion of the Dolby software license key was essential and I am glad it was provided.
The headphones themselves are light, logically ergonomic and easy to control with the positioning of the scroll wheels and switches. Although not the most sexy pair of wireless PC/Gaming headphones, the mainly black presentation with subtle color accents is still sort of cool.
Adjustability is limited with only 3 positions for the cans achieved through a rather clunky ‘snap in’ arrangement. The tension band below the main band structure IS very comfortable and adjustable but this design is not optimal in my mind … in terms of a complete, personal comfort fit. The snap action of cans into the band doesn’t appear to be a design attribute akin to something “long lasting”.
One side note – consumer products released in 2018 should be using a USB-C connector anymore. MicroUSB is prone to damage and wear. I’ll just leave it at that…
The packaging is typical and nothing noteworthy. The complete omission of comprehensive instructions was a complete shock. Not what I would have expected in a $100+ product.
The inclusion of the Dolby software license key was essential and I am glad it was provided.
The headphones themselves are light, logically ergonomic and easy to control with the positioning of the scroll wheels and switches. Although not the most sexy pair of wireless PC/Gaming headphones, the mainly black presentation with subtle color accents is still sort of cool.
Adjustability is limited with only 3 positions for the cans achieved through a rather clunky ‘snap in’ arrangement. The tension band below the main band structure IS very comfortable and adjustable but this design is not optimal in my mind … in terms of a complete, personal comfort fit. The snap action of cans into the band doesn’t appear to be a design attribute akin to something “long lasting”.
One side note – consumer products released in 2018 should be using a USB-C connector anymore. MicroUSB is prone to damage and wear. I’ll just leave it at that…
Initial Setup
The steps to get these ‘installed’ on a PC were clear enough in the included pamphlet and the instructions to enable the Dolby Atmos app in Windows 10 was pretty much self explanatory & went off without a hitch. The rest is rather rudimentary as the controls integral to Windows 10 is all you get with respect to choice of codec and basic sound control parameters… that and whatever application you may be using at the time and its ability to adjust the sound. (e.g. EQ, bass boost, etc, etc.)
The steps to get these ‘installed’ on a PC were clear enough in the included pamphlet and the instructions to enable the Dolby Atmos app in Windows 10 was pretty much self explanatory & went off without a hitch. The rest is rather rudimentary as the controls integral to Windows 10 is all you get with respect to choice of codec and basic sound control parameters… that and whatever application you may be using at the time and its ability to adjust the sound. (e.g. EQ, bass boost, etc, etc.)
Performance
I ran through the 4 built-in sound-field enhancement settings that are selected via a button located on the bottom of the right ‘can’ and honestly, “Pure” was the only tolerable setting across music, gaming and the plethora of Dolby demo content available through the windows app.
I ran through the 4 built-in sound-field enhancement settings that are selected via a button located on the bottom of the right ‘can’ and honestly, “Pure” was the only tolerable setting across music, gaming and the plethora of Dolby demo content available through the windows app.
1st about music fidelity. As other have mentioned, the overall gain (volume potential) of these headphones is subpar to other wireless setups I have reviewed and even more so vs. the few wired gaming headsets I own and regularly use. I’m OK with a little less gain on a wireless platform compared to a wired setup but the RIG 800HD’s are just a bit too quiet for my taste. Running through a variety of modern pop, jazz and live recordings I found that the overall fidelity was too bright – even in the “Pure” mode – and didn’t represent anything close to being a flat response. From 500 Hz and up, these headphones are simply WAY TOO BRIGHT out-of-the-box and I don’t believe any type of burn-in time will remedy that. Sound staging for stereo material didn’t have the best imaging qualities either. At moderately high to full volume levels I noticed quite a bit of bass frequency clipping in addition to a rough character to the mid-range and higher frequencies. My best description of the roughness is something like a ‘sand paper effect’.
So in a nutshell, not for music listening at anything more than low volume levels or ‘relaxed’ listening.
So in a nutshell, not for music listening at anything more than low volume levels or ‘relaxed’ listening.
With respect to gaming, the experience was noticeably better. I ran through ‘Quake Champions’ and ‘Modern Warfare Remastered’ – which are both recent products – and the clarity boost from the bright nature of these cans was acceptable. Bass boom/low frequency clipping was still apparent in ‘Pure’ mode and exacerbated in the other settings. Staging in the simulated surround environment of gaming was good enough to have a few ‘wow factor’ opportunities but still not up to par when compared to the wired headsets I’ve been using.
My best overall experience with these headphones was met when I ran through the abundance of Dolby demo material provided in the Windows 10 app. There was good staging albeit not what I would call a truly ‘360 degree’ experience but pleasing none the less. My biggest complaint in this regard would be the forward or front to back staging of sound objects and their movement across the three dimensional space. Oddly enough, I personally felt the ‘height’ of the Dolby experience with these headphones. Object movement was smooth and natural and the overall fidelity of the soundscape was quite pleasing …again the only real problem I experienced was the lack of any apparent depth or space – front to back – in the sound field.
Summary
Fairly amazing sound reproduction of Dolby demo material.
Good reproduction of gaming sound with a few limitations at higher volumes.
Terrible reproduction of music material.
Somewhat restricted adjustments of the fit & function but still comfortable for long listening sessions.
Missed opportunity to provide a better customer experience with more detailed instructions in the box, covering both the setup and installation of the necessary Dolby app. The more tech inclined consumer will certainly figure these things out but the experience should be tailored for everyone.
MicroUSB port. Come on! Really?
Fairly amazing sound reproduction of Dolby demo material.
Good reproduction of gaming sound with a few limitations at higher volumes.
Terrible reproduction of music material.
Somewhat restricted adjustments of the fit & function but still comfortable for long listening sessions.
Missed opportunity to provide a better customer experience with more detailed instructions in the box, covering both the setup and installation of the necessary Dolby app. The more tech inclined consumer will certainly figure these things out but the experience should be tailored for everyone.
MicroUSB port. Come on! Really?
I can only recommend these cans for those people that will be watching a lot of Dolby Atmos movie content on their personal computer. That said, I’m not entirely sure that this particular functionality is worth the steep price of admission.
Gamers can skip this model altogether and hope for some newer Plantronics offerings in the future.
Gamers can skip this model altogether and hope for some newer Plantronics offerings in the future.
I honestly believe giving 3 stars is being generous ...
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Prepare pizza in minutes on your gas range with this BakerStone stove top pizza oven. It reaches up to 750 degrees F for restaurant-quality results, and it accommodates pizzas up to 11 inches, so you can feed several people. The double-wall ceiling of this BakerStone stove top pizza oven retains plenty of heat for precision roasting and baking.
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
You'll know that this BakerStone oven is a quality piece of hardware from the moment you take it out of the box. It feels solidly constructed and is beautiful in it's simplicity.
It does take a fair amount of time to heat up to a stable & proper temperature, gets rather hot to the touch during use and afterwards - so not especially safe in a household with curious children, and you are limited to the size of pizzas you can bake this in this footprint. Expect to leave this puppy in place for a good while after use to allow it to completely cool down. It's a heat capacitor by design ; ) and that is what makes it perform so very well.
With all that said, this is a great kitchen accessory for the task of making pizzas at home - from scratch. The included accessories are a nice touch.
Highly recommended!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Maximize your broadcast viewing enjoyment with this flat-panel ANTOP outdoor HDTV antenna. It captures UHF and VHF signals within its powerful 65-mile reception range, and its durable exterior resists moisture and UV damage. Install this ANTOP outdoor HDTV antenna on a wall or pole via its mounting bracket, or place it indoors with the included stand.
Customer Rating
4
Good (start) but not really an indoor antenna ...
on July 22, 2018
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
The Antop I/O FPA is a good attempt at an all-around product but compared to a recently acquired competitors power amplified unit for the 'Tech Insider' program, this unit didn't pull in nearly as many channels. That said, looking at the design I can confidently say that this unit, mounted on the side of the house or better yet - on a mast - will probably work beautifully as an outdoor receiver of digital channels.
The construction of the housing looks clean and solid. Antop claims that it has a UV protective coating and the interconnects are damp location designed with proper jacketing. It's light in weight, well balanced overall and comes with the proper hardware to mount this beast various ways. Kudos to Antop for including a generous length of coax to connect the unit through a wall or down from a high point within an attic space.
But back to indoor performance - I placed this unit in the same location as my previous amplified antenna and noticed about half of the channels either not coming in at all or coming in highly pixelated. So I cannot recommend this antenna for indoor use as I am located in a metropolitan area - less than 20 miles from the transmission towers - that has 12+ channels that can be received with high reliability with even a low cost, off the home store self.
My recommendation selection below comes with the caveat of ...
"Yes - but - not for indoor use".
"Yes - but - not for indoor use".
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy cinematic sound with these Sony digital surround wireless headphones. Their four sound modes optimize the audio of whatever you're watching, and their 30m range lets you move freely around your home without missing a moment of the action. These Sony digital surround wireless headphones have a 17-hour battery life for hours of uninterrupted listening.
Customer Rating
1
Not Ready for Prime Time...
on June 20, 2018
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
First the good:
These wireless headphones are well balanced in terms of weight, very comfortable and produce an amazing & enjoyable sound field experience. The 'either way' position on the stands, built-in charging contact arrangement makes these fool-proof to keep charged & ready to go.
Now the bad:
Located in a home environment with a typical amount of wireless devices and postioned nowhere near a microwave oven or even close to a router or satellite device - the connection stability of these headphones is terrible. I've tried them connected to an Oppo Bluray player and an Xbox One X and in both arrangements the sound streams breaks up from a basic level of intermittent choppiness to a full-on dropping of audio for up to 5 seconds at a time. There isn't an apparent way to channel select these 'cans' with the flick of a switch and the owners manual is pretty sketch.
A very good mechanical design overall, with extended use comfort levels that rival some of the best headphones I have ever used, coupled with excellent fidelity and surround staging ... When they work. And because of this, I can confidently state that I would strongly recommend that anyone - be it friend or family - look elsewhere for a higher end set of wireless headphones. These fundamentally fail at being a reliable wireless product and are a huge disappointment coming from Sony.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Incorporate wire-free music into your active lifestyle with these Rowkin Surge Bluetooth earbuds. Their TPE over-ear hooks provide a secure fit, and their built-in controls let you skip songs and access Siri or Google Assistant easily. Answer calls hands-free via the built-in microphone of these water-resistant Rowkin Surge Bluetooth earbuds.
Customer Rating
5
True Wireless Performance in a Great Design
on June 4, 2018
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
The Rowkin - Surge is a phenomenal product. I was unfamiliar with this brand and as a result, I had no real predisposition of what to expect in this product. What I can say in preface is that his company is dead serious about designing & producing a high quality - high performance product.
Setup was a breeze and being a truly 'wireless' design, the intermediate connection between the left & right modules was quick and efficient. Pairing with my android mobile device was also straightforward & problem free.
Compared to another wireless (connection mode) ear bud system I recently reviewed, the Rowkin - Surge has an obvious high quality standard of fidelity and corresponding gain. I was shocked how well these performed on the audio quality side of things compared to a rather expensive set of wired earbuds I own & use for traveling.
Truly remarkable. And the noise floor on these Rowkins is astonishingly low. Again, I was truly shocked. Bass response was present & accounted for without being too booming or muddied. Treble was clear, without resonance and the mid-tones were well positioned in the middle of the audio spectrum without sounding lost or masked. I don't think I've ever experienced this level of fidelity in a BT headset, in ear or otherwise.
Truly remarkable. And the noise floor on these Rowkins is astonishingly low. Again, I was truly shocked. Bass response was present & accounted for without being too booming or muddied. Treble was clear, without resonance and the mid-tones were well positioned in the middle of the audio spectrum without sounding lost or masked. I don't think I've ever experienced this level of fidelity in a BT headset, in ear or otherwise.
On the comfort & fit side of things. These modules have ear piece that don't go into the curvatures of the ear but instead have fully articulating ear pieces that are easy to adapt to the shape of your head & ears - for hours of super comfortable use. Another example of exemplary attention to design from Rowkin.
The system comes with small & large ear pieces, a case that contains a battery pack so you can charge these little beasts on-the-go and a handy place to keep them together - safe & protected.
Pros:
Comfortable, articulating behind-the-ear / head armatures.
Phenomenal gain, clarity and overall audio fidelity.
Well designed case with internal battery pack and charging couplings.
Quick and simple BT pairing functionality.
Did I mention how damned comfortable these are?
Comfortable, articulating behind-the-ear / head armatures.
Phenomenal gain, clarity and overall audio fidelity.
Well designed case with internal battery pack and charging couplings.
Quick and simple BT pairing functionality.
Did I mention how damned comfortable these are?
Cons:
All I can really think of is the lack of detailed instructions in the box.
All I can really think of is the lack of detailed instructions in the box.
Highly recommended.
These are truly outstanding all-the-way-around and truly 'wireless'.
These are truly outstanding all-the-way-around and truly 'wireless'.
My Best Buy number: 2036057829
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Capture action photos with this Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 camera. The lens lets you take clear close-up or faraway pictures, and the integrated flash brightens every image you take. This Polaroid Originals OneStep 2 camera has a timer that lets you quickly get into group shots with friends and family.
Customer Rating
3
Nostalgically Fun, Sort of Cool But Not Great
on June 4, 2018
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
The One Step 2 was fun to play with and is a cool conversation piece but the performance was a bit disappointing. My kit came with a two pack of film, one cartridge of color print - one of B&W.
The viewfinder is a bit awkward to use in comparison to compact digital cameras - and certainly mobile phones. The built-in flash seems inadequate but perhaps my particular camera is faulty. Flash fill performance in darker environments produced very dark prints. In contrary, outdoor picture taking performance (obviously without the use of flash) produced your typical instant camera image. Nothing to write home about but fun in the immediacy of the output and sharing ability.
Once thing we noticed is that the print development time seemed rather long - compared to what we remember. Some images, in normal inside house temperatures, took nearly 10 minutes or more for full development. Not sure if this is now the 'new standard' or perhaps the film packs we received were odd ball.
Pros:
Charges with an included micro USB cable - so no batteries to purchase.
Pretty much point-and-shoot.
Cool conversation piece and toy for parties or events.
The viewfinder even has an diopter.
Charges with an included micro USB cable - so no batteries to purchase.
Pretty much point-and-shoot.
Cool conversation piece and toy for parties or events.
The viewfinder even has an diopter.
Cons:
Print development time seems rather long - like TOO long - in nominal temperature environments.
Compared to prints that can be obtained from photo departments at major retail locations, that hazy Polaroid quality is still there and does detract a bit from the overall experience.
The very basic viewfinder makes using this camera a bit unpleasant to use.
The internal battery becomes depleted rather quickly when taking a lot of flash photos.
Print development time seems rather long - like TOO long - in nominal temperature environments.
Compared to prints that can be obtained from photo departments at major retail locations, that hazy Polaroid quality is still there and does detract a bit from the overall experience.
The very basic viewfinder makes using this camera a bit unpleasant to use.
The internal battery becomes depleted rather quickly when taking a lot of flash photos.
I would only recommend this product to those looking for a nostalgic toy to pass around and play with at gatherings & events.
My Best Buy number: 2036057829
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Tap on NFC-compatible Bluetooth devices to connect and go with these Sony wireless headphones. Their noise-cancelling technology keeps you focused on your music, while their Ambient Sound Mode mixes in voices and other external sounds you need to hear. Sweat and splashes are not a problem for these water-resistant IPX4-rated Sony wireless headphones.
Customer Rating
4
Solid Product - Audio Quality is Subjective
on June 4, 2018
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
Overall I am pretty pleased with this system. It checks all the boxes most people would want in a sport headphone system. For the record, I primarily use my mobile device with an android app (G-Mad) for playback. With these ear bud based headphones, and playing back with the equalizer set to 'Flat', the Extra Bass functionality is exceptional and performs as I would expect from Sony. That said - the sound quality aspect of anything audio based is totally subjective and is influenced by variations in the human ear. Although not horrible, I did find these ear phones to be slightly muddied in playback quality compared to another set I will be writing a review for shortly. Again, not horrible - but noticeable to my ears and listening preferences. YMMV !
Pros:
This system comes with 4 sets of ear pieces varying in size so finding the perfect fit shouldn't be a problem for most people. I find the smallest size the most comfortable and they stay put even during a lot of activity & motion.
Extra Bass functionality is solid!
The audio guidance system is great.
The controls on the in line module are easy to adapt to once you've used them for a day. In other words - very intuitive.
Battery performance is excellent.
This system comes with 4 sets of ear pieces varying in size so finding the perfect fit shouldn't be a problem for most people. I find the smallest size the most comfortable and they stay put even during a lot of activity & motion.
Extra Bass functionality is solid!
The audio guidance system is great.
The controls on the in line module are easy to adapt to once you've used them for a day. In other words - very intuitive.
Battery performance is excellent.
Cons:
The interconnecting wire between the buds and the control unit could be a tad bit longer for those with bigger upper body structures.
The Ambient function needs a little tweaking. It works but not as well I had anticipated. The same goes with the noise cancelling - but then again - these aren't structurally designed like the more preeminently available, top-of-the-line models from the leader in the noise cancelling headphone segment. The "B" company.
Sound is slightly muddy at times but your mileage (experience) may vary. Not consistently horrible but a little noticeable. That's all.
The interconnecting wire between the buds and the control unit could be a tad bit longer for those with bigger upper body structures.
The Ambient function needs a little tweaking. It works but not as well I had anticipated. The same goes with the noise cancelling - but then again - these aren't structurally designed like the more preeminently available, top-of-the-line models from the leader in the noise cancelling headphone segment. The "B" company.
Sound is slightly muddy at times but your mileage (experience) may vary. Not consistently horrible but a little noticeable. That's all.
All this said, I would still recommend these to friends, families and just about anyone else. Give 'em a try!
My Best Buy number: 2036057829
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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LG - 5.1.2-Channel Hi-Res Audio Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer and Dolby Atmos Technology - Black
Go beyond surround sound to the dynamic audio of Dolby Atmos with this LG sound bar. It produces conventional 5.1-channel sound and works with Atmos 3D audio sources and high-resolution audio for a more realistic experience. This LG sound bar works with Google Assistant and Chromecast for voice-command capability of your entertainment selections.
Customer Rating
1
Dolby DSP Seriously Broken. Buyer Beware.
on April 28, 2018
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
Presentation -
The LG SK10Y comes in a very large box. Inside, everything is securely held in place and wrapped to ensure cosmetic perfection. The bar itself is huge – measuring in, at a length just under 57 inches – so be prepared to have overhang on the sides if your display is smaller than a 65 inch format. At just around 16 pounds, the sound bar is much lighter than I had expected.
The LG SK10Y comes in a very large box. Inside, everything is securely held in place and wrapped to ensure cosmetic perfection. The bar itself is huge – measuring in, at a length just under 57 inches – so be prepared to have overhang on the sides if your display is smaller than a 65 inch format. At just around 16 pounds, the sound bar is much lighter than I had expected.
Here’s where the tedium begins. The kit comes with a set of “L” brackets to primarily accommodate a wall mounting scenario. Certainly there are many people that wall mount and stand/table position their displays. But if you wall mount using a quality, articulating arm arrangement – be prepared – as this unit offers little in the way of convenience with respect to attaching the bar to the arm or directly to the television that is already on an arm. Prepare to get creative, either by fabricating your own parts or cobbling together various sound bar mounting kits that can work with a bar of this size and its limited connectivity. A daunting task.
Lastly, the remote is diminutive but functional. Far smaller than I am accustomed to for piece equipment at this price point. At first I wasn’t very impressed with it and I am still shocked that any AV theater component that will obviously be used in darkened rooms would not include integrated back lighting, but what can you do? This remote does work and feels solidly constructed. It just could be a tad bit bigger.
Initial Setup -
Setup was simple & straightforward and certainly less problematic than the competition. The LG wireless Speaker app (I use the Android version) was quick to install and just as quick to detect the presence of the bar and the subwoofer. Set up was simple but I have serious complaints about what is inside – or better yet – what is missing inside the mobile control app.
More about that later.
Setup was simple & straightforward and certainly less problematic than the competition. The LG wireless Speaker app (I use the Android version) was quick to install and just as quick to detect the presence of the bar and the subwoofer. Set up was simple but I have serious complaints about what is inside – or better yet – what is missing inside the mobile control app.
More about that later.
One notable attribute about the subwoofer – there are a few sound bar systems with accompanying wireless subwoofers that have strange pairing arrangements. The system this LG SK10Y replaces is notorious for a seriously annoying ‘knock knocking’, hand shaking procedure. I am happy to report that this system syncs quickly and quietly every time you wake it up and when the audio stream engages, there’s a nice slow ramping up of the LF (low frequency) channel content. Nice touch LG!
Performance -
Here’s where the entire experience goes off-the-rails. I have to say straight away that the engineering team at LG – with or without the help of Dolby labs and/or Meridian – really missed the mark on this one. It truly feels like a half-baked product. This system is touted (and priced) as the pinnacle of the product range, with strong emphasis on the Dolby Atmos functionality and yet it is the Dolby processing that really ruins the customer experience. I’ve demo’d quite a bit of Dolby Atmos & Dolby Digital 5.1 content (from both Blu-ray & DVD sources) and nearly all of it sounds horrible no matter the internal settings employed, either by way of the remote control or the mobile app. With Dolby Atmos material, the staging is completely fouled up with the main dialogue/center presence being shoved back or masked, like the drivers that produced that sound field are positioned at the back of the sound bar. Once any type of dramatic presence, be it ambient music or environmental soundscape, kicks into gear, the main dialogue is nearly unperceivable. I’ve tried numerous settings to try and rectify the situation with no success. With Dolby Digital 5.1 sound fields the issue is less prominent but no less aggravating. It is almost as if there is a form of DRC enabled deep in the bowels of the DSP control that is squashing the main dialogue and primary sound content into a ‘back stage ‘or misaligned position. Enabling the Night mode or DRC on normal Dolby programming does nothing to rectify the problem. In comparison to just about any Dolby Atmos enabled AV Receiver presently on the market, where you can customize individual sound levels for ALL of the channels separately, this SK10Y provides only limited and fundamentally awkward sound field adjustment. At the very least, there should be a “center” volume adjustment in both the remote controller menus and the mobile app. This is a glaring omission. Without this critical level control, and no matter how large or small the other issues that are present in this package, the mere fact that you cannot adjust the center & main channel volume levels separate from the surround & presence (Atmos) sound fields relegates this package to pretty much non-functional at the most basic level.
Here’s where the entire experience goes off-the-rails. I have to say straight away that the engineering team at LG – with or without the help of Dolby labs and/or Meridian – really missed the mark on this one. It truly feels like a half-baked product. This system is touted (and priced) as the pinnacle of the product range, with strong emphasis on the Dolby Atmos functionality and yet it is the Dolby processing that really ruins the customer experience. I’ve demo’d quite a bit of Dolby Atmos & Dolby Digital 5.1 content (from both Blu-ray & DVD sources) and nearly all of it sounds horrible no matter the internal settings employed, either by way of the remote control or the mobile app. With Dolby Atmos material, the staging is completely fouled up with the main dialogue/center presence being shoved back or masked, like the drivers that produced that sound field are positioned at the back of the sound bar. Once any type of dramatic presence, be it ambient music or environmental soundscape, kicks into gear, the main dialogue is nearly unperceivable. I’ve tried numerous settings to try and rectify the situation with no success. With Dolby Digital 5.1 sound fields the issue is less prominent but no less aggravating. It is almost as if there is a form of DRC enabled deep in the bowels of the DSP control that is squashing the main dialogue and primary sound content into a ‘back stage ‘or misaligned position. Enabling the Night mode or DRC on normal Dolby programming does nothing to rectify the problem. In comparison to just about any Dolby Atmos enabled AV Receiver presently on the market, where you can customize individual sound levels for ALL of the channels separately, this SK10Y provides only limited and fundamentally awkward sound field adjustment. At the very least, there should be a “center” volume adjustment in both the remote controller menus and the mobile app. This is a glaring omission. Without this critical level control, and no matter how large or small the other issues that are present in this package, the mere fact that you cannot adjust the center & main channel volume levels separate from the surround & presence (Atmos) sound fields relegates this package to pretty much non-functional at the most basic level.
Perhaps this issue can be and will be addressed in a future firmware update (and mobile app revision) but it does seems rather odd that this system was released in such a crippled fashion.
Another strange situation is the sparse and inconsistent specsmanship with respect to DTS surround decoding capability. The unit obviously will playback DTS 7.1 material and does so brilliantly I might add – certainly compared to the inherent Dolby catastrophe – but the unit never displays anything but LPCM for DTS streams. What? Most if not all current AV Receivers have clearly verbose displays of the sound mode being processed. I truly don’t understand the LG engineers thinking on this. One additional note about the front panel, dot matrix display. It’s easy to read from a distance, automatically dims on its own but there isn’t a provision to be able to completely turn it off. Big oversight in my humble opinion.
Interestingly enough, when content encoded with both DTS & Dolby Atmos material (like Game of Thrones, Justice League and others…) is played back with this system - forced to DTS mode by way of the movies menu system - the staging, channel balance and fidelity are pretty amazing.
Summary -
This sound bar system has many smaller issues that can easily be overlooked or adaptd to, even at this price point. But the fact that it was released before it was thoroughly tested was a huge mistake on the part of LG and the broken Dolby Atmos/Dolby Digital DSP operation is a glaring functional defect in its design – making this an absolutely, “Cannot Recommend” advisement along with the low product score. Spend your money elsewhere or at the very least, wait until such time that product reviews clearly begin to demonstrate that LG Engineering has fixed these Dolby issues before making a purchase. Complaints about this operational defect can already be found on the LG website.
This sound bar system has many smaller issues that can easily be overlooked or adaptd to, even at this price point. But the fact that it was released before it was thoroughly tested was a huge mistake on the part of LG and the broken Dolby Atmos/Dolby Digital DSP operation is a glaring functional defect in its design – making this an absolutely, “Cannot Recommend” advisement along with the low product score. Spend your money elsewhere or at the very least, wait until such time that product reviews clearly begin to demonstrate that LG Engineering has fixed these Dolby issues before making a purchase. Complaints about this operational defect can already be found on the LG website.
Pros:
Ease of setup.
Clean lines and more complimentary shape compared to prior LG top-end model.
Ease of setup.
Clean lines and more complimentary shape compared to prior LG top-end model.
Cons:
First and foremost – unacceptably poor implementation of the Dolby Digital/Dolby Atmos standards. The DSP is seriously broken in this system.
First and foremost – unacceptably poor implementation of the Dolby Digital/Dolby Atmos standards. The DSP is seriously broken in this system.
Shockingly well balanced DTS multichannel sound reproduction for a primarily Dolby Atmos marketed product. A win for DTS, a loss for the consumer wanting broad compatibility.
Horrible front panel display that lacks detail across all functions and that cannot be turned off.
Lots of potential already built into the mobile app but it’s far from being complete.
The remote control is pretty basic for a product at the top of the LG line up, with no back lighting and is a bit too small in terms of footprint.
Very limited mounting options.
Horrible front panel display that lacks detail across all functions and that cannot be turned off.
Lots of potential already built into the mobile app but it’s far from being complete.
The remote control is pretty basic for a product at the top of the LG line up, with no back lighting and is a bit too small in terms of footprint.
Very limited mounting options.
My Best Buy number: 2036057829
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+35points
54of 73voted this as helpful.
Clean sealed hard floors easily with this Bissell SpinWave cordless floor cleaner. It includes two types of pads that can clean a variety of surfaces, including tile and laminate, and restores the natural shine to wood floors. This Bissell SpinWave cordless floor cleaner has a 20-minute battery life, so you can clean a large area without recharging.
Customer Rating
4
Pleasantly Surprised...
on April 27, 2018
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
The SpinWave Cordless Powered Mop is building on a solid product lineup from Bissel.
Assembly was a 'snap' and requires little to no time to get this product ready for use - other than doing the initial full-charge conditioning of the battery.
Overall, the cleaning effectiveness of this machine is solid. The weight and balance of this power mop feels nearly perfect along with the height (extension) of the handle. In operation, the rotation action provides a steady and predictable amount of forward 'pull', never feeling like it is going to take off or go out-of-control.
The kit comes with two sets of cleaning pads, one for set that can be used for any surface because of the relative softness of the contact surface and a second set explicitly designed for increased scrubbing action - which is not recommended for hard woods or delicate surfaces. We found both pad types to be extremely effective in removing dirt otherwise left behind by our Shark steam-based cleaner. Outstanding!
The unit is not very loud in operation and charges relatively quickly. Cannot comment on the battery life duration due to the limited time to test but at first blush, it appears this system should easily clean a few hundred square feet at least twice under normal conditions.
Cleaning solution consumption was markedly less than expected and our floors dried quickly with the provided solution.
The only gripe I have about this system is that it only comes with one set of each type of cleaning pad. I don't see the added cost factor of providing two sets of each as a big deal and it would make for a better customer experience to always have at least 1 extra set of pads in waiting. At the very least, Bissel should include 2 sets of the basic cleaning pad as this will be the more commonly used arrangement. Other than that minor nit, the overall design and performance far exceeded our expectations.
Pros:
Easy to assemble.
Light weight and very well balanced in-hand.
Remarkably quiet in operation.
Strong yet controlled motion on tile and hardwood surfaces.
Charges quickly.
Cleans thoroughly with a minimum amount of solutions sprayed.
Easy to assemble.
Light weight and very well balanced in-hand.
Remarkably quiet in operation.
Strong yet controlled motion on tile and hardwood surfaces.
Charges quickly.
Cleans thoroughly with a minimum amount of solutions sprayed.
Cons:
Should come equipped with 2 sets of the regular pads and 1 set of the deeper cleaning, scrub pads.
Should come equipped with 2 sets of the regular pads and 1 set of the deeper cleaning, scrub pads.
*
4 and half stars to be sure and we'd recommend this product to friends & family without a second thought.
My Best Buy number: 2036057829
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
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