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BPBK's stats
- Review count6
- Helpfulness votes44
- First reviewMay 22, 2012
- Last reviewDecember 2, 2015
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.3
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
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- Answer count2
- Helpfulness votes3
- First answerDecember 2, 2015
- Last answerDecember 2, 2015
- Featured answers0
- Best answers0
BPBK's Reviews
Fitbit Surge Fitness Watch (Large): Built with GPS tracking and continuous, wrist-based heart rate monitoring, Surge displays real-time workout stats like distance, pace, elevation climbed, and heart rate intensity, so you can make the most of your training.
Customer Rating
3
For The Price - It's hard to ignore its flaws
on December 2, 2015
Posted by: BPBK
from NJ
Over the last month I have tried the Garmin Vivosmart hr, Fitbit charge hr and now the Fitbit surge.
Out of all of these products the Surge performs the best but it still has a lot of flaws.
Pros:
- I'm not a huge runner - I climb and bike mostly so the workout, biking and spinning exercise functions are great (though you really don't get any kind of "credit" for climbing).
- I'm not a huge runner - I climb and bike mostly so the workout, biking and spinning exercise functions are great (though you really don't get any kind of "credit" for climbing).
- heart rate is rather accurate even worn below the wrist bone but during a serious excursion it takes awhile for it to actually catch up to a heart rate of 135bpm or more
- controlling my music is great though you can only skip to the next song and pause. No going to the previous song
- silent alarm and notifications is great for when my phone is in my pocket and I want to know who's calling or texting.
- I like that it's always on and easy to use. Step count is a swipe away and everything is easy to read.
- group challenges are fun. I actually got this through work as my team is having a fitness challenge. You can set up a team on Fitbit website and see everyone's progress. I wish it showed more info but it's a nice advantage over other brands.
- the Fitbit app is fantastic and makes garmins absolutely laughable.
Cons:
- it's uncomfortable - it sits very oddly on your wrist. I keep it fairly loose but the protruding hr tracker can be felt at all times. You kind of get used to it but it never really feels comfortable. This is magnified when sleeping. This is where the charge hr form factor was nice - you barely feel vs this is a big hunking piece of rubber and plastic on your arm while you sleep. I end up taking it off at night now.
- it's uncomfortable - it sits very oddly on your wrist. I keep it fairly loose but the protruding hr tracker can be felt at all times. You kind of get used to it but it never really feels comfortable. This is magnified when sleeping. This is where the charge hr form factor was nice - you barely feel vs this is a big hunking piece of rubber and plastic on your arm while you sleep. I end up taking it off at night now.
- notifications are bare bones. This isn't a smart watch by any means. You literally get just texts and calls. No email etc. For $250 this is disappointing.
- battery life. While they claim up to 7 days. I've had to charge it every 3 days (if you use the gps for an hour or so a day this drops to 2 days). It's not terrible but not a pro either given its a super basic black and white screen.
All in all I think the charge hr is likely the better buy but all of these trackers still have flaws in comfort, tracking and functionality. If you can get the surge for $200 or lower I'd say it's worth it. But it's hard to see where the extra $100 in value comes from unless you're a hardcore runner.
My Best Buy number: 2669742079
Mobile Submission: True
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+15points
15of 15voted this as helpful.
Garmin Vivosmart HR Activity Tracker: Measure your daily activity with this device that helps you to set and maintain aerobic fitness goals. Vibration alerts let you receive call, text and e-mail notifications from your phone.
Posted by: BPBK
from NJ
I was contemplating between this and the charge HR. I have an iPhone and liked that you could get smartphone alerts and that it was waterproof.
Fit - it's not very comfortable at all, the ideal place to wear it for heart rate is above your wrist bone, so if you're active and sweat even a little, it will fall to your wrist - this got annoying rather quickly.
The heart rate was +/- a few BPM at resting heart rate but as you get more active, the more unreliable this tracking became - combine that with the wearable continually sliding up and down your wrist and it renders the HR function all but useless.
The smartphone notifications were sporadic and hard to read. The music playing functionality only works with the native iTunes app - no third part support for spotify or the like.
For being a new best buy exclusive product with no real reviews - literally no employees at the store had a clue what it did or how it compared to other products.
Wearables are getting there but are still very far off.
My Best Buy number: 2669742079
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+2points
6of 10voted this as helpful.
Learn moreabout Magnolia PremiumInstallation This NuForce Icon uDAC-2 96kHz/24-bit USB audio receiver and digital-to-analog converter features a compact design and connects your computer's audio to your home stereo, desktop sound system or headphones, so you can enjoy high-quality sound.
Customer Rating
2
Disappointed - No Improvement in Sound Quality
on December 9, 2012
Posted by: BPBK
from NJ
I wouldn't say i'm an audiophile but i listen to a lot of instrumental music ripped from my turn table into ALAC files and i appreciate sound quality. I own a pair of grado sr125's that i absolutely love but my mac just doesn't make them sound as good as my home receiver.
I bought this in hopes that this would improve the sound quality through my cans, similar to what other reviews on here have written about.
I noticed next to no sound quality improvements regardless of audio file quality or genre. After listening to Jazz, Reggae, Blues switching between the DAC and my stock headphone jack, i couldn't tell any difference that would justify spending 120 dollars on these.
Can't believe the reviews on here were so positive, will be returning this immediately.
What's great about it: Can't think of much
What's not so great: Heard no improvement in sound quality
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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-1point
1of 3voted this as helpful.
Learn more about Magnolia Premium Installation Put up to 150W of sonic power behind your music and movie soundtracks with this bookshelf speaker that combines a flat on-axis frequency response with a 6-1/2" woofer and a rear-firing bass-reflex enclosure for balanced sound dispersion.
Posted by: BPBK
from NJ
These speakers have a great balance of mid and high tones with adequate deep notes. I do wish the bass was slightly more balanced but this is a very minor complain. overall the speakers have performed great and exceeded my expectations.
The guy at best buy actually recommended not buying these and going with definitive which i thought were too bass heavy.
These sound great with everything from Vinyl to Movies. Definitely a great purchase.
What's great about it: great range and power output
What's not so great: bass could be slightly improved
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
4
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+3points
4of 5voted this as helpful.
Learn moreabout Magnolia PremiumInstallation Bring dynamic audio and hands-free communication anywhere you go with these AKG K451 over-the-ear headphones that feature a 3D-Axis2 folding mechanism and in-line microphone for ease during travel. The closed-back ear pads isolate sound for rich detail.
Posted by: BPBK
from NJ
How Often Used:Daily
These headphones may not be for everyone but if you're looking for a sleek package that is easily portable, not too bulky, and packs a decent sound for a great price, these AKGs get the job done.
Do they produce the same sound as comparable open air headphones around the same price range or slightly higher?.... I'd say these are a little behind the game (particular if you're like me and also own pair of grados for home listening) but what if you're like me and need a decent set of cans to listen to in the office and you don't like in ear headphones, these are a great purchase. I've cranked these and do not disturb anyone who sits around me.
Mids and highs are solid and bass response is decent and not over exaggerated compared to Dre Beats or similar.
I listened to a lot of genres with these, and all sounded pretty good, particularly reggae and jazz.
Comfort wise they fit pretty well but do hurt after a few hours of wear (sweaty ears after some time too) but that' is to be expected with this design. I wear glasses occasionally and notice that these become uncomfortable sooner while wearing them. This is typically after 3 to 4 hours of constant wear though and i'm not sure why pair of cans out there are still comfortable after that amount of time for this price point.
What's great about it: Solid mids and highs, great portability, tangle free cord, no sound leakage
What's not so great: Sound not as good as open air cans, feel a bit tight after a few hours of wear
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
4
Comfort
4
Durability
4
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+8points
9of 10voted this as helpful.
Keep your home feeling comfortable with this dehumidifier that features electronic controls and a digital humidity readout for easy operation. The 2-speed fan lets you choose how fast the air moves for custom control.
Customer Rating
4
Runs Great, No Problem With Hose to Sump Pump
on May 22, 2012
Posted by: BPBK
from NJ
I've owned this product for about a week and i was very surprised by the negative reviews. The hook up to the hose could not have been easier.
Unlike our old dehumidifier that required you drill a hole in the drain pan itself (which lead to other problems like the hose becoming disconnected), this unit has a separate drain for a hose hook up which is great. All you have to do is unscrew the plug and screw in your hose and that's it. It's been running non stop in my basement for a solid week now and the difference in humidity and the smell in general has improved dramatically, even with several straight days of rain. The 2 year replacement plan from best buy for $30 bucks also seems worth it just in case something fails on the machine.
What's great about it: Works as advertised, made a considerable difference in our damp basement in just 8 hours
What's not so great: nothing that i can see yet
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
4
Features
4
Performance
4
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+9points
9of 9voted this as helpful.
BPBK's Review Comments
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BPBK's Questions
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BPBK's Answers
Garmin Vivosmart HR Activity Tracker: Measure your daily activity with this device that helps you to set and maintain aerobic fitness goals. Vibration alerts let you receive call, text and e-mail notifications from your phone.
Can you set more than one alarm?
Can more than one alarm be set? Also can the alarm be set directly on the tracker or is a phone/computer required to set an alarm?
Yes. I've set up to 3 but there doesn't appear to be a limit.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
BPBK
Fitbit Surge Fitness Watch (Large): Built with GPS tracking and continuous, wrist-based heart rate monitoring, Surge displays real-time workout stats like distance, pace, elevation climbed, and heart rate intensity, so you can make the most of your training.
Which fitbit is right for me?
Can you shut off features that drain the battery? And if you are really only interested in your heart rate, steps walked things of that nature is the fitbit surge over kill?
Yes the surge is overkill if you're into just the basic tracking features. The charge hr would be better suited for you.
On both devices you can disable the heart rate to save battery life but in my opinion, that takes away the main functionality of the device. All other tracking elements cannot be disabled.
On both devices you can disable the heart rate to save battery life but in my opinion, that takes away the main functionality of the device. All other tracking elements cannot be disabled.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
BPBK