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IanD24
IanD24's stats
- Review count10
- Helpfulness votes32
- First reviewSeptember 21, 2012
- Last reviewJanuary 2, 2014
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
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- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
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- Answer count1
- Helpfulness votes1
- First answerMay 23, 2013
- Last answerMay 23, 2013
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
IanD24's Reviews
Enhance your home theater experience with this Samsung HWF550 2.1-channel soundbar that features 3D Sound Plus technology for rich, clear audio. The wireless active subwoofer delivers thunderous bass for dynamic sound.
Customer Rating
4
Great looks and functionality, just ok quality
on January 2, 2014
Posted by: IanD24
from Moon Township, PA
I built a mantel above the fireplace in our family room and mounted our 50" Samsung plasma (PN50B550) above it. The TV is a 2008 model, but still gives an outstanding picture. Being that this is currently our main screen (updating our game room and getting a 60-65" screen within the next few months), we needed a boost in the audio department for movies. Obviously, we didn't want wires hanging everywhere and we couldn't use large speakers, so we settled on a sound bar. We only had about 2 to 2.5" under our TV, so our choices were limited as far as size. After doing a lot of research and deciding I wanted to match brands, we went with the Samsung HW-F550. We found it at a very good 2-day sale price of $329.99. I will break down the most important areas:
Appearance: there is no doubt about it, this thing looks great. It's sleek and stylish and all but disappears when put below the TV. The sub tucks away nicely in the corner of the room behind a recliner out of sight. The bar is the least tall of any of the other bars I was considering, so it doesn't block the TV at all. The metal grill, recessed LCD screen and shiny black finish on the ends of the bar and on the sub add to the stealth look. A+ in this area, Samsung.
Setup and ease of use: It couldn't be easier. As a warning, it does not come with any HDMI or optical cables, so you will need to have your own. Otherwise, it's basically plug and play. The sub connected with the sound bar right out of the box and I didn't have to do a thing. Bluetooth pairing is extremely simple. Just put the source on "BT", wait for your phone to find it and connect. Samsung gets an A- in this area for not including at least a cheap HDMI and/or optical cable. They cost like $1.37... come on... for almost $400, you can throw in a cable or two.
Connectivity and features: I was a little disappointed to see that it didn't have more than one HDMI input. Your only options are one HDMI, one optical, a USB and an auxiliary 1/8" headphone jack. This is just enough for me as I used the HDMI in/out for my Blu Ray player and the optical for my cable box, but I can see where this would be a problem for those who have more equipment, like an Apple TV or gaming system. You could have an external HDMI switcher, but it would likely be a pain. My TV is equipped with Anynet+, so the sound bar volume can be automatically controlled and the power can be turned off with my cable box remote control. This is an awesome feature, however, the bar cannot be turned on with the same remote. I have to use the remote that came with it or turn it on manually. This usually isn't a problem because there are times I simply don't need the bar to be on. Unlike some other people who have reviewed this and were so upset by this that they returned it in favor of another sound bar, it doesn't bother me. If you're truly that upset about having another small remote or having to get up and actually turn the thing on, you need to assess your priorities in life and take an anger management class. Samsung, B-. Add more inputs.
Construction: being the inquisitive person I am, I'm fascinated with how things work. I'm always taking things apart and putting them back together to see how they are constructed. So, what did I do? I took these apart and put them back together. First, the actual sound bar is heavy duty. It's weighty and well-constructed. It uses a total of four 1"x3" speakers (two on each side) and what looks to be a 3/4" hard dome tweeter on each side. The drivers have paper cones, but larger magnets and rubber surrounds. The subwoofer - not as impressive. It uses 1/2" particle board construction under its shiny black plastic exterior as well as a cardboard port tube. The driver itself is only 6.5", but it is of decent quality - larger magnet, rubber surround and what looks to be a lightweight polymer cone. I don't think it's carbon fiber, but it's made to look like it. The cabinet does have feet to isolate it from vibration transfer, so that's a plus. I have to say that I was expecting at LEAST an 8" sub for this price point. I could strip the guts out of this unit and attach them to an 8" or 10" sub in a much better cabinet that I build myself. Samsung - A for effort on the sound bar part, C- on the sub. Fix that.
Last but not least, Sound Quality: I have to admit that even knowing what size these speakers are, I'm mildly impressed with the sound production. A word to the wise, as with any speaker or speaker system, you have to let them "break in" for a period before they sound their best. I let mine play music at a moderate volume for two days and the bass response and highs were noticeably stronger. The sub is pretty punchy and isn't muddy, but, even then, the system is lacking in the lower bass and in the mid-range. Voices are clear and succinct, but they tend to get lost with the strong mid-bass and there is no response lower than about 40-45Hz. This is a direct result of physics. Such small speakers are physically incapable of producing the full spectrum of sound in a sufficient manner. In all fairness, this is a sound bar - not a full component system. I have a 5.1 Polk speaker system with 6.5" main, center and rear drivers and a 10" powered sub in the game room. THAT is the only way to get a full compliment of sound. I digress... this sound bar comes only with preset "equalized" settings for the sound. There is no custom equalizer or even simple bass/treble settings. Not pleased with that. There are normal presets of music, news, drama, cinema, sports and game. Most of these, other than music and possibly cinema are worthless. They distort the sound and even give a horrible echo effect that isn't pleasant. There are also two "3D Sound Plus" settings of Music and Movie. Some don't like these, but I do like both. They do an admirable job of creating surround sound for movies and do provide decent sound quality for music. Samsung gets a solid grade of B for this area. Give us some simple bass and treble settings. Is that too much to ask?
Overall impressions: I'm happy with this purchase. I can connect my phone and listen to music all day long or get a greater experience out of TV watching. It's great for parties, movie nights and sporting events. The sound quality is good for a sound bar - probably better than most - but temper your expectations. I would say that at $400 retail, it's a bit overpriced for what it is. If it had a larger and better-constructed subwoofer, more input connection options and much better tuning capabilities, it would be worth every penny. If you are torn between the 550 and the 450 models, don't even consider the 450. The bar is made of plastic, the sub is small and underpowered and the sound quality doesn't come close to comparing to the 550. I directly compared these two in several stores. Trust me, you will be unsatisfied with the 450. If you have the room for a larger bar, the Sony HTCT260 is certainly a better value than this Samsung. I found the sound of the Sony to be more rounded in the mid-range, but the low bass was also lacking. For $100 less, the Sony is the better deal, but its sound bar is huge. For its ease of use, great looks and better-than-average quality, you can't go wrong with the Samsung HW-F550.
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
What's great about it: Looks, functionality, ease of use, bluetooth
What's not so great: Subwoofer cabinet construction, lacking in low end and mid-range, lack of tuning ability
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
3
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Make toast to your preference with this Oster TSSTRTS2S2 2-slice toaster that features a digital countdown for precise operation. The crumb tray makes cleanup simple.
Posted by: IanD24
from Moon Township, PA
Verified Purchase:Yes
We bought this toaster to match the stainless appliances we bought a few weeks prior. I was usually in the school of "buy the cheapest toaster you can find and, when it dies, buy another one." I had never spent more than $20 on a toaster in my life. My wife talked me into this one even though I really didn't want to spend $50. After all, it's just a toaster. I've been pleasantly surprised with it, though. My wife doesn't like keeping the toaster on the counter all the time, so the retractable power cord is nice for when it is stored in a bottom cabinet. The digital count-down timer is very nice, too, because with cheaper toasters, you never really know how long you have until its done. Using this feature, you can easily multitask and have everything ready at once. Otherwise, it works just as a toaster should. If this one lasts a few years, I'll be happy. I'll probably buy another when this one decides to not work anymore. I would recommend it.
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
What's great about it: Count-down timer, looks, retractable power cord
What's not so great: Little pricey, slots could be a little wider
I would recommend this to a friend!
Durability
4
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+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
Featuring 7 cycles and 9 wash options, this LG WM2250CW 3.6 cu. ft. high-efficiency front-loading washer offers the flexibility needed to meet your laundry needs. ColdWash technology delivers deep cleaning and reduced energy use.
Customer Rating
5
Best value in front-loading washers
on July 31, 2013
Posted by: IanD24
from Moon Township, PA
Gender:Male
Age:25-34
Verified Purchase:Yes
When our old, top-loading washer began to fail, we started looking for a new one. We knew we wanted a front-loader simply for the fact that it washes clothing better while using a lot less water. When we stumbled across this LG when it was on sale for $599, it was a no-brainer. The build quality is great. It washes clothing very quickly and was no problem at all to balance. When it's done with its cycle, it also sings to you to let you know its done. Another great feature is its self-diagnostic button. If something is wrong with the washer, all you have to do is call LG customer service and press this button. The washer will then play a specific tone and the tech is able to figure out immediately what is wrong and how to fix it over the phone. We haven't had to use this yet nor do we expect to, but it is a great feature to have. The only down side is that it isn't quite large enough to handle a king-sized comforter. We did a queen in it that barely fit, but a king is a no-go. We aren't concerned about this becaise there is a laundry service just down the street when we need it. We couldn't be happier with the washer and expect to get many good years of service from it.
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
What's great about it: Functionality, price, features
What's not so great: Not quite big enough for a king-sized comforter
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
5
Features
5
Performance
5
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+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
Take a proactive approach to dangerous gas leaks with this safety-conscious gas range connector.
Customer Rating
4
Great install kit, but a bit overpriced.
on May 23, 2013
Posted by: IanD24
from Chester, WV
Verified Purchase:Yes
This kit makes hooking up a gas range very easy. The in-line safety valve is a great feature. However, I feel as though $34 is too much for it. It's just a stainless line and some fittings. I feel as though $24.99 would be a good price, but, you pay for convenience. The functionality is great and the only reason I gave four stars was because of the high purchase price.
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
What's great about it: High quality, easy install, great safety valve feature
What's not so great: Price
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
5
Performance
5
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0points
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Save time and money by installing your dishwasher yourself with this complete, high-quality kit. This kit is required if you have your dishwasher professionally installed.
Posted by: IanD24
from Chester, WV
Verified Purchase:Yes
It's an install kit. There isn't much else to say. It seems to be made well and it made installation easy.
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
What's great about it: Decent construction, everything is there
What's not so great: Nothing
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
4
Performance
4
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0points
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Whirlpool 2.0 cu. ft. Over-the-Range Microwave: Spend less time making meals and more time enjoying them with this over-the-range microwave. Cook your favorite dishes at the touch of a button, heat food to the recommended temperature as automatic sensors adjust cooking time, and clean up quickly thanks to the CleanRelease non-stick interior.
Customer Rating
5
The best over-the-range microwave on the market
on May 23, 2013
Posted by: IanD24
from Chester, WV
Verified Purchase:Yes
This microwave is the best on the market. It showed when there were none in stock anywhere near me in any BB stores. I lucked out and got mine due to an online ordering discrepancy. This was easy to install with simple power tools. It heats food evenly and is very quiet. The chime to signal the end of the cooking cycle isn't very loud, but it doesn't bother me much. The exhaust fan could also be a little stronger, but it does its job since we have a secondary built-in exhaust fan in the ceiling anyways. Pretty happy with this one so far.
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
What's great about it: Great looks, heats evenly
What's not so great: Exhaust fan could be a little better
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Whirlpool Closeout Gold Series 24" Tall Tub Built-In Dishwasher: Check another chore off your to-do list with this Whirlpool Closeout Gold Series built-in dishwasher, which features 6 cycles for flexible operation. The sensor wash cycle adjusts the wash time and temperature for each of your loads for efficient cleaning. You can even run the dishwasher while you're sleeping thanks to the Quiet Partner II sound package.
Customer Rating
5
Great dishwasher for the price
on May 23, 2013
Posted by: IanD24
from Chester, WV
Gender:Male
Age:25-34
Verified Purchase:Yes
This dishwasher is very light and easy to install. It has the control buttons on the top and out of sight, which is what my wife wanted. It's very sleek and quiet. We were going to get the one with the stainless steel tub, but it was over $300 more than this one. This Whirlpool cleans very well and can do large loads without much trouble.
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
What's great about it: Nice looking, easy to install, very light
What's not so great: Nothing so far
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
5
Features
5
Performance
4
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Insignia™ NS-28ED200NA14 LED HDTV: This Insignia HDTV comes with a built-in DVD player for convenient viewing of recorded movies and TV. The 720p resolution and LED backlighting combine for a crisp, high-definition picture.
Customer Rating
4
Solid TV for guest bedroom
on May 23, 2013
Posted by: IanD24
from Chester, WV
Internet Connectable?No
Verified Purchase:Yes
We needed a smaller TV for our guest bedroom. We already have a 50" Samsung plasma for our game room and 32" Samsung LED-LCD for our family room. I've always been a huge fan of Samsung products, but the price and size of this Insignia was extremely appealing. I had owned a 26" Insignia w/ DVD several years ago and decided to give this one a shot. I've been pleasantly surprised by it. Of course, the picture quality doesn't rival an equivalent Samsung or LG, but it is way more than acceptable. The sound quality is great for such a small TV and the fact that it only consumes approximately $6 of electricity per year is wonderful. Being that it won't be on most of the time, I doubt it will even cost that much. The 3 HDMI inputs and built-in DVD player are nice added bonuses that one usually doesn't see in TV's of this price range. 28" is the perfect size as I've always said that 26" is a bit too small and 32" is a bit too large for a typcial-sized bedroom. So far, I'm very pleased.
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
My Best Buy number: 2366480939
What's great about it: Lots of features and quality for the price
What's not so great: Picture quality is lacking, but acceptable
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
4
Sound Quality
4
Features
4
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Samsung UN32EH4003FXZA LED HDTV: Enjoy your favorite movies with a crisp, clear picture on this Samsung LED HDTV's 720p display. Wide Color Enhancer Plus delivers rich, vibrant hues, while ConnectShare Movie technology makes it easy to play back photos, music and videos from compatible USB devices.
Posted by: IanD24
from Chester, WV
Internet Connectable?No
As it says in the title, this TV is the best bargain out there for a mid-sized TV. I bought this for $299 (on sale) to replace an older TV in our bedroom and I've been nothing but impressed with its picture quality. After about 80-100 hours of break-in time, I was able to find some proper calibration settings for it. After fine-tuning all of the many picture-enhancing features, it provides very natural whites, colors and blacks. There is very little, if any, motion blur. Even being a 720p TV, the crispness of the picture is impressive with HD programming and Blu-Ray movies are stunning. All of this comes at an annual electricity consumption of only $6. It's one of the most efficient TV's out there and it is very lightweight.
As for the negatives, the built-in speakers are adequate, but I wish they were a little more solid in the mid- to lower frequencies. Then again, not many small flat-screen TV speakers are great. If you are going to use this to watch movies or sports, I would highly suggest a soundbar, stereo speakers with an amplifier or a full surround-sound system. Additionally, there are only two HDMI inputs. I am using both with the HD box and the Blu-Ray. I'd like to have one more for connecting a laptop.
The bottom line is that if you purchase this TV, you won't be disappointed. Search for the proper calibration settings on the internet or use a calibration disc and you'll enjoy the picture even more. If you're in the market for a TV for a bedroom, dorm room, kids room or something similar, I couldn't recommend this TV more.
What's great about it: Great picture quality with proper settings, just right for a bedroom
What's not so great: Sound could be stronger, only 2 HDMI inputs
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
5
Sound Quality
4
Features
5
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+15points
15of 15voted this as helpful.
![The Hunger Games [Blu-ray] [2012]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5690/5690549_sa.jpg)
Posted by: IanD24
from Chester, WV
I read all three books and could not put them down. They were captivating. The way the characters and relationships were developed and the method by which the scenes and situations were described were spectacular in the book. This is NOT true in the movie. Even though it had to be compressed for length, even 2+ hours of movie doesn't do the book justice. It felt rushed. Several key details and characters were either left out completely or were portrayed very underwhelmingly. The plot was nowhere near as good as it was in the book. I know there needs to be some cinematic license taken to differentiate the two, but this was not done properly. Acting performances were questionable at best, although there were some bright spots.
If you've read the books and have not seen this movie, you WILL be disappointed. If you've not read the books, you will likely enjoy this movie. It is not for young children. There are certainly some situations that could be questionable for anyone under the age of 10-12 or so. However, overall, the movie was worth watching although I was disappointed. I'm glad I have it in my collection. There is great potential for the other installments to be much better. All I can hope is that the overall production budget is larger for the second movie and that they do a better job of setting up the final, and most important, installment of the Hunger Games series - Mockingjay.
What's great about it: Cinematography, visual effects
What's not so great: Next to no character or relationship development
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
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IanD24's Answers
Insignia™ NS-28ED200NA14 LED HDTV: This Insignia HDTV comes with a built-in DVD player for convenient viewing of recorded movies and TV. The 720p resolution and LED backlighting combine for a crisp, high-definition picture.
Insignia™ - 28" Class (27-1/2" Diag.) - LED - 720p - 60Hz - HDTV DVD Combo
Does the above TV have a matte border or a glossy border?
It's glossy. It's not all that bad, though, since the border is very small.
10 years, 11 months ago
by
IanD24
Chester, WV