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Deep. Loud. And immersive, too. The SoundLink Revolve Portable Bluetooth speaker delivers true 360° sound for consistent, uniform coverage. Place it in the center of the room to give everyone the same experience. Or set it near a wall so sound radiates and reflects. This wireless speaker is durable, water-resistant and easy to grab and go - with a rechargeable battery that plays up to 12 hours.
Customer Rating
4
Great Sound AND Portable...Can't Ask For Much More
on April 10, 2017
Posted by: Panther68
from SF Bay Area
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:
The Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth Speaker is, in its simplest form, a “reworked” version of their other SoundLink speakers, coming closest to the SoundTouch 10 Speaker in terms of size, sound quality, and functionality. Take note that there will also be a slightly larger model, called the Revolve+, which, likewise, would come close to the SoundTouch 20 Speaker. The biggest differences are in the shape (they are round cylinders, similar to an Amazon Echo), as well as the fact that they are portable, ala other SoundLink devices.
The Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth Speaker is, in its simplest form, a “reworked” version of their other SoundLink speakers, coming closest to the SoundTouch 10 Speaker in terms of size, sound quality, and functionality. Take note that there will also be a slightly larger model, called the Revolve+, which, likewise, would come close to the SoundTouch 20 Speaker. The biggest differences are in the shape (they are round cylinders, similar to an Amazon Echo), as well as the fact that they are portable, ala other SoundLink devices.
First, the shape…a cylindrical speaker is a bit strange, but, at the same time, different in a somewhat pleasing way, as it doesn’t scream “I’m a speaker”. From the base, working up, it narrows slightly, having all control buttons on its top. TheRevolve + is a slightly larger, and taller, version of the same speaker (it also has a carrying handle, giving it somewhat if a “lantern” appearance), to which I’m going to assume it has a slightly larger diameter speaker…but I can’t confirm this, not having actually seen one.
BATTERY, DISTANCE, AND WATER RESISTANCE:
Where portability, and battery life, is a concern, the Revolve lasts up to 12 hours, while the Revolve+ model will have a 16-hour charge. In charging both speakers, you have two choices – plugging the microUSB cable directly into the Revolve speakers, or purchasing ($30) the optional SoundLink Revolve Charging Cradle. I HIGHLY recommend the cradle, as it will not only save you time in plugging/unplugging, but, over time, the speaker’s connection could get damaged. Additionally…and, more importantly…when using the Revolve speaker at home, place it on the Charging Cradle to keep it fully charged, while still using it.
Where portability, and battery life, is a concern, the Revolve lasts up to 12 hours, while the Revolve+ model will have a 16-hour charge. In charging both speakers, you have two choices – plugging the microUSB cable directly into the Revolve speakers, or purchasing ($30) the optional SoundLink Revolve Charging Cradle. I HIGHLY recommend the cradle, as it will not only save you time in plugging/unplugging, but, over time, the speaker’s connection could get damaged. Additionally…and, more importantly…when using the Revolve speaker at home, place it on the Charging Cradle to keep it fully charged, while still using it.
In terms of distance, inside the house, I was able to maintain connectivity to my cell phone (my “music player”, with well over 100GB of MP3s encoded @ 256Mbps) for approximately 25-30 feet, which is about average where Bluetooth is concerned. However, in terms of music quality, I found it best to maintain a distance no greater than 20 feet, as signal, and thus sound quality, quickly degraded beyond that point. Outside, on the other hand, was a different story…great sound quality was maintained to approximately 30 feet, “decent” to approximately 35-40 feet, with signal loss taking place at 45 feet. This was, to say the least, better than my expectations. I can’t say that every connected device will achieve this…some will be less, and others could possibly be more.
While not the greatest in “water protection”, let it be known that the Revolve Speakers do have an IP rating of 04, meaning that they are NOT protected against solids, and where liquids are concerned, “water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect” (info obtained from dsmt.com).
SOUND QUALITY:
Of course, the whole purpose of a speaker is to play music. So, how do they sound? Let’s just say I’ve never been a huge fan of Bose products. They produce really good-quality sound, but tend to be overpriced for what they are. In other words, you’re paying a decent amount for the ‘Bose’ name. That’s NOT saying Bose products are bad, or that they produce bad-quality sound – they ARE good, and they DO produce great sound…but, you can usually find equal-quality products, producing better-quality sound, for the same, or less, money. That being said, the Bose Revolve Bluetooth Speaker lives up to the Bose reputation – it produces really good-quality sound, but costs more than I truly believe it’s worth.
Of course, the whole purpose of a speaker is to play music. So, how do they sound? Let’s just say I’ve never been a huge fan of Bose products. They produce really good-quality sound, but tend to be overpriced for what they are. In other words, you’re paying a decent amount for the ‘Bose’ name. That’s NOT saying Bose products are bad, or that they produce bad-quality sound – they ARE good, and they DO produce great sound…but, you can usually find equal-quality products, producing better-quality sound, for the same, or less, money. That being said, the Bose Revolve Bluetooth Speaker lives up to the Bose reputation – it produces really good-quality sound, but costs more than I truly believe it’s worth.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
The best part of the Revolve speaker is…or, better yet, will be (once officially released)…the Bose apps (Bose SoundTouch and/or Bose Connect). To be honest, I haven’t had the opportunity to use them, I did speak with the manager of a local Bose store, so the following is based on what he told me. Additionally, I’m not 100% certain of both apps, or only one, will be used with the Revolve speakers. Anyway, moving on…according to what I was told, the app(s) will give you the ability to adjust tonality, so as to give the illusion of being in different areas (concert hall, stadium, small hall, large hall, etc). Additionally, it will provide “party mode” (the same sound emanating from multiple paired Revolve Speakers), as well as “stereo mode” (the “left” audio out of one speaker, & “right” audio out of the other speaker, when two speakers are paired).
The best part of the Revolve speaker is…or, better yet, will be (once officially released)…the Bose apps (Bose SoundTouch and/or Bose Connect). To be honest, I haven’t had the opportunity to use them, I did speak with the manager of a local Bose store, so the following is based on what he told me. Additionally, I’m not 100% certain of both apps, or only one, will be used with the Revolve speakers. Anyway, moving on…according to what I was told, the app(s) will give you the ability to adjust tonality, so as to give the illusion of being in different areas (concert hall, stadium, small hall, large hall, etc). Additionally, it will provide “party mode” (the same sound emanating from multiple paired Revolve Speakers), as well as “stereo mode” (the “left” audio out of one speaker, & “right” audio out of the other speaker, when two speakers are paired).
FINAL VERDICT:
The Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth Speaker (and its larger Revolve+ sibling) lives up to the Bose reputation, producing very good quality (heck, I’ll even go so far as to say somewhat better than “very good”) sound, and being a great, well-built product. The fact that it’s a portable Bluetooth speaker, and still producing sound of this quality, is even better. The “icing on the cake” is the (optional) Charging Cradle, making charging the revolve speaker(s) a simple, effortless task. Would I recommend the Bose Revolve Speaker? If I completely disregard my not being a big Bose fan, the answer is “absolutely”. Even knowing I’m not a Bose fan, my answer would still be “yes”. Bose has produced a great product, with a better-than-very-good sound quality, at a price that is on par with similar products. What give the advantage over those “similar products” is the Charging Cradle, as well as the Bose apps. The Revolve Speaker is, on its own, already a great product…but, when combined with the apps & Charging Cradle (which, at only $30, is an excellent value), everything is even better.
The Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth Speaker (and its larger Revolve+ sibling) lives up to the Bose reputation, producing very good quality (heck, I’ll even go so far as to say somewhat better than “very good”) sound, and being a great, well-built product. The fact that it’s a portable Bluetooth speaker, and still producing sound of this quality, is even better. The “icing on the cake” is the (optional) Charging Cradle, making charging the revolve speaker(s) a simple, effortless task. Would I recommend the Bose Revolve Speaker? If I completely disregard my not being a big Bose fan, the answer is “absolutely”. Even knowing I’m not a Bose fan, my answer would still be “yes”. Bose has produced a great product, with a better-than-very-good sound quality, at a price that is on par with similar products. What give the advantage over those “similar products” is the Charging Cradle, as well as the Bose apps. The Revolve Speaker is, on its own, already a great product…but, when combined with the apps & Charging Cradle (which, at only $30, is an excellent value), everything is even better.
Disclaimer: This product was provided free, or at reduced cost, for the purpose of reviewing the product. Nevertheless, the above review, be it positive, negative, or anywhere in-between, is a 100% honest review, and the price paid played absolutely no part in my review.
My Best Buy number: 0041679708
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
11of 16voted this as helpful.
Keep your SoundLink Revolve or Revolve+ Bluetooth speaker charged and ready to go, with the SoundLink Revolve charging dock. It’s a convenient home base for your speaker, and you can play your music while it charges. Just plug the wall charger included with your speaker into the cradle. Available in Black.
Customer Rating
5
A “convenience” item...But one worth getting
on April 4, 2017
Posted by: Panther68
from SF Bay Area
This is going to be about as simple a review as one could do…as the product, itself, is extremely simple. The Bose SoundLink Revolve Charging Cradle is……….a charging cradle for the just-released Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth Speaker. You can use the Revolve Bluetooth Speaker without purchasing the Revolve Charging Cradle, but you certainly wouldn’t buy the Charging Cradle without purchasing/owning the Revolve Bluetooth Speaker. Why? It would be akin to purchasing accessories for a car that you don’t own, and don’t intend to buy.
Simply put, if you’re going to purchase the Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth Speaker (or already own one), then you WILL want the Revolve Charging Cradle. Yes, you can use the Revolve Bluetooth speaker without the charging cradle, but you will have to physically plug the microUSB cord into the speaker every time you need to charge it, and physically unplug it every time you want to take the speaker “on the go”. With the charging cradle, on the other hand, you keep the charging cord plugged into the cradle, never having to plug/unplug. To charge the Revolve speaker, just place the speaker on the cradle…and when you’re ready to take it with you, just lift it off the cradle.
I realize this is, in essence, nothing more than a convenience thing…but, sometimes, “convenience” is what’s best. For example, there’s very little difference between the Bose Revolve Charging Cradle, and your typical wireless charging pad/cradle for cell phones (if you don’t count the four small metal contact points on the Bose charging cradle), but, when it comes to the cellphones my wife & I have, just placing them on one of our three wireless charging stands saves time…and, more importantly, when a call comes in, and you need to grab the phone quickly in order to answer it, being able to grab it without having to unplug it saves a lot of time (not to mention not missing calls because you couldn’t unplug & answer in time). Likewise, when you’re getting ready for your family picnic, day at the beach, or wherever else you might want to take your Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth Speaker, wouldn’t you prefer to “grab & go”, as opposed to having to unplug it?
Do I recommend getting the charging cradle? Do bananas grow on trees?
(HINT: the answer is the same for both questions)
(HINT: the answer is the same for both questions)
Disclaimer: This product was provided free, or at reduced cost, for the purpose of reviewing the product. Nevertheless, the above review, be it positive, negative, or anywhere in-between, is a 100% honest review, and the price paid played absolutely no part in my review.
My Best Buy number: 0041679708
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Bring out the bass in your music with these Bluetooth-enabled Sony over-ear headphones. Its digital noise-canceling technology lets you shut out external sounds for immersive listening, and you can play tunes wirelessly for up to 22 hours. The soft ear pads on these Sony over-ear headphones provide comfort during long listening sessions.
Customer Rating
5
Probably the BEST Stereo Bluetooth Headset
on March 24, 2017
Posted by: Panther68
from SF Bay Area
Pre-review thought: To be completely honest, I don’t have high hopes for Sony’s just-released MDR-XB950N1 headphones. I have several corded headphones, & two stereo Bluetooth headsets. My current “go to” for music-listening is a v-moda Crossfade M-100 with an Onkyo DAC-HA200 external DAC/Amp. The Sony headphones can’t compare/compete…right? Read the ENTIRE review, and we shall see. For the review, I focused on the Sony headphones, making minor comparisons to the v-moda M-100. I am not an “audiophile”, & I don’t have a “trained ear”…but, as a musician, I can discern audio quality differences.
UNBOXING, AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:
The outer box is on-par with others, although a better job than Sony’s usual packaging. The inner box is your basic black cardboard box, except that the lid’s inside is nicely-lined with a soft, black, flannel-like material. The plastic “cradle” that the headphones are in is thicker (more sturdy) than usual, & the top has a flat black leather-like texture, giving the internal packaging somewhat of a “premium feel”. Included with the usual ‘papers’ are a USB/microUSB cable for charging (and possible firmware upgrades…more on this later), a double-ended 3.5mm cord, and a carrying pouch. NOTE: 3.5mm-to-1/4” adapter is NOT included.
The outer box is on-par with others, although a better job than Sony’s usual packaging. The inner box is your basic black cardboard box, except that the lid’s inside is nicely-lined with a soft, black, flannel-like material. The plastic “cradle” that the headphones are in is thicker (more sturdy) than usual, & the top has a flat black leather-like texture, giving the internal packaging somewhat of a “premium feel”. Included with the usual ‘papers’ are a USB/microUSB cable for charging (and possible firmware upgrades…more on this later), a double-ended 3.5mm cord, and a carrying pouch. NOTE: 3.5mm-to-1/4” adapter is NOT included.
SETUP:
There are two ways to connect the headphones: wireless (standard Bluetooth, or NFC), & wired (for greater frequency range). If your device has NFC, you pair by tapping the headphone’s left cup to the device’s NFC contact point.
There are two ways to connect the headphones: wireless (standard Bluetooth, or NFC), & wired (for greater frequency range). If your device has NFC, you pair by tapping the headphone’s left cup to the device’s NFC contact point.
COMFORT & EASE OF OPERATION:
Controls are well placed, simplifying operation: power, BassBoost, & Noise Cancelation buttons, plus USB & 3.5mm ports, are on the left side; the volume, play/pause, next/fast-forward, & back/rewind controls on the right. Earpads are a soft memory foam, covered in a soft vinyl-like material (great for comfortable extended listening). The headband is solid, being made of metal & hard plastic, with plush padding along the top. The cups rotate 90 degrees to the rear, and fold inward, compact enough to store almost anywhere.
Controls are well placed, simplifying operation: power, BassBoost, & Noise Cancelation buttons, plus USB & 3.5mm ports, are on the left side; the volume, play/pause, next/fast-forward, & back/rewind controls on the right. Earpads are a soft memory foam, covered in a soft vinyl-like material (great for comfortable extended listening). The headband is solid, being made of metal & hard plastic, with plush padding along the top. The cups rotate 90 degrees to the rear, and fold inward, compact enough to store almost anywhere.
SOUND QUALITY:
First, I tested noise-cancelation capabilities…and where better than inside a car, with the car stereo blasting music different than what’s playing through the headphones (not a “sound booth”, but works equally well). When I listen to the radio, the volume is typically at 5 (usual 3-5 range, rarely exceeding 7), so ‘5’ was my start-point. NOTE: the MDR-XB950N1’s volume is lower when BassBoost is ‘on’. With headphones at a typical listening volume, & car stereo on, I first tested with BassBoost turned on, playing several different songs. The car stereo reached 22-24 before I could hear it. Turning BassBoost off (same songs), the volume reached 33-34 before I noticed. In both tests, the car stereo’s music was barely a whisper above the headphone’s, thus no interfere. Car volume had to be 5-7 higher before I truly noticed, & the car stereo music began to clash. Conclusion: MDR-XB950N1 Noise Cancelation works extremely well.
First, I tested noise-cancelation capabilities…and where better than inside a car, with the car stereo blasting music different than what’s playing through the headphones (not a “sound booth”, but works equally well). When I listen to the radio, the volume is typically at 5 (usual 3-5 range, rarely exceeding 7), so ‘5’ was my start-point. NOTE: the MDR-XB950N1’s volume is lower when BassBoost is ‘on’. With headphones at a typical listening volume, & car stereo on, I first tested with BassBoost turned on, playing several different songs. The car stereo reached 22-24 before I could hear it. Turning BassBoost off (same songs), the volume reached 33-34 before I noticed. In both tests, the car stereo’s music was barely a whisper above the headphone’s, thus no interfere. Car volume had to be 5-7 higher before I truly noticed, & the car stereo music began to clash. Conclusion: MDR-XB950N1 Noise Cancelation works extremely well.
For corded music tests & comparison, I used Sony’s own cord with the MDR-XB950N1 (so as to not “alter” its original sound), as opposed to using the v-moda’s higher-quality cord. With CDs first, I listened to Sheila E’s “Butterfly”, Casting Crown’s “Voice of Truth”, and Earth Wind & Fire’s “Got To Get You Into My Life”. On “Butterfly”, the sound quality was slightly flat, timbales sounded slightly muffled, & cymbals were discernable, but lacked their usual crispness. For all songs, vocals were fairly accurately, but slightly muffled, percussion was somewhat flat, & guitars sounded soft. So far, things weren’t looking good for the MDR-XB950N1.
For the remaining tests, I switched to MP3s, playing Tim Capello’s “I Still Believe” (‘The Lost Boys’ soundtrack), Duran Duran’s “A View To A Kill”, Kitaro’s “The Light of the Spirit”, Matthew West’s “Forgivness”, & Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”, with tests in this order: corded into phone, corded via DAC, then wireless. The corded into phone results were similar to the CD results, except more accurate & closer to the sound of the v-moda headphones…but still far from perfect. The corded via DAC were much better. To be honest, the results are hard for me to believe…the difference between headphones was barely noticeable. Holding one cup from each to my ears at the same time, I thought I was listening to a single headset. Last up was Bluetooth (M-100s still wired)…and this is where the Sony MDR-XB950N1 shined. I might go so far as to say they outperformed my M-100s. The sound was crisp, clean, & clear. I actually had to turn the volume DOWN on my GS7 Edge, so as to not blast my ears.
SONY “HEADPHONES CONNECT” APP:
In short, the app is not a good thing…it’s somewhat of a bad thing: ‘Surround (VPT)’ effects are all but useless. There’s little difference between them. A couple of them stood out…barely…but never enough to make a real difference. I recommend keeping this setting “Off”. At the same time, I still recommend installing the app, as it has other useful features, most importantly the remaining battery time.
In short, the app is not a good thing…it’s somewhat of a bad thing: ‘Surround (VPT)’ effects are all but useless. There’s little difference between them. A couple of them stood out…barely…but never enough to make a real difference. I recommend keeping this setting “Off”. At the same time, I still recommend installing the app, as it has other useful features, most importantly the remaining battery time.
THE GOOD: When used for what these are designed for…mobile devices playing compressed-format music (MP3, AAC, FLAC, etc), they’re outstanding, producing clean, bright (but not overly/unrealistically), accurate, crisp sound.
THE BAD: The included 3.5mm cord isn’t very good. If using a cord, replace the included cord with one of higher quality. The Headphones Connect app’s ‘Surround (VPT)’ settings produce no discernable difference, & lowers the volume.
THE UGLY: Do NOT use these for listening to CDs, as they ruin the audio quality.
CLOSING THOUGHTS:
These are not headphones to use when listening to CDs. Overall sound is good, but no better than $25-50 over/on-the-headphones (you’d be better off with $50 in-ear headphones). If your intent is listening to music on mobile devices, that’s what these are for…and they’re great at it. For corded listening, the included cord is ‘good’, but replacing it with a high-quality cord will produce better sound. For listening via Bluetooth, this is where these are the best. Sony did an incredible job designing these, outperforming almost all other Bluetooth headphones I’ve listened to.
These are not headphones to use when listening to CDs. Overall sound is good, but no better than $25-50 over/on-the-headphones (you’d be better off with $50 in-ear headphones). If your intent is listening to music on mobile devices, that’s what these are for…and they’re great at it. For corded listening, the included cord is ‘good’, but replacing it with a high-quality cord will produce better sound. For listening via Bluetooth, this is where these are the best. Sony did an incredible job designing these, outperforming almost all other Bluetooth headphones I’ve listened to.
Having viewed Sony’s webpage for the MDR-XB950N1 headphones, there’s the possibility that the firmware installed can be updated. Sony hasn’t posted anything on the product page…yet…as these were just released. However, that being said, if you go to Sony’s product page, and scroll down to the ‘Support’ section, you will find a tab labeled “Drivers & Software”. I am not claiming to know there will be firmware updates, nor am I stating that there won’t be…all I’m saying is, considering they’ve added that tab to the product’s support section, there’s a high possibility/probability that firmware updated could be forthcoming.
If you’re in the market for stereo Bluetooth headphones, you will be hard-pressed to find anything better…at this price-point, or any other. The Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones are equally good, but you’ll pay $100 more. The Beats Solo3 cost $30 less, but they don’t sound as good, plus you lose Noise Cancelation. The Beats Studio Wireless has Noise Cancelation, and costs $20 less, but, again, they don’t sound as good. If you truly want the best, you can get the Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H8, or Senheiser Momentum 2.0 Wireless, but they’ll each cost you $500+. Finally, you could get Sony’s MDR-1000X which will sound slightly better, and includes Noise Cancelation…but you’ll pay $150 more for them.
FINAL VERDICT:
For corded listening w/ DAC, the v-moda M-100s will remain my “go to”. For corded listening w/o DAC, the MDR-XB950N1s can almost rival the M-100s. If you only want to listen to music on-the-go via Bluetooth, GET THESE HEADPHONES…it’s that simple. These are now my “go to” for Bluetooth listening.
For corded listening w/ DAC, the v-moda M-100s will remain my “go to”. For corded listening w/o DAC, the MDR-XB950N1s can almost rival the M-100s. If you only want to listen to music on-the-go via Bluetooth, GET THESE HEADPHONES…it’s that simple. These are now my “go to” for Bluetooth listening.
At the beginning of my review, I asked a question about the ability of the MDR-XB950N1s being able to compete/compare against the M-100s. I’m here to say that my internal assumption…although I never stated it…was wrong. I had assumed that the M-100 would outperform the MDR-XB950N1. The truth is, they are just as good…and, in some ways, better. The M-100 headphones are corded-only, whereas the MDR-XB950N1 headphones are Bluetooth, plus they work when corded. Added to that is Active Noise Cancelation, which the M-100s don’t have. If you want the BEST sounding Bluetooth headphones, with Active Noise Cancelation, for the lowest price, there’s only one choice: Sony’s MDR-XB950N1 headphones.
Disclaimer: This product was provided free, or at reduced cost, for the purpose of reviewing the product. Nevertheless, the above review, be it positive, negative, or anywhere in-between, is a 100% honest review, and the price paid played absolutely no part in my review.
My Best Buy number: 0041679708
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+141points
184of 227voted this as helpful.
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Customer Rating
5
Hands-down, the BEST whole-home mesh Wi-Fi system
on January 12, 2017
Posted by: Panther68
from SF Bay Area
First, for those who are new to mesh Wi-Fi, it’s similar to using extenders/repeaters, but with a some differences. With extenders, each “node” has its own SSID (network name), and the nodes do not hand off when a connected device moves. This requires you to disconnect from router/extender, and connect to the extender/router. Another problem is they limit your connecting bands (2.4GHz and/or 5GHz) and/or cut your data speeds in half. Repeaters, on the other hand, are similar to a mesh system, handing off between router to repeater, except there’s also speed limitations, and you can only connect one repeater to a router. With small-to-medium size home, this isn’t usually a problem. For those with medium-to-large homes, that’s where mesh Wi-Fi systems have a huge advantage, as most handle as many as six nodes, and full-speed is maintained throughout the system.
Setup & Configuration
Installation & setup of the Velop system is very easy (except Wi-Fi security, as noted later), similar to Google Wi-Fi, Netgear Orbi, and Eero. Additionally, Linksys Velop is a tri-band system (similar to Orbi), and uses a dedicated 5GHz radio to communicate between nodes (Google Wi-Fi and Eero communicate between nodes via the same 2.4GHz/5GHz bands used to communicate with connected devices). It has three 2x2 radios (two uplink, two downlink) - one 2.4GHz radio, and two 5GHz radios (one communicates with connected devices, the other communicates between nodes). Traditional multi-band routers allow the user to decide whether to connect to the 2.4GHz band, or the 5GHz band. Most mesh Wi-Fi systems, on the other hand, automatically select/switch bands, depending on signal strength & distance. For some, this will be a good thing; for others (such as those streaming HD video), this could be bad. Unlike Orbi, which needs to have each node synced to the primary node, Velop has the advantage of using a peer-to-peer system (as long a one non-primary node is synced to the primary).
Like other mesh Wi-Fi systems, setup and maintenance is handled by an app on your phone/tablet, as opposed to through a web browser. Also, initial setup/configuration requires the use of Bluetooth (similar to Google Wi-Fi). For some, this is an advancement; for others, a drawback. Either way, the Bluetooth setup does slow things down, especially when connecting additional nodes. Some companies, such as Asus, have routers with both abilities (browser and app), which I prefer over the ‘app-only’ method. As mentioned earlier, setup isn’t always easy. During setup of additional nodes, I ran into a problem (which has also been reported by others) – the Wi-Fi security was disabled. Resolving the problem was as simple as re-enabling it once each additional node was configured, but having to do this was a bit of a pain. I suggest checking the app’s Wi-Fi list every so often, to make sure the ‘lock icon’ is correct.
Similar to other mesh Wi-Fi systems, ports have been stripped down to the bare minimum – two Ethernet ports, and a power jack. Since your modem needs to be connected to one port (on the primary node), if you want additional Ethernet ports, this forces you to connect a switch to the second port. Additionally, as there are no USB ports, this eliminates the ability to plug in an external drives for networked access. However, Velop does offer one “cool trick” which some will love, and others will see as a serious security risk – Amazon Echo/Alexa integration. On the plus side, you can do things such as verbally turning your guest access on/off, as well as have it speak your network security information. Unfortunately, that second “plus” is also a huge “minus”, as anyone within earshot of your Echo now has your network information. As for future “skills”, they are under development.
Speed Testing
To test the Velop system, I compared it against Google Wi-Fi and my Asus router (plus an Asus repeater, when conducting multi-node tests). Having run multiple tests, from multiple locations, the data transfer results have been rounded-averaged, due to the results being fairly close. As for the internet tests, due to the results being somewhat wider, I’m listing a rounded range. Starting with data transfer testing between devices, in testing a single node, while the Velop system was somewhat faster than Google Wi-Fi (550Mbps vs 500Mbps), my Asus router outperformed them both by a huge margin (600+Mbps). Moving to multi-node tests (using an Asus repeater for the Asus router), the Velop system easily bested Google Wi-Fi (300Mbps vs 175Mbps), but the Asus router/repeater combination, again, proved better (400+Mbps). Moving over to internet speed tests, the results were relatively close (possibly due to my internet bandwidth), especially where a single node was concerned. When connected to a single node, all tests produced results in the 80-90Mbps range. Moving to multi-node tests, the results started to vary. While Google Wi-Fi slowed down the most (60-65Mbps), the Velop system & Asus router/repeater combination were virtually identical (75-90Mbps vs 65-85Mbps). In real-world usage, compared to “controlled testing”, these differences are going to be barely noticeable (if noticeable at all) at lower bandwidth speeds, but as your bandwidth increases, the differences in internet speeds will be noticed, with (I’d predict) the Linksys Velop system coming out the clear winner.
As a side-note, I forgot to perform signal strength tests. Previously, I’ve done such tests with Google Wi-Fi, as well as my Asus router/repeater, but, due to time constraints (as a chauffeur, my work hours can be all over the board), I just didn’t have the time. Also, the Velop system offers out-of-the-box MU-MIMO. True, there aren’t a lot of MU-MIMO devices currently available, but at least you won’t have to wait for a firmware update once more MU-MIMOP devices hit the market. Lastly, when it comes to warranties, the Linksys Velop has one-upped other manufactures by offering a 3-year warranty, compared to the 1-year offered by most others.
THE GOOD:
• 3-Year warranty
• Tri-band configuration = the fastest speeds
• Easy to set up, configure, and maintain
• Amazon Echo/Alexa integration
• 3-Year warranty
• Tri-band configuration = the fastest speeds
• Easy to set up, configure, and maintain
• Amazon Echo/Alexa integration
THE BAD:
• Amazon Echo/Alexa integration
• One of the most expensive home mesh Wi-Fi systems
• No USB ports
• Amazon Echo/Alexa integration
• One of the most expensive home mesh Wi-Fi systems
• No USB ports
THE UGLY:
• No built-in switch
• No built-in switch
Conclusion
Should you get the Linksys Velop Wi-Fi system? For those with a small house/apartment/etc, you will be better off with a stand-alone (ie. traditional) router. For those with a medium house, a router might still be your best bet, and, if need be, you can always add a repeater (I do NOT suggest, or even recommend, using extenders). However, for those with larger houses, as well as those with medium-sized houses, if you have a need for “full-area coverage”, and want that coverage to be as fast as possible, this IS the mesh Wi-Fi system you want…despite its high cost. Yes, there are less expensive, and more powerful (by features), mesh Wi-Fi systems available, but when you look at everything as a whole, this is going to be your best choice, hands down. Previously, I said something similar about Google Wi-Fi, but its price played a huge factor in that. So did the fact that Google Wi-Fi was released before Linksys had even announced their Velop system. Personally, there are only a few reasons why I wouldn’t continue to use the Velop system – no built-in switch, no USB ports, poor advanced features. While the lack of a switch is significant, I could always resolve it by plugging an 8-port switch into the primary node, and a 4-port switch into the ‘bedroom’ node, that would mean needing to purchase an 8-port switch (high-quality units are not cheap). As for the lack of USB ports, that’s a deal-killer for me. For others, it might not be, as most people don’t set up external drives for network accessibility. For those who have no need of a network-accessed USB drive, this is a moot point, and, as such, the Velop system is still an excellent choice. Lastly, as for the poor advanced features, while they don’t meet my needs, they will meet the needs of others. This is one major area where the Linksys Velop is superior to Google Wi-Fi – Velop DOES have MAC filtering, while Google Wi-Fi does NOT. If MAC filtering is important to you, this is another reason to get the Linksys Velop system over any other mesh Wi-Fi system.
Disclaimer: This product was provided free, or at reduced cost, for the purpose of reviewing the product. Nevertheless, the above review, be it positive, negative, or somewhere in-between, is a 100% honest review, and the price paid played absolutely no part in my review.
My Best Buy number: 0041679708
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Create a reliable internet connection throughout your home with this Google Wi-Fi system. The convenient package of three connectivity points effortlessly covers even large homes up to 4,500 square feet. This Google Wi-Fi system eliminates uneven bandwidth usage among multiple devices, including cellphones and tablets, for an unimpeded connection that doesn't lag behind.
Customer Rating
4
Great Mesh Wi-Fi Solution, But Not Without Faults
on December 12, 2016
Posted by: Panther68
from SF Bay Area
NOT a TRUE mesh Wi-Fi system. Does this mean don’t consider Google Wi-Fi? Hardly. For some, it’s an excellent choice…maybe their best choice.
UNBOXING, AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:
Excellent job in the packaging design, Google. Not even Apple could have come up with packaging as elegant as this. The box isn’t just “nice looking”…it’s top-quality, with a hint of Japanese influence. Upon opening the box, you find 3 Google Wi-Fi units in near-perfect presentation, with each unit appearing to be high quality. They are compact, & can easily be placed where they will not be overly noticed. Under the tray, there are 3 identical boxes, with each box containing a white power cord/adapter. The middle box also contains a white, flat, 6ft Ethernet cable. The power cord/adapters also have a unique design, almost Apple-esque, but better looking. The instruction sheet is very simple, explaining everything with 2 diagrams, and very few words.
Excellent job in the packaging design, Google. Not even Apple could have come up with packaging as elegant as this. The box isn’t just “nice looking”…it’s top-quality, with a hint of Japanese influence. Upon opening the box, you find 3 Google Wi-Fi units in near-perfect presentation, with each unit appearing to be high quality. They are compact, & can easily be placed where they will not be overly noticed. Under the tray, there are 3 identical boxes, with each box containing a white power cord/adapter. The middle box also contains a white, flat, 6ft Ethernet cable. The power cord/adapters also have a unique design, almost Apple-esque, but better looking. The instruction sheet is very simple, explaining everything with 2 diagrams, and very few words.
SETUP:
Setup is a breeze, requiring only plugging the power cord into the chosen primary unit & wall outlet, plugging the Ethernet cable into the router’s WAN port, & plugging the opposite end into the router. Configuring the primary unit (henceforth “router”) is as simple as installing the app (Google Play, or Apple App stores), opening the app, making sure your Bluetooth is turned on, and scanning the QR code on the bottom of each node. From there, you select your SSID & password, the router automatically configures itself, & downloads/installs any available firmware update. I estimate it should take approximately 10-14 minutes to set up & configure a 3-unit system. In testing, I ran multiple speed tests & data transfer tests. For each type, I first ran the “current” router tests, followed by the Google Wi-Fi tests. So as to not use too much space, I’ll only reference results.
Setup is a breeze, requiring only plugging the power cord into the chosen primary unit & wall outlet, plugging the Ethernet cable into the router’s WAN port, & plugging the opposite end into the router. Configuring the primary unit (henceforth “router”) is as simple as installing the app (Google Play, or Apple App stores), opening the app, making sure your Bluetooth is turned on, and scanning the QR code on the bottom of each node. From there, you select your SSID & password, the router automatically configures itself, & downloads/installs any available firmware update. I estimate it should take approximately 10-14 minutes to set up & configure a 3-unit system. In testing, I ran multiple speed tests & data transfer tests. For each type, I first ran the “current” router tests, followed by the Google Wi-Fi tests. So as to not use too much space, I’ll only reference results.
SPEED & SIGNAL STRENGTH TESTS:
To begin, I set up only a single node to compare against my current router (brand A$^s). After running several speed tests on both 2.4GHz & 5GHz bands, I determined both routers operate almost equally, with download speeds of 89-92Mbps, and uploads of 6.5-7.5Mbps. After speed tests, I moved to signal strength tests, checking signal strengths on both bands. As with the speed tests, signal strengths proved approximately equal. Interestingly, while it’s normal for signal strength to decrease as distance and/or number of walls increases, the percentage of signal decrease was not equal. On the 2.4GHz bands, my “current” router was marginally better at the closer distances, but as distance increased, signal strengths became virtually equal. For the 5GHz band, the results were the opposite. At closer distances, Google Wi-Fi produced slightly stronger 5GHz signals, but at greater distances, Google Wi-Fi had the greater signal strength loss.
To begin, I set up only a single node to compare against my current router (brand A$^s). After running several speed tests on both 2.4GHz & 5GHz bands, I determined both routers operate almost equally, with download speeds of 89-92Mbps, and uploads of 6.5-7.5Mbps. After speed tests, I moved to signal strength tests, checking signal strengths on both bands. As with the speed tests, signal strengths proved approximately equal. Interestingly, while it’s normal for signal strength to decrease as distance and/or number of walls increases, the percentage of signal decrease was not equal. On the 2.4GHz bands, my “current” router was marginally better at the closer distances, but as distance increased, signal strengths became virtually equal. For the 5GHz band, the results were the opposite. At closer distances, Google Wi-Fi produced slightly stronger 5GHz signals, but at greater distances, Google Wi-Fi had the greater signal strength loss.
To test Google Wi-Fi’s “mesh” ability, I added a second unit, to the far opposite exterior corner of the condo. To compare signal strengths, I also connected a repeater to my “current” router (same manufacturer as router), in the same location as the 2nd Google Wi-Fi node. Signal strengths on both the 2.4GHz & 5GHz bands were relatively consistant.
DATA TRANSFER TESTS:
A total of 15 data transfer tests were conducted, & internet speeds were not affected, as the internet provider connection is the true “bottleneck”. For each (Google Wi-Fi, plus my “current” router), data transfer tests were conducted in 3 ways, all with a 1.01GB file. First, between two laptops. Second, from a network-connected drive to my laptop. Third, from my laptop to the network drive. The first 6 tests (3 per router/manufacturer) were done while connected only to the router, with the laptops & network drive in living room. The remaining 9 tests were done with the ‘controlling’ laptop in the back bedroom, and the other laptop & network drive in the living room…“controlling” laptop connected to the repeater/node, and the 2nd laptop & network drive connected to the router. 6 involved a 2-node Google Wi-Fi mesh against my “current” router, while 3 involved my “current” router plus the repeater.
A total of 15 data transfer tests were conducted, & internet speeds were not affected, as the internet provider connection is the true “bottleneck”. For each (Google Wi-Fi, plus my “current” router), data transfer tests were conducted in 3 ways, all with a 1.01GB file. First, between two laptops. Second, from a network-connected drive to my laptop. Third, from my laptop to the network drive. The first 6 tests (3 per router/manufacturer) were done while connected only to the router, with the laptops & network drive in living room. The remaining 9 tests were done with the ‘controlling’ laptop in the back bedroom, and the other laptop & network drive in the living room…“controlling” laptop connected to the repeater/node, and the 2nd laptop & network drive connected to the router. 6 involved a 2-node Google Wi-Fi mesh against my “current” router, while 3 involved my “current” router plus the repeater.
For the first 6 tests, the results were close, as expected. Moving to the 2-node mesh vs router-only configuration, my “current” router won (also as expected), although by a somewhat narrow margin. I expected the Google Wi-Fi’s data transfer rate to be half, but it was much better. I won’t spoil the fun, but kudos to Google, as I was extremely surprised. While I fully expected my “current” router-repeater configuration to cut data transfer speeds in half, or close to it, the results of the 2-node Google Wi-Fi were unexpected. While my “current” router-repeater configuration preformed far better than expected (data transfer speed degraded approximately 35%), the 2-node Google Wi-Fi configuration performed even better (data transfer speed degraded approximately 25%). What Google Wi-Fi lacks in advanced features, it makes up for in data transfer speeds.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
There is one point of interest (not “good”, but not “bad”) I discovered while testing. Google Wi-Fi automatically selects which band (2.4GHz or 5GHz) it connects to…there’s NO ability to manually select your band. Also, with the app, you have no way of knowing which band your devices (computers, phones, tablets, etc) are connected to. Through the device, you might be able to determine this, but through the app, you can’t. For devices with ability to connect via both bands, I assume they connects to the 5GHz band when in close proximity of a Google Wi-Fi node, and when signal strength degrades, it probably automatically switches to the 2.4GHz band. Additionally, Google Wi-Fi automatically switches channels, based on whatever channels have the lowest congestion. As with Google Wi-Fi’s inability to manually select 2.4GHz or 5GHz, there’s also no ability to manually select the channel.
There is one point of interest (not “good”, but not “bad”) I discovered while testing. Google Wi-Fi automatically selects which band (2.4GHz or 5GHz) it connects to…there’s NO ability to manually select your band. Also, with the app, you have no way of knowing which band your devices (computers, phones, tablets, etc) are connected to. Through the device, you might be able to determine this, but through the app, you can’t. For devices with ability to connect via both bands, I assume they connects to the 5GHz band when in close proximity of a Google Wi-Fi node, and when signal strength degrades, it probably automatically switches to the 2.4GHz band. Additionally, Google Wi-Fi automatically switches channels, based on whatever channels have the lowest congestion. As with Google Wi-Fi’s inability to manually select 2.4GHz or 5GHz, there’s also no ability to manually select the channel.
To use Google Wi-Fi, you need a Google account (ie. Gmail address). According to Google, Google Wi-Fi doesn’t collect user activity data…only network, hardware, and app-related information. You do have the ability to turn this off in the setting’s ‘Privacy’ section. As a constant connection with Google is required, this could be a ‘deal breaker’ for some. However, it should be noted that Google’s “mesh network system” is not the only hardware requiring this. Of the other two well-known mesh networking hardware manufacturers, one has an identical requirement. Additionally, there’s no web browser interface. An Android/iOS app is needed to set-up Google Wi-Fi, and to configure & maintain Google Wi-Fi. This is, again, a ‘deal breaker’ for some…and an advantage for others. Personally, I’ve found this to be a considerable advantage.
THE GOOD: Ease of setting up
Ease of configuring
Ease of maintaining
Compact form-factor
Modular design (can handle up to six units, up to a 10,500sf house (by my estimates))
Inexpensive (comparted to other mesh Wi-Fi systems)
Ease of configuring
Ease of maintaining
Compact form-factor
Modular design (can handle up to six units, up to a 10,500sf house (by my estimates))
Inexpensive (comparted to other mesh Wi-Fi systems)
THE BAD: Few advanced/customizable features (this could change in future updates)
No DDNS or VPN ability
Port forwarding, and DHCP, are difficult to configure
No DDNS or VPN ability
Port forwarding, and DHCP, are difficult to configure
THE UGLY: No MAC filtering (this could change in future updates)
No switch, limited to single physically-connected network device (unless external switch is added)
No switch, limited to single physically-connected network device (unless external switch is added)
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Is Google Wi-Fi for you? It depends on your technical expertise, how much security you need, & how much network control you want. If you live in an apartment/small condo, then the answer is probably “No”. For the same $129 price of a single Google Wi-Fi unit, you can get a router with more advanced features. If you live in a house/large condo, the answer is complicated. For power users, Google Wi-Fi will NOT meet your needs. If you’re an “average” consumer wanting/needing a mesh network, but want advanced features (ie. MAC filtering), until Google adds these features (if Google adds them), the answer is still “No”.
Is Google Wi-Fi for you? It depends on your technical expertise, how much security you need, & how much network control you want. If you live in an apartment/small condo, then the answer is probably “No”. For the same $129 price of a single Google Wi-Fi unit, you can get a router with more advanced features. If you live in a house/large condo, the answer is complicated. For power users, Google Wi-Fi will NOT meet your needs. If you’re an “average” consumer wanting/needing a mesh network, but want advanced features (ie. MAC filtering), until Google adds these features (if Google adds them), the answer is still “No”.
However…”good news” time…for the average consumer needing a mesh Wi-Fi system, who doesn’t need MAC filtering, DDNS, VPN, etc, Google Wi-Fi might be your BEST choice. You’re NOT going to find a more affordable mesh Wi-Fi system. You’re NOT going to find another home networking system that’s easier to set up, or configure. You’re NOT going to find home networking equipment that’s easier to maintain. Simply put, if I were shopping for a mesh network system for family/friends, I knew they had a large area-of-coverage need, & I knew they didn’t need MAC filtering, VPN, DDNS, etc, Google Wi-Fi would be the ONLY system I’d consider for them.
Disclaimer: This product was provided free, or at reduced cost, for the purpose of reviewing the product. Nevertheless, the above review, be it positive, negative, or somewhere in-between, is a 100% honest review, and the price paid played absolutely no part in my review.
My Best Buy number: 0041679708
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep unwanted hair to a minimum with this Philips grooming tool. The waterproof design lets you use it in the shower, and eight attachments make this trimmer perfect for grooming different sections of the face. This Philips grooming tool has a turbo setting to increase cutting speed, and it charges in just one hour to reduce wait time.
Customer Rating
4
Great, But Slight Improvement Could Be Used
on November 20, 2016
Posted by: Panther68
from SF Bay Area
To start with, I will admit that I have not yet (although I am certain I will, in due time) tested out all of the attachments. Taking into consideration I had just gotten a haircut a few days before the trimmer arrived, I am, thus, unable to provide any information on the hair comb or stubble comb. As for the body comb, I just haven't tried it yet...but, again, I will. Moving onto what has been tested...............
The first attachment I tested (as strange as this might sound) was the nose/ear hair trimmer. In the past, I've tried several nose and/or ear hair trimmers, and I've been seriously disappointed with each, and every, one of them. In short, they have never worked as claimed. In the case of the nose/ear hair attachment for the Philips Norelco Multigroom 7400, it was the exact opposite. It easily, and near-perfectly cleaned up the ear hair (I'm 48, so, yes, I do get ear hair). Off to a great start...but then onto the more-problematic nose hair. The result...once again, it cleaned everything up as near-perfect as it could be without going back to the scissors I'd previously used. On a 1-10 scale, with "10" equating to scissors, I'd rate it 8-9.
Moving to the detail trimmer attachment, this I tested by cleaning up the edges of my hair, as well as my side-burn. On the same 1-10 scale, it's at least a 9, and possibly a 10. It left a super-clean line, exactly as it should.
Lastly, I, along with my wife, tested the bodygroom shaver attachment. This, depending on whether used "wet" or "dry" created different results. My wife tested it first, in the shower (ie. "wet"), when shaving her legs. Unfortunately, the results were not as good when compared against a traditional disposable razor, which is what she normally uses. Based on her growth-rate for her leg hair, she typically shaves once every 7 days. Using the bodygroom shaver attachment, the amount of stubble it left would equate to approximately 1-2 days growth. On the 1-10 scale, I'm estimating approximately a 4-5. Being a former competitive swimmer, I'm not exactly a "stranger" to shaving my body hair, and so, in order to get an idea of its "dry" shaving capabilities, I shaved the back of my lower legs...and the results were quite different, as it left my legs almost equal to that achieved by a traditional disposable razor. On the same 1-10 scale, I'd give it an 8-9.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS (based solely on the attachments used):
I'm impressed with the charging time. A 1-hour charge, to achieve 60 minutes of use, isn't exactly the greatest, but, considering what it is, and the small battery I'm certain it contains, I'm very happy with the charge-to-use ratio. The fact that it's "shower proof" is one of its best features. Most trimmers, including most cordless trimmers, are "dry-use only", so the fact that it can be used while taking a shower is extremely important. While there's no way I can consider the included bag as "premium" (I'm not even certain it's actual leather...more likely to be man-made), the fact that a bag is included, added to the fact that it's large enough for the entire trimmer kit, my electric toothbrush case, a full-size tube of toothpaste, and my electric razor, that makes up for the points lost in Philips claim of a "premium leather" bag. Overall, on the same 1-10 scale, I'd give it an 8. It contains more attachments than most other trimmer kits on the market, and at a competitive price. The included bag (even if it's not "premium leather") is a nice extra touch...and its size is a great bonus. Would I recommend this? That depends. If you're only looking to use this in one location, such as at home, then, unfortunately, my answer would have to be "no", I would not recommend this trimmer kit. There are plenty of corded trimmers, including those made by Philips, that include a fairly equal number of attachments, for a considerably lower cost. However, if you need a trimmer that you will travel with (even if only occasionally), are concerned about the weight (the Multigroom 7400 kit is pretty lightweight), want a cordless/rechargeable trimmer and/or want a trimmer that you can use in the shower, then my answer would be "yes", as this will be one of your best choices...and, quite possibly, your best choice. Yes, there are more expansive brands, but that doesn't make them better. There are also less expansive units, but that could leave question to its quality...and Philips has been known, for many years, as a company that manufacturers quality products. Do your own research, and you should come to a similar, if not the same, conclusion.
I'm impressed with the charging time. A 1-hour charge, to achieve 60 minutes of use, isn't exactly the greatest, but, considering what it is, and the small battery I'm certain it contains, I'm very happy with the charge-to-use ratio. The fact that it's "shower proof" is one of its best features. Most trimmers, including most cordless trimmers, are "dry-use only", so the fact that it can be used while taking a shower is extremely important. While there's no way I can consider the included bag as "premium" (I'm not even certain it's actual leather...more likely to be man-made), the fact that a bag is included, added to the fact that it's large enough for the entire trimmer kit, my electric toothbrush case, a full-size tube of toothpaste, and my electric razor, that makes up for the points lost in Philips claim of a "premium leather" bag. Overall, on the same 1-10 scale, I'd give it an 8. It contains more attachments than most other trimmer kits on the market, and at a competitive price. The included bag (even if it's not "premium leather") is a nice extra touch...and its size is a great bonus. Would I recommend this? That depends. If you're only looking to use this in one location, such as at home, then, unfortunately, my answer would have to be "no", I would not recommend this trimmer kit. There are plenty of corded trimmers, including those made by Philips, that include a fairly equal number of attachments, for a considerably lower cost. However, if you need a trimmer that you will travel with (even if only occasionally), are concerned about the weight (the Multigroom 7400 kit is pretty lightweight), want a cordless/rechargeable trimmer and/or want a trimmer that you can use in the shower, then my answer would be "yes", as this will be one of your best choices...and, quite possibly, your best choice. Yes, there are more expansive brands, but that doesn't make them better. There are also less expansive units, but that could leave question to its quality...and Philips has been known, for many years, as a company that manufacturers quality products. Do your own research, and you should come to a similar, if not the same, conclusion.
Disclaimer: This product was provided free, or at a reduced cost, for the purpose of reviewing the product. Nevertheless, the above review, be it positive, negative, or somewhere in-between, is an honest review, and the price paid played no part in my review.
My Best Buy number: 0041679708
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season [Blu-ray] [Targaryen]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2989/2989384_sa.jpg)
This epic release from the landmark fantasy series Game of Thrones includes all 10 episodes of the show's third season, following the ongoing story of the powerful families of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, a land in which the cut-throat political web through which seemingly everyone vies for control includes torture, seduction, and many secrets.
Customer Rating
5
The Best Only Gets BETTER
on February 21, 2014
Posted by: Panther68
from SF Bay Area
Verified Purchase:Yes
After having read the first book several years ago, I was greatly please to hear that HBO would be doing a series based on the books. The acting, writing, cinematography, f/x, & just about everything else, are first rate. I seriously hope that HBO continues with the series all the way through, especially considering that there are supposed to be three more books forthcoming.
I don't mind in the least that certain events covered in the previous/following book are occasionally moved around, to the following/previous season, as it helps to put things in a more accurate chronological timeline. I do, however, have one complaint, that being that certain events are changed enough to the point (when compared against the books) that I wonder how they will be resolved. A perfect case-in-point is the much-talked-about "Red Wedding". In the HBO series, King Robb's wife was present, and as such, her character is no longer alive. On the other hand, in the book, she was purposely left behind, so as to not cause undue umbrage to the Fray's, especially 'Lord' Walder Fray.
As I start reading book 5, "A Dance With Dragons", knowing that her character is still alive, I wonder what changes the show's writers will make, considering they've already killed her off on the show. I have to admit that, no matter what changes have been made, of the three seasons (so far), season 3 was the best. Season 4 is to be the second half of the third book, yet I also wonder how the following 2-3 seasons will be handled, being that books 4 & 5 cover, for the most part, the same timeline, just with different characters being focuseded on (the last quarter of book 5, from what I understand, brings everything back together, and, one again, moves things forward).
Would I recommend the purchase of Season 3 to others? Let me put it this way...on a scale of 1-10, my "should you purchase" recommendation is 12 (not even 11 isn't high enough).
My Best Buy number: 0041679708
My Best Buy number: 0041679708
What's great about it: What everyone tasks about - "The Red Wedding".
What's not so great: The changes made, when compared against the book, as I'm not certain how they'll resolve them differently in the series.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season [7 Discs] [Blu-ray]
(229)
Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season [7 Discs] [Blu-ray/DVD] [Includes Digital Copy]
(221)Share this review:
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0of 0voted this as helpful.
![19 [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8845/8845896_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Adele - Powerful, Soulful, Beautiful
on September 6, 2012
Posted by: Panther68
from SF Bay Area
What's to be said? This IS Adele. She's got some of the most powerful vocals around, and for someone her age, that's a rare gift. I could go on & on about Adele, but as I said to start this review, "What's to be said?" I don't believe it's possible to say anything new about her, or this album, that hasn't already been said.
What's great about it: Powerful vocals, combined with powerful lyrics
What's not so great: Only 12 songs? just kidding...but I could EASILY listen to more of her
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Easily chat with family and friends using this Motorola DROID RAZR cell phone that features a front-facing webcam with video recording. The 16GB total memory capacity offers ample space for your media.Requires a voice plan with a data pack $20 or higher.Early termination fee of $350.Verizon Edge option available. Learn more ›
Customer Rating
5
A Powerful Android Phone
on May 10, 2012
Posted by: Panther68
from SF Bay Area
The short of it: Hands down, the best Android handset I've had.
The long of it: I've had three handsets manufactured by HTC (Hero, EVO 4G, & EVO 3D), plus the Google Nexus S (honestly, the WORST Android handset I've had), all on Sprint, and my Motorola Droid RAZR is, by far, the best. I had grown to love HTC handsets, and, in my decision to return to Verizon, I was considering the Rezound...in fact, I had narrowed my choices down to the Rezound & the Droid RAZR (I really don't need the RAZR Maxx, and the $200 extra to get the Maxx isn't worth it, in my opinion). I read multiple reviews on each, as well as several comparisons pitting these two handsets against each other (some of those comparisons also, obviously, included other handsets), and, in the end, thee was only one honest answer - the Droid RAZR.
Now the "bad" (in quotes for a good reason...so keep reading). Have I had an y problems with the RAZR? Yes...but a very minor one. A few days after getting the RAZR, there was an update from Motorola, and from that point, the mp3 I had assigned as my ringtone would, at random times, be forgotten by the phone, leaving me without any assigned ringtone). Of course, with the bad comes the good, and all it took to fix this "problem" was to reset the handset. Since then, it's had no problems at all.
On a side note, I will mention that I had the original Motorola RAZR (three, actually, as I had one each on Verizon, metroPCS, & T-Mobile...the last one being the "limited edition" Dragon Tattoo design by Ami James, from "Miami Ink"), which, to this day, is considered one of the best, if not HE best, non-smartphone, It's good to see Motorola returning to the quality they had previously been known for, even if they had to "lose their way" for a few years - Welcome Back Morotola...Welcome Back RAZR.
What's great about it: Just about everything...so far
What's not so great: Nothing that I've discovered.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+11points
11of 11voted this as helpful.
Panther68's Review Comments
This Sony BDVN5200W 5.1-channel home theater system features 4K Ultra HD video upscaling for brilliant, detailed visuals. To build a complete 3D home theater system, you'll also need a 3D TV, 3D glasses designed for the TV and a high-speed HDMI cable.
Overall
3 out of 5
3 out of 5Great sound. Too long to power up.
By semibest
This sounds great! But unit takes too long to come on when powered up. Longer than 10-14 seconds. When changing functions, it does not show up on tv screen. You have to be next to system to see what you are doing. Very inconvenient.
Panther68
SF Bay Area
"10-14 second bootup" rating downgrade?
September 30, 2014
I'm seriously thinking this must be your first Blu-ray player. If you have previously owned any Blu-ray players, then you should have already been aware that they take MUCH longer to boot up then DVD players do. On the other hand, if this is your first Blu-ray player, then welcome to the wonderful world of true high-definition video...and the longer times it takes for the player to boot into its usable state. But, please, do NOT down-rate just because it takes longer.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
![Purple Rain [Deluxe Expanded Edition] [CD & DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5872/5872707_sa.jpg)
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Great stuff, even with my complaints
By Dmdstrhalo
I always loved this album, and the second disc proves he *could* have given followed Purple Rain with a "Purple Rain 2" if he was so inclined, but that wasn't his style. The sounds found on the original are abundant on the extra tracks, its really a joy to hear more from such a great era. The DVD is about as good as the bootlegs going around, but I wonder if only so much can be done with video tape from 40 years ago. My ONLY real complaint is disc 3, which could have benefited from sequencing the disc so you wouldn't hear the same songs over and over going through their mixes. LIke, maybe hear the single edits first, then the remixes? Still, wonderful stuff.
Panther68
SF Bay Area
NOT from "40 years ago"
July 8, 2017
The video footage is NOT from 40 years ago, but closer to 31-32 years ago. Purple Rain, the movie, came out in 1984, while the Purple Rain Tour ran from November 1984 through April 1985 (I was at the March 4, 1985 show, at the Cow Palace in San Francisco).
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Panther68's Questions
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Create engaging video content with this RODE mobile filmmaking vlogger kit. An included tripod helps stabilize your device for improved picture quality, while the on-camera microLED and diffuser provide gentle illumination for capturing life-like images. This RODE mobile filmmaking vlogger kit features a SmartGrip holder to keep your smartphone in place, and the USB-C-enabled VideoMic Me-C microphone captures clear directional audio.
Can you use this with Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra? Within a minute of filming goes distorted and voices sound robotic when talking. Tried on Galaxy 10 same thing. Got replacement same thing. Does this everytime. 1 minute within filming with phone distortion
According to Rode, you need to update the firmware...and do this (extremely) often, as they expect to be constantly releasing firmware updates (this could be a 'good" thing...or a VERY 'bad' thing).
2 years, 10 months ago
by
Panther68
Diagnose automobile mechanical issues with this AT&T Harman Spark smart car device. Compatibility with Android and iOS mobile devices offers convenient control and monitoring, while a 4G LTE receiver brings Wi-Fi to your ride. This AT&T Harman Spark smart car device features an accelerometer and gyroscope sensors for vehicle tracking.
Does this device have memory card? and if does, would it support cross platform data?
Why would anything like this have, need, or support, a memory card? Essentially, it's a car equivalent of a Wi-Fi router.
2 years, 11 months ago
by
Panther68
An elegant, all-weather streaming sound system that blends in with the natural landscape of outdoor spaces. Six satellite speakers and one in-ground subwoofer provide precision performance and even, balanced coverage, allowing for optimal music enjoyment that seemingly emanates from the surrounding landscape.
Is it possible to use two of these MAG6.1 in one installation?
I'm not entirely sure what you're asking...but, if you're referring to connecting the speakers from two different systems (ie 12 satellites, and 2 subwoofers) to one Amp,. then NO. If you're talking about setting up two independant systems, and then controlling them as if they're a single system, it miight be possible...but, you'll have to contact Sonos to find out.
3 years, 1 month ago
by
Panther68
Surface Duo adapts to you. Two ultra-thin, high-resolution touchscreens unfold to open new possibilities on a mobile device. Designed to help you be productive, Surface Duo features multiple modes, the best of Microsoft 365 mobile experiences, every Android™ app in the Google Play store, and new dual-screen enhanced apps.* Now you can view two apps at once or span one across both screens, drag and drop between screens, and make phone calls. Say goodbye to constant app switching. ¹Requires the Your Phone app, a Windows 10 PC with the latest Windows updates, and download of the Windows 10 app from the Windows store. ²Excluding Surface Duo Bumper. ³Local Video Playback: Testing conducted by Microsoft in July 2020 using preproduction Surface Duo units and software. Testing consisted of full battery discharge during local video playback on a single screen. Video playback consisted of a repeated 30-minute .mp4 file in 1080p at 24 fps. All settings were default except: LTE and Wi-Fi were both associated with a network with ‘ask to join’ disabled and Adaptive Brightness was disabled, screen was set to 100 nits. Battery life varies significantly with network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings, usage, and other factors. Battery has limited recharge cycles and cannot be replaced. ⁴Standby Time: Testing conducted by Microsoft in July 2020 in an AT&T Validated Lab using preproduction Surface Duo units and software. Testing conducted in accordance with AT&T requirements and test specifications. All settings were default, and network settings were: connected to LTE, and Wi-Fi was enabled but not connected. Battery life varies significantly with network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings, usage and other factors. ⁵Talk Time: Testing conducted by Microsoft in July 2020 in an AT&T Validated Lab using preproduction Surface Duo units and software. All settings were default, and network settings were: connected to LTE, and Wi-Fi was enabled but not connected. ⁶Specified minimum dual battery capacity is 3462mAh. ⁷Network availability and coverage vary by carrier. See your carrier for details. ⁸Use of eSIM requires a wireless service plan (which may include restrictions on switching service providers and roaming, even after contract expiration). Not all carriers support eSIM. AT&T locked devices will not support eSIM. Use of eSIM in Surface Duo may be disabled when purchased from some carriers. See your carrier for details. ⁹System software uses significant storage space. Available storage is subject to change based on system software updates and apps usage. 1 GB = 1 billion bytes. Some apps and features may require a wireless plan, additional subscriptions, or fees. ¹¹Video playback formats will require 3rd party apps from the Google Play Store; fees may apply. ¹²Microsoft’s Limited Warranty is in addition to your consumer law rights.
What cloud backup is used?
Out of the box, you can use Google Drive, or Microsoft OneDrive. There are, obviously, other downloadable options, as well, such as DropBox.
3 years, 7 months ago
by
Panther68
Surface Duo adapts to you. Two ultra-thin, high-resolution touchscreens unfold to open new possibilities on a mobile device. Designed to help you be productive, Surface Duo features multiple modes, the best of Microsoft 365 mobile experiences, every Android™ app in the Google Play store, and new dual-screen enhanced apps.* Now you can view two apps at once or span one across both screens, drag and drop between screens, and make phone calls. Say goodbye to constant app switching. ¹Requires the Your Phone app, a Windows 10 PC with the latest Windows updates, and download of the Windows 10 app from the Windows store. ²Excluding Surface Duo Bumper. ³Local Video Playback: Testing conducted by Microsoft in July 2020 using preproduction Surface Duo units and software. Testing consisted of full battery discharge during local video playback on a single screen. Video playback consisted of a repeated 30-minute .mp4 file in 1080p at 24 fps. All settings were default except: LTE and Wi-Fi were both associated with a network with ‘ask to join’ disabled and Adaptive Brightness was disabled, screen was set to 100 nits. Battery life varies significantly with network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings, usage, and other factors. Battery has limited recharge cycles and cannot be replaced. ⁴Standby Time: Testing conducted by Microsoft in July 2020 in an AT&T Validated Lab using preproduction Surface Duo units and software. Testing conducted in accordance with AT&T requirements and test specifications. All settings were default, and network settings were: connected to LTE, and Wi-Fi was enabled but not connected. Battery life varies significantly with network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings, usage and other factors. ⁵Talk Time: Testing conducted by Microsoft in July 2020 in an AT&T Validated Lab using preproduction Surface Duo units and software. All settings were default, and network settings were: connected to LTE, and Wi-Fi was enabled but not connected. ⁶Specified minimum dual battery capacity is 3462mAh. ⁷Network availability and coverage vary by carrier. See your carrier for details. ⁸Use of eSIM requires a wireless service plan (which may include restrictions on switching service providers and roaming, even after contract expiration). Not all carriers support eSIM. AT&T locked devices will not support eSIM. Use of eSIM in Surface Duo may be disabled when purchased from some carriers. See your carrier for details. ⁹System software uses significant storage space. Available storage is subject to change based on system software updates and apps usage. 1 GB = 1 billion bytes. Some apps and features may require a wireless plan, additional subscriptions, or fees. ¹¹Video playback formats will require 3rd party apps from the Google Play Store; fees may apply. ¹²Microsoft’s Limited Warranty is in addition to your consumer law rights.
Will it support dual sim(esim+standard sim) dual standby? I want to use two different carriers,
Surface Duo adapts to you. Two ultra-thin, high-resolution touchscreens unfold to open new possibilities on a mobile device. Designed to help you be productive, Surface Duo features multiple modes, the best of Microsoft 365 mobile experiences, every Android™ app in the Google Play store, and new dual-screen enhanced apps.* Now you can view two apps at once or span one across both screens, drag and drop between screens, and make phone calls. Say goodbye to constant app switching. ¹Requires the Your Phone app, a Windows 10 PC with the latest Windows updates, and download of the Windows 10 app from the Windows store. ²Excluding Surface Duo Bumper. ³Local Video Playback: Testing conducted by Microsoft in July 2020 using preproduction Surface Duo units and software. Testing consisted of full battery discharge during local video playback on a single screen. Video playback consisted of a repeated 30-minute .mp4 file in 1080p at 24 fps. All settings were default except: LTE and Wi-Fi were both associated with a network with ‘ask to join’ disabled and Adaptive Brightness was disabled, screen was set to 100 nits. Battery life varies significantly with network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings, usage, and other factors. Battery has limited recharge cycles and cannot be replaced. ⁴Standby Time: Testing conducted by Microsoft in July 2020 in an AT&T Validated Lab using preproduction Surface Duo units and software. Testing conducted in accordance with AT&T requirements and test specifications. All settings were default, and network settings were: connected to LTE, and Wi-Fi was enabled but not connected. Battery life varies significantly with network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings, usage and other factors. ⁵Talk Time: Testing conducted by Microsoft in July 2020 in an AT&T Validated Lab using preproduction Surface Duo units and software. All settings were default, and network settings were: connected to LTE, and Wi-Fi was enabled but not connected. ⁶Specified minimum dual battery capacity is 3462mAh. ⁷Network availability and coverage vary by carrier. See your carrier for details. ⁸Use of eSIM requires a wireless service plan (which may include restrictions on switching service providers and roaming, even after contract expiration). Not all carriers support eSIM. AT&T locked devices will not support eSIM. Use of eSIM in Surface Duo may be disabled when purchased from some carriers. See your carrier for details. ⁹System software uses significant storage space. Available storage is subject to change based on system software updates and apps usage. 1 GB = 1 billion bytes. Some apps and features may require a wireless plan, additional subscriptions, or fees. ¹¹Video playback formats will require 3rd party apps from the Google Play Store; fees may apply. ¹²Microsoft’s Limited Warranty is in addition to your consumer law rights.
I have an iphone 11 pro and my wireless provider is T-Mobile. My question is if I take my sim card from my iphone and put it in the Microsoft Surface Duo, will it work automatically as a phone or do I have to activate it with my cell phone provider ??
As long as it's a micro SIM, and not a standard-size SIM, I see no reason why it wouldn't work. I'm on Verizon, and I simply removed the micro SIM from my Galaxy Note, and popped it into the Surface Duo, and everything worked. Ok, not exactly - after setup was complete, and all apps had installed themselves, I had to reboot the phone...then everything worked.
3 years, 7 months ago
by
Panther68
The ASTRO A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro TR for PS5, PS4, PC and Mac is the premier audio solution for esports athletes, content creators and streamers. It meets esports athletes’ rigorous standards for audio fidelity, comfort and durability. The MixAmp Pro TR features Dolby Audio processing and enables lag and interference-free delivery of game sound and voice communication. The A40 TR arrives as an open-back headset featuring a swappable precision mic and customizable Speaker Tags.
I have started recording and upload my video games on PC but can not control how loud I am in the recording, will I be able to control that with this mic
No, but not for the reason you might be thinking. The recorded audio level isn't controlled by the mic. It is controlled by the recording software. Yes, some mics have a "gain' function, for use when the 'recording' end doesn't have the ability to increase recorded volume...but, if the recorded volume is too loud (unless the mic has a "gain" switch, and that's 'on', in which case, try recording with the "gain" turned 'off''), then this needs to be turned down within your recording software/hardware. In other words, instead of blaming your mic, look to the real cause of the problem - the recording software/hardware.
4 years, 10 months ago
by
Panther68
Only at Best BuyMonitor the exterior of your home with this Lorex active deterrence DVR security system. An eight-channel 4K Ultra HD DVR records and plays back crisp, high-quality video, while the remote-triggered siren and bright LED light work to scare off intruders. With color night vision, the cameras included with this Lorex active deterrence DVR security system provide a clear look at your property even in low lighting conditions.
hmm.. NO PoE ? .. does this run on regular old school BnC connections ??? if soooooo..... i have old lorex 720p cameras on BnC right now ... wonder if i can just order cameras and swap out ??? thanks for the help for whoever answers these questions
NO, you cannot just "order cameras and swap out". 4K video requires a different compression format, and I'd highly doubt (as in, I'm 99.9% certain) your old DVR has the compression codex within its firmware/OS.
5 years, 8 months ago
by
Panther68
Only at Best BuyEnjoy television and movies in stunning clarity with this 60-inch Sharp Smart TV. Its 4K panel resolution delivers a clear, crisp picture, and its three HDMI inputs and one USB input let you connect accessories and stereo receivers. This Sharp Smart TV is Netflix certified for simple, fast streaming of digital content.
What are the best wireless speakers for this TV?
To be completely honest, when it comes to home theater equipment, I NEVER recommend the use of wireless speakers. Wireless speakers are great for taking to the beach, on a cruise, in the bathroom, etc, but they shouldn't be used for home theater settings. For thast, you NEED traditional wired speakers.
6 years, 2 months ago
by
Panther68
Create incredible images every day, anywhere with Adobe Creative Cloud Photography plan. Get the magic of Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC, plus everything else you need to organize, enhance, and share your photos like a pro on your desktop and mobile devices.
Just wondering if this is a good home editing system for both audio and video . . . I have a Dell Windows 10 How complex is it? Ratings? Can I install it myself? Thank you! Janie E.
This is a "photo" editing application...NOT for video or audio.
6 years, 3 months ago
by
Panther68