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  • Review count
    8
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  • First review
    July 22, 2011
  • Last review
    February 10, 2015
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TheDream's Reviews
 
Enhance the audio of your favorite movies, shows, games and music with this Energy Connoisseur CS-30 soundbar that features a Dolby Digital decoder for stunning surround sound. The included 8" wireless subwoofer delivers lush, deep bass.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent Sound Bar!
on February 10, 2015
Posted by: TheDream
from Seattle, WA
Full disclosure- I'm an audiophile and I generally hate sound bar audio quality. My home theater room consists of Bowers & Wilkins, Marantz, etc. I carry V-Moda Crossfade M100 headphones and an Audioquest Dragonfly DAC with me everywhere. So needless to say I am very picky about my sound.
However, in my new townhome, there literally was no good way to set up a small surround sound system in my family room. My TV is mounted above a fireplace and the mantle is tiny. So I was forced into a sound bar.
There are a few sound bars that have superlative sound quality but are spendy (Bowers and Wilkins Panorama# and huge. After listening to what seems like every sound bar known to man #JBL, Samsung, Sony, Klipsch, Denon, Sonos, ZVOX, Definitive# I settled on the Energy. In the store, it sounded very balanced for watching movies while still retaining some semblance of musical quality. Many of the sound bars were either too boomy, muddy, and bassy sounding #Sony, Sonos, JBL# whereas others were too tinny #Samsung, Klipsch).
After using the Energy sound bar for a few weeks, wow...the sound is outstanding. Extremely balanced, warm, and clear. No, it won't rip your head off like a surround sound system, but it's still great.
A few cons: The Energy has no HDMI pass through capability and the Bluetooth range is not as good as others. The design looks nice but may be a bit boring. The subwoofer is relatively large, so plan accordingly. The provided optical cable is junk- buy a separate one. The remote is way too small and easy to lose- though you can program your TV remote to control the volume.
Overall, it's easily worth the price point if you can live without HDMI pass-through.
My Best Buy number: 0908366871
I would recommend this to a friend!
+8points
8of 8voted this as helpful.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
One of the best albums in a long time
on January 5, 2015
Posted by: TheDream
from Seattle, WA
Do yourself a favor, if you like dance/electronic music, just buy this album. This is one of those albums you put in, and just let it play. I literally haven't skipped a single song.
It's by far the best dance album of 2014, but for me, this is one of the best electronic albums ever. It's definitely in my Top 5.
My Best Buy number: 0908366871
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Learn moreabout Magnolia PremiumInstallation   This AudioQuest Dragonfly DRAGONFLY1.2 digital audio converter is designed to bypass your computer's internal sound card and provide dynamic audio. The digitally controlled analog volume control simplifies use.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Outstanding- sound quality is unreal. GO AQ!!!
on March 9, 2014
Posted by: TheDream
from Seattle, WA
How Often Used:Daily
Audioquest has done it again! What an outstanding piece of hardware. If you're reading this review, then you know what a DAC is so I won't get into the background of that.
Some background: At work, I basically am listening to music for hours at a time, so sound quality is very important (as are comfortable headphones, but that's another story) and while I don't have any real complaints about the sound output of my MacBook Pro, I wasn't entirely enthralled either. I purchased this primarily because I had heard how good the first generation Dragonfly was in improving sound quality but unfortunately it was out of my price range (it used to be $200-$250). When the new improved version came out at $150, I had to try it.
And ...wow. The sound quality is absolutely staggering. I literally had tears in my eyes when I heard the SAME EXACT music files with the Dragonfly. My headphones (V-Moda Crossfade M100s) came alive and you hear things that you didn't even know existed in songs. Every aspect of the music is completely transformed.
The build quality of the Dragonfly is top notch as well. It's the size of a typical USB flash drive and built extremely well (out of metal and it's got some heft to it). And I love the light up "Dragonfly" that changes color to the quality of the recording.
If you appreciate great sound quality (even if your headphones aren't stellar), this is a must buy. No other DAC that I've seen combines the portability, build quality, sound quality, and price of the Dragonfly.
I hate to be melodramatic, but do yourself a favor, demo the Dragonfly with a set of high-end headphones (i.e. V-Moda, B&W, PSB, Sennheiser,etc), and I promise you will never be the same.
Well done Audioquest!
My Best Buy number: 560148914
What's great about it: Sound quality, build quality, design
What's not so great: No major drawbacks
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
5 out of 5
5
Comfort
5 out of 5
5
Durability
5 out of 5
5
+21points
24of 27voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Good choice for Apple fans, not great for others
on April 5, 2012
Posted by: TheDream
from Seattle, WA
I use it in...:Apartment
Okay lets get this out of the way. If you're not a hardcore Apple fanatic with multiple Apple devices and you're looking to turn a TV into an internet connected device, then this is not for you. That is, unless you're willing to be stuck with just Netflix for streaming and a ton of pricey movies to rent/purchase from Apple. For a true internet connected television, any number of other devices are better options (Roku, Sony Media, Western Digital, or even a TiVo Box#. The Apple TV is just very limiting as it offers little else. But there are things that the AppleTV does well...
Pros:
-Well built and packaged. Apple just gets it in this regard. The device #much like an iPhone# feels well engineered and sturdy.
-Superb picture quality. The 720p Apple TV was decent, but I was stunned by the resolution of the Apple TV. Not only did Netflix look the sharpest I've ever seen, but photos were equally stunning. I was shocked at the color definition on my Panasonic Plasma TV.
-Very easy to set-up
-As usual, integration with other Apple products is great
-Very plasma TV friendly. You won't have any burn-in issues with this device.
-Home sharing works well for music/pictures/videos from your Mac/PC
Cons/Nitpicks
-As I've stated before, very limiting in streaming options unless you're willing to pay Apple a lot of money. Most of the stuff that's available to rent/purchase from Apple is available on Hulu Plus- and Hulu Plus is a ton cheaper. It's no wonder that Apple won't allow Hulu on this device
-AirPlay integration is gimmiky. I purchased this device specifically to stream music to my home theater receiver from my iPhone and was disappointed badly. First of all, AirPlay requires a second password #separate from your App store password# and your device won't remember it. You have to type it in manually every time you access an app that supports it #iPod, Spotify, Pandora, etc#. As annoying as this is, it's even worse that the AirPlay has it's own volume control- and there's no way to cede direct volume control to your receiver/TV. You have to turn the volume of airplay basically all the way up, then adjust the volume separately on your other device- which makes the music sound like garbage.
-Home sharing still won't work unless you go to your computer and open up iTunes. Seriously, DLNA can wake your computer up, and Apple can't make the computer launch iTunes automatically?
-$100 price is steep
Overall, not a bad product, but not one I can recommend to anyone but a true Apple die-hard. It's not a bad choice if you've got another device to stream other apps #an XBox or Blu-Ray player) and you want the integration with iTunes.
What's great about it: Gorgeous picture quality, nice integration with iTunes and other Apple Devices
What's not so great: very limited streaming selection, poor AirPlay integration, high price for this type of device
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
4 out of 5
4
Performance
4 out of 5
4
+24points
34of 44voted this as helpful.
 
View crisp, vibrant images with this AOC E1649FWU 15.6" flat-panel LED monitor that features 200 cd/m² brightness and a 500:1 contrast ratio for arresting visuals. The USB interface allows a quick connection without a power cord.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Nice little monitor for the traveler, but...
on January 25, 2012
Posted by: TheDream
from Seattle, WA
Okay so lets get this out of the way- if you're looking for a dedicated second monitor for home use, there are far better choices- even from AOC. Just simple things such as wall-mounting is out of the question with this display. Also, while the image quality isn't bad by any stretch, it's not great compared to even a lower-end "traditional" monitor. That being said, this is an excellent choice for a travel monitor- especially for "work" use.
Pros:
-Extremely lightweight, thus very portable. This will add little to no weight to luggage
-Can be rotated between portrait or landscape modes- very useful for working on documents
-Overall image quality is good for a USB driven display
-USB powered, and no need for a monitor cable.
-VERY bright display for a second monitor- it's easily as bright as the LED display on my Dell XPS 15z laptop
-Good viewing angles
-Attractive design
Cons/Nitpicks
-A bit too much flicker to use as a gaming monitor. Playing World-of-Warcraft on this gave me a bit of a headache from the flickering.
-"Pixellation" is noticeable, especially when viewing fast motion or video.
-Not very versatile once you get home- not wall mountable and it takes up a bit more space than a normal monitor would since it has no traditional base (this is in widescreen orientation)
-Being a portable monitor, AOC should have included some sort of sleeve to protect the monitor. It's very lightweight yes, but it also feels fragile.
-Does not like to be connected to a USB hub- it started flickering badly and buzzing loudly (probably due to a lack of power)
-The USB connector on the back of the monitor is in an awful spot and at a bad angle. It's tough to connect and disconnect.
-The rotating hinge (which is attached to the leg) is clunky and tough to turn. If this breaks off, there's literally no way to stand it up.
-No way to adjust the viewing angles
-No dedicated power switch. To turn it off, you have to unplug the USB port, and when you plug it back up, it takes a few seconds for windows to recognize it and power it on.
-Display is very glossy, so glare will be an issue, albeit no more than any other glossy monitor.
Overall a good choice for someone who is looking for a portable second "work" monitor, but not a great one for a home user, especially for multimedia or gaming.
What's great about it: Very lightweight, Bright Display, Price is very reasonable for a portable display
What's not so great: No power switch, Picture quality not good for multimedia, limitations once you get home
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
3 out of 5
3
Design
4 out of 5
4
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Definitive Technology ProSub 1000 Series Subwoofer System - 750 W RMS - Black - 40 Hz - 150 Hz
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Well rounded sub, but better for movies than music
on October 15, 2011
Posted by: TheDream
from Seattle, WA
Overview:
Definitive Technologies is generally regarded as the speaker brand for home theater crowd rather than the audiophiles (those who listen to primarily music). While the speakers generally sound very good with music, they are stellar for movies- especially the action kind. This subwoofer is no different.
The ProSub line is Def Tech's "entry" level line of subwoofers (and the ProSub 1000 is at the top), but the construction is top notch. Don't get me wrong, nobody will ever confuse it for a $1000 REL, Bowers & Wilkins, or Martin Logan, but at the same time, it FEELS high quality. It's also pretty heavy- which is a good thing. The finish is matte black, which isn't very exciting- but it also won't pick up finger prints when it's touched.
As with any speaker, a proper break-in is REQUIRED to get the best performance. Don't go home, plug it up, and just blast away- it needs a few days of low volume listening. This will dramatically increase the life of the sub and give you the best output.
Now for the sound quality: Musically the sub has quite a bit of range. I listened to several different types of music (from Ludacris to Enya) and the sub did a good job overall. Like I said, however, it's in movies where it really shines. Gunshots are not only heard, they are FELT. Explosions will shake the room (and in my case, brought complaints from neighbors). This is by far the best sub I've experienced for movies (easily better than my $1500 Bowers and Wilkins). Playing Call of Duty Black Ops was a thrill- every gunshot and thrown grenade was a heart-thumping experience.
At $500 this is a solid pick for any home theater, however, if you're listening to music 100% of the time, then a Martin Logan or B&W (or even Def Tech's SuperCube line) will be a better fit.
Pros:
-VOLUME CONTROL IS ON THE SIDE!! This is a huge bonus- not having to reach behind the sub to turn the volume down is a big help!
-Movies and Games sound incredible, heart thumping, wall rattling sound
-Excellent Build Quality
Cons:
-Good, but not great for music
-Boring design
What's great about it: Great for movies, price is fair, superb build quality
What's not so great: musical range, boring design
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
4 out of 5
4
+40points
41of 42voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent, well designed soda fountain!
on August 14, 2011
Posted by: TheDream
from Seattle, WA
Like most people, I was skeptical about this machine. Sure it seems like a neat idea, to have a compact home soda fountain that can be relatively inexpensive, be easy to use and maintain, and simply make great tasting Soda's. Yesterday, the Sodastream representative was in the store and I finally got to try and taste it. I was instantly sold and purchased it on spot. Yes there is an initial cash outlay to purchase the machine, but this is something that I could see my family using for years. We drink tons of soda- which admittedly is not good for you and the cost of the "name-brands" keep going up. The Sodastream soda's are MUCH better for you than 95% of the drinks out there (very low or no suger, no high-fructose corn syrup, much lower sodium, no aspartame, etc).
The machine itself is very easy to use and clean and the bottles are pretty durable (they have a rubber seal on the caps so they hold carbonation for far far longer than regular soda bottles). They are NOT hot water or dishwasher safe so you have to take care when cleaning them.
What do they taste like? Well they taste fairly close to the real thing, but more like store generic cola's- but even the regular cola flavor is quite a bit less sweet than the "real" stuff. It's actually quite good, especially if you are used to buying generic soda's. I haven't had a chance to try all the flavors (the machine comes with 12 different flavors (12 Liters!)) but the few I have tried (Mountain Dew, Cola, Diet Dr. Pepper) have all been very good.
Now the best part- the Energy drink. For those of you who drink Red Bull regularly (and that includes myself), this flavor makes the machine worth it by itself. IT TASTES EXACTLY LIKE RED BULL. A $5 bottle of the "Energy" syrup is about $100 in "real" Red Bull and you CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
All-in-all, a very well thought out and engineered product. I can't be more thrilled and highly recommend it!
What's great about it: Easy to use and clean, flavors are very good and better for you than normal soda's
What's not so great: Initial cost, bottles are not dishwasher safe,
I would recommend this to a friend!
Durability
4 out of 5
4
+28points
28of 28voted this as helpful.
 
Learn more about Magnolia Premium Installation Enjoy lush layers of crisp audio with this speaker system that harnesses advanced audio technologies, including sonically matched speakers and Balanced Double Surround System high-definition drivers to create an intense listening experience.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great small speaker set-up! However....
on July 22, 2011
Posted by: TheDream
from Seattle, WA
Let's get this clear right from the start. Yes, these sound MUCH better than the Bose Acoustimass speakers. They have more range, are louder, clearer, and are MUCH cheaper. However, never forget that these are SMALL speakers. While they sound excellent for the size, they are never going to be able to replicate the depth of sound of a good bookshelf and especially a full-tower speaker. That said, this is a stellar choice for someone wanting a mid-to-higher end surround sound system that is small and packs a punch. That's not to say it's now without it's flaws. Now on to the review:
Pros:
-Excellent speaker design- just picking it up you can tell the build quality is there (they are pretty heavy for their diminutive size!). Definitive is known for the great build quality on the towers, and these speakers are no exception.
-Very good sound quality from the speakers- though a bit on the bright side. This is not a flaw in the speaker so much as a limitation from the size. Again, that mid-range punch is lacking- however, unless you're listening primarily to music (and if you are, then you shouldn't be buying small speakers!), you won't notice. They sound great and can easily fill a large room in a movie setting, provided you have a great receiver.
-The set has a TRUE (albeit small) center channel. Most of the other brands tend to through in 5 piece matching speaker design (like Bose, for example) - however, Def Tech has been thoughtful and provided a traditional center channel. This makes a very big difference in sound quality- the main speaker in a surround sound system during a movie is the center channel.
-Being that they are small, they can literally disappear in a room, especially when mounted on the walls. They also come in a white finish as well to hide better with white walls.
-EASY and CHEAP way to build a 7.1 setup. Add two towers or bookshelf speakers and you have a cheap and great 7.1 surround sound system.
Cons: I'm going to digress and point out that there is a difference between true cons and nit-picks. I'll point this out as I go:
-The included subwoofer is sub-par. While it's not bad for a movie experience, it just doesn't have the same punch and depth as a traditional Def Tech (or other brand) stand alone subwoofer. However, realize that this entire speaker package is $799- a great subwoofer can be $500 alone. My advice is to try it out and if you don't like the sound, add a better one! There's no "surround sound package" that's going to be perfect.
-These speakers do not like to be "over-driven." What I mean is that if you have either a) a receiver that's too powerful or b) a receiver that's underpowered- and you like to crank the volume up...then expect to have blown speakers in the not-too-far future. A great amp is the key to these things sounding as good as they do and have a long life. Don't expect 100% reliability if you abuse them (which is true about most speakers). That said, Def Tech has a 5-year-warranty (and BBY's Geek Squad makes it 9 years!!) so if you blow a speaker it's not the end of the world.
Nitpicks and random thoughts.
-Those of you complaining about not having speaker wire or a subwoofer cable included clearly have never had a home-theater-in-box from another manufacturer. I'm actually GLAD they don't provide the cables because usually included cables are beyond terrible. They're absolutely atrocious. Seriously, why spend so much money on a good speaker package, a good receiver, and then skimp on something as important as wiring? Good speaker wiring (and subwoofer) cable is relatively inexpensive and makes a DRAMATIC difference in sound quality. Don't be cheap!
--The speaker mounts are not included in the box. If you plan on wall-mounting the speakers, then you have to purchase Def Tech specific wall-mounts. These aren't exorbitantly expensive like the Bose mounts so it's not bad, but it's annoying that universal mounts don't work. That said, the mounts allow the speakers to pivot and are great quality!
All-in-all an excellent speaker package- especially when you factor in the low cost. Yes, you can buy a Polk Audio or Klipsch speaker package for cheaper, but I guarantee you will not come close to the sound quality, build quality, or longevity of these.
What's great about it: Sound Quality, Build Quality, and Value for money!
What's not so great: subwoofer is so-so, no speaker mounts in box
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
4 out of 5
4
+180points
196of 212voted this as helpful.
 
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