LouRevue's stats
- Review count301
- Helpfulness votes845
- First reviewMay 20, 2011
- Last reviewJuly 14, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes1
- First review commentJanuary 17, 2017
- Last review commentJanuary 17, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count2
- Helpfulness votes5
- First answerDecember 10, 2017
- Last answerJune 12, 2018
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
Add lighting control to your smart home platform with this Sengled bulb three-pack plus hub. The hub controls up to 64 smart bulbs, turning them on or off and dimming them in response to app or voice assistant commands and programs. This Sengled bulb three-pack plus hub includes classic A19-style bulbs for compatibility with most home fixtures.
Customer Rating
5
Great starter kit for smart home lighting
on June 20, 2018
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
This is a pretty nice kit to get your lights updated to smart lights. Installation is pretty simple and easy although I did have issues with one of the lights not pairing properly. I had to reset the bulb by turning it on/off 10 times quickly. Setup/configuration is done through the companion app. I have a small condo so it's really nice to be able to remotely turn on/off to give the appearance that I'm home when I'm out. I'm slowly getting my place a little smarter and these lights were one of the key upgrades I needed to make. Great beginner set and easy to install.
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Only @ Best BuyListen to music with this sweat- and dust-resistant wireless Jabra Elite headset. It connects via USB, mini-jack or Bluetooth, and a powerful microphone lets you use voice commands with your mobile device. This Jabra Elite headset reduces background noise and has a built-in motion sensor that lets you track fitness efforts.
Customer Rating
5
Top notch earbuds
on June 12, 2018
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
I've tried out a few bluetooth earbuds and these are probably among my favorites. There's not much difference between these and the 65T's aside from water/dust protection. Both have excellent sound quality and pretty good battery life.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
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Tell Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to turn on the lights with this 3-way control TP Link smart light switch kit. It has Wi-Fi connectivity and includes two switches to control a single unit in a stairway or other location. This TP Link smart light switch kit works with the Kasa app for remote control.
Customer Rating
4
Simple way to smarten up your home
on May 30, 2018
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
Really a nice and simple way to upgrade your place without too much investment. I got these since I wanted the ability to turn lights on/off whenever I'm travelling. With this, it's pretty simple and easy to install. biggest benefit to this is that there's no need to purchase a separate hub in order for the lights to work. Simple install and configuration through the app and you're good to go.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
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Listen to your favorite playlists with these Sony wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They're equipped with the Google Assistant for instant help with a range of tasks, and their silicon support fittings keep the headphones in place while you're active. Use these Sony wireless noise-cancelling headphones' Ambient Sound Mode when you need to stay aware of your environment.
Customer Rating
5
Sony quality and performance at its finest
on May 27, 2018
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
I've been looking for a new set of bluetooth earbuds and these Sony's are a medley of Sony quality and technology at its finest.
The sound quality of these are top notch. One of the things I like the most about Sony headphones is their bass boost. I have several Sony headphones and the bass boost on them is really nice. I generally use other headphones for "normal" listening however I use the Sony's whenever I am traveling on the subway or need some extra bass boost in my music. The bass boost in these earbuds is quite good and definitely up to Sony quality.
The size/weight of these earbuds is quite good. I've read other reviewers complaining these earbuds were either too heavy or didn't fit quite right. As far as fit, I think these fit just as well as any other earbuds I've owned. The weight is pretty much spot on for me. They are quite lightweight and don't feel heavy at all.
The charging case these earbuds come with is pretty nice however the top lid seems a little flimsy. One would need to take care when opening the lid to avoid breaking the case. The earbuds come with the normal assortment of accessories in the box such as different sized earbuds, charging cable and case.
Overall, I really like both the fit/sound quality of these earbuds. They sound great, are lightweight and have pretty good battery life.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
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Count on crystal-clear voice communication with these Jabra Elite wireless neckband headphones. Three-microphone call technology and professional-grade active noise cancellation block ambient sounds, and they come with different-sized EarGels for a customizable fit. These Jabra Elite wireless neckband headphones support Amazon Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant for voice-activated control.
Customer Rating
4
Another great headset from Jabra
on May 17, 2018
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
I wasn't all that impressed with Jabra as a headphone maker however between this, and the 65t's, I'm a fan. The 65t are probably one of the best wireless earbuds out there in terms of sound quality and price. While I'm not that big a fan of neckband headphones like this, given these were the same line as the 65t's, I had to give them a shot.
Not surprisingly, these are just as good as the 65t's and add noise cancellation feature to them. Sound wise, these are very good for pretty much any range of music. There's not a whole lot of bass with these but just good enough. Highs and mids are pretty spot on so no complaints there.
In the box you get the usual assortment of goodies. This comes with a neoprene carrying case which is nice as well as some extra earbud tips. Battery wise, the website says you should get about 8 hours with noise cancelling on and 12 without.
As far as fit/finish, these are pretty good all around. I don't like neckband headphones since some of the ones I've tried aren't very comfortable and it "feels" like you're wearing something around your neck. With these, don't really have that sensation and can barely tell they're on unless you start moving around.
All in all, I'm quite pleased with these both from a functional and aesthetic perspective.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
Mobile Submission: False
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Experience immersive Dolby Atmos sound through a single device with this Sony sound bar. It connects to your TV wirelessly or with an HDMI cable, and it pairs with Bluetooth devices for audio streaming. This Sony sound bar includes the Vertical Sound Engine, which eliminates the need for ceiling-mounted speakers.
Customer Rating
5
A step up for the audio enthusiast
on May 2, 2018
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
If you're in the market for a soundbar to add some loudness/bass to your home theater setup, this isn't the one you want. Price wise, there are cheaper options out there if you're looking for additional speakers to add to your home theater setup. For those wanting a bit more or an upgrade to their existing sound system, then this is the one for you.
This is Sony's mid-level soundbar system however it will easily meet the needs for any audio enthusiast. This soundbar was made to couple with Sony's BRAVIA X900F. Basically any TV that has an HDMI ARC port will work with this soundbar. However, if you don't, not a huge thing however you'll need to connect it with a Digital optical out cable.
The sound of this sound bar is quite good and noticeable the first time you turn it on. The sound produced from this is very crisp/clear with a touch of bass where needed. There are 5 different pre-set sound configurations so it'll be good to cycle through them and see which one suits you. The subwoofer is about normal size so it should fit nicely pretty much anywhere. It's also a nice contrast of gloss/matte black so it looks good as well. You will definitely need some time to setup/configure the soundbar however it'll be worth it once that's been completed.
Only thing left will be for you to enjoy to rich sound this soundbar system offers.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Only at Best BuyEnter the RPG arena with this Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop. It has 1TB of storage, and its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card loads dynamic in-game visuals and Full HD movies smoothly. The quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of DDR4 RAM let this Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop perform efficiently.
Customer Rating
3
Basic/mid range gaming PC
on April 27, 2018
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
If you're in the market for an entry level gaming PC, this is an OK choice. As far as specs, the only thing that separates this gaming PC from a regular PC is the video card. The 8GB of RAM, 1TB hard drive are fairly standard for all PCs these days. This has the usual features/specs as any other PC such as HDMI port, i5 processor, AC WiFi, etc. The video card is what sets this PC a part from other "normal" PCs. As far as gaming goes, this will run most games out there at medium graphics and some on full/high graphics. You can set the speed of the fans to keep the PC cool and the red keyboard backlight is pretty nice as well.
Overall, I think this is an OK beginner/intermediate gaming laptop. To make it a nicer gaming PC, I think upping the RAM to 16GB (it holds 32GB max) and possibly replacing the HD to a SSD would make this a much nicer gaming PC.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Xperia XZ2 Compact is designed to be the ultimate entertainment device. Whether you're recording breathtaking videos in 4K HDR, or watching films in HDR, the Xperia XZ2 Compact delivers big screen entertainment in the palm of your hand.
Customer Rating
4
One of the better Android phones out there
on April 11, 2018
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
Sony mobile phones don’t get much love in the states but are quite popular overseas. In the US it’s either iPhone or Samsung. The XZ2 Compact has a 5” screen with 64GB storage and 4GB RAM. Pretty “standard” config for a flagship Android phone these days. And the XZ2 is no slouch when it comes to performance. The 845 Snapdragon processor is very fast and flipping through apps is speedy without any lag. A beefy processor is needed considering it has a HD screen and, probably the phones biggest feature, the camera. 19MP camera captures really nice, crisp images and this is the only phone, currently, that can record video in 4K resolution. Obviously, it helps if you have a 4K TV/monitor to view them on but it’s still a nifty little feature. The super slow-mo runs at 960fps and is something you need to try out. It’s a little weird how it works, and it only works for a split second or so. Basically, you have to record a video and then press a button to capture the slow-mo.
Personally, aside from a few apps, one of the main reasons I reach for my phone is for its camera. I previously used a Note 8 which took OK pictures however the video seemed a bit off at times. Sometimes it was super clear, other times it was kind of grainy looking. I haven’t really had the chance to test the camera/video in lowlight however, it works very well in well lit situations. Pretty much expected for any phone but this phone seems to produce nicer images and clearer video. The HDR also can be a little gimmicky at times. Sometimes it’ll be dull, other times it’ll be overexposed.
Also, having previously used a Note 8, I really prefer larger phones. 5.5/6” screens are my preferred screen size so stepping down an inch or so took a little getting used to. But, on the bright side, it fits in my hand/pocket a lot easier now.
Probably one of nicest features for me was the bloatware, or lack thereof. Having used a Samsung, there are a lot of apps/features/services enabled by Samsung on their phones. Some of them are nice/useful, the rest are completely useless, I think. The XZ2 Compact only has a few Sony branded apps so the clutter of useless OEM apps is very limited on this phone which is VERY nice in my opinion.
A downside some people may have with this phone is that the casing is plastic. I think more people are used to metal casings on their phone strength/durability. However, the screen is Gorilla glass, so it’ll definitely be more impact resistant than some other phone screens.
While the Sony brand of mobile phones don’t get nearly as much love as others here in the states, this is still a flagship handset. Great camera/video recording, good size and much cheaper than most other phones in its class.
Personally, aside from a few apps, one of the main reasons I reach for my phone is for its camera. I previously used a Note 8 which took OK pictures however the video seemed a bit off at times. Sometimes it was super clear, other times it was kind of grainy looking. I haven’t really had the chance to test the camera/video in lowlight however, it works very well in well lit situations. Pretty much expected for any phone but this phone seems to produce nicer images and clearer video. The HDR also can be a little gimmicky at times. Sometimes it’ll be dull, other times it’ll be overexposed.
Also, having previously used a Note 8, I really prefer larger phones. 5.5/6” screens are my preferred screen size so stepping down an inch or so took a little getting used to. But, on the bright side, it fits in my hand/pocket a lot easier now.
Probably one of nicest features for me was the bloatware, or lack thereof. Having used a Samsung, there are a lot of apps/features/services enabled by Samsung on their phones. Some of them are nice/useful, the rest are completely useless, I think. The XZ2 Compact only has a few Sony branded apps so the clutter of useless OEM apps is very limited on this phone which is VERY nice in my opinion.
A downside some people may have with this phone is that the casing is plastic. I think more people are used to metal casings on their phone strength/durability. However, the screen is Gorilla glass, so it’ll definitely be more impact resistant than some other phone screens.
While the Sony brand of mobile phones don’t get nearly as much love as others here in the states, this is still a flagship handset. Great camera/video recording, good size and much cheaper than most other phones in its class.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Match your look to the occasion with this 2-in-1 Philips Norelco shaver. Its ComfortCut blade system lets you achieve a smooth, clean shave, and its click-on plastic guard provides a casual three-day stubble look. The multidirectional flex heads of this Philips Norelco shaver ensure consistent trimming on every contour of your face and neck.
Customer Rating
4
Pretty basic but does the job
on April 9, 2018
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
This is pretty much your basic, no frills shaver. Has all you need to get going without any setup. Included is the shaver, power cord and safety cap. Would've been nice is there was a carry case/bag included but not a huge thing. I think this will make a nice travel shaver for me. As far as performance, it works fine and gets all the stubble within a pass or two.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy an immersive audio experience with this Sony portable wireless speaker. Its Live Sound mode optimizes the direction of the music for a three-dimensional party sound, and its Extra Bass technology, built-in effects and flashing lights enhance the atmosphere. This Sony portable wireless speaker's battery provides up to 24 hours of playback for reliable all-day use.
Customer Rating
5
Portable party machine
on March 25, 2018
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
Quite a fascinating little speaker here. I'm more than impressed with this speaker both in it sound quality and the lights. While most speakers offer up sound, this adds an extra touch with the lights and party features.
As far as sound quality, I think this is very good. The highs/mids come out quite nicely as well as the bass. The Extra Bass feature on this speaker adds a noticeable boom to your music but without drowning out the highs/mids. Other speakers I've used often sacrifice high/mid sounds and lean more towards bass resulting in weak vocals and muddy sounding bass. This is not the case on this speaker. The extra bass feature amplifies the bass just enough where you can hear/feel the boom but still maintains good highs/mids so the vocals still come out clear.
The biggest pro for me are the lights. Initially I thought these were some gimmick and that I'd never use them. However, I really like the mini light show that comes with the music. I've spent a good bit of time listening to my music in the dark and just letting the lights do their thing. Quite nice and definitely an interesting feature for sure. There are several different modes for the lighting which can be controlled through the companion app for iOS/Android. My personal fav is the rave.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_ptdheEGKk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J2-mWKdo9g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J2-mWKdo9g
Overall, I'm really liking this speaker. From a party/get-together perspective, it will definitely do the trick to add tunes to your party. For listening to music, it performs as good, if not better, than other speakers out on the market.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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LouRevue's Review Comments
Only at Best Buy Acer Aspire R 15 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Combine performance and versatility with this Acer Aspire laptop. It has a huge 1TB hard drive to meet your storage needs, and the Intel Core i5 processor makes light work of multitasking. This Acer Aspire laptop has a 15.6-inch display for a great viewing experience, and the 360-degree hinged screen provide flexibility for work and play.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Excellent laptop for everyday use
By LouRevue
from Washington, DC
Having had the chance to use this laptop, I must say it’s quite an impressive model for almostn any use. With an abundance of features housed in a sleek, stylish body, it’s a solid laptop for anyone in the market for a new/replacement laptop.
Using a 7th gen i5 dual core processor, the laptop functions on par with just about any laptop in its price range. With 8GB of RAM (12GB max) and a 1TB hard drive, it offers plenty of speed and room for all your files and enough power/speed to perform almost any task.
As far as the aesthetics go, this is an impressive looking laptop with clean lines, brushed aluminum cover and beveled edges. It’s a very nice looking laptop no doubt and the design, overall, is quite appealing. It comes with a full size keyboard as well as backlit keys which is a nice touch. Only gripe with the keyboard are the arrow buttons as the Up/Down buttons are smaller due to keyboard layout. The power button is on the right side of the laptop which is a bit unique as well as a dedicated volume button. There are 2 USB 3.0 ports as well as 1 USB 2.0 port, HDMI, SD Card and USB-C port. There is no CD drive for anyone wondering. The laptop (closed) is only about ¾ inch tall however it’s a bit wider than most due to the full size keyboard.
Power/performance. Using a dual-core processor I was under the impression this would be relatively slow and have choppy performance when opening multiple programs. Being this is the latest gen processor from Intel, this is not the case. Opening 2-3 programs at once was done with relative ease and switching between them was pretty flawless. The 8GB RAM comes in quite handy here and even with a 5400 RPM HDD, this laptop was able to perform tasks with very good speed. Battery life is pretty good. Using it “normally” and leaving it on for about 5-6 hours, there was about 50% battery left. Also, one very noteworthy benefit to this laptop, it doesn’t get that hot when left on for long periods of time which is VERY nice.
The display is probably the most impressive feature on here. A full 1080p display is quite vibrant and displays bright and dark colors extremely well. Those wanting to watch Netflix/Hulu will have no issues with the display. In addition to visuals, the sound from this laptop is equally impressive. For watching movies or just playing music, the speakers on this laptop deliver quite nicely without too much reverberation or distorted sound.
One of my initial thoughts of this being a 2-in-1 was that the tablet was an afterthought/gimmick. Having used previous 2-in-1 laptops, I was expecting the tablet functionality to be quite lackluster. Again, this was not the case. In this unit, you have, both, a well built laptop as well as tablet on-the-go device. Once in tablet mode, the screen orients itself to that of a normal tablet using Windows Tiles. Touch sensitivity is surprisingly smooth and using paint programs worked well without any lag or drops in sensitivity. Using the tablet form works really well when you want to sit back and watch videos or movies. Very nice.
A couple concerns with this laptop were;
The hard drive. While it’s a large 1TB drive, I would’ve expected something, at least, in the 7200 RPM range. Being fast enough for normal business related tasks, anyone wanting to use this laptop for video editing or other processor intensive jobs might find it to be a bit slow. This can easily be remedied by replacing the HD for a faster spindle drive or a SSD. However it would’ve been nice to have a tad faster hard drive here.
The keyboard, for me, took a bit getting used to since I have previously used standard laptop keyboards without the number pad. This is a personal preference so nothing against the design. Just noting that those of you used to that type of laptop keyboard, there will be a bit of learning curve involved however I think the addition of the number pad is great thing and should be standard on all laptops.
While the brushed aluminum case is aesthetically appealing, I’m a little concerned about it getting scratched/dinged from normal use or if when you’re changing it to be used as a tablet. This is the case with some laptops that use this metal casing so just something to be aware of.
The keyboard, for me, took a bit getting used to since I have previously used standard laptop keyboards without the number pad. This is a personal preference so nothing against the design. Just noting that those of you used to that type of laptop keyboard, there will be a bit of learning curve involved however I think the addition of the number pad is great thing and should be standard on all laptops.
While the brushed aluminum case is aesthetically appealing, I’m a little concerned about it getting scratched/dinged from normal use or if when you’re changing it to be used as a tablet. This is the case with some laptops that use this metal casing so just something to be aware of.
Overall, this is an impressive laptop, reasonably priced with enough up-to-date technology that will last you for several years to come. Being that it’s a 2-in-1, it’s an added bonus which allows you to use this device in ways you should be able to do and with relative ease.There is some bloatware included (this should be no surprise) so make sure to uninstall/delete the stuff you don’t need. Aside from a somewhat slow hard drive, the other features on this laptop more than make up for it. Very nice buy for a new work laptop or student.
LouRevue
Washington, DC
Bloatware?
January 17, 2017
It took a bit of time to setup my laptop as well. Have you tried uninstalling the bloatware on this laptop? I did and I don't have any issues with boot speed or anything else on my laptop.
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LouRevue's Questions
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LouRevue's Answers
Only @ Best BuyListen to music with this sweat- and dust-resistant wireless Jabra Elite headset. It connects via USB, mini-jack or Bluetooth, and a powerful microphone lets you use voice commands with your mobile device. This Jabra Elite headset reduces background noise and has a built-in motion sensor that lets you track fitness efforts.
Can an owner of the original non active 65t comment on the fit and stability difference with the active version? Curious if that and the extra IP rating is worth a look, or negligible.
I own both the active and regular 65T's and I don't see any noticeable difference between them. Aside from the IP rating, there's really not much difference. Both fit exactly the same and fit pretty snugly in the ear.
7 years, 1 month ago
by
LouRevue
Brighten your day and night with this Philips Being Hue ceiling light. The dimming function lets you set an ambience for different moods, and it works with the Philips Hue dimmer switch and mobile app for versatile control. The ZigBee technology of this 32W Philips Being Hue ceiling lamp provides smooth, efficient interoperability with multiple Hue lighting units.
Can this light be controlled by a existing wired wall switch? I plan to replace the light that is already there with this one, but I would prefer to use the wired switch.
Yes you can...that's what I did. One thing to note is that the light won't come on immediately like your current light fixture does. There's a second or two delay after you flip the switch. I'm planning on replacing the switch with a dimmer switch so maybe that will correct the delay.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
LouRevue