LouRevue's stats
- Review count306
- Helpfulness votes847
- First reviewMay 20, 2011
- Last reviewSeptember 13, 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
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- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count2
- Helpfulness votes5
- First answerDecember 10, 2017
- Last answerJune 12, 2018
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Reversible Desk Mat with a detachable wireless charging panel that fast charges your smartphone and earbuds simultaneously. Features water-resistant vegan leather on one side and plush felt on the other side.
Customer Rating
5
Clean and efficient looking desk mat
on September 4, 2024
Posted by: LouRevue
Like most other gamers, I've had the Large/XL mats like these with the purdy RGB and such. However, they don't last that long and get dirty pretty quickly and regularly. For this mat, I wanted something a little more cleaner looker without the RGB.
The mat itself is pretty nice. There is a top, plastic-like cover and the bottom is a felt material. They're connected so you could have either or as your desktop. The big thing with this mat though is the charging mat that attaches magnetically to the mat. Pretty nice little feature to have as it'll charge your iPhone as well as your Airpods simultaneously.
Not really sure the charging speed on this charging mat but it does a good job at charging. Not blindly fast but good enough to keep your phone battery charged up while you work ensuring you have plenty of juice when it's time to go. The charging mat attaches to the one side where the felt is however you have swap it around if you're left/right handed.
Pretty nice looking mat with great functionality. My only complaints are that the felt underside is pretty slick so the mat will move around a bit while you're working on it. That and I wish my desk wasn't so ugly as this mat is definitely something more minimalist looking. Might be time to get another desk.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed and engineered at our world-famous Acoustic Engineering Center of Excellence in Northridge, California, the Stage 220P is 500W and is the most powerful subwoofer in the Stage Series and delivers the low frequency excitement that customers crave. This subwoofer features a high excursion 12-inch (300mm) Polycellulose low-frequency woofer with dual rear firing tuned ports that provides deep, powerful, signature JBL bass. A full complement of controls provides for easy system integration.
Customer Rating
5
Nice, boomy sound from this subwoofer
on August 19, 2024
Posted by: LouRevue
I'm in the midst of upgrading my home theater setup and this sub was the last piece, so to speak, of that process. I had a subwoofer before however it was on the cheap side so getting this one was definitely a huge upgrade for me.
I have this paired with the matching bookshelf speakers and receiver from JBL. I'm not a big fan of mixing and matching so I wanted to go with the complete set to ensure compatibility and functionality.
As with most subs, this is quite hefty. Little unsure of it's location next to my TV but I'm working on that. It's small enough where it's noticeable however not large where it's an eyesore. Also comes in handy as a makeshift shelf as well. I don't have a lot of space near my TV so this was a nice choice in both size, quality and price.
As far as sound goes, very pleasantly surprised with this. It's good enough where it'll add that extra oompf when watch action movies but also boomy enough when playing music. It's not a muddled sounding bass either that I had with my previous subwoofer. The lows are clean and clear without too much reverb on them.
Great addition to the home setup and sounds great.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed and engineered at our world-famous Acoustic Engineering Center of Excellence in Northridge, California, the Stage 250B is largest bookshelf loudspeaker of the JBL Stage Series. It provides impressive performance from a small footprint. The 250B's are versatile enough to be used as main speakers or surrounds. This loudspeaker features a 2-way design with Next Generation patented High-Definition Imaging (HDI) waveguide geometry, 1-inch (25mm) Anodized Aluminum dome tweeter, and a 5.25-inch (130mm) Polycellulose ribbed cone woofer that provides deep, signature JBL bass.
Customer Rating
5
Big upgrade from my soundbar
on August 19, 2024
Posted by: LouRevue
I'm in the process of revamping my home theater setup and wanted some nice, reasonably good sounding speakers. Previously, I just had a rather cheap soundbar/subwoofer setup that was just OK. Upgrading my setup, I have both limited space and funds so I wanted to make sure I had some really nice speakers.
My soundbar I had just wasn't cutting it anymore. It just made my TV/music just sound louder so I wanted something that actually upgrade my system. I'm not that big on what's out there on the market so I used a lot of reviews to see what's good and such. I came across this JBL speakers/setup and thought it would be a great upgrade I was looking for.
The speakers are bit hefty in weight coming in at around 12 pounds each. I have these setup on my entertainment center which was glass shelves so I was a smidge concerned about the weight of these. So far, the seem to be just fine so here's hoping they'll stay that way. The wood on the speakers is very nice quality and it shows. I previously had some bluetooth speakers connected to my soundbar/subwoofer but they were somewhat shoddy. These are wired so I have no issues with sound quality/connection.
The grills on these are magnetic and I find that they seem to come off somewhat easily. As such, I'm sort of debating whether to have them on or leave them off and just have the speakers showing. The speakers look nice so I might just head that route.
As far a sound quality goes, huge upgrade over my last set. I have these paired with the matching JBL receiver and they sound very good. As my previous soundbar just made things louder, these you can hear the difference in sound quality. Whether I'm playing a movie, streaming music, everything just sounds clearer, more defined. Granted I had some cheap speakers before but these have been a really nice upgrade to my home theater setup.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The JBL MA510 is an AV Receiver that delivers spectacular realism with 8K HDMI specifications for a supreme home cinema experience. Seamlessly integrate your smart TV or projector with 4 HDMI inputs and 1 output, plus eARC. With native 5-channel decoding of Dolby and DTS formats, the MA510 can deliver incredible cinema experiences. It is designed with a passion for music and movies, bringing both to life with true high fidelity. Additional music content can be accessed via Bluetooth and network streaming. The MA510 features five channels of low noise Class D amplification for real world power to all channels.
Customer Rating
5
High quality receiver for budget minded audiophile
on August 19, 2024
Posted by: LouRevue
I was excited to get my hands on this JBL MA510 receiver as I'm in the process of revamping my home entertainment system. I don't have a lot of electronics to hook up to this yet but this receiver was a good first piece in getting things setup on my end.
I have just a Blu-ray player at the moment as well as an AppleTV so consolidating, at least, those two units was a good start for me. As this is a 5 channel receiver, hoping to get a few other units to hook up to this in the future.
For now though, hook up was easy and getting both my devices setup with the receiver was no problem. This receiver has more than enough inputs for me to use without sacrificing on quality.
A big bonus for me was the built-in bluetooth/wifi which enables me to connect my Spotify as well as stream from my other portable devices like my iPad/iPhone. Also plays hi[res audio however I don't have a substantial collection of those but having this feature is good for future proofing from my end.
I have a couple speakers hooked up to this as well and power/sound are really nice. I was a bit worried about needing a separate amp or something to power those but this receiver powers them just nicely. On top of this, the receiver has plenty of other input options which is really nice if I start adding additional devices.
So far, this has been a really nice receiver for my home theater. Which the speakers hooked up and everything flowing nicely, this has been a really nice upgrade for my system
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Best Buy essentials 20W Wall Charging Kit is compatible with USB-C iPhones, Samsung smartphones, tablets and more. Keep all of your USB-C devices charged with up to 20 watts of power and an included USB-C cable means everything is ready to go right out of the box. This 2-pack gives you an extra wall charger and cable.
Customer Rating
5
Great travel charger pack
on August 5, 2024
Posted by: LouRevue
Can't really go wrong having a spare or extra charging block. With most devices these days, it's mostly USB-C so nice that this little 2 pack exists.
Aside from my iPhone, pretty much every device I have is now USB-C. Pretty much had to trash a lot of my older ones since they took mini USB or USB-A ports or whatever USB port was needed for that cable. This 2 pack of chargers helps reduce the charging blocks and cables I have to carry and it works pretty good as well.
As pictured, you only get the USB-C cable for each charging block. In most cases, that should be fine but there is a USB port on the block if you have a specific charging cable you need to use. Both are small and lightweight so no issues with traveling. Power wise, it charges at a decent rate. It's not one of those super fast chargers however it'll charge up your device fairly quickly even with both ports being used.
Pretty nice little 2 pack here. I'll use one for traveling and the other I'll probably leave in my work bag just in case.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The first XPS CoPilot+ PC has powerful on-device AI that delivers cutting-edge responsiveness and unmatched speed for navigating demanding creative and multitasking workloads with efficiency.
Customer Rating
5
Powerful and portable. Great on-the-go laptop
on July 31, 2024
Posted by: LouRevue
I've seen a lot of ads and such for Copilot PCs recently so thought it'd might be good to check one out finally. ASUS, Samsung and a host of other manufacturers have these however I went with the Dell just based off previous experience with them.
SIZE: Really liking this 13" size. It's perfect for travel and functionality without giving up much of anything really....except screen size.
WEIGHT: coming in at around 5 pounds or so, this is super lightweight by any laptop standards and carries easily. You'll have no problem throwing this in your bag/purse as it's thin, lightweight and very portable. The charger is also pretty small as well so no issues with toting that around either.
FIT/FINISH: this is a really well put together laptop. The seams and construction of the laptop is really solid. The function keys are backlit and touch capacitive which looks really nice. The integrated touchpad looks really slick and functoins quite well. And the OLED screen is just gorgeous. Deep blacks and rich contrast from this display makes everything just pop that much more. YouTube or Netflix really comes through on this display.
COPILOT: is actually quite interesting to use. From my experience, it's a bit more than just simple voice commands or questions. I tried it out by asking if the illuminated logo on my GPU can be changed? Pretty random question but it pulled back an actual answer, no...unfortunately, as well as posts and additional background info on my request. It further added to my inquiry by asking if I wanted to contact the manufacturer about this as well as local PC shops. I thought it was a bit much but, surprisingly, it answered my question and prompted me to continue the "conversation". Definitely will need some more playtime with this but, so far, it's actually been quite promising and useful.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Tap. Unlock. You're Home. Yale Assure Lock 2 Plus makes key-free access easier and more secure than ever before. Using Apple home keys, a simple tap with your iPhone or Apple Watch is all it takes to lock or unlock your door- and for even faster access, add your Home Key to your Apple Wallet app with Express Mode enabled. Remotely let people in, lock up, send custom entry codes, and track who comes with real time notifications from anywhere through the Yale Access app. For added peace of mind, never worry about locking the door behind you with advanced Auto-Lock and advanced DoorSense technology. To use home keys, iPhone XS or later with iOS 15 or later and Apple Watch Series 4 or later with watchOS 8 or later are required.
Customer Rating
5
Simple and intuitive. Easy installation
on July 25, 2024
Posted by: LouRevue
I've had a couple smart locks in the past but one of the main issues I've had with them was how the lock would actually unlock. I've had one that utilized geo-fencing which was really hit or miss. I had one where Bluetooth was the main way to unlock the lock and another where I had to open the app up everytime I wanted to lock/unlock the lock. While they all worked as intended, they weren't very intuitive or just didn't work "properly".
With this new lock installed, I was hoping for more but not expecting a whole lot if you know what I mean. Just, meh, new lock...something new to play with. However, after using this for a couple weeks now, it's far better than what I had expected.
The biggest pro I saw in this was the fact that it had Apple Homekit compatibility. Being a heavy iOS/Apple user, this was a big plus for me. After getting everything setup, it was quite clear that this was the perfect smart lock for me.
Like with any other smart lock, you can setup guest codes within the app for others to use. You also have the ability to add an unlock to your Apple Wallet too. You can open up the Wallet up and use it just like a hotel key or something.
But the biggest pro for me was the ability to use my Apple watch to unlock the lock. Now, no more fumbling with my keys or phone to open the lock on my door. I just hold my watch to the lock and, boom, it's unlocked. SOOOOOOO much easier this way and it's just such a huge improvement over my older smart locks.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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A new era is here. The B650 EAGLE AX supports AM5 Processors and features unparalleled performance. GIGABYTE B650 motherboards come with upgraded power design, high grade storage standards, and outstanding connectivity that enables you to optimize your performance.
Customer Rating
4
Nice, mid level board for AMD setup
on July 14, 2024
Posted by: LouRevue
This is my first AMD build and really liking this mobo. Has great features that'll ensure your board stays somewhat up-to-date in the coming years which is nice.
Firstly, it's an AM5 socket so it has some life span left in it. No worries about AMD ditching this board for a new socket in the near future. Paired this board with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D chip and Crucial RAM. Still kind of hung up on which GPU I'm going to use. Ideally, would like to stick with AMD for this build so maybe a 6800? Already have a build with NVIDIA so not really interested in that.
That said, great little board that's got nice features for my build. Wifi, updated PCIe slot and fairly simple (so far) plug and play on every component I've installed thus far.
I threw this mobo in a Montech case as well as this is a sort of a budget build. Nice fit and will look/run great once I get my GPU issue sorted out. .
So far, this AMD build is looking pretty sweet so eagerly waiting on how it'll look once all is finished.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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SCUF Nomad is the performance mobile gaming controller with everything you've been looking for. It features two rear paddles, anti-drift Hall effect thumbsticks, and an ergonomic shape that fits naturally in your hands. Enhance your layout with our subscription-free app and fine-tune the thumbsticks by changing the shape and adjusting the sensitivity. Unlock the ability to play any controller supported game for 16 hours without the hassle of taking off your case as NOMAD is compatible with many cases. Record and share your highlights effortlessly with a single button, ensuring that your most memorable plays are preserved. Elevate your mobile gaming with NOMAD.
Customer Rating
4
Pretty cool iPhone gaming accessory
on July 3, 2024
Posted by: LouRevue
I was never really a huge iPhone gamer to begin with. I mean, most of the games are geared for "basic" play and it was all touch screen so, why bother?
It wasn't until they started releasing older, console games in iOS did I start to take gaming on my iPhone a little more seriously. Specifically, the COD and GTA franchises were big in my book so really cool to have these titles added to the mobile gaming platforms.
BUT, biggest drawback for me was the touch screen interface. Not really conducive to gaming on that level since the movements and actions a lot more involved in those types of games. That said, pairing this SCUD controller to my iPhone has really made a world of difference in terms of playability.
It connects via bluetooth and has a companion app where you can sync and remap buttons as you see fit. So much nicer using this setup to play GTA Vice City than some on-screen keypad or separate controller. The grip fits and feels really nice and isn't too bulky. It's noticeable but not annoying by any means.
This will fit just about any phone/case out there....just about. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit my setup at the moment. I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max with an Otterbox Defender XT case and it's, literally, like 2mm too long for the controller. I have to take my phone out of the case in order to use this controller. Sort of a pain but it's doable. If I had a slimmer case then it probably would've fit without issue.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Samsung's OLED G6 Gaming Monitor delivers superior brightness with an expansive spectrum of colors and nearly limitless shades. The 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time (GtG), along with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, allow ultra-fast & smooth gaming action. OLED Safeguard+ technology includes a groundbreaking Dynamic Cooling System and thermal modulation that auto-controls brightness to prevent burn-in. OLED Glare Free technology significantly reduces glare from external light sources, and deep black levels with dynamic contrast enable supreme depth expression. Features a sleek metal design and ergonomic stand for optimal comfort when playing for extended periods of time. 3-Year Warranty.
Customer Rating
5
Sleek looking monitor for gaming
on June 28, 2024
Posted by: LouRevue
I've used quite a few different gaming monitors in the past but I've always wanted to try out an OLED monitor to see what all the hype is about. Having used this monitor for the past week or so, OLED is definitely the way to go.
My previous monitor was an LG ultrawide, 160Hz/1440p monitor. Looked nice for sure and it was an ultrawide (45") so definitely a nice monitor to have. That said, the picture quality was a bit off and the colors were a bit muted on it. Even after fiddling around with the contrast/color/brightness/etc., still didn't "pop" as I thought it would. This is what led me to wanting to try out OLED monitors and that led me to this one.
Size wise, it's decent but not great. Some people like small monitors and others like large, ultrawide monitors. That said, size is good for me.
Connectivity. This has all the ports you'll need to get setup with your PC. Monitor comes with USB/DisplayPort/HDMI cables so you're good to go right out of the box.
The real talking point here is the picture this monitor provides. The contrast and color depth of the monitor are superb. The blacks are a really deep black and all other colors just pop on screen. Very vibrant colors from this monitor. Add in the 360Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time and you have a VERY good gaming monitor.
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, 3 months 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, 9 months ago
by
LouRevue