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Pm222
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- Review count12
- Helpfulness votes16
- First reviewJuly 13, 2016
- Last reviewJune 2, 2017
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating5
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- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
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- Answer count1
- Helpfulness votes20
- First answerMay 14, 2017
- Last answerMay 14, 2017
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
Control your home lighting automatically with the smart timer on this Philips Hue White starter kit. The user-friendly system lets you turn lights on and off or dim them with an intuitive app for your smartphone or tablet. This Philips Hue White starter kit has space for up to 50 lights and 10 accessories to connect your entire home.
Customer Rating
5
Turns "dumb" lamps into smart ones
on June 2, 2017
Posted by: Pm222
Verified Purchase:Yes
I have several floor lamps that do not have three-way or dimmer switches, so without having them retrofitted, they were able to turn on or off, with no adjusting the light level. And of course it had to be done manually, which isn't a big deal. That is, until you don't have to do it manually anymore.
After spending a while talking with the Best Buy sales associate, who knew a lot about the Hue products and was able to answer all my questions, I decided to buy the least expensive starter set. This comes with the hub and two of the basic bulbs. They are considered basic because they don't offer any changes in color or color temperature. You pay a lot more to get that, and for some people, it would be worth the extra money.
Installing the bridge is simple. You attach it to your WiFi router using the ethernet cable that comes with the kit, then follow the instructions on the Hue app that you download to your iOS or Android phone. The app tells you when to install the bulbs and how to control them.
The Hue system is also fully controllable using Apple's iOS Home app, which I find a bit more intuitive than the native Hue app. I also have the system integrated with my Amazon Echo Dots, so I can control the lamps using voice control. It's also controllable using Siri, so you should not need an Amazon device to use voice controls.
So, what's the big difference between these and regular LED bulbs? Both last a long time, consume less energy, and give off *much* less heat than standard bulbs. But the Hue bulbs go way beyond that. I have them set up with IFTTT so that they automatically turn on at sunset, whether I'm home or not. I also have them set up to automatically start dimming and then turning off later in the evening. So if I am not home, they will turn on, then off. It's like having a timer without all the hassle of having a physical timer attached to the outlet.
The iOS app gives you control over the lamps wherever you are, not just in your home. If you have internet access, you can see their status and you can turn them on or off or dim them.
Besides the automation options, the dimming is really great, far superior to a 3-way lamp. So I went from having two lamps that were strictly on/off, to having two lamps that offer a spectrum of light, from very low to bright. That alone has made it worth it to me, but after living with the system for a couple of weeks, I'm going to expand it. I have another lamp that I have rarely used because the switch is difficult to turn, so I'll put a Hue basic bulb in that one, and I have an overhead fixture where I'll put two bulbs.
I don't really see any "cons", though the highest lighting level could be a little bit higher. Also, the bulbs are not rated for outside use, especially in extreme temperatures, so while I had planned on installing them in porch and garage light fixtures, I'm going to wait. I have read reports from other Hue users who have used them outside and have had no problems, so I'm not ruing it out, just putting it on hold for now.
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
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![Jason Bourne [Includes Digital Copy] [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [2016]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5572/5572906_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Not sure why some people didn't like this
on May 14, 2017
Posted by: Pm222
Verified Purchase:Yes
OK, it's not the best of the Bourne films, I agree with that. But after reading the reviews, I was prepared for a big letdown, and that did not happen. I had seen it once before I decided to buy it, and I went for package that includes the 4K disc so I'll be ready to watch it in 4K when I get around to upgrading my TV.
I was just glad to see Matt Damon back as Jason Bourne, and the movie has all the typical Bourne trademarks (jumps right into the action, high-speed chases, crowd scenes, explosions, etc.). The image quality is very good, a bit jumpy by design, and the audio is excellent with a good amount of surround activity.
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Create clear black-and-white or color documents with this Canon printer ink five-pack. This bundle of black and colored inks uses Smart LED to notify you of proper installation and cartridge ink levels. With the enhanced formulation of this Canon printer ink, you can enjoy colors printed in a wide variety of shades.
Customer Rating
5
Printer ink is ridiculously expensive, but...
on May 14, 2017
Posted by: Pm222
Verified Purchase:Yes
No matter what brand you buy, inkjet printer ink is always very expensive, so you have to try to find the best deal you can get. It usually makes sense to buy a package like this, as opposed to buying individual cartridges. This is definitely true with this ink.
The only strange thing is that they don't include the gray cartridge, so you're going to have to buy that one separately.
The cartridges are easy to install, and Canon does a good job of displaying the levels and warning you when they are getting low.
But they're still too expensive.
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Definitive Technology's SR-9040 bipolar surround speaker will instantly immerse you in every high-speed car chase, high-impact explosion, crystal clear dialogue to take your movies up a notch. Features BDSS (Balanced Double Surround System) technology drivers – (2) 1" Aluminum Dome tweeters & (2) 3.5" mid drivers that deliver remarkable, room-filling sound and perfectly reproduce even the most demanding audio content. Using left- and right-firing driver arrays that radiate full-range sound in an omni-directional pattern, the SR-9040s provide an enveloping listening experience that goes beyond ordinary surround speakers. Its Bipolar speaker dispersion pattern provides enveloping surround sound, tremendous dynamic range as well as true high-definition sound quality. This speaker comes in a minimalistic, timeless design that complements your home décor perfectly. Pair a couple of these bipolar surround speakers with any Bipolar Tower Speaker (BP9020, BP9040, BP9060) & Center Channel (CS9040, CS9060, CS9080) to create a three-dimensional system for a room-filling home theater experience.
Customer Rating
5
Bought these without hearing them, love them!
on May 14, 2017
Posted by: Pm222
Verified Purchase:Yes
I needed to upgrade my surrounds from some older Bose speakers that were OK, but just were not up to producing full-range surround sound. They could handle louder effects, but ambient sound, crowd noises, and other surround activity wasn't quite what it should be. My room configuration is a bit off center, so I really liked that these speakers fire in two directions.
Right out of the box they felt heavy (in a good way) and substantial. They also look really good and while they aren't tiny, they are unobtrusive and fit in nicely.
But the sound is what speakers are all about, and the Def Techs handle everything that even a very surround-intense soundtrack (or multi-channel SACD) can throw at them. I'm hearing sounds I never heard before, and they are a good match with my Paradigm Monitor front and center channel speakers.
You can buy surround speakers for less, and you can also pay a lot more. I had never really thought that the quality of the surrounds was all that important, but I was wrong, They are very important, and it's worth it to get decent ones. These are fairly priced for what you get and I am very happy with them.
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+8points
8of 8voted this as helpful.
![John Wick [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [Includes Digital Copy] [2014]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5730/5730600_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
A lot better than I expected
on May 14, 2017
Posted by: Pm222
Verified Purchase:Yes
I bought this because it was on sale and it includes the 4K disc, even though I don't have a 4K TV yet. The movie is a lot better than I expected it would be. Now all I need is a 4K TV to watch the super HD version.
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Rogue One: A Star Wars Story [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2016]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5707/5707617_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Not my favorite Star Wars film, but very good
on May 14, 2017
Posted by: Pm222
Verified Purchase:Yes
I bought it the first week because the price was good, and I'm a Star Wars fan. I liked it, didn't love it, but I'm glad to have it and will definitely be watching it again. The image quality and the sound for the Blu-Ray are both excellent.
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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4-Year Standard Geek Squad Protection
Customer Rating
5
Bought this to avoid any problems
on May 14, 2017
Posted by: Pm222
Verified Purchase:Yes
Even though the Pioneer AVR I bought has a 3-year warranty, which is not bad, I didn't want to have to deal with Pioneer in case there is a problem. It's just a lot easier to have Best Buy handle things if there's a problem. In this case, the cost of the extended warranty also bought an extra year, but the main reason is to be able to get things taken care of without having to find an authorized Pioneer repair place.
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Anchor your home theater system with this Pioneer 7.2-channel receiver. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X Ready technology deliver a rich listening experience, and the Ultra HD pass-through provides crisp video quality. With its Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Google Cast features, this Pioneer 7.2-channel receiver lets you stream movies, TV shows and music effortlessly.
Customer Rating
5
Switched from Yamaha, better value for the money
on May 14, 2017
Posted by: Pm222
Verified Purchase:Yes
I've been a loyal Yamaha receiver fan for a long time, and they still make really good ones. But I chose this Pioneer receiver because you get more for your money.
Specifically, this AVR has 6 HMDI 2.0 inputs on the back, and all of them are HDCP 2.2 compatible, meaning they are fully ready for 4K. The Comparable Yamaha model has only 5 HDMI 2.0 inputs on the back, and of these, only 3 are HDCP 2.2 compatible.
The Pioneer has 10 watts more going into 2 channels, and while that doesn't seem like a lot, it can make a big difference.
The back of the Pioneer seemed a little easier for all the connections (speaker wires, HDMI sources, etc.). Things didn't feel as crammed together as on my Yamaha. Best of all, the Pioneer's on-screen graphic interface for setup is a lot more intuitive than Yamaha's interface. I'm not saying that Yamaha's interface is hard, and I never had any trouble with it, but I prefer Pioneer's setup.
I also like the remote control. It is a lot less cluttered and it's easier to use. There's a button that allows you to instantly access certain settings such as sound level for the center speaker and subwoofer, so you can quickly adjust these while you're watching or listening. Once you're finished and have changed inputs, the levels will return to whatever you had them set at before, so it's a temporary change, which makes sense.
You can also access the AV sync this way, though I have had a lot fewer issues with AV sync with the Pioneer than I had with the Yamaha.
But the real test for an AVR is the sound and this is where the Pioneer really shines. I did a comparison at the store between the Pioneer and a Yamaha that was about $50 less expensive (the next Yamaha was $900, more than I wanted to spend). I listened to a couple of CDs and sampled a Blu-Ray, using speakers that were as close to my own as possible. The Pioneer sounded better, especially at the high end, but it's hard to judge in a store's listening room.
But the difference was even more noticeable when I got it installed at home. Compared to the Yamaha it replaced, the Pioneer's high end is definitely clearer and smoother, the midrange is more full, and the bass, especially the subwoofer, is also a lot better. I ran the setup with the microphone, but after trying it for a few hours, I reverted to my own settings. I've never had good luck with the automatic setups, probably because my system is in an open space without a lot of walls. But it's very easy to get the sound you want using the user-friendly Pioneer on-screen setup.
The Pioneer is able to deliver this high quality sound without breaking a sweat. I have not noticed any unusual heating up of the unit while it's being used, even after having been on for hours. Build quality is at least as good as the Yamaha, and it looks better.
I also found the printed user guide (there's also an online version) to be easier to use than the Yamaha user guide.
So far, I'm very pleased with this purchase.
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
2-Year Geek Squad Product Replacement
Customer Rating
5
Worth it, at least for me
on March 3, 2017
Posted by: Pm222
Verified Purchase:Yes
I haven't had to use the coverage and hopefully I never will, but at this price, it made sense to me to add the extra protection and make it easier to deal with any problems, instead of having to go through the manufacturer.
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Easily manage your home automation system while you're on the go with this Logitech Harmony 915-000238 hub, which allows you to control up to 8 connected devices via a compatible Bluetooth-enabled Apple® iOS or Android smartphone.
Customer Rating
5
A good way to enhance an existing Harmony remote
on March 3, 2017
Posted by: Pm222
Verified Purchase:Yes
I bought this to use with my Harmony 950 and my Amazon Echo Dot. Set-up was fairly easy, though I hate the MyHarmony desktop software. The Harmony iOS app, on the other hand, is really surprisingly good.
Getting everything to sync wasn't too bad, and while Harmony's Echo "skills" are a bit clunky (they have two of them: one controls volume but doesn't do activities, the other does activities but doesn't control volume), they do work, most of the time anyway. Specific commands can be tricky, like having the Dot open the tray on a Blu-Ray player, but as far as turning activities on and off, it's very good, and it does a good job stopping, pausing, and controlling the volume.
As I'm writing this, it probably sounds like a case of "how lazy can you get" that you would want to use voice commands instead of just picking up the remote, but once you've used a device like the Echo Dot, you get used to controlling things while you're doing something else (working in the kitchen, answering the phone with one hand and not wanting to juggle the remote a the same time, etc.).
Plus, the iOS app is really good and substitutes nicely for the remote. I still use the remote, but I also use the voice commands and the app, so for me, I feel that I'm getting more bang for my buck than I did with just the remote.
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
My Best Buy number: 0215800495
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Definitive Technology's SR-9040 bipolar surround speaker will instantly immerse you in every high-speed car chase, high-impact explosion, crystal clear dialogue to take your movies up a notch. Features BDSS (Balanced Double Surround System) technology drivers – (2) 1" Aluminum Dome tweeters & (2) 3.5" mid drivers that deliver remarkable, room-filling sound and perfectly reproduce even the most demanding audio content. Using left- and right-firing driver arrays that radiate full-range sound in an omni-directional pattern, the SR-9040s provide an enveloping listening experience that goes beyond ordinary surround speakers. Its Bipolar speaker dispersion pattern provides enveloping surround sound, tremendous dynamic range as well as true high-definition sound quality. This speaker comes in a minimalistic, timeless design that complements your home décor perfectly. Pair a couple of these bipolar surround speakers with any Bipolar Tower Speaker (BP9020, BP9040, BP9060) & Center Channel (CS9040, CS9060, CS9080) to create a three-dimensional system for a room-filling home theater experience.
Does this come as a pair or is it a single speaker?
They are sold individually, so the cost for a pair is around $500 before sales tax. It's a good question, because the product page shows *two* speakers, and the product name says "2-way surround speaker", but that refers to the number of speakers in each unit, not to the number of units.
The product page needs to be changed so it shows one speaker and the wording of the product should also be changed.
The product page needs to be changed so it shows one speaker and the wording of the product should also be changed.
6 years, 11 months ago
by
Pm222