Protector Plus Wireless Voice Dialer Security System Review

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(More customer reviews)Although I have looked at X-10 products in the past, I never purchased any because I thought the quality would be poor. When I purchased this system, I did not know it was an X-10 product, and I probably would not have considered buying it if it had been advertised as such. However, after everything was installed, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised.
This package, as it comes to your door, is comprehensive enough to provide very good house coverage. I am impressed with the total number of accessories provided. The console has a built in horn. An additional small powerhorn is included in the package. Both horns, however, just didn't have enough 'ooomph' as far as I was concerned. I added three additional large powerhorns, two more rocket lamp modules, and two more motion detectors to the system. Everything works without a hitch.The five horns literally make it unbearable to remain in the house. Five lights flash on and off when the alarm sounds also. In addition to this, the console will dial up to four phone numbers and play a recorded message to the person(s) it calls. The person is also given the option to press a number and 'listen in' to the home to try and determine if there really is a problem. I was concerned that if someone decided to simply break a window glass, they could get into the house without sounding the alarm by sliding the window up and breaking the magnetic contacts. The four motion detectors take care of that problem. Each motion detector can be set to sound the alarm after detecting one movement or two movements (to cut down on false alarms). And, you can set the remote control to arm the doors and windows - without arming the motion detectors - while you are home. That way you can move freely throughout the house without setting off the alarm. When you leave the house, you can also set the alarm to 'arm' everything including the motion detectors. The motion detectors have an approximate 40' range. You can have a total of up to 16 motion detectors, or door/window sensors, or up to 8 keychain remotes, or up to 8 handheld security remotes, OR any combination of these up to 16 total. I don't know for sure, but it seems like you can add any number of horns or lamp modules (for flashing the lights).
Be advised that it does take a little time to install if you decide to put in all the door/window sensors. You also need to buy a LOT of alkaline AA and AAA batteries.
My finished system has four motion detectors, nine window/door sensors, two keychain remotes, one security remote. This is a total of 16 items that are keyed into the console. In addition, there are five horns, including the one built into the console and five light modules. We have approximately 4,000 sq. ft. of room. The console is centrally located. There is no problem with it 'reaching' the sensors. The furthest sensor from my console is about 60 feet away. As an added benefit, every sensor 'checks in' with the console every 90 minutes. If there is a problem (such as low battery), the appropriate zoned light on the console will flash. The console also has a battery backup to retain information and allow limited alarm use. Out of the box, this system is very similar to what our apartment complex installed in all the individual apartments when I was living in the city. It really is a good system.

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Yamaha YAS-71BL Front Surround System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been searching for a simple budget out of the box home audio solution that had great sound, ease of use and set up, all the connections I needed and lastly esthetically pleasing and not an eyesore. I looked at all the recommended budget 5.1 and 7.1 system (Onkyo is the best deal for full 5.1 systems) and was frustrated by the price and the over engineered complexity of them all. Real surround sound would be cool but ultimately I just wanted a simple solution with strong, rich sound and any simulated surround would be nice too. I have a Samsung 630 and love the TV but the sound sucks. This YAS-71 sound bar and sub-woofer really have enhanced my home theater experience tremendously. I want to watch all the movies I've already seen in HD again now just to hear them in fuller sound. My wife even likes it, I don't think she's nearly as intimidated by it as much as 5.1 component systems would.
This unit has 4 audio inputs plus a connector for an ipod dock; 3 of the inputs are digital audio inputs (2 optical, 1 coaxial). 1 RCA audio input. I highly recommend using the digital audio inputs to get the best and clearest simulated surround sound. I have a PS3 (my Blu-Ray player), a Toshiba DVD player and my DVR hooked up to the digital inputs and the Yamaha ipod dock hooked up. The ipod dock works well and you can control the ipod to some extent with the remote, though the screen on the front of the bar gives you very minimal information and control for your ipod. There are times I'd rather just select my ipod manually on the ipod itself. My 3G iphone worked with it as well as a 30 gig ipod. They all sounded great.
I have a very boxy, enclosed small to medium sized living room (12' x 18') in an older home and it's perfect for that environment. At volume level 50 (halfway) it really fills the room up with rich sound, at the higher levels it gets surprisingly loud without distortion and blowout. Though If you have a very open or large contemporary living room I wouldn't recommend this system; I'd go with more powerful true surround system where you could space the speakers out to fit the room. This YAS-71 really works best in a room with defined walls to work off of. I wouldn't expect any true surround sound from the YAS-71 but there are times while watching 5.1 DVDs and Blu-rays I notice that some sounds really feel immersive and you can feel the simulated surround effect. Prices have dropped on these recently, they used to retail for $500-$600 and for around $300 this is an exceptional deal.
Positives:
* Easy to set up, there aren't a bunch of wires to run around your room.
* User friendly. Wife friendly.
* 4 audio inputs (3 digital) plus yamaha ipod connector
* Clear, surprisingly powerful, robust simulated 5.1 sound for such a contained unit.
* Great value for the money if you can find it at or under $300
* Looks nice in front of most HDTVs. It virtually matched my piano finished black Samsung.
* Great for enclosed rooms.Negatives:
* No onscreen information and controls on your TV screen, info is only on the soundbar screen. This does not have any video passthrough. (this hasn't been a problem for me though).
* It might not have have all the audio connections you need. Check your setup.
* All the inputs are on the sub woofer, so keep that in mind, you might need longer cables.
* Remote controlling ipod is very minimal.
* ipod dock sold separately ($50-100)
* Not so good for open areas.
Conclusion:
Powerful, clear sound and a good number of inputs for most needs. A simple solution for better home audio. I couldn't be happier with it.

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Yamaha YHT-393BL 5.1 Channel 500 Watt HTiB System (Each, Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)When I saw this receiver in the store, and then looked at the price (when compared to other "comparable" systems), I assumed it was going to sound like a tin-can. I'm so glad I was wrong...!
The receiver itself has a wealth of features, bells, and whistles. If you will be listening to your iPod through the system, go ahead and spend the money on the dock. The sound quality is excellent and you can control the iPod via Yamaha's excellent remote. One of my favorite features (being a classical musician/pianist) is that you can choose a sound mode that makes your music sound as if it's being heard in two of the best concert halls in Europe (Munich/ der Musikverein in Vienna), and some famous/typical American venues (The Roxy Theatre, The Bottom Line, Chamber, Cellar Club, etc...). It's really a neat effect!
I like that I can run all the HDMI signals from my DVD player, TV box, etc... through the receiver, so I never have to switch inputs on my TV, or run 10 different cords up behind the wall! The receiver does all the work of switching inputs-- you can even select a different audio input to pair with your HDMI signal just in case (like with a DVI to HDMI cable from your computer) there is a separate audio source.
If I had to brag on just ONE thing about the system, It would be: The subwoofer. The speakers that come with the system give a clear upper range, but if you were relying on them for the bass frequencies, you'd return the whole system the same day you bought it. Enter: the subwoofer... This speaker can punch out the lowest lows, even at the lowest volumes. Don't let the size fool you, either! It will fill your whole room with great, booming, clear bass!
To conclude this glowing review: If I were adding another TV in my den, I would buy another one of these systems to complete that home theatre as well!If you're looking for a great quality product that works and sounds even better than you'd expect, just hit the "Add to Cart" button now...

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Yamaha's YHT-393BL 5.1-Channel HTiB System is the easy way to enjoy the cinema experience at home. Featuring 500 watts of power (100Wx5), the latest HDMI specifications, and popular Yamaha technologies like SCENE and CINEMA DSP, you'll be sure to get the most out of your high-definition movies and music.

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SIRIUS Stiletto SL100 Portable Satellite Radio Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been a satellite radio customer for four years. I started with XM and moved to Sirius about a year ago (no, Howard Stern had nothing to do with my move). I mention this so that you will understand that I am familiar with satellite radio and its occasional downsides.
There is no doubt that the Stiletto is a really cool satellite receiver. Its interface, while not as intuitive as the iPod, is about as close as you can get. Some serious (pun intended) thought went into the hardware and software design on this unit and the graphics are top-notch.
Using the Stiletto in a car or home (with the home or car kits) is a dream. The sound is great and it works just like a satellite radio should.
It also works well over an 802.11b WiFi network, even connecting to a WEP-protected wireless router. On the downside, Sirius really should have included 802.11g so that the Stiletto doesn't bring down the speed of the rest of the network (in case you don't know, if you have a 802.11g network and put a 802.11b device onto it, everything else on the network slows down to 802.11b speeds). Some people have complained that you have to spend more ($1.99 per month) for higher quality internet audio. What bothered me the most is the fact that only some of the channels are available via internet radio.
Where the Stiletto really falls flat on its face is as a portable radio. I'm a cyclist and so I purchased it to use on my daily training rides. I took it yesterday on a short 25-mile ride and was extremely disappointed with its performance. I was able to receive a consistent signal for about 1/4 of the ride, a choppy signal for about 1/4 of the ride, and no signal for 1/2 the ride. I live in the Los Angeles area where there should be plenty of terrestrial repeaters and I was riding in areas where there were no buildings or where the majority of the buildings were single-story homes. Curiously, I had the best reception on some tree-lined streets, but I suspect that's just because I was closer to the repeaters.
Of course, for the best portable reception Sirius will tell you to use the included antenna headphones. Who are they kidding? Not only do these things
look like something from a bad sci-fi movie, they are also the least comfortable headphones I have ever tried. No wait, let me rephrase that . . . these things must have been designed by Torquemada as some sort of torture device. They will make your head and ears hurt after about 5 seconds.
Oh, and by the way, Sirius must not think that Mac users would want this radio since it only comes with Windows software. Duh!
Bottom line: While I really like the design, features, software and graphics of the Stiletto, I will be heading back to Best Buy to return it and the car kit. Since I can't really use it as a portable radio, I might as well spend WAY less on a StarMate 4. If, however, you don't care about consistent portable reception, you want the best satellite receiver I've seen, AND you want to spend 3-4 times more for it than other devices that can capably be used in your home or car, then this might just be the radio for you.

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Ultra-portable, the Sirius Stiletto SL100 satellite radio receiver features a built-in antenna that allows reception of the Sirius signal without the need for an external car or home docking station. Best of all, this receiver offers up to 100 hours of storage capacity and can handle MP3 and WMA files, enabling you to mix Sirius content with your own personal music collection. It provides up to 800 MB of storage for personal digital audio files, and it provides compatibility for most internet music subscription services and music stores (Windows Media 10 or later).
For added convenience, the SL100 has Wi-Fi capabilities (802.11b), so you can stream Sirius content from your Internet connection when within a Wi-Fi hotspot. It offers support for WEP and WPA password protected Wi-Fi networks and remembers previously accessed Wi-Fi networks for quick access. And when coupled with an optional vehicle or home docking kit, you can broadcast both Sirius radio and digital audio files over any FM stereo via the built-in transmitter (dock required).
The sleek and stylish SL100 has a removable battery and built-in antenna, and it comes with a headset with an integrated antenna for improved signal reception. The 2.2-inch TFT screen is brightly colorful and offers a QVGA resolution. The Aurora graphic user interface and a six-way navigation control provide easy one handed access to all features and content. Other features include:
30 channel presets
Sirius Replay allows you to pause, rewind and replay 60 minutes of live radio
Game Alert prompts you when favorite games are being broadcast and alerts when scores change
Game Zone lists all of your favorite teams in one virtual category
Color screen displays channel logos, song title, and artist information
Save up to 10 hours of individual songs from live Sirius programming broadcasts by a single press of the "Love" button
Schedule recordings up to 6 hours in length
Parental controls and channel lockout

This package includes Yahoo! Music Jukebox software, which enables you to bookmark songs you hear on the radio. The song is then moved to a favorites list on the Stiletto 100, which can be accessed by a PC application when the unit is connected to your computer. The application allows you to look up and purchase songs, full albums, or explore artists' other offerings through the Yahoo! Music Jukebox software or other compatible online music download or subscription services. Once the song is purchased or rented, it can be transferred onto the Stiletto 100.
You can easily switch between the two included batteries when circumstances change. The standard battery provides power for 4 hours of satellite radio, 12 hours of Internet radio, 24 hours of playback from your MP3 and WMA files, and 24 hours of radio replays. The more lightweight slim battery is great when you're out and about, and it provides 2 hours of satellite radio play, 6 hours of Internet radio, and 12 hours for your digital library (either MP3/WMA or radio replays).
What's in the Box SL100 radio, earbuds, antenna headphone for expanded live signal reception, standard and slim batteries, PC cable (USB compatible), AC adapter, and My Sirius Studio software with Yahoo! Music Engine.

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