The Story: How a Reddit Ad Convinced Me to Redo My Entire Smart Home
How I Found It: I’ll admit it – I fell for a targeted ad. There I was, scrolling through r/homeautomation at 2 AM, cursing my 4 different apps for controlling lights, when a RevoxB77 ad promised to “unify your smart home or your money back.” Sold. Or at least, sleep-deprived-me was.
Why I Bought It: My smart home setup looked like a UN summit gone wrong. Google Nest, Philips Hue, three random Amazon plugs from Prime Day – nothing talked to each other. I was tired of saying “Hey Google, tell Alexa to tell Siri to turn on living room lamp.”
First Impressions: Unboxing felt like Apple meets IKEA – sleek black hub, minimalist instructions, zero Swedish curse words. Setup took 15 minutes (12 of which were finding my WiFi password behind the fridge).
Real-Life Usage: Two weeks in, I accidentally created a “virtual room” combining my bathroom and backyard grill. Turns out RevoxB77’s AI thinks Weber smokers count as home appliances. Still fixed my sunset lighting routine though.
The Experience: Living With a Robot Butler Who Sometimes Forgets Keys
Daily Use Cases:
- Morning routine: “Hey Revox, start my day” triggers coffee maker, bathroom heat, and NPR (but skips news on Mondays)
- Work-from-home magic: Motion sensors auto-dim lights during Zoom calls
- Pet mode: Camera treat dispenser when dogs look sad (they’ve learned to fake it)
Notable Moments:
- That time it detected a water leak before my downstairs neighbor did
- When vacation mode perfectly mimicked occupancy using smart blinds + old Spotify playlists
Unexpected Findings:
- Works with my 2013 Samsung TV using IR blaster tricks
- Energy reports shaved $38/month off bills (now I can afford artisanal avocado toast)
Long-Term Thoughts: After 6 months, it’s like that roommate who’s great 90% of the time but occasionally locks you out. Worth the quirks.
Let’s Break It Down: The Good, The Bad, and The “Why Is My Fridge Tweeting?”
Pros:
- Unification Wizardry: Finally got my Philips Hue and LIFX bulbs to play nice
- Local Processing: Still works when Comcast inevitably dies during movie night
- Custom Automations: Created a “Tinder Date” scene that dims lights + plays Hozier
- Energy Insights: Turns out leaving the AC at 65°F costs more than my Netflix addiction
Cons:
- Learning Curve: First-week confusion made me miss my dumb light switches
- Mobile App Quirks: Sometimes thinks my bedroom is in Zagreb (I’m in Ohio)
- Limited Compatibility: Sorry, 2010-era Roomba owners – it’s not that smart
Workarounds:
- Use IFTTT for unsupported devices
- Rename “Zagreb Bedroom” to “Actual Ohio Room”
Real Talk: Who Should Actually Buy This Thing
Perfect For:
- Renters who want smart features without rewiring
- Home Lab hackers who geek out over Zigbee protocols
- Anyone whose current setup requires 37 different apps
When It Shines:
- Managing cross-brand ecosystems
- Creating hyper-specific scenes (“I’m sad and watching The Office again” mode)
Creative Uses:
- My neighbor uses vibration sensors to monitor his guitar collection
- Turned an old iPad into a retro-style control panel with widgets
Money-Saving Tips:
- Wait for Black Friday firmware sales
- Buy refurbished hubs – they’re just as good
Hacks:
- Use NFC tags to trigger scenes (tap phone to start laundry + play podcast)
- Integrate with ChatGPT for ridiculous voice commands (“Make it smell like a Paris bakery here”)
The Bottom Line: Siri Could Never
Overall Experience: 8.5/10 – loses points for making me realize how often I talk to inanimate objects
Value Assessment: Cheaper than couple’s therapy for tech-induced marital fights
Recommendations:
- Get the starter pack, skip the overpriced sensors
- Join their Reddit-like community forum for killer user scripts
Final Thoughts: It’s not perfect, but neither was the iPhone 3GS – and look where we are now. If you’ve got more smart devices than friends on Facebook, RevoxB77 might just make your home feel… well, almost intelligent.
References
[1] Revox B77 MK III Stereo reel-to-reel tape recorder review
[2] B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder - Revox
[3] An icon returns: Revox B77 MK III tape recorder - the-ear.net
[4] Revox B77 MKIII — Horch House
[5] Revox B77 MK III – a new highlight in analog audio technology
[6] Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder | audiophil (e)-online
[7] revoxb77.com Reviews: Is this site a scam or legit?
[8] The Ordinary vs. Revox B77 - M BLAGA
[9] Revox B77 MK III Stereo Tape Recorder - Return of an icon of the …
[10] My Feelings About Revox Just ( Revoxb77) - Window to The beauty
[11] The Return of an Icon: The New Revox B77 MK III Tape Recorder
[13] Vitamin C Oxidation – Revox B77
[14] Revox B77 MK III Reel-to-Reel Stereo Tape Recorder
[15] The return of an icon – the new Revox B77 MK III tape recorder