HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

On this week's show we look at the Top 5 Home Theater Projectors in the $1K - $3K price range. This list is compiled by the Projector Central website. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: YouTube TV likely to lose Paramount-owned channels Netflix finally decides to play nice and support the Apple TV app MyFree DIRECTV adds 6 new channels with news and sports from Disney Top 5 Home Theater Projectors $1k - $3k The $1,000 to $2,999 price bracket is the sweet spot for home theater projectors, with high-value 4K UHD models featuring HDR playback starting at around $1,500. Projectors at the higher end of this range will add things like a longer zoom lens or greater lens shift capability for better placement flexibility, and sometimes improved contrast and black level. This list is taken from the Projector Central website. They have the top ten but we are only going through the top five. The Full List is available on our website. How the list is generated: This list is not curated by our editorial staff and is generated by constantly monitoring the web traffic to our comprehensive projector database, our price-quote engine, our widely-used projector throw calculator, and our editorial product coverage and reviews to gauge which projectors are generating the most buzz and sales activity. #1 BenQ TK700STi Resolution: 3840x2160 DLP Brightness: 3000 Lumens (ANSI)1 Light Source: Lamp Throw Distance: 6'-6" — 7'-10" at Image Size: 100" $1,699 May 2021 Model #2 BenQ TK710STi Resolution: 3840x2160 DLP Brightness: 3200 Lumens (ANSI)1 Light Source: Laser Throw Distance: 5'-0" — 6'-0" at Image Size: 100" $1,999 Jun 2024 Model #3 BenQ TK710 Resolution: 3840x2160 DLP Brightness: 3200 Lumens (ANSI)1 Light Source: Laser Throw Distance: 8'-4" — 10'-11" at Image Size: 100" $1,799 Jun 2024 Model #4 BenQ W2720i Resolution: 3840x2160 DLP Brightness: 2500 Lumens (ANSI)1 Light Source: LED Throw Distance: 7'-3" — 9'-5" at Image Size: 100" $1,999 Jan 2025 Model #5 Optoma GT2000HDR Resolution: 1920x1080 DLP Brightness: 3500 Lumens (ANSI)1 Light Source: Laser Throw Distance: 3'-7" at Image Size: 100" $1,199 Jun 2023 Model

On this week's show we have a review of the Audioengine B1 Next Gen Bluetooth Music Receiver and we take a look at how Streaming impacts viewing on top network shows. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Panasonic is 'prepared to sell' its TV business 56% of Super Bowl LIX Viewers Expected to Stream Event Tubi had the fastest Super Bowl streaming experience YouTube Viewership On TV Screens Exceeds Mobile For First Time In U.S. Audioengine B1 Next Gen Bluetooth Music Receiver I recently upgraded my audio setup with the new Audioengine B1 Next Gen Bluetooth Music Receiver ($189 direct from Audioengine), because I like buying stuff! The previous model served me well but has gotten a bit long in the… wait for it, Bluetooth. Like the previous version, the Next Gen turns any wired stereo receiver or powered speaker system into a wireless one. The high-fidelity audio is outstanding, there is support for 16, 24, or even 32-bit quality with the advanced Bluetooth 5.3 and aptX Adaptive support. One cool feature is that the indicator light on the front panel turns orange when you have an aptX connection, so you know at a glance that you are listening at the highest fidelity. I had to borrow my brother-in-law's android phone to test this out. Apple, why won't you give me aptX?? The music sounded excellent. I did my best to A/B with the original B1 using AAC vs the next gen B1 using aptX listening to music I am intimately familiar with. It was hard to hear any major improvement. I could convince myself there was an improvement only after listening to specific parts of a track multiple times. Practically speaking, it really won't matter. If you currently own the previous B1 I would recommend skipping this upgrade unless you stream from long distances. More on that in a bit. With that said, the high bitrate AAC files on the new B1 sounded excellent and I did not have too much aptX envy. Another impressive feature is the long-range connectivity. The specification says it will maintain a connection 100 feet away without any drop in sound quality. I walked to all corners of my house behind multiple doors, and could not break the connection. This is a big improvement over the original and is nice if you are responsible for the music at a get-together and you walk around the house chatting with your guests. The inclusion of both RCA and Optical output options means you can easily integrate it into any existing audio setup. The B1 has a sturdy aluminum housing and the fact that you don't need any special software makes setup a breeze! The Audioengine B1 is a recommended product for anyone looking to elevate their wired audio experience with wireless streaming. Here's How Much Streaming Impacts Viewing on Top Network Shows It's a pretty well-established fact that streaming has a sizable effect on ratings for shows that originate on broadcast networks. A new batch of data from Nielsen for this season shows just how big that impact can be. Full article here…

On this week's show we look at seven rules for your home security cameras and five TV innovations that will have the biggest effect on future TVs. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: ESPN just had its best ratings month in a decade DIRECTV STREAM's MySports Package Expands to 187 Markets Ahead of Super Bowl LIX Disney+ sheds 700k subscribers, but still makes a profit 7 Rules to Follow Before Installing a Home Security Camera Whether you're installing a new camera or repositioning an existing one, these tips will help you optimize performance and prevent potential issues. Full Article Here… Avoid obstructions (even future obstructions) Windows can also be an obstruction Try not to surveil the great blue yonder Cameras near vents or heaters are at risk Blind spots aren't the most vulnerable areas Privacy and surveillance can be tricky Don't (accidentally) spy on your neighbors 5 TV Innovations on Display at CES 2025 These are five Innovations at CES 2025 that will have the biggest effect on the best OLED TVs and best mini-LED TVs in the future. According to Matt Bolton at TVTechnology.com RGB Backlighting (Micro LED) Four-Stack OLED Wireless Connection Boxes On-Device AI That's Actually Useful Ultra-Precise Backlight Lenses

On this week's show we run down the Nielsen ARTEY Awards which measures and rams shows based on total viewing minutes. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Matter will be better in 2025 Apple's new HomePod with iPad-like display reportedly launching this year Netflix Ads To Hit $4B Other: TCL 98" Class - Q672 Series - 4K UHD QLED LCD TV - Allstate 3-Year Protection Plan Bundle Included for 5 Years of Total Coverage* The Nielsen ARTEY Awards For the 2024 ARTEYS, we focused solely on streaming programs, which are measured and ranked based on total viewing minutes. Within streaming, there are many different content types. We recognized the following: Top New Streaming Original Series Top Overall Streaming Programs Most Binged Streaming Title ARTEY Legacy Award Top New Streaming Original Series of 2024 The ARTEY Awards for Top New Streaming Original Series recognize streaming titles in drama, comedy and unscripted genres that were introduced in 2024 and received the most viewing. Top New Original Drama Series ARTEY WINNER: Fallout, Prime Video, 11.95 billion minutes (8.3/10 IMDB) Prime Video's sci-fi-action-drama Fallout debuted on the platform in April and racked up 2.9 billion viewing minutes in its first few days of release. It accumulated nearly 12 billion total viewing minutes throughout the rest of the year, ultimately placing fifth among all streaming originals in 2024. Fallout, which only has eight episodes in its first season, was also the fifth most-watched streaming original among adults 18-34. RUNNER-UP: Fool Me Once, Netflix, 10.89 billion minutes (6.8/10 IMDB) Top New Original Comedy Series ARTEY WINNER: Nobody Wants This, Netflix, 4.90 billion minutes (7.9/10 IMDB) Netflix rom-com Nobody Wants This enjoyed three weeks atop Nielsen's streaming charts following its release in late September, and went on to accumulate nearly 5 billion minutes through the end of year. While the show's audience skewed toward women (69%), it was fairly balanced from an age perspective, coming in at 51% adults 18-49 and 43% adults 50+. RUNNER UP: A Man on the Inside, Netflix, 2.94 billion minutes (7.9/10 IMDB) Top New Original Unscripted / Documentary Series ARTEY WINNER: American Nightmare, Netflix, 3.57 billion minutes (7.5/10 IMDB) This Netflix true-crime docuseries premiered on the platform with three episodes in January 2024. American Nightmare drove more than 1 billion viewing minutes in its opening week, and its viewing total reached over 3.5 billion throughout the year. The docuseries resonated most with women who made up 62% of the audience, as well as younger adult viewers, as 56% of the audience fell into the 18-49 age range. RUNNER UP: Unlocked: A Jail Experiment, Netflix, 2.50 billion minutes (7.1/10 IMDB) 2024 Top Overall Streaming Programs These ARTEY Awards recognize the most-watched streaming titles of the year across original series, acquired series, movies and overall. Top Overall Streaming Title & Top Acquired Series ARTEY WINNER: Bluey, 55.62 billion viewing minutes on Disney+ (9.3/10 IMDB) The ARTEY for Top Overall Streaming Title of 2024 goes to the Australian animated series Bluey, which put up over 55.6 billion minutes of watch time on Disney+, with 43% of its massive viewing total attributable to kids 2-11. RUNNER UP: Grey's Anatomy, 47.85 billion viewing minutes on Hulu and Netflix (7.6/10 IMDB) Top Streaming Original Series ARTEY WINNER: Bridgerton, Netflix, 21.42 billion viewing minutes (7.6/10 IMDB) The ARTEY for Top Streaming Original Series in 2024 goes to Netflix's Bridgerton, which posted over 21 billion viewing minutes in 2024. Netflix released eight new episodes between May and June, which accounted for 56% of Bridgerton's viewing total. In terms of its performance in Nielsen's Streaming Top 10, Bridgerton has 11 appearances at No. 1 overall, tying fellow Netflix original series Ozark for the most first place weeks for any streaming original. RUNNER UP: Love Is Blind, Netflix, 16.45 billion viewing minutes (6.2/10 IMDB) Top Streaming Movie ARTEY WINNER: Moana, 13.03 billion minutes viewed on Disney+ (7.6/10 IMDB) With over 13 billion viewing minutes accumulated on Disney+ in 2024, Moana finished as the most-watched streaming movie for a second consecutive year. The Disney favorite exhibited a bump in viewership towards the end of the year that coincided with the theatrical release of its sequel, Moana 2. This marks Moana's most-streamed year ever and solidifies it as the most-streamed movie since 2020. RUNNER UP: The Super Mario Bros. Movie, 11.72 billion minutes viewed on Netflix (7.0/10 IMDB) Most-Binged Title For this category, we examined streaming titles with extensive libraries (50+ episodes) and limited the calculations to viewers who had spent at least one episode's worth of time with the show (20 min. or longer). While half-hour programs tend to be more binge-able, the level of dedication from audiences in viewing to programs across the board was

On this week's show we talk about what we are watching, how we prefer to watch it and what we'd like to see developed for our home theaters. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Prime Video has largest market share of U.S. streaming customers Netflix Projected To Top $3.2B In Ad Revenue This Year 'Ted Lasso' star drops tantilizing hint about the show's return Netflix announces price hikes for all US streaming plans Other: What Does Q Think? onn. 98" Class 4K UHD (2160P) LED Roku Smart Television What Shows are We Watching? Braden Netflix - The Gentlemen, Lincoln Lawyer, American Primeval (Not yet watching: Squid Game, The Recruit, The Night Agent) Amazon - Cross, Hotel Cocaine (MGM+), Peacock - The Day of the Jackal, Treadstone Paramount+ - The Agency, Tulsa King, Joe Picket, Lioness AppleTV+ - Silo, Bad Monkey, Slow Horses, Dark Matter, Black Bird, The Crowded Room (Not yet watching: Severance) Hulu - The Old Man Ara Netflix - A Man Inside Hulu - Interior Chinatown, Only Murders in the Building Paramount+ - NCIS Origins ABC - Shifting Gears Peacock - The Way Home

On this week's show we rundown the "Best of CES" as reported by the tech sites. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Disney, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery say Venu Sports won't launch DirecTV Launches 'MySports' Streaming Package Other: Samsung Display CES 2025 showcase: All the cool tech we saw - SamMobile Star Wars Kid Star Wars kid Drunken Jedi Best of CES On this week's show we rundown the "Best of CES" as reported by the tech sites. Engadget LG OLED evo M5 - the company managed to further improve its most premium displays, adding the latest α (Alpha) 11 AI processor Gen2 to improve the look of lower-resolution content and power advanced features. Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds ($300) - Technics' new Magnetic Fluid drivers have garnered a lot of headlines this week, but all you really need to know about the EAH-AZ100 earbuds is that the sound quality is massively improved. Powered by those new components, there's more clarity, detail and bass, all of which are upgrades from the already impressive AZ80 CNET LG G5 OLED TV - After seeing the picture quality, TV expert David Katzmaier singled this out as one of his favorite TVs of the show; he traditionally finds LG's OLED quality best-in-class (as do I for its monitors), and this year's is brighter with better contrast in ambient light. Xgimi Ascend - It's not the LG OLED rollable screen of your dreams, but the Ascend may be more within your grasp. It's a retractable, ambient light-rejecting screen with built-in speakers and an ultra short-throw projector that looks like a piece of furniture when the screen withdraws. TV tech guru Geoffrey Morrison has been an ultrashort throw skeptic, but thinks this pair may solve some of the issues he's had with them. There's no pricing yet for the screen (the projector is $2,700), but it's bound to be less than models like the LG. The Verge Awards at CES (Full List) Best TV Panasonic Z95B OLED - At CES 2025, it's the Panasonic Z95B OLED that I keep circling back to as my favorite. After a long hiatus from the US TV market, Panasonic is coming back for its crown. Like the G5, it features a new four-layer tandem OLED display that boosts brightness to new highs — this time without the micro-lens array technology that LG Display spent the last two years hyping. It also includes an impressive Dolby Atmos speaker array (tuned by Technics) that will rule out any need for a soundbar for many buyers. That audio hardware results in this being a thick TV by today's standards: Panasonic obviously favored nailing the picture and sound aspects over a thin design. And you know what? I'm here for it. Most no one asked for this, AI in TVs - AI is worming its way into everything, and at CES this year, it crawled into TVs and remotes. Naturally, that includes new sets from LG and Samsung, which are deploying AI to futz with your picture and sound settings and let you talk to a chatbot or analyze what's on your screen. Over at Hisense's "AI Your Life" booth, the company touted its AI Engine X that "optimizes every frame" with adjustments to color, brightness, and audio. Best smart home device Switchbot K20 Plus Pro - Switchbot's K20 Plus Pro is a robot vacuum that can have different devices strapped to its head using the company's modular "FusionPlatform." As well as being able to deliver items around your home, it can have various SwitchBot products attached to it to perform tasks autonomously: purify your air, be a mobile home security camera, and carry your tablet around for you. They've even made an attachment to put a mini fridge on top. (So, yes, it can bring you a beer.) What intrigues me the most here is that its FusionPlatform is completely open; you can plug any device into its various power ports and customize this robot to do what you need. That's smart. Gizmodo's Best of CES 2025 Awards (Full List) Aurzen Zip Projector - The Aurzen Zip is the tiniest 720p projector I've ever seen. When folded, the $200 Zip is about the size of half an iPhone, making it the perfect on-the-go projector. The trifold projector can wirelessly mirror whatever is on your phone without a wifi connection. Two of the best features: it's MagSafe-compatible and has a 90-minute battery life. TCL QM6K TV - When it comes to TVs, bigger is always better—and it always comes with a higher price. But that's not the case with the TCL QM6K TV, with the 55-inch model costing $749 and the 98-inch version topping out at $3,499. Before you write the QM6K off as a no-frills budget brand, check out some of the specs. As a QD mini-LED device, the QM6K can give some of the pricier heavy hitters a run for their money in the color and brightness categories. In fact, the QM6K is 53% brighter than previous models and 10% more light efficient. Plus, it has a host of powerful tech onboard to make its case, including HDR10, HDR+, and Dolby Vision. You get integrated Onkyo speakers, which should produce solid audio. However, the screen's the star here, se

On this week's show we cover the Home Theater announcements that we found interesting. It's not an exhaustive list of what was shown but things we wanted to share with you. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: Disney to Merge Hulu + Live TV With Fubo, Taking on YouTube TV and Ending Venu Lawsuit RadioShack Returns To U.S. As Product Brand Roku tallies 90 million streaming households at start of 2025 Other: Samsung and Google's Eclipsa Audio is here to take on Dolby Atmos CES 2025 Up until now, CES has primarily showcased laptops, gaming, TVs, and smart home technology, excelling in these traditional areas. However, this year's event has shifted its focus to include some emerging, trendier categories. We are seeing AI announcements across the board and numerous innovative concepts aimed at making augmented reality more accessible. On this week's show we cover the Home Theater announcements that we found interesting. It's not an exhaustive list of what was shown but things we wanted to share with you. Next week, since we record before CES closes, we'll look at products that won awards as well as any announcements you may have found interesting as shared with us. RCA introduces two new NEXTGEN TV models in 55" and 65" sizes - The 65" RCA NEXTGEN TV up to 1500 nits of peak brightness, 664-zone Mini-LED QLED, suggested retail price of $949.99. The 55" RCA NEXTGEN TV up to 1500 nits of peak brightness, 240-zone Mini-LED QLED suggested retail price of $699.99. New for 2025 is the attractive RCA ANTD8E, an amplified, multi-directional indoor antenna covered in a high-tech fabric with a diamond shape design. Equipped with SMARTBOOST advanced technology and dual-stage amplification and built-in 4G/LTE/5G filter to improve reception, the ANTD8E can be positioned on its included stand or mounted on a wall and includes nine feet of coaxial cable to connect to the TV at a suggested retail price of $59.99. A full line-up of RCA Outdoor Televisions is also planned in a range of screen sizes and price points, with a "spirit of wilderness" and Mossy Oak camouflage design. Built with a sleek, modern design in a weatherproof and durable dust-free case, RCA Outdoor TVs are designed to work in extreme temperatures – from minus 22 degrees to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Our Outdoor RCA line includes an exceptionally bright 2000 nit display for crystal-clear viewing even in bright sunlight. Full Press Release RCA Outdoor TV 43-inch ($3,999, suggested retail price), 55-inch ($4,999, suggested retail price) 65-inch ($5,999, suggested retail price) 75-inch ($7,999, suggested retail price). Google Home hubs now work locally with Matter This week, Google announced the integration of Home Runtime into its Google Home hubs, allowing for full local control of Matter devices. With this update, Google Nest hubs, speakers, Chromecasts, Google TV devices running Android 14, and certain LG TVs can now connect to and manage Matter devices locally. This change enhances reliability, privacy, and reduces latency for users controlling their devices at home. Notably, even without internet access, Google Assistant will still be able to operate functions like turning on lights, marking a significant shift from the platform's previous reliance on cloud connectivity. Google Blog Post TCL's 2025 mini-LED TVs for 2025 The Super High Energy mini-LED chip may increase brightness by 53% TCL has made enhancements to its mini-LED backlight design that will result in less blooming or "halo" artifacts where light areas seep into dark areas – a 67% reduction, according to the company. 50- to 98-inch screen sizes, coming to the US in early 2025 Pricing for TCL's QM6K Series is as follows: 50-inch: $749.99 55-inch: $799.99 65-inch $999.99 75-inch: $1,299.99 85-inch: $1,999.99 98-inch: $3,499.99 The 65, 75 and 85-inch QM6K models are available now for preorder at TCL's website. More information from TCL LG G5, C5 and M5 OLED TV LG also announced AI-based features that seek to improve picture, audio and the overall user experience. LG is officially unveiling the LG G5 OLED, the C5 OLED and M5 OLED along with lots of AI upgrades, Here's what we know so far. The G5 will be available in the following sizes: 48, 55, 65, 77, 83 and 97 inches. The M5 is essentially a G5 with wireless connectivity. All of the TV's inputs are located on a separate box (dubbed the Zero Connect Box on the LG M4) which then wirelessly transmits audio and video to the M5's OLED display. The C4 will be available in 42-, 48-, 55-, 65-, 77- and 83-inch models. Full Press Release HDMI 2.2 Announced HDMI 2.2 has been announced at CES 2025. The new specification comes with 96Gbps bandwidth — double what you get with HDMI 2.1. It will be available in a new Ultra96 HDMI Cable. It features next-gen HDMI Fixed Rate Link tech to provide "optimal audio and video." More impressively, it enables 4K resolution with up to 480 frames per second (fps), and up to 12K at 120 fps. Full Press

On this week's show we look at whether we have seen peak streaming and we take an analytical look at the movie box office. We may have hit peak Hollywood in the 1990s and early 2000s. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Netflix smashes records with NFL double-header and Beyoncé Bowl on Christmas Day LG's Transparent OLED TV Is Now On Sale Other: HONEST REVIEW - FREE TELLY TV - UNBOX ASSEMBLE REVIEW Telly MCINTOSH FACTORY TOUR Streaming Slows to a Trickle in 2025 An embarrassment of riches awaits television and film audiences in 2025, as projects that were delayed by a Hollywood strike in 2023 reach the small and big screens at last. New instalments of "Avatar", "Mission: Impossible" and "Captain America" will jostle for attention at the cinema. At home, viewers will settle down for more of "The White Lotus" and the final chapter of "Stranger Things". Full article here (Subscription Required) Movie Box Office Receipts - An Analysis You may have heard us say that the movie theater business is in decline. With streaming services and short theatrical release windows people are not going to movie theaters. Here's a look at the Box Office Numbers and what has been driving them. These numbers and data were found on Box Office Mojo by IMDB and are for the original US release. For comparisons the dollars have been adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars. Top 5 Box Office Receipts: Year Box Office 2024 $ #1 Release 2018 $11.8B $14.8 Black Panther 2016 $11.4 $15.0 Finding Dory 2019 $11.4 $14.1 Avengers:Endgame 2015 $11.1 $14.8 Jurassic World 2017 $11.0 $14.2 Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi Last Five Years Box Office Receipts: Year Box Office 2024 $ #1 Release 2024 $8.5 $8.5 Inside Out 2023 $8.9 $9.2 Barbie 2022 $7.4 $8.0 Top Gun: Maverick 2021 $4.5 $5.2 Spider-Man: No Way Home 2020 $2.1 $2.56 Bad Boys for Life Highest Receipts when adjusted for Inflation: Year Box Office 2024 $ #1 Release 2010 $10.6 $15.4 Avatar (Number 1 Grossing movie of all time) 2009 $10.6 $15.4 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Original Star Wars: 1977 $443M $2.4B Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope 1980 $1,6 $6.1 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 1983 $2.7 $8.6 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi All Numbers below are for the original Release: Avatar - (2010) $750M (2024) $1.1B Avatar (Worldwide) - (2010) $2.7B (2024) $3.9B Top Gun: Maverick - (2022) $719M (2024) $775M Top Gun: Maverick (Worldwide) - (2022) $1.5B (2024) $1.6B Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope - (1977) 307M (2024) $1.6B Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (Worldwide) - (1977) 775M* (2024) $4.0B Box Office Mojo did not have worldwide numbers. We used the-numbers for this value. Inflation Adjusted US Domestic Box Office for the last 25 years: Summary: In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the box office experienced significant growth, with yearly receipts reaching new heights. For instance, in 2002, domestic box office revenues hit a peak of approximately $16 billion when adjusted for inflation. Since then, total box office receipts have fluctuated, especially reacting to global events, such as the 2008 financial crisis, which led to a decrease in consumer spending on entertainment. The last two decades have seen a dominance of comic book adaptations and franchise films (e.g., Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, etc.) at the box office. These films often dominate annual box office charts, with some grossing over a billion dollars domestically. Sequels, remakes, and adaptations became staples as studios sought safe investments. The trend has been reinforced by the success of properties with established fan bases. The rise of streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, etc.) has changed how audiences consume films, often leading to decreased box office attendance for certain genres, particularly dramas and non-franchise films. The pandemic and writers strike severely impacted the film industry, with theaters closing and productions halting. The domestic box office fell dramatically in 2020. This decline prompted many studios to rethink release strategies, leading to more simultaneous releases on streaming platforms. Post-pandemic, there has been a gradual recovery, with some films performing exceptionally well, while smaller films continue to face challenges in recapturing pre-pandemic audience levels.

The HT Guys are taking a week off! We'll see you next week!

On this week's show we discuss Braden's YouTubeTV price increase as well as a discussion on how to reboot your internet modem when it locks up even if you aren't home. One of our listeners, Josh in Huntsville AL, shares his experience dealing with warranty service on a large screen TV. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: LG stops making Blu-ray players, marking the end of an era Venu Sports backers lose motion to dismiss case Amazon's 2nd & 3rd Gen Echo Buds Are Dirt Cheap Try this easy trick to delay your upcoming YouTube TV price increase Other: Pioneer CS-707 | hifi-wiki.com Contact House of Sound NYC for Audio Tours, Events & Partnerships YouTube TV price update Braden received the following email from YouTubeTV raising his TV service costs by $10: YouTube TV has always worked hard to offer you the content you love, delivered the way you want, with features that make it easy to enjoy the best of live TV. To keep up with the rising cost of content and the investments we make in the quality of our service, we're updating our monthly price from $72.99/month to $82.99/month starting January 13, 2025. We don't make these decisions lightly, and we realize this has an impact on our members. We are committed to bringing you features that are changing the way we watch live TV, like unlimited DVR storage and multiview*, and supporting YouTube TV's breadth of content and vast on-demand library of movies and shows. The price of your YouTube TV Base Plan membership will change in your first billing cycle on or after January 13, 2025, and will be charged to your payment method on file going forward. To view your current plan, go to Settings > Membership for updated information. If you are currently on a trial or promotional price for the Base Plan, that promotion is still honored and unchanged. We hope YouTube TV continues to be your service of choice, but we understand that some of our members may want to cancel their subscriptions. As always, family managers have the ability to pause or cancel anytime. You can find more information in our Help Center. With lots of exciting shows and live events ahead in the new year, we'll continue to strive to deliver the best of TV, all in one place. Thank you for being a loyal YouTube TV member. Sincerely, The YouTube TV team Cable Internet Going Down While Away On a recent trip Ara's cable modem locked up and would not come back online until he returned home and cycled power. So how do you prevent this from happening again? Ara takes a look at a solution called Keep Connect, a $50 device that monitors your internet connection and reboots the system when connection to the internet is lost. Features: Automatic Router Rebooter / Reset - Stop manually restarting your router! Automate the process to ensure highly reliable internet connection uptime Constantly Monitors Router and/or Modem Internet Health. Keep Connect provides 24/7/365 protection to ensure that your smart home and connected devices are always online and available. Notifications - Free Texts or Emails from Keep Connect notifying you of detected eventsif you choose to enter your phone number/email. You may also choose No Notifications. Perfect for Smart Home Reliability - Schedule Periodic Resets to keep your connection fresh and fast. Premium Cloud Services App Available (iOS App Store and Google Play Store) - Our Premium Keep Connect Cloud Services platform allows using our Online/Mobile App to monitor many locations in one place as well. Cloud Services allows remote management of devices at all locations as well as heartbeat monitoring of your Keep Connects to notify you in the event of an ISP internet outage at one of your sites. Large TV Warranty Experience I've meant to write about my TCL TV experience for quite some time. What can I say, life is just busy. I have two more kids than Braden! When I heard a couple of weeks ago a question about warranty experiences for large TVs, I thought I had put off writing this story long enough. After listening to Braden hype up TCL TVs for at least a couple of years, as well as reading many reviews for TVs and watching the developing technology trends at the time, in September 2020 I ordered a TCL 75R635, a so-called 6-series Roku 4K QLED 75-inch TV with a respectable 240-zone backlight array. The TV had been announced earlier in the year, perhaps at CEDIA or CES and I was ready to replace my 10-year old Panasonic plasma HD TV with this TCL model. I watched over the next many months for the TV to become available. While I hoped for a sale, I also knew from watching similar TVs that the stock tended to get bought out pretty quickly. Amazon finally had the TV available to order in September 2020 and I ordered immediately for a retail price of $1399 plus tax. I received it on October 3. The TV worked great for about 6 months. In late March 2021, the screen suddenly and mysteriously slowly faded to a sort of dark backlit state in the middle of whate

On this week's show we give you ten Christmas Classics and where you can stream them. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news stories. News: Netflix promises smooth, family-friendly streams of 'WWE Raw' are coming Sports Central is one of DIRECTV Stream's hidden gems Walmart Completes $2.3 Billion VIZIO Acquisition Is Amazon preparing to buy Roku? Other: 9.16.4 Channel Home Theater! McIntosh House Of Sound Tour House of Sound NYC 10 Christmas Movies and Where to Watch Them Each time this year our family loves to settle in and watch Christmas movies that are loaded on our Plex Server. This year one of my daughters decided to watch the 1994 version of Miracle on 34th Street when I said to her the quality of the movie was better than I remembered, our Plex Server has a DVD rip, she said that she was watching on Disney+. This got me thinking which of my favorite Christmas movies are available to stream and on what service. So for this episode we give you ten Christmas Classics and where you can stream them. Die Hard, 1988 IMDB Rating 8.2/10 — Peacock, Hulu Elf, 2003 IMDB Rating 7.1/10— Max, Hulu Home Alone, 1990 IMDB Rating 7.7/10— Disney+ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 1966 IMDB Rating 8.3/10 — Peacock, Fubo It's a Wonderful Life, 1946 IMDB Rating 8.6/10 — Prime Miracle on 34th Street, 1947 IMDB Rating 7.9/10 — Paramount+ Miracle on 34th Street, 1994 IMDB Rating 6.6/10 — Peacock, Disney+ National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, 1989 IMDB Rating 7.5/10 — Hulu, Max The Santa Clause, 1994 IMDB Rating 6.6/10 — Disney+ White Christmas 1954 IMDB Rating 7.6/10 — Prime

On this week's show we ask "Could Legacy Audio Brands Disappear Next Year?" We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Peacock to Stream First Ever Animated Madden NFL Cast During Texans vs. Chiefs AT&T Sets a Date to Shut Down DSL Internet & Traditional Phone Service in Most Areas Max password-sharing restrictions coming soon Other: Hisense 85" Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV Could Legacy Audio Brands Disappear Next Year? Major audio brands, including Denon, Marantz, Klipsch, and Pioneer, are facing potential extinction as their parent companies, Masimo and Voxx International, struggle with significant financial difficulties. Masimo, having acquired Sound United's brands for $1.532 billion in 2022, reported a decline in consumer audio revenue from $171.5 million to $161.4 million, leading to a loss of $31.3 million, including $12.9 million in Q3 alone. Similarly, Voxx International witnessed a 35% drop in consumer electronics sales and a 15.4% overall revenue decline, exacerbated by a $40 million court judgment and halted production of key brands due to licensing issues. The declines are attributed to a post-COVID market slump, where the surge in sales during the pandemic is now reversing, alongside structural corporate issues and shifting consumer preferences. The post-COVID slump The pandemic created a surge in home audio sales as people built home offices and upgraded their living spaces. But those golden days are over. Since 2022, sales have crashed by up to 30% in some cases. For example, Voxx International's consumer electronics dropped by 35% partly because people aren't spending like they used to. Even turntables, which were flying off the shelves during lockdown, are now collecting dust in warehouses. The corporate structure problem The problems run deeper than just sales. Masimo, a medical tech company, lacks the expertise to run an audio business. They're experts at hospital equipment, but high-end speakers are a different game entirely. Voxx faces similar challenges. They can't even make Pioneer products anymore because of licensing issues! Perhaps because of these misalignments, both companies are trying to squeeze unrealistic profits out of these brands (around 300% to 500% margins). That's like trying to sell a $100 pair of headphones for $500. Voxx did manage to cut costs by $5.3 million in Q2, but their operating losses continue to mount. Basically, managing multiple classic brands under one corporate umbrella has only added to their struggles, spreading resources thin and diluting brand identities. The changing consumer market Consumer preferences have also changed dramatically: Young music fans prioritize convenience over traditional hi-fi setups. They're not looking for massive speaker setups anymore. Instead, they look for portable, budget-friendly solutions that fit their lifestyle better. Serious audiophiles are turning to vintage equipment, which often matches or exceeds new products in quality and value. Some Chinese manufacturers have come in to offer the same things luxury audio brands do but at less cost. So, customers have been leaning towards them more in recent years.

On this week's show The HT Guys are thankful for our family, friends and listeners! This is a shortened podcast with emails and the week's news. News: Amazon Unveils All-New Fire TV Products MLB Eyes Major Streaming Shift in 2028, Aiming for National Blackout-Free Packages | Cord Cutters News Bose Acquires High-End Audio Brand McIntosh Video Streaming Service American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Other: Samsung QB85C 85" 4K (3840x2160) 75Hz LED FreeSync Monitor, Black - Newegg.com Samsung QN85QN85DBFXZA 85" Neo QLED 4K Smart TV with Dolby Atmos (2024) - Newegg.com Happy Thanksgiving!

On this week's show we take a look at some great Black Friday deals to set up a home theater. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Netflix's Tyson-Paul Boxing Bout Gets 65 Million Viewers at Peak Meet Wi-Fi 8, which will trade speed for a more reliable experience Smart TV ownership reaches 68% as prices fall Other: Starling Home Hub Black Friday Deals Best Buy Black Friday Deals Hisense - 85" Class QD6 Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV (2024) $649.99 Save $450 Was $1,099.99 Sony - 77" Class BRAVIA 8 OLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV (2024) $2599.99 Save $400 Was $2999.99 Insignia™ - 55" Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $229.99 Save $120 Was $349.99 Pioneer Elite - VSX-LX105 7.2 Channel Network AV Receiver $499 Save $300 Was $799 Costco Black Friday Deals Samsung 70" Class - DU6900D Series - 4K UHD LED Smart TV $479.99 Save $50 Was $529.99 (Includes 3 Year Warranty) LG 75" Class - QNED90 Series - 4K UHD MiniLED LCD TV $1599.99 Save $200 Was $1799.99 (5 year Total Coverage with Allstate 3-Year Protection Plan) Other Deals Roku Smart TV – 65-Inch Select Series 4K HDR $378 Save $71.99 Was $449.99 TCL 98-Inch Q65 QLED 4K UHD Smart TV with Google TV $1449.99 Save $1550 Was $2999.99 Insignia™ - 32" Class F20 Series LED HD Smart Fire TV $74.99 Save $55 Was $129.99 Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds $189 Save $60 Was $249 Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) $94 Save $75 Was $169 Blink Mini 1080p Security Camera $17.99 Save $12.00 Was $29.99 Blink Outdoor 4 - Battery-Powered Smart Security 3-Camera System $99.99 Save $160 Was $259.99 Roku Streaming Stick 4K Streaming Device 4K/HDR/Dolby Vision with Voice Remote with TV Controls $34.99 Save $15 Was $49.99 Roku Premiere | 4K/HDR Streaming Media Player $18 Save $21.99 Was 39.99 SVS Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase $499 Save $200 Was $699 Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh wifi router (newest model) 3 Pack $349.99 Save $200 Was $549.99 CINEMA 1200 SOUND BAR 5.1.4 SYSTEM $799 Save $1100 Was $1899 SVS and RSL speakers are running great sales on their speakers

On this week's show we take a look at a device that claims it will flatten your warped vinyl. Then we ask is there anything that can be done to prevent subscribers from pausing the streaming services. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: Xumo expands retail scope with Target deal Matter 1.4 now supports more smart home devices and adds new capabilities TiVo to launch smart TVs in US by year-end Apple Set For Smart Home Revolution Other: Cosm LG Display's stretchable screen is now even stretchier - The Verge Record Pi Vinyl Flattener A couple of episodes ago we talked about a turntable that uses suction to make warped records flat. Ara joked about taking a blow dryer and heating up the record and then just unwarping it. Well it turns out that there is a product that essentially does this. One of our listeners, Matthew Dropco, pointed us to a product that flattens your vinyl! The Record Pi ($275) vinyl flattener is an innovative solution tailored for fixing warped vinyl records, featuring a patent-pending integrated system comprising three essential components: the Record Pi Device, Record Pi Temperature Controller, and Record Pi Heating Case. The Record Pi Device is engineered using premium steel alloy, ensuring an even distribution of heat while securely holding the record to apply uniform flattening pressure with heavy metal alloy plates and protective Groove Guards. The Temperature Controller offers precise temperature regulation within 1°F of the target range of 100 to 145°F, allowing users to remotely adjust settings via internet connectivity using either Google Android or Apple iOS devices, provided a compatible Wi-Fi router is available. The Record Pi Heating Case not only warms the device during use but also serves as a practical storage solution when not in operation. The product comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee (with the buyer covering return shipping) and a two-year limited warranty, providing confidence in its durability and effectiveness. Weighing 16 lbs, the Record Pi is designed for US standard voltage of 110V but can also be used internationally with the appropriate voltage converter, ensuring its versatility for vinyl enthusiasts everywhere. What can streaming services do to keep customers from pausing subscriptions? We found an article over at TheStreamable.com opining about "What can streaming services do to keep customers from pausing subscriptions". We have some thoughts on this as well! As streaming services in the U.S. approach market saturation, the focus has shifted from acquiring new customers to retaining current ones. Recent data reveals a significant rise in viewers pausing their subscriptions, increasing from 29.8% in 2022 to 34.2% in early 2024. Many consumers are not dissatisfied with their services; rather, they find it hard to justify the cost until new desirable content is available. To address this issue, streaming providers are exploring various strategies. Current efforts include enhancing bundling options, as surveys indicate that bundled services can significantly decrease cancellations. Recent bundles, such as the Disney+, Hulu, and Max combination, aim to encourage user loyalty. Additional strategies could involve allowing customers to temporarily pause their subscriptions while keeping their accounts active. For example, Hulu could offer a one-time 30-day pause option at a lower rate, such as on an ad-supported plan, to keep users engaged without full financial commitment. Overall, creative retention strategies beyond simple discounts may be essential for preventing subscription pauses.

On this week's show we take a quick look at a $20 set of earbuds, the Soundcore A30i. We also get you ready for your Black Friday TV shopping with 10 tips. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: Disney+ Introduces Top 10 List Of Movies & TV Shows To Help Users Discover New Content Samsung To Cease LED Production This tiny smart puck can control your entire smart home Soundcore A30i by Anker The Soundcore A30i are earbuds that are housed in a lipstick-shaped case. They are lightweight and comfortable, ensuring they feel almost weightless during use. These earbuds have "noise cancellation" but I'd say it's more like noise isolation. Going from ANC to passthrough was almost imperceptible in the amount of sound coming from the outside. Since they do block out sounds, they work well in noisy environments. In terms of audio quality, the soundcore A30i delivers decent sound once you set the EQ. I was not happy with any of the preset EQ modes. But increasing the bass and treble yielded a nice sound. This is done through the soundcore app. You can turn on a 3D surround sound effect via the app as well. But after about 30 seconds it was turned off. Additionally, the earbuds feature four microphones equipped with AI technology that Anker claims yields crystal-clear calls, regardless of location. Not so! I made three test calls and everyone of them sounded bad to the person on the other end. When I reconnected with my AirPods the people I was talking with said it was much better. Range wasn't very good either. I put my phone on my workbench and by the time I got to the edge of my garage there were dropouts. I tested this multiple times. So is it all bad? Is there any redeeming features? Well yes there is, it only costs $20! For twenty dollars this makes a great stocking stuffer for a younger child who may be prone to losing things. They are also a good backup for when your Airpod Maxs start to hurt your ears. Sometimes you need to give your ears a break from the vice that's on your head! Tips for Buying your 4K TV on Black Friday Buying a new 4K TV can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience due to the variety of options available. With Black Friday deals right around the corner we want you to consider a few things before you go out hunting. Here are steps you need to take to ensure you get the best TV for your budget: Budget - This has to be the first consideration. Everything else is impacted by cost. Fortunately, you can get higher quality TVs for less money than when we first started doing Black Friday episodes. Once you set your budget and determine size (next tip) you can begin to decide on the other criteria. Screen Size: Choose the right size for your room. This is where you would expect us to come up with some cool formula about seating distance and screen size. Not us! Measure your available space and put the largest screen that will fit. Of course after you consider the remaining items on this list. Also, don't be opposed to knocking down walls or buying new furniture to gain a few more inches of diagonal ;-) Display Technology - You'll have to decide between OLED, QLED, and LED. Each has their place and will have an impact on screen size. By that we mean a larger OLED will cost more than an LED so you may not get the size you want. But in a nutshell OLED - Offers superior picture quality with deeper blacks and vibrant colors, ideal for dark rooms. QLED - Provides bright colors and is better in well-lit rooms, but can have slightly less contrast than OLED. LED - Generally more affordable but may not offer the same level of picture quality as OLED or QLED. Refresh Rate - If you're watching sports or into gaming. Higher refresh rates can provide even smoother visuals. If you watch movies and TV shows any TV on the market will have sufficient refresh rates. HDR Support - High Dynamic Range (HDR) enhances picture quality significantly by offering a brighter, more vibrant image with better contrast. Look for TVs that support multiple HDR formats, such as HDR10, Dolby Vision, or HDR10+. But make sure it has Dolby Vision at the very least. Smart Features - Most modern TVs have smart capabilities. Check the operating system and pre-installed apps. Ensure it supports the streaming services you use (like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, etc.). If you get a smoking deal on a TV that does not have the smart apps you are looking for, don't write it off. You can buy an AppleTV, Roku, etc with the money you saved. Audio Quality - This is a non issue. We assume ALL TVs have lousy speakers. So consider also buying a sound bar (if you don't already own one) while you are out buying your TV. Of course we recommend that you eventually buy a multi channel system that includes a receiver and 5.1.2 speakers!! Connectivity - Ensure the TV has ample HDMI ports, including HDMI 2.1 if you plan to connect next-gen gaming consoles. This is less important if you have a receiver doing the source switchin

On this week's show we discuss the Tivo Video Trends Report and we read your emails and and take a look at the week's news. News: Streamers bet on food partners to help reduce churn Samsung Reveals Its Reach: Free Streaming TV Service Is As Big as the Major Players A Growing Number of Cord Cutters Don't Plan to Buy a New Streaming Device in 2024, Spelling Trouble for the Tech Giants Other: 10 of the world's most expensive turntables | What Hi-Fi? TiVo Video Trends Report As we look at the content ecosystem in Q2 2024, consumers are noticeably scaling back their spend on content and as a result, the number of sources they utilize for video. In this iteration of the Video Trends Report, we continue to see respondents supplement their video bundle and save money by turning to ad-supported services. In fact, the ratio of SVOD consumers utilizing lower-cost, ad-supported tiers has increased across the board, while the share of consumers utilizing ad-free SVOD services has dropped almost 18% year-over-year. Some key findings: 84.5% of respondents are prone to browsing before landing on a show or movie. 77.8% of all respondents noted that they are at least tolerant of ads. 63% of respondents noted reducing their entertainment spending. 61.7% of respondents noted using at least one AVOD/FAST service in Q2. 22% of Pay TV subscribers cut the cord then later resubscribed to traditional TV service. Average number of video sources reverting back to 2022 levels Q2 22/Q2 23/Q2 24 Average Total Services 9.9 10.9 9.1 Avg Paid Services 6.7 6.9 5.7 Avg Non-paid Services 3.2 4.0 3.4 Household income does have an impact on the number of sources used, but it does not appear to be as substantial of a driver as demographics like age or geography. At the low end of less than $20K you have about 10 sources for 2023 and 2024. Households with incomes of $200K or more saw an increase from 10 sources in 2023 to about 14 in 2024. Percentage of Respondents Who Watch on Each Device Q2 22/Q2 23/Q2 24 TV 81.0% 78.9% 81.3% Smartphone 50.6% 60.2% 51.8% Tablet 29.2% 30.9% 25.3% Computer 36.6% 37.3% 33.7% When it comes to discovery methods, the percentage of those who find out about new TV shows or movies from commercials has declined 3% year-over-year. In comparison, word of mouth and recommendations from friends continue to remain the most commonly used method of discovery. Top Methods of Discovery % of all respondents/YoY Change Word of mouth / friends 50.1% +4.8% Commercials or ads that run during other shows 40.6% -2.9% Social media 39.7% +2.3% Streaming apps / home screen / carousel ads 39.3% +5.9% Suggestions in my pay-TV channel guide or menus 27.9% +1.0% Print, outdoor and/or online banner advertisements 14.3% +6.9% News articles or stories outside social media 9.7% -6.7% Emails or newsletters from streaming services 9.6% -0.1% Radio 7.8% +0.7% Daily viewership is largely consistent; Importance of local news drops 5% YoY. Fifty Four percent think local content is somewhat or very important compared to 59% in Q2 2023. Twenty One percent of all time spent watching video is spent watching local content, compared to 22.6% in Q2 2023. 27% of car owners report watching video in the car. This is down 13% from last year. Top Reasons for Watching Video In-Car To pass the time while waiting in the car 49.6% To keep children entertained 45.1% To pass the time on long road trips 34.7% To pass the time while commuting 31.6% To pass the time while filling up at the gas station 26.8% To watch something immediately/couldn't wait to watch it later 20.0% To pass the time while charging an electric vehicle 18.4% SVOD churn declines as more respondents turn to ad-supported tiers. Eighty Four Percent utilize SVOD services. This is a slight decline from 88.0% this time last year. SVOD Viewing Habits TV 67.9% Smartphone 12.5% Computer 11.5% Tablet 8.% Transactional video on demand (TVOD) usage takes a hit in Q2 2024; Amazon remains firmly at the top. Forty Four percent use a TVOD service. This is down about 6% from 50.8% in Q2 2023, seemingly driven primarily by a decrease among pay-TV subscribers. Number of TVOD purchases per year Q2 2022 9.1%, Q2 2023 11.3%, Q2 2024 7.3% Forty Six percent have not gone to the movie theater in over a year. In fact, only 32.2% report that they'll most likely see a new movie in the theater (down roughly 2% year-over-year), compared to 55.5% who would most likely wait to stream it. Reasons respondents prefer to stream new releases at home It costs us more than $30 to actually go to the movies 46.7% It's too much of a hassle to go to the movie theater 33.2% You can't pause the movie at the theater 30.7% I have a great TV/sound system at home 29.6% I have better snacks at home 26.1% The movie theaters near me aren't very good 15.6% Movie theater seats are uncomfortable 15.1% Other theatergoers are loud, rude, etc. 14.9% You don't have to sit through ads and previews at home 14.8% I don't want to get sick 10.9% Sixty Seven percent

On this week's show we take a look at the Pro-Ject 12.2 turntable and ask who is this for. And since it's Halloween we give you a list of five Halloween movies that you can watch with the family. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Best Buy supersizes its TV selection for the holidays Spectrum Invests $9 Billion to Bring High Speed Internet & TV to Rural America Fox Sports Aims To Enhance World Series Coverage With 'Inside-Out' Perspective Roku Keeps 37% Share of North American CTV Streaming Device Market Pro-Ject's Flagship Signature The Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 turntable looks like an amazing electronic device that is also art. But from a music lover's point of view, is the price tag of $14,999 worth it? Pro-Ject has made a name for itself as a pioneer in high-end technology and they say that the craftsmanship justifies the cost, but from a purely music lover's point of view, it's ludicrous to spend that kind of money on a record player. But we get it, this product seems more like a luxury statement than a necessary audio component. So we'll ask our listeners the question of whether anyone truly requires a turntable that costs more than many people's monthly rent. When you read the product info it's clear they are not talking to us: "With painstaking hand-polished metal parts and a chassis that involves 10 layers of paint", so who is this really for? They do use terms like "anti-resonance" and "precision CNC machining." Maybe I need to use terms like that in my speaker ads on Etsy. Precision cuts and only the best glue make my speakers the best out there. LOL, Actually, I wish I had a CNC machine to make precision cuts!! What it boils down to is, does the average (or even audiophile) music lover need their vinyl spinning on a platter that weighs almost 25 pounds? Especially when even some budget turntables can deliver decent sound quality for a fraction of the price. In the end consider this, all cars can get you from point A to point B, so why do some people drive expensive high end cars? Well it's about performance and in some cases image. There is an absolute measurable difference driving a Porsche vs a Honda Accord. I'm not so sure you can say that about the Pro-Ject 12.2. Well unless you are going to build a shrine to it and display it prominently in your music room. It ships in November. Full Product Information… The HT Guys List of Halloween Movies to Watch As Halloween approaches, it's the perfect time to gather your friends and family for a spooky movie marathon. Whether you're a fan of classic horror, light-hearted thrills, or animated fun, there's something for everyone in the spirit of the season. Here is a HT Guys list of five highly rated Halloween movies that you can enjoy in your home theater. Grab your popcorn and enjoy these Halloween favorites! Halloween (1978) (IMDB Rating 7.7) - Directed by John Carpenter, this classic slasher film introduces Michael Myers. Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, to kill again. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (IMDB Rating 7.9) - This animated musical by Tim Burton combines Halloween and Christmas themes as Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, attempts to take over Christmas. A Quiet Place (2018) (IMDB Rating 7.5) - A suspenseful thriller about a family living in silence to avoid creatures that hunt by sound, appealing to teens who enjoy intense storytelling. Ghostbusters (1984) (IMDB Rating 7.8) - Three parapsychologists forced out of their university funding set up shop as a unique ghost removal service in New York City, attracting frightened yet skeptical customers. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) (IMDB Rating 8.1) - A classic animated special that follows the Peanuts gang as they wait for the Great Pumpkin on Halloween night.

On this week's show Braden is back!! We discuss if greed threatens to ruin the revival and go over the 2024/2025 TV season. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Plex intros movie, TV reviews for friends to share Roku feature turns TVs into security hub DirecTV to Launch Free, Ad-Supported Streaming Service Next Month Other: www.DoItForMe.Solutions What is Home Assistant and why is it so popular? The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best UPS System for Your Home Vinyl sales drop 33⅓ as greed threatens to ruin the revival Vinyl sales are slumping after years of growth. Is greed killing the golden goose of old-school audio? Full article here… 2024 TV Season Snapshot Fox: Renewed Fox TV shows returning in fall 2024 Dramas: 9-1-1: Lone Star, Accused Comedies: Bob's Burgers, Krapopolis, The Simpsons Unscripted: The Floor, Hell's Kitchen, The Masked Singer, Crime Scene Kitchen Renewed Fox TV shows returning midseason Dramas: Alert: Missing Persons Unit, The Cleaning Lady Comedies: Family Guy, Animal Control, The Great North, Grimsburg Unscripted: Extracted, LEGO Masters, MasterChef, Name That Tune, Next Level Chef, Special Forces: World's Toughest Test New Fox TV shows for the 2024-2025 season Dramas: Rescue: HI-Surf, Murder in a Small Town, Doc (midseason) Comedies: Universal Basic Guys, Going Dutch (midseason) Unscripted: Extracted (midseason) Canceled Fox TV shows that won't be back in 2024 Housebroken NBC: Renewed NBC TV shows returning in fall 2024 Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Found, The Irrational, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Lopez vs. Lopez, Night Court Renewed NBC TV shows returning midseason Deal or No Deal Island New NBC TV shows for the 2024-2025 season Brilliant Minds, Happy's Place, St. Denis Medical, The Americas (midseason), Destination X (midseason), The Hunting Party (midseason) Canceled NBC TV shows that won't be back Extended Family, La Brea, Magnum P.I., Quantum Leap, Transplant CBS: Renewed CBS TV shows returning in fall 2024 48 Hours, 60 Minutes, Blue Bloods, The Equalizer, FBI, FBI: International, FBI: Most Wanted, Fire Country, Ghosts, NCIS, The Neighborhood, Survivor, S.W.A.T. Renewed CBS TV shows returning midseason NCIS: Sydney New CBS TV shows for the 2024-2025 season Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Matlock, NCIS: Origins, Poppa's House, The Summit, Watson Canceled CBS TV shows that won't be back Bob Hearts Abishola, CSI: Vegas, Loteria Loca, NCIS: Hawai'i, So Help Me Todd, Young Sheldon ABC: Renewed ABC TV shows returning in fall 2024 Dramas: 9-1-1, Grey's Anatomy Comedies: Abbott Elementary Unscripted: Dancing with the Stars, Shark Tank, America's Funniest Home Videos, Press Your Luck, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Renewed ABC TV shows returning midseason Dramas: The Rookie, Will Trent Comedies: The Conners Unscripted: American Idol, The Bachelor, Celebrity Jeopardy!, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, What Would You Do? New ABC TV shows for the 2024-2025 season Dramas: High Potential, Doctor Odyssey Unscripted: The Golden Bachelorette, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (midseason) Docuseries: Scamanda Canceled ABC TV shows that won't be back Station 19, The Good Doctor, Not Dead Yet CW: Renewed CW TV shows returning in fall 2024 Dramas: Sullivan's Crossing, Superman & Lois Comedies: Children Ruin Everything Unscripted: Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Penn & Teller: Fool Us Sports: Inside the NFL Renewed CW TV shows returning in 2025 Dramas: All American, Wild Cards New CW TV shows premiering in fall 2024 Dramas: Joan Unscripted: Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, The Wranglers, WWE NXT (Broadcast Television Debut) New CW TV shows premiering midseason Dramas: Good Cop/Bad Cop, Sherlock & Daughter Canceled CW TV shows that won't be back Dramas: All American: Homecoming (final season airing in summer 2024), Walker, The Spencer Sisters Comedies: Run the Burbs, Everybody Burns

On this week's show Ara catches up with email and news. Braden is back next week! Also, sorry for the aggressive noise gate. Trust me it's better than hearing me wheeze! News: DirecTV and Dish to Merge Fubo Launches 'Multiview' Beta on Roku SVS Launches 17-Ultra R|Evolution Subwoofers - A Quantum Leap Forward in Subwoofer Design. Other: Victory+ Sports Network Inovelli Smart Home Google TV Streamer 4K User Interface Review Vintage Review – Technics SL-5200 Turntable AUDIO Cu | Multi-Room Audio Over Power Lines 100" Class U76N ULED 4K Google TV

I got home late last night and thought I could put a regular show together. Well I couldn't. So instead this is my (and Braden's) Origin story.

The State of Consumer Video: Transitioning from Cable to Streaming The landscape of consumer video has experienced a significant transformation over the past two decades, moving from the traditional cable television and movie theater experience to the era dominated by streaming services. Before the streaming revolution, cable television was the main way we consumed content, offering viewers a set number of channels bundled within packages that often included sports, news, series, and movies. Viewers scheduled their lives around broadcast times, and rentals of physical media like VHS and DVDs provided an alternative for those who sought to enjoy movies at home. While this landscape offered a reliable viewing experience, it was also limited by the constraints of channel programming and geographical restrictions regarding content access. One of the most notable changes in this new age of video consumption is the impact of streaming on live sports. Previously, fans would rely on cable networks for airtime of their favorite sports teams, creating predictable viewing habits. However, with the advent of streaming, the broadcasting rights for sports have become increasingly fragmented. Leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB have sought to maximize profits by licensing content across multiple platforms. This has led to challenges for fans who may need to subscribe to several services—often at a premium—to catch games from their favorite teams. The complexities of accessing live sports have frustrated fans, particularly those less tech-savvy or unfamiliar with navigating multiple apps and platforms. Consequently, many fans feel that the accessibility and enjoyment of live sports have diminished, as the once straightforward experience of flipping on the TV to catch a game has morphed into an increasingly intricate endeavor. Convenience represents another important aspect of the current state of consumer video. The rise of streaming services has undeniably enhanced the ability to watch content on demand. Rather than adhering to predetermined broadcast schedules, viewers can enjoy shows and movies whenever it suits them, utilizing smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs to access content anywhere. However, this convenience is tempered by the challenges of searching for content. With an overwhelming number of options available, finding a specific show or movie can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. In practice, many users find that they are better off searching through Google than relying on the clunky search functions offered by various streaming services. Despite advancements in technology, the complexity of content discovery remains a significant pain point for consumers in this new era. Quality, both in streaming technology and the resulting content produced, has improved significantly since the early days of streaming. High-definition and, more recently, 4K streaming have elevated viewers' experiences, offering sharper images and better sound quality than many traditional cable broadcasts. In addition, the influx of investment in original programming from platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime has resulted in a wealth of quality content that often surpasses what is offered on cable. Audiences now have access to diverse genres, innovative storytelling, and international content that previously would have been hard to find. Yet, as the volume of content increases, concerns persist about the saturation of the market and whether the overall quality will continue to maintain its standards amidst an ever-expanding catalog. Despite the many advantages that streaming offers, the economic implications for consumers cannot be overlooked. A common assertion is that streaming is a cheaper alternative to traditional cable, but this perspective can be somewhat misleading. As streaming platforms invest heavily in securing broadcasting rights for popular sports and producing high-quality original content, the costs for consumers can accumulate rapidly. Many people find themselves subscribing to multiple services to access all the content they desire, resulting in monthly bills that may rival, if not exceed, the cost of traditional cable packages. While the value that consumers receive has shifted from purely a cable-dependent model to a more content-competitive landscape, the overall expenditure on video viewing is increasingly a question of balancing financial considerations against personal entertainment preferences. In conclusion, the state of consumer video has undergone a seismic shift characterized by both newfound convenience and emerging complications. As the industry moves forward, it remains essential for content providers to streamline content discovery and access while also ensuring the quality of both the delivery mechanisms and the programming. Navigating the complicated terrain of fragmented sports broadcasting, the ease of on-demand viewing, improvements in streaming quality, and the associated costs wi

On this week's show we look at the best Streaming Service for 4K content according to CNET. We also read your emails and look at the week's news. News: Disney, DirecTV Reach Agreement To End Blackout DirecTV Stream Adds Customized User Profiles Venu Sports Antitrust Trial Set for October 2025 Netflix ad tier surges in popularity Best Streaming Service for 4K Content - CNET When looking for the best 4K content on streaming services, the top contender is Netflix. It does cost extra to get the higher quality, but it's one of the easiest platforms to use with a fair amount of good original content, regular updates and optimized features. While Max and Apple TV are also good choices, they aren't as good as Netflix. Full article here…

On this week's show DJ gives us a recap of what he liked at CEDIA and we go through the What Hi-Fi Best of Show winners. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: YouTube TV, Sling, Fubo, Hulu, & More Added Just 49,000 Subscribers SwitchBot Launches Universal Remote With Matter Support Replace a pile of battery-hungry remotes with this solar-powered universal Other: Unfolded Circle What Hi-Fi? Best of Show Awards Winners SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle - Ultra Evolution is a complete reimagining of speaker design for SVS. This unprecedented marriage of acoustic design breakthroughs and passion for audio excellence has never existed and elevates the new series into the echelon of the finest loudspeakers in the world. Consisting of seven new models with advancements in driver design, cabinet architecture, and component materials, Ultra Evolution ushers in a new era of reference quality sound that transcends their class. $5K per pair for the top of the line Pinnacle. Sony Electronics BRAVIA Theater Quad Wireless Speaker System - The true sound of cinema. With four wireless speakers and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, our flagship Home Theater System brings the true sound of cinema home. $2500 Sony Electronics BRAVIA 9 65" class Mini LED QLED 4K HDR Google TV - Thousands of Mini LEDs are precisely controlled by XR Backlight Master Drive™ to deliver authentic contrast and our brightest ever 4K TV. Access billions of accurate real-world colors with QLED technology and XR Triluminos Pro™. XR Processor™ intelligently enhances every scene in real-time boosting color, contrast, and clarity. $3K Sony Electronics BRAVIA Theater U Wearable TV Speaker - Experience true surround sound audio with Sony's 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer technology. Enjoy crystal clear sound with newly developed upward-facing X-Balanced Speaker Unit. Connect to your devices with a stable Bluetooth connection. $300 Sony Electronics BRAVIA Projector 9 VPL-XW8100ES - Up to 3,400 lumens of brightness, generated by a long-lasting laser light source, for vibrant images even on a large screen. Native 4K SXRD panel provides full 4K resolution with 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. XR Processor for projector brings you the best of Sony's image processing. $32K Sony Electronics BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 with 11 speakers, Dolby Atmos®/DTS:X® - Hear cinema-style surround sound all around you with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping. Sound is auto calibrated to your room's characteristics with Sound Field Optimization. Supports industry-standard audio formats including Dolby Atmos®, DTS:X®, and IMAX® Enhanced. $700 Kaleidescape, Inc. Kaleidescape Terra Prime 123TB Solid-State Movie Server - Terra Prime movie servers store Kaleidescape movies, TV series, and concerts. Kaleidescape movies have lossless audio and reference video, are downloaded asynchronously and then played back from local storage. This enables playback with full fidelity, irrespective of internet connectivity. Couldn't find pricing for the 123TB but the 31TB goes for $25K Coastal Source Coastal Source CUBE™ Subwoofer - The CUBE Subwoofer enhances the Coastal Source Outdoor Experience by providing high-performance bass (low-frequency) in a small and elegant package. CUBE makes outdoor music more three-dimensional. It provides audiophile bass from a classic, compact shape that blends into your landscape and provides years of outstanding performance in even the most challenging environments. Pricing TBD Linkplay Technology Inc. WiiM CI MOD A80 - Combines an ESS 9018K2M DAC with a TI TPA3255 Class-D amplifier, delivering 60W per channel at 8 ohms, and supporting the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 technologies. The inaugural batch of these products is scheduled to ship by October 2024. Hisense PX3-PRO Laser Cinema - The World's First Designed for XBOX UST Projector - With the HSR 240 high refresh rate and low-latency mode, get ready for smooth, lag-free gaming. $3.5K Hisense C2 Ultra - C2 Ultra redefines what's possible in home cinema. Featuring Hisense's advanced Tri-Chroma laser technology, the C2 Ultra delivers breathtaking visuals with 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness and a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, ensuring that every scene is vivid and lifelike. This model also boasts IMAX Enhanced and Dolby Vision® certification, providing a cinematic experience that rivals the best theaters. The built-in JBL 2.1 channel audio system, complete with a subwoofer, delivers powerful, room-filling sound that complements its top-tier visual performance. The C2 Ultra is the ultimate choice for those who want an all-in-one premium entertainment solution. $3K L-Acoustics Xi Series - The Xi Series offers a range of installation-focused coaxial enclosures with distinct formats, bandwidth, and SPL specifically tailored for short-throw applications. These enclosures provide pristine sound quality and discreet design, allowing them to integrate elegantly into venues requiring natural and powerful sound. Meridian Meridian Elli

On this week's show DJ travels to Denver CO to attend CEDIA and we get a field report. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: Samsung "Premieres" Two New 4K Ultra-Short Throw Projectors US Open, college football coverage pulled for millions of DirecTV customers over carriage dispute with Disney Panasonic TVs return to the US with a huge 85-inch Mini LED screen Other: Radio Shack Catalogs CEDIA EXPO 2024 CEDIA Expo, the only show dedicated to residential tech, will connect home tech pros in Denver, CO, September 5-7, 2024. The CEDIA Smart Home Technology Conference will run September 4-6, 2024. CEDIA Expo 2024 will also be co-located with the Commercial Integrator Expo.

On this week's show Ara and DJ discuss data usage in a world that is relying more and more on streaming for entertainment. They also discuss a future where you can smell what is going on on screen. They also read your emails and discuss the week's news. News: YouTube TV adding custom multiview to NFL Sunday Ticket Chick-fil-A Is Launching a Streaming Service DIRECTV & DIRECTV STREAM Could Soon Lose ESPN & Other Disney-Owned Channels Unless a New Deal is Reached Comcast Begins to Sunset CableCARD Other: 3D-Bluray Rental Choovie Rentals GameFly Many U.S. Broadband Users Consume More than 1 TB of Data Each Month More than 18% of U.S. broadband users now consume 1 terabyte or more of data each month, according to the latest quarterly report from OpenVault. Full article here… MovieScent brings sense of smell to home entertainment Elevated Perceptions, a specialist in the realm of immersive gaming and entertainment experiences, has unveiled MovieScent, an AI-powered device that releases real-time scents based on events and environments within movies, TV shows, televised sporting events and streams. Full Article here…

On this week's show we discuss a couple of solutions to Chuck's Ethernet problem including a revisit of Powerline Ethernet Adapters. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Venu Sports Faces Very Real Prospect of Preliminary Injunction NHL's Florida Panthers Sign ViewLift to Take Them DTC More FAST Viewers Are Dropping Subscription Streaming Services Other: The Ultimate CEDIA 2024 VIP Experience Giveaway! FAQnatics YouTube Nexuslink Gigabit Powerline Adapter A few weeks ago one of our listeners asked us for help trying to run Ethernet data over an HDMI cable. Today, in our email segment, we discussed a novel approach to his problem by just using the HDMI cable as an Ethernet cable by simply removing the connectors and using the existing wires. There is another approach, one that we have discussed many many years ago, using Powerline Adapters. Back in the day, we were happy getting one or two Mbps via these cables and for what we were doing back then it was good enough. However, streaming companies increased their data rates to improve quality and suddenly this approach was dead. If it weren't for listening to a podcast recently I would have never thought to consider this approach. The podcast made the claim that Powerline adapters have gotten much better. To the point where they can reach gigabit speeds. Very skeptical, I went on Amazon and bought the cheapest adapters I could find, the Nexuslinlk G.HN 1200 Wave 1 Powerline Adapter Kit (GPL-1200-KIT) for $40. Features: Includes everything you need in order to turn your electrical outlets into an ultra fast network. Expand your internet anywhere in the home with up to 16 devices in one network. Enhance your network performance for streaming and gaming. Reduces Lag and dropped frames using LDPC/FEC (Forward Error Correction) technology. Designed for high density environments (eg. Apartments, business offices, condos, hotels, etc.) using NDIM Signal Segregation Technology. Delivers better real world performance with unique G.hn algorithms that improve upon older powerline standards. Technology like MIMO Dual Phase Technology delivers a faster and more reliable connection and LDPC to reliably cross phases Installing Ethernet Cable can be expensive and troublesome. Get a strong, direct internet connection without the trouble. Setup: Plug one device into a wall socket and connect the provided Ethernet into your router. It is important that the device is plugged directly into the wall. We tested with extension cables and socket expanders and found they degrade the speed. We also found that wiring into a switch slows the signal down a bit. But to be honest we don't know if that was because we plugged into a switch or that particular wall socket was noisier than the rest. The second adapter can be plugged in anywhere you need a network connection. In our test we chose a socket on the kitchen island and then wired into a laptop. The entire process took about ten minutes. Performance: To measure performance we ran a speed test. We did multiple tests.The fastest time were: Ping 16ms Down 64.13Mbs Up 51.34 Typical speeds were off by three or four Mbps both up and down. For comparison. Using wifi at that location saw: Ping 116ms Down 272.56Mbs Up 109.23 Which is significantly faster! So is it worth it? The speeds we got in our test were nowhere near what was advertised in the product literature. Your results may vary so keep that in mind. However, if you have a spot where your wifi can't reach and you don't want to run Ethernet cables, this solution is recommended without hesitation. At 40 dollars getting 60Mbps to your entertainment system will more than allow you to stream 4K!

On this week's show Ara and DJ discuss what streaming services to keep and which one to let go. We also look at how going to movies are changing through charts and graphs. We also read your emails and look at the week's news. News: Roku to Launch Dedicated FAST Sports Channel New chip design heralds arrival of compact low-power 4K projectors Netflix Christmas Day NFL Games To Be Produced By CBS Sports The Drew Carey Show Is Now Streaming for Free Online Other: onn. Google TV 4K Pro Streaming Device (New, 2024), 4K UHD resolution, Dolby Vision & Dolby ATMOS, Hands-Free Voice Control, Smart Hub I'd Keep Peacock but Skip These Streaming Services in August 2024 Streaming TV will really take off in the fall when shows like "Agatha All Along" and "The Penguin" hit the scene, but August isn't dry at all. The "Umbrella Academy" bows out for good on Netflix while "KAOS" and "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" debut. But there are at least two streamers -- that aren't Netflix -- with worthy lineups this month, and Peacock is one of them. Full article here… How Going to the Movies Is Changing, in Charts We received an email from one of our listeners (John Lyman) in the Wall Street Journal titled - How Going to the Movies Is Changing, in Charts (paywall). John was kind enough to paste the charts in his email for our review. So here is our take on how going to the movies is changing.

On this week's show DJ Briggs (Bright Side Home Theater) joins me while Braden is taking the month off. We discuss the Key Findings from the RTINGS.COM HDTV Stress Test and we read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Venu Sports Stays Below vMVPD Partners on Price DirecTV UX Update for Satellite Customers Is Its First in Five Years … And Perhaps Its Last U.S. Subscription Streaming Had Its Most Watched Week Ever Roku Most-Used Streaming Media Device Key Findings From Running 100 TVs for Over 10,000 Hours RTINGS.COM We have been following RTINGS.COM's accelerated longevity test on 100 TVs pretty much from the beginning. They started this experiment back in October 2022. They have some key findings out which led them to conclude that thin LCD TVs break faster under prolonged use. They concluded: The goal of RTINGS.com's ongoing 100 TV longevity test is to push TVs to the limits of their durability to examine failure points as they happen. One clear trend we've observed and investigated is that thin, edge-lit LCD TVs fail prematurely compared to LCD TVs with other backlighting technology. The results of this investigation are unequivocal: edge-lit TVs are inherently prone to significant durability issues, including warped reflector sheets, cracked light guide plates, and burnt-out LEDs due to concentrated heat. These problems manifest after prolonged use at maximum brightness, posing a significant risk to their long-term reliability. This analysis, corroborated by real-world observations, highlights a crucial consideration for consumers and the industry. As manufacturers continue to push for thinner designs, addressing these durability concerns is imperative to ensure consumer satisfaction and trust. For consumers in the market for an LCD TV to whom the durability of their purchase is important, we recommend prioritizing models with better heat distribution, such as direct-lit or FALD TVs, for improved longevity and performance.

On this week's show we look at the Best Home Theater Systems of 2024 according to CNET. Then we define a system that actually is a home theater system! We also read your emails and look at the week's news. News: MLB Network Launches Standalone Streaming Service, Available Without a Pay-TV Subscription Roku's ad director wants to bring Instagram-style shoppable ads to your smart TV Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney launch Hulu, Disney+, Max bundle Roku Acquires Streaming Rights for Beloved Sitcom "The Goldbergs" from Sony Pictures Television Other: NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING FOR UNLOCKING MOBILE PHONES DIRECTV Equipment Best Home Theater Systems of 2024 When we saw this article over at CNET we remembered the days of Home Theater in a Box setup. Do those even exist anymore? Anyway, we checked out this article wondering what is considered the Best Home Theater System. We came away thinking we may have taken steps backwards for the sake of simplicity. Full article here… Best Budget Soundbar - Roku Streambar Street Price ~$125 Best Budget Surround Sound Speaker Package Klipsch Reference Theater Pack 5.1 System Street Price ~ $400 Best Bookshelf Speakers Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 Street Price ~$400 Best Home Theater Soundbar System Vizio Elevate Street Price ~$700 Best 8K receiver Onkyo TX-NR6100 Street Price ~$475 If you are looking for a capable but value 5.1 system we have designed a "Home Theater in a Box System" for you! Our system will cost you more. However, it will sound much better! And for the record, we receive nothing from the manufacturers. For speakers - The RSL CG3M 5.1 home theater system. This is a 5.1 system that includes four bookshelf, one center, and one subwoofer. The cost is $850. For the receiver - Denon AVR-X1800H. It's a 7.2 or 5.2.2 receiver (room for growth) that supports all the things we care about! It goes for $560. Total cost $1410. Yes, that's $535 more than the Onkyo and Klipsch system from the CNET article but it's much better and can grow with you.

On this week's show we take a look at the summer's best TVs according to RTINGS.COM. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: This 'Google TV Streamer' set-top box is what comes after Chromecast Spotify HiFi likely to cost $17 or $18 a month Verizon Can Get Free NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV or YouTube DirecTV Warns FCC: Without Early Termination Fees, Our Equipment and Installation Costs Are Going To Be Paid For by Our Customers Upfront The Best TVs - Summer 2024 - RTINGS.COM RTINGS.COM has published an article "The 8 Best TVs - Summer 2024" and we take a look at four of them. The article has the entire list. Best Budget TV - Hisense U6/U6K (Street Price $780 for 75" if you can find it) If you want to spend less, the best budget TV we've tested is the Hisense U6/U6K. It delivers a surprisingly great performance for the price. The Hisense has excellent contrast, so dark scenes look amazing in a dark room, with little blooming around bright areas of the screen. It also has good peak brightness in SDR and decent reflection handling, so glare isn't an issue in a brighter room. It has an excellent color volume, making this TV very colorful overall. It's bright enough in HDR for a pleasant viewing experience, and just like the Hisense U7N, it supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR, although it doesn't support advanced DTS audio formats. Full Review… Mixed Usage 7.4, TV Shows 6.9, Sports 7.0, Video Games 7.8, HDR Movies 7.5, HDR Gaming 8.0, PC Monitor 7.7 Best Mid-Range TV - LG B3 OLED (Street Price $1800 for 77") The LG B3 OLED is the best mid-range TV we've tested if you want something cheaper and still want high-end features. It's a great mid-range TV and can be an excellent entry point into the OLED market. The TV has all the features of the more expensive LG C3 OLED, but the B3 is dimmer and has only two HDMI 2.1 ports. It still delivers outstanding picture quality, especially in a dark room, with its near-infinite contrast ratio delivering deep, inky blacks with no distracting blooming. Its built-in webOS platform is just as fast on this lower-tier model, and it still has very good image processing, so it has no issues upscaling lower-resolution content if you watch DVDs, cable boxes, or Blu-rays. It also has Dolby Vision HDR and supports DTS advanced audio formats, which is great for physical media as it tends to use DTS for their audio tracks. Full Review… Mixed Usage 8.7, TV Shows 8.3, Sports 8.5, Video Games 9.3, HDR Movies 8.8, HDR Gaming 9.0, PC Monitor 9.2 Best Bright Room TV - Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED (Street Price $3500 for 75") If you need a TV for a room with a lot of lights on, the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED is an amazing option. Its superb reflection handling and SDR brightness mean it easily overcomes glare in the brightest rooms, so you aren't distracted by reflections on your TV screen. As impressive as this TV is in a bright room, it's also spectacular for use in a dark room. It has exceptional contrast that delivers incredibly deep blacks that are close to what you get from an OLED, with almost no blooming, thanks to its highly effective local dimming control. It's also a great option for 4k Blu-ray collectors or those looking to get the most out of high-quality streaming services due to its support for Dolby Vision and DTS audio formats. Full Review… Mixed Usage 8.8, TV Shows 8.4, Sports 8.3, Video Games 9.1, HDR Movies 9.0, HDR Gaming 9.0, PC Monitor 8.7 Best Home Theater TV - Sony A95L OLED (Street Price $5000 for 77") If you're looking for the absolute best TV for a home theater setup and don't care as much about the price, check out the Sony A95L OLED. Although it's a very similar TV to the Samsung S90C OLED, it's better for home theaters thanks to its advanced video format support. Compared to Samsung's HDR10+ format, the Sony TV supports the more popular Dolby Vision HDR, so you'll enjoy the most advanced HDR experience possible from almost any source. Sony's processing does a better job following the content creator's intent, so the brightness and colors of HDR content look the way they're supposed to. It also offers better audio format support than the Samsung, including DTS:X passthrough over eARC, so you can simplify your connection to your audio-video receiver by running everything through your TV without sacrificing audio quality. Full Review… Mixed Usage 9.2, TV Shows 8.9, Sports 9.1, Video Games 9.3, HDR Movies 9.3, HDR Gaming 9.1, PC Monitor 9.4

On this week's show we have an AppleTV and a native GoogleTV comparison from a listener. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Samsung is helping to bring AirPlay to more hotel rooms NBCUniversal to Offer 400+ Hours of 4K HDR Olympics Coverage on USA Network, a Record Turns out Netflix makes more money if it just acts like regular TV Other: Handcrafted in the USA - Vintage Reclaimed Maple & Elm Speakers Doitforme.solutions Apollo Group TV Apple TV vs Google TV - John Lyman Around Thanksgiving the finance committee allowed me to purchase a new Hisense U7K 75" 4K TV. However, once I got the TV setup and ready to go, something weird happened with my Apple TV that I had been using on the TV in that room. Max just stopped working. I did all the troubleshooting to no avail. I decided that I would give the built in Google TV a shot to see if that could be a long-term solution. Over the course of six months I went back and forth with the two platforms and took notes. I thought I would write up my findings for everyone. A few caveats: This is my first experience with Google TV The Google TV is the built in version on my TV I live in the Apple ecosystem and I have owned every Apple TV from the 1st gen to the current. So, I do know the Apple TV a lot better, but I did my best to be fair. User Interface Apple TV: The user interface is very nice, it seems lighter, crisp and clean. You can easily design the Home Screen the way you would like it laid out and create folders. I have a folder for my main TV/Movie apps, then one for sports, another for movies, etc. Because you can customize the Home Screen it is very easy to navigate to where you want to go. Google TV: When you open it, you are at the top of google TV page with their offerings and everything is laid out in rows. The App icons seem smaller than apps on the Apple TV and smaller than the "Google Recommended" apps. You must scroll past those to get to your apps. I have not found a way to rearrange the main page so I can move my apps above the recommended offerings. You can move your apps in the order you would like but it is not as nice. I did try to find out if you can use folders on Google TV and it does not look like you can. The interface is what it is. Remotes: Apple TV: The metal Siri remote in my opinion is one of the best remotes out there. I can control 98% of what I need to use from that one remote. The other 2% is for those times I can't find a digital copy of a movie I own and need to use the Blu-Ray or tweak the picture of the TV. Very quick to navigate with the remote around the Apple TV. Also, the iPhone companion remote is really good too. Google TV: The remote that came with the TV controls my HT gear and if I used Google home I'm sure the remote's mic would give me voice control of lights and thermostat similar to the Apple remote. Additionally, I find swiping over the touch-enabled clickpad much easier than clicking up/down/left/right buttons on the TV's remote. I didn't have luck setting up the iPhone remote with the TV, this is probably a me item and I didn't spend a lot of time worrying about it. Apple TV+ vs Google TV's Home app: Both apps have a lot in common, like Movie/TV suggestions, an area for your purchased content, etc. Apple's implementation is self-contained and can be placed anywhere on your home screen. Google's version is fixed at the top of the screen and you must scroll down the screen to get to your apps. Picture quality, audio and App Responsiveness: So the last test was to actually watch some video to see if there was any difference. The setup: Internet – AT&T 1.0 GPS fiber, using a TPLink Mesh router – delivering 300 Mbs to the TV Denon AVR-X3200W receiver – running Dolby Atmos Speakers – RSL home theater package, 12" RSL speedwoofer and mirage omni-directional Atmos speakers I set up both the TV and my Apple TV for Dolby Vision and started watching content on both services. One thing I couldn't do was turn on Dolby Vision for the Google TV which shocked me. The TV did auto switch and even though HBO Max said the movie was in Dolby Vision it would only do HDR. I tried to figure out the issue but couldn't quickly find an answer. I quickly realized that any movie purchased from the Apple store was of higher quality than those from any of the streaming companies both in picture and sound. I watched a few scenes from the latest Aqua man as there were some really dark scenes with good color and then some Star Wars. With the Google TV setup to use HDR and the TV in the Movie preset, the picture was good. The AppleTV produced a little bit better picture with the same TV preset. The AppleTV sounded better too. I could hear some additional sounds on the AppleTV that I couldn't hear while using GoogleTV. The biggest difference was App responsiveness. When opening an app on the AppleTV, its click and it opens. GoogleTV took a few seconds. Then clicking the play button would buffer for about 10-20 seconds

On this week's show we look at the "Must Keep" TV brands and 5 surefire signs it's time to upgrade your TV according to Tom's Guide. We also read your emails and look at the week's news. News: Netflix Boots Legacy Subscribers Off Its $11.99 Basic Ad-Free Plan Stars and APMC pioneer game-changing VICTORY+ Sports Network LG Introduces Its First Curated Content Channel YouTube TV Still Dominates, But Frndly TV & Philo See Strong Growth in 2024 Other: Dear Roku, you ruined my TV My Media for Alexa 'Must-Keep' TV Brands A survey of 1,400 U.S. consumers aged 12 and up conducted in May found Netflix was the top choice for consumers for the fifth straight year, with ABC, Prime Video, CBS and Fox all finishing in the top five. Full article here… 5 surefire signs it's time to upgrade your TV It's no secret that TVs always improve year-over-year, whether that's because they offer higher brightness, better color vibrancy, better contrast or some mixture of the three. That said, unless you have plenty of cash to spare and make it your passion project, it's unlikely you're upgrading every year. Full article here…

On this week's show we continue our discussion of Rick Beato's argument that music is too easy to make. We read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Dish to Bundle Netflix Free for Existing Customers Who Re-Up for 2 Years Fubo Launches on Xumo and Xfinity Flex Streaming Devices Redbox Owner Files for Bankruptcy Apple TV+ continues to grow in the US, this time overtaking Paramount+ Netflix Just Commissioned Its Largest Number of Titles in 3 Years (ICYMI) Other: A song about the HT Guys Haptique RS90: A True universal remote controller by Cantata — Kickstarter I Know You're Angry, So Am I.. Is Music Getting Worse? - A listener followup I just listened to your podcast episode "Is Music Getting Worse," related to Rick Beato's YouTube video, which I also watched a few days ago. He raised some intriguing points, both about changes over the years with sampling, autotune, and quantization, as well as how AI will undoubtedly impact the industry as well. It's a fascinating and complex topic, and I wanted to share some thoughts. First off, my daughter is a professional opera singer, so I am very sensitive to the fact that I would not want artists who are deep in their craft to be supplanted by technology. Losing the human aspect altogether would be a tragedy for us all, whether as creators or as consumers of music. Selfishly, for my daughter and for all artists, I want humans to be respected and compensated for the obvious heart and soul that they put into their craft. With respect to AI, one major and well-founded concern is that relying too heavily on AI could lead to a homogenization of music, where unique, human-driven creativity could become overshadowed by algorithms, resulting in music that degrades to the mean and lacks soul. Which I would argue has happened well before AI has come on the scene. Having said that, AI also has the potential to enhance music production by automating tedious tasks and providing new tools for musicians, which could free up artists to focus more on the creative aspects of their work. One aspect that often gets overlooked in these discussions is that music production isn't just about the creative performers—the singers and musicians. It involves a vast array of professionals, including audio and sound engineers, mastering engineers, and various other technical experts who all play a crucial role in shaping the final product. The Beatles used these talented engineers at Abbey Road to come up with iconic sounds that would never have been achievable by the members of the Beatles alone. So, one must ask, where is the line? As AI improves and enables the creation of individual tracks, or stems (currently most AI song generators provide fully formed sound waves), it could open up new avenues to innovate and bring different types of music together by mixing and arranging music in virtually unlimited ways. While the focus tends to be on how AI might impact the creative people who write, sing, and play songs, it's also worth considering how it could empower the broader community of producers. This technology might unlock new channels of creativity and collaboration that we haven't even imagined yet. In addition, for the creators, the use of AI song/sound generators as "sketch pads" for fleshing out songs, similar to how demo tapes were used prior to final recording, is a fascinating thought exercise. It could serve as a tool to experiment and develop ideas before committing to a final version. Or to bring an idea to a group of real musicians to refine and play live. I'm a child of the 70s and 80s. I love Cheap Trick and the Scorps! I also love British new wave, Alt and Psychedelia. To "prove" a point, I used a service called UDIO. It is one of the services that you mentioned are being sued at the moment. I prompted the AI to give me song snippets in the style of British pop, Alt Rock, Psychedelia, etc. I took a bunch of these song snippets and stitched them together in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), very much the same way that music producers currently "create" full-blown songs. I have attached the MP3 for your listening "pleasure" (take with a big grain of salt!). I share this with you as a simple example of what could be. It is not a great song by any means; it's derivative, it's corny, and it will never make the charts, but that's not the point. If it was streaming at a bar in the background, I wouldn't think it was horrible; in fact, it might be great background music for that setting. And this is version 1 of this new technology. What will it be like in the next 5-10 years? I've been listening to you guys for at least that long. Think about how the audio and video industries have changed so dramatically during that time, whether with the 400-pound TVs you guys referenced or in the quality of streaming vs physical media we have seen over that time. You guys questioned whether AI would be successful in music. I only have to look at throngs of people going to EDM concer

On this week's show Ara and Braden discuss a video made by Rick Beato where he posits that new music is getting worse. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Amid Another Worst Quarter Ever for U.S. Pay TV, Even YouTube TV Lost Subscribers in Q1, Analyst Says LG Launches OLED B4 4K TV Series Five Men Convicted of Operating Massive, Illegal Streaming Service Mini LED Backlight LCD Display Market to Surpass OLED Displays in 2025 Others: The biggest CRT ever made: Sony's PVM-4300 Twisters Movie The Real Reason Why Music Is Getting Worse Robert Spivack sent us an email with a link to this Rick Beato video titled The Real Reason Why Music Is Getting Worse. This immediately appealed to me since I spend a lot of time creating speakers to make the music I listen to sound as good as it possibly can.

On this week's show we give a brief lesson on American Antitrust law and how it applies to Hollywood. We also review the SofaBaton X1S Universal Remote. Is it a Harmony Replacement? We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: New YouTube TV Customers Can Get Can Get NFL Sunday Ticket For Just $179 a Year Disney Bundle Cuts Hulu Churn Nearly in Half (Charts of the Day) | Next TV Brad Pitt's Formula 1 Film Gets June 2025 Release Date From Apple Sony Pictures Buys Alamo Drafthouse Other: Only 100 cinemas can show 'Inside Out 2' as Pixar intended The HDR Superchannel Stop the FOMO SofaBaton X1S Review We have been searching for a Harmony Replacement since they discontinued what we felt was the best "consumer grade" remote on the market. We reviewed the SofaBaton X1 last november and felt it came close to being the Harmony Replacement. It worked but it still had some rough edges. Well, SofaBaton is back with the X1S ($189.99). The X1S has enhanced performance and compatibility compared to the X1. The X1S boasts features like "Raise to Wake" and supports a vast array of devices, over 500,000 across IR, Bluetooth, and WiFi thanks to its use of the "cloud code library". There is even a Smart SofaBaton App, that allows you to manage devices, personalize buttons and activities. The X1S makes use of a hub that offers 360 degree control, 40 foot infrared range, and has support for IR blasters for devices in different rooms or in cabinets. There is also support for hands free control with Alexa and Google Assistant, personalized macro buttons, and API integration allows for third parties to further expand on the X1S' capabilities. The X1S also has backlit buttons, and a 45 day battery. The full feature list is below: Features: SofaBaton X1S Universal Remote: Enhanced performance and compatibility over X1 Supports 500,000+ devices (IR, Bluetooth, WiFi) Includes powerful cloud code library Smart SofaBaton App: Device management and customization Favorite channel organization Remote tracking and phone backup control Effortless OneClick Activities: Initiates predefined device settings with one command Example: "Music Time" activity for automated device control Powerful Hub: 360degree control 40foot infrared range 2 IR blasters for signal coverage Can be hidden in cabinet Voice Control with Alexa and Google Assistant Personalized Macro Buttons: Customizable key functions Create sequences for complex operations API Integration: Integration with other applications Personalized control through simple configurations Highlight Design: Raise To Wake function Backlight buttons Rechargeable battery lasting up to 45 days Thumb scroll wheel for quick device switching Setup: The setup process started out intuitive, but it required additional effort and time to fine tune the configuration. The Harmony had some configuration issues too but the X1S was a little more cumbersome. Once you grasp the app's workflow you can work through the issues. The app provides a step by step guide to help you quickly connect your devices. Like other remotes you can personalize buttons and set up macros for specific functions allowing you to customize the remote to suit your preferences. It took me 90 minutes to get my system (AppleTV, Oppo UHD Player, SONY TV, and Yamaha Receiver) up and running. Like the Harmony, once you have added your devices you then create activities. Then you test and then you tweak and you finally get it dialed in. One oddity was how the remote dealt with power. It has a concept of the steady state of the power setting for each device, which I thought was odd. So our tip is just say that your devices are always powered off. Then go into the startup settings and add the power on command for your devices. Do the opposite for the shutdown settings. This caused me at least 30 minutes of grief in setting it up. But once the setup was done the remote worked flawlessly! Performance: The SofaBaton X1S remote's build quality is top notch! And battery life is as advertised. The display is simple, clean and nothing fancy. I had to add delays between some commands for some activities to respond properly. The scroll wheel on the X1S is tighter and smoother than the X1, providing a more precise user experience. The inclusion of a USB C charging port allows usage while charging which is a nice added touch. Syncing commands from the phone to the remote takes a long time which can be annoying while making tweaks to dial in the exact commands you want. But once it's set up you no longer have to worry about this. Also, the battery charging level is only visible from the main screen. It would be nice if you could see it from any screen. We have used the remote for over a week and the family approves. No missed commands, easy to use. I still like my Harmony a little better but I am confident that the Sofabaton will improve with better configuration software and become the replacement to the Harmony we have all been wanting! Pros

On this week's show we look at the best movie scenes to test your home cinema according to Denon and we examine Potential ways AI can enhance home automation. As usual, we read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: Over Half of the Top 10 Most-Watched TV Networks Are Now Free with an Antenna AppleTV Improvements Apple Home App Improvements Hisense's VIDAA Is Now the No. 2 Smart TV OS Globally Behind Samsung Tizen Best Movie Scenes to Test Your Home Cinema According to Denon What's the purpose of a decent AV Receiver and surround speaker setup? To bring real cinema feeling to your home, with all the room-shaking bass, stuff flying all around and the feeling you are pulled directly into the action. Here are three outstanding movie scenes to really test your home theater's ability to suspend disbelief. Full article here… Potential Ways AI Can Enhance Home Automation AI can significantly enhance home automation by enabling smarter and more intuitive control of various devices, leading to increased convenience, energy efficiency, and security. Here are several ways AI can help in home automation: Voice Programming AI-powered virtual assistants like Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple's Siri can enable voice commands to program automations. Instead of using the GUI to select lights that you want to turn on at sunset. You will be able to just say something like: A-Lady set a routine turn on the family room lamp and the kitchen lights and the living room lamp fifteen minutes after sunset. And turn them off at 11:30 every day of the week. Or once it learns your routines you may just have to say: S-Lady turn on the appropriate lights fifteen minutes after sunset and off at 11:30 every day of the week. Intelligent Automation AI algorithms can learn household routines and preferences over time to automate tasks like adjusting the thermostat based on weather forecasts, turning off lights when rooms are unoccupied, or setting the coffee maker to start brewing when you wake up. This takes what our thermostats do today but applies it across all your devices. AI algorithms can further optimize energy usage by intelligently controlling heating, cooling, and lighting based on factors like electricity rates, thereby reducing energy consumption and utility bills. Predictive Maintenance AI can monitor the performance of smart home devices and predict potential failures before they occur, allowing for proactive maintenance and potentially avoiding costly repairs. Especially handy for stuff like water heaters and air conditioners. Enhanced Security AI-powered cameras and sensors can analyze activity patterns to detect suspicious behavior, alert homeowners of potential threats, and even differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar faces to prevent false alarms. Personalized Experiences AI can tailor home environments to individual preferences, such as adjusting lighting, music playlists, or room temperatures based on the occupants' habits, schedules, and comfort levels. Remote Monitoring and Control AI enables homeowners to remotely access and control smart devices from anywhere using smartphones or other connected devices, offering peace of mind and flexibility. You can already do this with the big three with little to no networking skills required. But we envision a day when you don't need Homekit or Google Home to get this type of functionally without any knowledge of networking Data Insights AI can analyze data from various sensors and devices to provide insights into home usage patterns, energy consumption, and potential areas for improvement. By integrating AI technologies into home automation systems, homeowners can enjoy a more comfortable, convenient, and efficient living environment while also potentially saving time, energy, and money.

On this week's show, Ara has a conversation with Robert Spivack of DoItForMe.Solutions about the state of "Matter". Not on a metaphysical level! We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Apple TV Plus is finally coming to Android according to new report Nearly 60% of Sports Fans Age 18-49 Say They'll 'Likely' Subscribe to Venu Sports Older SVOD Subscribers Unfazed by Price Hikes Will Drive Revenue Growth A New Streaming Service Is Launching That Uses AI To Create Any Show You Would Want Other: Sewel SW-29863-12 Amazon Basics Speaker Connector Banana Plug Deals on OLED TVs at Best Buy LG 55-inch C3 Series OLED 4K TV: $1,300 Save $100 BestBuy Samsung 65-inch S95C OLED 4K TV: $2,300 Save $300 Best Buy Sony 65-inch Bravia XR A80L OLED 4K Google TV: $1,800 Save $200 Best Buy LG 77-inch B3 Series OLED 4K TV: 1,800 Save $200 Best Buy What is the state of Matter Ara has a conversation with Robert Spivack of DoItForMe.Solutions about the state of "Matter". Not on a metaphysical level! ;-) Robert is a home automation technologist and he'll help you with your smart home and back control of your home automation system. You can find Robert at www.doitforme.solutions or give him a call at (408) 647-4687. More information about Matter can be found here Connectivity Standards Alliance.

On this week's show we ask you to try an experiment with your friends and family. We also look at the history of VHS. Finally we read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: YouTube TV is testing an enhanced 720p quality setting too Most Cord Cutters Do Not Pay for a Live Service Like YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV Roku Debuts Pro Series TV With Mini-LED Starting at $900 Home Cinema Viewing Experiment The other day we were watching a movie on Netflix and between my wife, brother-in-law, and his wife I noticed that everyone was periodically glancing at their phones. This kind of irritated me mainly because I have spent a lot of money on sound and picture and thought, they might as well be watching on a phone or tablet. The next night, I asked my wife and kids to not only silence their phones but also put them away. We watched a movie and the family was a bit irritated. It seems that the only place they can really immerse themselves into a movie is actually at the cinema. I encourage you to try the following experiment: Minimize Distractions - this is any distraction digital or otherwise. Silence your devices - Put phones and tablets on silent and turn off any notifications on all the devices within ear shot. Quiet Environment - Choose a time when household noise is minimal. Shut doors and windows if external noise is an issue. History of VHS VHS, or Video Home System, was a home video recording format developed by JVC (Victor Company of Japan) in the 1970s. It became one of the dominant formats for home video playback and recording during the 1980s and 1990s. Here is a brief history of VHS: Development - JVC unveiled the VHS system in Japan in 1976, offering consumers the ability to record and play back video content on videocassette recorders (VCRs) using magnetic tape. VHS was in direct competition with Sony's Betamax format, but thanks to longer recording time and lower production costs, VHS eventually emerged as the preferred choice among consumers. Market Dominance - Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, VHS gained widespread popularity and became the standard format for home video recording and distribution. Major Hollywood studios began releasing movies on VHS, leading to a booming rental market, especially with the rise of video rental stores like Blockbuster. Format Wars - The battle between VHS and Betamax is often cited as one of the most famous format wars in consumer electronics history. Despite Betamax's superior picture quality, VHS's longer recording time and lower cost attracted more consumers and content producers. By the late 1980s, VHS had clearly won the format war, leading to the eventual decline of Betamax. Expansion into Other Markets - VHS technology expanded beyond home video recording to become a standard format for recording television shows, archiving video content, and even for use in educational and industrial settings. Evolution and Decline - VHS continued to evolve with the introduction of VHS-C (compact VHS) for camcorders and Hi-Fi stereo sound capabilities. However, with the emergence of digital video formats like DVDs and later Blu-ray discs, VHS began its decline in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The last known major Hollywood film released on VHS was in 2006. Legacy - Despite its eventual obsolescence, VHS left a lasting impact on the home entertainment industry. Its widespread adoption paved the way for the concept of home video consumption and laid the foundation for the home entertainment market we see today. VHS was a revolutionary technology that revolutionized the way people consumed and enjoyed video content at home. While it has been replaced by newer digital formats, its legacy as a pioneering home entertainment medium remains significant.

On this week's show TCL introduces new TVs and Soundbars for 2024 and can the newly named Venu Sports streaming service make cable operators obsolete? We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Sports Streaming JV Gets a Name, Venu Sports Netflix Will Stream Two NFL Games This Christmas Day Panasonic Selects TiVo TVOS to Power Its Mid- and Entry-Level Smart TVs Sonos AceComcast Prices StreamSaver Bundle at $15 a Month Other: Forums - Squeezebox piCorePlayer Lyrion Music Server HiFiBerry Forums - Slimdevices DIY TCL Launches 2024 Home Theater Lineup With Multiple TV And Sound Bar Offerings TCL is expanding its offerings for 2024 with the launch of an expansive TV and soundbar portfolio. The new releases include TV and sound bar models for multiple price points. The new TCL TV lineup aims to provide a home theater solution for virtually every need across its Smart S Class and QLED Q Class, along with an expanded range of sizes from 32″ to 115″. Full Article here… TCL Q Class Smart TVTCL's new Q Class Smart TV models utilize Quantum Dot technology featuring UltraWide Color Gamut for enhanced QLED color. The TCL Q Class includes the Q65, Q68, QM7 and QM8 models, including three new 98" TVs and the world's largest QD-Mini LED TV. While TCL's 98″ TV offerings can satisfy virtually any cinephile or sports enthusiast, the 115″ QM89 is TCL's top-of-the-line QD-Mini LED TV for those looking to create or upgrade their theater room with an elevated viewing experience. TCL S Class Smart TV The S Class family of smart TVs include the S2 and S3, which will carry over into 2024's lineup. New to this year is the S5, which includes TCL's AiPQ Processor for enhanced image processing. Additionally, 55″+ S Class models feature Game Accelerator 120 for 120 VRR gaming. TCL Q Class Sound Bar: High Quality Home Theater The Q Class is TCL's premium sound bar family, supporting Dolby Atmos for high-quality home theater audio. The Q75H is a 5.1.2 sound bar featuring built-in side surround speakers, while the Q85H is a 7.1.4 sound bar that adds wireless rear speakers, incorporating rear Dolby Atmos up-firing drivers. TCL S Class Sound Bar: Home Theater Made Simple The new S Class sound bars include TCL's S45H and S55H models, now upgraded with Dolby Atmos and Auto Room calibration. These models also include other key features such as DTS Virtual:X Virtual 3D Surround, HDMI with eARC, Bluetooth, TCL TV Ready capability, and are wall mountable. Venu Sports and ESPN DTC Could Sink U.S. Pay TV Operators According to Aluma's Michael Greeson, the sports JV alone could cause 10% of users to cut the cord, and that would 'severely diminish the ability of operators to stay afloat' Full article here… It boils down to the fact that the U.S. pay TV industry could face a lot of competition due to the newly named sports streaming service "Venu Sports". A recent survey indicated that about 32% of traditional cable subscribers and 38% of IPTV subscribers indicated some level of "likelihood" that they'd sign up for the new service. The article says that if pay TV providers lose 10% of their customers due to the new service, it will severely diminish the ability of pay TV operators to sustain their businesses. Additionally, the impending direct-to-consumer launch of ESPN by Disney is also anticipated to pose a threat, with a significant percentage of potential ESPN subscribers indicating a likelihood to cancel their pay TV service, potentially impacting operators further. These developments could have a detrimental impact on the pay TV industry, endangering the survival of operators struggling with declining subscriber bases. Side note - if the joint venture intends to rely on pull from those who have completely cut the cord, they can forget about it. Only 9% are legitimate prospects for the service."

On this week's show Ara gets a new TV! It came down to a UST Projector and a Mini LED. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Amazon Debuts New Streaming Ads on Prime Disney and Warner Set to Bundle Disney Plus, Max and Hulu Starting This Summer Fox Says Tubi Now Has 80 Million Average Monthly Users; FAST Platform's Engagement Also Up 36% Sunday Leadoff' Is Coming to The Roku Channel Apple, Netflix Amazon Want to Change How They Pay Hollywood Stars Comcast Plans Peacock, Netflix, Apple TV+ Streaming Bundle Other: SportsNet Pittsburgh launches direct-to-consumer streaming service My ideal TV has no tuner, no speakers and no smart platform I've had my current TV for about a year now, and do you know how many times I've used its built-in tuner? None. I've not even plugged in the aerial. I've not used any of the built-in apps, either, and the built-in speakers have emitted a sound only a handful of times, and only because the connected sound system didn't automatically switch on as it should have. Full article here… New TV for Ara Ara's original Vizio P-Series UHD TV finally gave out. After posting this information on X, he received a few suggestions on how it could possibly be revived. Unfortunately nothing worked. Vizio customer service even offered to help resolve the issue. But after ten years of trusty service, it was time to move on. Ara posted to X that it was between a Sony Mini LED and an AWOL UST projector. The response was mixed. So where did he land? The field was quickly narrowed down to: The AWOL LTV-2500 4K 3D Triple Laser Projector $3000 + $1000 for a 100" screen. Bring The Cinematic Experience to Your Home: AWOL VISION LTV-2500 powered with a cutting edge Triple Laser without Color Wheel Technology, Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos 4K UHD Resolution, HDR10+, 3D available, brings you a stunning 150", 4K Movie Theater experience. Coupled with exceptional audio immersion technology with Dolby Atmos, LTV-2500 is the most colorful with details' ultra short throw 4K laser projector for controlled light environment. and The BRAVIA XR 75" Class X93L Mini LED 4K HDR Google TV (2023) $2500 The Cognitive Processor XR™ delivers a picture with wide dynamic contrast and natural colors, replicating how we see the real world. See ultimate contrast from thousands of Mini LEDs and billions of accurate colors, all precision-controlled by the XR Backlight Master™ Drive and XR Triluminos Pro™. The winner is…. The Sony Bravia. The Process: Cost was a factor but not as big a factor as Lina not wanting to rearrange the artwork above the current TV. Some on X said that the UST was only an option if I had good control of the light in the room. Even my first gen UST looks decent in full daylight and it does not have the lumens of this projector. So that was not and issue that disqualified the UST While I would have liked a 100" screen. The 75" Sony is a small step up from the 70" Vizio. Tip! Regardless of choice I was going to have to get rid of my old Vizio. I'm thinking I'd have to call my trash company and pay to have it hauled away. So I thought let me try to see if someone wanted a free broken UHD TV. And to my surprise, four people reached out to me. The person who ended up with it worked at a youth center and had a friend who fixed TVs. So he came and picked it up and just like that, problem solved. Once the Bravia was delivered I simply plugged the cables in exactly as the Vizio. The output of the Yamaha RX-850 to the eARC port, power, and Ethernet. It's actually pretty heavy (97 lbs or 42Kgs). I powered it up and went through the setup. By the way, I did not accept anything that I interpreted as them spying on me. The TV is also a GoogleTV. I did not log into my account. For calibration I selected cinema mode and turned off motion flow and automated adjustments. I did enable calibrated mode for any programming that sends that info in the stream. First issue… My Yamaha for some reason would not pass HDR data even though it says it will. Solution… Connect Oppo and AppleTV to the Sony and use eARC for audio, Second issue…I could not send ATMOS data through to the receiver because it does not support eARC. Not a big deal because this is the family room and there is no ATMOS. But I also can't get Dolby digital. Solution… Set AppleTV to force DD 5.1 and set Sony to pass signal untouched to Yamaha. Not the best solution but hey! I don't have to explain to my wife why we now need a new receiver. There is a high probability that there will be a new receiver purchased on Black Friday! The picture looks phenomenal! A few times I caught myself saying it's like looking out a window. The colors are so saturated and beautiful! And while the black levels are not like OLED. They are quite good! No regrets. Not even a letter ;-) Review to come after I have had a chance to use the TV and dial it in.

On this week's show we discuss the merits of an expensive wired whole home audio streamer vs putting one together with Airplay 2 or Chromecast. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: YouTube introduces pause ads to TV app LG TVs are getting a free audio upgrade that Apple users will absolutely love 85% of Amazon Prime Video Subscribers Are on the Ad-Supported Tier Samsung's new, cheaper OLED TVs are now available to buy EchoStar Loses 348,000 Pay TV Subs in 1st Quarter Juke+ Audio Streamer Juke+, as described on their website, is an audio distribution system designed to provide high-quality sound across multiple rooms in a house. It runs about $2,500 and that's without speakers. So here is our question; do you think it's worth the money when you can put a high end wireless system together including speakers for significantly less money? First let's take a look at what the $2500 Juke+ System gets you: Audio Quality and Control - The Juke+ system can power 6 audio zones with 12 speaker channels at 100 watts per channel, ensuring pristine audio quality. Users can fine-tune the audio settings in each room through an app-controlled audio equalizer for optimal sound customization. Wireless Control - The Juke Audio application enables comprehensive control of the audio system via Android and Apple devices. Various features include playing to any combination of zones, independent volume control for each zone, simultaneous streaming from multiple users/devices, and access through a web interface on PCs. All-in-One Solution - The Juke system integrates the functions of powering, controlling, and streaming audio to multiple speaker sets throughout the house, eliminating the need for separate receivers, streamers, or in-wall controllers. Airplay 2 Integration - Juke displays connected speaker zones as independent Airplay inputs, facilitating streaming from Apple devices to specific audio zones. Users can group zones directly within the Airplay menu and stream to Juke and other Airplay 2 devices simultaneously, maintaining audio sync. Spotify Connect Support - Each connected speaker zone is independently recognized in Spotify, allowing premium users to stream content seamlessly. The Juke app's grouping feature enables setting multi-zone endpoints in Spotify for convenient whole-house or room-specific playback. Bluetooth Connectivity - Juke supports Bluetooth streaming from any compatible device, allowing users to play content without relying on a local Wi-Fi network. Juke+ provides multiple options to enjoy TV audio through its audio distribution system. Wireless Audio from Apple TV via Airplay - You can wirelessly send audio from any app on Apple TV to Juke using Airplay over the Wi-Fi network. Bluetooth Connectivity from Compatible Smart TVs - Juke supports receiving audio from compatible Smart TVs via Bluetooth. Hardwired Connection from TV to Juke - For a more traditional setup, you can run a hardwired connection from the audio output of your TV back to the Juke system. Our wireless system consists of a Belkin SoundForm Connect AirPlay 2 Adapter or a Chromecast Audio ($80) and a pair of Audioengine A5+ ($500 per pair) for a grand total of $580 per zone or $3480 for six zones with speakers included! Similar passive speakers from Audioengine cost $400 which would bring a similar system to $4900. A difference of $1420. Let's see if you miss anything: Audio Quality and Control - You can control each room with any app that plays music on your phone or tablet but you can't set separate EQ. +1 to Juke+ Wireless Control - Our system does the same as the Juke+. No advantage to either All-in-One Solution - Our system does the same as the Juke+. No advantage to either Airplay 2 Integration - If you use the SoundForm you have identical capabilities. However, if you use a Chromecast you have capability that the Juke+ does not have. +1 to our DIY system Spotify Connect Support - if you have the Spotify app on your device you essentially have this capability through Airplay or Chromecast. No advantage to either Bluetooth Connectivity - The Audioengine A5+ supports AptX while the Juke+ supports Bluetooth 5. +1 to our DIY TV Support - identical capabilities. No advantage to either Our DIY system is better in two categories and equivalent in all others. Room EQ being the only category that the Juke+ is better. Plus you save $1420! Our DIY system is not meant for everyone. Our speakers are harder to discretely place throughout your house. In addition the Juke+ gives you greater choice in speaker selection since you don't have to limit yourself to powered bookshelf or desktop speakers. However, you don't need to buy expensive speakers for all zones. But this applies to both systems. You could also use the Airplay2/Chromecast capability of your receiver to add a zone for essentially no cost and add the ability to EQ a room. So what do you think? Which system would you choose?

On this week's show you get what you pay for! Ara's experience buying cheap automated wall plugs. Plus we wrap up the 2024 TV season and read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Roku Said to Be in the Running to Take Over the MLB 'Sunday Leadoff' Game Package From Peacock | Next TV YouTube TV starting to roll out Multiview on Android phones, tablets Peacock Hikes Price $2 Ahead of Paris Summer Olympics Fubo's Warner Bros. Beef Worsens -- TLC, HGTV and Other Discovery Networks Blacked Out on vMVPD | Next TV Other: 'Life of Pi' director abandons 3D and HFR: "Whole ecosystem is bad" - FlatpanelsHD How Las Vegas' Sphere Actually Works You get what you pay for! Recently I purchased some thread based wall plugs to turn a night light on at sunset and off at sunrise. It was an extremely inexpensive Wemo plug that ran on thread. I was excited because thread based products are extremely fast and reliable. Well that's what I thought. Wemo Smart Plug with Thread - I bought them for $80 for a four pack. You can get them for $30 individually. I deployed four, Two lose connection with the thread router every few days. Unplug and plug back in and repeat. Two are rock solid Belkin Customer Service won't refund my money because its well past the 30 days. No info on a firmware update Useless product! GE CYNC Indoor Smart Plug, Matter Compatible $30 for three pack This product has no support for Homekit so this was a good test to see if a Matter plug would work in an Homekit environment. Connecting to my home is just as easy as a Homekit device. Worked for three days and then disconnected. Unplug and plug back in did nothing. Did full reset and the device can not be added to homekit or GE Cync app. DOA Added a second plug to my home. Just as easy as the first. Three days later, we are still in business. I have not contacted customer support. Other than the device failing, connecting a matter plug to Homekit was trivial. Eve Energy - (Matter Compatible) $40 I currently have four plugs deployed for six months They are connected using thread and bluetooth Super fast and super reliable You get what you pay for 2024 TV Season Wrap Up Although this year's TV Season got a late start, we did have one however short it was. It seems like we just got new episodes and now we are looking at season finales. But even with shortened TV seasons, executives have to make tough decisions on what shows get another season and which ones say good-bye. The following is what TV Line is reporting for the end of the 2024 Television Season: ABC 9-1-1: Officially renewed for Season 8 Abbott Elementary: Officially renewed for Season 4. The Conners: A safe bet. The Good Doctor: Officially canceled; series finale airs this Spring. Grey's Anatomy: Officially renewed for Season 21. Not Dead Yet: Could go either way. The Rookie: Officially renewed for Season 7 Station 19: Officially canceled; series finale airs this Spring. Will Trent: Officially renewed for Season 3 CBS Blue Bloods: Officially canceled; series finale airs in Fall 2024. Bob Hearts Abishola: Officially canceled; series finale airs May 6. CSI: Vegas: Officially canceled. The Equalizer: Officially renewed for Season 5 Elsbeth: Officially renewed for Season 2 FBI: Officially renewed (through Season 9) FBI: International: Officially renewed for Season 4 FBI: Most Wanted: Officially renewed for Season 6 Fire Country: Officially renewed for Season 3 Ghosts: Officially renewed for Season 4 NCIS: Officially renewed for Season 22 NCIS: Hawai'i: Officially canceled. The Neighborhood: Officially renewed for Season 7 So Help Me Todd: Officially canceled. S.W.A.T.: Officially uncancelled, renewed for Season 8 Tracker: Officially renewed for Season 2 Young Sheldon: Officially canceled; series finale airs May 16; spinoff ordered FOX 9-1-1: Lone Star: Season 5 delayed until Fall 2024. Accused: Too early to tell. Alert: Missing Persons Unit: Too early to tell. Animal Control: Officially renewed for Season 3. Bob's Burgers: Officially renewed for Season 15. The Cleaning Lady: Could go either way. Family Guy: Officially renewed for Season 23. The Great North: Could go either way. Grimsburg: Officially renewed for Season 2. HouseBroken: In perpetual limbo. Krapopolis: Officially renewed for Seasons 2 and 3. The Simpsons: Officially renewed for Season 36. NBC Chicago Fire: Officially renewed. Chicago Med: Officially renewed. Chicago P.D.: Officially renewed. Extended Family: Could go either way. Found: Officially renewed for Season 2. The Irrational: Officially renewed for Season 2. Law & Order: Officially renewed. Law & Order: Organized Crime: A safe bet. Law & Order: SVU: Officially renewed. Lopez vs. Lopez: Could go either way. Night Court: A safe bet. Quantum Leap: Officially canceled. The CW All American: Too early to tell. All American: Homecoming: Too early to tell Sight Unseen: Too early to tell Sullivan's Crossing: Officially renewed for Season 2. Superman & Lois: Officially canceled; fina

On this week's show we look at the Nielsen "The Gauge™" report for March 2024 and the new Sony Bravia Line of TVs. We also ask if QDEL is the future of TV Technology. We round out the show with your emails and a look at the week's news. News: Plex Flex: FAST Boasts That It Has Exceeded 1100 Channels Netflix Makes Major Changes to Its Plans - RetailWire Source: 4K Chromecast with Google TV sequel is coming with new remote Other: Cambridge Audio USA | eBay Stores Cambridge Audio Minx X201 (Black) Ultra-compact powered subwoofer at Crutchfield S6 Powered Subwoofer for $300 Sony might have perfected Mini LED TVs with its new 2024 lineup - The Verge Neilsen's Total TV and Streaming Snapshot Nielsen today released The Gauge™ report for March 2024, which revealed that TV usage changes from February to March were very similar to those exhibited in the same interval last year, as seasonality—of both content and viewing behavior—has started to take effect. As such, the 3% drop in overall TV usage in March does not come as a surprise, but a closer look at shifts in viewing behavior over a longer period of time highlights greater changes across the broader media landscape. Full Press Release here… Sony Bows New Premium Bravia Mini-LED TVs Sony unveiled four new Bravia TV models, "flagship" and "premium" mini-LED editions, the Bravia 9 and Bravia 8, respectively, a "core" full-array LED Bravia 7, and a "standard" direct LED Bravia 6. Full Article Here… Is QDEL The Future of Display Technology In the realm of premium display technologies, Quantum Dot Electroluminescent (QDEL) is emerging as a promising innovation that could potentially replace OLED in high-end TVs and monitors. Unlike traditional LEDS, QDEL displays do not require a traditional backlight; instead, they utilize quantum dots as the light source, offering various advantages in terms of image quality, affordability, and longevity. So what makes QDEL so enticing to TV manufacturers? Evolution from OLED With OLED technology becoming more common and affordable, the focus has shifted toward identifying the next breakthrough in consumer display technology. While concepts like Micro LED, transparent screens, and foldable displays are under development, quantum dots have surfaced as a leading contender to address key user concerns effectively. Quantum Dot Technology Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that emit light when subjected to an electric current, offering superior color accuracy and brightness compared to traditional displays. QDEL leverages quantum dots to produce vibrant colors, high brightness, and enhanced energy efficiency without relying on a separate backlight system. Advantages of QDEL Wider Color Gamut: QDEL displays are expected to surpass QD-OLEDs in terms of color accuracy and vibrancy, enhancing the viewing experience for consumers. Improved Brightness: By using quantum dots as the light source, QDEL screens can achieve higher brightness levels, making them suitable for various environments, including well-lit rooms. Cost Efficiency: The elimination of backlight components in QDEL technology may lead to more affordable displays for consumers in the future. Burn-In Resistance: QDEL displays are designed to be resistant to issues like burn-in, which have been a concern with certain display technologies. Nanotechnology Development Nanosys, a leading quantum dot supplier, is actively involved in developing QDEL technology under the name NanoLED. This innovative approach aims to enhance display performance while offering a competitive edge in the premium display market. QDEL represents a promising advancement in display technology, offering a backlight-less solution with improved color reproduction, brightness, affordability, and durability. As the industry continues to evolve, QDEL stands out as a technology to watch for enthusiasts and consumers looking for the next generation of premium displays.

On this week's show we compare Mini-LED vs OLED and we put a high end listening room based on products that were exhibited at this year's AXPONA show. We also read your email and look at the week's news. News: DirecTV and Dish Back Fubo in Its Spulu Antitrust Suit | Next TV Roku Upgrades Viewing Experience with New Features | TV Tech Hub: Smart TVs Now in Nearly 8 of 10 Homes | TV Tech Disney Plus Looking To Integrate Always-On Linear Channels Other: Credit cards abused again in second Roku hack affecting 576,000 - FlatpanelsHD NBCUniversal Launches Personalized, Hyperlocal Services via ATSC 3.0 | TV Tech Mini-LED vs OLED We are asked from time to time to recommend a particular TV or in some cases a technology. Right now, in our opinion, the best TV technology is OLED. But is it really the best overall? Let's take a look at OLED vs mini-LED in six important criteria. Sharpness and Resolution: Both OLED and Mini-LED TVs typically offer 4K resolution, with some models supporting higher resolutions. Therefore, in terms of sharpness and resolution, it's a tie between OLED and Mini-LED. Black Levels: OLED TVs excel in producing true blacks by individually turning off pixels. Mini-LED displays have not completely achieved this level of per-pixel control. In this aspect, OLED emerges as the winner for its superior black levels. Brightness and Contrast: OLED TVs offer deep blacks for infinite contrast ratio, while Mini-LED TVs can achieve higher brightness levels. Mini-LED takes the lead in brightness, while OLED wins in terms of contrast ratio. Color Quality: OLED TVs typically exhibit excellent color quality, often surpassing 100% of the sRGB color gamut. Although Mini-LED TVs may not reach these levels, this is more due to other factors like color filters rather than the Mini-LED technology itself. The winner in color quality is OLED. Viewing Angles: OLED TVs generally have wider viewing angles compared to LCD TVs, including those using Mini-LED technology. While Mini-LED TVs can vary based on the type of display used, OLED usually outperforms them in terms of viewing angles. Size and Price: In terms of size, both OLED and Mini-LED TVs are available in various sizes to suit different preferences. However, traditionally, OLED TVs have been more expensive compared to Mini-LED TVs, which could be a consideration for some buyers. Price and size considerations may vary based on individual preferences and budgets. So which one wins? It's our opinion that OLED has the absolute best picture but mini-LED is very close and unless you are looking at them side by side you won't notice. It really comes down to cost and since you can buy some really big mini-LED TVs for a quarter of the price, we give the nod to mini-LED. AXPONA 2024 AXPONA 2024 wrapped up last week. What is AXPONA you might ask? From their website: AXPONA is a three-day experience featuring multiple hotel floors packed with over 200 listening rooms. The Expo Hall featuring The Record Fair, The Ear Gear Experience, and seminars. Whether you're a serious audiophile, a newcomer to high-end audio or simply a music lover, you'll find everything you need to immerse yourself in your favorite sounds. It's very similar to "The Show" that we have out here in CA every year. This year it will be June 7-9 in Costa Mesa so come out and let's all go! While AXPONA exhibited products that most of us can buy, there are some that, quite frankly, are priced for people fly on their own jets. They probably don't even listen to podcasts, so let's make fun of them!! Kidding of course. Today, our very rich uncle who has $150,000 laying around has asked us to put a system together so he can listen to his extensive vinyl collection! Transrotor Tourbillon FMD The Tourbillon FMD is a premium turntable model with high-end features designed to deliver exceptional performance in the audio playback experience. The Transrotor Tourbillon FMD stands out as a top-of-the-line turntable with innovative features and premium construction materials aimed at audiophiles seeking unparalleled sound quality and precision in vinyl playback. With its advanced FMD bearing technology, dual tone arm support, and included accessories, it offers a premium and comprehensive audio experience for discerning enthusiasts in the high-end turntable market. $60K with Cartridge Fern and Roby Amp No. 2 Amp No. 2 is our second collaboration with Michael Bettinger who has been designing and building amplifiers for nearly 40 years. Integrated amps make building a great high fidelity audio system easy. Our goal in this project was to produce something that will turn your living room into the best listening room possible. Fewer components, cables, and cost, but delivering world class audio into your home. $8500 (Add $350 if you want Isolation Feet) Acora SRB Reference Loudspeaker Acora Acoustics loudspeakers are constructed using hand crafted, specially treated granite enclosures. The rigidity of granite far exceeds that of

On this week's show we preview the upcoming WiFi 7 specification and we review the Technics SU-GX70 Network Audio Amplifier Review. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Roku just announced a free NBA channel ESPN's Stand-Alone Streaming Service Will Be Available Through Disney+ Apple TV+ share grows in the US, but still lags behind its competitors LG TV owners should update their firmware, webOS vulnerability found in a few models Other: Ridiculous 150" AWOL Vision Theater Setup Roku patent invents a way to show ads over anything you plug into your TV | Ars Technica A Giga-Sunset For Gigaset IoT Devices | Hackaday WiFi 7 May be What We Have All Been Waiting For Why WiFi 7 is the future of wireless technology As of now, the finalized specifications for WiFi 7 (also known as 802.11be) have not been officially released, as the standard is still in development. However, based on industry discussions and proposals, some expected features of the proposed WiFi 7 specification include: Increased Speeds: WiFi 7 is anticipated to offer even higher data rates than its predecessors, potentially reaching multi-gigabit speeds Enhanced Efficiency: Improved spectrum efficiency will allowi for better performance in crowded environments and increased capacity for simultaneous connections. Low Latency: WiFi 7 is likely to target reduced latency to support real-time applications such as online gaming, video streaming, and video conferencing with minimal delay. Advanced Security: Multi-User MIMO: More advanced Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA): The use of OFDMA will enhance spectral efficiency and enable better resource allocation for various types of traffic. Improved Beamforming: Enhanced beamforming techniques will optimize signal transmission and reception, improving network coverage and reliability. Wider Spectrum Utilization: WiFi 7 may explore the use of new frequency bands or spectrum sharing techniques to accommodate more devices and applications and deliver better performance. IoT Optimization: Features tailored for Internet of Things (IoT) devices to support the increasing number of connected devices and diverse IoT applications. Power Efficiency Enhancements: Efforts to improve power efficiency to extend battery life in wireless devices and reduce energy consumption overall. It's important to note that these features are based on expectations and early proposals for WiFi 7. The final specifications may vary as the standard progresses through the development and approval process. Technics SU-GX70 Network Audio Amplifier Review Listening to music takes three elements, the music itself, the speakers, and the amplification. If one of these elements is not up to the task, your entire experience will be less than desired. Great speakers take high quality audio to even higher levels. The converse is also true, poor quality audio files will sound even worse. There is a middle layer that we don't talk about as much, and that's the amplification. Back in the 70's all we cared about were watts! The more, the better! As a teenager I did not appreciate that not all power is created equal. Smart amplifier design can make your music sound even better and that's what the engineers at Technics have done with the SU-GX70 Network Audio Amplifier (MSRP $1999.95). The GX70 is a box that has something for everyone. First and foremost it's a digital amplifier that outputs a total of 80 Watts into 8 ohms and supports a ton of physical connections including: Line level x2, phono, HDMI ARC, optical x2, coaxial, USB Type A, USB Type B. Supporting HDMI ARC allows you to connect your own speakers as a soundbar alternative. As far as wireless connection goes, you have Wi-fi, ethernet, Bluetooth, Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2. DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) and FM. You can also get access to Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz through the app. Hi Res is supported via the USB port with a DAC that can decode 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD512 files and it can handle MQA streams from Tidal. This is one versatile integrated amp!! Setup To connect the GX70 to the network you use the Apple Home (or Google Home) app. Which seemed odd to us since there is a remote control and display screen. But once you are connected to your network you can use the Technics Audio Center App to control the system. Actually, the only reason you would need the app is if you want to send MQA streams to the amp. All the radio stations that are available through the app are available on your phone or tablet via apps source apps like iHeart Radio. You can tweak the amp to dial it in for your speakers through a calibration on the amp. But it sounded really good right out of the box. We'll give it an 8 out of 10 for setup, knocking off two points because you have to use Apple/Google Home to get it connected to your network. The aforementioned remote is a better way to use and inte

On this week's show the HT Guys are on spring break but no worries we still have a brief show for you. Are Sports Fans willing to pay $50 a month to stream their favorite teams? We have a couple of emails and news stories. News: YouTube TV estimated to have more subscribers than Comcast and Spectrum by 2026 Kaleidescape Introduces 96TB Terra Prime Movie Server Other: Smart devices are turning out to be a poor investment 57% of Sports Fans Willing to Pay $50 Monthly For Live Streaming App More than 57% of TV sports fans said they would pay $50 monthly for a sports-only streaming app service in a February online survey of 2,000 respondents conducted by CasinoReviews.net, an advocate for online wagering. Full article here…

On this week's show SVS officially launches their Ultra Evolution Speakers, Amazon Echo Dot with LED Display is the best home automation device, and RTINGS.com is not impressed with the Formovie UST Projector. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: One-in-ten borrow streaming passwords Warner Sets Rollout Date for Max in Europe Mediacom Launches Xumo Stream Box TCL Adds NFL FAST Channel to TCLtv Plus Streaming Service Other: Apple TV+ Is the New HBO | WIRED SVS Launches Ultra Evolution Speakers We had Nick Brown and Smith Freeman on the live stream last Friday where we talked about the speakers and had a fun time. At that time we could not discuss all the details of their new Ultra Evolution speakers. Well this week SVS announced the availability and pricing. From the Press Release: At first glance, the most striking design feature is the acoustically centered time alignment cabinet architecture. A curve in the front baffle aligns the sound emanation point of the tweeter and each driver on a vertical plane ensuring sound from each driver arrives at a listener's ear in the exact same instant. This maximizes phase coherence for a more convincing and immersive soundstage with pinpoint accuracy and imaging. For the tower models specifically, midrange drivers and woofers positioned above and below the tweeter allow for seamless crossover blending to create an idealized "point-source" where sound flows from a single point in front of the speaker to optimize dispersion characteristics. The diamond-coated aluminum dome tweeter is also completely new for SVS. Using a modern technology called vapor deposition, a layer of diamond carbon is grown on the surface of the aluminum dome to improve rigidity and critical acoustic properties. This breakthrough in material science raises the frequency response well beyond the limits of human hearing resulting in effortless, airy, and unveiled highs with no measurable distortion. It also pushes low frequency extension of the tweeter deeper for more seamless blending with the midrange. Details and pricing on the new models are included below. Ultra Evolution Pinnacle: 3-way floorstanding speaker - $4,999.98/pair Ultra Evolution Titan: 3-way floorstanding speaker - $3,999.98/pair Ultra Evolution Tower: 3-way floorstanding speaker - $2,999.98/pair Ultra Evolution Bookshelf: 2-way bookshelf speaker - $1,199.98/pair Ultra Evolution Nano: Compact 2-way bookshelf speaker - $899.98/pair Ultra Evolution Center: 3-way center channel speaker - $799.99 Ultra Elevation: Versatile home theater speaker with multi-angle wall/ceiling mounting bracket - $899.98/pair Ultra Evolution Nano and Ultra Evolution Tower models will ship later in Q2. Finish options will be limited at launch. All models will soon be available in Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, and Premium Black Oak Wood Veneer finishes. All SVS products are backed by a five-year unconditional warranty, 45-day in-home trial, fast and free shipping, expert lifetime support, SoundPoints loyalty program, and all the guarantees of the SVS Customer Bill of Rights. Amazon Echo Dot with Clock Best Smart Home Device Overall? I was reading an article on Tom's Guide titled "The best smart home devices in 2024" and saw that they deemed the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock ($50) as the best smart home device overall. I wondered why? Once you dive in, you can see how they got there. From the article: The name says it all: this is an Echo Dot with a clever LED clock built in its face. However, this seemingly simple addition adds a ton of functionality to the Echo Dot, making an even better smart home companion. In fact, we wish more smart home companies took Amazon's cue and make minor — yet effective — enhancements to already excellent devices. I started searching online and found other reviewers saying the same thing. The Dot does everything you'd expect a device of this type to do but it's the LED that sets it apart from its competition. And if you read some of the 65,000 comments you'll see a lot of others agree! The LED can display a clock, timers, weather, song titles, and more. So do you think a $50 smart speaker with an LED display is worthy of the title "Best Smart Home Device"? Here is what some owners are saying: Replaced my 20 year old alarm clock I was looking for an "Atomic" alarm clock which automatically sets the current time and found this. I bought this Echo Dot for our bedroom when the old alarm clock finally quit working. This is bright, lights up when you speak and shows the time in the dark. Love it! A great clock for any room RTINGS what are you doing? Over at AVS forum a thread caught our eye titled "RTINGS what are you doing?". The author of the thread was not happy with a review of the Formovie UST Projector the site had posted. RTINGS gave the projector a 7.1 out of 10 for movies. Reading through the thread it was clear that owners of the Formovie were upset. One poster thought it was possible that t

On this week's show we take a look at some audiophile myths and debunk them. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: LG Debuts Wireless Dolby Soundbar For G4 OLED evo TVs Have You Signed Up for a Streamer to Watch a Specific Show? DirecTV Drops Local Stations From Lower-Priced Bundle CSA unveils smart home security standard ESPN Signs Six-Year, $7.8 Billion Extension for the Expanding College Football Playoff Tournament Other: TV Station Launches Multiple 4K Broadcasts OTA on ATSC 1.0 Audiophile Myths Why do some in our hobby spend so much money on their gear? And for this discussion we are not talking about reasonably priced quality products that can cost a few thousand dollars. We're talking about really expensive stuff like speakers that cost $20,000 each, speaker wire that costs $100 a foot, or any other product that needlessly separates you from your money all in the name of squeezing out the last bit of performance. On today's show we will dispel a few Audiophile Myths and hopefully save you money and help you get more out of the equipment you own. Myth: Even though people cannot hear frequencies above 20 KHz, it is important that audio equipment be able to reproduce higher frequencies to maintain clarity. Fact: Producing sounds at a frequency beyond what humans can hear is not sonically useful. However, a good amplifier and speaker generally have a frequency response beyond the limits of hearing. Conversely, the lack of an extended response can indicate that the amplifier designers cut some corners. Keep in mind you don't have to pay a lot of money for this. A Fosi amp goes for $100 and produces frequencies from 20Hz to 20kHz. Myth: Gold-plated connectors sound better than connectors made of standard materials (Copper, Nickel. Or Tin). Fact: Gold does not oxidize, and oxidized connectors can cause problems. With that said, gold on it's own will not make your audio better. As far as oxidation goes, good quality wire and connectors will take years to oxidize under normal circumstances. Don't waste money on gold plated when copper will do the exact same thing! Myth: Speakers Need Time to Break In Fact: I used to believe this based on my own listening. But there was no way for me to actually remember what my speakers sounded like from day one to compare them with day five after 30 hours of use. It wasn't until I saw objective tests performed on speakers when they were new and again when they were used for 30 hours. The wave forms were sonically identical. Conclusive scientific results. End of story! Now some bigger drivers like woofers and subwoofers use spiders as stiffening agents instead of thicker, more rigid materials in their production. These do lose stiffness in their suspension with use, but it usually happens within minutes — not hours or days. Myth: All acoustic treatments will improve the sound. Fact: You can't throw up acoustic treatments just anywhere and expect an improvement in sound. Acoustic treatments are made to address specific problems. With that said, if you have a room with bare walls and wood or tile floors, get soft materials on the walls and rugs on the floor. In this case dampening the echos will help. But to do a full treatment you need to be more exact, Here is a list of articles from Audioholics that can help you treat your room. "Room Reflections and Human Adaptation for Small Room Acoustics," "Early Reflections and Bass for Small Room Acoustics," and "Early Reflections in Home Theater Rooms: Beneficial or Detrimental?" Myth: Speakers need to be isolated to get the most out of them. Fact: Well designed loudspeakers don't transmit much mechanical energy through their enclosures. Loudspeakers are transmitting most of their energy into the air which then exerts force on objects in the room. You are likely getting more vibrations from pressure waves hitting other objects in the room as opposed to the cabinet vibrating. In my room I have played some of my speakers at very loud volumes. I then touched the drivers on the speakers that were adjacent and there was some movement. I'm not sure that they did anything to distort the sound in the room, but they were vibrating more than the cabinets of the speaker that I was using. There may be some aesthetic reasons you may want to isolate your speakers including pads to protect your floor. Myth: All your speaker wire should be the same length. Fact: Speed of electricity is 186,000 miles a second. That means that a 5 meter and 10 meter cable have statistically no difference as to when the signal gets to the drivers. But using similar length speaker wire will increase the resale value of your speakers should you choose to sell them! Myth: You need to break in your speaker wire. Fact: Yes!! Do not drive them past 10 for the first 12,000 miles. After that if your amp goes to 11, have at it!! Seriously, when it comes to speaker wire buy high quality wire. Just don't pay exorbitant prices. Solid copper 14 Gauge spe

On this week's show we discuss John Campeas video where he claims streaming is about to get a lot more expensive and irritating. We also take a look at the top ten shows both domestically and globally at Netflix and Vudu is now officially "Fandango at Home". We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: LAPD issues warning about residential burglars using WiFi jammers to disable alarms, cameras LG's $1 billion investment boosts OLED production Roku Has More than 15,000 User Accounts Hacked YouTube TV is Going to Make it Easier to Browse & Still Watch Your Show Other: The Downfall of Streaming TV | The Bubble has Burst Roku's Ransom: Agree to Forced Arbitration or Lose Your TV! First Look 2024: A new era of Samsung AI TV | Samsung Vudu Is Now Called 'Fandango at Home' Here is what you need to know: FandangoNow users will need to move their accounts to Vudu Once FandangoNow users move their accounts to Vudu and log in again, they'll be able to access their libraries and promo codes. Vudu users won't need to take any action unless they want to link their existing Fandango account. Vudu and FandangoNow subscribers can also use the same username and password to log in on the rebranded service. Users won't lose any content from their libraries Under Fandango at Home, users can take advantage of new Vudu gift cards, reward loyalty programs, and partner programs coming soon. Clicking on the "Buy Tickets" link goes to the Fandango website. If you don't have an account you'll have to create a seperate one to purchase movie tickets. No word on when or if the two sites will be merged. From the Fandango website you can preorder food and drinks after you buy tickets. Available at select theaters. The Top Ten TV shows on Netflix Netflix Top Ten TV Globally # Title Weeks in Top 10 Hours Viewed Runtime Views 1 The Gentlemen: S1 1 81,500,000 6:41 12,200,000 2 Avatar The Last Airbender: S1 3 65,700,000 7:15 9,100,000 3 The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping: Limited Series 1 22,700,000 3:12 7,100,000 4 Hot Wheels Let's Race: S1 1 16,300,000 4:02 4,000,000 5 Love Is Blind: S6 4 43,800,000 12:42 3,400,000 6 One Day: Limited Series 5 20,400,000 6:40 3,100,000 7 American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders: Season 1 2 8,900,000 3:44 2,400,000 8 Blood & Water: S4 1 10,500,000 4:40 2,200,000 9 Resident Alien: S1 4 16,200,000 7:33 2,100,000 10 The Tourist: S2 1 11,300,000 5:45 2,000,000 Netflix Top Ten TV in The US The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping: Limited Series 3 Globally The Gentlemen: Season 1 1 Globally Love Is Blind: Season 6 5 Globally Avatar The Last Airbender: Season 1 2 Globally American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders: Season 1 7 Globally Furies: Season 1 N/A Globally The Tourist: Season 2 10 Globally The Signal: Limited Series N/A Globally Hot Wheels Let's Race: Season 1 4 Globally Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 1 N/A Globally How Streaming Is About To Get A Lot More Expensive And Irritating We received an email from John pointing us to this video: How Streaming Is About To Get A Lot More Expensive And Irritating The Host John Campea had some really good thoughts on why Streaming is about to get a lot more expensive.