HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

This week we have an interview with Jeff Baron, former DJ at KPFK Los Angeles around 1968, then KPPC-FM Pasadena in the early 70s and finally KMPX San Francisco also early 70s. We also read your emails and read the week's news. News: Blockbuster website reactivates Samsung Expands OLED 4K Lineup With Two New Series Nearly 7 in 10 U.S. TV Content Viewers Use Free Streaming Services Monthly Amazon reportedly considering purchase of AMC Entertainment Apple TV 4K gets promised Quick Media Switching feature to eliminate 'HDMI bonk' Other: Q Live QL 100 Karaoke Digital Echo Stereo Mixing Amplifier Master Channel | eBay Our memory for sounds is significantly worse than our memory for visual or tactile things -- ScienceDaily Jeff started at KPFK Los Angeles around 1968, then KPPC-FM Pasadena in the early 70s and finally KMPX San Francisco also early 70s

This week we go on a speaker evaluation journey with Ara and his daughter. But not before we read your emails and the week's news. News: Android TV rolls out user profiles, but there's a caveat Sling TV launches new features for sports fans, including picture-in-picture mode and an iOS widget 8K Association Launches Content Awareness Campaign YouTube TV hikes price to $72.99 per month due to rising 'content costs' Other: Speakers Designed For REAL Rooms - Larsen 4.2 Review Tame Bright Speakers JBL Speaker Makeover but I didn't have a tweeter. Bought Dayton Audio DC25T-8 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter for $17 a piece. These tweeters are very efficient, 93db vs 88db for the entire 2500. This mismatch was very off putting. The tweeter was overpowering the woofer and it was fatiguing to listen to. So I researched how to reduce the high frequencies otherwise known as Tweeter attenuation Tweeter attenuation is the reduction of voltage & power to a tweeter to decrease its volume output. This is usually done with a resistor network with values chosen to match the expected load of a stereo, amplifier, or speaker crossover. Essentially what I did was cut the positive (red) lead and insert a resistor. There is a formula that is used to determine how much attenuation a specific resistor value achieves So I bought a few resistors and went through the process of removing the tweeter and clipping in a resistor and listening. I used alligator clips during the testing phase and I soldered the final result and shrink wrapped the connection. In my case I ended up with a 5 ohm resistor which resulted in a 9 db attenuation. So now the speaker is no longer excessively bright and the Dayton Audio tweeters are much better than the JBL titanium tweeters. There was much more detail and just the right amount of "brightness". You can do this if you have speakers that are bright as well. But you probably won't need to go as high a value as I did since the mismatch was so large. Speakers are designed to work together so if the speakers are bright they were designed that way. But even still if you love you speakers but want to tame them a bit you can easily do this. I created a video that I uploaded to YouTube. It's not a how to but it visually shows you what i am talking about. I even try to record the before and after using a good microphone. But it's impossible to hear the difference. In person the difference is dramatic. Just make sure you use audio grade resistors. Part Express has plenty and they are a couple of dollars each. Once I had everything dialed in I wanted to do a blind listening test. For that I asked my daughter to be the guinea pig. She accepted and got a huge lesson in auditioning speakers. The speakers being auditioned: JBL 2500 (Ara Redo all JBL components) JBL 2500 (Ara Redo wit DA Tweeter and 5 ohm resistor) JBL LX22 (Ara Redo) CSS Audio Criton 2D Kit Ascend Acoustics Sierra 1 (Ara Redo all Ascend Acoustics components) We listened to the identical parts of each song on all speakers. First Test I asked her to pick a song that she liked. I don't remember the name but it was by a band called Camino. I played it on all five different speakers and asked her if she had a favorite. To me it sounded terrible on all speakers. The mix was a jumble of sounds that was just bad. She actually agreed but selected the Ascend Acoustics as the best worst sounding example of crappy music. That was me editorializing. Second Test The first minute of "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyed. Wow! What a difference. I could see on my daughter's face that she was blown away by the imaging. The song starts out with an old timey AM radio feel in the right channel. Then when the effect disappears and the guitar comes up smack dab in the middle of your listening position. You just smile. I then start over and switch speakers. The other thing that I found interesting is that for most speakers she couldn't tell which pair was on. By the end of the test, she started recognizing the characteristics of some of the speakers and was able to tell which ones were on. Test two goes to JBL 2500 with the DA tweeter. We listened to seven total tracks with the results below: Fifth of May by Zach Bryan - JBL 2500 with DA Tweeter Dawns by Zach Bryan - JBL 2500 with DA Tweeter Tin Pan Alley by SRV - CSS Audio (so much bass!) Everything She Ain't by Haily Whitters - JBL 2500 wit h DA Tweeter I have Got You Under My Skin Live in Boston by Chris Botti featuring Katharine McPhee - Ascend Acoustics In the end the JBL 2500 with the Dayton Audio tweeter was the speaker my daughter picked most. But all these speakers sounded really good. It really comes down to what kind of music you like listening to determine what speakers you will like. In reality all these speakers performed well. If you like bass heavy music then the CSS Audio speakers would be your go to. If you like clear detail then the Ascend Acoustics might be what you would go with. By the way, the CSS audio has gre

This week Ed Mullen and Nick Brown of SVS join the show to help you get the most out of your speakers. We also read your emails and discuss the week's news. News: Roku's first self-made TVs hit Best Buy stores today CBS Sports to Launch Free Streaming Global Soccer Network Roku adds local newscasts, sports in update Other: The Brit and Yankee Craft Beer Pubcast Tech-Wall For Bill, these are five great sounding vinyl records (in no specific order and not knowing his taste of music): Any Dire Strait album Fleetwood Mac - Rumors (Pallas Pressing) Funkadelic - Maggot Brain Dave Brubeck - Time Out Radiohead - Ok Computer Set up your Speakers Properly A couple of months ago Stan from Pittsburgh sent us an email asking if we could do a feature on setting up speakers in rooms that may not be ideal. For that we turn to Ed Mullen Senior Director of Customer Service and Technology and Nick Brown Vice President of Marketing for SVS. Home of the 45 day in home trial that includes free shipping and returns. Check out svsound.com for more details.

This week look at the new Sony Bravia line for 2023 and discuss why watching movies at home is better than in the cinema. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: YouTube TV's CEO Confirms New Features Coming This Fall With NFL Sunday Ticket TiVo: Viewing Time Stagnates But Number of Video Services Used Jumps Cord Cutting Accelerates as Pay TV Loses Nearly 5.9M Subscribers in 2022 Your Ring camera features are about to change, and not in a good way LG Announces Pricing And Availability Of 2023 OLED TVs Other: HT Guys Music Testing Playlist Sony 2023 Bravia TV Sony Electronics Inc. announced its 2023 BRAVIA XR™ TV Lineup, with Cognitive Processor XR™, for the ultimate home entertainment experience. There are five new models in the BRAVIA XR line: X95L and X93L Mini LED, X90L Full Array LED, A95L QD-OLED and A80L OLED. All models are equipped with features to provide consumers with an immersive experience for watching movies, streaming apps, gaming and more. Full Press release… 2023 BRAVIA XR TVs have the updated Cognitive Processor XR, featuring the all new XR Clear Image on select models, which improves noise reduction and clarity with motion, reducing blur and creating scenes bursting with action. The Cognitive Processor XR enables better backlight control for increased local dimming zones, increased brightness and decreased blooming. Additionally, each model offers Acoustic Center Sync, which synchronizes the TV's audio system with the center channel of a compatible Sony soundbar turning it into the center speaker for the ultimate, immersive at-home experience. For consumers looking for an even more immersive sound experience, each model also works with Sony soundbars to offer 360 Spatial Sound Mapping which generates phantom speakers and sound field optimization. New this year, the X95L features Acoustic Multi-Audio+™, using frame tweeters to elevate the sound in a way that matches the image on screen. The A95L and A80L models feature Acoustic Surface Audio+™ with actuators that vibrate to produce sound from the entire screen, perfectly matching with what's playing on screen. The 2023 BRAVIA XR lineup also allows gamers to take their PlayStation® 5 gaming to the next level with exclusive features, including Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode, for optimized picture quality while gaming and streaming Key BRAVIA XR lineup features: Cognitive Processor XR with XR Clear Image: The Cognitive Processor XR replicates content the way people see and hear for an incredibly lifelike experience. The latest iteration of the Cognitive Processor XR for 2023 enters a new chapter in its development with advanced XR Clear Image. This technology further reduces noise and reduces blur in motion, creating scenes that burst with life. Elevate the experience with Sony's sound products: Sony's new BRAVIA XR TVs are an excellent match for an array of Sony sound products, such as the HT-A9 Home Theater System or the HT-A7000, HT-A5000 and HT-A3000 soundbars. 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, a new frontier of spatial sound technology, is the latest addition to models HT-A7000 and HT-A5000. By calibrating sound to the chosen viewing room, the technology creates multiple optimally arranged phantom speakers for a wider and more immersive cinematic sound field. Acoustic Center Sync: Pairs perfectly with Sony soundbars – Acoustic Center Sync synchronizes the TV speakers with select Sony soundbars and AV receivers to reinforce the center speaker channel for clearer, fuller dialogue and more immersive sound. When paired with Sony Home Audio products, consumers can expect a truly exceptional at-home movie viewing experience. XR Backlight Master Drive and Mini LED: Powered by Cognitive Processor XR™, the XR Backlight Master Drive uses a Sony-developed local dimming algorithm to control thousands of tiny, ultra-dense Mini LEDs with absolute precision and independence, delivering extraordinary brightness, impressive dynamic range, deep blacks and beautifully natural colors. Perfect for PlayStation® 5 and new Gaming functions: Gamers can take their PlayStation® 5 gaming to the next level with exclusive features Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode that optimize picture quality while gaming and streaming. With the newly added Game Menu, it has never been easier to fine-tune gaming settings and assist functions. All the essentials are at the gamer's fingertips for on the fly adjustments. Additionally, the BRAVIA XR A95L features Multi View, making it easier than ever to watch walkthroughs side-by-side while the gamer plays their favorite titles. BRAVIA CORE: The BRAVIA CORE app is a pre-loaded movie service that comes with five, 10 or 15 movie credits to watch the latest releases and popular classics and additional movies up to 24 months of unlimited streaming, with the purchase of a BRAVIA XR TV. With BRAVIA XR technology, Pure Stream™ and IMAX® Enhanced, content is delivered with stunning visuals

This week we take a trip down memory lane and discuss Los Angeles free form radio from the 70s and 80s. We also discuss a technology that may make LCD TVs obsolete. And finally we talk about audio reviewers and whether it's worth listening to what they have to say. Plus we read your emails and the week's news. News: Hisense Logs Record 2022 TV Shipments, Now Second Largest in the World Xperi CEO's Bold Declaration: TiVo OS Will Power 7 Million Smart TVs By 2026 LG Display Calls Out Samsung QD OLED Screen Burn Other: HT Guys Listener Playlist Thank you Joseph MantelMount Freeform Radio from the 1970s and 80s The other day I was wondering about a DJ that used to work at KLOS in Los Angele. Her name was Linda McGinnis. She had a beautiful voice and was an excellent DJ. So I wondered if she was still on the radio someplace. As it turned out she had passed away in 2003. If you lived in San Diego or the Bay area during the 70's and 80's I am sure you heard her. However, in doing my search I found a couple of recordings that some had done and digitized off of an old cassette tape and posted on the Internet. It was an hour of Linda's daily show from October of 1981 replete with commercials of the day. It was a glorious trip down memory lane! This started my trip down the rabbit hole! I found many other recordings from the DJs of KLOS and KMET all making me sad for the days when radio had true artists spinning the tunes. Back then, at least on freeform rock stations, DJs would curate music for you and help you discover artists and bands you never knew you needed to hear. For the past few days, I have been listening to these recordings in my car with a huge smile on my face. Some DJs like Jim Ladd (from both KLOS and KMET fame) have freeform shows on Sirius radio. Jim can be found on Deep Tracks channel 27. Otherwise if you had a favorite DJ from your youth I recommend that you search his or her name and see if there are recordings from back in the day. You will thank me for this. Surprisingly, Apple Music Radio is old school with it's DJs. My tastes have broadened to include country music so I listen to Apple Music Country and find their DJs are very much like the DJs of the 70s and 80s. They create sets based on their mood, time of year, or what their listeners are requesting. The DJs are in the industry and based in Nashville so they have their fingers on the pulse of what is happening in the country music scene. I have discovered a bunch of country artists before everyone else in my circles. It's kind of fun being ahead of the curve like I was in highschool! I am giving my daughters music suggestions and they are wondering how on earth this old man knows about new artists before they do!! I haven't listened to the other Apple Music stations but I assume the same thing happens there. Do you have a favorite station that's old school? Let us know because it's probably available through an app. I am going to play about a minute of Linda on the radio. It made me sad and happy at the same time. Also, John in Cornwall there is a baseball comment in there that I hope you enjoy! Linda McInnes, KLOS-FM Los Angeles, CA December 28, 1981 (Restored Unscoped) Bob Coburn, Steve Downes, KLOS-FM Los Angeles, CA July 6, 1982-May 21, 1990 (Unscoped) Meta-display concept could retire LCD panels in big-screen TVs The metasurface display technology could replace the LCD layer in flat-screen televisions, bringing thinner panels, higher resolution, fast response times and lower power consumption. Full article here… The metasurfaces are 100-times thinner than liquid crystal cells, offer a tenfold greater resolution and could consume less energy. metasurface cells would replace the liquid crystal layer and would not require the polarisers, which are responsible for half of wasted light intensity and energy use in LCD displays. The new technology pixels are made of silicon, which offer a long life span in contrast with organic materials required OLED. Moreover, silicon is widely available and cheap to produce. The metasurface array could effectively just replace the liquid crystal layer in today's displays, which means manufacturers won't need to invest in brand new production lines to make panels. The next phase of research will be building a large-scale prototype and generating images, which is hoped to be achieved within the next five years. Once the prototype has successfully generated high-definition images it is expected the technology will be integrated into flat screens and available to the public within the next 10 years. A Room Full of Audio Reviewers Can't Hear Obvious Flaws A couple months ago, I went to a press event I decided not to write about. The reason I demurred is that I could hear crackling and hiss coming out of the speakers when nothing was playing. But it occurred to me that no one else noticed that the system—a six-figure rig with some well known high-end gear in it—had the noise floor of a transistor radio playing

This week we ask the question, how big is too big? We discuss what is the optimal size screen for your viewing situation. We also give some recommendations for some large screen TVs. We also read your emails and look at the week's news. News: Paramount Plus to Hike Prices by as Much as $2 a Month, Likely in July Mini-LED TVs Are Hot Right Now — But A New Report Has Bad News ELAC Announces Varro Subwoofer Line Other: Support Cycle Kids I'm sorry but...Matter SUCKS (now) This MANSION Has a $1 MILLION Star Wars Theater! How Long Should A TV Last? To try to answer this question, RTINGS.com decided to run 100 TVs that they still have in the lab from the last 2-3 years through a grueling 2-year accelerated longevity test to see how long they last. Each TV will run for either 20 or 15.5 hours per day, for a total of 126 hours per week, turning off eight times a day to simulate normal use. Every two months, they'll take uniformity and brightness measurements to see how they age over time and to look for any uniformity issues or change in brightness over time. Updates will be posted on their website (How Long Should A TV Last? Our 100 TV Accelerated Longevity Test - RTINGS.com) and their YouTube channel. What is the Optimal Size and Placement of my 4K TV We are asked from time to time what size TV should I buy for my room. We typically say, "No one has ever said I should have bought a smaller TV". So we typically say buy the biggest one you can afford or that will fit in the room. No one has ever complained about this advice. THX has some recommendations on how to calculate the optimal screen size for your room as well as where to place it. First let's take a look at placement. For optimal viewing, THX recommends that your line of sight be more or less aligned with the center of the screen. They suggest 15 degrees or less, above or below the center. Our recommendation is if the only place to mount the TV is over the fireplace, you should move! For optimal distance from the screen in inches, divide the diagonal length by .835. So for a 70" screen the optimal distance is 7 feet (213 cm). The other way to use this formula is if you know the distance and want to calculate the optimal screen size if to take the distance in inches and multiply it by .835. So if you sit 10 feet (305 cm) away from where the screen would go, the optimal screen size is 100 glorious inches! So what have we learned today? We learned that the HT guys have been successfully advising our listeners about screen size without the pesky use of math for years. Get the biggest size TV that you can afford that will fit in your room! Spouse approval optional. Just tell them Ara and Braden said it was OK. Four Large TVs for under $1200 (Costco) Samsung 75" - TU700D Series - 4K UHD LED LCD TV $679.99 Features: Smart TV Powered by Tizen Crystal Processor 4K Works with Alexa and Google Assistant Crystal Display 3 Year Warranty + HDMI Cable LG 75" Class - NANO80 Series - 4K UHD LED LCD TV $899.99 Features: α5 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K Local Dimming Active HDR10, HLG $75 Streaming Service Magic Remote Sony 75" Class - X80CK Series - 4K UHD LED LCD TV $1099.99 Features: 3 Year Manufacturer Warranty 1 yr. Bravia Core Streaming + 5 Movie Credits Premium Backlit Remote w/ Finder Function 4K HDR Processor X1 TRILUMINOS PRO Color LG 86" Class - UQ8000 Series - 4K UHD LED LCD TV $1199.99 Features: α7 Gen 5 AI Processor 4K 120 Hz Refresh Rate AI Sound Pro $75 Streaming Service Magic Remote with NFC Allstate 3-Year Protection Plan Bundle Included for 5 years of total coverage

This week we take a look at what is next for the ATSC 3.0 transition and why we think it will not be as smooth as the ATSC 1.0 transition. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: Hisense TVOS VIDAA Launches FAST, Calls Out Roku Peacock Rolls Out Live Interactive Companion "Watch With" Feature Netflix's new account-sharing rules punish students for being students KEF Launches Latest-Generation R Series Speakers What's Next for the ATSC 3.0 Transition? Up until last week, all of the major parties involved in the transition from ATSC 1.0 to 3.0 appeared to be on the same page. Advocates touted the continuing progress in deployments, pointing to the fact that more than 60% of American TV households are capable of receiving NextGen TV. Although CES came and went with little news about NextGen TV, four of the world's largest manufacturers now offer sets with 3.0 tuners with Sony making them available across its entire TV line. Full Article Here… More Support Needed NAB wants the FCC to promote ATSC 3.0 more prominently. NAB's highest priority request is that the FCC announce a cutoff similar to what it did with the ATSC 1.0 switchover. ATSC 3.0 was announced in 2017. A More Competitive Market Touting the advantages of a standard that combines the flexibility of IP with far more efficient use of spectrum, the broadcasters told the commission that the deployment of 3.0 will help the industry better compete with streaming companies and similar Silicon Valley giants. There were mandates in the early days of ATSC that required manufacturers to include ATSC 1.0 tuners in their products and to solve backward compatibility issues, ATSC converter boxes were available at no or little cost to consumers. There were no streaming companies in 2009 that could produce a picture anywhere near what could be had OTA. Now 4K is everywhere. This makes it hard for broadcasters to compete. Don't Expect a Mandate Today, support for a tuner mandate is practically non-existent. In the first transition, the CEA initially opposed the mandate but eventually manufacturers had to comply with FCC rules that were implemented in 2005. But that stipulation was also part of an agreement that set a hard deadline for the analog switch off. While NAB is pushing for such a deadline today, it has consistently supported a mostly market-driven approach for the transition to 3.0. With both the NAB and CEA are opposed to a mandate, what compels TV manufacturers to include ATSC 3.0 when consumers are not asking for them? TV sets that support NextGen TV represented only 8% of overall TV set sales in the U.S. in 2022 and CTA predicts that almost 5 million will ship to dealers in 2023, representing 12% of the total. It expects that share to hit 50% by 2025. These are mostly high end models. Sony is the only manufacturer that will include NextGen TV tuners on all their models. CTA believes set sales will accelerate, but that broadcasters have to make a purchase more compelling by offering more than what they're providing now. We have a classic chicken or egg situation here. People are holding on to their TV sets much longer and those who have ATSC 1.0 TVs do not find the same compelling reason to switch over like the need to go from NTSC to ATSC. Realistically if you bought a high end 4K TV three years ago, you may not need to upgrade it for another ten years. The pool of potential upgraders is much smaller than in 2009. What it Means for Broadcasters Using 3.0 as a "data pipe" has been promoted as perhaps the "killer app" that will allow broadcasters to offer enterprise-level services such as software updates for anything from gaming systems to rental cars and providing live over the air streaming to vehicles and even playing a role in the slow but steady emergence of autonomous vehicles. ATSC 3.0 technology is also being used to provide internet to areas that might not have access to traditional broadband.

This week we list the content our listeners use to show off their systems whether it be for music listening or movie watching. Also, Sony announced five new receivers that we discuss. And as usual, we read your emails and go over the week's news. News: Super Bowl LVII will screen in 4K and Dolby Vision, but there's a catch Google Plans To Punch Up 'NFL Sunday Ticket' With New Features Klipsch Expands High-Resolution Powered Speaker Series QD-OLED TV Prices Could Get Cheaper As Samsung Puts Production In Overdrive Sonos' next speakers will be called the Era 300 and Era 100 Listener Recommended Music and Movie Demo Material Music JR - provided the following Spotify Playlist for Music Demos Dan - Marcus Miller: Blast (from the album Marcus) Blast Stan - Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car (U2) & the first three minutes, and Dear Prudence (Beatles) Brian Donald Fagen – The Nightfly – I.G.Y. (DSD64 5.1) Foreigner – 4 – Waiting for a Girl Like You (DSD64 5.1) The Alan Parsons Project – The Turn of a Friendly Card – Games People Play (DSD64 Stereo) Heart – Dreamboat Annie – Crazy on You (FLAC 24bit/192kHz) Steely Dan – Aja – Aja (DSD64 Stereo) Aerosmith – Toys in the Attic – Walk This Way (DSD64 5.1) Beck – Sea Change – Any Track! (DSD64 5.1) Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms – Money for Nothing (DSD64 5.1) Tears for Fears – The Tipping Point – Break the Man (Dolby Atmos) Sting – Nothing Like the Sun – Englishman in New York (FLAC 24bit/96kHz) Toto – IV – Africa (DSD64 5.1) Curt - provided the following Spotify Playlist for Music Demos John - My number one all time favorite test track that I have been using for over 30 years Is Supertramp's song Fool's Overture from their live album Paris. There is so much happening in the song in the different parts of the song. In the middle of the song it goes to all different sounds like a grandfather clock, wind blowing and then a great bass guitar building up to the second part of the song with a sax and other high pitch instruments and then it mellows down to a piano, drum and singer. This song gives me everything in one song to push and test speakers. Fleetwood Mac - Tusk (Bass) Rush - YYZ This instrumental track will put any speaker to the test. This is a very fast paced song with a lot of stereo testing as instruments move from one speaker to another (helps in speaker placing) and its fast. Chris Issak - Baby Did a very bad thing - he has an amazing voice and he can go from deep to very high Mark - Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good Poco - Heart of the Night Poco - Crazy Love From the Tommy Bolin album Private Eyes, Bustin' Out For Rosey, Sweet Burgundy, Post Toastee Bill - here's a track I use to show off my subs. It was recorded by the Yellowjackets (Galileo for Jaco) as a tribute to Jack Pastorius in the 80s so it has that digitally produced sound. I've had grown men giggle like a kid at about a minute in. Enrique - Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague Movies DJ - District 9 start at 12:15 and at 12:24 the engine shuts off and you can feel it. JR - Ride of the Rohiorrim scene in The Return of the King (Youtube Clip in 4K with Atmos of this scene) Brian Blade Runner 2049 – Intro Scene Gemini Man – Intro Scene (Dolby Vision 4K60) Mad Max: Fury Road – Intro Scene Ready Player One – Race Scene Midway – Pearl Harbor Attack Scene Top Gun: Maverick – Mach 10 Scene Top Gun: Maverick – 2 Minutes 15 seconds Trial Run Scene Curt - The race scene from "Ready Player One" (Atmos!), train wreck scene from "Super 8" (not Atmos or DTSX, but awesome surround cacophony) John - the end of John Wick when they are in the rain and talking. Also Aquaman the fight sequence about a third of the way in the Italian village. Mark - Ready Player One, the race scene early in the movie, Dune, around 2 hours into the movie they place the devices to lure the worms, the bass is insane with that, The Dark Knight, when Batman is in the batcave and he's test firing a big gun, crazy bass there too Enrique - Maverick (of course), Mad Max, Blade Runner 2049 Sony Electronics Launches new ES 8K AV Receiver Lineup Sony Electronics Inc. announced its newest addition to the brand's AV receiver line. These receivers are the first from Sony to feature 8K and 4K/120 support as well as Sony's 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology. These receivers were tuned by Sony engineers to provide the most immersive home theater experience yet. The new ES line features four new models built mainly for custom installation. Additionally, the STR-AN1000 receiver is created for consumers looking to upgrade their current home theater system. Full Press Release Here… STR-AN1000 - 7.2 Channel 8K A/V Receiver (Pre-Order for $899.99) 7.2-channel A/V Receiver (165 W 6 ohms, 1 kHz, 1ch, THD 0.9%) 8K & 4K/120Hz HDMI Connectivity with HDMI 2.1 support (6-in/2-out) Supports Dolby Atmos® & DTS:X® object-based sound decoding Immersive audio with Digital Cinema Auto Calibration IX and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping What is 360 Spatial Sound Mapping By utilizing t

This week give you our impression of the Monoprice SS-Pro 8 Speaker Selector, take a look at the streaming scorecard for 2022, and we wrap up with our list of music to demo your sound system. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: With NextGen TV Transition `Stalled,' NAB Asks FCC for ATSC 3.0 Taskforce LG's new OLED TVs will get an audio upgrade to please home theater lovers Netflix Lets Priciest Plan Download to Extra Devices, Adds More Spatial Audio YouTube TV Drops MLB Network Other: Netflix: secret codes to unlock scores of hidden films and TV shows | Daily Mail Online Monoprice SS-Pro 8 High Power Dual Source 300 Watt 8 Pair Impedance Matching Speaker Selector The Monoprice SS-Pro 8 ($100) is a powerful and efficient dual source, audiophile grade speaker selector for up to 8 pairs of speakers. Featuring robust transformers, the SS-Pro 8 allows you to play all 8 pairs of speakers at once without damaging the amplifier, able to withstand up to 300 watts peak of power per channel. A front panel A/B switch allows you to choose between two amplifier sources, and easily removable snap-in connectors make installation easy. A rotary switch located on the rear panel can be used to set the appropriate impedance based on the number of pair of speakers connected. 8-zone speaker selector that allows you to connect up to 8 pairs of speakers or 8 listening zones and control each zone with front panel push-buttons Utilizes audiophile-grade impedance-matching transformers to safely distribute maximum power throughout your system Easy to use front panel switch to choose between sources Designed for use with either 4 ohm or 8 ohm speakers Protection circuit ensures your amplifier is protected Streaming Scorecard for 2022 Amid all the doom and gloom in the streaming industry regarding slumping stock prices and hefty losses, streaming audiences continue to grow at a significant pace, with Americans streaming more than 19 million years worth of content last year, according to new data from Nielsen. In total, Americans streamed more than 19.4 million years of content last year, up 27% about 15 million years in 2021. The increase was driven by the breadth of new and expanded services, coupled by the depth of content—particularly streaming originals, Nielsen reported. Full article here… Rick Beato's Preferred AV Demo List Instead of the typical audiophile spin, music educator Rick Beato provides a musician's perspective on how to choose and how to listen to music. Full article here… From the article: Throwing my two cents into this discussion, I like that Beato had many popular recordings in his list from artists as diverse as Jay-Z, Steely Dan and Linkin Park. It's my opinion that besides the lack of knowledge audiophiles have on the production process and mastering in particular, the lack of emotional connection to a piece of music is where system demos most often fail with consumers. Explaining mastering in the most basic of terms, it is the process in which engineers make sure a recording sounds balanced, full and even. The problem with a lot of popular music over the past few decades has been the issue in which the dynamics of recordings have been squashed or evened out in order for it to sound better on the radio or through a set of earbuds. The problem with heavy levels of mastering, which uses tools such as compressors and limiters, is these tools can remove the musicality and dynamics from a recording. Production professionals will sometimes refer to this trend as the "loudness wars." Using the criteria of content that people recognize and music that is well produced, including mastering that lets the music breath, here are some of my top demo choices: Ara's List: Diana Krall Live in Paris - Fly Me to the Moon Stevie Ray Vaughn - Tin Pan Alley Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter First 5 seconds of California Roll - Snoop Dog Ennio Morricone - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Explosions in the Sky - Your Hand in Mine (Theme from Friday Night Lights Movie) Madeline Edward - Mama, Dolly, Jesus Michael Ray - Holy Water Hailey Winters - Everything She Ain't

This week we discuss Netflix and password sharing and while we are at it we countdown the top ten TV series streaming on Netflix. We wrap up with the Four of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars to look forward to in 2023. We also read your emails and discuss the week's news. News: Apple to Expand Smart-Home Lineup, Taking On Amazon and Google SiriusXM Arrives on Vizio Smart TVs LG Adds a Host of New TV Channels to Its Free Streaming Service The death of Android TV is near; long live Google TV Two new Wyze cameras appear to be in the works Other: Do It For Me Solutions YouTube Channel www.DoItForMe.Solutions Your HomePod is getting a major update next week | Macworld Apple is developing a magnetic iPad-like display in major smart-home push | Macworld Streaming Password Crackdowns: 70% of Netflix Users Willing to Pay Full Price Other streaming services may not fare as well, however, a new survey from Horowitz suggests Full Article Here… Netflix Global Top 10 TV Full list as well as lists from different countries January 16 - January 22, 2023 # TV (English) WEEKS IN TOP 10 HOURS VIEWED 1 Ginny & Georgia: Season 2 3 87,400,000 2 Vikings: Valhalla: Season 2 2 55,530,000 3 Wednesday: Season 1 9 45,740,000 4 Ginny & Georgia: Season 1 3 43,290,000 5 That '90s Show: Season 1 1 41,080,000 6 Vikings: Valhalla: Season 1 7 25,370,000 7 Kaleidoscope: Limited Series 3 22,990,000 8 Emily in Paris: Season 3 5 15,550,000 9 New Amsterdam: Season 1 3 14,640,000 10 The Walking Dead: Season 11 2 11,800,000 Four of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars to look forward to in 2023 If you need an Atmos soundbar, 2023 may just be your year. Full article… Nakamichi Dragon JBL Bar 1300 LG SC9 Samsung HW-Q990C

This week we look at an article in the Washington Post that talks about Four Golden Rules of Home Automation and we discuss whether switching back to cable is worth it. We also have your emails and the week's news. News: Samsung's SmartThings Station Helps You Keep Track Of Your Smart Home And Connected Devices Sharp Plans to Enter U.S. Smart TV Market With New Sets Based on Roku's New 'OLED Reference Design' YouTube Experiments With FAST Channels Google's next 4K Chromecast remote will wave goodbye to batteries Denon Releases AVR-X4800H Receiver Featuring 3D Audio And 8K Video Other: The Future of Screens Is So Top-Secret, I Can't Show It Yet - CNET Home Automation Golden Rules Washington Post columnist Geoffrey Fowler has four Golden Rules for automating your home. These rules were posted in the Washington Post online on January 6, 2023 (Your smart home can be dumb. Here's how to do it the right way). 1) Don't fall in the app trap! Be wary of installing any critical home feature that only works with an app. You need to be able to unlock your door or turn on lights the old fashioned way as a backup. This is why I stopped using Philips Hue bulbs, even though I know they have many fans. 2) Build your smart home in Switzerland … metaphorically. Many of these products limit your options. For example, Amazon's smart plugs only work with Alexa. You might love Alexa today, but you don't know what voice AI, smartphone or face computer you might be using in five years. If you can, pick products that say they work with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit and a new smart home standard called Matter. (Note: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) 3) Look out for spies. Some companies collect and store a suspiciously large amount of data. I'm looking at you, Amazon. In some cases, you can adjust settings to tell them to collect less information — our Privacy Reset guide can help. But the best products don't live in the cloud and collect as little data as possible, like ones made by the brand Eve. 4) Security is your responsibility. You need a different password and two-factor authentication for every home product, or you're inviting hackers into your home. Shira, I can tell you're about to say, "This is why a dumb home is good!" But if you get this basic right, you'll be fine. Why I'm Switching Back to Cable TV Cord-cutting—the act of ditching traditional cable TV—has been gaining popularity for over a decade. Streaming is great, but it's not the home run it used to be. In fact, I made the decision to switch back to cable. Full Article here… The author of this article goes through the same progression we have. In the Early days he says: The rise of streaming live TV services came at a perfect time for me. I was living on my own for the first time, and cable wasn't something I wanted to deal with. When Sling TV was announced, I was very excited, and I signed up immediately, He does what we all did. Because there are no required boxes or commitments he tried them all! We both have done the same. And for one reason or another Braden ended up with YouTubeTV and Ara with DirecTV Stream. His thoughts: The early days of streaming live TV was great. The channel packages were small and very affordable. Most services let you choose from add-on bundles to expand your channel list. It was pretty easy to get the channels you wanted without much extra "fluff" jammed in. However, in the years since, I've watched as these services have ballooned in channel lineup size and price. The dream of "al la carte TV" never really materialized. This brings us to today, where streaming live TV is not much different than cable TV. All true! So the author looked at going back to cable. To my surprise, I discovered I could save a whopping $30 per month (taxes and fees included) by ditching Sling TV and adding a TV package to my internet package. Ah, but I'll need a clunky cable box again, right? Turns out Comcast finally gives you the option to only use the Xfinity Stream app. As much as I don't like Comcast, it was hard to pass up this deal. I could get the same channels I had, save $30 per month, and still watch it on my phone or smart TV—no extra hardware required. I never thought I would say this, but I am a cable TV customer again. We are in the Cox Cable world and our plans would cost us about $115 more to get similar TV service and we would need a streaming box. Our current IPTV service runs us about $80 so it is not as cut and dry. Plus we don't need a box! We will not be switching back to cable anytime soon!

This week is our Best of CES 2023 roundup. We look at what popular websites saw as the best products from this year's show. We have plenty of email and news to discuss as well! Other: Philips LED Downlight 5/6 Inch 2700 Kelvin with Warm Glow Dimming Greg Bartly's Home Theater for the Entertainer CNET (Best of CES 2023: 7 Stunning Tech Innovations to Watch for This Year) LG's 97-inch wireless OLED TV puts all others to shame Samsung S95C 77-inch QD-OLED TV gives LG some competition Tom's Guide (Best of CES 2023 Awards: The top new tech) BEST IN SHOW: LG SIGNATURE SERIES M3 OLED (WIRELESS) BEST TV: SAMSUNG 77-INCH S95C QD-OLED BEST AUDIO: RAZER LEVIATHAN V2 PRO SOUNDBAR BEST SMART HOME DEVICE: WORX LANDROID VISION BEST ROUTER: TP-LINK ARCHER BE900 The Verge (The Verge Awards at CES 2023) Best TV: Samsung's 77-inch S95C Best in show Matter Engadget (The best of CES 2023) Best Home Theater Tech: LG Signature OLED M3 techRadar (15 best gadgets of CES 2023: the TVs, laptops, health tech, and more we loved) JBL Bar 1300X Cool Stuff that is not necessarily HT related Withings U-Scan Victrola Stream Onyx Record Player Ring Car Cam

Welcome back from your Holiday break! This week we have a review of the SVS Soundbase Pro. A powerful and compact integrated amplifier that should be on any music lover's short list of products to buy in 2023. CES started this week but due to the timing of our show schedule we'll have that for you next week. We also have a backlog of your emails as well as the week's news. News: YouTube Wins Rights to NFL Sunday Ticket LG's 2023 OLED TVs: smarter, lighter, and significantly brighter Roku does the obvious thing and announces its own TV line SVS Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase A few weeks ago we had Gary Yacoubian and Nick Brown of SVS on the show talking about their new Wireless Pro line of products. The Prime Wireless Pro Powered Speakers are a feature rich set of powered speakers which are available for $899.99 for the pair. The Prime Wireless Pro Soundbase is a smart wireless integrated amplifier that will add connectivity options to your older beloved speakers that were never dreamed of when they were originally built. Ara owned the original version of the Soundbase for years and was extremely satisfied with sound but it lacked an important feature for him, Apple Airplay 2 support. The new Soundbase Pro fixed that issue and added many more features making the upgrade no-brainer. The original Soundbase cost $500, the new version costs $200 more. You may be asking, is the new Pro worth $200 more? The answer is yes! And we'll tell you why. The full specs are: Amplifier Specs 300 Watt (150 watts x 2) Class-D Power Amp Acoustic Data Rated Bandwidth: 10Hz-20kHz (±1 dB) SN Ratio: 90dB @1V input, 2 x 150W output Power Amp: 300 watts RMS (150 watts x 2 into 4ohm) Input Specs HDMI audio input. Supports ARC and eARC Left/Right RCA Input: Input Impedance: 20K 3.5mm Aux Input: Input Impedance: 20K Toslink Optical Input: S/PDIF receiver works at a wide range of sampling frequencies up to 96kHz Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC and aptX 6 front panel presets for one-touch access to music services and playlists Ethernet USB service port also for powering wireless accessories (See SoundPath Wireless Audio Adapter) 3.5mm IR control input Wireless Streaming Options DTS Play-Fi: Lossless 192kHz/24-bit via Critical Listening Mode over WiFi Apple Airplay 2 for iPhones and iOS devices, Chromecast for Android Phones and Devices: CD Quality Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC and aptX Spotify Connect WiFi Connectivity for Wireless Streaming - Native control via Apple Airplay 2 for iPhone and iOS, Spotify Connect, & Google Chromecast for Android Phones and Devices App-Based Control over WiFi - Smartphone, tablet, or PC control with the DTS Play-Fi app 6 Custom Presets - 6 custom preset buttons on the front panel and remote provide instant access to your favorite podcast, playlist, streaming station, or other content, with a single touch. Voice Control - Alexa, Siri, and Google voice commands via supported devices Setup Like the previous Sounbase, setup was simple. The first thing to do was get the unit onto your wifi and for that you need to download and use the DTS Play-Fi app. You will need to use this app if you want to listen to your music at 192kHz/24-bit for lossless streaming. More on that in a bit. You can also pair your devices via Bluetooth if you choose. Our primary listening mode was wifi for Airplay 2 and DTS Play Fi. We did, however, connect our MacBook Pro to the Sounbase via Bluetooth so we could listen via AAC just for comparison. Unfortunately Apple removed a developer option to allow you to connect via AptX so we were not able to evaluate this codec. You can also use an RCA, 3.5mm, HDMI (Arc and eARC) or Toslink Optical to connect external devices to the SoundBase. There is also a Subwoofer output in case you want to connect a subwoofer. We could not find at what frequency the amp is crossed over for the subwoofer. The SoundBase also has an Ethernet jack for a hardwired connection to your network and a USB port for firmware upgrades. The other thing worth noting is that the Soundbase Pro is small! It roughly measures 12X12X6 inches. It can fit anywhere. Also new for the Pro is a 3.15" wide display that will show you what is playing should you feel the need to walk up to it and look. The display lights can be dimmed or turned off making the front panel completely black. A great feature if you are using the amp to power some speakers for your TV. Performance Our listening was performed on CSS Audio Criton 2D speakers that Ara built a while back. They have great frequency response and good tight bass. We primarily listened to Heart Like a Truck by Lainey Wilson and Unholy by Sam Smith and Kim Petras (warning you won't get this song out of your head when you hear it!). We also mixed in other songs that we are very familiar with for specific segments that we thought would push the Soundbase. What can we say? We have come to expect high quality sound from SVS and the new Soundbase Pro delivers! It takes everything we loved about the original S

We are taking the week off to be with family. We'll be back at it in 2023. Thank you all for listening and supporting our Podcast! Happy New Year from the HT Guys!

This week we find out what makes wifi 6 something you'll want to upgrade to, especially if you have a lot of IoT devices on your network. We also start a discussion on amplifiers. Do you need to spend thousands of dollars to get a quality amp? We also read your emails and talk about some of the week's news. News: DIRECTV STREAM Price Changes for 2023 Apple bows out of Sunday Ticket talks, leaving Amazon and Google as the finalists Sonos filing hints that its next speakers will support WiFi 6 Matter Support Arrives on 17 Amazon Echo Devices Other: Kasa Smart Plug Ara's Woodworking Join the Flaviar Whisky Club and get a free bottle Wifi 6 We've talked about wifi 6 for some time now and have said it's better. But exactly how is it better than previous wifi standards. Today we'll go through the main features and how it can help solve some of your wifi woes. Key benefits of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 technology include: Higher data rates - 9.6 Gbps. That's up from 3.5 Gbps on Wi-Fi 5 (theoretical maximums). Orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) effectively shares channels to increase network efficiency and lower latency for both uplink and downlink traffic in high demand environments Increased capacity - Multi-user multiple input, multiple output (multi-user MIMO) allows more data to be transferred at one time, enabling access points (APs) to concurrently handle more devices. The MIMO technology allows a router to communicate with multiple devices at the same time, rather than broadcasting to one device, and then the next, and the next. Right now, MU-MIMO allows routers to communicate with four devices at a time. Wi-Fi 6 will allow devices to communicate with up to eight. Improved power efficiency - Target wake time (TWT) significantly improves network efficiency and device battery life, including IoT devices. This allows devices to plan out communications with a router, reducing the amount of time they need to keep their antennas powered on to transmit and search for signals. That means less drain on batteries and improved battery life in turn. This feature is meant more for smaller, already low-power Wi-Fi devices that just need to update their status every now and then. (Think small sensors placed around a home to monitor things like leaks or smart home devices that sit unused most of the day.) Routers are on the market and range in price from about $100 for a basic setup to as high as $600 for Netgear Orbi whole house setup. A Linksys setup to cover a 3000 SF house will cost you about $300. Amplifiers XPA-7 Gen3 7 Channel Audiophile Home Theater Power Amplifier $2199 Audio Power output: 200 watts/channel RMS into 8 Ohms; all channels driven | 300 watts/channel RMS into 8 Ohms; two channels driven | 490 watts/channel RMS into 4 Ohms; two channels driven Audiophile quality Class A/B output stage. Balanced and unbalanced inputs for compatibility with a wide variety of preamps and surround sound processors. Features Fully modular construction for optimum flexibility. Comprehensive yet transparent protection circuitry protects from most common fault conditions without degrading sound quality. Hardware Dimensions: 17" x 19" x 8" (including feet) Weight: 53 pounds (unboxed) Power Requirements: 100 – 250 VAC 50/60 Hz (automatically detected). BasX A7 Seven-Channel Power Amplifier $699 Audio 90 watts RMS per channel into 8 Ohms; all channels driven | 120 watts RMS per channel; into 8 Ohms. two channels driven | 125 watts/channel RMS into 4 Ohms all channels driven; two channels driven | 175 watts RMS per channel; into 4 Ohms. The BasX A7 combines classical audiophile amplifier architecture, based on a heavy-duty linear power supply, and a carefully designed high current short signal path Class A/B output stage, with advanced microprocessor-controlled monitoring and protection circuitry, to deliver superb sound quality Unbalanced inputs Hardware Dimensions: 17" wide x 4" high x 15-1/2" deep (not including connectors). 21-1/2" wide x 8" high x 21" deep (boxed). Weight: 30 lbs (unboxed) 36 lbs (boxed)

On this week's show we look at an article at CE Pro which is a list of 12 products that CE Pro writer Bob Archer thought were 2022's products of the year. We only look at two products. One that is unobtainium and the other a mere mortal can buy today. We also have a buying guide that is a bit different than our usual one. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: Bowers & Wilkins And McLaren Automotive Launch Px8 McLaren Edition Headphone Bally Sports Content Is Available to Samsung Smart TV Users Google Home routines keep saying that the Nest x Yale lock has 'been unlocked' Oppo's hi-res audio chip could finally make wireless earbuds sound as good as wired Other: Monoprice Blackbird 4K HDMI Audio Extractor Ara's Woodworking Join the Flaviar Whisky Club and get a free bottle Bob Archer's 2022 Products of the Year We found this article (Bob Archer's 2022 Products of the Year) at CE Pro which is a list of 12 products that CE Pro writer Bob Archer thought were, as the title suggests, 2022's products of the year. We are going to highlight two products on the list, one is unobtainium and the other a mere mortal can buy today. The rest of the items on the list are things that most people can buy and a few that we dream of buying. Please check it out, it's linked in the show notes. Unobtainium DALI KORE Loudspeaker Taking a step up into the rarified air of high-end audiophile speakers, the Danish company DALI applied its impressive R&D resources to the development of its $110,000 Kore loudspeakers. Emphasizing the company's fundamental audio philosophies and a return to its Danish roots through the use of Danish labor and raw materials, the KORE performs at extremely high levels. The 88dB, 4-ohm speaker delivers a frequency response of 26Hz to 34kHz and the statuesque speakers nicely complement a range of home designs and amplifiers to deliver lots of musical fun. By the way, each speaker weighs 148Kg (not pounds!!!). In pounds that's 325!!! I thought this was funny! From the user's manual: Disposal - If you want to dispose of your DALI KORE speakers, don't mix them with your general household waste. In accordance with EU legislation, a separate collection system for used electronic products enables private households in EU member states, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway to return used electronic products free of charge to designated collection facilities or to a retailer (if you purchase a similar replacement product). If you reside in a country not mentioned above, please contact your local authorities to determine the correct method of disposal and prevent any potential negative effects on the environment and human health For Mortals Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 4K PRO-UHD Laser Projector If the projector category had a pound-for-pound ranking like the UFC, the leader of the pack would be Epson's LS12000 laser projector. The 2,700-lumen LS12000 features the company's 4K PRO-UHD pixel shifting technology, along with its 32-bit ZX Picture Processor and laser light engine that delivers up to 20,000 of lamp life. The LS12000 produces nice levels of image brightness, color performance and image clarity. You can find these online for $5000. Projector Central rates this projector Performance 5 Stars, Features 4 ½ Stars, Ease of Use 4 ½ Stars, and Value 5 Stars. Gift Buying Guide We usually do a buying guide this time of year but you can sum it up like this. Go to Costco and buy an OLED or QLED TV by either Samsing, Sony or LG. And if you are budget conscious take a look at Vizio or TCL. Yes that is an oversimplification but this year we wanted to help you find something that the music, movie or smarthome lover will be thrilled to unwrap. So without further ado, here is our 2022 gift giving guide for Audiophiles, Movie Lovers and Smarthome Owners. Audiophiles Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO, Audiophile Turntable with Carbon Fiber tonearm, Electronic Speed Selection and pre-Mounted Sumiko Rainier Phono Cartridge $600. The new Debut Carbon EVO represents the epitome of Pro-Ject's philosophy: high performance, clean aesthetics, and superb value. The elegant, simple aesthetic is unmarred by gimmicky lights, sliders, and buttons. It is a pure, high-performance turntable. Hi-Fi, The History of High-End Audio Design $85 "Gideon Schwartz's book goes on a visual journey through the innovative world of home stereo design, from the tank-like amplifiers of the '50s to the sleek streaming hubs of today. Hi-Fi's 272 pages are filled with photos of iconic systems, including Bose's earliest forays into loudspeakers, and Dieter Rams' famous all-white turntable design for Braun. Warning: Perusing this book may result in eBay-fueled debt."―Wired Online Custom Audio Rack/Furniture (prices vary $250 up to $3000) These stands are designed to be simple and elegant. Depending on your requirement, many designers can custom build something just for you! Typical designs come with enough shelf space to hold a turntable and ampl

This week we talk about an article where the author claims that his budget OLED TV has ruined movie theaters for him. We also give you seven reasons why buying a DAC may be in your future. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Prime Video Replaces Netflix As No. 1 Streaming Service In U.S. Cord Cutting Hits Record Levels in Q3 Hallmark Movies Now Enables SharePlay Feature Allowing Apple Users to Watch Together Other: The Invisible Smart Lock Buying a budget OLED TV has ruined movie theaters for me We received an email from long time listener Olof (from Sweden) in which he sent us a link to an article "Buying a budget OLED TV has ruined movie theaters for me" and it got us wondering if others feel the same way. So let's see why the author came to this conclusion. 7 reasons why a DAC could be your music purchase of the year If you've never heard of a "DAC", don't worry, most people haven't. The thing is, it is one of the best ways to improve the quality of the digital music we consume every day, whether that be through a phone, laptop or proper audio system. (Only listen to music exclusively through vinyl? This probably isn't the article for you.) Full article here…

Interview With Gary Yacoubian and Nick Brown of SVS SVS recently announced their new Prime Wireless Pro Powered Speaker and for today's feature, Ara spoke with CEO and President Gary Yacoubian and Vice President of Marketing Nick Brown. They talk about this potential soundbar killer as well as a few other cool things SVS is working on. News: New report suggests Amazon is snubbing Prime Video with big movie theater push Google has updated the original Chromecast for the first time in over three years LG's better OLED display tech will be in every new TV Over One-Third Of Smart Home Devices Owners Experienced Technical Difficulties This Year Prime Wireless Pro Powered Speaker $899.99 Pair Frequency Response / Acoustic Data: Frequency Response: 42Hz – 25kHz (±3 dB) Driver Specs: 1" Aluminum Dome Tweeter: FEA-optimized diffuser for airy and unveiled presentation, Aluminum dome for exceptional transient response 5.25" Mid-bass Driver: Polypropylene cone for excellent stiffness/mass ratio and pistonic behavior, Aluminum shorting ring to reduce gap inductance, lower distortion, and enhance high frequency response, Cast ABS-fiberglass composite basket ensures precision component alignment and excellent thermal transfer, Vented voice coil former minimizes air compression artifacts Amplifier Specs: Dual Class-D Power Amps for Discrete Driver Bi-amplification 200 watt (50 watt x 4) RMS Power, Digital controlled tweeter-to-woofer crossover: 2kHz (12dB/octave slope) Input Specs: HDMI audio input. Supports ARC and eARC, Left/Right RCA Input: Input Impedance: 20K, 3.5mm Aux Input: Input Impedance: 20K, Toslink Optical Input: S/PDIF receiver works at a wide range of sampling frequencies up to 96kHz, Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC and aptX, 6 front panel presets for one-touch access to music services and playlists Ethernet, USB service port also for powering wireless accessories: See SoundPath Wireless Audio Adapter

This week we have a short Thanksgiving show. The HT Guys are thankful for our wonderful community of listeners and supporters who make doing this show worthwhile. Of course we will still read your emails and take a look at the week's news! News: New Apple TV 4K Bug Means You Can Only Use Half Of Its 128GB Storage - And There's Still No Fix Report: Sonos teases an expansion of its ecosystem Disney+, Hulu Union Hold 30% of Top 100 Programs Philips Might Launch QD-OLED TVs In 2023, Exec Confirms Other: Alan Parsons: The Audiophile Mixup – Real HD-Audio TCL 65" Class 4-Series 4K UHD HDR Smart Roku TV - 65S41 - Walmart.com Amazon Public Note to Employees Syntax–Brillian Corporation Customer Reviews: Olevia 42" 1080p Flat-Panel LCD HDTV TV-242TFHD - Best Buy List of films set around Thanksgiving

This week we do our annual Black Friday Roundup. Unfortunately the retailers are turning it into a Black Friday month. It was hard to track down info specifically for Black Friday but we did. Honestly it's not our best work. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: Roku just revealed its plan to make streaming sports easier online Most Smart TV Owners Still Use An External Streaming Device Hulu is Adding 14 Channels to Its Live TV Package: Hallmark, Weather Channel, Vevo & More Goodbye freeloaders: Netflix enables remote logout Other: How do I program my harmony remote to double click home button for Apple TV? : r/logitechharmony UHZ50 Smart 4K UHD laser home entertainment projector TCL - 98" Class XL Collection 4K UHD QLED Dolby Vision HDR Smart Google TV makezine.com Check out BlackFriday.com for the latest deals

This week our show really matters! We feature a few of the newly certified Matter controllers and we talk about what projector we would consider if we were building out a dedicated home theater. Plus we read your emails and news of the week. News: Eve Announces Matter Updates for Eve Energy, Eve Motion and Eve Door & Window Samsung smart TV owners just got a welcome image upgrade Philips Hue Bridge is getting updated to Matter early next year Other: Cleaning a Record with Wood Glue Record lubricators & preservatives GruvGlide Amazon Official: Introducing Alexa Voice Remote Pro, includes remote finder, TV controls, backlit buttons, requires compatible Fire TV device Matter Hubs Hub M2 By Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. The Aqara Hub M2 is a smart home control center. It can be connected with a WiFi or Ethernet network, and supports interaction and connection with Aqara Zigbee accessories. It also has an IR remote control function, which can add and manage the control of different IR devices. The Aqara Hub M2 allows you to control your Aqara accessories more conveniently. It can also bridge the Zigbee accessories to Matter to realize the interconnection of devices between different ecological platforms. Company Website Smart Wired Gateway Pro By Tuya Global Inc. As the core of the IoT connection, the wired Matter gateway is the first gateway released by Tuya that supports Matter. It supports the communication protocol of Cable+Zigbee+Thread, that is, the uplink Ethernet connects to the cloud, and the downlink supports both Zigbee (compatible with the original Zigbee device ecology of Tuya) and Thread (Matter over thread) sub-devices. This gateway has powerful localized management capabilities and high stability of multi-device control. It can be connected to all devices such as home automation, smart energy and home security systems to provide users with an intelligent control experience. Company Website DIRIGERA hub for smart products By IKEA of Sweden The hub is the bridge between your smartphone and your connected products LG ThinQ By LG Electronics Discover an easier way of smart home life with LG ThinQ. With LG ThinQ app, you can manage all your LG smart appliances and IoT devices in one place. More Info … webOS TV By LG Electronics LG Smart TV with Matter support will help users register and control Matter enabled home appliances around the TV. Users can maintain the list of Matter enabled devices around, and control using home dashboard application pre-installed on TV. Company Website Philips Hue Bridge By Signify The brains of the Philips Hue smart lighting system, the Hue Bridge allows you to connect and control up to 50 lights and accessories. Simply plug it in and use the Hue app to set routines, timers, custom light scenes, and more. It's the Philips Hue Bridge that unlocks it all — including Matter. The Hue Bridge will support Matter with a software update, making all existing and new Hue lights and accessories automatically Matter enabled too (except the Hue Sync Box and dial of the Tap dial switch). Sony Projectors Something to Consider for Your Home Theater Sony recently announced three new projectors (VPL-XW7000ES, VPL-XW6000ES and the VPL-XW5000ES) which range in price from $27K at the high end and $6K for the 5000ES. All three are SXRD panels with native 4K resolution. All three use the X1 Ultimate image processing. And all three use a laser light source that should last more than ten years if you watch your projector five hours a day. A typical projector uses a lamp that would need to be replaced ten times in the time the Sony laser would last. They typically cost $50 to $100 depending on your projector, so over time this adds up! Plus the laser is much brighter so if you want to watch on a larger screen or in a room with ambient light these projectors have the chops to do so. We have not seen these projectors in person but we have seen the previous versions when we were invited to a presentation at Sony Pictures in Culver City. What we saw at that time was quite impressive and those did not have the X1 Ultimate processor. If I (Ara) were building a dedicated theater today it would include the 5000ES. But only because I can't afford the 6000 or 7000.

This week we take a look at the week's top ten movie rentals and we continue our feature on getting the best results when listening to vinyl. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Survey: Americans Want Netflix with Ads to Be Free Netflix to open branded hubs in 2,400 Walmart stores 4K Fireplace, More Local News Channels Coming to Samsung TV Plus Fox Sports Ready for 4K/HDR FIFA World Cup Rental Top Ten Movies Rank LW Rank Title Box Office (Millions) 1 New Bullet Train $103.32 2 1 Beast $31.85 3 New Fall $7.24 4 2 Jeepers Creepers Reborn $2.03 5 3 DC League of Super-Pets $93.36 6 4 Thor: Love and Thunder $343.26 7 5 Where the Crawdads Sing $90.23 8 New Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank $17.81 9 New Orphan: First Kill $5.41 10 6 Minions: The Rise of Gru $368.85 Breathing Life Back into Your Records Last week we talked about cleaning your record needle for perfect playback based on an article sent to us from long time listener Stan. At that time he also sent us an article on cleaning your records. So this week we continue with our second installment. The following was taken from the Pro-Ject website. Cleaning records revitalizes old and dirty records. If you don't see scratches on your vinyl, most likely, the reason that your vinyl does not play as well as it should is because of lint, dust, and grime. Luckily, the most common reasons to clean vinyl records are easy to manage and take care of. Clean records play with less distortion, and it helps the vinyl last longer because the friction that happens when dust is on the record will no longer happen. In fact, keeping your records clean can even extend the life of your record player's stylus, which can save you from having to replace your record player needle. Your entire record collection will sound better with the right cleaning process than when you purchased it at the record store. Record Washing Of course, you can wash your records like you would your dishes. Simply put a few drops of dish soap into a tub of water. Avoid using tap water if you are creating your own solution. This will help to keep minerals that could damage the vinyl away from the records that you are cleaning. Di-ionized or distilled water is ideal for cleaning records. Never use Isopropyl alcohol in your vinyl cleaning solution because it removes the shine from the vinyl's surface and makes it more vulnerable to damage. Instead of making your own cleaning solution, you can purchase a record cleaning solution that will work for your entire collection. It can be purchased individually or in a cleaning kit like the Spin-Clean Vinyl Record Washer System. This is a full cleaning system with soft brushes, cleaning fluid, and microfiber cloths that won't scratch the vinyl. Once the record is clean, rinse the cleaning solution or any soap off with distilled water, being careful not to get the label wet. If water or cleaning solution does get on the label, make sure that you quickly blot it dry with a microfiber cloth, and don't put it away with your other records until it completely air dries. This helps to ensure that the ink doesn't bleed and the label doesn't tear. Always make sure that the records are dry before playing them on your player. It should also be allowed at least 30 minutes to dry before it is placed back in the sleeve because the excess moisture can damage the records and cause the inner paper sleeves to mold. One way to ensure this is avoided is to use plastic sleeves instead of the paper ones that come with most records. Vacuuming Records Vacuuming records is one of the better cleaning methods to consider using. Using a vinyl record cleaner that is vacuum-powered will suck up any dust and debris found in the grooves. Using the vacuum cleaner should be done after the record is brushed to remove excess dirt on the surface. The VC-E Compact Vinyl Record Cleaning Machine falls into this category of record cleaner. Record vacuuming machines will apply a cleaning solution to the records, scrub them, and vacuum away all of the wet solution and debris. It is the superior way to clean vinyl because it combines all of the cleaning methods using a machine that is quick and safe for the records. It may not be the best option for someone who has just a few records because of the price of these machines, but if you have a larger collection of albums, it's a solid investment to make. Cleaning Records and Storing Without Worry Once you have cleaned your record collection, you need to ensure that the vinyl does not get damaged or become warped because it is stored improperly. The first step that you need to take to keep your records safe is to store them in an inner sleeve that will not scratch the surface of the vinyl. To add more protection, you should also use outer sleeves on your vinyl to keep the dust away from your records completely. Records should always be stored vertically because stacking them on top of each other on a shelf causes warping that hurts th

This week we spotlight some huge "desktop" speakers from Monoprice and take a look at why NFL fans want Youtube or Amazon Prime to pick up Sunday Ticket. We also give you some tips to keep your turntable in tip top shape. All that plus your emails and the week's news. News: This Year's Cheap Mini-LED 4K TVs Are A Dream Deal, Except For One Problem Broadcast And Cable TV Viewing Didn't Equal Streaming in September TiVo is making its case as a smart TV platform Other: Toronto audiofest Monolith by Monoprice MTM-100 100 Watt Bluetooth Powered Desktop Speakers Product spotlight The Monolith™ MTM Desktop Speakers (MSRP $499.99 direct from Monoprice) deliver stunning audiophile performance for your desktop! These speakers feature an accurate frequency response, exceptional sonic clarity, punchy, powerful bass, and present a spacious, and musical soundstage. Set up is a breeze: Connect easily through analog RCA and 3.5mm inputs or through the optical or USB digital inputs. Pair your device wirelessly using the Bluetooth® with Qualcomm® aptX™ HD Audio for high quality, CD audio level Bluetooth performance. A headphone jack adorns the front, allowing you to easily switch between the speakers and headphones. The Monolith MTM powered speakers are a perfect, great sounding addition to a home office, gaming, or bedroom system. 50 Watts per Speaker Flat Frequency Response (50Hz ~ 20kHz) Dual 4" Woofers per Speaker 1" Silk Dome Tweeter 5.25" Passive Radiator 45Hz-20Khz Frequency Response +/- 3db Bluetooth 5 with aptX HD Toslink Optical Input USB-C Input RCA & 3.5mm Inputs Subwoofer Output Front Headphone Jack Remote Control Dimensions (each) 6.3" x 14.0" x 7.9" (160 x 355 x 200 mm) Survey: Fans Hope YouTube or Amazon Win the NFL Sunday Ticket Bidding War Nearly two-thirds of NFL fans said they are most likely to subscribe to Sunday Ticket if it lands on either YouTube or Amazon Prime Video, according to a survey by The Streamable Full article… How to Clean a Record Needle for Perfect Playback We have talked about listening to music on vinyl lately and this prompted long time listener Stan to send in an article about cleaning your record needle for perfect playback. And with the Holliday's quickly approaching some of you may be thinking about buying a turntable for yourself as a present. So if you currently own a turntable or are thinking of buying one, we thought this may be of help to you. The following was taken from the Pro-Ject website. How a Dirty Turntable Stylus Impacts Sound Quality Clean record player needles help prevent playback issues. When dust interferes with the stylus reading the record grooves properly, you will hear a slight scratching or popping sound when you play the records. If you hear these sounds, it's time to inspect your record player's stylus to see if there is any visible build-up that's removable. When a stylus is dirty, you are more likely to hear the needle jump as it navigates the turntable. This is referred to as record skipping, and it can affect the sound of the music. Dust and grime will also cause additional wear on the stylus tip, which will be heard as you play your music. If you don't keep your stylus clean, it will wear down more quickly. In effect, a clean stylus will help you save money because you won't need to replace it as often. Tips to Follow when Cleaning a Turntable Needle Cleaning a record needle should be done once a week. If listening to records is somewhat infrequent, you will be able to clean the needle every other week instead. Most record player needles last for about 1,000 hours, so the first time you hear static during playback, it most likely only needs to be cleaned. When using a brush to clean the tip of the stylus, make sure that you brush in the direction that the record spins. This helps to ensure that the cantilever is not damaged during the cleaning. Even if your stylus looks clean, before playing a record, whether it's new or used, use an anti-static record brush to ensure no dust is hidden in the grooves that will transfer to the needle. When cleaning your stylus, use a cleaning solution to get a deeper clean when using a stylus brush. If you are uncomfortable using a stylus cleaning brush on the tip of the stylus, try using a stylus cleaning gel pad. This method may cost more, but it's an option that many feel is less abrasive than the brush bristles. You may have also read forums about cleaning record needles with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. To start, gently place a small piece of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on the platter. These sponges can be purchased at any hardware store. It needs to be an all white pad because the blue ones are a bit more abrasive and could cause unwanted damage. Lower the tonearm down to touch the pad, and then raise it back up. Do this process about two to three times or until the debris is removed. Vinyl Records Cleaning and Proper Storage Helps Even if you clean your stylus every time you use your record player, there is a good

No show this week.

This week we have a review of the Technics EAH-A800 Noise Canceling Over Ear Headphones and we read your emails and look at the week's news. News: LG advances smart TV platform business The new Matter smart home standard could make TVs more powerful Optoma's new 4K UST laser projector is seriously bright at 3000 lumens Roku may soon begin selling its own smart home lighting and accessories Other: Wiim Mini Airplay 2 Music Streamer wiimhome Belkin SoundForm Connect AirPlay 2 Audio Adapter Technics EAH-A800 Noise Canceling Over Ear Headphones Review We have spent a lot of money on wireless earbuds over the years looking for that ultimate tradeoff in sound quality, fit, and noise cancellation vs portability. To date, we have found a few that we liked but have settled on the Technics EAH-AZ60 ($230 MSRP). Today we decided to look at our first full size over the ear headphones, the Technics EAH-A800 ($350 MSRP). What we give up in portability we expect to get back in sound quality and noise cancellation. Let's see if that thought process pans out. Features: Polyurethane 3-Layer Diaphragm 40mm driver 8 distinct mics and advanced wind noise reduction Dual Hybrid feedforward & feedback noise canceling with analog & digital processing Cushioned, super-soft earpads that evenly distribute pressure for a stable fit, with a headband that reduces pressure across your entire head. Multi-Point Connectivity lets you connect to more than 2 Bluetooth devices at once Music Quality Audio quality was quite good! We listened to the same music that we did for our AZ60 review (SRV - Tin Pan Alley, Snoop Dog - California Roll, Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter, Diana Krall - Fly Me to the Moon) and found that everything we like about the AZ60 was turned up a notch on the A800. The detail in the music was clear and precise; the bass was boomy, maybe a bit too boomy. But still very good. The place where these headphones shined was in the vocal range. You could hear texture in the voice of Diana Krall. It was very good. Movies did really well too. Dialog was easy to understand and the noise cancellation made it easy to hear at lower levels. One issue we have is that on airplanes the dialog can be hard to hear. The A800 did an exceptional job with boomy special effects. Telephone Quality We don't discuss telephone quality really on this podcast but the phone calls that I made and received were good. The listener on the other end had no issues hearing me and me them. If you work using headphones to make calls these will work just fine. Comfort The memory foam ear pads conform to your ear providing a comfortable fit that makes it easy to wear for hours. I wore them in the woodshop for three hours without issue. In fact they are the most comfortable headphones I have worn. Noise Canceling Noise canceling is good but not on par with some of the ear buds. One of the benefits of ear buds is that they can create a barrier that prevents noise from getting in and those with active cancellation can eliminate the rest. But here is the tradeoff, I have found that no matter what size silicone earpiece I use, they eventually lose their tight fit and let outside sound in. It's gradual so you don't notice right away. If you are eating something it happens much faster. These headphones make a tighter connection with the ears and never let go. I used table saws, planers, and sanders while wearing these headphones and never noticed an increase in outside noise coming through. The noise reduction made it easy to work with loud machinery without fatigue. Plus I got through more podcasts because I was able to continue listening while working with those tools. If you need to hear something from the outside a simple tap to the earpad lets in the exterior sound. The amount of sound allowed in is set in the Technics Audio Connect App. You can also select the amount of noise cancellation in that app as well. Although that always amuses me. Why do people want less than max cancellation? Battery Life These things never run out of juice! They can give you anywhere from 30 to 60 hours of use depending on the noise cancellation and codec you are using. If you listen to AAC without noise cancellation you can get close to 60 hours. If you have max cancellation and hi res audio playing you can expect the 30 hours. I was using cancellation and AAC and didn't need to recharge for over a week. About 35 hours. Also, if you run out of power, a fifteen minute charge can get you another 10 hours of noise canceled AAC music. Room for Improvement There is no AptX support which can limit the quality of what you are listening to. For instance Apple does not support LDAC. Many Android devices support it so keep that in mind. The noise canceling is good but not the best. Perhaps a firmware update can improve it. Lastly, these are expensive and there are other headphones that perform as well and cost less.

This week we present the TWICE Best of show awards for the CEDIA show that took place last weekend. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: KEF Adds New Models to Extreme HT Architectural Speakers Line LG's New 120-Inch Laser Projector Blows Away Your Big-Screen TV Google steps into future with Home app update, Nest tech Other: Best Ultra Short Throw Projectors 2022 || AWOL LTV-3500, FORMOVIE Theater, XGIMI AURA TWICE Best of Show Awards Winners Crestron LED Light Fixtures - The modular design of Crestron LED light fixtures gives you unprecedented flexibility and control to complement any décor with the highest quality light. Options include adjustable, wall wash, fixed frame, pinhole fixtures, multiple enclosure possibilities, and square or round trims. Epson Pro Cinema LS12000 Pro UHD Laser Projector - Utilizing an all-new Laser Array Light Source, the Pro Cinema LS12000 is capable of displaying a 4K picture on screen up to an astonishing 2,700 lumens for both color and white brightness2. And, when driven by a proprietary Epson ZX Picture Processor for powerful picture processing, the Pro Cinema LS12000 produces incredible brightness, color accuracy, and image detail to faithfully display all your content the way it was meant to be seen. $5000 Hisense PX1-PRO TriChroma Laser Cinema - The PX1-PRO features the award-winning TriChroma laser engine to achieve full coverage of the BT.2020 color space for a true-to-life picture. With its Digital Lens Focus the PX1-PRO delivers a razor-sharp 4K image in sizes from 90 to 130-inches. Add to that premium features eARC for lossless audio, Filmmaker Mode, and smart home integrations and you've got yourself an Ultra Short Throw brimming with entertainment potential. Support for Dolby Vision $3000 Hisense U8H - Featuring a Mini LED upgrade paired with Hisense's ULED technology and Quantum Dot, the U8H delivers vibrant colors, impressive contrast, and its trademark bright picture for a fantastic HDR experience. For those looking for a stunning picture and a robust set of premium features, the U8H delivers. $1,500 for 75" Kaleidescape Compact Terra 22TB Movie Server - The compact Terra 22TB can store over 350 4K UHD movies or over 650 movies with a mix of 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD-quality titles, and serve up to 5 simultaneous 4K UHD playbacks. The compact Terra allows customers the flexibility to add playback zones and grow their movie collection over time. Up to four compact Terra servers can be combined in a single system for more storage. $11,000 plus you need Strato C players which are priced at $3,995 each. LG CineBeam HU915QB Premium 4K UHD Laser Projector - The LG CineBeam HU915QB Projector is the total premium package for integrators and customers alike, offering a suite of CI-centric features, astonishing immersion with a 3-channel laser, plus an ultra-short 0.19 throw ratio. Install it just inches from the wall to give your customers dazzling color and contrast—all at epic proportions. $6,500 LG OLED Flex (Model LX3) - With LG OLED Flex, go from a flat display all the way to a spectacular 900R curve* until you find the ideal arc for total immersion. Simply press the curvature button on your remote control and explore 20 different levels of curve. LG hasn't released pricing for its new LG OLED Flex TV, nor a release date. Lutron Palladiom Wire-Free Shading System - The Palladiom Wire-Free Shading System offers both simple, wire-free installation and precise, automated control of daylight in our most refined aesthetic. Extend the ultimate in design flexibility to every room in every home - for both existing homes and new construction. This shade uses no more than six D-cell batteries, while still maintaining an industry-leading battery life of three to five years using fewer batteries. Samsung Neo QLED QN100B 4K TV - Get immersed in this virtually edgeless, all picture 98" Class Infinity Screen television. Our best AI-Neural Processor always displays glorious 4K, powers the latest Smart TV Apps and fills the room with sound, all in an ultra-sleek high end metal design. Brilliant details in any light with Quantum Matrix Technology. Powered by a huge grid of Samsung's ultra-precise Quantum Mini LEDs, it takes exact control of the individual zones of light in your picture for breathtaking color and contrast. No pricing yet. But the QN90A 98" is currently selling for $15,000. So probably close to that. Samsung The Frame QLED 4K Smart TV - The Frame transforms to art when you're not watching TV. Choose from the Samsung Collection or upload your own pieces to reflect your personality. $3000 for 75" Frame extra but right now Samsung is running a promotion where the frame is free. Sonus (NOT SONOS) faber Arena - Handmade in Italy by our experienced Artisans of Sound, Arena delivers the acoustic power and dynamics required for hi-performance home cinema with the Natural Sound signature, definition, and details for which Sonus faber has been long

This week we look at five ways Matter will disappoint you at launch. Spoiler, we don't think it will. We also take a look at the new lineup of Denon Receivers for 2022. We round out the episode with email and news. News: Chromecast with Google TV (4K) is getting updated to Android 12 soon Google said to be working on free alternatives to Dolby Atmos and Vision Kaleidescape Announces Two New Movie Servers Verizon will give NFL+ discount to wireless subs 5 ways Matter will disappoint users at launch After participating in a panel on Matter at Silicon Labs' Works With event on Tuesday and conversing with attendees throughout the event, I think the initial response to Matter is going to be tepid at best and downright aggravated at worst. Full article here… New Denon Receivers for 2022 The new A/V receivers all pass 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz signals via HDMI and are compatible with just about every HDR format(Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, Dynamic HDR, HLG, and BT.2020). Denon's new line-up combines popular 3D formats such as Dolby Atmos®, DTS:X®, IMAX Enhanced and Auro 3D, along with Dolby Surround, DTS:X and others. Finally, the new receivers all work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri for voice control of major functions, and Denon has added a new set of front panel indicators that visually confirm the kind of signal that's being processed (4K/8K/HDR). A-Series AVR-A1H: AVR-A1H is the latest in Denon's class-leading "A-Series" of receivers, designed to deliver the ultimate home-theater experience. With 15 channels of amplification, Denon's most powerful transformer, carefully selected parts, and hefty, high-rigidity construction, the flagship AVR-A1H delivers a professional theater experience in your home cinema, perfect for cinephiles of the greatest caliber to fill large rooms with engulfing 3D sound. The A1H will support Dirac Live upgradability with a future software update. $6,499.00 Coming Soon! X- Series AVR-X580BT: The Denon AVR-X580BT offers an entry-level AV receiver for those looking to enhance their home theater set up. This powerful 5.2 channel AVR provides 70W per channel. Could not find pricing info AVR-X2800H: Fill medium-sized rooms with more refined sound using this 7.2 channel AV receiver with 95W per channel. The Denon AVR-X2800H consists of increased HDMI 2.1 connectivity with three 8K inputs, which leads to supporting higher video resolution and refresh rates. $1,199.00 Available Now AVR-X3800H: Powering 105W per channel, the Denon AVR-X3800H 9.4 channel 8K AV receiver delivers an enveloping 3D audio experience and amazing picture quality to satisfy the most discerning home theater enthusiast. The X3800 will support Dirac Live upgradability with a future software update. $1,699.00 Available Now AVR-X4800H: This 9.4 channel AV receiver, powering 125W per channel, delivers breathtaking 3D audio that perfectly matches high-definition video up to 8K. With nine channels of amplification and up to four independent subwoofers, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X plus IMAX Enhanced and Auro 3D, this unit envelops large rooms in theater-quality sound. The X4800 will support Dirac Live upgradability with a future software update. $2,499.00 Coming Soon S-Series AVR-S570BT: For movie lovers looking to take the first step in upgrading their home theater experience or those who want better quality sound in a smaller space, this powerful 5.2 channel AVR, with 70W per channel, is the perfect entry-level accompaniment to any users' set-up. The Denon AVR-S570BT is available in North America only. Could not find pricing info AVR-S970H: Offering 90W per channel power, the Denon AVR-S970H 7.2 channel AV receiver consists of three 8K inputs, leading to an increased HDMI 2.1 connectivity and delivers support of higher video resolution and refresh rates. $899.00 Coming Soon

This week we take an extended look at an email from Chris who is paying for two sports packages but still can't watch all his team's games. Is there a VPN solution? Did you know you can get Sunday Ticket from DirecTV without a Satellite? There are some limitations but we have the info. Finally we have a brief review of two portable amplifiers from Fosi Audio that pack a huge punch. All that plus your emails and the week's news! News: Netflix Estimates Ad-Supported Tier Will Reach 40 Million Viewers by Late 2023 ELAC Announces Powered Bookshelf Speakers With HDMI ARC Platin Audio's wireless (WiSA) home theater speaker system now handles Dolby Atmos Other: Commando - 'Let off some steam Bennett' PREDATOR - STICK AROUND - KNIFE THROW VPN for dummies I use Xfinity for cable & internet service in Central PA but also have an apartment in Central NC with ATT internet. Back home, if I subscribe to MLB.tv, I can watch all games except for the Pirates and Phillies. My team is the Orioles. In Central NC, the Orioles are blacked out even though the stadium is 5.5 hours away (it's only 3 hours from Central PA). Figure that one out... Your show on 9/16 talked about Sling Box and VPNs. I don't mind paying for a service but when you are paying (sometimes multiple times), it is frustrating to not get what you pay for. (((Ara, you'd appreciate this-I am a Washington Capitals fan. I pay for the NHL Network, I subscribe to the ESPN+, and when I go to a youth hockey tournament, I cannot use my Roku in the hotel to watch a Caps game that night because it's on the NHL Network...which I pay for back home!))) There are alot of YouTube videos about VPNs but a simple questions is: what is the best way to use my laptop in Central NC and make it think I am in Central PA? Xfinity will only let you watch certain "To Go" channels if you are on your home wifi. NHL Network is one of them. I can record the event but then only watch it after it completes the recording. Thanks guys. Chris Sunday Ticket without Satellite NFL Sunday Ticket Offer Details: NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV service is only available to non-DIRECTV customers who live in select multi-dwelling unit buildings (apartments, condos, etc.,) nationwide in the U.S. where DIRECTV service is not available Live in select areas within various metropolitan cities Live in a residence that has been verified as unable to receive DIRECTV satellite TV service due to obstructions blocking access to satellite signals Actively or previously enrolled college students NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV U only available to students actively enrolled or previously enrolled within the last 18 months in post-secondary educational institutions from the date of purchase. NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV consists of all out-of-market Sunday regular-season NFL games (based on customer's device location) broadcast on FOX and CBS. Games broadcast by your local FOX or CBS affiliate will not be available in NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV. Access via NFL SUNDAY TICKET App to only one game at a time based on device location. If you qualify, here are the packages and prices: NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV TO GO - $69.49 for four months or $277.96 INCLUDES Enjoy every live out-of-market game every Sunday afternoon.(Eligibility restrictions and other conditions apply) Watch on your compatible tablet, smartphone, laptop, or connected device like a game console Get real-time stats and scores Customize your Game Mix to watch up to 4 games of your choice on one screen Track up to 20 of your favorite players with Player Tracker Short Cuts: see whole games, commercial free, in 30 minutes NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV MAX - $93.49 for four months or $373.96 INCLUDES Enjoy every out-of-market NFL game LIVE, every Sunday(select int'l games excluded) Watch on your compatible tablet, smartphone, laptop, or connected device like a game console Get real-time stats and scores Customize your Game Mix to watch up to 4 games of your choice on one screen Track up to 20 of your favorite players with Player Tracker Short Cuts: see whole games, commercial free, in 30 minutes RED ZONE CHANNEL® DIRECTV FANTASY ZONE CHANNEL® Add NFL+ PREMIUM $48.00 Exclusive offer! Add NFL+ Premium to this NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV package for $48.00 (currently retails for $79.99). Enjoy replays of NFL games all season long and more Payment for MAX + NFL+ Premium must be made in full at checkout. Fosi Audio Digital Amplifies I was looking for a new amplifier to test my speakers more in different rooms of my house. So the amp needed to be small, high quality, and inexpensive. My searching around the internet landed me on Fosi. A company I had never heard of. From the company's web site: Audio equipment company with a focus on HiFi sound Fosi Audio was founded in 2017 by a team of engineers and music lovers with the objective of delivering high-quality audio products. After years of research and development, we have mastered the art of miniaturizing HiFi sound and bringing it to any space, big or small. Fosi Audio's range of products

This week we take a look at a startup home automation company, Fluid One. Their goal is to seamlessly connect your actions, your decisions, and your home. Then we go through the network shows and premiere dates. We also read your emails and the week's news. News: Comcast plans symmetrical multigig service for 2023 Details about upcoming "Chromecast HD" leaked IKEA x Swedish House Mafia record player goes on sale next month Sonos announces long-awaited Sub Mini for $429 Fluid One: Next Generation Smart Home Control and Automation We found a super interesting Kick starter project called Fluid One. It takes home automation into the AR realm and if it works is pretty cool. From the campaign page: At Fluid, we aim to seamlessly connect your actions, your decisions, and your home - making the environment around you its own responsive interface.They are trying to raise $100,000 but at the time of this writing have only secured about $9,500 from 40 backers. We know what you're thinking. Do we need another Home Automation controller? Probably not a typical one, but this one has some unique features that may appeal to some of you. Most notably, to control a device you simply aim your smartphone at it and the relevant controls appear on your screen. You can also use gestures with the phone like swiping up to turn something on or swipe down to turn it off. Fluid One also makes setup straight forward as well. You aim your phone at the device, tap it and then select it from automatically discovered devices. This also places an air marker at the location. There are some aspects of the setup that the developers claim makes it simple but based on our experience some people will find it overwhelming. The whole concept of laying out the home floor plan including furniture placement is very cool and precise. But that will turn some people off. Setting up Zones and automations as you walk through them are also very cool, but again, many people just want a few lights to turn on at sundown. So the question is who is this system for? Do we need a home automation system this sophisticated? Smart Device and Phone Compatibility: Fluid Lite comes directly compatible with all Homekit devices. To gain access to even more devices, Fluid One enables control over Homebridge, Home Assistant, and any IR devices, amounting to over 2000+ compatible integrations. Fluid One will also be fully Matter compatible upon its upcoming release. The lowest pledge for the Very Early Bird Fluid One Lite is $249 which gets you access to Fluid controls in a Primary Area in your home. When the product comes to market it will cost Retail $399. INCLUDES: 4× Smart Node ESTIMATED DELIVERY Aug 2023 Only available in the United States For $799 you get the Special Fluid One Pro which gets access to Fluid Controls in a Primary Area and Automation in a Primary Area plus four Extension Areas INCLUDES: 8× Smart Node Smart Hub ESTIMATED DELIVERY Aug 2023 Fall 2022 Premiers It's that time of year when our favorite shows come back with new episodes and we get new content as well. The following is the release dates for new and returning shows on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and CW ABC ABC 2022-2023 Fall TV Lineup: New Shows and Trailers Wednesday, Sept. 21 8 p.m.: The Conners 8:30 p.m.: The Goldbergs 9 p.m.: Abbott Elementary 9:31 p.m.: Home Economics 10 p.m.: Big Sky Friday, Sept. 23 8 p.m.: Shark Tank 9:01 p.m.: 20/20 (two hours) Sunday, Sept. 25 10 p.m.: The Rookie Tuesday, Sept. 27 8 p.m.: Bachelor in Paradise 10 p.m.: The Rookie: Feds (NEW SERIES) Sunday, Oct. 2 7 p.m.: America's Funniest Home Videos Monday, Oct. 3 8 p.m.: Bachelor in Paradise 10 p.m.: The Good Doctor Thursday, Oct. 6 8 p.m.: Station 19 9 p.m.: Grey's Anatomy 10 p.m. Alaska Daily (NEW SERIES) ABC 2022-2023 Midseason Premieres New seasons of A Million Little Things and The Wonder Years will premiere on ABC at midseason sometime in 2023. Additionally, Gina Rodriguez's comedy Not Dead Yet, Milo Ventimiglia's drama The Company You Keep, and the adaptation Will Trent will also premiere early next year. CBS CBS Lineup: All the New Shows and Trailers Coming in Fall 2022 Saturday, Sept. 17 10 p.m.: 48 Hours Sunday, Sept. 18 7:30 p.m.: 60 Minutes Monday, Sept. 19 8 p.m.: The Neighborhood 8:30 p.m.: Bob (Hearts) Abishola 9 p.m.: NCIS 10 p.m.: NCIS: Hawai'i Tuesday, Sept. 20 8 p.m.: FBI 9 p.m.: FBI: International 10 p.m.: FBI: Most Wanted Wednesday, Sept. 21 8 p.m.: Survivor 10 p.m.: The Amazing Race Sunday, Sept. 25 8 p.m.: Big Brother Thursday, Sept. 29 8 p.m.: Young Sheldon 8:30 p.m.: Ghosts 9 p.m.: So Help Me Todd (NEW SERIES) 10 p.m.: CSI: Vegas Sunday, Oct. 2 8:30 p.m.: The Equalizer 9:30 p.m.: East New York (NEW SERIES) Wednesday, Oct. 5 9 p.m.: The Real Love Boat 10 p.m.: The Amazing Race Friday, Oct. 7 8 p.m.: S.W.A.T. 9 p.m.: Fire Country (NEW SERIES) 10 p.m.: Blue Bloods Sunday, Oct. 9 10 p.m.: NCIS: Los Angeles CBS 2022-2023 Midseason Premieres Fans will have to wait until midseason to see CBS's TV adaptation

This week we take a meta look at Home Theater Trends by comparing what different groups are saying. Let's see if there are any common threads. We also read your emails and the week's news. News: Top Gun: Maverick Has Broken Another Record Upcoming Price Change Leica Set To Drop First-Ever 4K Video Projector in 2023 YouTube TV 5.1 surround sound is now available on Apple TV Five Home Theater Trends We decided to take a meta look at this subject by comparing what different groups are saying. Let's see if there are any common threads. First up is a West Palm Beach Company called ETC. The company's vision is: "company vision is to enhance our customer's lifestyle using technology to simplify their lives." Comfort is desired more than ever - Most of us think of a home theater as a mini-theater-like space complete with stadium seating. Some people still enjoy such a space, but the trends are evolving, and people are investing more in comfortable recliners or loungers to relax while binge-watching their favorite shows. Multi-Use Rooms - Today many homeowners want to invest in home theaters, but they find it difficult to allocate an entire room to theater. This has resulted into a growing demand for modern home theaters, which allows homeowners to have a multi-use room where their whole family can sit together and have quality time. Home theater is now becoming the heart of the family by enabling people to watch movies, stream shows, or simply do gaming while sitting at their favorite place. Screens - Screens make one of the most common elements of a home theater. A good quality and a high-resolution screen is a must whether you are investing in a home theater for watching a movie, series, gaming, or streaming. The screen is truly the key focus area of home theaters. It can make or break the look and feel of your home theater. The market is expanding with many good quality screen options for home theaters, which makes it one of the key trends that will stay longer than you think. High Speed Internet - Today most people choose various OTT services available in the market to fulfill their entertainment needs. For feasible home theater installation, you need a good and reliable high-speed internet connection. Soundbars - Music and sound fanatic homeowners usually have multiple speakers scattered across the room. But this isn't viable anymore. Sleek soundbars are now increasingly becoming a common name in the home theater of this age. Today, homeowners can enjoy an elevated auditory experience with fewer wires and no clutter. Next up is Elite Home Theater Seating. Elite Home Theater Seating (Elite HTS) is an internationally recognized manufacturer of ultra-luxury home theater seating for residential and commercial projects. Color: Serene and Neutral Tones - The choice of color is a major factor in your home theater design because it sets the room's tone. For 2022, we are going with a neutral color palette. Beiges, taupe's, grey's, and creams are a great starting point, offering a blank canvas that can make even a small home theater appear larger. Furniture: Sculptured Curves - Curved furniture has proved to be a top trend in 2022. A curved form is interpreted as safe and welcoming. From subtly rounded to circular, curved furniture can add softness and a sense of effortless flow to your home theater. Comfortable Lounge Seating - The desire for comfort remains a huge trend in home theater seating ideas in 2022. With families spending more time at home, homeowners have become very creative in finding new ways to enjoy the experience. The home theater is a place to go to relax and unwind, where comfort is key. Multi-Functional Spaces - Turn your home theater into an "entertainment space" that can be used for activities that appeal to everyone in the family. Also referred to as a media room, multi-purpose, dual-purpose or hybrid room, your home theater can also be a place to listen to music, do a home workout routine or play video games. Texture - Texture has always played a big role in interior design. This year, interior designers are predicting a huge uptick in textured materials that feel good to touch and are interesting to look at. Texture It is used to keep a space from feeling flat or one-dimensional and adds warmth and dimension. It can also be used to make a room pop. It has "visual weight," drawing attention to itself, and creates contrast to help the room look balanced. Residential Systems serves the custom home entertainment and automation design and installation professionals with solid business solutions to real-world problems. Dedicated Spaces - Dedicated theater spaces are being specified and designed more than ever, possibly because consumers are tired of having multi-use spaces in every room of the home and want a room devoted to just being entertained. We are also seeing them being added to housing plans right from the start. Streaming is King - Media production and consumption is extremely disruptive, a

This week we have three features provided by our listeners. Scott Hawk has thoughts on why CDs were considered superior to albums in the early 80s. John Lyman compares Records vs Airplay and Digital lossless and Tim Klevar reviews the Airfly Bluetooth dongle and the Sony Mark V headphones. Plus we have listener emails and news. NBC Could Give Third Hour Of Nightly Primetime Back To Local Affiliates Samsung, Prime Video to Offer 8K Content From 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Report: Budget-friendly Samsung displays on the horizon CD's Were Universally Recognized as Superior to Albums in the 1980s By Scott Hawk Back in 1985, cassettes were outselling records and you probably remember how terrible they were. Cheap housings made them wobbly inside your player. Cheap tape material gunked up the heads and reels of your cassette deck with soot. They used Dolby B or no noise reduction. All this got worse if you kept them in your car. For many people, records were not much better. Few people cleaned their records so pops, hisses and cracks were common. Plus, the record undergoes wear with each play since the needle is physically touching the grooves. Plus, the stylus would also exhibit wear, reducing its ability to track the grooves on the record. A stylus starts off with a nice point but gets rounder over time. So, play a record 300 times and the wear on the stylus and record obviously effects the sound quality. Most turntables were belt driven and the belts had been stretched, dried out or slipping which caused all sorts of wow & flutter. Now, enter the CD. Even though CD players were at first expensive, within a few years all CD players sounded alike. Everyone who listened to music got an upgrade. If you had a cassette tape, the new CD sounded amazing. And, if your tape was a few years old, the new CD sounded like it came from heaven. If you had a worn out record playing on a worn out turntable, you also got a major sound upgrade. And, if you listened to FM radio, you too got a huge sound upgrade. Plus, they sounded great on the first play and the 300th. CDs were also indestructible compared to tapes and records. No wonder everyone raved about digital music. So, what happened since then? Today, getting a good music experience is much simpler. Any phone with even basic headphones stream good sounding music. And, nice sounding music can even come from a bluetooth speaker. But to get music out of a turntable, you have to go through a process which has some attraction. It's certainly more of a process than using your phone. That process has some allure to it and the music will sound different. People can decide for themselves if something that sounds different is actually better. I think my own experience was not the most common. I was passionate about this as a kid. I saved up to buy a fancy direct-drive turntable, with a floating suspension and a carbon fiber tonearm. I bought a Shure cartridge, installed it myself and adjusted the tonearm, tracking pressure and tracking angle. I'd buy a new album and play it twice … once to remove any manufacturing artifacts and then again to copy it to a Hi-Bias or Metal tape with Dolby C noise reduction. I splurged on a 3-head tape deck and cleaned it (and my records) religiously. I'd only play the record again to replace the tape or make a mix tape. I was very particular in getting the tape to sound as close to the record as I could. So … a friend gets a CD player and loans it to me. I go out and buy 2 CD's … Don Fagan's Nightfly and Dire Straits (first album). Holy cow … it blew away my ears. The highs on the cymbals were stunning. The dynamic range was astonishing. The extra thump of the bass gives me chills to this day. Even after all the effort I took to get the best sound, this new technology just ran the table. Record vs Airplay and Digital lossless a Listener's Test By John Lyman With all the discussion I was curious about the difference in the following three formats: Streaming via AirPlay 2, USB to Amp streaming at highest rate vs a record. My setup for the test: M1 iMac streaming to an Airport Express (Airplay 2) - digital output into the receiver (10 Feet away) 2019 16" MacBook Pro connected to Amp using USB output set to 24 bit 192Khz Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Evo Turntable - connected to a Cambridge Audio phono amp Amp is a Cambridge Audio CXA-81 Speakers are Wharfdale EVO 4.2 Sub is turned off and no EQ running Using Apple Music for digital content The songs I picked were determined by the few albums I have and those that are brand new. I also chose the first song on a side of the record so I was listening to the same thing from all sources. I played about 1:30 minutes of the song. I went in the same order starting with streaming to Airplay, USB direct connect and then turntable. Songs used Elton John - Sweet Painted Lady (24 bit 44.1Khz lossless from Apple) Neil Young - Old Man (24 bit 196 Khz) Pink Floyd - Speak to Me/Breathe (24bit 96Khz) Overall I not

This week we look at why OLED TVs are losing the price war to Mini-LED and share some of the winners of the Expert Imaging and Sound Association EISA Awards. Plus we read your emails and look at the week's news. News: Roku Channel adds Scripps, NBC local stations to lineup Streaming Overtakes Cable in July, Leads Platform Rankings for the First Time MoviePass returns from the dead—again—on Labor Day Google TV Touts Performance and Storage Improvements Why OLED TVs Are Losing The Price War To Mini-LED The picture quality benefits of the best OLED TVs are widely known and rightly lauded – if you want images with perfect blacks and detailed shadows, OLED has long been a go-to for discerning viewers. (Full article here…) No budget OLED Pricing levels for OLED panels remain prohibitively high and that's even with the recent addition of Samsung Display to the supplier mix. The current situation simply doesn't work for a budget b brand, one that's focused on establishing market credentials while maintaining pricing aggressive enough to sway buyers over. Enter mini-LED: the OLED alternative Hisense expects to sell its 65-inch U8H mini-LED ULED TV for $950-$1,000. Samsung's mini-LED-backlit QN90B Neo QLED TV displays deep blacks and detailed shadows – kind of like an OLED TV for $2500. That is $500 less than LG's 77" C1 (2022). Note - there are other OLED models that are in the same price range or less than the Samsung QLED. Also you can buy a 2021 model of the C1 for about the same price as the QLED. Competition Competition will always force manufacturers to be more efficient and price competitive. Competition is coming at OLED on two fronts, other suppliers of OLED panels and mini-LED. One thing to consider is that Mini LED is new and thus has more room to improve the process and cost. This translates to really inexpensive mini-LED panels that may be too difficult for OLED to attain. Regardless of which technology wins, this is good for consumers. Either platform will provide you with an experience reserved only for the highest end consumers of just five years ago, EISA awards The Expert Imaging and Sound Association is the community of 60 technology magazines, websites and social media commentators from 29 countries, specializing in hi-fi, home theater, photo and video, in-car and mobile electronics. Every year the EISA jury of experts rewards the best products in each class with a coveted EISA Award. This week we'll cover a few of the winners and link to the complete list (EISA AWARDS 2022-2023). Hi-Fi Floorstanding Speaker - Paradigm Founder 120H ($4499.00 Each) Wireless Floorstanding Speaker - KEF LS60 Wireless ($6999.99 Pair) Value Wireless Speakers - SVS Prime Wireless Powered Speakers ($600) Vinyl System - Pro-Ject X2 B ($1799) & Phono Box S3 ($499.00) Turntable - Thorens TD 1500 ($1,500 - $2500 depending where you find it) Value Turntable - Argon Audio TT-4 (650 Euros) Home Theater Audio Best Buy Soundbar - TCL C935U We could not find the C935U on the TCL european website but based on specifications we think the Alto 8+ is the equivalent which goes for $279.99) Home Theater Processor - Anthem AVM 90 ($7499) Home Theater Amplifier - Trinnov Amplitude 16 ($12,500) AV Receiver - Denon AVR-X1700H ($699.00) Subwoofer - Perlisten D215 ($8995) Media Player - Zidoo NEO S ($1300) Speaker System - Perlisten S Series (Thousands and Thousands of dollars. If you have to ask you can't afford it) Home Theater Display and Video Home Theater TV - Philips 65OLED 937 (We could not find any information on this TV) Best Buy LCD - TCL 55C735 (US 5-Series) ($649.99) Premium LCD - Hisense 65U8HQ ($1399.99) Premium Mini LED - TCL 65C835 (US 8-Series) ($1999.99) Premium OLED - SONY XR-65A95K ($3999.99) UST Projector - XGIMI AURA ($2379) This was talked about last week. It is a single laser and finished 4th in that category. Home Theater Projector - Epson EH-LS12000B ($4999.00) Media Player - Zidoo NEO S ($1300)

This week we are back from vacation and have a jam packed show. We start off with a Phoenix record store owner who set the audiophile world on fire over his claim that Mobile Fidelity a company that has prided itself on using original master tapes for its pricey reissues, had actually been using digital files in its production chain. Then we look at 8 reasons you should keep buying UHD discs. And we look at Projector Central's 2022 Laser TV Showdown. All this plus the week's news and your emails! News: Google TV rumor points to 50 live channels coming soon LG Display's 97-inch OLED panel vibrates to create 'cinematic' 5.1 sound Step aside Google, Amazon, Roku: TiVo is coming to smart TVs Google predicts Matter will make the smart home flawless Other: P.180 Avanti EVO Flying at Jet Speeds in Italian Style with the Piaggio P.180 Avanti Evo Turboprop – AINtv How a Phoenix record store owner set the audiophile world on fire In a sometimes halting video posted to the YouTube channel of his Phoenix record shop, the 'In' Groove, Esposito said that "pretty reliable sources" told him that MoFi (Mobile Fidelity), the Sebastopol, Calif., company that has prided itself on using original master tapes for its pricey reissues, had actually been using digital files in its production chain. In the world of audiophiles — where provenance is everything and the quest is to get as close to the sound of an album's original recording as possible — digital is considered almost unholy. And using digital while claiming not to is the gravest sin a manufacturer can commit. Full Article Here… Comments from Youtube video: So basically, MOFI just proved that all these guys who swore they could tell analog from digital were just full of crap!! 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks MoFi for settling that tired old debate! I think this introduces a new concept, that there is a difference between an "Audiophile" and an "Audiopurist". The audiophile chases the best sound quality, whereas the audiopurist requires the media to be of a specific origin, and with no deviation, which can be digital or analog. I think the marriage of digital in the analog format works fantastic, and can produce results that are synergistic. I personally attribute the magic of vinyl, regardless of the source the vinyl was made from, is the mechanical to electric conversion that occurs in the cartridge. It's differently nuanced then how a DAC converts its signal. I think that's why vinyl kills digital in terms of soundstage, and imaging. This isn't even remotely shocking to me all things considered. I spent all of 2020 investing so much into my system and high end audiophile vinyl to find CD counterparts matching or exceeding. I've collected vinyl for 15+ years and it's a wonderful medium to enjoy music. But it's all about the mastering. Digital mastering done right can be even better. This is proof. 8 reasons you should keep buying 4K Blu-ray discs For true movie enthusiasts who value the highest quality viewing, movie discs are still the way to go. Here's why… 2022 Laser TV Showdown - Triple Laser Rankings The results are in from the 2022 Laser TV Showdown hosted August 4th by ProjectorCentral and ProjectorScreen.com that faced-off 14 laser UST projectors, with newcomer Formovie capturing the top honor in the Triple Laser category and projection stalwart BenQ coming in first in the Single Laser category. Full article here… The difference between the highest rated projector and lowest regardless of technology is 9.15 for the BenQ V7050i and 8.06 for the Optoma P2. That's an 11% difference however the cost difference is $1200. You need to decide if that 11% improvement is worth the $1200. Even more compelling is that the Hisense 100L5G came in second in the single laser category with a score of 8.90 just 2.5% less performance for $500 more. But the caveat here is that the Hisense comes with a 100" screen making it a better value than the BenQ The best 3 Laser UST was the Formovie Theater (catchy name) with an overall score of 9.08 and costing $3000. $500 less than the BenQ. If that is not compelling enough it supports Dolby Vision! A few months ago we talked with the CEO of AWOL about their new LTV-3500 which has Dolby Vision in Beta but it's big thing was that it has a super bright laser with a whopping 3500 lumens. And where this projector shined was in daytime viewing in a bright room. However it was at the low end on color gamut. It finished second to last and costs $4900. But in the category second to last is still really good with a score of 8.76 which is only 3% worse than the winner. Notes - Since all these projectors were calibrated we have no way of knowing if one calibrator's results vs another could have changed the results. Some of the results only a percent of two off. We'd like to see this done again using the preconfigured settings of the manufacturer. Because if they are pitching these projectors as large format TV replacements and not high end home theater units most people

This week Ara is on vacation again but we didn't want to leave you hanging so we have a special show. We go back to the early 2000s and learn how Ara and Braden became pilots for a very brief moment. And we also look at the best 65" TV for less than $1000 Other: Join the Neat Exchange - Social Media for Whiskey Drinkers Ara's Woodworking Join the Flaviar Whisky Club and get a free bottle Best 65-Inch TV Under $1,000 (RTINGS.COM) The Hisense 65U8G is the best 65-inch TV under $1,000 we've tested (full review here). It's an impressive TV, with outstanding contrast, excellent black uniformity, and high HDR peak brightness. It has the Android TV smart platform built-in, with an easy-to-use interface with a large selection of apps, so you're sure to find your favorite streaming content. It supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, meaning you can get a great HDR experience from any streaming service or external source. Visibility won't be an issue if you want to use it in a well-lit room, thanks to its excellent reflection handling and amazing SDR peak brightness. It's also an amazing TV for playing video games, with an excellent response time, resulting in very clear motion with little blur behind fast-moving objects. It has low input lag and supports both FreeSync and G-SYNC Compatible variable refresh rate technology, which can help reduce tearing in some games. It's also great for PS5 or Xbox Series S|X gaming, with HDMI 2.1 bandwidth on two ports. 8.4 Mixed Usage 8.6 Movies 8.2 TV Shows 8.0 Sports 8.8 Video Games 8.6 HDR Movies 8.8 HDR Gaming 8.3 PC Monitor Pros: Outstanding contrast. High peak brightness. Excellent reflection handling. Excellent response time. Cons: Image degrades when viewed at an angle.

This week we take a look at a new IPTV service called Vidgo and the five reasons why services like Vidgo are taking subscribers away from Cable and Satellite TV Services. Can they stem the flow? Perhaps but it's unlikely they will do what is needed. We also read your email and the news of the week. News: Disney+ update adds Atmos Spatial Audio on Apple TV 4K, breaks Atmos on Android TV Nest cameras can now, at long last, livestream to Chromecast with Google TV TCL REPORTS 10.15M GLOBAL SMART TV SHIPMENTS OVER THE FIRST HALF OF 2022 LG debuts CineBeam projector lineup Other: NextGen TV: Auton, Anywave Launch Broadcast Internet Trial in Bend, Oregon | TV Tech Vidgo IPTV Service Stream with Vidgo for 110+ channels of LIVE sports, entertainment news, local, and so much more. Every Vidgo subscription gives you access to 14,000+ shows and movies, with 100+ hours of new content added daily. Timeless hits, blockbuster movies, classics, and new releases - all at your fingertips. Grab your popcorn and get comfy! More info… 5 Reasons The Cable and Satellite Services are losing Subscribers We have talked about Cable and Satellite systems dying a slow death for quite some time. This is a slow death that has been going on for almost ten years. Today we talk about what is causing it and how the cable companies can not only reverse it but thrive. The most obvious is that there are streaming alternatives that provide on demand entertainment. Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Apple as well as the networks provide streaming content. You no longer need a set top box provided by cable and satellite companies to watch anything that is being broadcast to the masses. Ironically you need high speed internet and for most of us that is being provided by cable companies. This is a missed opportunity for better bundles by cable providers. We are no longer willing to pay for a ton of channels that we don't watch. We joke about getting what we want (a la carte programming) is costing us more, which is true. However, for the same amount or slightly more money, we get an unproportionally large amount of programming. When we first opined that it would be great to just watch the channels we wanted and only pay for them, we had no idea what was coming in the way of content. There is just so much content out there that you have to subscribe to more services which ends up driving up the cost of your "TV" plan. And it is good content!! No more summer doldrums as far as TV programming goes. If you have a limited budget you now allocate it to other services and not cable or satellite. Companies like ESPN, Discovery, and HBO have made their content available directly to the consumer. No need for a cable or satellite service to get some of the best programming on TV. Cable and Satellite service costs have really risen to the point where the pain of separating is less than the pain of remaining on the service. Back in the day if you wanted to watch something it had to be on TV. Now we watch on our phones, tablets and computers. It is so easy to take your content with you using streaming providers. Your entertainment is now portable both inside and outside the house. With IPTV every room in the house can easily be connected to your streamers. Gone are the days when adding a TV to a bedroom was an ordeal to string cable to it. Now if you have wifi you can add a TV. So what can be done to reverse this trend? In our opinion there is nothing that can be done. However, the cable providers can steer into the skid and go full IPTV. We looked into adding a cable TV and an Internet bundles and on paper it looked comparable so why not just go with getting both services in one place. Well it's the fees and hidden costs that get you. We could not find a true IPTV service through Cox. Sure they had an option where you could watch your TV on different devices. But all their plans required a set top box that you have to rent. Plus the costs are only guaranteed for two years and require a two year commitment. And to top it off, there are a bunch of fees that just break the bank and make this an uncompetitive choice for almost everyone. For cable companies to survive, they have to stop being cable companies and embrace the fact that they are now primarily Internet Service Providers that can also offer IPTV at a lower cost that other IPTV services.

This week we discuss Bluetooth getting it's biggest upgrade in years, NFL+ launching it's own streaming service and Braden tells us if his new speakers were worth the wait. Plus we read your emails and news of the week. News: It looks like the next Apple TV 4K might be ready to go 8K LG And Samsung's Next-Gen OLED TV Price War Is On, And We're All Winners Comcast may buy set-makers to boost smart TV efforts 'Stranger Things' Keeps Top Spot on Parrot Analytics Demand Chart Bluetooth is getting the biggest upgrade in years This latest evolution to the Bluetooth specification known as Auracast enables Bluetooth streaming "to an unlimited number of nearby audio devices." - This has so many cool uses. Imagine being at an airport gate and being able to connect your headphones to your particular gate announcements. That way you never have to wonder if the last call to board that you just heard was for your flight or for the gate across the way. But more traditionally you can share your music with friends headphones or you can listen to the audio of a TV in a sports bar. There is also the new LC3 codec, which is designed to be a much more efficient way to transmit audio. That either means much higher audio quality at the same bit rate than the current baseline SBC codec, or even slightly better audio quality at less than half the bit rate. A lower bit rate means lower power consumption, which should translate to longer battery life. This would be nice if you can decide which way to go. If you were going for a long bike ride you may forgo the highest quality for longer battery life. Other features include better support for true wireless earbuds, since Bluetooth LE Audio allows each individual earbud to maintain its own separate connection with the source device. And it's also hoped that, combined, all LE Audio's features will serve as a massive benefit for future hearing aids. The last thing that is left is whether or not it will be integrated into existing devices. While it may be possible to add support for Bluetooth LE Audio through updates in the present devices, most people might have to purchase better hardware. NFL+ The National Football League (NFL) has launched its own streaming service called NFL+. Beginning with the 2022 season. There are two subscription options for NFL+. The basic plan costs $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year. Live out-of-market Preseason games across devices Live local and primetime Regular Season & Postseason games on your phone or tablet Live game audio for every game (Home, Away, and national Calls) NFL Library programming on-demand, ad-free For $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, the NFL+ Premium gives you all the features of the basic tier plus some extras. Condensed game replays across devices (ad-free) Coaches Film (which lets fans study the game in-depth) Braden's New Speakers Braden took delivery of his new speakers (CSS Criton 2TD-X Tower Kit MSRP $1074) this week and we get his thoughts on hs Historic Speakers. Specifications: Crossover Point: 1800 Hz Recommended Power: 20-100 watts Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohm Frequency Response: +/- 1.5 dB from 35 Hz to 17 kHz anechoic +/- 3 dB from 30 Hz to 20 kHz anechoic 20 Hz to 20 kHz in room Sensitivity: 90 dB External Dimensions: 44"H x 8.5"W x 10.5"D (111cm H x 21.5cm W x 26.6cm D) Weight 36 lbs (16.3Kgs) each

This week we discuss whether TV reviews are worth using on the current crop of TVs and we look at the US use of Smart TVs growing even beyond the pandemic induced growth of 2020. Vizio announced their new lineup with the glaring omission of a new P-Series model. And finally we read your emails and look at the week's news. News: YouTube TV Hits 5M Subs Hulu Driving More Subscribers For Disney Than Disney+ ESPN+ Price Hike Coming Aug. 23rd, Monthly Rate Jumps to $9.99 Why 2022 TV reviews are a HOT MESS (Digital Trends) TV reviews in 2022 have gotten messy. From delayed delivery and restricted availability, to confusing firmware updates, and unnecessarily deep dives, TV reviews don't look anything like they used to, and that's become a problem. (Youtube Video) Supply Chain issues causing delays in TV shipments which means it's harder to get TVs for review. Some reviewers have to go to the manufacturer's site for review. But you are reviewing the TVs on the manufacturer's terms which means you won't necessarily get the full picture. Because there is a lack of TVs that are available for review some reviewers dive so deep into the minutiae they may expose something that does not affect 99% of the watching experience but they complain loudly. Then the TV manufacturers, wanting no bad press, over react and fix the issue and inadvertently break something else. Which results in the TV you bought a month prior turning into a different TV due to a firmware update. This may or may not be a good thing. But it kind of does invalidate aspects of any previous reviews. U.S. TV Homes Using A Smart TV To Stream Up 15 Percentage Points Since 2020 Hub Entertainment Research reveals the huge pandemic-era shift in consumption patterns. The big question in a post-growth era for Netflix: Is this shift still happening? Full article here… New Vizio Smart TVs for 2023 Vizio has announced its 2023 collection of new M-, V-, and D-Series smart TVs. However, there weren't any new P-Series products announced. Vizio says that its existing 65- and 75-inch P-Series Quantum TVs, and 85-inch P-Series Quantum X TV will all continue to be sold until at least the end of 2022. A quick search of the Vizio website showed none available. For reference, Vizio lists the 85" P Quantum X for $3100. It is possible that the high end chips required for these TVs are in short supply but we'll have to wait until the end of the year for any info. Press release… Vizio M-Series Quantum X Specs: Size options: 65- and 75-inch 4K resolution Full Array LED with local dimming (FALD) 800 nits of brightness Dolby Vision, HDR10+ 120 Hz native refresh rate AMD FreeSync VRR Wi-Fi 6E Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast Built-in Smarthome compatibility: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit Price: $850–$1,200 Vizio M-Series Quantum 6 Specs: Size options: 43-, 55-, 65-, 70-, and 75-inch 4K resolution Full Array LED Dolby Vision, HDR10+ 60 Hz native refresh rate - This is what saves you $250 AMD FreeSync VRR Wi-Fi 6E Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast Built-in Smarthome compatibility: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit Price: $350–$950 Vizio V-Series Specs: Size options: 43-, 50-, 55-, 58-, 65-, 70-, and 75-inch 4K resolution Full Array LED Dolby Vision, HDR10+ 60 Hz native refresh rate - this and no Quantum color is why it's less expensive AMD FreeSync VRR Wi-Fi 6E Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast Built-in Smarthome compatibility: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit Price: $289–$780 Vizio D-Series Specs Size options: 24-, 32-, 40-, and 43-inch 1080p resolution Full Array LED HDR Gaming 60 Hz native refresh rate AMD FreeSync VRR Wi-Fi 5 Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast Built-in Smarthome compatibility: Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit Price:$160–$250

This week we have a special guest host DJ Briggs of "The Bright Side of Home Theater" podcast filling in for Braden. We do the usual things like read your email and discuss the week's news. But we also discuss how much DJ loves his Kaleidescape video server. News: Your Sonos Ray soundbar just got an update it desperately needed NFL Sunday Ticket: "We'll Be Moving to a Streaming Service" Google Unveils $49 Nest Mini with Better Sound, Dedicated Machine Learning Chip Compact Terra Movie Server Storage for approximately 300 (18TB), 200 (12TB), or 100 (6TB) 4K movies Downloads a 4K HDR movie in as little as 10 minutes, at up to 800 Mbps Ability to play back and download content at the same time Distributes up to 5 simultaneous playback streams in 4K HDR when connected to Strato C players The compact size allows the server to be rack mounted side-by-side with the Strato C Kaleidescape's compact Terra movie server and Strato C movie players offer upgraded performance compared to Strato S, pulling key features from the top-level Terra sever into a smaller and less expensive package. Strato C Movie Player Plays movies from Terra, compact Terra, and Strato S Compact and quiet for dense rack installations or local placement in a room New wall mount option lets you mount the Strato C behind a TV for local placement Ideal for additional viewing zones in residential and marine applications Custom 1RU rack shelf with faceplates for one or two players sold separately Kaleidescape designed the Strato C movie player to provide an immersive home cinema experience, with better audio and video playback quality than most commercial theaters. Strato C is a premium 4K Ultra HD movie player that supports high dynamic range (HDR) and lossless multichannel audio including Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, DTS:X, and DTS-HD Master Audio. Strato C plays movies from a Terra, a compact Terra, or a Strato S over a network, with bit rates up to 100 Mbps and frame rates up to 60 fps.

This week Ara is on vacation but we didn't want to leave you hanging so we have a special show. We go back to the mid nineties and learn how Ara almost gave up software to become a projectionist. Enjoy!

This week we take a look at the Hisense UG6 as the best budget TV (from RTINGS.com) and we take a look at a streamers dream site called "The Streamable". Plus we read some listener emails and the week's news. News: Ads Are Officially Coming to Netflix Disney, Apple and Amazon keep waiting as NFL considers Sunday Ticket offers 'Top Gun: Maverick' Soars As Tom Cruise's First Billion-Dollar Movie Dolby Vision Now Available On Hisense's L9G TriChroma Laser TV Best Budget TV (RTINGS.COM) The best budget TV we've tested is the Hisense U6G (Full Review) (65" $549.99). It's a great all-around TV that delivers good picture quality and offers performance that rivals some more expensive options, but you won't get some of the same features. For example, it has fewer gaming features than both the Hisense U8G and LG C1 OLED, but if you don't need those features, it's a great choice that'll save you some cash. If you tend to stream a lot of content, you won't have to worry about getting an external streaming device because the built-in Android TV has a ton of apps available to download. Even if you watch content from a cable box, the picture quality is good because it upscales lower-resolution content without any issue. It's also impressive when watching movies in dark rooms because it displays deep blacks with outstanding black uniformity. Unfortunately, if you want to enhance your movie-watching experience and connect a receiver, the U6G doesn't have eARC support to pass high-quality audio formats. If that's important to you, the Hisense U6GR is similar in performance and supports eARC. However, the U6G delivers the best picture quality for a budget TV and is easier to find. 8.0 Mixed Usage 8.3 Movies 7.8 TV Shows 7.7 Sports 8.2 Video Games 8.0 HDR Movies 8.1 HDR Gaming 7.9 PC Monitor PROS Excellent contrast. Outstanding black uniformity. Decent reflection handling. Huge selection of streaming apps. CONS Image degrades when viewed at an angle. Ads throughout the smart interface The Streamable The Streamable is a website that helps you find the best way to stream anything. If you have wanted to know how to watch a movie or even find out if a movie is available to buy, rent, or stream through a service this website is for you! The website is full of useful information to anyone who streams their entertainment. There is a tool to help you find the best TV service for what you watch. It's called the "Service Matchmaker". Here you can enter sporting teams or networks you are interested in and it will give you a list of services that support it. Note - the site makes a commission on any purchases you make through them. Ara entered the Los Angeles Dodgers as a criteria and the only option was DirecTV Stream. Looks like he is not changing services soon. If I were a Rams fan Sling TV Orange package comes up as a possibility. However, so does DirecTV stream at a higher monthly cost. Even with the cost, Streamable says it's the better option based on the channels available and other features. But if I were strictly making a financial decision SlingTV is the way to go. Searching Top Gun Maverick yielded "Top Gun: Maverick is not available to stream with a subscription service." Nor did it provide any insight as to when it would be available for streaming. But searching for Jurassic World Dominion revealed that it will be available for streaming on Peacock on October 7. A little more than 90 days after it hit the theaters. Not day and date but not six months later either. The site is pretty comprehensive in that you can search on sports, TV Series, movies, channels, devices, and more. It's really the streamers best friend. What we'd like to see happen with streamable Of course this is a pipe dream but why not. We'd like to see streamable integrated with smart TVs and set top boxes. It would also be nice if this integration automatically picked up the services you subscribe to. Displayed search results would be listed by the least expensive way to watch first with clickable links. If none of your services are able to stream a title then it would list options to stream if available, and clicking on them would take you to a one click signup page. If you stream "The Streamable" should be your go to site!

This week we take a look at the top ten movies on Netflix and talk about DTS Play-Fi becoming a challenger to WISA with their new Play-Fi Soundbars. We also discuss why 8K TV sales are not really doing anything worldwide. Plus we read your emails and the week's news. News: Major Smart Home Milestone Achieved! Z-Wave Alliance Surpasses 4,000 Certified Devices Amazon overhauls Fire TV user interface Chromecast with Google TV users get first crack at profiles Nokia Is Working On A Chromecast-Like Streaming Stick Netflix's most watched films, ranked The following are Netflix's most watched movies, based on Netflix's own reporting of total hours viewed in the first 28 days of each titles' release. Any changes are in bold text. Red Notice, an action movie starring Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot and Ryan Reynolds -- 364 million hours. Don't Look Up, a dark comedy with a star-packed cast -- 359.8 million hours. Bird Box, a post-apocalyptic movie starring Sandra Bullock -- 282 million hours. The Adam Project, a sci-fi adventure comedy -- 233.2 million hours. Extraction, an action movie starring Chris Hemsworth-- 231.3 million hours. The Unforgivable, a drama about a woman rebuilding her life after prison -- 214.7 million hours. The Irishman, a period Mafia epic directed by Martin Scorsese-- 214.6 million hours. The Kissing Booth 2, a teen rom-com sequel -- 209.3 million hours. 6 Underground, a Michael Bay explosion-fest starring Ryan Reynolds -- 205.5 million hours. Spenser Confidential, an action-comedy starring Mark Wahlberg -- 197.3 million hours. DTS Play-Fi Launches Play-Fi Home Theater for Soundbars Play-Fi Home Theater Extended in TVs to support new Speaker Configurations. DTS Play-Fi Home Theater is both expanding the feature-set and availability. Full press release from DTS here… Play-Fi Home Theater for Soundbars Support for wireless surround sound has been added to the latest generation of Play-Fi soundbars, speakers and subwoofers. You can create a wireless home theater using multiple Play-Fi products as the cornerstone of your system. TYou can add up to two subwoofers and optional rear satellites or amplifiers for surround sound with support up to 7.2.4. Play-Fi Home Theater for TVs Enhancements Available beginning with 2022 TV models, Play-Fi Home Theater for TVs will allow Play-Fi speakers or amplifiers to be used either as stereo pairs with the TV, or alternatively to be used as left and right speakers with the TV serving as the center channel for a surround sound system. This functionality augments existing home theater functionality enabled in 2021 TVs including: Using the TV's built-in speakers as the front channels of a surround system or upgrading them with a Play-Fi enabled soundbar to improve audio quality without wiring between TVs and external speakers or electronics. Select Philips TVs will be first to launch with these features. New and Recently Launched Play-Fi Products New products continue to launch featuring DTS Play-Fi in 2022 and more products are on the way. Products that have launched or are launching soon include: Audiolab Omnia Streaming Amplifier Hisense AX2106GW 2.1 Soundbar Hisense U5120GW 5.1.2 Soundbar Integra DRX-2.4, DRX-3.4, DRX-5.4 AVRs Loewe klang bar5 mr 5.1.2 Soundbar Loewe klang mr1, mr3, and mr5 Speakers Onkyo TX-NR5100, TX-NR6050, TX-NR6100, TX-NR7100, and TX-RZ50 AVRs Full 2022 range Philips Ambilight TVs running on Android TV Philips Fidelio FB1 7.1.2 Soundbar Philips Fidelio FW1 Subwoofer Philips Fidelio FS1 Speaker Philips B8907 Soundbar Philips B8507 Soundbar Pioneer VSX-LX105, VSX-LX305, VSX-LX505 AVRs SVS Prime Wireless Pro Powered Speakers SVS Prime Wireless Pro Streaming Amplifier Products that Support Play-Fi Surround There are two elements of product required for Play-Fi Surround. They are the concepts of the Master and its Surrounds. In order to have Play-Fi Surround, you need at least one product that can be the Master, and you need two to act in Surround as Left and Right respectively. Any Play-Fi product can act as Surround Left or Right, but the Master has special requirements, and is limited to select products. The latest DTS Play-Fi soundbars will allow you to create configurations up to 7.2.4—complete with height channels for Dolby Atmos—simply by adding more Wi-Fi-connected Play-Fi speakers. 8K TV Adoption is Much Lower Than Expected 8K TV has been getting a lot of hype, especially from Samsung, but the latest numbers show that consumers aren't taking the bait. Full article here… According to a recent report from Omdia research only 350,000 8K TVs were shipped to dealers worldwide in 2021, which amounts to only 1.5% of total TV shipments. With Samsung offering the most models, 65% of the 250,000 were from them. What is interesting is that according to the report, Samsung didn't ship any 8K TVs to Japan. What makes this significant is that Japan is the only country that actually offers 8K TV broadcasts on a limited basis. By the end of 2022, the numbe

This week we try to determine whether Netflix has jumped the shark and what they can do save the company. We also take a look at a new smart home protocol from Broadlink called Fastcon. It's highly reliable and very affordable. We also read your emails and discuss the week's news. News: LG 'Objet' OLED Evo TVs prioritise both style and substance Android TV reaches 10K streaming apps There's a new OLED TV panel manufacturer on the block Cox explores a smart TV strategy Other: doitforme.solutions Sonos Voice Assistant - what is it, how does it work, how does it compare? Apple Inks 10 Year Global Deal for Major League Soccer Has Netflix jumped the shark? - Listener email and discussion Just been thinking about Netflix and wanted to share my thoughts The old saying from Happy days when the Fonz jumped a shark tank on water skis and Happy Days was never the same. Innovation & Interface No one can say that Netflix was not an innovator in the DVD delivery and then streaming service. They showed everyone what could be done and pioneered the streaming services. A wise person in the software business who I work with to create our company's digital platform told me this that our product was visionary and ahead of anything currently on the market. He then said let's make sure that we keep pushing forward because the competition is coming and this is their starting point. Netflix in my opinion is no longer the innovator they once were and have fallen behind the crowd. I believe the lack of integrating into a box or TV streaming OS really hurts them. This is my main way to find new stuff to watch and the what's next makes decisions easier. Their interface I believe is one of the worst of the main stream services. They have gone to allowing algorithms show you movies/shows that it thinks you would want to watch. I have a soft side I don't always need to see thing blow up in what I watch. Trying to find the vast majority of their library is difficult. The other streaming service allow you to see everything they have very easily again in my opinion. Cost of main stream streamers & Business Model Netflix 4k streaming at $19.99 Disney Bundle – No ads 4k streaming - $19.99 Netflix - 1080P only - @ $15.49 HBO Max - 4k streaming @ $14.99 Disney Bundle adds - $13.99 All others are under $10 a month I believe They raised their prices at the wrong time as inflation was starting to it creep up they raised the prices and in reality or the #1 & 2 highest priced streaming services as the Disney bundle is 3 separate services. Also, it was kick in the face to be charging $15.49 for 1080P streaming – this is when I said goodbye. I have kept my Paramount, Discovery, Apple TV+, subscription because their prices is low and upgraded to Peacock without commercials because the per month price is under $10. I do get the Disney bundle and HBO Max free and if I had to pay for them I would pay from HBO Max & Disney Plus – wait for the $1 deal from hulu to sign back up. Their business model of binging is great for consumers but not the corporations. Once Netflix jumped the shark with their prices I decided I could just wait till the late summer and re-activate for a month or two to see all their good content and then put the service back on pause. Disney & HBO have the weekly release that to me makes more invested in their services and they have good content. Future Does NetFlix go the way of Blackberry, MySpace or can they reinvent themselves? This is the questions each stockholder is asking right now. If I were in charge first thing I would do is realize that I'm no longer the only big dog and be honest about my place in the streaming world. I would integrate with the Box and TV OS's integrated search. I would redesign my interface. I would change my $15.49 price to allow for 4K streaming. I would not buy Roku as that does not help you but spend money. If your plan is to make it the only way to get Netflix then you really don't know your place in the streaming war. If you want to buy something look for a content provider with a big catalog if there is one left. I hope Reid can see beyond his ego and reshape Netflix to be competitive and still deliver great content and reasonable price. Roku Staffers Swirl in Netflix Acquisition Rumors Roku stock was up nearly 10% Wednesday morning as internal discussions focus on the possibility of a tie-up with a streaming giant that suddenly needs help with advanced advertising Full article here… Ad supported streaming? - With Roku Netflix would not have to share revenue with other hardware makers. Broadlink FastCon Smart Home Protocol We have spoken a lot about Matter this year as a way to unify the Smart Home market. Well there is another protocol that has recently been released that has some pretty cool features. We're talking about the Broadlink FastCon Smart Home Protocol. FastCon BLE is a patented communication technology based on Bluetooth Low Energy developed by BroadLink, boasting many advantages over t

This week we discuss the Sonos Ray Sounbar and we found a solution for controlling which rooms in your house get all the cool or warm air from your HVAC system. Finally we take a walk through Costco and look at their TV department. We have some breaking news about Insteon turning their servers back on along with the rest of the week's news. We also read your emails in an action packed episode!. News: NESN Becomes First Regional Sports Net to Launch DTC Service Ring is raising the cost of its cheapest subscription by 99 cents a month New Google TV app turns your iPhone into a virtual remote Cable & Satellite Lost Around 1.45M Customers in Q1 2022 Other: Signal GH on the iOS App Store From Top Gun Instructor to Four Star Admiral: A Conversation with Sandy "Jaws" Winnefeld Building a TRUE 4k home cinema projector (it's awesome) Samsung caught cheating in TV benchmarks, promises software update - FlatpanelsHD What's New in tvOS 16 for Apple TV: Features and Enhancements Insteon Server is Back Online! (Eastern US 4:21 PM 07JUN2022) Sonos Ray Soundbar Review: Great TV Sound on a Budget, Even Better for Music The $279 Ray is the closest thing yet to a Sonos One speaker in soundbar form, and that's high praise. Full article here… Ecovent Whole Home Zoning System A few weeks ago we talked about trying to keep an entire home at the same temperature by using sensors throughout the house. Ara mentioned that in his home to get the upstairs cool he needs to keep the downstairs cold. Reverse in the winter for heat. Rather than getting a second A/C unit Ara bought portable A/C units for the bedrooms upstairs. But this is a manual process albeit one that works well when there are people in the house to turn the units on. At that time we opined that it would be great if there was a way to control the vents automatically to send the air where it was needed. Richard from San Diego heard our call and let us know about a company called Keen Home that has solved the problem with their Ecovent Whole Home Zoning System. We have no relationship with the company nor do we have experience with the product so this is just for information. We reached out to the company to see if we can get a representative to come on our show. The following is from the Keen Home Website: The Ecovent Whole Home System replaces 80% of your home's existing airvents to optimize airflow throughout your entire home. The Ecovent Sensors, Hub, and a Sensi Thermostat enable the Ecovent App to set specific room temperatures, giving you the ultimate climate control. You adjust the temperature in any room from your app. The Sensors gather and transmit climate data in every room. Your Ecovent Vents then open and close to redirect airflow in your home and make every room the right temperature. Mark vacant rooms to allow air to go where you are. Save your favorite room setpoints and schedule them for automated comfort. Adjust your settings easily while away from home. Add your Sensi thermostat to the Ecovent app for end-to-end control of your home's HVAC system. Shopping for TVs at Costco Samsung QN85QN85BD (85") for $3999.99 Oddly enough Samsung is selling them for the same price on their website. Amazon has it for $3997. Looks like the only discounts available on this TV is the 2021 model which goes for $3345 at Amazon. The only difference we can see is that the 2022 model has speakers at the top that support Dolby Atmos. In our opinion you will be better served with the 2021 model and saving $500. Quantum Matrix with Mini LEDs 4K Resolution with AI Upscaling Quantum HDR 24x Optimized Eye Comfort Mode: Enjoy an optimized display without lifting a finger. Its lighting system evaluates the brightness of your space to tailor your screen contrast The Costco version comes with a $65 Samsung streaming credit. LG OLED77C1AUB (77") for $2599.99. Like the Samsung this OLED is going for the same amount on LGs website for the PUB version which appears to be the non warehouse store equivalent. At the time of this writing we could not find the 2022 model at Amazon. But the 2021 was available for $2596. Self-lighting OLED: Perfect Black, Intense Color, Infinite Contrast α9 Gen4 AI Processor 4K with AI Picture Pro/Sound Pro Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos webOS + ThinQ AI w/ Magic Remote Gaming: G-SYNC Compatible, FreeSync, VRR, ALLM The Costco version comes with a $100 streaming credit. Sony XR77A80CJ (77") The best we can tell is that this is a 2021 model and the warehouse store equivalent of the XR77A80J. Feature wise they are identical. The 80J goes for $2799.99 on Sony's website and is also available at Amazon for $2599.96. COGNITIVE PROCESSOR XR™ – Revolutionary TV processing technology that understands how humans see and hear to deliver intense contrast with pure blacks, high peak brightness, and natural colors. XR TRILUMINOS PRO™ - Rediscover everything you watch with billions of accurate colors and see impressive picture quality that is natural and beautiful to the human

This week we have a holiday shortened show where we briefly discuss Microlens OLED and Streaming to your TV hitting record levels. We also answer a few emails and read the week's news. News: U.S. Netflix Usage Up Despite Sub Loses LG Unveils Star Wars Special Edition OLED evo Samsung will soon stop making traditional LCD panels Nielsen: Streaming Hits Record Levels, Accounts for 30% of TV Viewing While total TV viewing declined, streaming volume stayed steady and increased its share Full article here … LG Display demonstrates a prototype WOLED display with a microlens MLA array Article Here What is microlens technology? Think of it like microscopic glasses that are attached to the OLED layer and that these glasses increase the light output. From a paper (Novel fabrication method of microlens arrays with High OLED outcoupling efficiency) published in Science Direct - After attaching a hemispherical microlens array with contact angle of 50.4° onto the OLEDs, the luminance was enhanced by approximately 117%.

This week LG Debuts a new 4K UST Laser Projector and we discuss five mistakes everyone makes with Sonos Soundbars. Finally, Samsung begins integrating it's SmartThings home automation platform with Matter capable devices. We also read your emails and the week's news. News: Hey Sonos! Company Debuts Entry-Level Soundbar, Voice Control For Music, And New Roam Colors Google TV app to add casting as Android TV ecosystem grows to 110M monthly active device Disney+ beats estimates with 7.9M new subscribers in Q1 Samsung SmartThings begins testing Matter devices on its platform Roku and Element partner for their first outdoor TV LG Debuts New 4K UST Laser Projector LG Electronics is expanding its premium CineBeam 4K laser projector lineup with the new Ultra Short Throw (UST) laser projector (model HU915QE), the follow up to the HU715Q released earlier this year. LG's latest flagship home cinema solution can produce sharp 90-inch images when placed 2.2 inches (5.6 centimeters) from the wall, or 120 inches at a distance of 7.2 inches (18.3 centimeters). The HU915QE plays movies and streaming content in 4K HDR, using HDR Dynamic Tone Mapping to analyze and adjust image brightness every single frame. With LG's webOS smart platform onboard, the HU915QE lets users watch all their favorite shows from streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, and Apple TV without an additional device. They can also wirelessly stream content via Screen Mirroring, Apple AirPlay2, and Bluetooth. On top of that, its built-in 2.2 Channel, 40-watt speaker system enhances the viewing experience with strong, rich audio. Users can also connect up to two LG Bluetooth speakers at once. LG CineBeam 4K laser projector (model HU915QE) with the latest UST technology will be available in the first half of 2022. No pricing available but Value Electronics is advertising it for $6000 to $6500.. 5 mistakes everyone makes with Sonos soundbars Got a Sonos Beam or Arc? Don't make these classic mistakes Full article here… Mistake 1: ignoring Trueplay room calibration Mistake 2: leaving the TV's sound output in PCM Mistake 3: not trying the speech enhancement feature Mistake 4: not playing with the 'Loudness' feature Mistake 5: missing the new height adjustment feature HOW SAMSUNG'S SMARTTHINGS IS THINKING ABOUT MATTER AND THE FUTURE OF THE SMART HOME The smart home is about to change. Soon, you won't have to choose a smart light bulb or door lock just because it works with your smart speaker. Instead, you'll be able to buy a smart device, bring it home, and it will work with any voice assistant or app you choose. At least, that's the promise behind Matter, a new standard created by Samsung, Google, Apple, and Amazon. Most importantly, you won't be locked into the platform you chose. If you decide you want to switch to SmartThings from Google Home, or go with Amazon Alexa over Apple HomeKit, any Matter-enabled devices can come with you. Full article here… Founded 10 years ago on Kickstarter, SmartThings is one of the only standalone consumer smart home hubs from the early days of the DIY smart home boom that's still alive and kicking. The SmartThings hub is one of the few consumer-level devices with multiple radios in it, including Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Z-Wave, allowing it to control a much wider range of smart home devices. It also works with cloud-to-cloud software services and is one of the most compatible smart home platforms. There's voice assistant support, too, for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant as well as Samsung's Bixby. It was acquired by Samsung in 2014. Since the acquisition, Samsung has moved away from manufacturing any SmartThings hardware, offloading both the standalone hub and many of the sensors to device maker Aeotec. The company has said it's focusing all efforts on the SmartThings app and supporting Samsung's connected products through software. The following are questions to Mark Benson, the newly appointed Head of SmartThings US, Samsung's home automation arm What is the future for the SmartThings hub with Matter on the horizon? The standalone SmartThings V3 Hub and the Aeotec SmartThings Hub will be updated to support Matter when it launches in the fall. SmartThings is getting integrated more deeply across the Samsung portfolio, with SmartThings Hub software built into select 2022 Samsung Smart TVs, Smart Monitors, and Family Hub refrigerators. These devices will also allow users to connect a wide variety of existing smart home devices, as they will be updated to get Matter as a controller support, as the new standard becomes available. We also plan to support Matter as a controller on our SmartThings Hub V2. This will enable our existing users to connect and control Matter devices. Will the built-in hubs have any low-power wireless radios, as the standalone hubs do? What about Thread? Low-power wireless protocols are a crucial part of the Matter standard and will definitely come to the Samsung SmartThin

This week we discuss how matter will fix the smart home. Well it won't fix the smart home completely but it will make adding new devices faster. Pulse we have an abbreviated email and news segment since one of us went to Alaska. News: Classic Japanese audio brand Onkyo files for bankruptcy Hisense announces its own Fire TV, starting at $530 Other: Join the Neat Exchange - Social Media for Whiskey Drinkers Ara's Woodworking Join the Flaviar Whisky Club and get a free bottle Google says Matter Still Set to Fix the Biggest Smart Home Frustrations In early 2019, Michele Turner sat down for dinner with her colleague Grant Erickson. Joining them at the restaurant in Silicon Valley's Woodside were two of their counterparts from Amazon and two from Apple. Turner and Erickson both worked for Google. The hosts of this dinner party were Tobin Richardson and John Osborne from the Zigbee Alliance. The aim of the evening was simple: fix the smart home. Full article here…

This week we take a look at Sony's 2022 TVs and Projectors with availability and pricing information. We also read your emails and take a looks at the week's news. News: Sonos may roll out its own voice assistant next month Leviton launches HomeKit-enabled Decora Smart No-Neutral Switch, Dimmer, and Bridge aimed at older homes Are Sluggish Smart TV Shipments Really Behind the Growth Problems for Netflix and Other Streamers? Just Look at This Chart Google Nest cameras now work with Amazon Alexa devices Dish, Sling TV Report Increased Sub Loses Other: Sinclair and Bally Announce Their Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Platform is Coming in June Fans struggling to watch Mavs, Stars and Rangers games on Bally Sports may soon have a solution Same-day theatrical and streaming releases are dead, says theater owners CEO - FlatpanelsHD Netflix Dolby Atmos problems with new Apple TV 4k 2021 new gen Apple tv 4k Dolby Atmos Problems | MartinLogan Audio Owners Forum Some Apple TV Users Complain of Dolby Atmos Audio Issues - MacRumors Dolby Atmos stuttering on newest gen Apple TV MyQ With Alexa – Here's How! (Step-By-Step Instructions) Sony 2022 TVs — QD-OLED, Mini LED, Master Series And More The Sony 2022 TV lineup features an updated XR processor, promising Sony's Bravia XR TVs to ramp up image processing power across 4K OLED TVs, a QD-OLED TV and the brand's first Mini LED TV. Full article here… Sony Debuts Three New Native 4K HDR Laser Home Cinema Projectors Sony Electronics has revealed three new Native 4K HDR Home Cinema laser projectors, featuring what the company calls the world's smallest Native 4K SXRD 0.61-inch panel (3840 x 2160), enabling a compact chassis design. New wide dynamic range optics in combination with Triluminous Pro algorithm deliver an unmatched 4K HDR experience on the large screen. Powered by Sony's "X1 Ultimate for projector," the picture processor based on technology used for its BRAVIA TV series and optimized for projectors, this processor enables unique features like Dynamic HDR Enhancer and Object-based Super Resolution to create expanded dynamic range and extreme clarity, heightening the viewing experience. The new models are: The VPL-XW7000ES is Sony's new Native 4K HDR laser model in the range, with 3200 lumen and Live Color Enhancer that provides vivid images even in bright home living spaces. This model also features a new 70mm diameter Advanced Crisp Focused (ACF) lens with aspherical front element and floating focus group that delivers high clarity. The VPL-XW7000ES has a suggested retail price of $27,999.99 and is available to order summer 2022 at Sony Electronics, Amazon, Best Buy, and other authorized dealers. The VPL-XW6000ES offers a bold, crisp entertainment experience with 2500 lumen of brightness, generated by a long-lasting laser light source, for vibrant images even on a large screen. Available in either black or white, this model also features an all-new 0.61-inch SXRD panel for high brightness, inky blacks, vibrant colors, rich tones and textures, clear cinematic motion, and image smoothness. Utilizing Flagship-level X1 Ultimate for projector brings the best of Sony's BRAVIA TV video processing for projection, resulting in high dynamic range imagery with texture, color, contrast, and realism. The VPL-XW6000ES has a suggested retail price of $11,999.99 and is available to order summer 2022 at Sony Electronics, Amazon, Best Buy, and other authorized dealers. The VPL-XW5000ES addition to Sony's Home Cinema lineup is a 2000 lumen laser model that delivers high contrast and object-based HDR remastering for real-time picture processing. On the XW series, over a billion colors are brought to life by Triluminos Pro, which features the ability to display 95 percent of DCI-P3 Color Gamut. The VPL-XW5000ES has a suggested retail price of $5,999.99 and is available to order summer 2022 at Sony Electronics, Amazon, Best Buy, and other authorized dealers.

This week we look at 5 mistakes people make with their TV Settings and how to fix them and long time listener Jerry documents his transition from the Insteon Home Hub to Home Assistant. We have no email but we do discuss some of the week's news in an episode that includes a discussion about Mead, Bourbon, Beer, and Moonshine! News: Harman Kardon Citation MultiBeam 1100 soundbar boasts Dolby Atmos audio Roku welcomes Apple Music to its lineup Alexa can tell you when your security camera detects a person or package Wyze takes on Ecobee, Nest with new room sensors for its smart thermostat 5 mistakes everyone makes with LG OLED TVs, and how to fix them Thanks to their irresistible combination of futuristic, super-slim designs and consistently outstanding picture quality, LG OLED TVs have become the darlings of the high-end TV world – they're not only among the best OLED TVs, but the best TVs of any kind. The problem is that few TVs are set up to deliver their best possible viewing experience out of the box, so if you haven't picked the right settings, you're not getting the most from your TV. So let's look here at some of the most common set up mistakes LG OLED owners make that may be stopping them from getting the viewing experience they deserve. Full article here… Cheat Sheet for Insteon Replacement with HomeAssistant (2.0) Like many I was shocked to see my Insteon hub with a permanent red light and my expensive IOT devices inoperative. A good number of ex-Insteon users are looking to other implementations of home management system and I soon discovered that HomeAssistant does work with Insteon Devices. The help pages are well done and explain the procedures well. I am back up and running with HomeAssistant following the instructions, but it is not simple and here are some of the fine points. The definitive solution involves either the HomeAssistant server hardware or a Rasberry Pi with the software installed. You can run the system using Virtual system implement ations such as Microsofts's Hyper-V or VirtualBox. I suggest you try Virtual Box before you decide to buy dedicated hardware. I found the Hyper-V unusable, as I have with other implementations, but the VBox works… though was not stable enough in my hands for a permanent install. So with Ara's financing I bought a Raspberry Pi on Amazon with the additional bits and pieces you NEED: mico-SD card for the system; mini-HDMI connector for a display as well as getting a mouse and keyboard to attach and of course an ethernet cable. Here are the nice install instructions: https://www.home-assistant.io/installation/raspberrypi/ The set-up is self generated and you really just follow the questions. If you did this right, the home screen will appear on any web browser populated by a lot of devices you never thought you had, including the hub.. Each of these will then show up on your home screen which is your interface, as well as on your smart phone. My goal was to get the cameras that I use in my astronomical observatory to work, which I did https://www.astrobin.com/users/jerryyyyy/ There are many viable "canned" interfaces and contingency programming and the home page is entirely customizable… I am still learning and a real time sink. The biggest problem is initializing some devices. The hub interface seems worthless as it never showed all my devices and I basically had to add them back in one by one. I made a spreadsheet with the MAC address and set fixed IP addresses for many… If you do not know what I am talking about when I mention MAC addresses or IP addresses, you will be in trouble because you need to mess with your router and set up "fixed IP addresses" for some devices… also cameras have BOTH Wi-Fi and Ethernet MAC Addresses… On the other hand, if you know what I am talking about, this is a piece of cake. My to-do list: Get the motion sensor up and running (Appears to be impossible). See if there is a way to pan work the cameras (Maybe learning more Python). Get the GPS location off my iPhone into the system… yes you can get this through the App. Find some good models for home pages and automations… there are tons but hard to choose. The one I have is pretty basic. Bottom line, all in all this is a viable option if you are familiar with the basics of networking. Essential Afterthought: How to back-up your installation. I learned that to shut down the Pi you do not pull the power cord… you go to the Linux shell and "sudo halt" luckily my install came back after that adventure. You can backup and reinstall the SD card contents using Win32 Disk Imager: https://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/ If you put this system together, you do not want to lose it!

This week we talk about a world with 400Gbps Internet speeds and a new TV service that combines OTA and IPTV. Also, are we spending more for our A La Carte TV services today than what we used to spend for bundled cable programming when HDTV came on the scene? We also read your emails and the week's news. News: Philips' high-end OLED907 and OLED937 TVs revealed early Discovery+ Reached 24 Million Subscribers Before Merger with Warner Bros. TV Buyers More Motivated by Screen Size and Picture Quality Than Price Sennheiser's new true wireless earbuds put the pressure on the Sony WF-1000XM4 Yamaha updates its Aventage AVRs to add HDMI 2.1 gaming features and HDR10+ support Comcast Reports 400 Gbps Internet Speeds in Hollowcore Fiber Test Comcast becomes the first U.S. ISP to deploy advanced Hollowcore Fiber with faster speeds, lower latency Full article here… Evoca TV Cable is more expensive. Satellite is inconsistent. Evoca is the only home entertainment option that uses NextGen technology, combining the best of broadcast and streaming to deliver crystal-clear picture quality at a fraction of the cost. For the best Evoca experience, simply pair the Scout receiver with an antenna to enjoy live news, sports and entertainment. And where available, we deliver your favorite shows using an ATSC 3.0 signal that doesn't hog bandwidth. It's better picture quality with less buffering, the way TV was meant to be. Evoca's receiver that works with a standard TV antenna and your internet connection. Scout uses an innovative blend of broadband and broadcast to search and adjust for optimal bandwidth. That means, if you're watching TV, you won't have to compete for bandwidth with other people in your house playing games, videoconferencing, or streaming video. You'll still get the best picture with less buffering or glitchy stuff, the way TV should be. Imagine that. TiVo: Average U.S. Pay TV Customer Is Paying $204 a Month for Broadband and Video Entertainment With the total monthly bill for connected services approaching the payment for cheap subcompact car, the subscription market does seem a bit ... saturated Full article here…

This week we discuss the shutting down of Insteon servers and what you can do to continue using your Insteon automation products and we have an interview with Tony Willis where we discuss his Home Assistant setup that is one of the ways to keep your Insteon devices working. Plus there is a lot of Netflix news and we read your emails. News: Netflix stock plunges 38% on shocking subscriber loss Netflix, Disney+, HBO losing billions to illegal password sharing TiVo Stream 4K First To Fully Integrate With YouTube TV IMDb TV Rebrands as Amazon Freevee Sony's flagship soundbars just got support for another spatial audio format Insteon Discussion Insteon servers offline. Company had a change in management in 2017 and tried to pivot it's products (with different manufacturers and partnerships). This did not go well and caused the decline of the company. According to our source the present automations should still work but you will not be able to check the status of your home or make changes. If you are using Idigo Domotics control SW you will see no changes, likewise if you are using Home Assistant You can also use an ISY controller. But you'll need a 2413S INSTEON Dual-Band PLM to talk to the devices. The devices are no longer being sold but you can find them on ebay for, get this, $1000. If the hub was your only interface to your switches, Home Assistant may be your only way back in. Apparently Home Assistant has access to the inner workings of the hub and can take over the automation process. But as you will hear in a little bit, you will need to get into the weeds making everything work. Insteon was one of the first partners with Apple's Homekit. However, Apple did not have everything finalized and it cost Insteon a lot of money to support it. As a result the product was very buggy and did not work well. My own experience with the Homekit integration was so bad that I moved away from Insteon. They never really got it to a point that I thought was bullet proof. There is hope… Things are happening that may see the servers turn back on. I can't say much more than that. Warning - Do not factory reset your device under any circumstances as it will not be recoverable. /r/insteon Is where you can get information from other Insteon users Home Assist Interview with Tony Willis Home Assistant is open source home automation that puts local control and privacy first. Powered by a worldwide community of tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts. Perfect to run on a Raspberry Pi or a local server.