HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

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Podcast #879: QLED vs OLED vs LED Jan 18, 2019

Show notes

QLED vs OLED vs LED

The Super Bowl is right around the corner and that is a time when many Americans buy new TVs. Right now there are three competing technologies (QLED, OLED, and LED) readily available for purchase. With the help of RTINGS.com we try to help you make an informed decision.

How do these technologies rate on 8 factors important to someone buying a TV.

Black Level - Deep black will make colors look more accurate and vibrant

Motion Blur - Mostly an issue for video gaming or fast action sports. It manifests itself as a blur on the screen

Viewing Angle - Measures how true the image remains when you view off angle. The farther off center the more the degradation.

Color Volume - A measure of the ability to express all the colors that can physically be displayed (aka: the color gamut), at any given luminosity, up to the display's peak brightness.

Gray Uniformity - Describes how well a TV is able to maintain a single, uniform color on the screen.

Luminosity - Essentially brightness

Image Retention - Burn In

Price and Availability - Self Explanatory

QLED

OLED

LED

Black Level

Good

Perfect

Good

Motion Blur

Great

Perfect

Good

Viewing Angle

Poor

Great

Poor

Color volume

Great

Good

Gray Uniformity

Average

Good

Average

Luminosity

Good

Great

Image Retention

Great

Poor

Great

Price and Availability

Poor

Average

Great

Table Courtesy of RTINGS.com

Podcast #878: CES 2019 Jan 11, 2019

Show notes

CES 2019 CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is the world's gathering place for all those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years - the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. Owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), it attracts the world's business leaders and pioneering thinkers. LG Debuts TV Of Tomorrow With World's First Rollable OLED TVLG Electronics (LG) is defining the next generation of television at CES® 2019 with the introduction of the world's first rollable OLED TV. The LG SIGNATURE OLED TV R (model 65R9) reimagines the everyday TV with a revolutionary form factor only made possible by the company's industry-leading OLED technology, boasting picture and sound quality that is second to none. The never-before-seen user experience gives home TV viewers infinite possibilities in designing their perfect viewing space. Line View allows the LG SIGNATURE OLED TV R to be partially unrolled, allowing for management of specific tasks that do not require the full TV screen. In Line View, users can choose from features such as Clock mode to check the time and weather, Frame mode to enjoy family photos shared from a smartphone, Mood mode to create a more relaxing atmosphere as well as others including Music and Home Dashboard. When in Zero View, all 65 inches of the LG SIGNATURE OLED TV R are hidden from view and tucked away in the base. Even in Zero View, users can enjoy music and other audio content which resonate from the 4.2-channel, 100W front-firing Dolby Atmos audio system. The premium bloodline is clearly evident in the entire unit, from the brushed aluminum casing to the quality wool speaker cover designed by Kvadrat of Denmark. No pricing or availability Samsung Unveils 75 inch Modular Micro LED TechnologySamsung introduced its latest innovations in modular MicroLED display technology during its annual First Look CES event at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The revolutionary new Micro LED technology designs featured at the event included: a new 75" display, a 219" The Wall as well as other various groundbreaking sizes, shapes and configurations for a next-generation modular Micro LED display – a 2019 CES Best of Innovation Award winner. Due to the technical advancements in the ultra-fine pitch semiconductor packaging process that narrow the gap between the microscopic LED chips, Samsung has been able to create a stunning 4K Micro LED display in a smaller, more home-friendly 75" form factor. No pricing or availability Samsung announces 98in version of its 8K QLED TV The QE98Q900R is a 98in version of the TV that's already available in 65in, 75in, 82in (US-only) and 85in variants. Aside from being a bigger model, the new model in the Q900R range shares the same specs as its siblings, which means it's an 8K display with a full array direct LED backlight that can hit a peak brightness of 4000 nits. It uses the same Quantum Processor 8K, which combines with central server-based machine-learning to upscale all non-8K content in the best quality possible. No pricing or availability but the 85 inch is currently $15K VIZIO Reveals SmartCast™ 3.0 at CES 2019, Adding Support for Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit VIZIO, Inc. announced the latest iteration of its easy-to-use smart TV experience, VIZIO SmartCast 3.0, which will offer unparalleled value to consumers through new seamless integrations, features and content offerings. With support for Apple AirPlay 2, millions of VIZIO SmartCast users can effortlessly play videos, music, photos and more directly from their iPhone, iPad and Mac to SmartCast TVs. HomeKit, Apple's secure smart home platform, will also be supported, enabling customers to easily control their SmartCast TVs using the Home app or by asking Siri. Support for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit on VIZIO SmartCast TVs will be available for registered beta members across the U.S. and Canada to experience in Q1 2019. Following the beta, VIZIO SmartCast 3.0 will roll out via free cloud-based updates to new and existing SmartCast TVs and displays in Q2 20191. Panasonic's GZ2000: World's Most Cinematic TV Panasonic today announced the launch of the GZ2000, featuring a custom-made Professional Edition 4K OLED panel which incorporates custom hardware improvements by Panasonic. Optimized by a leading Hollywood colorist, the new panel highlights unparalleled color accuracy and significantly better than average brightness levels. The GZ2000 is the world's first* OLED TV to support both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR as well as HLG Photo, the new still image format which brings still photography into the HDR world. Furthermore, the GZ2000 is the world's first TV with built-in upward-firing speakers capable of delivering Dolby Atmos® immersive audio with total ease and convenience. The total audio system has also been tuned by Technics engineers. Also, with support for voice assistants, the GZ2000 can integrate seamlessly with a smart home setup. The GZ2000 also works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, allowing users to operate some key TV functions, just using their voice. No pricing or availability Sony Electronics Adds Super-large Sized 8K TVs and OLED 4K TVs to the MASTER Series Lineup Sony Electronics Inc. today announced the new MASTER Series Z9G 8K LCD and A9G 4K OLED televisions. Sony's MASTER Series TVs represent the pinnacle of picture quality available to home viewers, capable of displaying images that faithfully convey the creators' intent. The MASTER Series is the name given to only the very best Sony TVs and provides premium picture quality, color, contrast and clarity approaching that of a professional-grade monitor. The MASTER Series TVs also feature Netflix Calibrated Mode and IMAX Enhanced to further ensure that content is delivered as intended. Both new models feature the latest generation Picture Processor X1™ Ultimate for accurate detail and contrast. Introduced last fall with the inaugural MASTER Series models, this processor plays a vital role in delivering the high-quality picture in the MASTER Series. The Picture Processor X1 Ultimate has a unique algorithm specially developed for 8K that can intelligently detect and analyze each object in the picture, resulting in exceptional detail and contrast for a more realistic picture that represents the creators' intent. Premium quality sound is a key part of the viewing experience as well, and both the A9G and Z9G models have the new Sound-from-Picture Reality feature, which faithfully reproduces the position of the sound on the screen so when actors are speaking, the sound appears to be coming directly from their mouths and not from a speaker off to the bottom. Pricing and retail availability will be announced in spring 2019. The MASTER Series televisions will be on sale at BestBuy and other authorized dealers nationwide. Sony launching another new OLED TV - the AG8 Sony has just announced details of its more affordable 2019 OLED offering, the AG8. Available in 55in and 65in variants, the AG8 does without the X1 Ultimate processor of the AG9 OLED, instead sticking with the X1 Extreme chip seen on its predecessor, the AF8. Sony hasn't yet announced a release date or price for the AG8 Roku and TCL Announce Plan to Make 8K TCL Roku TVs and Built-in Voice Controls Roku, Inc. and TCL® announced that the two companies are working together to make 8K TCL Roku TVs expected to be available to consumers in late 2019. TCL will leverage its latest Gen 11 LCD panel factory and Roku® is developing an 8K hardware reference design that TCL will be the first to license. Additionally, Roku is expanding its 4K and HDR hardware reference design to include far-field microphones for voice search and control. Today, TCL also announced they will be the first to deliver these TV models in 2019. No pricing or availability Airplay2 Enabled TVs LG OLED (2019)Announced LG NanoCell SM9X series (2019)Announced LG NanoCell SM8X series (2019)Announced LG UHD UM7X series (2019)Announced Samsung QLED Series (2019 and 2018)Announced Samsung 8 Series (2019 and 2018)Announced Samsung 7 Series (2019 and 2018)Announced Samsung 6 Series (2019 and 2018)Announced Samsung 5 Series (2019 and 2018)Announced Samsung 4 Series (2019 and 2018)Announced Sony Z9G Series (2019)Announced Sony A9G Series (2019)Announced Sony X950G Series (2019)Announced Sony X850G Series (2019 85", 75", 65" and 55" models)Announced Vizio P-Series Quantum (2019 and 2018)Announced Vizio P-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)Announced Vizio M-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)Announced Vizio E-Series (2019, 2018 and 2017)Announced Vizio D-series (2019, 2018 and 2017)Announced Panasonic's 2019 4K Blu-ray players offer HDR10+ and Dolby Vision Panasonic has launched two new Blu-ray players at CES 2019, the DP-UB150 and the DP-UB450, offering upgraded specs and promises of better performance. Both new 4K Blu-ray players support the latest version of HDR (high dynamic range) picture technology, HDR10+. The more expensive UB450 player also supports Dolby Vision, another version of HDR, ensuring you can get the very best out of Dolby Vision content. Both the UB150 and UB450 can also passthrough Dolby Atmos. No Pricing or availability given HARMAN's Mark Levinson Showcases New 5000 Series Integrated Amplifiers HARMAN's Mark Levinson is showcasing the first two models from the new 5000 series, the № 5805 and № 5802 integrated amplifiers at CES 2019. The Mark Levinson 5000 series amplifiers deliver renowned Mark Levinson luxury and fidelity at an exceptional value. "The Nº5805 and Nº5802 were created to deliver all of the performance and quality expected from Mark Levinson while implementing state of the art features and efficiencies gained from decades of superlative audio engineering and technological advancements," said Jim Garrett, Senior Director, Product Strategy & Planning, HARMAN Luxury Audio. "Proudly designed, engineered and precision crafted in the USA, the 5000 series looks great, sounds amazing, and is re-defining performance expectations." Both amplifiers feature fully discrete, direct-coupled, class AB amplifier channels powered from an oversized (500+ VA) toroidal transformer with individual secondary windings for the left and right channels. The voltage gain stage employs a topology directly descended from the acclaimed Nº 534 amplifier, which is mated to an output stage comprising two high-speed driver transistors operating in class A and six 260V, 15A output transistors. Two Thermal-Trak devices in a unique configuration guarantee stable output bias regardless of load or temperature. Four 10,000-microfarad capacitors per channel, located directly on the output stage circuit board, easily provide enough current for a conservative 125W/channel at 8 ohms, 250W/channel at 4 ohms, and stable operation down to 2 ohms. The Nº5805 and Nº5802 will be available in first quarter 2019 at MSRPs of $8,500 and $7,000 respectively. ELAC NAVIS Powered Speakers ELAC's new Navis Series answers every minimalist audiophile's dream of a no-compromise powered speaker driven by best-inclass amplifiers that are truly deserving of the name "high end." While most powered speakers rely on Class D digital designs, ELAC engineers build in 300 watts of pure analog amplification—for maximum power and exceptional sound. Add the Discovery Connect wireless transmitter to your system, and Navis becomes a wireless speaker that lets you enjoy streaming content without a cable in sight. $2,000 a pair for the book shelf model $2,000 each for floor standing. Sony LSPX-S1 Glass Sound Speaker The LSPX-S2 Glass Sound Speaker looks more like a little lamp than a speaker, and in actual fact it's both. At the centre of a glass tube is a little LED light with 32 steps of brightness that can also be set to candlelight mode, which introduces candle-like flickering. But just below the LED light, hidden from view, are three actuators, spaced equally around the inside of the glass. These actuators vibrate the glass to create sound, in much the same way that the actuators on the back of the company's OLED TVs produce sound by vibrating the panel. At the bottom of the unit, also hidden, is a woofer to add bass and lower mid-range, filling out the higher frequencies produced by the actuators. $799 Ring Door View Cam The Ring Door View Cam is a smaller piece of kit that can sit over your door's existing viewer/spy hole. Sandwiched between the button and the camera lens is a piece of glass that'll let you peer through the hole at your visitors, old-school style. Door View Cam comes with all of the usual features you'd expect from a Ring product, including HD video, privac y zones and smart alerts. In addition, however, it packs an impact sensor to alert you when a moron knocks on your door instead of, you know, pushing the clearly obvious bell. It's worth adding that existing Ring products will let you watch what's going on at the door with its Live View feature. Because this is designed to sit over door peepholes, the product is installed without drilling or permanent modifications. That should mean that folks in rental properties and apartment blocks will be up for trying the device, so long as you can pop out the existing peephole. And Ring will, as usual, guarantee to replace your equipment if it's stolen, although it should be pretty hard to steal. Arlo to Add Apple Homekit Support for Arlo Ultra and Pro 2 Wire-free Camera Systems Arlo Technologies, Inc. announced today that HomeKit, Apple's secure smart home platform, will be supported by the Arlo Ultra 4K HDR Wire-Free and Arlo Pro 2 Security Camera Systems. While Arlo users can already control their Ultra or Pro 2 cameras via the Arlo app, HomeKit provides added convenience for iPhone and iPad users to access certain functions of their Arlo cameras using the Apple Home app or Siri voice commands. Support for HomeKit will be available as an automatic firmware update for Arlo Ultra and Pro 2 camera systems later this quarter. The new Arlo Ultra 4K HDR Wire-Free Security Camera System is available now, with pricing starting at $399.99 for the 1-camera system which includes a one-year subscription to Arlo Smart Premier, Arlo's AI and computer vision powered service that delivers sophisticated detection of people, vehicles, packages and more3. The Arlo Pro 2 Smart Security System with 1080p HD picture quality starts at $299.99 for the 1-camera system. Capstone Connected Home Launches Google-Enabled Smart Mirror Capstone Connected Home's Google-enabled Smart Mirror will be available in varying sizes, the first to market being 19x22. Available for purchase and shipping to customers the beginning of Q1 2019. Brilliant smart home hub now supports Apple HomeKit Brilliant, a smart home hub that plugs into existing light-switch ports, already works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Nest, Philips Hue, August smart locks and a whole bunch of other home accessories. Now, it's adding Apple HomeKit-enabled devices to the things you can control using its touchscreen panel. The integration also allows you to control lights connected to the hub by voice using Siri on iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, HomePods and Macs. You can also control those lights using the Apple Home app. HomeKit support will roll out to all existing Brilliant customers through an over-the-air firmware update -- at no additional cost -- sometime this spring. Belkin WEMO New Wemo Light Switches for 2019 Native HomeKit compatibility; leverages Apple's software authentication for HomeKit compatibility without the use of other hardware. Joins Wemo Mini Smar…

Full show notes at the publisher

Podcast #877: Predictions for 2019 Jan 04, 2019

Show notes

Predictions for 2019

Time for the HT Guys to look into our crystal ball and try and predict the HDTV and Home Theater landscape for 2019. Our crystal ball isn't as clear as a good HDTV but we faithfully give it another shot nonetheless.

MicroLEDs Make a Macro Splash

MicroLED are an emissive display technology similar to that of OLED. Likewise, they can, theoretically at least, produce perfect blacks, excellent color, and near-perfect off-angle viewing. But unlike OLEDs, they claim to be even brighter, thinner, immune to burn-in, and in time, less expensive to make than other technologies. Look for at least one MicroLED TV to come to market in 2019.

Interactive TV comes to a Screen Near You

Thanks to companies like Roku, Apple, Amazon, and Google, many of us have a smart box connected to our sets. In fact, many TVs have the same smarts built into them. Look for at least one manufacturer incorporate interactive TV into the programs being watched through their devices. Participate in fan polls, voting for your favorite contestant, or just chatting with other viewers all from the comfort of your couch!

LG Releases a Roll Up OLED

Last year at CES we talked about an OLED TV screen that was so thin that it could bend. This year we double down on this technology and bet that LG releases a rollable OLED TV. The screen itself will roll into a box that is about the size of a sound bar when not in use. In fact the same box can house the electronics as well as the speakers truly making it a Home Theater in a box.

Home Security Will Drive Home Automation Demand

Home security surveillance and monitoring will become the driving force behind home automation acceptance. Compelling ads similar to the ones run by Ring Doorbell will push many to dip their toes in the water surround home automation. Once you have your outside lights automated it's a simple step to automate your inside. And so it will begin for many.

Smart Mirrors

Look for a company to release a smart mirror that is affordable for "most" of us. Imagine getting ready in the morning and looking into your mirror to interact with your social media feeds, watch news and and get weather updates.You will even be able to control your home all from your bathroom!

Voice Control of our Home Theater Will Become a Reality

Whether it be the Echo, Siri, or Google Home you will be able to control your home theater with your voice. And not rudimentary control, we're talking Tell your TV exactly what you want to do and it will be done. Alexa, watch A&E Channel on SlingTV. Or Hey Siri watch the LA Dodgers on the MLB app.

Podcast #876: Prediction Review for 2018 Dec 28, 2018

Show notes

Prediction Review for 2018

Wow. Another year in the books. And another year of stellar prediction results! With that it's time to see how we did with our 2018 predictions. If you're feeling nostalgic, the predictions are from Episode 825.

This year's scorecard: 2/6

Prediction: Voice User Interface will begin to flourish in Home Theater

It's 2018 and we are very used to asking Siri, Alexa, or Google to turn on lights but it's not common that we can use our voice to control our home theaters. The Echo works with the Harmony and Simple Control remotes but it's still kind of limited. In 2018 we will see a Homekit like framework emerge that will allow disparite home theater devices to be controlled by voice.

Score: +1 Nailed it. You can get everything with voice control and voice search these days, some companies are even including multiple voice assistants so you can pick whichever one you want.

Prediction: IPTV begins to erode traditional cable/satellite product

Both DIsh Network and DirecTV said that their IPTV products we not replacements for their traditional offerings. Their original target market was cord cutters. The over the top service was an attempt to win back younger TV viewers. What is actually happening is that high dollar subscribers are seeing the value in IPTV. Watch anywhere and just about any device. The providers no longer have to worry about installing and maintaining hardware. A true win/win! Look for service quality to improve in 2018 and that will speed up the transition. The process will take many years to complete but 2018 will be the starting point.

Score: +1 (but a bit of a gimme). Pay-TV Cord-Cutting Slightly Eases Again in Q2 As vMVPD Subs Grow, But Losses Are Mounting - Traditional subscribers are continuing to flee cable and satellite - "which found the major traditional pay-TV services (excluding internet-delivered services) shedding 800,000 subscribers in Q2 of this year" and vMVPDs are growing - "Sling TV and DIRECTV NOW... added about 383,000 subscribers during the quarter (compared to 287,000 net adds in Q2 2017), bringing them to a total subscriber size exceeding 4.1 million. Adjusting for those, the largest pay-TV providers in the US – representing roughly 95% of the market – lost roughly 415,000 subscribers"

Prediction: The forthcoming Disney Movie Service gives Netflix a run for the money

Netflix is a streaming movie service that now creates original content making for a formidable force. Disney has been creating original content for years and now is getting into the streaming game. They have deep pockets and can buy up a lot of content and be the only service that will stream it. We are betting that Disney makes a big dent into Netflix's market share in 2018

Score: +0 Nope. There's a Disney Streaming Service? Disney is now shooting for a release date in 2019. Hopefully they hit it. Then maybe they can eat away at Netflix subscriber numbers.

Prediction: Netflix will change the movie distribution model

Netflix currently operates on both sides of movie distribution. Netflix Productions already works with theaters to distribute traditional motion pictures, they secured distribution rights to Kumail Nanjiani's The Big Sick for example. Netflix is also one of the largest producers of motion pictures, in fact Netflix will release more movies in 2018 than most major film studios combined. Most of them will go straight to streaming. But will they all? Netflix will get some of those movies into theaters and make them available for streaming at the same time.

Score: +0 Flop. Netflix may have owned distribution right for a few movies, but none that anyone knew about or were playing in a theater anywhere near you.

Prediction: (Longshot Prediction) DirecTV will lose it's stranglehold on the TV rights for streaming the NFL

For years the only way to watch out of market games for the NFL was to buy DirecTV's Sunday Ticket. That also gave you access to stream the games when you weren't at home. But with declining viewership due to how we watch TV nowadays the NFL will have to do something about it. They are making inroads with streaming on Twitter and facebook. But look for the NFL to offer something like what all the other sports do, an NFL package that will allow you to stream any and all out of market games to your set top box, tablet, and phone of your choice. Then when DirecTVs contract is up, look for every platform to offer a Sunday Ticket like product.

Score: +0 Goose egg. Still need to get that Sunday Ticket.

Prediction: 4G Optimized Streaming for the Home

We still aren't sure if the removal of Net Neutrality will have any impact on our ability to stream from video services that may compete with the company that provides your Internet access, but there are potential issues there. And with 4G speeds in many areas easily capable of streaming high definition, we'll see a push toward using a new 4G device in your home, optimized for video streaming, combined with one of the streaming TV services (AT&T and DirecTV Now, perhaps?) to totally eliminate the need for cable or satellite altogether. Maybe you could have a second 4G device in the home is what you could use for all the Internet and email traffic.

Score: +0 But it's a cool idea tho. Maybe this is a 5G thing?

Podcast #875: Last Minute Stocking Stuffers for the Home Theater Lover Dec 21, 2018

Show notes

Last Minute Stocking Stuffers for the Home Theater Lover

It's just a few days until Christmas and you have a home theater lover in your circle that you haven't been able to find a gift for. We "The HT Guys" have you covered. We have a list of items that you can go out and buy from, gasp, a physical store! Yes you'll have to go battle the crowds but with our list it will be easy! All gifts can be had for less than $100.

Roku Streaming Stick - Target

With Enhanced Voice Remote. Save $15, reg. 49.99 • Roku Ultra streaming player, reg. 99.99, sale 79.99

Amazon Fire TV Stick - Target

With Alexa Voice Remote–now faster and more powerful than ever. Save $15, reg. 39.99 • Amazon 4K Fire TV Stick, reg. 49.99, sale 34.99

Wemo - Mini WiFi Smart Plug - Best Buy

Convert almost any electronic device into a smart appliance with the Wemo Mini Wi-Fi smart plug. It plugs into any outlet and lets you control attached appliances via mobile devices. $25

TP-Link - Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini - Best Buy

Operate electrical appliances remotely with this TP-Link mini smart Wi-Fi plug. It lets you switch lights and other electronics on and off, check their current status and schedule their operation from your mobile device via the Kasa app. This TP-Link mini smart Wi-Fi plug supports voice control when paired with your Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. $16

Philips - Hue White A19 Wi-Fi Smart LED Bulb (4-Pack) - Best Buy

Explore different moods with this four-pack of Philips Hue A19 bulbs. They're customizable to any glow intensity through the accompanying app, letting you set the atmosphere for a chill evening meal or an upbeat weekend party. Control these Philips Hue A19 bulbs remotely to light your home when you're away. $40 One caveat, only buy this if you know the recipient already has a hue hub. If not, you will need to add one at an additional cost of $60

Philips Hue White Smart A19 Starter Kit, 60W Equivalent, Hub Included, 2 Bulbs - Walmart

Control your Philips Hue white lights from anywhere in the world, as long as you have internet. Or automate your lights to make it seem like your home when your not. Works with Apple Homekit and Google Assistant. $70

Pyle 90-Watt Mini Blue BT Compact Amplifier - Walmart

Turn any set of passive speakers into wireless speakers! This palm-sized high power system features built-in BT streaming that works with all of your favorite devices. It gives you the ability to instantly stream audio from your device's music library and control it all wirelessly. $40

WD 1TB Black My Passport Portable External Hard Drive - USB 3.0 - Walmart

If your loved one is a movie fan with his/her own movie server give them the gift of storage! $60

iHome Knit Bluetooth Speaker with Speakerphone - Costco

Perfect for the beach or swimming pool. This portable speaker is splash and sand proof. $30

Panasonic Homehawk indoor security camera with 16GB SD Card - Costco

Keep tabs on children, pets and your indoor environment while at work, or in the next room with this super-compact, all-in-one Full HD home monitoring camera. $70

Original Ring Doorbell - Home Depot and Office Depot

Answer the door from anywhere using your smartphone. HD camera with night vision for a clear view day and night. Triggered notifications, two way talk, and cloud storage. $99.99

Podcast #874: Ultimate Home Theater in a Box for 2018 Dec 13, 2018

Show notes

Ultimate Home Theater in a Box for 2018

Each year we design a Home Theater setup that is considerably better than a typical home theater in a box. We have seen complete setups for less than $500 from manufacturers like Sony and Panasonic that quite frankly do not sound good. While our system costs more than a name brand HTIB your satisfaction will be dramatically more. Plus we include EVERYTHING you need to actually setup a home theater. Minimum components for our system are a HDTV, Receiver, and 7.1 speakers.

For this feature we choose components that we either have direct experience with or have experience with a similar model made by the same manufacturer. We are defining a system that can had by anyone who is serious about home theater. These systems will look and sound great by anyone's definition!

Braden:

Our goal has always been to build the Ultimate Home Theater in a Box without breaking the bank. The ultimate home theater on a budget, if you will. It has been interesting to watch the prices of equipment fall over the years to where we are able to build really nice, really brag-worthy systems without having to take out a personal loan. All of the gear in my Ultimate Box might total up to less than the cost of any year I've built yet.

TCL 65" 65R617 4K UHD Dolby Vision HDR Roku Smart LCD TV $999

It wouldn't be a Braden TV list without a TCL on it. TCL's 6-Series delivers 4K HDR picture performance and the Roku TV smart platform in one. Dolby Vision for greater brightness and contrast, as well as a fuller palette of rich colors. TCL's Contrast Control Zone technology individually optimizes the image across up to 120 zones for better contrast. The 6-Series models' iPQ Engine™ provides precise color replication while HDR Pro Gamma is supposed to improve HDR performance in any setting. It has an enhanced remote control with Voice Control and 3 HDMI 2.0a ports with HDCP 2.2 (1 ARC).

Receiver

Marantz SR6012 $949 (MSRP $1499)

9.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD Network AV Surround Receiver with HEOS

I just bought this receiver for myself - will be putting it under the tree just for me. The deal was too good to pass up. And I need a new one anyway. And it features Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround decoding, with the ability to drive overhead speakers. It is equipped with 9 channel amplification, rated at 110 watts per channel, so you can set up a 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 3D experience without an external amplifier; with an additional amp the set-up can expand to 7.1.4, because it has 11.2 channel processing support. It has the latest HDMI and HDCP 2.2 specifications on all 8 HDMI inputs. With 4K Ultra HD 60Hz video, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, High Dynamic Range (HDR), 21:9 video, 3D, and BT.2020 and Dolby Vision pass-through on every input. And in addition, HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) pass-through is also supported for forthcoming HDR broadcasting contents, and eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) will be supported via a firmware update as well.

Speakers

Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Surround Sound System $849

Sure, this is only 5.1 and the receiver will do 9, but it's a great start with really great sounding speakers. You can add on as many additional satellite speakers, or Klipsch reference in wall or in ceiling speakers, as you have budget for them. Did I mention the subwoofer is wireless? Klipsch's exclusive Tractrix Horn Technology and aluminum tweeters deliver very clean and very natural sound. The down-firing wireless subwoofer is designed to deliver room-filling low frequencies without requiring too much floorspace. To complement the easy placement of the wireless subwoofer, each satellite speaker has a keyhole mount and a threaded insert for maximum mounting flexibility. The Reference Theater Pack brings the Klipsch cinematic sound into your home with an incredibly minimal footprint.

Other/Total/Summary

Yup. Looks and feels like me. TCL/Roku television, Marantz receiver (I'm typically Denon, but Marantz is a close sibling), and Klipsch speakers. All of that for a grand total of $2797. That's less than half the price of my first plasma. And all you need to hook it up is a bit of speaker wire and a single HDMI cable. Your phone can control the Roku TV and the Receiver, so no need for a universal remote. The TV has all your apps and the receiver can get audio from the apps via ARC for surround sound. Unless you want to connect a traditional cable or satellite box, or a Blu-ray player, everything you need is in the box.

Some years passed have had bigger TVs, some have had more speakers (7.1), some have had more accessories. But this system, for as basic as it seems, is really awesome. And very affordable. The 75" upgrade would add $1000 if you stick with TCL, but can be as little as $400 more if you choose a different brand (which may mean adding a streaming box as well). The 86" upgrade adds $2000 to the price, for a total of $4797. Also swaps TV brands to LG. Honestly, under $5000 for this system is unreal.

Ara:

This year I am striving for the lowest cost quality experience that I can assemble. I spent $3000 for my fist HDTV so my goal is to come in with a full system for less than that original HDTV. Other requirements will be 4K UHD, quality picture, and good sound. I am not including a blu-ray player as I feel streaming has come a long way and since this is geared towards the budget minded the quality will be just fine.

LG 65" Class (64.5" Diag) 4K UHD LED LCD 65UK6090PUA ($650 at Costco)

This TV is larger, better, and much cheaper than my original HDTV. It's 4K my first DLP was 720p. It supports HDR and wide color and is a smart TV. Even though this is a "budget" pick it will produce a picture that you will have no issues watching regardless of what you are watching.

Receiver

Sony STR-DN1080 7.2 Channel Home Theater AV Receiver ($450 Street Price)

For the receiver I went with my budget choice from the receiver buying guide. For the price this receiver is hard to beat! It's a 7.2 receiver that supports all the latest audio formats including Atmos and DTS:X. Throw in 4K UHD compatibility with support for HDR (HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), and Dolby Vision) and you have a reasonably priced receiver that will serve you well for many years to come. Other features include: Hi-Res compatible, 6 HDMI in and 2 out, Bluetooth Connectivity with NFC one touch, and Wifi, Airplay, and Chromecast compatibility.

Speakers

SVS Prime Satellite 5.1 System ($1000)

Even in my budget minded setup I spend a little more money on speakers than you would think. Sound is so important and bad speakers can ruin the experience. My original setup included a Yamaha home theater in a box that cost $1000 which included speakers that at most would have been about $150 of that total. These SVS speakers are high quality and include an excellent subwoofer (SB-1000) which is a 12 inch unit that goes as low as 24Hz!!

Other/Total/Summary

Set Top Box of your choice ($150) - AppleTV, FireTV, Roku, etc. You want a movie or TV service and all of these boxes have more or less the same experience.

Wires/Cables $100 - Gotta hook it all up!

Total Cost - $2350

For $2350 you will have a system that you can be proud to show off and use for years. At some point I would upgrade the receiver and TV but the speakers are something that will last for years. You may want to add more channels and maybe 3D audio but it would be just adding on not replacing.

Podcast #873: HDTV Buying Guide 2018 Dec 07, 2018

Show notes

HDTV Buying Guide 2018

Tis the season for us to go shopping and to continue to help you spend your money - one of our favorite times of the year. If you or anyone in your life is looking for a new UHD TV this Christmas, but still aren't sure which one to buy, we've got you covered. We each pick two TVs and one 'money is no object' / 'dare to dream' TV for you to consider.

Ara's Picks

LG UK6570PUB 4K HDR Smart LED UHD TV w/ AI ThinQ® - 70" Class $999.99

Seventy inches for $1,000??? Are you kidding me? This can make any family room feel like media room. Even though it's 70 inches it does not dominate the room. Measuring in at 61.9" (157cm) x 38.6" (98cm) x 11.7" (29cm) and weighing only 92 lbs (41Kg) it can be bought, moved, and installed by just about anyone. Features include: active HDR 4K (HDR10 and HLG), webOS 4.0, ultra Luminance which enhances brightness and provides better contrast, quad-Core Processor to continually process the video for best results regardless of source, ultra Surround Sound but really who cares about that? Hard to believe but this is my budget TV. It also comes in 75" and 86".

Sony XBR75X900F 75-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV $2800

My second pick goes up in size picture quality and price (although the TV is available in 50 - 85 inch sizes). The reason I picked this Sony is it is a full array LED architecture which will give you deep blacks and high contrast. Also I have been very impressed with the X1 processor on Sony TVs. This model comes with the X1 Extreme processor which improved your 1080p content. The X900F can handle HDR10, Hybrid Log-Gamma and Dolby Vision™ making it a TV that is pretty much future proof! Other features include: compatible with Amazon Alexa & Google Home to change channels & more, dimensions 66 x 40 3/4 x 14 inch, 4 HDMI inputs.

Braden's Picks

TCL 65" 65R617 4K UHD Dolby Vision HDR Roku Smart LCD TV $999

Samsung QN75Q6 Flat 75" QLED 4K UHD 6 Series Smart TV $2499

Stepping up a little in size and opting for better picture quality requires we more than double the price. And this isn't even the top of the line QLED series, but as the entry line, you can still get a pretty good value on a really good set. A 75" TV is a really good size for just about any room in most homes and QLED has emerged as a strong second place option to the significantly more expensive OLED sets on the market. In addition to the stellar QLED picture quality and HDR, it has a bunch of cool features like Ambient Mode that can put art on the TV so it blends perfectly with your décor, and can even play a bit of light background music. Bixby Voice search lets you search for content, flip channels, or even ask questions such as the current weather using only your voice. OneRemote automatically detects and controls all your compatible connected devices and content. The universal guide brings your favorite content from multiple devices and apps together in one easy-to-browse menu. And you can even download the SmartThings App on your mobile to control and monitor your new QLED TV and connected devices all in one screen!

Ultimate Christmas Present

Ara:

Samsung QN88Q9FAMFXZA 88" Q9F QLED 4K TV $20,000

This TV will make you forget about your projector! QLED has not received the accolades that it really deserves. With Samsung's Elite Black+ with Infinite Array backlight system the Q9 gets very close to OLED in black and contrast. It can also provide a brighter picture. The only real knock we have is that off angle viewing is not as good as OLED. However, with a TV this size is there really someplace in the room that is off angle? Keep that in mind if this is a possibility for you. Other features include: 100% color volume, smart TV, OneRemote automatically detects and controls your connected devices (satellite, cable, Blu-ray, soundbar) and content with no manual programming required, Burn-In Free for life, Guaranteed.

Braden:

Samsung QN85Q900RAFXZA 85" Class Q900 QLED Smart 8K UHD TV $14,999

Not quite as big as Ara's 88 inch Samsung, but this 85 inch set is $5000 less and, yep, 8K. Before you say that 8K is a waste, there's no content and there won't be for a long time, an 85" TV is pretty big. It can actually be divided into the equivalent of 42 inch 4K TVs. Although it has 4 HDMI inputs, it doesn't appear to have this split screen capability as a native feature, but it should. But you get all of the awesome quality of a QLED television, with all of the advanced features of a top of the line samsung, and 8K. What's not to love? Ok, sure, you can get an 85 inch 4k LCD for $2500, so it might be a it early to plop down such a premium for 8k. Or is it?

Podcast #872: Receiver Buying Guide 2018 Nov 30, 2018

Show notes

Receiver Buying Guide 2018

This week starts our annual shopping spree where we get to spend your money on new products for your home theater. We'll start the spree with receivers. As always, our goal is to maximize the value for your dollar, so we aren't necessarily concerned about getting the latest product or the latest features. It's about getting a good product at a great price so you may even see some of last year's gear on the list. All these receivers are readily available online or at a big box store. We each pick three receivers in increasing price categories, less than $500, less than $1000 and over $1000. Prices stated are street prices from online retailers.

Ara's Picks

Sony STR-DN1080 7.2 Channel Home Theater AV Receiver ($450 Street Price)

It's been a while since I have recommended a Sony product that wasn't part of their ES line. But for the price this receiver is hard to beat! It's a 7.2 receiver that supports all the latest audio formats including Atmos and DTS:X. Through in 4K UHD compatibility with support for HDR (HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), and Dolby Vision) and you have a reasonably priced receiver that will serve you well for many years to come. Other features include: Hi-Res compatible, 6 HDMI in and 2 out, Bluetooth Connectivity with NFC one touch, and Wifi, Airplay, and CHromecast compatibility.

Onkyo TX-RZ730 9.2-Channel Network A/V Receiver ($740 Street Price)

I tried to not include an Onkyo receiver this year. It's just too easy to put an Onkyo on a list like this because of the tremendous bang for the buck. But when I looked at all the options open to me I just could leave this unit off the sub $1000 category. This unit is jam packed with features. For starters, it's THX Certified Select. You may not have a THX certified room, but having a receiver that is THX certified means that the receiver was sent to THX labs where everything from noise levels and distortion to frequency response and bass management have been tested and analyzed in over 1,000 laboratory tests. What that means to you is that the receiver will not be the weak link in your home theater.

Features include: 4K UHD with support for HDR (HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma), and Dolby Vision), Native DTS:X™ and Dolby Atmos® to 5.2.4 Channels, 11.2 multi-channel pre-outs & processing for 7.2.4 (with amp), Chromecast built-in, AirPlay, Wi-Fi®, and Bluetooth®, AccuEQ Advance calibration with AccuReflex Technology, FlareConnect™ Multi-room Wireless Audio Distribution, HDMI® 7 In (1 Front), Main Out, Sub/Zone 2 Out

This receiver is just about future proof!

Yamaha RX-A3080 AVENTAGE 9.2-Channel AV Receiver with MusicCast ($1999.95 Street Price)

If you watch movies or spend time listening to hi fidelity audio this receiver is for you! It's packed with components specifically designed to enhance your listening experience including two ESS SABRE™ DACs for some of the lowest noise levels in the any receiver in its class. The 3080 comes with 9 amplifiers to support a 7.2.2 Atmos setup but has the processing available for a 7.2.4 Atmos or DTS:X setup with the use of an external amplifier.

Features include: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, AirPlay®, Spotify Connect and MusicCast multi-room, New Surround:AI™ technology automatically optimizes the sound in real-time, HDMI with HDCP 2.2 (7-in/3-out), 4K Ultra HD support, HDR10, Dolby Vision™, Hybrid Log-Gamma and BT.2020, YPAO R.S.C., Multipoint, 3D and Precision EQ and much more!

Braden's Picks

This year I'm all about bang for the buck, maximizing features and performance for your hard earned dollars. I usually try to pick models from a few different manufacturers, to provide a bit of diversity, but this year is different. This year it's simply the best unit for the money, regardless of who makes it.

Denon AVR-S940H $499 (MSRP $579)

7.2 Ch. High-Power 4K AV Receiver with Amazon Alexa Voice Control

Featuring discrete high-current power amplifiers on all channels, the AVR-S940H delivers maximum performance and 185 watts of power per channel. The AVR-S940H offers Dolby Atmos®, DTS:X™ and DTS Virtual:X®, plus the latest video technologies such as Dolby Vision™, HDR, HLG and 4K video upscaling. Listen to music using Airplay 2, stream with Spotify, Pandora, Tidal and more with HEOS built-in and control it with your voice through Amazon Alexa. 8 HDMI inputs and 2 outputs features HDCP 2.2 support on all ports. The front-panel USB offers convenient audio playback of MP3, WAV, FLAC, ALAC and DSD (2.8/5.6MHz) files.

Marantz SR6012 $949 (MSRP $1499)

9.2 Channel Full 4K Ultra HD Network AV Surround Receiver with HEOS

Features Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround decoding, with the ability to drive overhead speakers. It is equipped with 9 channel amplification, rated at 110 watts per channel, so you can set up a 7.1.2 or 5.1.4 3D experience without an external amplifier; with an additional amp the set-up can expand to 7.1.4, because it has 11.2 channel processing support. It has the latest HDMI and HDCP 2.2 specifications on all 8 HDMI inputs. With 4K Ultra HD 60Hz video, 4:4:4 Pure Color sub-sampling, High Dynamic Range (HDR), 21:9 video, 3D, and BT.2020 and Dolby Vision pass-through on every input. And in addition, HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) pass-through is also supported for forthcoming HDR broadcasting contents, and eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) will be supported via a firmware update as well.

Denon AVR-X8500H $3999 (MSRP $3999)13.2-channel AV Receiver

The Denon Flagship AVR-X8500H powers the next generation of home theater with the world's first 13.2 channel receiver that supports the latest immersive audio formats, including IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and (via future firmware update) Auro3D. It also has unparalleled music playback options, thanks to built-in HEOS technology, Apple AirPlay 2, and enjoy effortless voice control and total flexibility from the leading voice agents. Speak commands with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri and high-end smart home automation, Josh.ai. Ask to play your favorite music, turn the volume up, skip to the next track, switch inputs and more. Switch between voice agents, or pick a favorite to use — the choice is yours.

Podcast #871: What we're thankful for '18 Nov 22, 2018

Show notes

Each year at this time of year we do a show where we discuss what we are thankful for. There are the obvious things to be thankful for like our families, especially our wives who put up with our home theater obsessions. And of course we are thankful for you, the listener/reader of our show. So as is tradition over the last many Thanksgivings, on today's show we give you our list of consumer electronics things we are thankful for.

Ara's List:

1) Wireless - Seems like everything is going wireless these days. But for me the big draw is wireless audio. Whether it is surround speakers or subwoofers it's is much easier to place speakers throughout the house in a way that is pleasing to the aesthetics committee.

2) Bigger Screens - Back in 2010 I installed a projector and 100 inch screen in my media room. At that time it cost me about $10K for a beautiful 1080p image. But the drawback was that it didn't really work during daytime hours. Fast forward to today and I can get an 85 inch 4K UHD TV for less than $5K and it will usable during daytime hours. Yes I am giving up 15 inches but being able to watch football in daylight more than offsets the loss in screen size.

3) Netflix/Amazon/Hulu - This makes my list almost every year but this year it's for a couple of reasons. First they produce great content and that alone usually is enough to make this list. The second, and main, reason for making this year's list is that they are at the forefront of creating 4K UHD content with HDR. Now you really have a reason to buy a 4K UHD TV this year!!

4) Samsung and LG - The competition between these two companies advances technology and keeps prices low. LG is banking on OLED and Samsung is banking on anything but OLED. I am really rooting for Micro LED to be a cheaper OLED and the competition from Micro LED to force OLED prices down. Either way, there will be a new TV in my future!

Braden's List:

1) OLED - I don't own an OLED, but I like the cut of its jib. We've gone through a slew of failed attempts to get us all to upgrade our televisions, things like 3D, curved screens, the list goes on. OLED is a reason to upgrade that is actually worth it. The picture quality is unmatched. And on top of that, it pushes all the manufacturers to come up with new innovations to find technologies that rival OLED picture quality. So whether you're buying OLED or not, TVs are getting better for all of us.

2) SlingTV - I used SlingTV one time, for the two week trial, to get an emergency sporting event when cable went out in one of my rooms at home. I'm not so much thankful for SlingTV itself as a service, but more for the category of service providers it spawned, like DirecTV Now, Playstation Vue, Hulu Live, YouTube TV, etc. I've used a few of them and love the ease of use, availability and no contracts. If we can get Internet provider diversity with fiber or 5G or whatever, we might actually swing the balance of power for TV over to the consumer.

3) Roku - I really love my Roku TVs. They are so, completely simple, easy to use, and they perform really well. And they just work. You don't need a remote, you can use your phone. You don't need a soundbar, you can use the new Roku wireless speakers - you just hang it on the wall, plug it in, and you're set. And Roku is neutral, so they'll list everyone's apps. Everyone whos is good and sharing and plays nice with others, or course.

4) Costco - Costco really paved the way in the "huge TVs for great prices" category. That category has been jumped on by Amazon and others, but Costco continues to be a contender in the group. In fact, I'm seriously considering picking up an 85 or 86 inch TV on Black Friday for that magical $2500 price point, and Costco is one of the stores on my list of potential places to go - or websites to visit at least.

Podcast #870: Black Friday 2018 Nov 16, 2018

Show notes

The older we get, the more things seem to sneak up on us, even though we know we should be expecting them. It happened again; Black Friday is already here. Just like all the years we've talked about it, there are some exceptional deals to be had. The question is where to you put your focus. If you're going to wait in line somewhere, where is the right place to maximize your reward for that time?

Resources:

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