HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

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**HDTV and Home Theater Podcast**

The HT Guys, Ara Derderian and Braden Russell, are Engineers who formerly worked for the Advanced Digital Systems Group (ADSG) of Sony Pictures Entertainment. ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios. Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000. The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages. ADSG was awarded a Technical Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000 for the development of the DADR-5000. Ara holds three patents for his development work in Digital Cinema and Digital Audio Recording. Every week they put together a podcast about High Definition TV and Home Theater. Each episode brings news from the A/V world, helpful product reviews and insights and help in demystifying and simplifying HDTV and home theater. Our email address is hdtvpodcast@mac.com

Latest Episodes:

Podcast #669: CES Recap Jan 09, 2015

Show notes

Listen in as we talk out our trip to Las Vegas for the CES show.

Podcast #668: Predictions for 2015 Jan 01, 2015

Show notes

Predictions for 2015

Time for the HT Guys to look into our crystal ball and try and predict the HDTV and Home Theater landscape for 2015. Our crystal ball is never as clears as a good HDTV but we give it a shot nonetheless.

No gimmies this year since we can’t even get those right!

Ara’s Predictions:

There will be a 65 inch production OLED TV for less than $5,000

Look for LG and Samsung to continue to push OLED technology. They’ll finally figure out that no one wants a curved model and produce a 65 inch flat panel OLED. Bonus prediction - It will be LG that makes this prediction a win for me!

There will be a production Quantum Dot TV available for sale

This is my hedge against the OLED prediction totally failing. We saw the first quantum dot TVs at CES about three years ago. LG is pushing forward with the technology. It produces higher yields than OLED and better pictures than current LEDs so this is a no brainer technology to pursue.

Apple will open up the AppleTV to developers

After seeing the potential of the FireTV from Amazon, Apple will realize the AppleTV is falling behind the competition. Look for a new model (AppleTV 4) with game support that will use iPhones and iPads as controllers. By the way, the 4 in AppleTV 4 stands for 4K. I can dream can’t I??

Apple to stream 4K movies and television programming

If you are going to dream might as well dream big! What good is a new set top box capable of 4K content if you don’t have 4K content. Sure they will support Netflix 4K streams but the real deal will be buying and renting movies and TV shows from iTunes in 4K.

Sonos to debut a dedicated 7.1 home theater system

One of the main reasons people don’t have full surround systems is the need to string speaker wire everyplace. Sure the front is easy enough but why should you have to string wire when you can have freedom to place speakers wherever you want. Sonos has the best sounding wireless solution we have heard to date. So why not make a complete 7.1 system without the need of speaker wires? It would be easy to setup with almost no configuration required. When your aren’t watching movies you could repurpose the speakers for music without the need of turning on an amplifier. Now if we can only do something about those pesky power cords!

Braden’s Predictions:

At least 5 major studio movie releases will be available online concurrent with cinema release

With “The Interview” now out there as a pilot for what is possible, Sony will do it again at least once, and other major studios will try their hand at it as well. Theater owners will threaten not to run the movie(s), but if the studios choose wisely, theater owners will be forced to run them because they’d stand to lose too much in ticket sales if they didn’t.

Curved televisions will go away

Nobody really gets it. Manufacturers seem to be the only ones that understand the value in the curved screen. Realizing there’s no demand for it, manufacturers will make them disappear. This means we’ll be on the hunt for another gimmick to boost television sales. Look for 4k to try to fill that gap. But it’ll still be a bit niche, so look for something else as well. Automation integration in your smart TV? Could this be the year of home automation?

Live television streaming won’t be coming to your town

Did an Aereo 180 on this prediction, but none of the big players in streaming set top boxes: Apple, Google, Microsoft or Amazon, will add live TV streaming to their box. Despite rumors, it ain’t happening this year. Aereo showed that there’s no way around the retransmission fees, and there’s no way a streaming provider would get premium channels for less than the others pay, so there would be no cost advantage to the consumer. And in most markets streaming would be inferior quality to Cable or Satellite, so it’s a lose-lose for consumers.

80” Televisions for under $2000

The biggest TVs on the consumer market right now, at reasonable prices, are a few models at 84, 85 and 90 inches. But there are a bunch of options at 80” from all the major manufacturers. The lowest price for an 80” is a Vizio model for $2999. Manufacturers may see that the next round of upgrades could be driven simply by larger screen sizes. Everyone has an HDTV, but it is somewhere between 40 and 60 inches, and they know they can go bigger. If the price is right, they will. So that price will drop to under $2000 at some point this year. Maybe Black Friday, maybe for another event, but it’ll drop.

Amazon to release a full length motion picture

In an attempt to leapfrog Netflix, Amazon will beat them to the punch with the first original full length motion picture, with all of the production value of a major studio release. They’ve already roped in stars like John Goodman and Jeffrey Tambor for their original TV shows. They’ll get a big name and a good script for their movie. We’ll see a huge PR blast with it, and it’s availability on the Fire TV and Fire Phone, just to show Netflix that two can play in the streaming game.

Podcast #667: Prediction Review for 2014 Dec 24, 2014

Show notes

Prediction Review for 2014

Had we just waited about 11 months on our predictions for 2014, we could have done much, much better. Hindsight is always 20/20 as they say. Our crystal ball didn’t improve very much for 2014, so this year’s prediction review is about as rough as years past. But we got pretty close on a few.

Ara’s Predictions:

Netflix will have at least 50 4K titles for streaming - Its not really going out on a limb predicting that Netflix will have 4K titles. They’ve said as much. Its the number that I think is the real prediction. If you have a high speed connection and a 4K TV you will have some content display. Look for Youtube to have 4K content as well.

Result: There appears to be somewhere around 21-22 Ultra HD titles at Netflix. A couple of which are test streams. If you count individual episodes of shows like House of Cards, Breaking Bad and The Blacklist, you’re way over 50. But since the intent was actual titles I can’t even take partial credit.

OLED TV market share will remain insignificant - We have seen OLED TVs that have blown us away but when compared side by side with plasma or even the Elite LCDs they are not worth the huge price differential. Sure they can be extremely thin but is a ½ in too thick? Who cares if an OLED is half that size. Its a catch 22, until quantities go up price won’t go down. And since the quality differential isn’t worth the price I see no reason for quantities to go up.

Result: Nailed it. Anyone you know own an OLED TV? They sold 1,000 OLED TVs in Korea last month.

Cable and Satellite providers will offer cloud based DVR services- Imagine a world where you can have unlimited storage for your DVR recording. We see cloud storage all over the place so why not with your DVR. With better compression and a downspeed of about 4 Mbps you could watch most of your programs with little quality difference. Translate, anything the wife and kids want to record goes to the cloud. All of your programming goes to the hard drive at full quality!

Result: Comcast has a cloud DVR that let’s you watch your content anywhere on many devices but the hard drive is at your home. So close but no cigar. Tivo actually has a product that is exactly what I was talking about but its only available to cable operators, but I couldn’t find a company that has deployed it. So close but no cigar again. Then there are On Demand services, that integrate titles with the program guide so you can watch many shows anytime you want. Again, close but no cigar. Bottom line, no true cloud based DVR, but I am still going to take half credit because between the three scenarios just mentioned get me exactly the device I was talking about.

Aereo to win in the Supreme Court - This case has been going on for a while. The broadcasters would love to see Aereo shut down. I think this is the year that Aereo expands to new cities without the burden of lawsuits hanging around their necks.

Result: Swing and a miss. Struck out on this one. In fact, not only was Aereo run out of business, the Broadcasters are now trying to keep them from selling off their assets in liquidation. Talk about adding insult to injury.

Illegal downloads to exceed traditional broadcast viewership for top three pirated shows - Game of Thrones is already illegally downloaded more than its watched on television. Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead are still viewed more on TV than downloaded illegally.

Result: Still wating on torrentfreak.com to publish its numbers for 2014. Will have to update later. But here are the numbers for last year:

Most downloaded TV-shows on BitTorrent, 2013

rank

show

est. downloads

est. US TV viewers

Game of Thrones

5,900,000

5,500,000

Breaking Bad

4,200,000

10,280,000

The Walking Dead

3,600,000

16,110,000

The Big Bang Theory

3,400,000

20,440,000

Dexter

3,100,000

2,800,000

How I Met Your Mother

3,000,000

9,400,000

Suits

2,600,000

3,520,000

Homeland

2,400,000

2,380,000

Vikings

2,300,000

6,000,000

Arrow

2,200,000

3,240,000

Braden’s Predictions:

The year of 4K - Manufacturers will push 4K as the new upgrade cycle for 2014. We’ll see many, many more models and prices will come down quickly. Driven down primarily by Chinese manufacturers. 3D didn’t do it; OLED is still too far off. Queue the endless debates and hand wringing over 1080p vs 4K, just like the 720p vs 1080p of yesteryear. I may have just described a few of our shows for 2014…

Result: Partial credit. 4k prices have fallen significantly, there are many more models to choose from, but penetration is still very minimal. Strong showing for 4k, but not really the year of 4k yet.

Netflix will win at least one Content Award - Netflix is pushing into the original content space with a vengeance, trying to become the next online HBO. The industry will take them seriously this year and you’ll even see a Netflix show or Actor/Actress win an award. It may not be an Emmy, but maybe a People’s Choice or something else, but we’ll see Netflix get a trophy.

Results (updated Jan 16, 2014): People’s Choice Awards (Jan. 8) Favorite streaming series: Orange Is the New Black (Netflix); Golden Globes (Jan. 12) Best actress in a TV series, drama: Robin Wright, "House of Cards" (Netflix)

9 Channel Surround goes Mainstream- Most home theater receivers on the market are 7.1. The low cost, entry models are 5.1, some of the higher end units support 9.1. In 2014 we’ll see 9.1 receivers replace 7.1 as the standard and only the low cost, entry models will remain 7.1. The 5.1 receiver will be a relic. Dolby and DTS will both have native, discrete 9.1 support but it’ll take a while for it to show up in any content.

Result: Close. Atmos made it into the home, and Atmos supports up to 34 speakers. They don’t call them channels anymore, but it’s a similar concept. There are more than a few 9.1 receivers to choose from as well. We’ll take a strong almost on this one.

Intel and Wal-mart Shock the World- If there are any companies big enough to pull off a major disruptive change in the home theater business, its Walmart and Intel. They’re already working together with Vudu and UltraViolet, so 2014 will see them take the next step to do something really unique. It could be first run TV shows available for streaming the same time they air, or an all-you-can-eat, a la carte TV subscription, or the ability to watch first run movies at home via…

Result: Complete whiff. Air ball. Zero.

Virtual Movie Going Experience- The major studios will work in partnership with local movie theaters, to allow you to buy tickets but watch the movie in the comfort of your own home. The theater will sell the tickets, hopefully at a discount, so they share in the revenue, and everybody wins. This sets the stage to remove the theater as the middle man altogether.

Result: Keep dreaming. Not a reality anywhere.

Podcast #666: Ultimate Home Theater in a Box for 2014 Dec 19, 2014

Show notes

Ultimate Home Theater in a Box for 2014

There are so many cheap Home Theater in a Box (HTIB) systems out there, most of which cost less than the price of a single good speaker! And none of them include a TV. You have to wonder how good a system that cheap can actually be? We thought, why not design a complete system, that anyone would be proud to show off but wouldn’t break the bank. Our Home Theater in a Box(es) would actually look and sound really good! Minimum components for our system are a HDTV, Blu-ray Player, 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. In years past we would set a maximum price but this year we are not doing that. 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:

Sharp LC-70EQ10U 70-inch Aquos Q 1080p 240Hz Smart LED TV ($1598)

My list is all about bang for the buck, and a 70 inch screen for under $1600 fits the bill for me. Of course, you should have bought it when we had it in our HDTV buying guide and it was $100 less, but $1598 is still a good deal. This model Sharp is a great TV, and really, really big. You aren’t getting a projection size home theater, but for most family rooms, 70 inches is more than enough. And if you can’t control ambient light well, the brighter LCD will give you a better overall experience than a really big screen you can’t see during the day. This one includes Sharp’s proprietary Quattron technology incorporates a fourth yellow subpixel to the standard red, green and blue, giving AQUOS Quattron televisions 33% more subpixels than a standard HDTV, for a total of 8 million subpixels. It is a smart TV and has 240 Hz refresh.

Onkyo TX-NR636 7.2-Ch Dolby Atmos Ready Network A/V Receiver w/ HDMI 2.0 ($449)

Sticking with bang for the buck, Onkyo is my go-to brand for entry-level, bang for the buck receivers. If you want to get a bunch of features packed into a small price point, and a receiver that works well and sounds good, this unit from Onkyo is it. Five of the receiver's seven HDMI inputs support 4K video at 60 frames per second with support for HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2. The Onkyo TX-NR636 doubles the power with two 32-bit processing engines to decode and scale Dolby Atmos to to your home theater layout and to decode a huge variety of HD audio files. With 7 channels of high-current amplification, you can unlock the full experience with in-ceiling height channels or Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers to augment a standard surround sound home theater setup for stunningly detailed sound that comes alive from all directions, including overhead. It has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and the remote app streams any music stored on your phone or tablet. And it can even locate and stream HD audio from network-attached devices. Qdeo upscaling technology also converts low-res DVDs and games into full 1080p HD or all the way up to 4K if you have an Ultra HD display.

Sony BDPS3200 Blu-ray Disc Player with Wi-Fi ($77)

If you can get a Blu-ray player with all the apps you need to watch movies, TV shows and listen to music, there’s really no reason to get an external streaming box. This model from Sony has Vudu, the most important app for streaming movies because they consistently have the best quality, and includes the other go-to apps like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and YouTube. You can also wirelessly stream the display on your compatible Android device directly to your compatible TV with Miracast screen mirroring. Oh yeah, and it plays Blu-ray movies too.

Klipsch RF-42 II Reference Series 7.1 Home Theater System with SW-450 Subwoofer ($1299)

So I’m typically a Denon and a Klipsch fan-boy. Admittedly. Not ashamed. Denon didn’t make my list this year because that Onkyo is really tough to compete with. But Klipsch did. A full 7.1 speaker system with two front towers, two bookshelves for the sides and two surround speakers for the rear (or vice versa depending on your room and acoustics), a center and a sub. The surrounds feature exclusive Wide Dispersion Surround Technology (WDST) that enables surrounds to reproduce localized and ambient sounds with unlimited placement flexibility. It is the most affordable set in the reference line, so you can always go bigger, but this set will get you movie theater sound in your home theater.

Miscellaneous

Logitech Harmony 650 Remote Control ($60)

Hard buttons FTW. $60 for the mega-win. Great remote, ties all your devices together, has hard buttons for everything you need to do, and barely even changes the total budget at all. It’s a no brainer.

Add about $100 for cables and a power strip and you should be all set. Sit back and watch some HDTV.

Summary

Total cost, end to end, for a killer, big screen, 7.1 home theater: $3583. That’s less than a 70” TV cost just a couple years ago.

Ara:

Samsung UN65H7150 65-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D Smart LED TV ($1,800)

This year I am going with at 1080p TV because I think dollar for dollar you will enjoy it more than a 4K TV. This Samsung is an edge lit LED with some local dimming. It does not have as many zones as a direct lit LED but it still produces higher contrast and better black levels than most LCD TVs. Colors are realistic and vivid. Being a Samsung TV means it has a ton of gimmicky smart features that you may or may not like, but you can’t fault them for packing it all in. Some notable features include: Voice Control, dual screen to watch TV and browse the web, and programming recommendations based on your preferences just to name a few. Its one of the best TVs that Samsung makes that’s not 4K or curved!

Samsung BD-F5700 Wi-Fi Blu-Ray Player ($70)

I normally select the Oppo Blu-ray player but this year I went basic. All blu-ray players do a good job with Blu-rays. What sets apart the Oppo, and other high end units, is how they handle DVD. I figured that if you are buying this system you are probably not one who demands that last 5% out of the picture and this unit will work just fine for you. It has smart features but so does the TV and many receivers. We will just ignore those since the system has a dedicated smart box. Besides, only spending $70 on the Blu-ray leaves us more money for the speakers!

Yamaha RX-V677 7.2-channel Wi-Fi Network AV Receiver with AirPlay ($550)

I didn’t go with a receiver from my buying guide because for this list I was looking for something that is approachable for most people (although some of you will think that this system is too much anyway). Easy setup and calibration, network features so you can stream music from your favorite service, great Yamaha sound, and Airplay for $550 make this an easy choice for my system.

Hsu Research 7.0 Speaker Package and VTF-1 MK2 Subwoofer ($1,520)

I am a huge fan of Hsu Research. My subwoofer always blows people away when I show them what it is capable of. Many have not heard their speakers and I can tell you you will be hard pressed to find better sounding speakers for the money. You’ll be on your fourth TV before you want to swap these babies out!

AppleTV ($90)

Why get an AppleTV when your Blu-ray player and TV already support the same content. For me its about flexibility. Airplay makes it easy to stream content from my iOS devices to my TV plus I have a lot of purchases in iTunes so my music, TV, and Movies are in Apple’s cloud and this device makes it easy to get to. If you are not into Apple you can swap out a Chromcast, Roku 3 or Amazon Fire for roughly the same price.

Miscellaneous

This is where we throw in everything else. But in this case there really isn’t much else left. Well maybe a cool remote control. A Harmony Remote would tie it all together nicely but if you have a tablet or smartphone you may want to consider a Roomie or iRule remote. Which ever route you choose we are allocating $200.

The last thing to consider are cables, power strips, and connectors. We will allocate an additional $250 for these items as well.

Summary

Last year I went a little higher end which cost ($7,810 plus taxes) more than most people felt comfortable spending, even for a nice system. This year I picked value without compromising on quality and that brought the whole thing in for $4,480 plus taxes!!! That’s $3,330 less than last year! I never get tired of saying this but, this system comes in for less than my first HDTV!

Podcast #665: Projector Buying Guide 2014 Dec 12, 2014

Show notes

Projector Buying Guide 2014

We aren’t done spending your money yet. And we’re still loving every minute of it. This one hits really close to home; ever since we’ve made the move to front projection home theaters, we just sit around drooling over what our next projector might be. If you haven’t jumped into the front projector yet, maybe 2015 will be your year. And you can start it with a wonderful Merry Christmas to yourself. We each pick two projectors and one ultimate projector for those who may have more disposable income to play with.

Ara’s Picks

Optoma HD26 Full 3D 1080p 3200 Lumen DLP Home Theater Projector with MHL Enabled HDMI Port ($700)

I wanted to have at least one projector that won’t break the bank and still provide a decent picture. The HD26 is that projector. Its very bright (3200 lumens), supports 3D, and has an MHL compatible HDMI input. The HD26 uses DLP technology which produces vivid colors and deep blacks. This is a budget projector so there is no lens shift or zoom capability. Keep that in mind if you are thinking about the HD26 as your entry into front projection world.

Panasonic PT-AE8000U 1080p Full HD Projector (2012 Model) $1,900

My second projector won’t exactly break the bank either mainly due to it being a 2012 model. Paying $1,900 for a projector of this caliber is actually a great buy. The first time we saw this line was at CES in 2009 and that year’s version was over $5,000. We were impressed by the picture quality and colors. It was in a dark room where most projectors really shine (get what I did there) so you would expect it. But if you have a room with some ambient light you should be fine too as this unit has 2,400 lumens. There is a lot of shadow detail and contrast with this unit. Placement of the 8000U is made a little easier because it has horizontal and vertical lens shift as well as 2X zoom. Originally priced at $3,500 you’ll want to grab this while there is still stock!

Braden’s Picks

Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 5030UB ($2299)

This is the projector Braden would buy if his existing projector went up in smoke. Epson is excellent in dark rooms, but their PowerLite models are light cannons that do very well in somewhat brighter environments where ambient light is difficult to control. It isn’t a cheap projector, but if you’re going to go through the steps of mounting and installing it, and hanging a screen, you should considering getting something that might stretch your budget a little. It’ll be worth it. And when you compare it with how much a 100” or 120: TV would cost, if you could even fit it in the door, you’re still saving a lot of money.

It has 2400 lumens of color brightness and 2400 lumens of white brightness. Deep black levels with a contrast ratio up to 600,000:1. Horizontal and vertical lens shift and a 2.1x zoom ratio gives you flexibility in difficult installation environments. It is THX certified, so it’ll look like it’s supposed to - but like any projector, you may need to get it professionally calibrated to get the most out of it. Plus, two pairs of RF 3D glasses are included, so you're always ready for exciting 3D experiences.

Epson PowerLite Pro Cinema LS10000 (MSRP $7999)

This may be the most exciting projector on my list. Why? Lasers. Yep, Lasers. The LS10000 has Epson's new reflective laser technology they unveiled at CEDIA. The technology allows the projector to get an absolute black contrast ratio on full-black scenes, it says, without using an iris. It will accept a 4K input, but doesn’t really have a 4k resolutions. But it uses a pixel-shift technique, similar to JVC, to simulate Ultra HD resolution. One of the biggest advantages to using lasers instead of a bulb is the total cost of ownership. This projector is more like a television with a 30,000 hour life expectancy instead of the much short life you get out of a standard projector lamp. Another interesting differentiator is that it doesn't require a warm-up period when you turn it on. It’s ready to go when you are. But at only 1500 lumens it isn’t the same standard Epson light cannon we’re used to.

Honorable mention / for a little bit of variety:

Sony VPLHW40ES Full HD 3D Home Cinema Projector with SXRD Panels ($2299)

It felt weird only picking Epson projectors, so I wanted to throw out one more option to add a little variety. This model from Sony is the same price as the Epson 5030, but a different technology for those with different tastes. It isn’t quite as bright, and probably loses out to the Epson in overall bang for the buck, but you can be sure it’ll have excellent black levels, color, and clarity and the overall film quality of the image is stellar.

Ultimate Present

Braden

Sony VPL-VW600ES SXRD 4K Projector ($10,999)

If you’re going to go ultimate, you’re going to have to go 4k. For most of us, it’s tough to justify spending that much money on a projector. So if you’re going to do it, you should at least get something you know will last a while. Buying the Ultra High Def projector now gets you a little more runway for the future. Sony makes amazing home theater projectors. Ever since the days of their early SXRD projectors like the Pearl VPL-VW50 in 2006/7, we’ve been huge fans of their projectors. They don’t tend to be the most affordable, but they are excellent units.

This model is native 4k resolution, no tricks or gimmicks to simulate 4k. It also does 1080p to 4k upscaling for you. 200,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for deep black levels and contrast. And it supports HDMI 2.0 for 4K resolution at up to 60 frames per second. There’s no mention of HDCP 2.2, so that may kill the whole future-proof argument. But if you’ve got it to spend, you won’t be disappointed with the 600ES.

Ara

JVC DLA-X900RKT 4K Projector (e-shift3) $12,000

Yes I picked a 4K projector for my ultimate present. And yes my criticisms of upscaled overly compressed 1080p are not only still valid but are magnified even more. So why then do I recommend a 4K projector? Simple! Its a PROJECTOR and the majority of viewing should be Blu-ray. And this projector will make Blu-ray look amazing. No its not true 4K either but the e-shift technology does a great job of creating pixels in between pixels and gets you a 3840x2160 projected image. And yes, that’s not full 4K either. But it still looks better than any 1080p image with everything else being equal. We saw the gen two version of this technology at CES a couple of years ago and were blown away by how good it looked. The reviews on the third gen all say its even better now. A big advancement for e-shift3 is that it will accept native 4K inputs. Previous JVCs would only upscale 1080p. Its THX certified and ISF C3 Licensed installers can really dial it in. There are three D-ILA devices (LCOS) which will produce plasma like pictures at a fraction of the cost of a 150 inch plasma. The price, $12,000, may seem like a lot of money, but inch for inch, you won’t be able to beat it anywhere.

Podcast #664: Receiver Buying Guide 2014 Dec 05, 2014

Show notes

Receiver Buying Guide 2014

It is that time of year where we get to spend your money again! This week we concentrate on receivers. Our goal with these guides is not necessarily about getting the latest product. Its about getting a good product at a great price so you may see some of last year’s gear on the list. All these receivers are readily available online or at a big box store. Just like the HDTV Buying Guide, we’re going to skip the budget categories jump right to our top picks. We each pick three receivers and one ‘money is no object’ / ‘dare to dream’ receiver for you to consider.

Here are few of the receivers from last year that are still available along with their prices:

The entry and mid-tier receivers of last year are no longer available. The higher end receivers are still available at a reduced price.

Braden’s Picks

Onkyo TX-NR636 7.2-Ch Dolby Atmos Ready Network A/V Receiver w/ HDMI 2.0 ($448)

Onkyo is our go-to brand for entry-level, bang for the buck receivers. If you want to get a bunch of features packed into a small price point, and a receiver that works well and sounds good, this unit from Onkyo is worth a look. Five of the receiver's seven HDMI inputs support 4K video at 60 frames per second with support for HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2. The Onkyo TX-NR636 doubles the power with two 32-bit processing engines to decode and scale Dolby Atmos to to your home theater layout and to decode a huge variety of HD audio files. With 7 channels of high-current amplification, you can unlock the full experience with in-ceiling height channels or Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers to augment a standard surround sound home theater setup for stunningly detailed sound that comes alive from all directions, including overhead. It has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and the remote app streams any music stored on your phone or tablet. And it can even locate and stream HD audio from network-attached devices. Qdeo upscaling technology also converts low-res DVDs and games into full 1080p HD or all the way up to 4K if you have an Ultra HD display.

Denon AVR-4520CI Networking Home Theater AV Receiver with AirPlay ($1150)

This is a prior year’s model, and has been discontinued by the manufacturer, but they are still available in limited quantities for a killer deal. The original list price was $2500, they’re now selling for less than half of that at $1150. Sure you don’t get Dolby Atmos or HDCP 2.2, but even the current model year Denon receivers don’t have HDCP 2.2. This receiver is beast. Fully discrete, mono AMP construction and high current power supply for all 9 channels (150 W x 9 ch, 8ohm). Powerful, dynamic yet silky smooth like you’ve come to expect from Denon. If you need HDCP 2.2, your options are limited right now. If you want pure power with a few Tim Allen grunts to go along with it, grab one of these Denon units while you still can. It isn’t just brawn, it also has 3D and 4K pass-through technology, 4K upconversion, Audyssey MultEQ, Airplay, network capabilities for Pandora and Spotify, and the list goes on.

Pioneer Elite SC-85 9.2-Channel Class D3 Network A/V Receiver with HDMI 2.0 ($1600)

Pioneer Elite receivers offer a very high end experience at an affordable price - or somewhat affordable depending on your budget. This unit is by no means inexpensive, but it is incredibly capable and will rock just about any home theater. It doesn't have Dolby Atmos, but it is Dolby Atmos Upgradeable. It has class D3 amplification that pumps out 135 Watts x 9 channels (8 Ohms) and delivers a total of 760 Watts multi-channel simultaneous drive. While lesser amplifiers’ output diminishes as channels are added, the SC-85’s Class D3 amps have the power to drive multiple channels simultaneously with no significant drop in per-channel output. It has HDMI 2.0, but not HDCP2.2. Every Elite AV receiver can pass through 4K video signals to any compatible display and the Qdeo video processing technology by Marvell and built-in 4K Scaler allow you to upscale any video source to 4k. Spotify Connect, Airplay, Roku Ready, Internet radio, control apps for your smartphone - you name it, it’s in there.

Ara’s Picks

Yamaha RX-A1030 7.2-Channel Network Aventage Audio Video Receiver ($800)

My entry receiver this year is more of a mid-tier instead. Last Summer I came to the conclusion that if you buy an entry receiver from Yamaha, Pioneer, Denon, or Sony you will essentially have the same thing. Sure the sound may be slightly different but for the most part they are all on par as far as features go. But for a little more money you can have a very nice receiver that will last you for years. Take this Yamaha, its a 7.2 system from the Aventage line. They use higher quality components and design elements to produce purer sound. One example is the right and left channels have been laid out so as to minimize any crosstalk. If you have a 4K TV this unit will upscale your 1080p sources and pass through native 4K material. The 1030 also has a better auto calibration function than the regular Yamaha line. There are a ton of features for the audiophile and for $800 this should be the minimum standard for your home theater.

Denon AVR-X4100W 7.2 Network A/V Receiver with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Dolby Atmos ($1,500)

My next receiver is almost twice the cost of the first. but it has a couple of notable features that the previous one doesn’t. Mainly it supports Dolby Atmos. This feature adds speakers overhead to give you more of an audio bubble where sound can come from anywhere. The unit is 4K ready but it does not support HDCP 2.2 so there may be some issues connecting to future Blu-ray players. Note: if you want to use 4 ceiling speakers you will need an external amp for two of them. But what I really like about this receiver is the Audyssey Room Calibration. To date it is the best one we have used. Throw in Audyseey’s Dynamic Volume to help keep the audio level and you have a great unit for anyone with neighbors in close proximity. The receiver supports IP control so it can be integrated into your Roomie or iRule remotes and provide two way feedback. Like all the receivers on the list there are way more features than we can cover here.

Sony STR-ZA3000ES 7.2 Channel 4K AV Receiver ($1,700)

I tap the Sony ES line for my third unit. It does not support Dolby Atmos but it does support HDCP 2.2 which may be more important for some. One of the neat features of the 3000 is that it is also an eight port Gigabit Ethernet switch with PoE, Power over Ethernet functionality. With all the connected gear in our home theaters this feature is really a nice touch. It has a web based interface to setup and is fully IP controllable.

All three of the above units plenty of power to fill your rooms with amazing sound. The Yamaha and Denon have connected features that makes streaming audio from all over the world as easy as pressing a button on your remote. Two have 8 HDMI inputs for those special times when you have to connect three Blu-ray players, two cable boxes, a Roku and an AppleTV but you still feel like you need an extra HDMI input just in case!

Ultimate Present

Onkyo TX-NR3030 11.2-Ch Dolby Atmos Ready Network A/V Receiver w/ HDMI 2.0 ($2,200)

This is actually a first for us. Putting an Onkyo into the Ultimate category. Best bang for the buck, sure. Great budget receiver, absolutely. But Ultimate? When you take a look at the features this receiver has you’ll immediately see why this is in the Ultimate category. First off, this is one of the rare receivers that supports HDMI 2.0, HDCP 2.2 and is Atmos ready. Its THX Select 2 Plus certified so you know it can produce reference level audio. It has three HDMI outputs so it can serve as a video hub. There are a number of features that on other receivers would bump the price up to the $3,000+ price range.

We’re sure you have head about issues Onkyo’s have had in the past, overheating and HDMI circuit board failures come to mind. So keep that in mind if you go this route. The HDMI issue has a recall on older receivers and shouldn’t be an issue on this one. Heat, well that’s all relative. The more amps you put into a receiver can potentially cause things to get hot. We have not heard of any recent heating issues with Onkyo’s but if possible, install the receiver in a well ventilated place and you should be good to go for years to come.

Podcast #663: HDTV Buying Guide 2014 Nov 27, 2014

Show notes

HDTV Buying Guide 2014

Tis the season for us to go wishlist shopping and help you spend your money - one of our favorite times of the year. If you happen to be lucky enough to have budget for a new HDTV this Christmas, but still aren’t sure which one to buy, we’ve got you covered. Unlike years past, we’re going to skip the budget categories, and the screen size categories and jump right to our top picks. We each pick three TVs and one ‘money is no object’ / ‘dare to dream’ TV for you to consider.

For those who don’t still have last years buyer’s guide handy, here are few of the sets from last year along with their prices. It turns out waiting a year to buy a new TV may not be a good idea. Most of the prices actually went up. So check out this year’s list and jump on the good deals before they’re gone.

Braden’s Picks

Seiki SE50FY35 50-Inch 1080p 60Hz LED TV ($349)

If you aren’t lucky enough to pick up one of the $200 50” TVs on Black Friday, this model from Seiki is a close runner up. Sure it’s a Seiki, but we said the same thing about Vizio just a few years ago, so you can’t always judge a TV by its name badge. It’ has a full array LED backlight for great color and contrast and they offer a one year replacement warranty. Amazon users rate it at 4 stars with 690 reviews, with more 5 star reviews than any other single category. Good deal for a 50” HDTV.

LG Electronics 65LB6300 65-Inch 1080p 120Hz Smart LED TV ($1299)

Let’s be honest, 65 inches is a really big TV. And for $1300, it isn’t a huge amount to spend. Sure it’s pricey, but not ridiculous. And it comes with all of the cool new features we’ll talk about with a much more expensive LG model coming up later in the list. It has webOS for the Smart TV interface, something engadget says is the best smart TV interface they’ve ever used, and LG’s Magic Remote with Voice Mate feature that gives you natural speech recognition to control your whole home theater. And you get great picture quality, IPS for off-angle, but unfortunately no 3D.

Sharp LC-70EQ10U 70-inch Aquos Q 1080p 240Hz Smart LED TV ($1497)

Or, for a few dollars more, grab 5 more inches of screen real estate with this model from Sharp. The Sharp Aquos line was once the gold standard in LCD televisions. They have been outpaced by other, hungrier manufacturers, but they still make an excellent TV. This one includes Sharp’s proprietary Quattron technology incorporates a fourth yellow subpixel to the standard red, green and blue, giving AQUOS Quattron televisions 33% more subpixels than a standard HDTV, for a total of 8 million subpixels. It is a smart TV and has 240 Hz refresh. For $200 more you can step up to the 3D model if you’re interested: Sharp LC-70SQ15U 70-inch Aquos Q+ 1080p 240Hz 3D Smart LED TV ($1697). At 70” 3D could be compelling in some circumstances.

Ara’s Picks

Sony KDL50W800B 50-Inch 1080p 120Hz 3D Smart LED TV ($950)

This year I went big with my selections because I feel that anything under 50 inches is essentially a commodity product. I really like this TV because it actually comes close to plasma black levels and contrast and doesn’t have a screen that is highly reflective. For those of you who don’t own a media device like a Roku, this is a Smart TV with wireless support for all the usual services. There is also a 55 inch for about $150 more (Sony KDL55W800B 55-Inch)

Sharp LC-60LE660 60-Inch Aquos 1080p 120Hz Smart LED TV ($799)

This is the steal of the list. A 60 inch TV for less than $800! No 3D, no 4K, just a large format HDTV that won’t break the bank. The picture quality is good but it can be great with professional calibration. There are a ton of settings that, in the hands of an expert, will make this TV the best bang for the buck on this list.

VIZIO M801i-A3 80-Inch 1080p Smart LED HDTV (2013) ($3285)

If you want to go really big but don’t want to buy a projector and screen this is a TV for you. Its a 1080p TV so no issues with compression artifacts, just a great picture that allows you to immerse yourself into whatever you are watching. Being that its a 2013 model you can save some cash and still be the envy of everyone on your block. The Vizio M-Series is an edge lit LED TV so it only has 16 light zone that can be independently dimmed but regardless it does have good black levels and contrast. Colors are good too. You would have to go with some higher end TVs to get better but none offers an 80 inch unit for less than $3,300! Built-in WIFI gets you access to Netflix, Hulu, and much much more. Tip: A TV this size should be calibrated to get the most out of it.

Ultimate Christmas Presents:

LG Electronics 55EC9300 55-Inch 1080p 3D Curved OLED TV ($3499)

Sure it’s curved, which we’ll admit is odd, but it’s also OLED, which you have to admit is pretty awesome. If you want the absolute best color and contrast money can buy, you’re looking at OLED. At 55” the TV isn’t very big, so you aren’t getting a giant screen for the money, just the best picture technology on the market right now. Add LG’s exclusive 4 Color Pixel for OLED (white sub-pixel) and the colors are unbeatable. Some added bonuses in this model for 2014 are the addition of webOS for the Smart TV interface and LG’s Magic Remote with Voice Mate feature that gives you natural speech recognition to control your whole home theater.

Sony XBR65X900B 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz 3D Smart LED TV ($3799)

I didn’t put any 4K TVs on my regular list. That’s because the type of viewing that most of us do (sat/cable) just has too many artifacts. Some programs and networks look fantastic but others don’t. With that said, Blu-rays look incredible. So this TV is on the list for movie lovers that primarily watch Blu-rays. Bright vivid colors and high contrast makes this the TV with the best picture on my list. Its a bit pricy for a 65 inch TV but if you love movies this will make the experience more enjoyable! If you are made of money there is a 79 inch for $7,500 (Sony XBR79X900B 79-Inch).

If you really want to go big or go home, check out the Sharp LC-90LE657U 90-inch Aquos HD 1080p 120Hz 3D Smart LED TV ($6195). That’s one gigantic TV.

Podcast #662: What we're thankful for '14 Nov 21, 2014

Show notes

What we're thankful for '14

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 six Thanksgivings, on today's show we give you our list of consumer electronics things we are thankful for.

But first, a very quick rundown of last year’s list:

Aereo
Netflix
Insteon
The DVR
High Speed Internet
4K TV

For 2014

Roomie Remote - I (Ara) drank the Roomie Remote Kool-Aid last year but this was the year that the application really went to another level. With the release of version 3 users now have powerful home controller that would cost $10K just a few years ago. If you are a DIY kind of person you may want to check out the Roomie Remote Control (www.roomieremote.com)

The Hopper - The single worst part of watching any television program in glorious high definition is the dreaded commercial break. The DVR has made our Thanksgiving list consistently, but the Hopper and the Auto-Hop feature take the DVR to the next level. Once you’ve tried it, it really is hard to go back. You almost find yourself avoiding shows that aren’t on the Prime networks because you have to manually skip commercials.

4K TV - This made the list last year but this year we actually own one. While there isn’t much 4K content out there yet we are thankful for early adopters who will push producers to release more content in glorious 4K.

Home Automation - This has become a bigger area for the show this year. Many don’t understand what our infatuation with the subject is until they automate something. It may be a light, a door lock or a garage door opener. But once they get the bug they are done. This year we saw numerous companies releasing hubs that talk to a disparate group of devices. Its never been easier to automate your home!

Amazon Prime - While we love Netflix, its great to see competition. And with the recent announcement that 4K content will be included with the Amazon Prime subscription what’s not to be thankful for? When Amazon first launched this service they barely had more than 10,000 movies and TV shows. Today they have more than 40,000. Throw in free two day shipping on many items sold through Amazon and you have a no brainer!

Amazon Fire TV - And what if there was a tiny set top player that could connect directly to your Amazon Prime library and stream it all seamlessly? There is. And what if that box could also play games? Games that cost a dollar or two, not fifty or sixty dollars. If you happen to have five boys, you may want to put one in every room of the house. We’re thankful for peace and quiet.

802.11 ac - Wifi makes all of our lives easier whether its for home theater or just web surfing. The issue is that everyone uses it and if you live in a high density environment it becomes unusable for home theater related uses. The ac update makes wireless and viable alternative to stringing wire all over your house. We still claim NOTHING beats wired but with ac its a tradeoff that doesn’t cost you too much.

NuForce / Emotiva - This is really less about NuForce, which Braden uses, or Emotiva, which Ara uses, and really more about our awakening to the idea of separates for home audio. Just like our original HDTVs, or the first time we ran front projection setups, or our first taste of home automation, separates are a whole new world of sound. And we love it. Yes, we’re thankful for surround sound and Dolby and DTS, but we’re also thankful for separates that sound amazing that we can actually afford.

Sonos - This year Sonos made it possible to have a multi room audio system that competes with systems costing thousands of dollars more. And those systems don’t even include speakers! Sonos has created speakers that look and sound great. No need to hide your speakers. Just put them out for everyone to see. Whether its music residing on a computer on your network, in the cloud or from a number of music services. Sonos gives you control! You can do it for less but not nearly as elegant. You can do it for more but why waste your money!

arad@mac.com Nov 21, 2014

Show notes

Podcast #661: Black Friday Preview 2014 Nov 14, 2014

Show notes

Black Friday Preview 2014

Another year passes, another Black Friday approaches. True to form, the deals are as good as ever. Looking back, the deals we thought were amazing look like a rip off now. In 2008 the cheapest Blu-ray player was $128 and a 50-inch 720p plasma was going for $900. In 2009 the Blu-ray player price dropped to $78 and you could get a 50-inch 1080p plasma with a Blu-ray player for $1000. In 2013, plasma TVs were still all the rage. Can’t find any this year.

Our research came from our favorite goto sites for Black Friday circulars, including: www.bfads.net, www.blackfriday.com, and blackfriday.gottadeal.com.

The list has three 720p TVs and for this we are only counting TVs that are 32 inches or larger. The lowest price 720p TV comes from Sears - Upstar 32" 720p LED HDTV, $169.99

Sears - Upstar 32" 720p LED HDTV, $169.99
K-Mart - Seiki 32" Class 720p 60Hz LED DVD Combo HDTV (SE32HY27-D), $179.99
K-Mart - RCA 32" 720p 60Hz LED HDTV (LED32G30RQ), $179.99

The lowest price tier one brand HDTV comes from Best Buy - Panasonic 50" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $199.99

The largest TV comes from Sears - Sharp 70" (LC70LE660U) 1080p 120Hz Smart LED TV, $1,449.99 or you can buy it in your pajamas from Amazon for $1595

Wal*Mart is advertising a Blu-ray player for $35! - LG Blu-Ray Player, $35.00

Best Buy - Sony Smart 3D Wi-Fi Built-In Blu-Ray Player (BDPS5200), $59.99
Best Buy - Sony Smart Wi-Fi Built-In Blu-ray Player (BDPS3200), $49.99
Wal*Mart - LG Blu-Ray Player, $35.00
Target - Sony Blu-ray Disc Player w/ Wi-Fi (BDPS3200), $49.99
Sears - Samsung Blu-Ray Disc Player (BD-H5100), $49.99
K-Mart - Samsung Blu-ray Disc Player (BD-H5100) + $5.00 Back in SYWR Points, $49.99

For some reason K-Mart is selling a DVD player for $19.99 + $10 back in SYWR points - Seiki DVD Player + $10.00 Back in SYWR Points, $19.99

Best Buy has an Atmos ready receiver - Onkyo 1155W 7.2 Channel 4K Ultra HD A/V Home Theater Receiver (TX-NR636), $449.99

And for the first time Best Buy is offering some home automation gear - Philips A-19 Hue Starter Kit + Free Bloom Accent Light, $199.99 and Philips BR-30 Hue Starter Kit + Free Bloom Accent Light, $199.99

Cool items that may or may not be home theater related:

Best Buy - Logitech Harmony 700 Advanced Universal Remote, $59.99
Best Buy - NETGEAR Dual-Band Wireless-AC Router, $59.99
Target - Samsung 37-in. Bluetooth Soundbar w/ Subwoofer (HW-F355/ZA), $87.99
Target - FitBit Charge Wireless Activity & Sleep Wristband, $99.99
Sears - Sling Media Slingbox M1, $149.99
Sears - Samsung 2.1 Channel Soundbar w/ Wireless Active Subwoofer, $159.99
K-Mart - Everlast TR-1 Wireless Activity Tracker, $34.99
Office Depot - Netgear R7OOO Nighthawk AC1900 Smart Wi-Fi Router $169.99
Office Depot - Toshiba Canvio Portable 2TB Hard Drive $64.99
Radio Shack - Google Chromecast + 2-Months Hulu Plus $25
Radio Shack - Roku Streaming Stick HDMI Version + Free 2-mths. Rdio Unlimited $39.99
Radio Shack - Apple TV $84.99
Radio Shack - Belkin WeMo Switch/Wireless Home Actuator + $10.00 Gift Card $49.99
Radio Shack - iTunes Gift Cards 15% off

The full list follows:

Best Buy

Element 29" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $79.00
Insignia 29" 720p 60Hz LED HDTV (NS-29D310NA15), $99.99
Insignia 40" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (NS-40D510NA15), $179.99
LG 55" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV (55LB5550), $479.99
LG 55" 4K 120Hz Smart LED HDTV (55UB8200), $1,299.99
LG 65" 1080p LED HDTV (65LB5200), $799.99
Panasonic 50" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $199.99
Samsung 55" 1080p 120Hz Smart LED HDTV (UN55H6203AFXZA), $599.99
Samsung 55" 4K LED HDTV (Black), $899.99
Samsung 55" LED 1080p 240Hz Smart 3D HDTV (UN55H7150AFXZA), $997.99
Samsung 55" 4K 120Hz Smart LED HDTV (UN55HU7250FXZA), $1,299.99
Sharp 60" 1080p Smart LED HDTV (LC-60LE644U), $699.99
Vizio 50" 1080p 240Hz Smart LED HDTV (M502I-B1), $499.99
Vizio 55" 4K 240Hz LED Smart HDTV (P552UI-B2), $1,299.99
Sony Smart 3D Wi-Fi Built-In Blu-Ray Player (BDPS5200), $59.99
Sony Smart Wi-Fi Built-In Blu-ray Player (BDPS3200), $49.99
Onkyo 1155W 7.2 Channel 4K Ultra HD A/V Home Theater Receiver (TX-NR636), $449.99
Logitech Harmony 700 Advanced Universal Remote, $59.99
Philips A-19 Hue Starter Kit + Free Bloom Accent Light, $199.99
Philips BR-30 Hue Starter Kit + Free Bloom Accent Light, $199.99
NETGEAR Dual-Band Wireless-AC Router, $59.99

Wal-mart

Element 50" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $218.00
Element 60" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV, $498.00
Samsung 50" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (UN50H5203), $498.00
Samsung 55" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV (UN55H6203), $598.00
Samsung 60" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV (UN60H6203), $798.00
Vizio 65" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV, $648.00
Vizio 50" 2160p 4K Ultra HDTV, $698.00
LG Blu-Ray Player, $35.00

Target

Element 29" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $79.00
Element 40" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV, $119.00
Samsung 40" 1080p 60Hz Smart LED HDTV, $327.99
Samsung 50" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (UN50EH5000FXZA) + $30 Target Gift Card, $477.99
Samsung 60" 1080p 120HZ Smart LED HDTV (UN60H6203AFXZA), $797.99
Westinghouse 48" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (DWM48F1G1), $235.00
Westinghouse 55" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (DWM55F1G1), $395.00
Sony Blu-ray Disc Player w/ Wi-Fi (BDPS3200), $49.99
Samsung 37-in. Bluetooth Soundbar w/ Subwoofer (HW-F355/ZA), $87.99
FitBit Charge Wireless Activity & Sleep Wristband, $99.99

Sears

RCA 46" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (LED46C45RQ), $299.99
RCA 52" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (LED52B45RQ), $379.99
RCA 55" 1080p 120Hz Smart LED HDTV (SLD55A55RQ), $649.99
Seiki 48" 1080p LED HDTV (SE48FY25), $349.99
Sharp 60" 1080p 120Hz LED Smart TV (LC60LE660U).$899.99
Sharp 60" 1080p 240Hz Smart LED HDTV (LC-60EQ10U), $999.99
Sharp 70" Smart LED TV (LC70LE660U), $1,449.99
Upstar 32" 720p LED HDTV, $169.99
Samsung 2.1 Channel Soundbar w/ Wireless Active Subwoofer, $159.99
Sling Media Slingbox M1, $149.99
Seiki DVD Player, $19.99
Samsung Blu-Ray Disc Player (BD-H5100), $49.99

K-Mart

RCA 32" 720p 60Hz LED HDTV (LED32G30RQ), $179.99
RCA 40" Class 1080p 60Hz Rear Lit LED HDTV (LED40HG45RQ), $249.99
RCA 46" Class LED 1080p HDTV, $299.99
RCA 50" 1080p LED HDTV, $399.99
RCA 55" 1080p LED HDTV (LED55G55R120Q), $499.99
RCA 60" 120Hz 1080P LED HDTV (LED60855R120Q), $699.99
Sanyo 50" class LED 1080p HDTV, $399.99
Seiki 20" LED High Definition Television (SE20HS04), $99.99
Seiki 32" Class 720p 60Hz LED DVD Combo HDTV (SE32HY27-D), $179.99
Seiki 32" LED HDTV (SE32HY10), $169.99
Seiki 40" 1080p LED HDTV (SE40FY19), $239.99
Toshiba 40" 1080p LED HD TV, $329.99
Westinghouse 39" Class 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV, $229.99
Westinghouse 55" Class 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV (DWM55F1Y1), $449.99
Samsung Blu-ray Disc Player (BD-H5100) + $5.00 Back in SYWR Points, $49.99
Seiki DVD Player + $10.00 Back in SYWR Points, $19.99
Everlast TR-1 Wireless Activity Tracker, $34.99

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