HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

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Podcast #660: Jack Sharkey Discusses Dolby Atmos Nov 07, 2014

Show notes

Jack Sharkey Discusses Dolby Atmos

A few listeners have written and asked us what our take on Dolby Atmos is. Since we don’t have any gear capable of decoding Atmos we thought we’d enlist Kef’s own Jack Sharkey (Internet Marketing & Event Coordinator) to discuss this technology. Kef has announced the R50 Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers which will help bring this technology to life.

Atmos Capable Receivers:

Podcast #659: Halloween Movies Oct 31, 2014

Show notes

This one is mostly audio.

Podcast #658: Review VIZIO P702ui-B3 70-Inch 4K UHD Oct 24, 2014

Show notes

VIZIO P702ui-B3 70-Inch 4K UHD

We have been talking about 4K TVs for what seems like an eternity. This week Ara finally took possession of his VIZIO P702ui-B3 70-Inch 4K UHD (Buy Now $2498). Now before you all say “no one can see the difference on a screen that size sitting at a normal distance”, hang on until we get to the performace part of the review. As soon as Vizio announced this set at CES Ara knew it was going to be his first 4K TV. At 70 inches it fills up the normal sized family room but not so much that it looks too big. Even Ara’s wife who was skeptical when she heard that a 70 inch screen was going to replace the 58 inch plasma felt the TV was a good fit for the room. The family consensus is that watching the Vizio is almost like watching in the media room, mainly due to the family room being a bit cozier.

Features:

Ultra HD picture - 8 million pixels and 4x the resolution of 1080p Full HD.
5 HDMI inputs, one dedicated for high performance devices
Spatial Scaling Engine - Scales 1080p Full HD content to 4K Ultra HD resolutions.
VIZIO Internet Apps Plus - Optimized for Ultra HD streaming.
802.11ac wireless - ideal for Ultra HD streaming.
72 Active LED Zones - Dynamically adjusts the LED backlight per zone creating deeper, pure black levels and higher contrast

Setup

The TV was bought through Amazon and it came with delivery and setup. The guys showed up and removed the TV from the packaging, connected the stand and then placed it on TV stand. Ara connected the tuner, Ethernet, HDMI and power cables and the turned it on. The TV asks you some questions and within a few minutes you have a picture on set.

Next up was adjusting the TV with a “Calibration” disc. Settings are shown at the end of this article. While Ara was able to get a good picture with the disc, there are so many settings on this TV that these discs do not address, it is well worth hiring a professional to calibrate the set. If you are going to spend ~$2,500 for a 4K UHD TV you should get the most out of it. There are also two factory calibrated settings that you can chose, Calibrated and Calibrated Dark focusing in the following 4 areas:

Color accuracy – Calibrated to International Telecommunication UnionITU-R Recommendation BT.709
Gamma control – Set to 2.1 for Calibrated, 2.2 for Calibrated Dark
Color temperature – Calibrated to D65 (D65 corresponds roughly to a midday sun in Western Europe / Northern Europe, hence it is also called daylight illuminant.)
Brightness and contrast levels – Calibrated to minimize black and bright clipping

VIZIO recommends if you are situated in a bright setting, adjust the picture mode setting of the TV to Calibrated. On the contrary, if you are in a dark setting, adjust the picture mode setting to Calibrated Dark.

We turned on the Audio Return Channel (ARC) on the set so we could get 5.1 out of the tuner and the built in Netflix app. This required that we use an HDMI cable that supports ARC and a receiver that also supports it. We were good to go on both parts and after CEC control was also activated on the Denon receiver we were ready to start watching TV!

Performance

First up was watching through the DirecTV satellite receiver. This was a mixed bag. Depending on the channel or what was being played on the channel we kind of felt like it was 2000 again. The TV really exposes flaws in the signal. Just like the move to HD from NTSC. First up was football on ABC. ABC is a 720p channel and in LA it is multicast which compresses the signal. Things didn’t look as sharp as we are used to. This was evident in the playing field more than anywhere else. When the camera would show the grass you could see the video processing sharpen the image in those areas.

The odd thing was on the same channel but for the nationally televised game in the evening the picture looked flawless. Everyone watching in the house was amazed at how good it looked. The only thing we can think of is that the day game was a regional game for Los Angeles and that ABC didn’t use the best gear in the production of the game. For the national game the A-team production van was used. When it was all said and done we would have never noticed this on the plasma.

Watching college football on CBS did not exhibit any of these issues. In Los Angeles CBS does not multicast so the entire bandwidth is used for the TV signal. The Alabama game looked incredible! Both OTA and Satellite signals were used with similar results. Bottom line, a good signal looks fantastic. That was the case in 2000 and its the case today. We could see macroblocking on sitcoms that we never saw on plasma. Scaling up to a 4K TV with 70 inches or realestate will expose flaws. That’s just something you will have to live with when watching network TV.

Then we watched Blu-ray and this is where we got the oohs and ahs we were hoping for. The Vizio did an incredible job here. The colors were so vivid and detail so sharp that we got that looking through glass feeling while watching. The opening shots of “A Million Ways to Die in the West” were breathtaking. We then pulled out an oldie but a goodie, “Blackhawk Down”. This movie has a lot of night scenes that are great for testing a TV’s ability to show shadow detail. Some listeners/readers have questioned Ara for giving up his plasma which typically have deep dark blacks and high contrast for an LED based TV. The Vizio did a great job with the dark scenes. Almost as good as the plasma. Close enough to where Ara didn’t feel like he was losing anything. This was accomplished by using direct lit LED with 72 zones. By completely turning off LEDs in zones that are not being used the TV can approach black levels and contrast of plasmas.

Finally there was the 4K test. We hit the Netflix button on the remote and searched for 4K content. First up was a nature video, a la HD Net circa 2000. Yes it was like 2000 all over again. We watched stuff because it was in UHD!

Netflix labels its its UltraHD as 2160SD which has a resolution of 3840x2160. True 4K is 4096x2160 and that is labeled 2160HD. We were not able to find a 2160HD program.

Regardless, the 2160SD content looked incredible. You need the ability to stream 15Mbps to be able to view Ultra HD content and if you have it you will be amazed at the clarity. We also watched the Blacklist in UHD, which comes highly recommended by listeners.

We were amazed at the detail and clarity. The charts and graphs say you can’t really see the difference in resolution on a 70 inch TV at 12 feet but we’ll have to disagree. It looks amazing! We can’t wait for 4K Blu-ray!

One area that we weren’t that pleased with the TV was off angle viewing. Here the plasma had this beat. If you are sitting directly in front of it it won’t be an issue but in Ara’s family room there are two positions where this will be an issue. Just something to consider if you are interested in this set.

The remote control is nice and has a full keyboard on back which makes searching for content a bit easier. We added the TV to the Roomie remote with no issues, but we had to do so with our IR blaster. At this point in time there is no way to turn the TV on over Ethernet.

In addition to Netflix, the TV includes, Vudu, Hulu Plus, Youtube, Pandora, and Amazon to name a few Internet apps. Amazon, Netflix, and iHeart Radio have hard coded buttons to make getting to these apps easier.

Conclusion

We are at the beginning of the Ultra HD transition and you may wonder if its too early to switch. One can argue that it is, but if you have a Blu-ray player or a 15Mbps Internet connection you really don’t have to wait. The Vizio P702ui-B3 will take those platforms and make them better! We can’t wait for 4K Blu-ray!

Settings

No Picture Mode Management settings were changed. Probably best to consult a professional calibrator.

Podcast #657: Dual Lamp Projectors Oct 17, 2014

Show notes

Dual Lamp Projectors

Grant Clauser, Technology and Online Editor at Electronic House, recently posted an article titled “Home Theater Projector Tips for Multipurpose Rooms.” The basic premise is that projectors aren’t just for man caves or dedicated theater rooms, but can be used very effectively in what we’ve traditionally called a family room but what a lot of integrators are now calling media rooms, multipurpose rooms or hybrid entertainment rooms.

The article makes three suggestions for optimizing the projector experience in a less traditional projector room. The first two are about placement. In a dedicated theater room, the room is built to accommodate the projector, so placement isn’t an issue. In a family room, it may be difficult to find a good spot for it, so you have to be creative. A long throw lens and lens shift capabilities could come in really handy.

“...long throw projectors can help overcome design or placement complications. In a dedicated home theater, with the lights off, it doesn’t matter as much if the projector is hanging from the ceiling in plain sight. But in a room that’s also used for other family gatherings, an out-in-the-open projector is an eyesore. Projectors with long throw lenses allow the unit to be installed against (or even inside) a far wall, out of the way.”

“...lens shift (both vertical and horizontal) can be important in a multipurpose room. Architectural features (walls, windows, fireplaces, columns) can make ideal placement difficult, so mechanical lens shift can help ... get the projector targeted properly.”

We’ve talked about the article, or similar posts, before. But one point we haven’t spent much time on is the third suggestion: dual lamp projectors. Since it is much harder to control ambient light in a multipurpose room, high light output is key. The brighter the room, the brighter the projector needs to be. In a dark room, the projector should ideally do 16 foot-Lamberts. By comparison, LCD and plasma televisions can do much, much more, with some LED models capable of 80 foot-Lamberts and higher. The article recommends at least 40 foot-lamberts for a multipurpose room that may have ambient light issues.

Since your projector specs will use lumens, not foot-Lamberts as their brightness specification, the article suggests taking 20-30 percent off the number, then divide it by the screen area for a foot-Lambert number that’s closer to accurate, but still not perfect. The distance to the screen and screen gain also has an impact on that number. To overcome this, they recommend using a dual-lamp projector. This allows you to run a single lamp like a traditional projector at night or when the room is dark, but run both lamps for a brighter picture during the day.

We haven’t spent much time on dual lamp projectors on the show because they are harder to find, especially for DIY installations. They tend to be specific to the custom install channel and are usually quite expensive. But for those contemplating a rear projection setup in a room where you may not be able to control the ambient light, projector brightness may be the thing holding you back. So we decided to take a look at Amazon to see what options were available for DIY. We found two. Both from NEC. Both affordable. Neither of them great options.

The truth is, dual lamp projectors are difficult to find. The ones we were able to locate by consulting the Google, models from Christie, Benq, Epson, etc. were either discontinued or otherwise unavailable.

NEC NP-PX700W2 WXGA DLP Dual Lamp 7000 Lumen Integration Projector

Buy now: $4999

DLP projector - HD 720p
Brightness: 7000 lumens
Contrast Ratio: 2100:1
Image Size: 51.2 in - 299 in
Projection Distance: 2.6 ft - 180 ft
Resolution: WXGA - WXGA (1280 x 800) (native) / 1920 x 1200 (resized)
Lamp Type: 2 x 400 Watt| Lamp Life Cycle: 2000 hour(s) / 2500 hour(s) (economic mode)
Features: Picture in picture, Eco-Mode technology, AutoSense technology, Advanced AccuBlend technology, 3D Reform technology, 6-segment color wheel, JPEG photo playback, Edge blending, High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection System (HDCP), wall color correction
Vertical Lens Shift: 50%
Horizontal Lens Shift: 10%
TV System: NTSC, SECAM, PAL, PAL-N, PAL-M, NTSC 4.43, PAL 60| Analog Video Signal: RGB, S-Video, composite video
Video Interfaces: VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, composite video, S-Video, RGB
Video Modes: 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, 480i, 576i, 576p

NEC NP4000 XGA DLP Dual Lamp 5,200 Lumen Projector

Buy now: $3999

DLP projector - HD 720p
Brightness: 5200 lumens
Contrast Ratio: 2100:1
Image Size: 50 in - 200 in
Projection Distance: 2.6 ft - 180 ft
Resolution: XGA (1024 x 768) (native) / 1920 x 1200 (resized)
Vertical Lens Shift: 40%
Horizontal Lens Shift: 35%
TV System: NTSC, SECAM, PAL, PAL-N, PAL-M, NTSC 4.43, PAL 60| Analog Video Signal: RGB, S-Video, composite video
Video Interfaces: VGA, component video, composite video, S-Video, RGB
Video Modes: 480p, 720p, 1080i, 480i, 576i, 576p|

Podcast #656: Movie Theaters Enter the Fourth Dimension Oct 10, 2014

Show notes

Movie Theaters Enter the Fourth Dimension

It will come as no surprise that the HT Guys will opt to wait for the Blu-ray version of popular movies so that we can enjoy them in the comfort of our own homes. We know that we are not alone, many of our listeners are doing the same. As our hobby grows, people are setting up relatively inexpensive home theaters that provide a quite enjoyable experience. Others will spend a little more money and create an experience that rivals what you get in the cinema.

Some History

Back in the day the only way to see a blockbuster the way it was intended was in a movie theater. At some point the movie would find its way onto network television but imagine watching “The Sound of Music” on a 25 inch 4:3 SD television with a small 3.5 inch speaker. Not quite what Director Robert Wise had in mind. No, the only way to really watch a movie was in theaters.

Another argument for watching in theaters was that TV dramas were quite frankly amateurish in comparison to the cinema. The movies had bigger budgets, better actors, and higher production values. This resulted in Hollywood producing a better product for cinemas vs television.

Quality Gap Narrows

Today many of the differences between the home and cinema have been eliminated. Television and movies have similar aspect ratios, HDTVs provide better picture quality, low cost 7.1 receivers provide similar audio experiences, and Hollywood is producing cinema quality television. In some cases television has better content than all the remakes and sequels Hollywood wants to charge you $11 a ticket for. Its no wonder people are staying home and saving their money.

Ara put his theater together for about $15,000, Braden spent less than $10,000. Perhaps a bit pricy but everyone who watches a movie in our rooms comes away wanting to do the same in their houses. You don’t have to spend that much either. Each year we put together our Ultimate Home Theater in a Box systems which are not entry level systems but they go for about half the cost of our projector setups. These systems will provide an experience that is superior to that of the cinema. This year Braden spec’d out a 80 inch, 7.2 system with a Blu-ray player for less than $6200!! Ara’s was a bit smaller, 65 inch, 9.2 audio, with Blu-ray for $7,800. When you consider that you can enjoy your home system every day! That makes the upfront cost a little easier to justify. Especially if you love watching sports!

With a home setup that provides a technical experience that is equal or nearly equal to that of the cinema what does going to the movie theater offer that you can’t get at home? Well how about high price ticket and concession prices, noisy inconsiderate people texting and posting selfies to facebook, and twenty minutes of commercials and trailers. Yeah… we can’t wait to go to a movie theater. Its no wonder people are staying away in droves. The three to six month wait for a movie to hit the home market is goes by very fast. How many times have you said, “That’s already out??” If release windows for home distribution keeps getting smaller the multiplex may be a thing of the past.

What can be done?

Its clear that the cinemas need to do something to draw people back. We say cinema because filmmakers can choose to ride the wave and go straight to home. Whether it be physical media or streaming, Hollywood can deliver their content to the people who want it. This problem is really a cinema operator problem. Well, good scripts may draw a few more people to the cinema but not enough to stem the tide in our opinion.

Theaters need new tech that is not available in the home. They need a way to differentiate themselves from our living rooms. And it has to be tech that improves the experience. We don’t think 3D was that tech. Plus it was available in the home at the same time. Some theaters are experimenting with a 4D experience. Think sensurround from the 70’s. In this case theaters are looking for ways to further immerse the viewer into the story.

One way is bigger screens that wrap around you. Yes some Imax theaters have this and if you lived in southern California in the 60s and 70s you could have gone to Disneyland and watched Wonders of China on Circle Vision. Circle Vision would be a bit too gimmicky but adding screens to the front sides for 50 or so feet would open up the picture and provide a more immersive experience. One that would be more difficult to create at home.

Better seats with motion actuators could provide a feeling of motion and deeper bass. It would be nice if there was an override switch for those who get motion sickness so they can turn off or dial back the effect. They could also provide speakers in the seats that would provide a more intimate experience than surround speakers way at the end of the auditorium.

For the full effect theater rooms can be built with misting systems that can provide a rain effect and fans that can provide wind. While we are at it why not add scents to heighten the experience. These features would need to be used judiciously so as not to burn the viewer out. But if used correctly it could really help with the experience. The best example of “Smellovision” in use today is on the simulator ride called “Soaring over California” at California Adventure in Anaheim. When you fly over the orange groves you can smell oranges or pines as you fly through Yosemite. The effect is subtle and it does enhance the experience.

Some theaters offer higher quality food and alcohol with ninja like wait staff to bring it to you. But can you really enjoy a good steak while watching a movie? Drinks sure! This type of arrangement appeals to a minority. The one thing that can really help the experience is to have a zero tolerance for chatty patrons and those that text. Maybe offer a texting and non-texting viewing. If you text in a non-text room you will be asked to go to the screening room where texts are allowed.

While filmmakers can help get people in the seats by creating better movies, we still think its the movie theater experience that needs to be fixed. Let us know what it would take to get you to go spend $50 to watch Hollywood’s latest blockbuster?

Podcast #655: Video Scalers and Processors Oct 03, 2014

Show notes

Video Scalers and Processors

A recent discussion on the show about the “good old days” of HDTV, the days of rear projection LCD, DLP and LCoS, the days of High Definition CRT, got us thinking about some of the other aspects of the early days, like video scalers. Once considered a must have for any true home theater connoisseur, the video scaler seems to have gone the way of the dinosaur.

Background

Before HDTV hit the mainstream about a decade ago, we lived for about 50 years with one dominant video format for television here in the US: NTSC. NTSC blessed us with a beautiful 4:3 image, it ran at 29.97 interlaced frames per second. Each frame was 525 scan lines, composed of the two interlaced fields of 262.5 scan lines each. But only 483 scan lines were actually visible on screen. This left us with what we now refer to as 4:3, 30 fps, 480i video.

And that was it. All televisions supported that video format, all home projectors supported that format, it was the one ring that bound them all. It didn’t matter if you wanted a standard CRT or “tube” television, a big screen, rear projection television, or a home projector. They all knew how to accept 480i at 30 fps, and render 480i at 30fps. But then the world changed. HDTV, and the ATSC standard, threw all of that out the window.

ATSC defined a multitude of potential video formats that a television would have to be able to display. Not only did it include the legacy 480i, it added 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p, and even a few we never really used here in the US because they were added for PAL support, like 288p, 576i and 576p. And on top of the new resolutions were a bunch of new frame rates, the legacy 29.97 and 23.976, 24, 30, 59.94, 60. And, of course, the 16:9 aspect ratio.

But in the early days of High Definition, there wasn’t just a whole new set of video formats to support, there was also a miriad of television technologies that all rendered the video slightly differently. From the digital formats like plasma, LCD and DLP that were progressive displays and rendered all the interlaced lines at once, to the analog CRT televisions that continued to display interlaced, although they did scale up to cover the 1080i High Definition standard.

Video Processors

In those tumultuous days, display manufacturers struggled to just get all the supported formats to render on their chosen display technology. They weren’t focused on the best way to do it, or any potential improvements they could make to the source video to make it look better on the newer, higher resolution displays. This meant that when you started with terrible, NTSC 480i content, and blew it up onto a 720p, 1080i or 1080p television, it looked, in a word, terrible.

Video processors or scalers to the rescue. Luckily, although the manufacturers weren’t focused on the scaling problem that much, there were dedicated companies that stepped up to the challenge. Companies like Faroujda building chips, or DVDO building scalers. These devices allowed you to connect any type of source content, and convert it to the ideal format for your display. And they did it really well. 720p content looked great on a 1080i television; 480p DVDs looked great on a 720p TV; even 480i content looked decent on an HDTV. Scalers saved the day.

But lately, those same technologies that saved us in scalers, have been making their way directly into the TVs and projectors you can buy for yourself. Most of them now do a very respectable job of scaling. And we don’t have nearly as much terrible resolution content to deal with. We’re dealing with mostly native HDTV content, or worst case, 480p DVD. It starts good, it scales well, and everyone is happy. So people aren’t really clamoring for scalers anymore.

Do I need a scaler?

There are two very good uses for video scalers today. First off, some of us can benefit greatly from a video scaler, or at least a device that sits between your source equipment and your display, to fix up any issues the two may have in agreeing on video format or resolution. Many times, especially if you have a receiver in the chain, your source and display can disagree on what format is best when they do their HDMI handshake, and you end up with a messed up video, or a sub-optimal experience. A scaler can force the output to match what the display wants. In those cases, it is used more to fix issues, not really to improve the video rendering. Although fixing the issues does improve the quality of the video.

And secondly, there are people who really enjoy some of the effects the more specialized scalers can introduce. For example, the Darbee Visual Presence technology. If you want to take advantage of Darbee, you have to buy a scaler or video processor that includes it - or get the OPPO Blu-ray that has it. If you enjoy the effect Darbee Visual Presence or other like technologies have on your video experience, a processor is your only option. In this case, the processor is doing exactly what it did in the early days, improving the content on your display to make you TV and Movies look even better.

Scaler options

Many modern AV Receivers include very good video processing and scaling capabilities, but they don’t always solve all the HDMI handshake issues, not do they include specialized technology like Darbee Visual Presence. Buying a good AV receiver with good video processing chips, assuming you don’t have HDMI issues, should be good enough for most people. If not...

DVDO Edge Green High-Definition Video Processor and Connectivity Hub Solution

Buy now: $287. DVDO was the company making some of the best scalers back in the day. They made the $2000, $3000, $5000 scalers that made all the difference on those early HDTV sets. We used one and loved it. They’re still making great video processors, and they are much more affordable now.

Award winning Video Reference Series technology by DVDO Inc. delivers the most detailed Full HD 1080p images to an HDTV from all video sources.
Advanced Connectivity - 9 Inputs, one box for all of your digital entertainment connections.
AV LipSync feature syncs audio with video
Low Latency Processing for Gamers. Eliminate "Black Bars" with intuitive zoom controls
Includes 5 HDMI 1.3 inputs and user-defined automatic switching

OPPO BDP-103 Universal Disc Player

Buy now: $499. OPPO makes some of the best Blu-ray players available. And they do this by only including the best of the best video processing and scaling technology. The most recent models include a spare HDMI input so you can take advantage of all that processing power for other components in your theater.

Dual HDMI Inputs and Outputs, MHL-Compatibility, 3 USB Inputs, DLNA (DMP & DMR), SMB/CIFS, Wireless N, RS232 & IR
Dual-core processor provides quick startup and fast loading times; Updated Qdeo Video Processor
4k Up-conversion, 2D-to-3D Conversion, True 24p Video, Vertical Stretch Mode, Advanced Picture Controls

If you want Darbee Visual Presence, try the OPPO BDP-103D Universal 3D Blu-ray Player, Buy now: $599.

DarbeeVision Darblet - HDMI Video Processor From Darbee DVP 5000

Buy now: $299. If all you want is Darbee processing for your video content, you can get the dedicated Darbee Darblet.

HDMI 1.4, 3D compliant
3 different viewing modes
One HDMI input, one HDMI output
Dimmable LED status lights
On-screen menu

Podcast #654: Best New Products CEDIA 2014 Sep 26, 2014

Show notes

Best New Products CEDIA 2014

CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association) just wrapped up and with that the organization announced their Best New Products award. As you read this be aware that much of these products are geared towards home integrators.

Sentido by Basalte

The basic idea of Sentido is very simple, yet very innovative. Divide a square in equal surfaces that each control different functions. The entire surface is touch sensitive, creating a very easy and unique way of control. Here is a video describing the product (http://youtu.be/Sw-flWhSbIY).

Main features:

Four touch surfaces
Patented multi touch
Built-in temperature sensor
Double or quadruple version
Integrated multicolour LED backlight

Control4® Composer Express

Composer Express, a powerful mobile configuration tool that enables Control4 Dealers to dramatically simplify and accelerate the set-up process for home automation systems. Now, a Control4 Dealer’s technician should be able to configure most one-room home theaters in very short order, or set up hundreds of devices in the most complex whole-home installations in a few hours by using their WiFi-enabled tablet or smartphone and simply walking around the building, installing devices and having Composer Express auto-integrate them into the Control4® system.

Crestron Pyng

The Crestron Pyng™ app provides a quick, easy solution for setting up and controlling lighting, shades, thermostats, door locks, and security systems in a home. This free home automation app enables complete setup from an Apple® iPad® and control from iPad, iPhone®, and iPod touch® devices.

Lutron Sivoia QS Triathlon Roller Shade

Sivoia QS Triathlon is the most fashionable, flexible, and affordable motorized shading system available today. This battery-powered solution offers a 3-5 year battery life for easy installation and maintenance, perfect for retrofit applications. Available in new roller shade or insulating honeycomb styles, these shades have a wide variety of beautiful fabric colors and textures to meet the functional and aesthetic needs of any space. Able to work as a standalone or system solution, these shades can be controlled at the touch of a button.

QMotion Motion Motorized Drapery Rods

QMotion's Motorized Drapery Rod collection is the latest innovation in automated window treatments. The first and only track-less motorized drapery rod in the market has arrived. The real beauty of QMotion's innovative new product is what you don't notice. We've removed the external motors and wires and placed a battery operated motor inside the hardware itself. Imagination, determination, and inspiration sparked the groundbreaking technology of QMotion's drapery rod system with Touch Wand Activation. The Touch Wand Activation feature provides customers with the convenience of manual and remote control. The Motorized Drapery Rod collection offers six beautifully crafted finial options and six popular finishes. Add your own draperies for a truly custom design experience.

Sony Electronics VPL-VW600ES 4K Front Projector

Get the stunning clarity of Sony’s SXRD™ 4K movie theater technology with a 4K Ultra HD projector featuring a resolution greater than 4 times regular 1080p HD, plus anamorphic 3D and HD to 4K upscaling. Added installation flexibility makes it possible to experience immersive 4K content in a wider array of rooms.

4K resolution (4096 x 2160) that’s greater than 4 times 1080p HD
Upscaling that transforms turns HD content into a 4K experience
HDMI® 2.0 compatible for 4K resolution at up to 60 frames per second
200,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio with SXRD™ technology
Brightness of 1,700 ANSI lumens
Auto Calibration function
$15,000

Product Hall of Fame

Sonance: Sonamp 260 two channel amplifier
TiVo, Inc.: TiVo
Crestron: CNX-PAD8 Audio Distribution Processor

Podcast #653: New TV Shows for Fall 2014 Sep 19, 2014

Show notes

New TV Shows for Fall 2014 We celebrate it every year, and it's that time of year again - a whole fall slate full of new HDTV shows. These new shows give us the opportunity to make new friends, share some laughs, and have an adventure or two, all from the comfort of your comfy living room sofa. When we were kids we looked forward to Christmas and the first day of summer. As adults, we look forward to the fall more than anything else. Yes, the kids are back in school and football is back, but also our favorite shows are coming back with new episodes and we get the opportunity to fill the DVR with brand new series. ABC Black-ish Premieres: Wednesday, Sep. 24 at 9/8c Created by and starring comedian Anthony Anderson, Black-ish explores one man's efforts to establish a cultural identity for his family after he discovers his children don't have one. Anderson stars as man-of-the-house Dre, and Tracee Ellis Ross plays his biracial wife Rainbow; they've got their hands full working and raising kids Zoey, Andre (who prefers to be called Andy and really, really wants a bar mitzvah despite the fact they're not Jewish), and twins Jack and Diane. Hannibal's Laurence Fishburne appears as Dre's father, Pops, and wears velour tracksuits because he's Laurence freaking Fishburne. Cristela Premieres: Friday, Oct. 10 at 8/7c Loosely based on comedienne Cristela Alonzo's life and stand-up routine, this family sitcom opens as the title character enters her sixth year of law school and takes on an unpaid internship at a law firm where she's frequently mistaken for the help. As she works to get her life and career started, she must also deal with her traditional Mexican-American family, who struggles to understand her ambitions. Carlos Ponce, Terri Hoyos, Andrew Leeds, Sam McMurray, and Jacob Guenther also star. Forever Premieres: Monday, Sep. 22 at 10/9c Ioan Gruffudd stars as New York City medical examiner Henry Morgan, who harbors an unusual secret —he can't die. Working alongside his new partner, Det. Jo Martinez (Alana De La Garza), Morgan studies the dead in an effort to discover the mystery of his own immortality. Also, the ladies in the crowd might want to take note: When Morgan dies (and he dies semi-often for some reason), he always comes back naked. Judd Hirsch, Donnie Keshawarz, and Joel David Moore also star. How to Get Away With Murder Premieres: Thursday, Sep. 25 at 10/9c Shonda Rhimes continues her push toward world domination with this legal thriller, which stars Viola Davis as a serious-as-the-death-penalty law school professor whose attractive students vie for her approval and a desk at her prestigious law firm. But their biggest lessons are learned outside the classroom, when they get caught up in a murder plot and, presumably, must figure out how to get away with it. Expect Scandal-sized twists and Grey's-like drama! Manhattan Love Story Premieres: Tuesday, Sep. 30 at 8/7c This new comedy uses the power of voiceover to broadcast the internal monologues of a New York City dude (Jake McDorman) and a Midwestern transplant chick (Analeigh Tipton) as they navigate an awkward first date and subsequent budding romance. What you'll learn early on from the voices in their heads is that guys like sex and women like purses; but as the series — and their relationship progresses, we expect things will get a bit more complicated than that. Selfie Premieres: Tuesday, Sep. 30 at 8/7c Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) drops her adorable Scottish accent to star in this modern spin on Pygmalion that takes place in today's social media-driven world. Gillan's Eliza Dooley is obsessed with becoming Internet famous, but her constant Instagramming and Facebooking has left her devoid of any real friends — not to mention the social skills required to make any. Desperate for a fix, Eliza hires marketer Henry Higenbottam (John Cho) to help her rebuild her image and put down her damn phone for once. CBS Madam Secretary Premieres: Sunday, Sep. 21 at 8/7c Tea Leoni plays a former CIA agent whose former boss, now the president of the United States (Keith Carradine), asks her to take on the role of Secretary of State after an accident claims the life of the office's previous occupant. Using her no-nonsense, unconventional attitude toward politics, she shakes things up in Washington, D.C. while also juggling her home life as a wife and a mother. Tim Daly and Bebe Neuwirth also star. The McCarthys Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 30 at 9/8c A loud-mouthed, sports-crazy Boston family (aren't those things redundant?) is at the center of this multi-camera sitcom based on the life of series creator Brian Gallivan. But what happens when the patriarch asks the resident black sheep — a gay, sports-averse son — o be his assistant basketball coach? Madness! Will there be a "you throw like a girl" joke? Probably! Tyler Ritter, Laurie Metcalf, Jack McGee, Jimmy Dunn, and Joey McIntyre (yes, that Joey McIntyre, of New Kids on the Block) star. NCIS: New Orleans Premieres: Tuesday, Sep. 23 at 9/8c Why should Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles have all the fun? The Big Easy gets its own iteration of TV's most-watched drama, with Scott Bakula, Lucas Black, Zoe McLellan, and C.C.H. Pounder solving crimes on Bourbon Street and beyond. We guess the Navy boys get into lots of trouble while they're on leave! Scorpion Premieres: Monday, Sep. 22 at 9/8c Based on the experiences of real-world genius Walter O'Brien, Scorpion is about a bunch of nerds who form a team to solve some of the world's most complex problems. (It's like if the Justice League of America traded their superpowers for supersmarts, computer wizardry and hacking skills.) And to give the show a Big Bang Theory-esque twist, Katharine McPhee plays the diner waitress who glues them all together. Elyes Gabel, Robert Patrick, and Eddie Kaye Thomas also star. Stalker Premieres: Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 10/9c This violent and shocking thriller from The Following's Kevin Williamson has already drawn plenty of pre-air criticism, and with good reason. It follows a division of the LAPD that deals with stalkers, voyeurs, and love-obsessed weirdos who target mostly women, often with deadly results. Maggie Q and Dylan McDermott star as our law enforcement heroes who may be more complicated than they seem. NBC A to Z Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 2 at 9/8c A student of the How I Met Your Mother school of television, A to Z is a romantic comedy that chronicles a relationship from beginning to end, à la 500 Days of Summer. Mad Men's Ben Feldman stars (with both of his nipples!) as Andrew, a true believer in destiny and romance, while HIMYM's ever-charming Cristin Milioti plays the object of his affection, Zelda. (A to Z, get it?) Lenora Crichlow, Henry Zebrowski, and Christina Kirk round out the cast. Bad Judge Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 2 at 9/8c This single-camera comedy stars Kate Walsh (Private Practice, Fargo) as Rebecca Wright, one of L.A.'s most respected criminal court judges. But here's the (overused and kind-of-boring) catch: While Rebecca totally and completely has it together in her work life, her personal life is the exact definition of a hot mess. She's flaky, she sleeps around without a care in the world, and she parties like she's still in college (so we're guessing she has the world's worst hangovers). She does drive a sweet van, though! John Ducey, Tone Bell, and Theodore Barnes also star. Constantine Premieres: Friday, Oct. 24 at 10/9c One of many comic book adaptations this season, Constantine is based on the DC Comics series Hellblazer. Welsh actor Matt Ryan stars as the titular John Constantine, a seasoned demon hunter and master of the occult who abandoned his campaign against evil after failing to save a young girl's soul from hell. However, he's pulled back into the fight when the balance between good and evil somehow winds up on the line and an angel named Manny (Lost's Harold Perrineau) tells him to man up and get his act together. True Detective's Charles Halford also stars. Marry Me Premieres: Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 9/8c Happy Endings' David Caspe is the writer behind this rom-com about a couple (played by Ken Marino and Caspe's real-life wife Casey Wilson) who are well on their way to tying the knot. There's just one problem: They can't get the marriage proposal right! Is it a sign that they aren't supposed to be together? Or do they need to just stop screwing up their overly inventive attempts to get engaged? Sarah Wright and John Gemberling also star. The Mysteries of Laura Premieres: Wednesday, Sep. 17 at 10/9c Things at NBC are about to get Messing again! This lighthearted drama brings Will & Grace and Smash actress Debra Messing back to the small screen as Laura Diamond, an NYPD homicide detective who spends her days cleaning up the streets and the rest of her time cleaning up after her rambunctious twin sons and soon-to-be ex-husband (Josh Lucas) Laz Alonso also stars. State of Affairs Premieres: Monday, Nov. 17 at 10/9c Former Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl is making her grand return to television, whether you want her to or not. In this political drama, she plays a top CIA attache who's tasked with one heck of a job: put together a briefing for the president (Alfre Woodard) to assess the greatest threats to national security. And just in case that doesn't sound stressful enough, she spends what little free time she has hunting down the terrorists who killed her fiancé, who also happened to be the president's son. FOX Gotham Premieres: Monday, Sep. 22 at 8/7c Described as the origin story of future Gotham police commissioner Jim Gordon, Gotham is Fox's effort to get in on TV's comic-book craze. Southland and The O.C. alum Ben McKenzie stars as Gordon, a fresh-faced police detective whose life begins to change when he and his partner, the brash Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue), start investigating the murder of the parents of none other than a young Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz). However, the noir crime drama isn't just about Gordon's rise through the ranks of Gotham City's PD; it also promises to tell the origin stories of several DC Comics' villains, including Catwoman (Camren Bicondova), the Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), and the Riddler (Cory Michael Smith). Gracepoint Premieres: Thursday, Oct. 2 at 9/8c When a young boy is found dead on an idyllic beach, a major police investigation gets underway in the small California seaside town where the tragedy occurred. Soon deemed a homicide, the case sparks a media frenzy, which throws the boy’s family into further turmoil and upends the lives of all of the town’s residents. Based on the British series Broadchurch, the event series stars David Tennant and Anna Gunn as the pair of cops investigating the case. The cast also includes Nick Nolte, Michael Pena, Jacki Weaver and Kevin Rankin. Mulaney Premieres: Sunday, Oct. 5 at 9/8c What's the deal with this show? Stand-up comic and former SNL writer John Mulaney does his best Jerry Seinfeld impression as a comedian who lives and works in New York City and whose pals (Nasim Pedrad and Seaton Smith) and wacky neighbor (Elliot Gould) like to butt into his life. But John will have a more regular gig than Jerry ever did: He writes jokes for a game-show host and comedian played by Martin Short. Yada, yada, yada... Red Band Society Premieres: Wednesday, Sep. 17 at 9/8c Set in the children's ward of a Los Angeles hospital (and narrated by a kid who's in a coma), Red Band Society is a coming-of-age drama that follows a Breakfast Club -esque group of patients as they such face life-changing (and life-threatening) challenges as cancer and heart defects. Griffin Gluck, Zoe Levin, Charlie Rowe, Astro, Ciara Bravo, and Nolan Sotillo star as the young protagonists, while Dave Annable, Rebecca Rittenhouse, and Octavia Spencer take on the adult roles of the doctors and nurses who mentor them through the ups and downs of adolescence. Utopia Premieres: Sunday, Sep. 7 at 8/7c In this experimental reality series based on a Dutch format, 15 contestants — of varying backgrounds and temperaments, of course —are thrown into the wilderness to spend an entire year building their own society with their own rules. Think Kid Nation for grown-ups. Will they govern by democracy, or will a dictator rise to power? Will they practice a certain religion, or will atheism rule? Will they farm their own food or eat each other as things devolve into anarchy and cannibalism? It'll be paradise or chaos (or something in the middle), and it'll be filmed for your enjoyment! CW The Flash Premieres: Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 8/7c The CW's highly anticipated Arrow spin-off stars Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, who becomes the fastest man alive, aka The Flash, after an explosion at the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator bestows him with superhuman speed. More lighthearted than its parent series, The Flash is set in Central City, where Barry works as a forensic investigator and uses his special power to help fight crime. He's aided in that endeavor by Det. Joe West (Law & Order's Jesse L. Martin), a cop who also serves as Barry's surrogate father; Barry's real father (TV's original Barry Allen, and Dawson Leery's dad, John Wesley Shipp) is in prison for allegedly murdering Barry's mother. Rounding out the cast are Candice Patton as Iris, Joe's daughter and Barry's BFF; Danielle Panabaker and Carlos Valdes as S.T.A.R. Labs scientists Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon; Rick Cosnett as Det. Eddie Thawne; and Tom Cavanagh as Dr. Harrison Wells. Jane The Virgin Premieres: Monday, Oct. 13 at 9/8c Come on, it's all right there in the title: Gina Rodriguez stars as a young woman named Jane, and Jane is a virgin! What more is there to know? Well, okay, there is the fact that she's pregnant because she was accidentally artificially inseminated by her gynecologist. Whoops! And to make matters even more complicated, Jane has to decide whether or not to keep the baby after discovering the sperm specimen belonged to cancer survivor Rafael (Justin Baldoni), who's not only a former crush of Jane's, but also her new boss. Research compiled with the help of TV Guide. A look back at the new TV shows for Fall 2013 How many survived? Of the shows we looked at for Fall premieres last year, not that many. This doesn’t include other late premiere shows like mid-season or summer replacement series. ABC (2/8) Betrayal - Canceled Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Renewed The Goldbergs - Renewed Trophy Wife - Canceled Lucky 7 - Canceled Back in the Game - Canceled Super Fun Night - Canceled Once Upon a Time in Wonderland - Canceled NBC (1/6) The Blacklist - Renewed Ironside - Canceled Welcome to the Family - Canceled Sean Saves the World - Canceled The Michael J. Fox Show - Canceled Dracula - Canceled CBS (2/5) We Are Men - Canceled Mom - Renewed Hostages - Canceled The Millers - Renewed The Crazy Ones - Canceled FOX (2/3) Sleepy Hollow - Renewed Dads - Canceled Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Renewed CW (2/3) The Originals - Renewed The Tomorrow People - Canceled Reign - Renewed

Full show notes at the publisher

Podcast #652: Interview - Will Price of Roomie Remote Sep 12, 2014

Show notes

On today’s show we interview Will Price CEO and Founder of Roomie Remote Incorporated. Will tells us about the next release of the remote app which should be available in a few days. And Android users listen in, there is good news for you!

Company

Roomie Remote, Inc. is a Silicon Valley startup founded in 2010 to create high-quality, easy to use home theater control and home automation software. Based in Los Altos, California, the heart of Silicon Valley in between the offices of Facebook and Google, Roomie Remote’s mission is to integrate home theater and home automation with the power of today’s platforms via next generation functionality and user interface.

Roomie Remote believes that easy to use, integrated software is the key to the next generation of home theater control and automation. Interoperating with many hardware vendors is crucial to advancing the industry to the next level.

Podcast #651: Interview: Blake Vackar of Screen Innovations Sep 05, 2014

Show notes

On today’s show we interview Blake Vackar Director of US Residential Sales for Screen Innovations. Blake tells us what to look for in a screen that will provide the best 3D experience in your home.

Company

Screen Innovations (SI) is a leading manufacturer of projection screens and associated technologies for residential and commercial applications. Best known for Black Diamond™, the world’s first and only multi-directional ambient light rejection projection screen technology, SI has effectively revolutionized the two-piece projection category by producing screens that deliver unparalleled images in light or dark environments.

A highly innovative, industry-specific Screen Innovations design and engineering team works tirelessly, constantly evolving the category in order to effectively bring projection to the mainstream. By operating under the principle that “No matter the budget; Screen Innovations has the best available screen solution to suit your needs,” SI aims to resolve the issues that have historically hamstrung the projection screen industry.

Handcrafted in the USA, each Screen Innovations product carries a lifetime replacement policy, and is produced utilizing advanced custom robotics and green manufacturing practices. Dedicated to corporate and consumer responsibility, every SI screen is manufactured in the most efficient manner possible.

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