HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

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Podcast #615 Prediction Results Dec 26, 2013

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Predictions Results for 2013

At the start of each new year we look into our high def crystal ball to make our best predictions on what we think the coming year will bring in the way of HDTV and Home Theater. The ball tends to be a bit cloudy, and each year we struggle to even get close to 50%. So let’s take a look at how we thought 2013 would shake out to see how we did.

We listed a few “gimmes” up front. The funny thing is that our gimmes didn’t even come through for us:

WRONG: Apple will release its first HDTV.
MAYBE: What ‘business’? The plasma business? Another Japanese TV manufacturer will walk away from the business.
NOT SURE, but PROBABLY: Netflix will use more Internet traffic during Primetime.
RIGHT: 4K TVs will become cheaper.

Ara’s Predictions:

Social Media will determine whether a show stays on the air - let’s face it the way Nielsen measures ratings is old and antiquated. Time to move towards the future. With Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Google+ it should be easier to determine whether a show has a following or not. Producers should be able to use these services to help them not only sell but pinpoint ads to the exact demographic watching the show. Look for Nielsen to revamp how it measures ratings.

SUCCESS!

Product Placement will be big - With so many DVRs out there advertisers are looking for a way to put their brand in front of you. This year I am saying that it won’t be subtle but more in your face. Rather than just seeing the product look for dialog about how good the product is. There have been a few examples of this with Toyota and Bones. Look for the cell phone companies to talk about communications on any action/cop show.

NOT REALLY. Still about the same as 2012.

Apple will enter the home automation market - Since 2012 was the year of home automation ;-) Apple will make 2013 the year of plug and play automation. They are rumored to be interested in id8 Group R2 Studios Inc which is a startup company developing home media and automation technology. Look for Apple to tie your entertainment, lighting, and security together in a neat easy to setup package. So does this make 2013 the year of home automation?

Fail. Maybe next year?

We’ll see a “True” smart TV - I’m not talking an Internet connected TV but more of a TV that truly has some brains. Something that can sense who is in front of it and configure itself for that viewer. If more than one person is in front of the TV then maybe go into family mode or something like that. It will be voice activated. Actually it will be a cross between GoogleTV, AppleTV and a computer. Look for Samsung to develop the first True Smart TV.

Fail. Didn’t quite happen yet.

Movie Studios will eliminate DRM from their content - Following the lead of the music industry, the movie industry will see the err of their ways and make it easy for all of us to freely create video servers with legally owned content. This is my Hail Mary pass prediction. Probability of success.... less than 1%

Total score: 1/5 for a whopping 20%.

Braden’s Predictions:

Adios Mother Plasma - Although plasma may have given birth to the flat screen revolution, the technology will be forced into early retirement in 2013.

Success! Panasonic, the stalwart supporter of plasma technology for the last few years announced they will be exiting the plasma business for good. While plasma will remain in stock for a while, Panasonic's exit spells the end for a great technology. The technology that started the flat screen revolution. Panasonic's plasma TV exit is the end of a brilliant era.

I’ll buy that for $300 - The average selling price for a 42” 1080p LCD TV will be $300 by the end of the year, down from $480 in 2012.

Fail. Pricing stayed pretty flat, driven by advanced features and a push into LED technology. If the prices moved downward, it was only slightly, certainly not into the $300 range.

Let’s be more than friends - As the economy continues to struggle and the price of electronics continues to plummet, 2013 will see at least one, maybe a few large mergers or acquisitions in the consumer electronics/home theater industry.

Fail. Microsoft acquired Nokia otherwise nothing. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Bummer.

Stream it to me - This year will see new release available via streaming in an all-you-can-eat subscription package.

Fail. Lo and behold, this prediction still didn’t happen. Yet I continue to make it every year. It’ll be right eventually, you just watch. Sure you can get Prima Cinema in your home now, so maybe I should get partial credit here. But I just can’t see taking partial credit on a system that costs $35,000 and $500 per movie. If it was $3500 and $50 per movie, maybe.

You can take it to grandma’s house - In 2013 someone will show the prototype for a truly portable tablet computer. Not something thinner and lighter but still 10 inches by 8 inches, but something that either rolls up or folds up so you can very easily take it with you anywhere.

Fail. We got thinner and lighter, but still nothing flexible or foldable. Thinner and lighter is nice, but it’s an incremental change, I was looking for the game changer here, and came up empty.

Total score: 1/5 for a whopping 20%.

Podcast #614: Ultimate Home Theater in a Box Dec 20, 2013

Show notes

Ultimate Home Theater in a Box

There are so many Home Theater in a Box systems out there many of which cost less than $400. But seriously, what can you get for $400. A good center channel typically costs more than most HTIB systems on the market today. Each year we try to assemble a Home Theater in many boxes that we would be proud to show off in our homes. Our system will have at a minimum a HDTV, Blu-ray Player, Receiver, and 5.1 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 system will look and sound great by anyone’s definition!

Braden:

Sharp LC-80LE757 80-inch Aquos Quattron 1080p 240Hz Smart LED 3D HDTV ($3688)

It’s hard to pass up an 80” TV when you can have it for less than $4000. I was trying to keep the budget to under $6000 or so, but when you consider that an 80” TV is nearly front projection size, and it doesn’t suffer from ambient light issues or degrade at all during the day, the $3688 price is a great deal. It has the exclusive Quattron color technology that delivers a billion more colors, so you get a more powerful picture with brighter yellows, deeper blues, and richer golds. And it has a 240Hz Refresh Rate with AquoMotion 480 that doubles the effective refresh rate so you can see sharper fast-action movies and sports. And it’s a smart TV, so need need to add an external streaming player for apps. For those who want to save a little, scale down to a 70” TV, the VIZIO E701i-A3 70-inch 1080p 120Hz Razor LED Smart HDTV is just as smart, but only costs $1498.

Denon AVR-X3000 7.2-Channel 4K Ultra HD Networking Receiver with AirPlay ($899)

It’s no secret Denon is my favorite receiver brand, and the X3000 made our Receiver Buying Guide for a reason. It packs a ton of features, quality and big sound into a very reasonable price. It has 7 HDMI inputs and two HDMI outputs for multiple zone viewing. The X3000 comes with Audyssey’s Gold package so you can get your sound exactly the way you want it. The unit is Airplay and Windows 8 compatible and comes with Denon Remote app for mobile devices. The receiver's network functionality supports Internet radio services such as SiriusXM, Pandora, and Spotify. Like we said in the Buying Guide, there are many more features than we can’t list. It’s a very capable receiver and will last you for years.

Klipsch RF-42 II Reference Series 7.1 Home Theater System ($1494)

Going back to the trusty favorites, Klipsch has never let me down. They make incredibly high quality, supremely efficient speakers that sound great and are easy to listen to. The provide the detail you need for subtle soundtracks and effects in movies and the power you need for all the big explosions. Movies and music will sound just as they were intended to - no matter the room type or size - with the power, detail and emotion of Klipsch Reference II sound. This system includes: 1 RC-42 II Center Channel Speaker, 2 RF-42 II Tower Speakers, 2 RS-41 II Surround Speakers, 2 RB-41 II Bookshelf Speakers and 1 Klipsch SW-110 Subwoofer. This system gets you into 7.1 sound at a great price. There’s nothing keeping you from upgrading each of the parts over time, like the subwoofer or maybe a bigger center channel.

Samsung BD-F5900 3D Wi-Fi Blu-ray Disc Player ($98)

Unless you’re buying the OPPO, a Blu-ray player is a Blu-ray player. This Samsung unit ticks all the boxes for what you need in a solid performer, and it adds a couple uniques features as well. For example, S-Recommendation helps you find new things to watch, and Samsung Apps offer you new ways to entertain. It has a built-in web browser and Wi-Fi and allows you to stream from your other devices with AllShare. It supports 3D if that’s what you’re into and can up-convert your favorite DVDs to near Blu-ray quality. Of course it has all the standard apps as well, like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu and Pandora, so there’s no need for a secondary streaming player.

Miscellaneous

You can’t have a good home theater without a good universal remote, so throw in a Logitech Harmony 650 Remote Control for $60 to round out the package. Sure it isn’t the best in the Harmony line, but it controls everything in the package: TV, Receiver, Blu-ray player, Set Top (for Cable or Satellite), with one slot left for a device to be added later. You have to provide your own batteries, but pick up a few rechargeables and you’re all set.

Figure around $200 for miscellaneous cables and connectors, and the package is complete.

Summary

Total cost, not including shipping or tax, for a complete home theater with an 80” television and 7.1 surround sound comes out to $6439. I was shooting for a $6000 budget, and came pretty close. It’s difficult to fathom that a budget of $6000 can get you an 80” HDTV. If you need to scale back a bit, you can get the same system, but with a 70” HDTV for only $4249. That’s unreal. A 70” TV is gigantic, and the 7.1 surround sound will completely immerse you in the experience. Not a bad way to get into HDTV and Surround sound all at once without breaking the bank.

Ara:

Panasonic TC-P65ZT60 65-Inch 1080p 600Hz 3D Smart Plasma TV $3200

Well this should be no surprise to anyone. I picked a plasma TV. I still think plasmas produce the best picture out there and for the price its hard to beat. My first HDTV cost me $4000 for a 50 inch DLP that was 720p. For $800 less I get 15 more inches on the diagonal and weighs the same. We were blown away by the picture when we saw it in a light controlled room. And that’s the Key, while it will produce a great picture during the daylight it really excels in darker rooms. So make sure you have window covering when watching movies during the day. If you are watching normal daytime fare it won’t be an issue. The TV is a Smart TV with all the apps, controls, and gimmicks that come with it. You can connected it to your network so your iRule or Roomie remotes can control it via Ethernet. But the main sale for me is the glorious picture! Get these before they are gone forever.

Yamaha RX-A2030 9.2-Channel Network Aventage Audio Video Receiver $1600

I was going to go with a receiver that was on our Receiver Buying Guide but then I figured I want to try everything. Having owned three Yamaha receivers and recommending hundreds more I decided to go with the Aventage line. Every aspect of this receiver is about sound. From the parts used to the vibration dampening mechanics this receiver is for those who want a high quality audio experience. It too has all the niceties of the other receivers on our list: 4K, iOS/Android app, Airplay, Auto calibration and a ton more. Being a 9.2 receiver you will be prepared for the future what ever that ends up being!

Aperion Audio Intimus speakers and Hsu VTF-3 MK4 subwoofer 7.1 Speaker System (Total Cost $1970)

For this system I am pairing the Intimus speakers with a HSU Research subwoofer. We’ll start with two Intimus 4T Tower speakers ($320 each), one Intimus 4C center channel ($160), and four Intimus 4B bookshelf speakers ($260/pair). Aperion is a fantastic speaker company out of Portland Oregon. They offer a free 30 day in home audition at no risk to you. The Intimus line sounds great and will match quite nicely with the Yamaha receiver. On the subwoofer side you know I am going to select the one that rocks my home theater, the VTF-3 MK4 ($650). Its a good sized subwoofer that packs a wallop!

OPPO BDP-103 Universal Disc Player (SACD / DVD-Audio / 3D Blu-ray) $500

There are so many blu-ray players out there for less than $100 so why go with the $500 oppo. The main reason is video processing. The Oppo has Marvell's Kyoto-G2H video processor with the latest generation Qdeo technology will mean all the content whether blu-ray, DVD, or streamed video will look its best. Plus you can connect a cable or set top box to the Oppo and scale and process its video with the Kyoto-G2H. And that makes this the best choice out there for Blu-ray!

AppleTV $90

I know what you are asking, 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 or Roku 3 for the same price. Well for the Chromcast you’ll get a rebate :-)

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. this assume you already have a tablet or phone if you go that route.

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

Summary

In years past we would limit ourselves to a specific dollar amount but that would also limit our choices. This system, while not cheap, won’t break the bank and will be considered outstanding by anyone in the industry. Sure you can do better, but the additional cost may not produce a noticeably better experience. So without further ado… Ara’s ultimate home theater Christmas gift comes in at $7810 plus taxes. That is pretty insane for what you get. Consider Braden’s first 42 inch enhanced definition (DVD quality) plasma was $5000 and as stated earlier Ara’s 720P DLP was $4000. Enjoy!!

Podcast #613: HDTV Buying Guide 2013 Dec 12, 2013

Show notes

HDTV Buying Guide 2013

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. We’re back with another annual edition of the HDTV buying guide. Staying true to form, we’re going to break the sets down into categories by screen size, just like we did last year.

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 doesn’t always allow you to stretch your budget any further.

Toshiba 19” 720p LED for $129
RCA 32” 1080p LCD for $229
Sony BRAVIA 42” 1080p LED $548
VIZIO 60” 1080p 120Hz Razor LED Smart HDTV $999
Panasonic 65” 1080p Full HD 3D Plasma $2499

Up to 32"

Depending on your situation, a 32” TV could work as your primary screen. But more often, these screens work out great for a secondary viewing room like your kitchen, bedroom, office or home gym. At this size, we’re focused on value and bang for the buck.

VIZIO E241-A1 24-inch 1080p 60Hz Razor LED HDTV ($178)

The 24” 1080p TV drops by $20 this year, or roughly 10%. This model is part of the new E-series slim frame design from VIZIO, providing what they call high-quality design and picture at the best value. Images look good and the action does well on the 1080p Full HD resolution screen. The slim frame design makes it a good match for just about any room or situation. Plus, as an LED TV, it’ll save you money when compared to same size 2012 LCD HDTVs lighted with CCFL technology.

oCOSMO 32-Inch 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV ($215)

Unknown value brand oCOSMO bumps off last year’s RCA for our 32” recommendation. The oCOSMO has all the same features and a better price. It also reviews very highly at Amazon based on the impressions of 47 customers. OK, so that isn’t a ton, but it helps. With the additional feature of a USB & MHL ports helps further expand the functionality of your TV, allowing users to listen to music and view digital pictures quickly and conveniently.

Up to 42"

This continues to be the sweet spot for TV sales, which makes it a very competitive category. You don’t have to look to hard to find some really good deals on very high quality televisions.

LG Electronics 39LN5300 39-Inch LED-lit 1080p 60Hz TV ($347)

We picked the LG for the value and the picture quality. It will do a good job for you without breaking the bank. the video quality is very good, but the audio performance is what you’d expect out of a TV speaker. It also offers easy self-calibration with on-screen reference points for key picture quality elements such as black level, color, tint, sharpness and backlight levels. This helps take the guesswork out of picture adjustments. It’s not a full calibration, but most people aren’t doing a full calibration on 39” TVs.

VIZIO E420i-A0 42-Inch 1080p 120Hz Smart LED HDTV ($478)

Last year’s 42” Sony cost $548. This year’s VIZIO drops that all the way down to $478 and even adds a few features for you. We aren’t huge fans of paying a premium for “smart” TV features, but when you get it for this price, why not? The built-in VIZIO Internet Apps allow you to enjoy online movies, TV shows, music, and apps without the need for an external box or dongle. It has Smart Dimming capabilities for better contrast, richer colors and more vivid details. And it carries on the slim frame design VIZIO has been promoting, to add to the aesthetics acceptance factor.

Up to 50"

Pricing in this category doesn’t move much from year to year. Last year this category has a plasma TV. This year, though it pains us to say it, we couldn't do it.

LG Electronics 47LN5790 47-Inch 1080p 120Hz Smart LED HDTV + Free 60-Watt 2-Channel Sound Bar ($614)

If you aren’t planning to connect your 46 or 47-inch TV to a surround sound system, this deal is a great option. You get the stunning picture quality of the LG television, and they’re throwing in a 60 watt, 2 channel sound bar for free to eliminate the negative experience associated with the built-in TV speaker. The price is ridiculously low, significantly lower than the 46-inch Samsung on last year’s list, and you get the soundbar. It also happens to be a Smart TV, so you get access to premium content providers like Netflix, Vudu, Hulu Plus, and YouTube direct from your TV.

Samsung UN50EH5300 50-Inch 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV ($649)

A 50-inch set is the primary viewing size for many households, and Samsung consistently makes some of the best televisions on the market. If you’re buying a main TV, don’t look for the cheapest, look for the best. It turns out this Samsung is also a really good price, but even if it carries a small premium, its worth it. You get everything except 3D, which in many circles is still considered everything. With this Smart HDTV, Smart Content provides new ways to explore and locate your favorite shows, movies, games, and more. A full web browser with WiFi built-in and innovative apps made for TV, along with Signature Services, enhances your enjoyment. AllShare Play allows you to stream content from other devices and enjoy it on the big screen. The Wide Color Enhancer Plus provides vibrant natural-looking images and it’s all in a sleek ultra slim design.

Greater than 50"

These are the TVs everyone wants, the big ones you walk by in the store and drool over. Drool no longer, just click “buy it now.”

Samsung UN60EH6003 60-Inch 1080p 120Hz HDTV ($997)

This 60” television from Samsung represents the ultimate intersection of performance and value. The picture quality is outstanding, it lacks a few features that the higher priced televisions have, but that’s what allows you to take it home, or put it under the tree, for less than one thousand dollars. Experience sharp picture quality, even when you are watching fast-moving images like sports or action movies. The CMR of 240 takes motion-clarity to the next level. Wide Color Enhancer Plus allows you to see picture color the way the director originally intended. Witness the entire RGB spectrum brought to life on your screen to bring you exceptionally vibrant, yet natural-looking images faithful to the director’s original intent.

Sony XBR55X850A 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz 3D Internet LED UHDTV ($2998)

Oh yeah, we went there. Sure it's pricey, but you get bragging rights, and that’s gotta count for something. It has everything you could ask for to be the beast of the block. Of course, it’s a 4K Ultra HD set so you get four times the clarity of Full HD 1080p. It will upconvert and enhance everything you watch into 4K for the ultimate HD experience. As a 4k set, you have the expanded colors and Sony's unique TRILUMINOS display technology to take advantage of it. To make sure its future proof, you get HDMI 2.0 ports that will supported 4K video formats if you can track down any content.

HT Guy's Ultimate Christmas Present:

Two years ago we showcased the Panasonic VT30 65” Plasma at $3,000 as one of our ultimate presents. And we also liked the Sharp AQUOS 80" LED for $4,430. Last year we picked the

Elite 60" 3d LED HDTV for $4599 and the gigantic Samsung 75-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D Slim LED HDTV, Gold for a measly $8997. At the time, we considered it to be the most excessive TV possible. This year, we’re going big and also going exotic. But we certainly aren’t going cheap.

Sharp LC-80LE757 80-inch Aquos Quattron 1080p 240Hz Smart LED 3D HDTV ($3688)

To be perfectly honest, all we care about is the size. An 80” TV? That’s huge! But Sharp will tell you it isn’t just huge, it’s also a great television. It has the exclusive Quattron color technology that delivers a billion more colors, so you get a more powerful picture with brighter yellows, deeper blues, and richer golds. It supposedly creates a more realistic picture with greater detail and brightness - a feat that standard TV without Quattron can't achieve. It has a 240Hz Refresh Rate with AquoMotion 480 so you can see sharper, more electrifying action with the most advanced panel refresh rates available today. AquoMotion, Sharp's backlight scanning technology, doubles the effective refresh rate to hit you with all the power that fast-moving sports and movies can deliver. Sharp's Smart TV features let you quickly connect to your favorite content and instantly access apps like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, plus streaming movies, music, games, and websites you love.

LG Electronics 55EA9800 Cinema 3D 1080p Curved OLED TV with Smart TV ($8999)

Maybe we still don’t get the whole curved screen thing, but it’s OLED, and we get that for sure. The best picture quality available, hands down. Stunning design at only 4.3mm thick at its thinnest point. Stunning picture quality with Infinite Contrast that ranges from the most blazing white to the darkest black. And, 4 Color Pixel that displays images so vivid you'll forget you are watching TV. LG's advanced 4 Color Pixel technology adds an unfiltered, white sub-pixel to the traditional red, green and blue. The result? A brighter picture with a wider range of colors and superior color accuracy for more true to life and vibrant images. LG OLED TVs have an almost infinite contrast ratio. With self-lighting pixel technology, it can range from blazing white to the darkest black. Higher is better, and "Infinite" has been impossible. Until now.

We left off the Samsung UN85S9 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD 120Hz 3D Smart LED TV for $39,997 because that’s too crazy. Even for us.

Podcast 612: Receiver Buying Guide 2013 Dec 06, 2013

Show notes

Receiver Buying Guide 2013

Its that time of year where we get to spend your money again! We kick off our holiday buying guides with 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.

Less than $500

Sony STR-DH740 7.2 Channel 4K AV Receiver $275

In this price range you just want a basic receiver that can give you a surround sound experience and leave you some cash for speakers. That’s what this receiver is. It doesn’t do 4K but it will pass the signal through to the TV so it won’t prevent you from enjoying 4K, you know when we actually get 4k content. It comes with 4 HDMI inputs and can process all the advanced audio codecs. In all its a great starter receiver for less than $300!!

Onkyo TX - NR609 7.2 Channel Network THX Certified A/V Receiver $400

Wow! Both of our budget receivers are 7.2. Onkyo really packs a ton of features in a unit and prices them for just about everyone. You get six HDMI inputs, iOS connectivity, Network streaming with a great mobile app, and if that’s not enough the receiver is THX certified! But what might really seal the deal is the Audyssey calibration and audio leveling technology.

$500 - $1000

Denon AVR-X3000 7.2-Channel 4K Ultra HD Networking Receiver with AirPlay $900

Hard to believe this is what we would call mid-tier but its true. Some may say that a $900 receiver is not mid-tier, but in the larger scope of products out there, X3000 is right in the middle based on price. How about based on features? Well in that regard we would agree that it leans more towards the higher end units. It has 7 HDMI inputs, you know in case you have three Blu-ray players ;-) It also has two HDMI outputs for multiple zone viewing. The X3000 comes with Audyssey’s Gold package so you can get your sound exactly the way you want it. The unit is Airplay and Windows 8 compatible and comes with Denon Remote app for mobile devices. Honestly there are many more features that we can’t list here. This is a very capable receiver and will last you for years.

Yamaha RX-A2020 9.2-Channel Network AVENTAGE AV Receiver $1000

This receiver is at the limit for the range but is a bargain at the price. The A2020 is all about audio quality. Sure it has the same bells and whistles of other receivers in its class but this unit differentiates itself by using the highest quality parts get the most out of the sound. Yamaha also spent time in the design layout like laying out the left and right channels so that the crosstalk is minimized. Yes it supports Airplay, Network Audio, and comes with a mobile app for setup and control. Yamaha includes the YPAO auto calibration system with Reflected Sound Control for easy setup and optimization. Like the Denon, there are so many features we can’t list them all here. The A2020 is also a receiver that will do the job for years to come!

Pioneer VSX-1122-K 630W 7-Channel A/V Receiver $600

Our last mid-tier receiver is also the best bargain. At $600 its will probably be in the entry level range by summer. The VSX-1122 is certainly not a entry level receiver in terms of capability. It too is a 7 channel receiver that supports Airplay, iPad and iPods. For those with Windows it is certified to works with Windows 7 and DLNA 1.5. With an Internet connection you can stream Pandora and radio stations from around the world. Pioneer has their own auto calibration feature which will have you enjoying surround sound in no time. The iControlAV app gives you ultimate control of the settings on this receiver. So much easier than doing everything from the front panel. The 1122 will be the hub around which your home theater experience will center.

Greater than $1000

Marantz SR7008 9.2-Channel 1080P and 4K Ultra HD Pass Through $2000

Our first unit is quite a bit more than the $1000 entry point for this tier. The reason for that is the mid tier really has about all the features you would want even for a greater than $1000 receiver. The SR7008 definitely has features. Its a 9.2 channel receiver that can be controlled with a mobile device. It supports Airplay and will upconvert video to 4K. There is Internet connected features like Pandora. It has seven HDMI inputs and three outputs! So why then would you want to spend a thousand dollars more than the mid-tier receivers? Its the sound. Don’t buy this receiver if you don’t have an equal amount in investment in speakers. To get the most out of it you will want speakers that can reproduce sound as precisely as the SR7008 can. With the Audyssey MultEQ XT32 your subwoofer will produce the bang for all the bucks you spend. This is a serious receiver for serious home theater lovers!

Sony STR-DA5800ES 9.2 Channel 4K AV Receiver with Automation $2100

This is another receiver for serious home theater lovers. Along with similar features sans Airplay, the 5800 sports: nine HDMI inputs, you know for those of you with four blu-ray players, three HDMI outputs (supports multi room HD video distribution), a four port Ethernet switch (thank you!!!), Control4 automation support, special parts selected for their audio quality, and so much more!! This is a super receiver with high quality sound and more bells and whistles than you would ever imagine!

Podcast #611: What we are thankful for Nov 27, 2013

Show notes

What we're thankful for '13

Thanksgiving is a time to, well, to give thanks. So that's what we're going to do; give thanks for everything we have in our lives. The things we're most thankful for: our families, our health, our friends, and our wonderful listeners, don't make good topics for a show about HDTV and Home Theater. So as is tradition over the last five Thanksgivings, on today's show we give you our list of consumer electronics things we are thankful for.

Aereo - While neither of us actually use the service, nor will we be able to anytime soon from the list of cities they’ve announced, we love the concept. We’re thankful for what the service represents, change and choice for the consumer. And we’re thankful that Aereo hasn’t folded like Superman on laundry day under the mounting pressure. They’ve stood their ground.

Netflix - With Netflix there is literally always something to watch. In days gone by, you could sit for hours channel surfing, only to wind up watching the second half of the Matrix for the umpteenth time or a rerun of the Golden Girls. Not only does Netflix always have something to watch, we love the fact that they’re moving into original programming, bringing a new dimension to the service and possibly, like Aereo, shaking things up a bit.

Insteon - Insteon happens to be our flavor of choice for DIY home automation, so we’re thankful for it, and for how easy it is. But Insteon represents the ability for common guys like us to automate our homes without having to spend a fortune. It is a fun hobby and provides tremendous reward. Nothing makes a house into your house like custom automation. It doesn’t make it a home, but it makes it pretty darn cool.

The DVR - This little device has probably made our list every time we’ve done a Home Theater Thanksgiving show. No single device has changed the way we watch TV and gather together as a family quite like the DVR. We’re thankful for the easy and convenience, for the ability to skip commercials, and most of all, for how much more family time we get because we can watch shows on our schedule, not the broadcasters’.

High Speed Internet - Most of the goodies and gadgets we’re thankful for require some sort of Internet access. It wasn’t too long ago, ok maybe it was a long time ago, but it doesn’t feel like too long ago that we had to use dial-up modems to access an Internet of static pages. Now we have always connected, blazing fast Internet that delivers movies, music, TV shows, and even packages (thanks Amazon!) instantly.

4K TV - One thing that never made out list was 3D TV. It isn’t gone, but the big push from all the manufacturers has disappear thanks to, in large part, the new push to 4K UltraHD TV. Anything that got us off the 4D kick deserves our thanks and gratitude. But beyond that, 4K could be great. The demos we’ve seen are awesome. We are thankful for those who move technology in the right direction, and 4K is certainly doing that.

And of course we have our listeners to be thankful for. You make doing the show fun and, in a lot of cases, easier. Thank you for your news leads, story ideas, email, voicemail, everything you send that we get to turn right around and use as show content. And thank you so much for keeping us going by supporting our sponsors, shopping at our store and feeding our caffeine addiction! You rock!

Podcast #610: Why are the networks upset with Aereo? Nov 22, 2013

Show notes

Why are the networks upset with Aereo?

We have been covering the Aereo story for a few months now. Aereo is a service that allows you to watch and record live television from anywhere within you home coverage area via an Internet connected device. What Aereo does is connect you to a dedicated antenna that pulls in OTA TV signals and then sends it to you via the Internet so long as you are physically in your local network coverage area.

The networks are all in a huff about this service. They are sueing Aereo claiming that the service is infringing on their copyrighted material. So far the courts have upheld Aereo’s rights to provide the service. The fight will probably end up in the Supreme Court. But this got us wondering why its such a big deal? We understand that the networks make money on retransmission fees but what if this is the beginning of something that will generate even more money? People, and businesses, hate change. Here is our view on what Aereo could mean to the networks.

Over the Air TV is Free isn’t it?

There is no reason to pay for network TV since it comes over the air anyway. Anyone can put an antenna on their roof and pick up pristine HD broadcasts. If you are lucky enough to live close to the TV transmitters this can be done with some very cool indoor antennas like the Mohu Leaf or Solid Signal HD Blade. Otherwise you will need a larger outdoor antenna but you will still be able to watch your networks. The networks make their money by selling ads on TV programming and that’s how it was for years and years. Then in the 80’s cable TV systems sprouted up everywhere and you no longer needed an antenna. Plus you got a bunch of other networks that were only available on cable. In the 90’s Direct Satellite Broadcast systems also came on the scene and suddenly the country no longer needed over the air TV. In the transition the networks latch on to a new revenue source in the form or retransmission fees.

If HD had never been invented no one would care about OTA broadcasting. Standard Definition broadcasts had all kinds reception issues that degraded the picture quality. Cable and Satellite TV really improved the experience and thus dramatically reduced the number of people watching over the air. With HD on the other hand, if you get the signal locked you have a perfect picture. In many cases better than cable and satellite. Fast forward to today and you see more and more people getting their signals over the air.

With some viewers switching to Aereo there would be no net losses in viewers of network television. In fact there may even be an increase at certain times of the day. The networks should be able to charge the same amount for ads. The only potential loss would be the retransmission fees. But better to lose the fees than viewers. Losing viewers is what’s happening now. People are cutting the cord and watching their content online via legal and illegal sources. Why not allow a new means to view the content with those who have or will soon cut the cord?

How Many of Aereo’s Viewers do not have Cable TV

We’re not convinced that all of Aereo’s subscribers do not also subscribe to pay TV. In this case the networks get to double dip! They get the retransmission fees and the added eyeballs.

Better Metrics

Since Aereo is digital, the networks can get accurate and up to the second metrics about who is watching and what they are watching. This would allow the networks to insert targeted advertisements that would in theory command higher revenues. That sounds like a win for the networks.

Larger Audiences

Being able to watch network programming while you are out and about is a good thing. Whether its your kids watching children’s programming while you do the grocery shopping or a husband watching football while he goes shopping with his wife. Aereo can provide a larger audience to the networks. Larger audiences mean more ad revenue. That sounds like another win for the networks.

Keep Cord Cutters in the Fold

For the most part its cord cutters who are using the Aereo service and those eyeballs are lost to advertisers. If you block the service its unlikely that they will go back to cable. At least with Aereo you still have a chance to count their viewership and better yet sell directly to them. Cord cutters are going to cut the cord with or without Aereo. Might as well keep them in viewership counts. This is a break even for the networks. You might even say its a win since they don’t lose viewership.

Keep People from Pirating your Content

This is inline with keeping cord cutters in the fold. If people want your content and its not easily obtainable via legal means they will simply download it from the Internet. I (Ara) hate admitting this but I used to download music from Napster. My rationalization was that I had already paid for it on vinyl or cassette so why should I pay for it again in mp3 form. With that said I would have gladly paid 99 cents to buy only the tracks I liked. At the time nothing like that existed. Once you could buy music I stopped using Napster and bought my music. I even went back and bought tracks that I had already pirated. I liked the higher quality of the iTunes store. The exact same thing is playing out with TV and movies and the TV and movie industry are the only ones who don’t see it.

Conclusion

When it comes to TV, the content is already free with ads, so why does it matter whether those ads are coming over the air or over the Internet? It doesn’t! What matters to the networks is that they get their fees from the cable companies. That’s the real issue. If DirecTV decides that what works for Aereo also works for DirecTV, then the networks may be out a lot of money. Sure they can take their content off the air and onto pay cable or even open up their own streaming solution but that will take time and money. With all the competition for our eyeballs the networks are having a hard time understanding that they will be making less money. The only thing that can really stop the loss is creating great content and making easily available to everyone across the globe at the same time. Companies like Aereo are going to force this issue regardless of what the networks do. The networks should steer into the skid and embrace it or they will find themselves obsolete.

Blu-ray Review #71: 2 Guns Nov 19, 2013

Show notes

2 Guns - Blu-ray Review 4.5 Stars (out of 5) - Rated R

Synopsis

When an attempt to take down a drug cartel blows up in their faces, two undercover operatives are forced to go on the run together, though neither knows that the other is a federal agent.

Starring:

Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton, Bill Paxton, James Marsden, Fred Ward, Edward James Olmos

Director:

Baltasar Kormákur

Blu-ray Release Date:

November 19, 2013

Subtitles:

English, French, Spanish

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 4.6 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

● Subwoofer – 4.5 Stars

● Dialog – 5.0 Stars

● Surround Effects – 4.0 Stars

● Dynamic Range – 5.0 Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 2.0, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1,

The low end sounds great, but it isn’t utilized as often as it could have been. When the sub is active it sounds pretty good, especially when trains rumble down the tracks, cars crash, punches thud, and when things explode. The film is heavy with dialog, and at no time did I need to rewind to understand what was said. Surround effects were only used in major action sequences, I didn’t notice any subtle ambient noises to help envelop you into the movie. However, the rear channels were loud and clear during action sequences which featured sounds of gunshots, revving engines, helicopters, and fire alarms.

Video 4.9 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

● Color Accuracy - 4.8 Stars

● Shadow detail – 4.8 Stars

● Clarity – 5.0 Stars

● Skin tones – 5.0 Stars

● Compression – 5.0 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Original Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1, Aspect Ratio: 2:40:1

Colors are natural and help bring out the neutral colors and green brush in the desert, fluffy white clouds, an orange sunset, and a few deep red swaths of blood. Black colors are truly black without bleeding into the light, however sunlight and lightbulbs seam to glow extra bright and sometimes make adjacent colors look pale. Clarity is crisp and clean which make it easy to see the details on beard whiskers, chipped paint, dust floating in the air, and deep canyon like wrinkles in Edward James Olmos’ weathered leathery face.

Bonus Features 3.5 Stars (out of 5)

● Feature Commentary With Director Baltasar Kormákur and Producer Adam Siegel

● Undercover and Into Action (HD, 6 min.) – This is a basic behind-the-scenes featurette

● Deleted Scenes – 8 deleted scenes, most scenes are short but fill a few holes in the story.

● Click, Click, Bang Ban: The Making of '2 Guns' The Good, the Bad, and the Sexy (HD, 30 min.) – This is the entire making of featurette that begins with 'Undercover and Into Action,' but continues with ' The Good, the Bad, and the Sexy,' 'Finding the Vibe' and 'Living Dangerously.'

Movie – 3.8 Stars (out of 5) Review

2 Guns is a fast moving action film that surprised me with how funny it is. Thankfully, it’s not a knee slapping comedy with unrealistic silly situations. Instead, the comedy comes from character interactions, or quick one-liners. There isn’t much action in this film, it spends most of it’s time building the plot and solving the mystery. The story is fast paced it can be a little complicated if you aren’t paying attention. The plot is solid except that a character showed they couldn’t be trusted and the beginning of the film and no one questioned them at all. The most enjoyable part of the movie was seeing the great chemistry between Washington and Wahlberg. Their pairing made this one of the best buddy cop movies I’ve seen in a long time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVNe3RK2fgI

Podcast #609: Black Friday Preview 2013 Nov 15, 2013

Show notes

Black Friday Preview 2013

As the years come and go, one thing remains the same, Black Friday has some killer good deals for the home theater enthusiast. 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, it seems like you can get all of that, and more, for less than $1000.

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

Best Buy

Dell 24" Widescreen HD LED Monitor, $99.99
WD My Passport 2TB USB 3.0 Hard Drive, $99.99
Denon AVR-E300 875W 5.1 3D Home Theater Receiver, $274.99
Klipsch Icon Bookshelf Speakers (Pair), $124.99
Klipsch Icon Floor Speakers (Each), $174.99
Logitech Harmony 650 Universal Remote Control, $39.99
LG Smart WiFi Blu-ray Disc Player, $54.99
Insignia 24" 1080p LED HDTV, $79.99
Samsung 32" 720p LED HDTV, $227.99
Insignia 39" 1080p LED HDTV, $169.99
Sharp 42" 1080p LED HDTV, $299.99
Insignia 46" 1080p LED HDTV, $329.99
Sharp 50" 1080p LED HDTV, $399.99
Vizio 50" 1080p Smart LED 3D HDTV, $599.99
LG 55" 1080p LED HDTV, $499.99
Sharp 60" AQUOS 1080p LED HDTV, $799.99
Samsung 65" 1080p LED HDTV, $999.99
Select Blu-ray Movies, 160 Titles @ $3.99
Select Blu-ray Movies, 150 Titles (World War Z, Skyfall, More) @ $7.99

Wal-mart

LG Blu-ray Disc Player, $38.00
Philips 3D Blu-ray 5.1 Home Theater in a Box, $118.00
Sony BDP-S2100 WiFi Blu-ray Disc Player, $48.00
Various Brands 32" 720p LED HDTV, $98.00
Element 23" 720p LED HDTV, $75.00
Samsung 32" 720p LED HDTV, $227.00
Element 40" 1080p LED HDTV, $178.00
Samsung 46" 1080p Smart LED HDTV, $497.00
Emerson 50" 1080p LED HDTV, $288.00
Samsung 51" 720p Plasma HDTV, $427.00
Samsung 55" 1080p Smart LED HDTV, $727.00
Vizio 60" 1080p Smart LED HDTV, $688.00
Vizio 70" 1080p Smart LED HDTV, $998.00
Select Blu-ray Combo Pack Movies, Over 35 Titles @ $9.96
Select Blu-ray Movies, Over 60 Titles @ $6.96
Select Blu-ray Movies, Over 89 Titles @ $3.96

Target

Sony WiFi Blu-ray Disc Player, $54.99
Samsung 32" 720p LED HDTV, $227.99
Vizio 37" 720p LED HDTV, $249.99
Westinghouse 40" 1080p LED HDTV, $199.99
Vizio 47" 1080p LED HDTV, $379.99
Element 50" 1080p LED HDTV, $229.00
Samsung 55" 1080p LED HDTV, $697.99
Assorted Blu-ray Movie Titles (Flight, Talladega Nights, More) @ $4.00
Assorted Blu-ray Movie Titles (Hangover 3, Ted, World War Z, More) @ $9.00
Assorted Blu-ray Movie Titles (Zero Dark Thirty, Pacific Rim, Warm Bodies, More) @ $6.00

Sears

Samsung BD-F5100 Blu-ray Disc Player, $57.99
RCA 32" LED HDTV, $179.99
Samsung 32" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $279.99
Westinghouse 39" 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV, $249.99
Samsung 39" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $369.99
Seiki 39" 4K 120Hz LED Ultra HDTV, $499.99
Samsung 40" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $379.99
RCA 42" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $299.99
Samsung 46" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $499.99
Samsung Slim 46" 1080p 120Hz LED Smart HDTV, $649.99
LG 47" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $469.99
Seiki 50" 4K 120Hz LED Ultra HDTV, $749.99
Sharp 50" Aquos 1080p 120Hz LED Smart HDTV, $749.99
Samsung 51" 720p 600Hz Plasma HDTV, $429.99
LG 55" 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV, $679.99
Seiki 55" 4K 120Hz LED Ultra HDTV, $849.99
Sharp 60" Aquos 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV, $799.99
Samsung 60" 1080p 120Hz HDTV, $899.99
Sharp 70" Aquos 1080p 120Hz LED Smart HDTV, $1,699.99
Sharp 80" Aquos 1080p 120Hz LED Smart HDTV, $2,999.99

K-Mart

Samsung 500-Watt 5.1-Channel 3D Blu-ray Home Theater System, $167.99
Samsung Blu-ray Disc Player, $58.99
Proscan 28" Class LED/DVD TV, $199.99
RCA 32" Class LED HDTV, $179.99
RCA 32" Class LED/DVD 720p Combo HDTV, $199.99
Proscan 40" Class LED 1080p HDTV, $279.99
RCA 42" Class LED 1080p HDTV, $299.99
Proscan 50" Class LED 1080p Smart HDTV, $499.00
Seiki 50" Class LED 1080 HDTV, $399.99
Westinghouse 55" Class LED 1080p HDTV, $499.99
Westinghouse 60" Class 120Hz LCD 1080p HDTV, $588.00

Best Prices

32" LCD TV

Wal-mart, Various Brands 32" 720p LED HDTV, $98.00

37"-39" LCD TV

Best Buy, Insignia 39" 1080p LED HDTV, $169.99
Sears, Seiki 39" 4K 120Hz LED Ultra HDTV, $499.99

40-42" LCD TV

Target, Element 40" 1080p LED HDTV, $178.00

46-52" LCD TV

Target, Element 50" 1080p LED HDTV, $229.00

Plasma

Sears, Samsung 51" 720p 600Hz Plasma HDTV, $429.99

60"-80" LCD

K-Mart, Westinghouse 60" Class 120Hz LCD 1080p HDTV, $588.00
Wal-mart, Vizio 70" 1080p Smart LED HDTV, $998.00

Blu-ray Review #70: Man of Steel Nov 12, 2013

Show notes

4.8 Stars (out of 5) - Rated PG-13 Synopsis

Clark Kent must keep his alien origins and fantastic powers hidden from the world at large. But when the Kryptonian General Zod plans to destroy Earth, the Man of Steel springs into heroic action.

Starring:

Henry Cavill, Diane Lane, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Michael Shannon, Laurence Fishburne

Director:

Zack Snyder

Blu-ray Release Date:

November 12, 2013

Subtitles:

English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin (Simplified)

Rating

Overall rating weighted as follows:

Audio 40%, Video 40%, Special Features 20%, Movie - its just our opinion so take it with a grain of salt

Audio 5.0 Stars (out of 5)

Dolby and DTS Demo Discs used as basis for comparison

● Subwoofer – 5.0 Stars

● Dialog – 4.8 Stars

● Surround Effects – 5.0 Stars

● Dynamic Range – 5.0Stars

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1, Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1, Mandarin: Dolby Digital 5.1

It almost seems like the sound was designed for people who love home theater. The bass booms a little more than normal and the surrounds are always engaged. The subwoofer never gets any rest since it’s always delivering huge countless explosions, rumbles from spaceships, flying helicopters, sonic booms, crumbling buildings, and even random rumbling when nothing is even happening. This film would have gotten a perfect audio score if it weren’t for the dialog. I remember 3 different scenes were I had to rewind the movie or ask someone what an actor just said. The rear speakers get lots of attention and envelop you with sounds of thumping music, flying spaceships, slashing water, crashing cars, whipping helicopter blades, whistling wind, chirping crickets, whizzing bullets, breaking glass, and screams of people.

Video 4.9 Stars (out of 5)

Spears & Munsil Benchmark Blu-ray Edition used as basis for comparison

● Color Accuracy - 4.7 Stars

● Shadow detail – 4.8 Stars

● Clarity – 5.0 Stars

● Skin tones – 5.0 Stars

● Compression – 5.0 Stars

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC, Resolution: 1080p, Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, Original Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Man of Steel has a unique look, the colors are a tad cold, but really helps to show off blue tones. Like strikingly blue skies, Lois Lane’s blue eyes, Superman’s pajamas are deep royal blue, also the sunset on Krypton is breathtaking. Blacks are dark and inky but a small about of details are lost in the shadows. The film has a good amount of film grain, but it doesn’t effect the clarity. It’s clean enough to see beard hairs, wrinkles on skin, clothing textures, blemishes on faces, and the million of tiny pieces of flying debris.

Bonus Features 4.5 Stars (out of 5)

● Strong Characters, Legendary Roles (1080p; 25:59) Takes a look at the history of the character, and also focuses on this film's reimagined version.

● All Out Action (1080p; 26:02) Behind the scene with actors detailing physical training and stunt coordination.

● Krypton Decoded (1080p; 6:42) A look at the visual effects sequence of the destruction of Krypton.

● Superman 75th Anniversary Animated Short (1080p; 2:03)

● New Zealand: Home to Middle Earth (1080p; 6:35). For some unknown reason the video is about the Hobbit.

● Journey of Discovery: Creating Man of Steel (1080p; 2:54:05) The feature film is presented again on a second disc with interviews and background featurettes.

● Planet Krypton (1080p; 17:18). Believe it or not this supplement about Krypton was created by the History Channel.

Movie – 3.8 Stars (out of 5) Review

This is the Superman movie I’ve been waiting for. It’s pensive, epic, and full of giant action, however it does have problems. The weakest link in movie is Clark Kent’s Earth parents, in particular his father. Not only does he tell Superman never to use his powers, but he also tells him not to help anyone. This version of Superman takes the subject matter very serious. So much so, that it is an action drama. It’s so somber that I only laughed twice while watching it. Director Zack Snyder is known for creating good action sequences, and the battles are huge, full of weight, and amazingly fun to watch. So many buildings in Metropolis crumble it’s hard not to see this film as a disaster movie but shows how powerful Superman is. It was casted so perfectly and the performances are so strong it makes this film my favorite Superman movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6DJcgm3wNY

Podcast #608: Subwoofer Basics aka Subwoofer 101 Nov 08, 2013

Show notes

Subwoofer Basics aka Subwoofer 101

Its been a while since we talked about subwoofers and since the subwoofer has the single biggest impact in your home theater experience. We thought it would be good to go over some basics in what to look for and how to setup your subwoofer.

How much subwoofer do I need?

This is a hard question to answer because everyone has a different take. We’ll give you the HT Guys take. Get the biggest one you can afford!! If you think about it, having a larger subwoofer being used at lower levels is actually better for the unit adding to the reliability. Plus the larger subs have an easier time with producing lower frequencies. So if budget and wife acceptance are not issues go big, bigger than you need for your room. Otherwise here are some loose guidelines:

Small room - 1200 - 1500 cubic feet (34 - 42.4 cubic meters) 10 inch sub
Medium room 1500 - 5000 cubic feet (42.4 - 141.6 cubic meters) 12 - 14 inch sub
Large room greater than 5000 cubic feet (141.6 cubic meters) 16 inch sub (possibly two)

Where is the best place to put subwoofer in the room?

Wherever the wife allows! In all seriousness this can be a form over function process. Typically we say in the front of the room in a corner. By placing it in a corner you can accentuate the deep bass that shakes you to the core! But if you like punchy bass, put the subwoofer close to you. Keep in mind that the room may cause unwanted reflections that can muddy the bass so finding the optimal placing may require you to do the subwoofer crawl. For this you need to place the subwoofer at the listening position and then crawl on the floor while listening to a familiar bass track. The spot where it sounds the best is where you should place the subwoofer. Now this may not be practical so your only other option is to use sound dampening techniques to stop the unwanted reflections. We talked about a few in Podcast #432 Home Theater Acoustic Treatments.

How do I connect my subwoofer?

There is a lot of talk on this subject. Some people claim that you need a special subwoofer cable that can cost in the hundreds of dollars. For this we turn to the experts at HSU Research. They state that all you need to connect their subwoofers to your receiver is a mono RCA cable. Less than $5! If your subwoofer has an LFE input plug the RCA cable into it. If it has L/R inputs use a y-adapter to plug the same signal into both the left and right inputs.

What crossover frequency should I use?

Before we talk about crossover we want to discuss setting your speaker size in your receiver and for this we turn to Ray Coronado of SoCalHT.com. He says make sure your speakers are set up as small. Ray says large speakers can reproduce sounds from 20Hz up to 20KHz and the vast majority of speakers can not do this. Now that you have your receiver configured properly for your speakers lets turn to crossover.

If you have small (in size) speakers they typically can’t do much on the lower end so set your crossover at 100hz. You may want to go as high as 120Hz. Play some test material with a lot of bass and change the crossover. Settle on the one that sounds the best. If you have floor standing speakers you should set your crossover at 70Hz and work your way up. The typical setting is 80Hz.

What is this Phase Knob all about?

From the SVS Manual:

Think of long bass waves as conflicting or enhancing each other, depending on the timing of their arrival at your listening location (either together, or not). Set phase to zero if your AVR offers settings for the distance from your seat to your subwoofer. Adjust in small steps for smooth sound with music playing if your AVR lacks a subwoofer distance setting.

In other words your AVR’s EQ/Calibration process will adjust for phase issues.

Speaking of EQ? Is it a good idea to use the Auto Calibration with my subwoofer?

Yes, but make sure your subwoofer is is setup to output the flattest response it can from the factory. Like in the above section set the phase to zero and close the appropriate ports on VTF subwoofers.

What is a Variable Tuning Frequency Subwoofer?

Unlike a Single Tuning Frequency subwoofer where the bass characteristics are fixed. The Variable Tuning Frequency Subwoofer can vary is bass characteristics by using ports that can be opened and closed. You can set up the subwoofer for lower bass extension or more headroom. The main benefit is that you can get the exact subwoofer sound that you want!

Course Summary

Like we said at the top, these are just the basics. There is so much science that we didn’t even get into. Perhaps another day. In reality the science doesn’t matter for most of us as long as we can get the best sound out of our home theaters. We hope that this basic introduction will help you along the way!

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