AV Rant #954: Boo

February 13th, 2025 Comments off

If you’re not into our non-home-theater chit-chat, you’ll wanna skip the first 25 minutes this week for sure! Sonos is rumored to be releasing a streaming box with HDMI switching this year. Panasonic is selling off its TV division.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC2b1i

00:00:00 – Intro

Emotional reactions to a bunch of the world’s news this past week. You’ve been warned!

00:21:43 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 133 Patreon Patrons, including Mark, as well as Jim for sending Tom a movie code.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Greg, Karl, Infinite Gary, Mark, and Dave. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

00:25:20 – What We Watched

Rob watched Gladiator II. Or is that “GladIIator”?

In the news:

00:32:25 – News: Sonos “Pinewood” Streaming Box

Sonos is rumored to be releasing a streaming box this year with HDMI switching and universal search: https://tinyurl.com/5yc958t5

00:38:53 – News: Panasonic Selling TV Division

Panasonic is struggling to remain profitable, and they are ready to take “drastic measures”: https://tinyurl.com/k3mwwhmz

QUESTIONS:

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AV Rant #953: Don’t Touch the Grenade

February 6th, 2025 Comments off

Prototypes of electroluminescent RGB quantum dot (QDEL) displays, and Ultraviolet micro-LED-activated RGB quantum dot (QDUV) displays were spotted back at CES. And AV Gadgets is back, with new articles posted!

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC1jof

00:00:00 – Intro

It’s hair-cast, baby. Oh, and some world news. And some updates about Tom’s house and property.

Also, Tom hung some acoustic panels on his walls in his rental place, because we understand priorities!

– https://avgadgets.com/gik-acoustics-acoustic-art-panels-no-filler-review/

00:17:07 – AV Gadgets is Back!

Yes! After a forced hiatus, https://avgadgets.com/ is back up and running, with regularly scheduled posts all ready to go for the rest of the month!

00:18:23 – What We Watched

Rob watched the Series finales of Humans, and Star Trek: Lower Decks. Tom started S.2 of The Night Agent.

00:28:51 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Dane for his PayPal donation, plus our 133 Patreon Patrons, as well as Josh for sending Tom a Paramount+ gift card, John for sending a movie code, and Ken for offering to send Tom some more home theater gear.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Jay, Dane, Josh, Justin, Robert, and Sasi. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

– Room EQ Wizard Tutorial: https://avgadgets.com/ultimate-rew-tutorial-taking-measurements/

In the news:

00:32:44 – News: QDEL and QDUV Prototype Displays

Red, green, and blue quantum dots being stimulated either directly by electricity, or by an ultraviolet micro-LED backlight: https://tinyurl.com/469c5c89

Comments:

00:39:01 – Comment: Joe – Featured SVS Theater

Joe has designed and installed several theaters in assisted living buildings, and one of them was features on SVS’ website: https://tinyurl.com/26u6m3vk

00:40:11 – Comment: Dazz – More Thoughts from Teens

Interior designers in love with fireplaces, take note!

00:42:05 – Comment: Terry – Great SVS Service

He was out of warranty, but they helped him for free anyway.

00:43:27 – Comment: Mike – No Burn-in on LG OLED Monitor

People online said he should worry about OLED burn-in, but his LG computer monitor has been totally fine.

QUESTIONS:

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AV Rant #952: The One with Edits

January 29th, 2025 Comments off

Sony closes their recordable media division. Netflix is raising prices. Masimo names a new CEO. And listening to the teens about audio.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBZA2m

00:00:00 – Intro

00:02:08 – What We Watched

Rob watched Star Trek: Section 31

00:17:52 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are David and Eliezer for their PayPal donations, plus our 133 Patreon Patrons, including Niels and Jorge, as well as Infinite Gary for sending Tom a movie code to test.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Matt, Gib, Brian, Karl, Niels, Jorge, Max, and Sasi. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:24:41 – News: Sony Ends Recordable Media

No, Blu-ray discs aren’t going away. But recordable Blu-rays from Sony are, as are MiniDiscs: https://tinyurl.com/58fnf8nb

00:27:34 – News: Netflix Price Increases

They, like, really want you to watch ads: https://tinyurl.com/27z5u3s6

00:33:55 – News: New Masimo CEO

Via Will – Just charting the saga until we know the fate of the former Sound United brands: https://tinyurl.com/frxzyumj

Comments:

00:34:39 – Comment: Dazz – Listen to the Teens

Dazz’ informal interviews revealed what teens think about home audio.

QUESTIONS:

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AV Rant #951: Rob’s Laugh

January 23rd, 2025 Comments off

Nintendo Switch 2 is official and will launch in 2025. Sonos’ CEO and CPO are replaced by the former CPO of Quibi. Gentex Corporation is buying VOXX International, which includes Klipsch, Onkyo, and Pioneer. Nakamichi announces an 11.2.6-channel ShockWafe Wireless SoundBar. And RUIPRO has Detachable Fiber Optic HDMI cables for easier installation and futureproofing.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBYVNk

00:00:00 – Intro

00:06:16 – What We Watched

Rob watched Sonic the Hedgehog (2020).

00:15:15 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 132 Patreon Patrons, as well as Ilango for giving Tom permission to use his photos on https://avgadgets.com/

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Bret, Infinite Gary, Henry, Scott, Ilango, and Anonymous. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:18:05 – News: Nintendo Switch 2

It’s bigger. It’s Joy-Con appear to be able to work like a computer mouse. And it’s coming in 2025: https://youtu.be/itpcsQQvgAQ

00:22:27 – News: Sonos CEO & CPO Step Down

Following the disastrous app update and poor sales of the Ace Headphones, Sonos’ CEO & CPO have been replaced by the former CPO of Quibi: https://tinyurl.com/2jzuxcwk

00:28:28 – News: Gentex Buys VOXX

Gentex Corporation is buying VOXX International, the parent company of PAC, which includes audio brands such as Klipsch, Onkyo & Pioneer: https://tinyurl.com/mu9pv972

00:35:57 – News: Nakamichi ShockWafe Wireless

Trickle-down tech from the Nakamichi Dragon SoundBar makes its way into a new, $2,500 11.2.6-channel ShockWafe model: https://tinyurl.com/4c9cnysx

00:43:17 – News: RUIPRO Detachable 100 Gbps HDMI

RUIPRO’s GEN4A & GEN4AK Fiber Optic HDMI Cables have detachable ends and use 100 Gbps data center cabling in between for easier installation and futureproofing: https://tinyurl.com/bdeusz2e

Comments:

00:51:00 – Comment: Ilango – Final Home Gym Setup

Some updates on the final gear he put in his freshly renovated basement home gym, and how constructing the home theater beside it had soundproofing benefits.

QUESTIONS:

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AV Rant #950: Sasi Annexes the Podcast

January 16th, 2025 Comments off

What a year it’s been already. No What We Watched section this week. Disney bought Fubo TV and cancelled Venu Sports Streaming. Samsung & Google made Eclipsa Audio official as a new immersive audio format. Onkyo announced their Creator and Icon Series products. Panasonic might have the brightest OLED TV Series this year with their Z95B. Hisense 116UX uses RGB Trichroma mini-LED backlights.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBYc3W

00:00:00 – Intro

00:15:00 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Eliezer for his PayPal donation, plus our 132 Patreon Patrons, as well as James for sending Rob some LTT Store items, and Dan for making a pair of awesome drink coasters for Rob.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Sasi, Gurinder, Nathan, Stefan, Bret, Dazz, and Ilango. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:21:23 – News: Venu Sports Cancelled

Disney bought 70% of Fubo TV. Then agreed to discontinue Venu Sports.

– Disney + Fubo: https://tinyurl.com/388mjw47

– Venu no more: https://tinyurl.com/5yk7j9e6

00:26:28 – News: Eclipsa Audio vs Atmos

Samsung & Google gave their open-source immersive audio format a name: https://tinyurl.com/2wt7vk4p

00:29:13 – News: Onkyo Creator & Icon

All of Onkyo’s pre-CES hype was for two pairs of desktop speakers and some 2-channel gear: https://onkyo.com/intl/ces

00:35:10 – News: Panasonic Z95B OLED

It’s the 4-layer WOLED panel from LG plus built-in Atmos from Technics and Panasonic’s cooling: https://tinyurl.com/2p9nsnh6

00:36:50 – News: Hisense 116UX Trichroma mini-LED

The biggest LCD (by 1 inch) and new RGB Trichroma mini-LED backlighting: https://youtu.be/FR47Ju4KXG8

Comments:

00:39:41 – Comment: Jay – OTA Dolby Vision & Atmos on NBC

Sunday Night Football is in Dolby Vision & Atmos if you have a NextGenTV tuner: https://www.dolby.com/us-sports/

QUESTIONS:

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