Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

This will be our final episode of 2025. So we’ll see you all in 2026 next episode!

We each made a big purchase. Andrew posted his Sofabaton X2 Review over at AVGadgets, and Rob has fresh Sofabaton X2 thoughts, as well. Dolby Vision + Atmos Theater that isn’t a Dolby Cinema. And LG Micro RGB Evo joins the RGB MiniLED wave of new LCD TVs.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCEC4u

00:00:00 – Intro

It’s our final episode of 2025! Tom discovered some cost-savings.

If you never heard your question answered or your email mentioned on the podcast, please send it to us again, as we definitely had several missing emails in the recent past.

00:07:43 – What Rob Bought

A big early Christmas present that Rob bought for himself: https://tinyurl.com/bddrphcj

00:14:17 – What Tom Bought

We already knew he bought a QD-OLED, but now it’s out of its box and set up: https://tinyurl.com/3k9uj8a5

00:17:36 – Sofabaton X2 Review on AVGadgets

Andrew posted his Sofabaton X2 Review! Tom’s going to write an entire review of his own. And Rob has fresh thoughts about the X2 to share: https://avgadgets.com/sofabaton-x2-review-harmony-who/

• Use Promo Code: GADGETSAV in the “Paying with” section after adding the Sofabaton X2 to your cart for 15% off: https://amzn.to/4s787fi

00:33:29 – What We Watched

Tom finished S.1 of Solo Leveling. Rob watched Captain America: Brave New World, and Thunderbolts*.

00:41:28 – Contact Info

00:42:23 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Dan for his PayPal donation, plus our 122 Patreon Patrons, as well as Bill for sending a movie code, and Sasi for offering to sell Tom an AV Receiver at a discount.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Brian, Infinite Gary, Nick, Art, Jay, Karl, Brandon, Rory, and (a different) Jay. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:46:19 – News: Dolby Vision + Atmos Theater

Via Karl – The Movie Experience SLO: Downtown Centre Cinemas will be the first non-Dolby Cinema in the US to feature Dolby Vision: https://tinyurl.com/5x3zs5h4

00:48:55 – News: LG Micro RGB Evo

Everyone is getting into RGB miniLED backlights for LCD TVs, and LG has no intention of being left behind: https://tinyurl.com/3ta2teh5

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Many missing emails were re-sent to us by listeners who noticed we hadn’t answered their questions on the podcast yet. Thank you! We’re sure there are still some more out there. So please feel free to email us again. We’re so sorry that we inadvertently left people hanging!

Emotiva released their Nostala LB12 speakers. And the original version of Star Wars is officially coming back to theaters in 2027 for its 50th anniversary.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCE3Qc

00:00:00 – Intro

Thank you to everyone who re-sent their emails. If we never answered you on the podcast, please email us again!

00:03:47 – Get in Touch with Us

00:06:14 – Personal Updates

Tom has a new TV!

00:08:05 – Lepro EE1 LED Outdoor Lights

Tom has finished installing his outdoor lights.

– Lepro EE1: https://tinyurl.com/5absh9f8

00:14:16 – Quick Sofabaton X2 Update

Rob still doesn’t have his replacement review unit. Tom attempted to learn some commands.

– https://www.sofabaton.com/product/x2/

00:17:21 – What We Watched

Rob watched If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Tom started Solo Leveling. And some AI talk inspired by Plur1bus.

00:34:01 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Dane and Andrew for their PayPal donations, plus our 122 Patreon Patrons.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Mohsen, Kevin, Scott, Glenn, Ilango, John, Nelson, Dane, Rory, Yanick, and Ash. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:35:49 – News: Emotiva Nostala LB12

These ARE your grandparents’ speakers: https://tinyurl.com/wfs5prx9

00:40:44 – News: Original Version of Star Wars

Feb 19, 2027: “Maclunkey” will be gone! https://tinyurl.com/5c5h2zfy

Comments:

00:43:18 – Comment: Sasi – miniDSP PocketADC

Analog-to-digital audio converter at a reasonable price: https://tinyurl.com/mm8ymjys

00:45:15 – Comment: Glenn – Bobwire Model AAT1

Add a 12 Volt Trigger when you only have RCA outputs: https://www.bobwireaudio.com/aat1

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Warning! We  missed some emails! Big thanks to Richard and Glenn for double checking why we never mentioned some emails they sent to us weeks ago. The emails just vanished! So please email us again if it seems like we just never mentioned something you previously sent to us. There’s a chance we never saw it, and never even knew it existed! Many apologies.

Warner Bros. Discovery agreed to sell itself to Netflix. But Paramount Skydance has made a hostile takeover bid to stop that. AV Gadgets will post a Sofabaton X2 review soon. And Rob croaks his way through this episode.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

It’s squeaky voice time.

00:04:19 – Missing Emails!

Richard and Glenn kindly double checked. There was some sort of email glitch! Please email us again if you’ve tried to before, and we never mentioned your name or your email. We were not ignoring you!

00:08:08 – Personal Updates

We continue to pay for things.

00:17:22 – Some Sofabaton X2 Updates

The written review over at https://avgadgets.com/ is in progress. Rob’s waiting on a replacement review unit. Tom’s review unit updated just fine, and he shares some early thoughts: https://www.sofabaton.com/product/x2/

00:23:08 – What We Watched

Rob watched Argylle. Tom finished Ironheart.

00:40:04 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Glenn for his PayPal donation, plus our 122 Patreon Patrons, as well as Richard and Glenn for double checking with us about their missing emails, Glenn for talking us up to Ascend Acoustics, and Julian for continuing to add movie codes for Tom to test.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Richard, Glenn, John, Julian, Christian, Dev, and Steve. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen.

In the news:

00:43:00 – News: Someone is Buying Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. Discovery agreed to a sale to Netflix: https://tinyurl.com/3kv3zrp8

But Paramount Skydance has been trying to buy Warner Bros. for a while, and now they’ve issued a hostile takeover offer: https://tinyurl.com/3szxb2bh

Comments:

00:54:18 – Comment: Gurinder – HyperX Cloud III Headset

A decision was made, and his son is happy with the purchase.

00:57:15 – Comment: Christian – 83″ OLED Purchase

Turns out, the LG B5 Series still looks great!

QUESTIONS:

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We are back! Happy Thanksgiving!

We spill the beans about why we don’t have a full Sofabaton X2 review for you just yet, but we still have updates and insights to share.

We both bought big ticket items over Black Friday. And Tom watched multiple movies!

Google and Disney have made up. Netflix has killed off Casting support. And Kaleidescape released the Mini Terra Prime. Plus a smaller-than-expected bunch of Comments and Questions from the past 2 weeks.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

00:03:10 – Personal Updates

00:06:39 – Sofabaton X2 Updates But Not Review

Rob ran into a big snag with his pre-production review unit. So we have plenty of new impressions and thoughts to share, but not a complete review just yet: https://www.sofabaton.com/product/x2/

00:32:44 – We Bought Things!

Both of us made some big, exciting purchases, and now you get to hear all about them.

00:48:30 – What We Watched

Rob watched Sorry, Baby. Tom watched Ip Man, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, The Naked Gun (2025), and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

01:05:39 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Dan for his PayPal donation, plus our 122 Patreon Patrons, including Peter.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Rohan, Christian, Dev, Peter, and Gurinder. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

01:08:11 – News: Google and Disney Made Up

Disney-owned TV channels have returned to YouTube TV. Disney & Fox movies have returned to the Google Movie Store. And Google has returned to participating in Movies Anywhere: https://tinyurl.com/3env456c

01:10:23 – News: Netflix Ends Casting Support

You can no longer start watching Netflix on your mobile device and then Cast it to your TV or streaming box, because Netflix wants that sweet, sweet ad data: https://tinyurl.com/yc2wjjmv

01:12:38 – News: Kaleidescape Mini Terra Prime

The physically smallest, and least expensive, Kaleidescape server is here in all its 8 TB glory: https://www.kaleidescape.com/mini-terra-prime-movie-server/

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Not a review! But Tom has received Sofabaton X2 & R1 sample units that he has held in his very own two hands. So he shares how they feel and look at first blush. And he clicks the X2’s buttons for the first time on this very show!

Valve announced a trio of new hardware products: Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame VR Headset. And Amazon will block piracy apps on Fire TV devices.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCB9es

00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:42 – Canadian Politics?

00:04:27 – Personal Updates

00:09:29 – Sofabaton X2 First Impressions

00:19:09 – AV Rant Contact Info

00:19:59 – Tom Clicks the Sofabaton X2’s Buttons!

00:27:30 – What We Watched

Rob watched Black Phone 2. Tom watched the beginning of Iron Heart. And Metroid Prime 4: Beyond misgivings.

00:46:17 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Richard for his PayPal donation, plus our 124 Patreon Patrons.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Mark, Rohan, Christian, and Patrick. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:47:36 – News: Valve Steam Machine, Controller & Frame

Valve announced a trio of new hardware gaming devices to complement the handheld Steam Deck. Steam Machine is a mini gaming PC using AMD gaming laptop internals. Steam Controller is basically a Steam Deck without a screen. And Steam Frame is their standalone and wireless streaming VR headset: https://tinyurl.com/3zpcrew9

00:57:32 – News: Amazon to Block Fire TV Piracy

After being declared “facilitators for piracy” Amazon Fire TV devices are having sideloading restricted, and piracy apps blocked: https://tinyurl.com/mrxkhrye

QUESTIONS:

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