Things did not go according to plan! We had intended to cover CEDIA 2024 with Joe Klusnick this episode. But the internet wouldn’t allow it. So we’re hoping to record a second episode this week to set things right. Keep an eye out!

Apple’s iPhone 16 event included AirPods Pro 2 becoming hearing aids. Kaleidescape has added their Store to the Strato V’s interface. Panasonic TVs are returning to North America. TCL’s QM9 Series is set to impress in 2025. Klipsch Flexus Core 300 SoundBar comes with Dirac. And Onkyo’s TX-RZ30 Receiver has a trick up its sleeve.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBH3PK

00:00:00 – Intro

Rest in peace, James Earl Jones: https://tinyurl.com/4sy24kfu

00:03:40 – What We Watched

A little catch up with Lee first. He watched Life, The 100, and College Football on Peacock. Rob watched Maxxxine.

00:23:22 – Listeners of the Week

Our listeners of the Week are our 134 Patreon Patrons, as well as Mario and Joe for giving Tom permission to use their photos on https://avgadgets.com/

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Stan, Dazz, and Mario. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:25:59 – News: Apple iPhone 16 Event

We quickly recap Apple’s product announcements: https://tinyurl.com/kc3jxxcx

And chat a bit about AirPods Pro 2 becoming over-the-counter hearing aids: https://tinyurl.com/yfuew7ky

00:31:05 – News: Kaleidescape Store on Strato V

This way, you can see every title you’ve purchased without them being downloaded: https://youtu.be/JbYZU6t9168

00:34:25 – News: Panasonic TVs Return to NA

Sizes are limited. But some of the best OLEDs are finally back: https://tinyurl.com/3sctk3jd

00:39:34 – News: TCL QM9 Series

Big screen sizes. Up to 14,000+ dimming zones and 6,500 nits: https://tinyurl.com/4frupu64

00:42:15 – News: Klipsch Flexus SoundBar w/ Dirac

The Klipsch Flexus Core 300 SoundBar is the first to come with Dirac Live: https://tinyurl.com/mk4h45ch

00:45:05 – News: Onkyo TX-RZ30

9 Amps and 9-channel processing only. But it can do Dirac Live Bass Control: https://tinyurl.com/37b6mpst

QUESTIONS:

00:48:32 – Stan: Subwoofer – Speaker Time Alignment

How critical is it for your subwoofers to be time aligned to your speakers? And is there a cheap way to do it? Also, will his Panamax surge protector degrade over time?

01:02:02 – Henry: URC – Universal Remote Control Options

We don’t really think he should upgrade his universal remote solution, but we discuss what makes sense if he does.

– https://www.totalcontrollite.com/

01:08:39 – Robert G: Doing Dirac for the First Time

We go over the preparation he needs before running Dirac on his Emotiva Pre-Pro for the first time.

– Emotiva Speaker Configuration: https://youtu.be/c6k8MLoMug8

– Original XMC-1 Tutorial: https://youtu.be/fhoH3mBCUqY

– Newer Emotiva Dirac Tutorial: https://youtu.be/QVrjMFFjQq0

01:18:40 – Infinite Gary: JBL w/ Trinnov vs Lexicon w/ Dirac

If he were to hire a professional calibrator to tune both systems, and then he compared them, what would be revealed?

01:27:01 – Robert A: One Receiver Out to Two Displays

Is there no cheaper solution than an HD Fury?

– Monoprice Blackbird 8K/60 Splitter: https://tinyurl.com/5n8mu7zv

– Sewell Echo Split: https://tinyurl.com/386vf89s

01:32:25 – Mario: Avoiding a Workaround

He knows he can plug his Chromecast with Google TV directly into his OLED and use eARC back to his Receiver. But he shouldn’t have to! So why is it glitching?

01:39:21 – Sasi: Beryllium and The Ideal Target Curve

What’s so great about Beryllium tweeters, anyway? And has he logic’d his way into the ideal room correction target curve that we all ought to use?

• Check out the AV Rant YouTube channel to watch our show videos.
• Download Tom’s FREE superhero-themed ebook Bob Moore: No Hero.
• If you like it, you can purchase the two full-length follow-ups -  Bob Moore: Desperate Times and Bob Moore: Hostile Territory.
• Check out AVGadgets.com where Tom is the new Editor-in-Chief!
• Download Tom's NEWEST book, Touch of Pain from Amazon now!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Liked it? Take a second to support AV Rant on Patreon!