HSU VTF-TN1 flagship 15-inch subwoofer replaces VTF-15H MK2 and undercuts the competition. Sofabaton X1S Hub-based universal remote replaces X1 and is good. And we get a question from a very special surprise person.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBi2Lu

00:00:00 – Intro

Tom visited https://www.electrifyexpo.com/

00:05:01 – What We Watched

Rob watched Poor Things. Tom saw Dune: Part 2 in IMAX.

00:19:01 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Tyler and Stephen for their PayPal donations, plus our 132 Patreon Patrons, including John, as well as Aaron for sending Rob yet another movie code.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Aaron, Karl & E, Jay, Bo, Dan, Jorge, Stephen, and Adam. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:21:46 – News: HSU VTF-TN1 Subwoofer

A new 15-inch flagship sub replaces the VTF-15H MK2 while undercutting the competition on price: https://tinyurl.com/3krv62d5

00:30:24 – News: Sofabaton X1S Remote

Sofabaton updated and improved their X1 Hub-based remote with the new X1S: https://tinyurl.com/5ek8f4dh

– Andrew’s review: https://avgadgets.com/sofabaton-x1s-is-the-harmony-killer/

– AVGadgets additional 15% off code: https://avgadgets.com/sofabaton-releases-the-x1s-hub-based-remote/

Comments:

00:34:21 – Comment: Nathan – DSPeaker Anti-Mode

He used one, and explains when it’s useful.

00:36:27 – Comment: Stephen – Cable Hum

Seems we were correct about unshielded RCA cables. And he wrote about his Velodyne SMS-1: http://www.stephenmacmillan.com/ht/tips.htm

00:37:19 – Comment: Joe – Theater Installation

Shared photos from a recent assisted living project. Gorgeous!

00:40:09 – Comment: Gurinder – Soundproofing Success

His theater’s back up and running, and he’s happy with the results.

QUESTIONS:

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IMAX App on Apple Vision Pro brings 3D documentaries in 1.43:1 aspect ratio home for the first time. More Disney+ shows are coming to Ultra HD Blu-ray. And TIDAL is simplifying their subscription tiers and actually lowering prices!

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBhg2V

00:00:00 – Intro

Little bit of Oscars chat.

00:07:54 – What We Watched

Rob watched Booksmart. Tom continued Ahsoka, and heard some of Oppenheimer through a wall.

00:15:36 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Adriano for his PayPal donation, plus our 130 Patreon Patrons, as well as Justin and Aaron for both sending us some movie codes to check.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: J. Karl, Eric, Aaron, Dan, James, and Dazz. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:18:07 – News: IMAX App for Apple Vision Pro

At last, 1.43 aspect ratio at home: https://tinyurl.com/57z64h47

00:25:14 – News: More Disney+ Shows on Disc

The Falcon & the Winter Soldier, Moon Knight, Andor & Obi-Wan on disc: https://tinyurl.com/5n7ka3jc

00:26:24 – News: TIDAL Simplifies Subscriptions

No more Free with Ads. $11/month gets you lossless & Atmos: https://tinyurl.com/ycke4jj2

QUESTIONS:

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OLED TV prices are either staying the same or going up a bit. M&K Sound has new THX Dominus Certified in-wall speakers. APC has two new Back-UPS BE power protection models.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

Quick word about OLED TV prices this year.

00:07:03 – What We Watched

Rob watched The Holdovers. Tom re-started Ahsoka.

00:22:25 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Raf and Dane for their PayPal donations, plus our 129 Patreon Patrons.

Thanks also to Dane for giving Tom permission to use his photos on https://avgadgets.com/

And we appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Dan, Ryan, Jay, J.R, Brandon, Dane, and Alvin. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:26:35 – News: M&K THX Dominus Speakers

IW500 is M&K Sound’s first THX Dominus Certified in-wall speaker, as well as their first horn-loaded design: https://tinyurl.com/2a3h4dx5

00:31:54 – News: APC Back-UPS BE Series

Higher wattage, basic battery backup power protection with some quality-of-life upgrades:

– BE900G3: https://tinyurl.com/msh4byae

– BE1050G3: https://tinyurl.com/2y359b9u

Comments:

00:34:59 – Comment: Stephen – Mystery Hum Fixed

We talked about cables and wires picking up interference, and that helped him solve an issue without even asking us.

QUESTIONS:

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We’re excited about all the movies and shows we watched this week! A group of Hollywood directors banded together to buy the Westwood Village Theatre. Fubo is suing ESPN, Fox Sports & Warner Bros. Discovery over their joint sports streaming plans. And Disney is handing over everything to do with physical media and letting Sony Pictures handle it for them.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

Has Tom needed to charge those SoundPEATS Space headphones yet? And you’ll never believe what Tom hooked back up in his theater!

00:13:14 – What We Watched

Rob watched The Iron Claw, and Dune: Part 2. Tom watched What If…? S.2, and Loki S.2.

00:35:52 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 130 Patreon Patrons.

We also thank Dean for giving permission to Tom to use his photos on https://avgadgets.com/

And we appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Parker, Adriano, Jeff, Ryan, Todd, Gurinder, and Jorge. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:40:38 – News: Directors Buy Westwood Village Theatre

A coalition of Hollywood directors, led by Jason Reitman, have successfully purchased the Westwood Village Theatre in Los Angeles, with plans to keep it open and expand its entertainment offerings: http://tinyurl.com/4uud288t

00:44:33 – News: Fubo Sues ESPN, FS & WBD

Fubo filed an antitrust lawsuit to either block the joint streaming sports venture or require economic parity: http://tinyurl.com/2aha5373

00:46:38 – News: Sony Takes Over Discs for Disney

Disney is handing over everything to do with physical discs to Sony Pictures: http://tinyurl.com/2ns8pkjm

Comments:

00:50:09 – Comment: Robert – Rarewaves Imports

A recommendation to use https://www.rarewaves.com/ for importing discs and other items.

00:52:07 – Comment: Karl – Zapperbox OTA

Thumbs up for the https://zapperbox.com/ OTA NextGenTV equipment.

00:54:30 – Comment: Infinite Gary – Episode 1,500

We have to stick around until broadcasting sports in 4K is the norm.

QUESTIONS:

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KEF brings their MIE DSP to their Kube Subwoofers. Vudu is changing its name to Fandango At Home. Walmart is buying Vizio. UHP projector lamps can’t be restocked in the EU starting in 2026. And Tom finally watched Barbie!

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

00:00:00 – Intro

00:04:07 – SoundPEATS Space Update

It’s been a couple weeks; how’s the battery life?

– https://avgadgets.com/charge-your-headphones-once-a-week-soundpeats-space-headphones-review/

00:06:57 – What We Watched

Rob watched Madame Web, and Titane. Tom finally watched Barbie! Was it everything he had anticipated?

00:35:58 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 131 Patreon Patrons, including Bertrand, as well as all the people who alerted us about last week’s audio-only version cutting out early: Vince, Jonathan, Mark, Herb, Martin, Theo, Valdeze, Ilango, and anyone we might have missed!

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Infinite Gary, Bobby, Bertrand, Vince, Mark, Bob, and Nathan. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:40:13 – News: KEF MIE Subwoofers

KEF has a new dual 9-inch KC92 model, and they’ve brought their Music Integrity Engine to their Kube Series: http://tinyurl.com/hmrnzxb4

00:45:05 – News: Vudu Renamed to Fandango At Home

Supposedly a change in name only. Your digital library remains intact: http://tinyurl.com/5ajzu8ce

00:46:40 – News: Walmart Buying Vizio

A rumor when we recorded, and confirmed the next day: http://tinyurl.com/2r6kzpdv

00:48:44 – News: UHP Lamps Finished in 2026

An amendment to an EU regulation means UHP projector lamps cannot be restocked starting in 2026: http://tinyurl.com/3s72u2ee

Comments:

00:50:19 – Comment: Jack – Super Bowl Streaming Lag

Various services were measured and ranked by a streaming technology company: http://tinyurl.com/yckt4b3y

00:52:44 – Comment: Nathan – Cheaper Dolby Vision Hack

If you can manually force your projector into HDR mode, you can use a $30 EDID device instead of an HDFury: https://hometheater.substack.com/p/dolby-vision-on-projectors-lldv

00:56:00 – CORRECTION: Marantz Cinema 30 NOT Identical to Denon X6800H

A YouTube comment took us to task. They are objectively different inside.

QUESTIONS:

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