The big news about Masimo selling Sound United to Harman dropped after we recorded. So we’ll cover that next week! This week, we’ve got Xbox price hikes. And Fluance Reference Ri Series self-powered speakers.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

Tom’s laptop was successfully repaired, so he’s back in video form.

00:17:35 – What We Watched

Rob watched A Complete Unknown.

00:30:38 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Jefferson for his PayPal donation, plus our 131 Patreon Patrons, as well as Vince for offering to help Rob secure a 3rd Switch 2 pre-order, and John & Carl for informing us about more Skype alternatives.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Jefferson, Henry, Ryan, Vince, and Jack. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:36:19 – News: Xbox Price Hikes

Prices on Xbox hardware and games have gone up everywhere in the world, but especially in the USA: https://tinyurl.com/yukmfw62 ; Canada’s new prices: https://tinyurl.com/ysrh5dr4

00:42:17 – News: Fluance Reference Ri Series Speakers

New self-powered speaker models with AMT tweeters and HDMI-ARC input: https://tinyurl.com/2nmz6pj7

– https://avgadgets.com/kef-ls60-wireless-tower-speakers/

Comments:

00:47:17 – Comment: Infinite Gary – Strato M Margin

Don’t expect any discounts on the Kaleidescape Strato M.

00:48:41 – Comments: Karl – JVC B-Stock at AV Science

One of our favorite projector retailers has B-Stock JVC projectors at good prices.

QUESTIONS:

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Rob had a busy week of Switch 2 pre-ordering, taxes, and Canada’s federal election. Max streaming wants you to pay for an Extra Member instead of sharing your password. And Tom might not know who Caleb Denison is, but we talk about his new solo venture, CalebRated, and his troubles after leaving Digital Trends.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCc7qx

00:00:00 – Intro

An extra-long intro section this week, as Rob details his whole Switch 2 pre-ordering adventure, as well as the other things that kept him busy last week, like taxes, and Canada’s federal election.

– Rob’s Switch 2 Pre-order Updates: https://tinyurl.com/w5ems8t9

– Canadian Election Recap: https://tinyurl.com/2hd643c2

00:27:28 – What We Watched

Tom watched the first episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Rob finished watching Nickel Boys.

– The Book Rob Mentioned: Obasan by Joy Kogawa: https://tinyurl.com/5et4w2sy

00:46:45 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Lawrence (again!) for his PayPal donation, plus our 133 Patreon Patrons.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Stefan, Gurinder, Tony, Brandon, and Art. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:49:25 – News: Max Extra Member

Max, the streaming service, wants to end password sharing. But their Extra Member program limits you to single $8/month add-on: https://tinyurl.com/mr3sjxu9

00:53:32 – News: CalebRated v Digital Trends

Caleb Denison was the most popular host and TV reviewer on Digital Trends. He struck out on his own to start CalebRated. But Digital Trends got his videos taken down with copyright strikes. The word “petty” has been used.

– https://www.youtube.com/@Calebrated

– Caleb’s Thread Post & GoFundMe: https://tinyurl.com/bdtzkpzm

– Sound & Vision’s Summary: https://tinyurl.com/ssxbtunp

Comments:

01:02:59 – Comment: Allen – Sofabaton X1S for Free

He asked us last week if a reimbursement offer was a scam. Turns out, it really was an offer from Sofabaton.

QUESTIONS:

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Tom has a TV and a pair of speakers set up now! Kaleidescape joins the 8K Association. Epson QS100 adds a UST projector to the Q-Series. Emotiva’s RMC-1+ and XMC-2+ Pre-Pros finally bring HDMI 2.1 and DTS:X Pro. Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders begin in Canada and the USA.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCa6vh

00:00:00 – Intro

Tom’s purchase of a Sanus universal TV stand allowed him to finally set up a TV with a pair of KEF speakers.

00:21:33 – What We Watched

Rob watched the first half of Nickel Boys, and the first half of S.4 of Mythic Quest.

00:28:57 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Bill for his PayPal donation, plus our 133 Patreon Patrons, including Michael, as well as Michael for talking us up to RSL, and Justin for sending a whole bunch of Movies Anywhere codes.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Nelson, Kerry, Graeme, Allen, Brian, Sebastian, Henry, and Sasi. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:34:06 – News: Kaleidescape Joins 8K Association

No products or content yet, but Kaleidescape says they’ll play a pivotal role: https://tinyurl.com/jbc2c526

00:38:08 – News: Epson QS100 UST

A bright UST Q-Series projector from Epson, but only 2x wobble-K and 60 fps: https://tinyurl.com/3hwvbdtj

00:42:04 – News: Emotiva RMC-1+ & XMC-2+

New Emotiva 16-ch Pre-Pro models finally bring HDMI 2.1 and DTS:X Pro: https://tinyurl.com/yhtme2rn

00:48:18 – News: Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-orders

April 24 is the date. At the stroke of midnight ET for most US retailers. And 12 noon ET for most Canadian retailers: https://tinyurl.com/mry889fk

Comments:

00:51:15 – Comment: John – Decouple Your Seats

He agrees with us about damping/decoupling your speakers and subs, but has also found benefits from damping beneath the legs of his couch.

QUESTIONS:

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Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders were delayed in Canada shortly after we finished recording last week. PS5 gets a price increase in Europe. SVS has a new 5000 R|Evolution Series of subs to replace the 4000 Series. And Chinese companies have banded together to support a new GPMI standard to rival HDMI and DisplayPort.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC989u

00:00:00 – Intro

Tom’s laptop died 🙁

00:12:03 – What We Watched

Rob watched Wicked (Part 1).

00:23:12 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Jefferson for his PayPal donation, plus our 133 Patreon Patrons, as well as Cody for offering to help Tom with his CAD file conversions.

Thanks also to Jefferson 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: Gurinder, Henry, Jefferson, Mark, Nelson, Sasi, and Tom. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:28:13 – News: Canadian Switch 2 Pre-Orders

Nintendo decided to align Canadian Switch 2 pre-orders with the USA, so the date is unknown when we recorded: https://tinyurl.com/3cxkvyr3

00:29:58 – News: PS5 Price Increase

Four and a half years in, and prices just went up for the PS5 in Europe: https://tinyurl.com/yks5da5b

00:31:11 – News: SVS 5000 R|Evolution Series

New SB-5000 and PB-5000 R|Evolution subs replace the 4000 Series. There’s no cylinder: https://www.svsound.com/collections/5000-revolution-series

00:39:29 – News: GPMI Takes On HDMI

More than 50 Chinese companies are supporting the General Purpose Media Interface with up to 192 Gbps bandwidth: https://tinyurl.com/578j8jva

Comments:

00:45:15 – Comment: Steve – JBL Go 4

His wife bought it because it’s cute and pink. But he’s surprised how good it sounds: https://tinyurl.com/4xt27vc8

00:48:29 – Comment: Gurinder – SVS Replacement Amp

His replacement amp arrived, and it was an easy swap.

QUESTIONS:

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Nintendo Switch 2 will launch June 5, but initial pre-orders have been delayed in the US (and now Canada), and more Switch 1 games than we thought aren’t backwards compatible yet. Sony showed off their full 2025 BRAVIA Lineup. Kaleidescape’s Strato M is their least expensive player yet. And the JBL Synthesis SDP-80 gets HDMI 2.1.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC8m8D

00:00:00 – Intro

Stress behind the scenes!

00:18:54 – What We Watched

Rob watched Flow.

00:30:38 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Laurence for his PayPal donation and lovely note, plus our 131 Patreon Patrons, including Brandon.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Dan, Eddie, Brandon, Kevin, Jorge, Gurinder, and Dazz. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:36:10 – News: Nintendo Switch 2

It’s launching June 5. It’s more capable and more expensive than anticipated. And it might get even more expensive after pre-orders were delayed (now in Canada, too). There are also more Switch 1 games that aren’t backwards compatible yet than we expected.

– Won’t Boot at All: https://tinyurl.com/mud2xpvu

– Glitches After Booting: https://tinyurl.com/5n6zh3p8

00:46:32 – News: Sony 2025 BRAVIA Lineup

New TVs, a projector, and SoundBars with dumb naming choices that already mess up Sony’s efforts to simplify by just calling everything BRAVIA: https://tinyurl.com/2s35ehdk

01:02:24 – News: Kaleidescape Strato M

Would you step down from 4K to 1080p, but keep Dolby Vision & lossless Atmos, to save $2,000?

– https://www.kaleidescape.com/strato-m-movie-player/

01:10:29 – News: JBL Synthesis SDP-80

The replacement for the SDP-75 gets HDMI 2.1: https://tinyurl.com/4ank8sjp

Comments:

01:12:21 – Comment: Dan – More Great SVS Service

Yet another tale of SVS customer service going above & beyond.

QUESTIONS:

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