Please note: this episode was recorded Tues, Jan 5, prior to the week’s events. There was no intention on our part to make light of anything that has happened since, which had not occurred at the time of recording. We also recorded prior to almost all of the early CES 2021 announcements. So some information in this episode is already incorrect and out of date.

Our Listeners of the Week are our 126 Patreon Patrons, including James W., as well as Chris, David & Victor for sending Tom photos with permission to use them on https://avgadgets.com/ , and David for giving us a shout out over at Outlaw Audio, and Cory for talking us up to Accessories4Less. We also want to thank Mike, Lee, NAthan, Joseph, and David for their notes of gratitude to us for keeping the podcast going. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

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

In the News:

 – Roku might buy Quibi’s content: https://is.gd/5rjSfc

– Via Dazz – Power Sound Audio has pre-orders for their first 12-inch subwoofer, the S2410: https://is.gd/8u5FcD

– SVS has a $400 upgrade kit for 13-Ultra Series subs: https://is.gd/ya8pCh

Comments:

– Gurinder shares updates on panels, velvet, and 3D glasses.

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Our Listeners of the Week are Bob and Jason for their PayPal donations, plus our 127 Patreon Patrons, as well as Bob for talking us up to SVS and encouraging anybody we save time and money to donate to the podcast, and Victor and Jason for giving Tom permission to use their photos over at https://avgadgets.com/ . We also appreciates the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from Chris, Gurinder, Bob, Karl, Julian, Dazz, PyroBuilder, and Jason. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

Pictures shown in this episode:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmTgcWt6

0:05:39 Tom shares his Oculus Quest 2 impressions.

In the news:

– Vizio launched their 85-inch P-Series Quantum X TV: https://is.gd/tXNTL3
– And Walmart has the 1st batch at the best price: https://avgadgets.com/deal-alert-85-vizio-p-series-for-3k/

– Lots of CES 2021 rumors: https://is.gd/9Fnvu6

– 0:20:37 LG announced new flagship “QNED MiniLED” LCD TVs that twist a different display technology’s acronym that requires explanation: https://is.gd/dxkoa7

Comments:

– 0:23:20 Mario clarifies how to run an in-wall power extension cord.

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Merry Christmas!

If you are sending in pictures, and you’d be ok with Tom using them over at https://avgadgets.com/ , please include written permission, or send them directly via email to Tom @ AVRant dot com. Many thanks!

Our Listeners of the Week are Manuel for his PayPal donation, and our 127 Patreon Patrons, including Bertrand, as well as Kevin for talking us up to Accessories4Less and SVS, and Jason for buying Rob Ford v Ferrari on Ultra HD Blu-ray! We also want to thank Paul, Kevin, Gurinder, Bertrand, J.R. & Chris for their notes of gratitude to us for keeping the podcast going. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

Pictures shown in this episode:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmT2AsDB

In the news:
– Cyberpunk 2077 has been riddled with problems and pulled from the PlayStation Store: https://is.gd/ObktfL

– HBO Max is now on Roku devices: https://is.gd/afuUdI
– And PS5, too: https://is.gd/PYbRAD

– Chromecast with Google TV will get the Apple TV App in early 2021, with Android TV devices to follow: https://is.gd/1R6TdL

– Samsung’s 110-inch microLED TV is $155,000: https://is.gd/bkiEso

– 0:20:29 Via Joe K. – we have confirmation that Denon & Marantz’ DTS:X Pro update includes Front Wide speaker support for Dolby Surround Upmixer, and Upmixer cross-pollination.

Comments:

– Chris C. shared the results of following our advice.

– Carl & Ilango recommend the CyberPower SL700 slim battery backup UPS (https://is.gd/BP8Ifm) and Tripp Lite UltraBlok compact surge outlet (https://is.gd/7puN60).

0:25:05 Joe K. praises Marantz and JVC for their feature-adding firmware updates, and also the Datacolor SpyderX Pro colorimeter. He painted his ceiling black, and asks how he should acoustically treat his ceiling.
– Datacolor SpyderX: https://is.gd/sDbO0j
– GiK GridFusor: https://is.gd/LuJXQ7

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If you are sending in pictures, and you’d be ok with Tom using them over at https://avgadgets.com/ , please include written permission, or send them directly via email to Tom @ AVRant dot com. Many thanks!

Our Listeners of the Week are Brian, Chris, and Brendan for their PayPal donations, plus our 126 Patreon Patrons. We also want to thank Jack, Nick, Chris, and Joe for their notes of gratitude to us for keeping the podcast going. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

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

In the news:
– Headlines saying Denon & Marantz’ HDMI 2.1 AVRs work with 4K/120 now are a bit misleading: https://is.gd/ARW9MH
– https://avgadgets.com/why-2020-21-is-a-terrible-time-to-buy-an-av-receiver/

– Samsung announced a non-modular, 110″, “consumer” micro-LED TV (pricing is higher than we’d heard at the time of recording): https://is.gd/bkiEso

– Disney announced oodles of new shows & movies for Disney+: https://is.gd/wrvTkP
– Disney+ prices are going up, and countries outside of the USA are getting Star (whether you want it or not) instead of Hulu: https://is.gd/KTzAVY

– 0:19:44 Harmony Remotes are getting hard to come by, and we don’t know if they’ll be around much longer, so we detail your alternatives:
https://avgadgets.com/logitech-discontinues-harmony-remotes/

Comments:
– Clara doesn’t think Power Sound Audio’s 18″ subwoofer models are fully optimized or particularly good, and suggests opting for Monoprice Monolith or JTR instead.
– Monoprice Monolith M-215: https://is.gd/sYyZlt
– JTR Home speakers & subs: https://is.gd/n2wLzw

– Nick B. auditioned KEF Q-Series speakers, but opted for Ascend SE Series instead.

– Jason S. heard from Amphony that their Model 1700 wireless speaker kit with amplification won’t be back in stock until February: https://is.gd/cf8Czo

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Have a look at what Tom’s been up to over at https://avgadgets.com/ . You’ll find written versions of some of our most frequently discussed topics, product reviews, and tidbits of info that aren’t readily available anywhere else!

Our Listeners of the Week are our 126 Patreon Patrons, as well as James “House of Cards” C. for talking us up to Accessories4Less, and James S. from Linus Tech Tips for giving us a shout out in their recent review of the LG 8K OLED88ZX: https://youtu.be/M5IfCdJq_ow . We also greatly appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from Kris, Andy, James, Bret, Martin, Nathan, and Gurinder. Thanks to everyone for continuing to listen!

Pictures shown in this episode:
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmSGNG66

In the news:

– WarnerMedia will release all its 2021 theatrical movies day-and-date on HBO Max: https://is.gd/kawkyM
– HBO Max will gain support for 4K/HDR, Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos: https://is.gd/lR1sNP
– And Christopher Nolan isn’t happy about it: https://is.gd/XHHj6z

– HDTV Test reviewed Sony’s newest projectors, and they do not have frame-by-frame dynamic tone mapping, after all: https://youtu.be/ST11jRYwmr0

Comments:

– Dan T. extols the virtues of bias lights for making LCD TVs look perceptually closer to OLED.

– Nick K. warns that the heat from a register close in front of a projector actually can distort the image.

– 0:35:15 Nathan W. says we convinced his friends to increase their budget, and possibly consider other speakers.
– Klipsch RP on-walls: https://is.gd/pLqW0s
– KEF T-Series: https://is.gd/flpWin

– Gurinder warns that cutting Super Chunk bass traps can still be messy.

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