Our Listeners of the Week are Terry for his donation, along with our 54 Patreon Patrons, as well as Ash for making some cool AVRant artwork and displaying it in Gran Turismo for the PS4, Joe K. for talking us up to SVS when he contacted them for an amplifier replacement, and Terry for telling SVS his SB-2000 subwoofer purchase was because of us.

In news and comments, the TCL 6-Series Dolby Vision, Roku TVs have a May 1st release date. Infinite Gary let us know that the Revel Performa Beryllium Series speakers have price points of $4,000/pair and $10,000/pair for the bookshelf and tower, respectively. And Ted M. spoke on the phone with Bill Dudleston from Legacy Audio who offered one more suggestion to hopefully improve the imaging of Ted’s speakers.

0:15:35 Terry G. wants a small, cheap monitor for selecting music tracks or queuing up movies without having to turn on his projector. We recommend the Dell S2418HN, or connecting a DVI computer monitor to his Receiver’s Zone 2 HDMI output.

0:19:20 Byron S. asks if 1.85:1 aspect ratio movies are “supposed” to be taller than 2.35:1 aspect ratio movies. We also discuss less expensive alternatives to a screen with motorized 4-way masking, such as: the SeymourAV Proscenium motorized 2-way masking frame combined with motorized drapes; or, using two screens; one being “TV-sized” with some ambient light, and the other being a constant image width screenfor CinemaScope and IMAX. Lastly, we talk about whether it’s better to put diffusion or absorption on your ceiling.

0:31:29 Nick B. wants to know if EluneVision’s claims about their 4K AudioWeave screen material are too good to be true, and how Elite Screen’s AcousticPro UHD material stacks up.

0:35:46 Peter S. wants to know if any $1,000 sealed subwoofers can match the performance of his SVS SB16-Ultra. And we discuss why he’s having difficulty getting even bass at more than only one seat with his single subwoofer.

0:43:42 Nelson invested in an Audyssey Pro calibration kit, and he wants us to double check his before and after graphs to offer any suggestions for further improvement.

0:49:23 Infinite Gary asks for clarification about Walter Murch’s proposal for binaural sound in movie theaters. We talk about soundstage width, the optimal number of Atmos speakers, and Sony’s professional PVM-X550 55″ OLED monitor. We go over the naming of Denon’s new X8500H Receiver, the vocal imaging of a commentary track for Murder on the Orient Express, and why Kevin Voecks from Revel says a speaker’s enclosure is its single largest expense.

1:09:43 Christian S. thought he’d add more RBH Impression Series speakers, but the new 2nd generation are more expensive and don’t come in Red Burl. We suggest upgrading only his Surround speakers with Focal Little Birds or NHT SuperZeros, or considering the new ELAC Debut 2.0 Series if he really wants Towers. We recommend the Denon AVR-X3300W Receiver. And we get an update on his subwoofer cable hum.

1:16:37 Brent W. has a new basement and wants all new toys. We go over configuration and placement options, suggest going with a pair of high output subwoofers from either HSU or Power Sound Audio, recommend he audition Aperion Audio, Ascend Acoustics, ELAC, KEF, and SVS speakers, and recommend a JVC DLA-X590 projector.

1:30:41 Terry Q. wants to know more about backing up Ultra HD Blu-rays.

1:34:21 John B. gets our input on his mix of Sonus Faber, Klipsch, and Martin Logan speakers. We talk about the importance of damping under his subwoofer. We discuss some crossover settings and setting speakers to large vs. small. And we go over his acoustic panel plans.

1:47:03 Joel N. asks about confirming the trim levels set by a Receiver’s auto-setup program. And we talk about ways to make his semi-dipole Surrounds and Top Middle speakers sound less diffuse.

1:51:52 Adriano M. asks about recessed in-ceiling projection screens, whether tab-tensioning is vital, what we thnk of the new $1,500 4K DLP projectors, how to extract HDMI audio while still being able to pass through full 18 Gbps signals, which we say can be done with a combination of a Sewell SwitchDeck and an Avantree Audio Extractor, and we suggest Monoprice DynamicView Active HDMI Cables for any HDMI cable runs between 25 and 50 feet.

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Our Listeners of the Week are Shane and Mb (who might be Chris), along with our 54 Patreon Patrons, including Adriano M., and also Chris H. for telling Accessories4Less we recommended them, Boshko for letting APC and Sewell know he bought products from them because of us, and Dave B. and his brother, Don, who were inspired by us to start their own podcast. You can check out their movie reviews at Movie Chatter Podcast where they’ve posted some kind words and links back to AVRant and We Watch Movies.

In the news, via Chris S. and Justin B., RBH has released their 2nd Generation Impression Series speakers. Cabinet build quality and parts quality have gone up, but so have prices. And next month, Elite versions will be released, which basically replace the RBH MC Series.

0:13:54 Mark H. gets more advice on replacing the door that leads to his bedroom addition, and we discuss ventilation, as well.

0:23:02 Daniel W. wants a pair of bookshelf speakers that will be a noticeable difference from his KEF LS50, so we like his idea of trying Ascend Acoustics Sierra-2, and also suggest Revel Performa M126Be, Focal Aria 906, or GoldenEar Aon. We also fail to offer much help for finding a way to repair a pair of STAX electrostatic headphones, other than suggesting to contact STAX, or contact JansZen, the inventors of electrostatic speakers.

0:28:57 Alvin C. asks about Dialogue Normalization, listening modes, and whether Dolby Pro Logic IIz is considered a 5.1.2 configuration.

0:37:26 Michael L. gets our recommendations for a $1,200 5.1 system, including: Yamaha RX-V383 Receiver, SVS SB12-NSD or RSL Speedwoofer 10S subwoofer, and Focal Super Bird, Bird, and Little Bird; or, Aperion in-wall; or, NHT Super Series speakers.

0:44:07 Mike L. wants a subwoofer upgrade, but first he wants to know if he can just assume “bigger is better”, or if there’s a lot more to it than that.

0:51:43 Brandon N. bought and returned a Vizio P Series TV, so we dig into some of the finer points of setup and differences between LG OLEDs and Sony’s X930E.

1:03:09 “Packdevil” wants an affordable projector that can cope with ambient light, so we suggest either the Epson HC 3100 or Epson HC 3700.

1:06:23 Ted M. gets our truly final ideas on what he can try in order to improve the imaging of his on-wall speakers.

1:10:51 Marc asks what’s so special about corner bass traps.

1:14:08 Miles’ mother bought a Samsung 40″ MU6290, only to discover its optical audio output doesn’t always output sound. We go over some settings we believe might fix the problem.

1:19:46 Boshko asks about grounding terminals, plugging subwoofers into power conditioners, using a TV antenna as an FM radio antenna, running whole house audio from his Onkyo Receiver, which he could do via FlareConnect, DTS Play-Fi, or Chromecast Audio, and wall mounts for his Polk speakers, such as the Sewell Universal, or B-Tech Ultragrip.

1:30:37 PJ is considering a 50″ Vizio M Series TV, or an E or D Series so he can get a larger size. We recommend he get a TCL 55P605.

1:31:56 David F. is considering an Onkyo SBT-A500 Atmos SoundBar, but Rob would rather he get a less expensive Sony Atmos/DTS:X SoundBar, and Tom would rather he get a Yamaha Digital Sound Projector.

1:35:42 Jonathan F. agrees with the Sound Guys review of the Devialet Phantom wireless speaker, including that it costs too much. But he loves the high end sound, so we suggest KEF LS50W, or the SVS Prime Wireless speakers.

1:37:36 Chris M. moved his theater to a smaller room, so we advise speaker placement changes and going to 5.1.4 instead of 7.1.2.

1:42:41 Chris V. wants to know if Netflix’ list of devices that support Dolby Atmos is up to date.

1:44:24 Adriano M. wants multiple pairs of Bluetooth active noise cancelling headphones for his dentist office in Australia, and we think the Sennheiser HD 4.50 BTNC fit the bill.

1:51:35 Carlton B. wants the sound of a $2,900 5.1 in-ceiling speaker setup for $500, so we like his idea of a Dayton SUB-1000L with either RBH A-600, Aperion Audio L6-IC, or OSD MK650 speakers, with a Dayton Audio Matrix 6-Zone amplifier.

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Our Listeners of the Week are our 51 Patreon Patrons.

0:04:03 Tom reviews the OVC H15 Active Noise Cancelling Earphones.

In the news, ELAC introduced a new Debut 2.0 Series of affordable speakers designed by Andrew Jones.

Greg P. was inspired by Rob to buy a refurbished LG OLED TV, and now he wants a second one. And Jonathan F. reminds us to read the fine print, as he discovered the 10% off coupon sent to him by Best Buy excludes almost everything they sell.

0:18:22 Mike M. wants to retain 4K HDR and lossless audio from his MKV files, which the NVidia Shield can do, but it does not automatically switch back to SDR color, so he wonders if there’s a fix.

0:22:44 Jeremy K. gets our help planning his screen size, speaker configuration , and wiring for the bonus room above his garage.

0:33:31 Dan W. wants to upgrade something in his theater, so we discuss expanding to Atmos by adding Focal Little Bird speakers on his ceiling, planning for dual subwoofers, and adding acoustic treatment to his room.

0:43:15 Steve moved his upward-firing Dolby Atmos Modules so that they’re physically overhead, and he wants to be sure it’s ok to use Atmos Modules this way.

0:45:02 Christian S. started taking measurements, but discovered how tedious the process can be. We mention possibly using the Multi-Sub Optimizer software and talk about improving his mic stand. We also answer his other questions about broadcast quality cables like Blue Jeans Cable, and what to upgrade next in his theater.

0:55:15 Jack R. needs a drywall ceiling in his basement, so we suggest using Dynamat Dynabox backer boxes for his in-ceiling speakers, and super thin LED ceiling lighting so that he can avoid needing backer boxes for lights.

1:02:34 Bobby M. wants to make sure we still recommend Outdoor Speaker Depot in-ceiling speakers, even though he might only have one pair while all the rest of his speakers are Klipsch.

1:06:09 Wesley M. wants to upgrade his Polk speakers in a small room, so we suggest he audition SVS Prime, Aperion Audio Intimus, NHT SuperZero, Focal Bird, and HSU HB-1 speakers.

1:09:51 Earle B. wants a big subwoofer upgrade for his 4,000 cubic foot space, and we think dual SVS SB-4000 will be the perfect fit.

1:13:31 Karl R. gets our thoughts on the THX Spatial Audio Platform.

1:16:39 Shane lives in New Zealand, and he’s finding it difficult to buy DIY absorption panel supplies. He asks about Autex Quietspace panels, but we figure it must be possible to get rock wool insulation somewhere local.

1:20:44 Mark M. wants a small, inexpensive TV, and we think the TCL 32S305 remains a top value choice.

1:23:09 Infinite Gary gets our thoughts on a Stereophile video tour of the PS Audio factory, what’s best when it comes to ceiling height, Emotiva’s claimed launch date for their RMC-1 Processor as covered by AV Forums and Audioholics, and whether you need a laptop to use Dirac Live room correction.

1:31:43 Cory wants to add a second subwoofer to his DIY sub, and we think the Monoprice Monolith 12″ strikes the perfect match for size, price, and output.

1:36:09 Ed wants a less expensive subwoofer to pair with his SVS PC-2000, so we first say to talk to SVS, and also mention the HSU VTF-2 Mk.5 as a candidate. Then we talk a bit about speaker sensitivity, how much we tinker with our home theaters, and whether we’d like a dedicated 2-channel setup with vintage gear.

1:44:33 Lance K. has a finished room with seating and electronics, but he needs speakers, a screen, and a projector. We recommend: adding KEF Q Series, and NHT C Series to his audition list, GiK Acoustics free standing panels for his floor to ceiling windows, a 142″ 2.35:1 Silver Ticket screen, and a JVC DLA-X590R projector.

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Our Listeners of the Week are Miguel, Jason, Alex, and Robert for their donations, our 53 Patreon Patrons, as well as Randy E. for letting Accessories4Less know his Denon HEOS speaker purchase was thanks to us, Jack R. for encouraging everyone to update their forum post signatures to include a link to AVRant like he did, and Neil F. for letting SVS know we’re the reason he bought an SB12-NSD subwoofer. Thanks once again to Lee Overstreet for being our guest co-host last week. And huge thanks once again to everyone who subscribed to our AV Rant Podcast YouTube channel and allowing us to remain in the YouTube Partnership Program by getting us to over 1,000 subscribers!

In the news, Samsung is rumored to be working on QD-OLED TVs that would use an all-blue OLED panel with red and green quantum dots to create a fully self-emissive display. And Samsung has said they will start selling “The Wall” – their 146-inch, modular, micro-LED display – in August, while LG is now rumored to have a micro-LED display of their own that they’ll announce in September.

Jeb B. installed a bunch of our recommended products, and now he only gets mad when he goes out, and the movie theater’s sound isn’t nearly as good as his home system. And Jim B. found help in an AVS Forum FAQ when his Denon AVR-X3300W stopped outputting video via HDMI.

0:20:23 Mark H. rearranged his theater to give him space for Surround Back speakers, which he’s enjoying. He asks, if he upgrades to an Atmos/DTS:X Receiver, but does not install any overhead speakers, will immersive audio soundtracks sound any different from the 7.1-channel versions, and will the immersive upmixers sound any different than Dolby Pro Logic IIx? Also, Mark’s theater is in an addition that seems to have been constructed on the cheap. We discuss what he can do to improve his soundproofing, and his door in particular, without resorting to major renovation.

0:33:40 Chris H. gets confirmation that the Monoprice 9723 subwoofer plays much lower than the 50Hz listed on its spec sheet, and we explain why we think he should spend a little bit extra to get either a Yamaha RX-V383 or a Denon AVR-S720W as an entry-level Receiver.

0:38:59 Tyson W. is very happy with the HSU speakers and subwoofer we recommended for his living room, so he wants to use HSU speakers in his dedicated theater behind an acoustically transparent screen. We discuss his speaker options, and go over placement and spacing for ported speakers behind a false wall.

0:46:13 Randy E. wants new subwoofers for his 3,500 cubic foot room, so we recommend SVS PC-2000 cylinders, Outlaw Audio Ultra-X12, or Power Sound Audio 15V to give him options for either a small footprint, or something he could use as end tables on either side of his couch.

0:51:46 Neil F. replaced his compact speaker package subwoofer with an SVS SB12-NSD. He only cares about one seat, and the compact sub only plays down to 37Hz, so he asks if he should try to pair them up as duals, or stick to using only the SB12-NSD.

0:54:20 Jay W. found an SVS SB13-Ultra subwoofer on clearance. He wants to know if the newer SB-4000 is worth $500 more, and whether he should still audition the HSU ULS-15 Mk.2 we originally recommended to him.

0:58:07 Jason H. wants to expand to Atmos, but he isn’t sure if he should install Front and Rear Height, or Top Front and Top Rear speakers, so we go over the elevation angles and explain the max and min recommended distances from his seat.

1:02:06 Jay C. is moving his theater setup to a smaller space, and he wants compact, on-wall speakers. We like the KEF T-Series. Focal Little Birds, or NHT SuperZeros for this application, and we also want him to spend a bit extra to get an RSL Speedwoofer 10S subwoofer. We discuss crossover settings for small speakers. And we recommend a Denon AVR-X1400H, AVR-X3300W, or AVR-X4300H Receiver depending on how much he’s willing to spend.

1:13:25 Jake M. got his first taste of high quality audio, and now he wants to convert his garage into a dedicated theater. He’s excited about all the equipment he’d like to buy, but we attempt to slow his roll and get him to focus his present time (and money) on the construction of the room itself. With HVAC, insulation, thermal breaks, soundproofing, the garage door, and other construction factors being big concerns, we keep an eye on his eventual theater configuration, but we want the room to be the priority.

1:33:52 Karl R. wants to put a 24-inch HDR TV in a camper trailer, so we recommend a Dell S2419HM computer monitor, or keeping an eye on the growing list of DisplayHDR certified products.

1:37:32 Infinite Gary has seen some audio amplifiers whose spec sheets claim an exact doubling of Wattage into 4 Ohms vs. 8 Ohms, while most show less than an exact doubling, so he wants to know why.

1:40:13 Dave was impressed by Yamaha Active Servo subwoofers, so he wants our thoughts on them.

1:43:38 Nathan D. has spotted “Dolby Atmos 7.1.4” listed on the backs of some Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray packages, and he wants to know if the soundtracks are limited to 7.1.4-only, or if a larger speaker configuration, all the way up to 24.1.10, can still make use of all the extra speakers.

1:46:26 Nick B. wants a very large field of view, a motorized, acoustically transparent screen, and a full 30 Foot-lamberts from his projector at a fairly close seating distance, so we recommend the EluneVision Reference Studio Audioweave 4K Tab-Tensioned screen, as well as double checking his math for light output, screen size, and screen gain.

1:50:37 Marc N. has heard us using the initials “DSP” and “DAC”, and he’d like to know more than his own searches have turned up, so we offer our explanations, and recommend the book Understanding Digital Signal Processing, and the intro to digital audio videos from Xiph.org.

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