Our Listeners of the Week are Brad and Roberto for their donations, as well as Roberto’s call to Accessories4Less where he let them know that we sent him their way.

In the news, Xbox One lossless bitstream audio pass-through is here, but only for Blu-ray discs so far. Xbox Project Scorpio tech specs were revealed. Audyssey MultEQ Editor App is finally available for $20 on iOS and Android. Emotiva will keep prices the same all year, no more sales or promotions. And LeEco isn’t buying Vizio after all.

Jonathan F. had us try a flawed lossy vs. lossless audio comparison. And Mark H. hopes everyone recognizes the value of 3D Blu-ray Rental Subscription Plans.

Ian E. got his RBH Impression Series Center speaker replaced, along with the blown tweeter in one of his Towers, but he’s concerned about how the speakers got damaged in the first place. Ed has questions about the streaming versions of 4K, HDR10, and Dolby Vision vs. the physical media versions, which Blu-ray players (that aren’t Oppo) do a good job of upscaling DVDs (we suggest the Panasonic DMP-BDT360, Sony BDP-S6700, or Sony UBP-X800), and whether newer always means better when it comes to speakers. And Mark H. gets some more discussion about motorized zoom and lens shift in projectors, and whether to go cheap, expensive, or somewhere in the middle.

Roberto C. wants to know if an older Receiver with “4K passthrough” will handle the latest video formats, as well as how Denon’s reliability compares to Yamaha’s. Michael D. gets our thoughts on his planned in-wall speaker placements, as well as the Acoustic Research RX-2512 subwoofer. And Brandon wants to know why the default target curve for Audyssey includes some low frequency roll-off.

Justin B. gets our recommendations for the Outlaw Audio OAW4 Wireless Subwoofer Kit and Amphony Model 1800 Wireless Speaker Kit. We also revisit his on-wall speaker placement options, and suggest the Emotiva TA-100 Integrated Amp for his separate music setup, although he wants tubes, so we mention the Jolida Glass FX 10 if he insists. And Larry L. has rearranged his theater layout, so he double checks his projector positioning, speaker placement, choice of projector, and light output concerns with us.

John B. gives us a hypothetical retail store to populate with our choices of brands and demonstration setups, so we play along with some of our picks. And Infinite Gary wonders if a professional calibrator would approve of Sony’s X-Reality Pro image processing.

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Our Listeners of the Week are Gary and Kevin for their donations, and Kevin H. for letting SVS know he bought some Prime Satellite speakers from their Outlet Store because of our recommendation.

In the news, Nathan D. sent us the announcement of the new Pioneer VSX-832 5.1 entry-level Receiver with Dolby Vision and 3.1.2 Atmos. New Yamaha RX-V 83 Series Receivers specifically mention Dolby Vision and HLG support.Despicable Me 1 & 2 are the first Ultra HD Blu-rays with Dolby Vision. And Samsung Cinema Screen is a 500 nit, 34-foot wide LED display for theaters.

Trey noted Xbox One now supports bitstream audio output via HDMI. Kris P. says Vizio HDR TVs got a firmware update for HDR issues with Xbox One S and to add Dolby Digital Plus support via ARC. And PJ suggests checking out 3D Blu-ray Rental for 3D and Ultra HD Blu-ray rentals by mail.
Justin B. wants high value, high-end headphones to use with a Smyth Realiser or Out of Your Head software with perhaps an Emotiva Stealth DC-1 Headphone Amp and ButtKicker Tactile Transducer. He also wants on-wall speakers such as the Ascend Acoustics Sierra Luna, Revel Concerta, or GoldenEar SuperSat. Jason H. gets our recommendation to order black velvet with adhesive backing from McMaster-Carr. And Mark O. needs a physically smaller Center to match his RBH Impression Series speakers, so we suggest some bookshelf model solutions, or the Aperion Audio Intimus 5C.

Michael I. gets an explanation for why HDR default picture settings appear darker than SDR in a room with ambient light. PJ asks about using the Dayton Audio SAT3W Cube Speakers for Atmos. And Justin B. discovered the DIY Sound Group Stonehenge Subwoofer Cabinets are huge, so we suggest SVS SB-2000 or HSU ULS-15 Mk2.

Jim W. asks about using an Andrea Superbeam binaural microphone instead of the standard Audyssey measurement mic. Ted M. gets some updated suggestions for measuring and addressing a dip in his system’s frequency response, and we discuss the best positioning and usage for his 6th & 7th speakers. And Infinite Gary wonders how the black levels on a newer Sony LCD TV compare to older Sony models, and whether glossy screens and super high contrast contribute to the “garish” look of TVs in stores.

Greg wants to reposition his subwoofers, and we nearly panic about it. Christian S. wants durable, do-everything headphones for under $100, so we suggest the Sony MDR-7506 or Audio Technica ATH-M40x. And Mark H. has a new, square room to deal with. We talk about opening doors and closets, and positioning subwoofers. And we dig into a constant image height plus IMAX projector screen setup while suggesting the Panasonic PT-AE8000 as a low-ish cost projector with lens memory.

Brad W. likely needs JVC Projector Recommended Settings for HDR Content. John J. gets our thoughts on the RSL Speedwoofer 10s Subwoofer, and a refresher on what we think of Germany’s Hollywood Theatres UltimateLine designs. And Brian R. has a frozen video problem that’s difficult to diagnose, a question about Outlaw Audio Ultra-X12 subwoofers, and shared curiosity with Ted M. about Tekton speakers with a new tweeter array patent that sets off an epic rant.

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Our Listeners of the week are Bob and Ilango for their donations, and Alan C. for including a mention of AVRant in his recent EBay auctions.

In the news, Nathan D. was eager to spread the news that Ascend Acoustics Sierra Luna Satellite speakers are now completed and available to order. Samsung is promoting their royalty-free “HDR 10 Plus” dynamic metadata HDR standard, as well as opening their trademark of “QLED” for any quantum dot-based display manufacturers to use freely. And self-emitting quantum dot displays are facing development hurdles and likely won’t come to market until after the year 2020.

Kris P. got word from Onkyo that their flagship AV Receiver models from 2016 will get a Dolby Vision firmware update, and Marantz reiterated they’ll be adding Dolby Vision support to their 2016 models, as well.

Kris I. asks how long a good speaker should last, how to tell when it’s dying, and when it’s the best time to sell the speakers that you own. Paul R. gets some tips on setting up an A/B comparison of speakers, and wants to know if his initial results are typical, and whether Tom and Rob use different settings for music vs. movies. And Christian S. has made a new friend…and rival, and it’s up to us to decide which of them owns the better speakers.

Josh L. has a large, reflective room, and he needs to install in-wall speakers with backer boxes. He could construct KEF in-wall cabinets for KEF in-wall speakers, go with RBH Sound in-wall speakers that we so often recommend, opt for high efficiency and a sealed design with Klipsch in-wall speakers, or save a lot of money by using HSU Research HIW-1 in-walls. Josh also has a dedicated theater where Tom and Rob agree that a 5-channel amp could help to lower the noise floor and provide Reference Level headroom. A Monoprice Monolith Amp would be spectacular, but a much less expensive Emotiva BasX A-500 would suffice.

Karl R. likes the value offered by VUDU Disc to Digital that now works via the VUDU app, but wants to know if there’s a non-Walmart alternative. Justin B. wants in-ceiling speakers that can keep up with high end in room speakers, so we suggest RBH in-ceiling speakers and RBH back cans. And Dipan discovered a hum that was largely mitigated by a cable TV ground loop isolator, but he wants to know why only some of his speakers made noise, and how to eliminate the remaining vestiges.

Jason D. found his banana plugs are loose, so we recommend locking banana plugs. Michael R. has an issue where his audio always works, but not his video, and he might use it as an excuse to upgrade his AV Receiver to a Denon AVR-X3300W or AVR-X1300W. And Alan C. gets us to rant about plaid vs. “boring” solid colors.

Infinite Gary wonders if YouTube videos can be used to evaluate HDR, what type of display he should use in a room with ambient light, and whether LG’s “wallpaper” OLED might have unforeseen downsides. Bret R. has limited space for his speakers, but the Ascend Acoustics Q-Plugs could help, or he might consider the KEF R-Series, or Sierra Luna speakers. And Bob L. wants to calibrate an LG OLED65E6 without measurement tools or a professional, so we suggest keeping it simple by using the Disney World of Wonder Setup Disc.

Wesley M. is using a Sony WEGA TV, and wants to know if his AV Receiver can convert HDMI sources to analogue component video. James P. wants to know if he should reposition his subwoofers, or maybe upgrade to one higher output model. In a second near field setup, he asks about the Total Harmonic Distortion specification, what specs indicate a low noise floor, and we mention the Emotiva A-100 as a small, high quality amp. And Jim B. proposes a method for confirming that diagonally opposite corner subwoofer placement really works that we mostly agree with, although we suggest a couple changes and additions.

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Our Listeners of the Week are Ted, Ryan, Geoffrey, and Joshua for their donations, as well as Bob L. and Kevin H. for letting SVS and APC, respectively, know that they bought their products thanks to AVRant recommendations.

In the news, Denon announced new S-Series AV Receivers that bring HEOS to lower price points and specifically mention Dolby Vision support.

Christian S. greatly reduced his “overly long” bass ringing by adding SVS SoundPath Isolation Feet to his dual PB-1000 subwoofers. Jay P. applied lots of our advice and shares his successful updates. And Bobby K. informs us that SpoonFlower is being forced to crack down on reprinting copyrighted images, but MyFabricDesigns.com is a potential alternative.

Micheal S. wants to mount Surround speakers on his side walls without any holes or marks, so we suggest VideoSecu Telescoping Stands, Sway Shelves, or 3M Command Adhesive Strips. Justin B. asks about converting half of his garage into a dedicated theater, or potentially using the Smyth Realiser Exchange to simulate excellent theater rooms through high-end headphones, such as: Sennheiser HD650, Audeze LCD-2, or Shure SE535. And Bill R. unfortunately has a hiss coming from his Denon AVR-X6300H AV Receiver that we believe is a defect in need of factory repair or replacement.

Leighton wonders if opening his curtains would give him better Audyssey results. Ted M. is enjoying measuring and graphing his audio and asks how to solve an upper bass dip. And Mark H. asks how high a projector screen ought to be mounted.

Luca F. in Canada needs a subwoofer, and we think an SVS PC-2000 fits the bill. Benjamin D. thinks he might install a suspended ceiling, which we think is a great idea for adding acoustic absorption, running wires, and hanging Atmos speakers. We also comment on his dual subwoofer choices and placement options. And Mike F. has questions about light spill from his projector onto his ceiling, unbalanced sound when using Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Surround speakers with a variable tweeter adjustment, and a bothersome audio delay from some of his sources.

Ryan M. got some free acoustic treatments and asks for our advice on where he should place them. Michael A. wants to know how much of an upgrade SVS’ “middle child” Plus-Series models are over the 2000-Series. And Bob L. could use some clarification about HDMI Premium High Speed Certified Cables, why video bitrates can vary so wildly, and how he can have dramatically different preferences for 2-channel only speakers vs. surround sound speakers.

Infinite Gary hates the look of glossy flat panels, but without complete light control, could an ambient light rejecting screen and a projector deliver an improvement? Geoff D. asks about Hisense HDR TVs in Australia and pairing his SVS SB-2000 with a less expensive subwoofer. And Larry L. took lots of our advice regarding his theater build, and now he asks about RBH in-ceiling foam enclosures, using a subwoofer as a speaker stand, using a microphone extension cord to run Audyssey, using a Stereo Female to Mono Male Adapter to run whole house audio from Chromecast Audio devices, and whether he should replace his Center speaker.

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Our Listeners of the Week are Ed, Michael, Russell, and Alvin for their donations, as well as Kris I. and Bill C. for letting SVS, Parts-Express, and Accessories4Less know they bought products thanks to our recommendations.

In the news, Denon released their HEOS AVR. And via Kris P., Onkyo explicitly mentions Dolby Vision compatibility with their new TX-NR474 and TX-NR575 Receivers.

J. noticed the Dayton Audio APA100 amplifier has been replaced with the Class D APA102. Ed’s high pitch squeal problem on his Vizio P-Series TV got a very specific firmware patch. And James Bujold shared links to Spotify vs. Pandora, and a SnapAV Episode Wirless Subwoofer Kit for up to four subwoofers.

Adam K. has a large room, a large subwoofer, and some additional DJ subs that he wonders whether he should utilize or not. Paco wants a better projection screen, so we recommend Seymour AV, Elite Screens Saker Tab-Tension, EluneVision, and SnapAV Dragonfly. And Informal Gadget asks if the SVS PC-2000 and PB-2000 subwoofers have matching output, and requests same-priced alternatives like the HSU ULS-15 Mk2 or HSU VTF-3 Mk5 HP.

Christian S. purchased dual subwoofers and needs some help optimizing their placement and setup, as well as tracking down the source of some resonance and ringing. Brad W. asks about the balanced vs. unbalanced connections offered by the miniDSP DDRC-88A Dirac unit. And John M. has a large room and good speakers, but he wants to upgrade. We discuss his AV Receiver, his choice of a $1,000 high output subwoofer such as the Rythmik FVX15, HSU VTF-15H Mk2, or Power Sound Audio 15V, his options for auditioning speakers, Towers vs. bookshelves, and Spotify Premium’s streaming quality.

Dave K. asks about converting his open dining room into a theater, so we go over screen size options, flat panels vs. projectors, speaker and subwoofer options, on-ceiling Atmos speakers like the Focal Bird, and acoustic treatments. Karl R. prompts some rants about high frame rate movies. And Scott R. has a somewhat complex 3.2.4 speaker setup that he wants to enhance with room correction and acoustic treatments, although we suggest simplifying with a single Receiver rather than complicating with an external Room EQ.

Nick B. wonders about symmetrical vs. asymmetrical absorption and diffusion panel placement, as well as Anthem Receiver features. Scott H. wants a low-cost outdoor theater and confirms his screen and projector choices while getting our suggestion for a Landscape Burial Subwoofer. Ed needs some assistance finding Dolby Vision content on Netflix. And Brian R. really wants to try separates, but we still strongly suggest using a Denon AVR-X3300W Receiver as a Pre-Pro and simply adding external amps.

Mitch wants prettier acoustic panels, so we recommend SpoonFlower Printed Fabrics or Acoustimac DIY Fabric. Rusty R. is tempted to buy an Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Future models from LG and Philips will have Dolby Vision, and the Oppo UDP-203 is the top choice available right now. Ryan T. wants every source in his theater available through a second set of speakers, so we recommend a Yamaha Receiver with MusicCast. And Josh A. wants maximum image quality without any concern for aesthetics, so we suggest Baritone Velvet from SeymourAV and the Gray Screen paint series from Sherwin-Williams to go along with a 2.35:1 Silver Ticket screen while we explain the limitations of his projector’s “blanking function”.

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