Welcome Curt G, another new guest co-host this week, with a leg up on Rob since he’s actually met Tom in person! We chat about Curt’s home theater setup and being an enthusiast. Then we dive into news about specs for Apple Vision Pro’s displays, Samsung adding an 83″ WOLED TV to their S90C Series, and Perlisten’s S7T Limited Edition Towers. Plus lots of questions, of course. Another fun episode!

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

00:00:00 – Intro & Introducing Curt G

00:05:48 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Joe, for his PayPal donation, and with a shout out to https://avscience.com/ for their top-notch service, plus our 137 Patreon Patrons, including Niels and Curt!

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Nick, Jay, and Niels. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

00:09:26 – What’s in Curt’s Theater

A list of Curt’s gear, and some talk about sources.

00:17:39 – What We Watched

Curt watched the finale of Ted Lasso, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, High Desert, and Tetris. Rob watched M3GAN.

In the news:

00:27:59 – News: Apple Vision Pro Display Specs

Via David – Refresh rates, resolution, nit output, and three different manufacturing partners: https://tinyurl.com/3yd8tx77

00:33:08 – News: 83-inch Samsung S90C OLED TV

We knew Samsung would start using LG Display WOLED panels. We didn’t know it would be this year and joining an existing QD-OLED Series: https://tinyurl.com/43j8rnk3

00:37:01 – News: Perlisten S7T Limited Edition Towers

Only 50 pairs being made, $30,000 per pair: https://tinyurl.com/yc32tj7s

Comments:

00:42:34 – Comment: Colin – Sonos, Alexa, and Apple Music

Colin initially wrote in to say that Sonos speakers can use Alexa to play Apple Music…for the most part. But Colin actually wrote back after we had recorded to say that functionality seems to have been removed now! “Hey, Sonos” still works, though.

QUESTIONS:

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Say hello to Joe K. He’s a long-time AV Rant Listener, a CEDIA member, and a new guest co-host for us this week. We dig into the recently announced mixed reality headsets: Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3. We introduce Joe, dive deep on a bunch of home theater questions, and get some insight from the professional installation side of the industry.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAGT5b

00:00:00 – Intro & Contact Info

00:02:35 – Introducing Joe K.

00:05:13 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Kevin for his PayPal donation, plus our 138 Patreon Patrons.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Gurinder, Jay, Kris, Julian, Jack, Shawn, Toke, and Rohan. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

00:08:32 – Chatting About Joe’s Professional Background

00:12:43 – Joe’s CEDIA Certification Experience

– https://cediaexpo.com/

00:16:37 – How to Join CEDIA

– https://cedia.net/

– CEDIA Podast: https://bit.ly/3quqnEn

– https://www.cepro.com/podcast/

00:18:11 – What We Watched

Rob watched Devs, and John Wick: Chapter 4. Joe watched Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

In the news:

00:26:35 – News: Apple Vision Pro

The long-rumored “Spatial Computing” headset will arrive in 2024 for $3,500: https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/

00:36:25 – News: Meta Quest 3

Trickle down features from Quest Pro come to Meta’s new $500 headset: https://rb.gy/wjh2k

00:41:38 – News: ADTH NextGen TV Box

Via Vince – Atlanta DTH has the 1st fully certified, external ATSC 3.0 tuner up for pre-order: https://rb.gy/9gfs5

Comments:

00:45:57 – Comment: Mike – Blackened American Whiskey

Their BLACK NOISE marketing might be funny, but the whiskey itself is good!

QUESTIONS:

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Spears & Munsil released a new UHD Benchmark Test Disc. HSU Research celebrates their 30th anniversary. Sony announced the mysterious Project Q for PS5. Netflix brings their crackdown on password sharing to the USA. The new Max app broke HBO Max buttons and Apple TV functionality. And we wish Tom and his family happy travels on their vacation!

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

00:00:00 – Intro

00:02:16 – What We Watched

Rob watched the series finale of Barry, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and as much of The Princess as Disney+ would allow. Tom watched The Mother.

00:16:58 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Raf for his PayPal donation, plus our 139 Patreon Patrons, including Kris, as well as a big thank you to James for all his help planning Tom’s family’s transportation around Europe.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Kris, Kevin, and Julian. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:20:33 – News: Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark Test Disc

A new edition for 2023 includes over 5,000 test patterns: https://is.gd/U2Q8oO

And if you own the previous edition, you can upgrade at a discounted price: https://is.gd/EOZc4f

00:24:33 – News: HSU Research’s 30th Anniversary

Get $100 off any order over $1,000 while they celebrate: https://hsuresearch.com/

00:25:55 – News: Sony Project Q for PS5

It’s a Wii U GamePad: https://is.gd/nsGfWU

00:28:38 – News: Netflix Cracks Down on US Sharing

Welcome to the single household party, America: https://is.gd/HjPaHr

00:30:01 – News: Max App Launch Breaks Stuff

Dedicated HBO Max remote buttons stopped working: https://is.gd/LaVOdn

And Apple TV frame rate and dynamic range matching no longer work: https://is.gd/EE0IDC

Comments:

00:31:57 – Comment: Kevin – Seating Riser Bass Trap

It’s expensive. It can’t be easily removed. But you can build a seating riser that is both an effective bass trap and inert!

QUESTIONS:

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Tom reviews the Status Between 3ANC Wireless Earphones. Ascend Acoustics launched their new flagship ELX Series Tower speakers. Telly TV costs $0 and uses a second screen to constantly show you ads. YouTube makes their ad load even worse. And more shows & movies than we thought are disappearing from Disney+ and Hulu.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

00:07:24 – What We Watched

Rob truly watched nothing this past week. Tom watched Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and finished Willow (just in time).

00:14:52 – REVIEW: Status Between 3ANC Earbuds

Tom’s review: https://avgadgets.com/status-between-3anc-earphone-review-when-sound-quality-is-everything/

00:27:49 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 139 Patreon Patrons, as well as Travis and Julian for giving permission to use their photos on https://avgadgets.com/ . 

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: J.D, Toke, Travis, Julian, Donald, Junior, and Daniel. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:30:17 – News: Ascend Acoustics ELX Series Towers

Via Dazz – New flagship Tower speakers priced at $4,400/pair, or $5,300/pair with ribbon tweeters: https://is.gd/XPwZ4P

00:38:17 – News: The $0 Telly TV

A 55″ LCD TV with a built-in SoundBar and 2nd screen. You get it for $0, but it shows ads all the time: https://www.freetelly.com/

00:45:02 – News: Even Worse YouTube Ads

Longer, unskippable, and during pause screens: https://is.gd/MzdhSA

00:46:32 – News: – Over 50 Disney+ Shows Disappear

Exclusive streaming content being removed to save money: https://is.gd/PubWmh

Comments:

00:50:37 – Comment: Travis – New Desktop Speakers

Updates on his new Receiver and desktop speakers.

QUESTIONS:

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Marantz is offering an online exclusive color option for their Cinema 40 & 50 AVRs. Hulu will be added to your Disney+ app by the end of the year, along with a price increase. SignUp Captions is a free browser extension that adds sign language to Disney+ and Netflix titles. And Samsung will start buying WOLED panels from LG Display.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjADY1X

00:00:00 – Intro

00:04:54 – What We Watched

Rob watched Nope, and started Welcome to Wrexham. Tom watched A Man Called Otto.

00:15:40 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 139 Patreon Patrons.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Matt, Gurinder, Eric, Bob, Joseph, Ryan, Tyler, Mike, and Karl. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:17:53 – News: Marantz Luxurious Silver Gold

An online exclusive color option for Cinema 40 & 50 AVRs: https://bit.ly/3IjoIHv

00:20:07 – News: Disney+ to Combine with Hulu

By the end of the year, the price will go up, and Hulu will be added to the Disney+ app: https://bit.ly/3MgNiKv

00:22:14 – News: SignUp Captions

A free browser extension to add ASL & BSL to over 70 titles on Disney+ and Netflix: https://www.signupcaptions.com/

00:24:59 – News: Samsung Buying LG OLED Panels

LG Display will supply large WOLED panels to Samsung Electronics: https://reut.rs/4530N9f

Comments:

00:29:05 – Comment: Eric – Good Customer Service

BenQ and Klipsch both came through for him and deserve some praise.

00:31:54 – Comment: Andrew & Max – MyHarmony Still Works

Older, IR-only Harmony Remotes can still use the old desktop software.

00:32:42 – Comment: Infinite Gary – Importing Panasonic OLED

Overpacking should hopefully mean it arrives safely.

00:33:51 – Comment: Noah – Audiocrast Spring Feet

Maybe not the prettiest (or most stable?), but no reason the Audiocrast Spring Speaker Isolation Feet shouldn’t within their weight limits: https://amzn.to/42IFV5C

QUESTIONS:

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