We are back! Happy Thanksgiving!

We spill the beans about why we don’t have a full Sofabaton X2 review for you just yet, but we still have updates and insights to share.

We both bought big ticket items over Black Friday. And Tom watched multiple movies!

Google and Disney have made up. Netflix has killed off Casting support. And Kaleidescape released the Mini Terra Prime. Plus a smaller-than-expected bunch of Comments and Questions from the past 2 weeks.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

00:03:10 – Personal Updates

00:06:39 – Sofabaton X2 Updates But Not Review

Rob ran into a big snag with his pre-production review unit. So we have plenty of new impressions and thoughts to share, but not a complete review just yet: https://www.sofabaton.com/product/x2/

00:32:44 – We Bought Things!

Both of us made some big, exciting purchases, and now you get to hear all about them.

00:48:30 – What We Watched

Rob watched Sorry, Baby. Tom watched Ip Man, Mission: Impossible – Fallout, The Naked Gun (2025), and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

01:05:39 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Dan for his PayPal donation, plus our 122 Patreon Patrons, including Peter.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Rohan, Christian, Dev, Peter, and Gurinder. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

01:08:11 – News: Google and Disney Made Up

Disney-owned TV channels have returned to YouTube TV. Disney & Fox movies have returned to the Google Movie Store. And Google has returned to participating in Movies Anywhere: https://tinyurl.com/3env456c

01:10:23 – News: Netflix Ends Casting Support

You can no longer start watching Netflix on your mobile device and then Cast it to your TV or streaming box, because Netflix wants that sweet, sweet ad data: https://tinyurl.com/yc2wjjmv

01:12:38 – News: Kaleidescape Mini Terra Prime

The physically smallest, and least expensive, Kaleidescape server is here in all its 8 TB glory: https://www.kaleidescape.com/mini-terra-prime-movie-server/

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Not a review! But Tom has received Sofabaton X2 & R1 sample units that he has held in his very own two hands. So he shares how they feel and look at first blush. And he clicks the X2’s buttons for the first time on this very show!

Valve announced a trio of new hardware products: Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame VR Headset. And Amazon will block piracy apps on Fire TV devices.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCB9es

00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:42 – Canadian Politics?

00:04:27 – Personal Updates

00:09:29 – Sofabaton X2 First Impressions

00:19:09 – AV Rant Contact Info

00:19:59 – Tom Clicks the Sofabaton X2’s Buttons!

00:27:30 – What We Watched

Rob watched Black Phone 2. Tom watched the beginning of Iron Heart. And Metroid Prime 4: Beyond misgivings.

00:46:17 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Richard for his PayPal donation, plus our 124 Patreon Patrons.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Mark, Rohan, Christian, and Patrick. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:47:36 – News: Valve Steam Machine, Controller & Frame

Valve announced a trio of new hardware gaming devices to complement the handheld Steam Deck. Steam Machine is a mini gaming PC using AMD gaming laptop internals. Steam Controller is basically a Steam Deck without a screen. And Steam Frame is their standalone and wireless streaming VR headset: https://tinyurl.com/3zpcrew9

00:57:32 – News: Amazon to Block Fire TV Piracy

After being declared “facilitators for piracy” Amazon Fire TV devices are having sideloading restricted, and piracy apps blocked: https://tinyurl.com/mrxkhrye

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YouTube TV and Disney got into a pretty typical carriage dispute. But now Disney and Fox movies have vanished from Google Play, and Google has stopped participating in Movies Anywhere. LEGO is releasing their first Star Trek set on Black Friday, and since it’s the Enterprise-D with TNG minifigures, Rob has no choice but to try and order it.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:41 – Super Quick World Headlines

00:02:18 – Personal Updates

00:12:46 – What We Watched

Rob watched Late Night with the Devil, and the first 2 episodes of Plur1bus. Tom watched Marvel Zombies.

00:34:02 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 124 Patreon Patrons, as well as Infinite Gary for sending Tom a movie code.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Bret, Infinite Gary, Mark, Rohan, Kevin, and Jorge – who suggested Ruggable for the sort of rug that Tom is looking for: https://ruggable.com/

Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:37:34 – News: Google & YouTube TV vs. Disney

YouTube TV’s and Disney’s carriage dispute is nothing unusual. But Disney & Fox movies vanishing from the Google Play Store, and Google pulling out of Movies Anywhere all at the same time is something new: https://tinyurl.com/5n7vjxxh

00:44:39 – News: LEGO Star Trek

It’s the first Star Trek set from LEGO: a 3,600-piece Enterprise-D for $400 that Rob must own: https://tinyurl.com/y3ywr3t4

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Samsung announced HDR10+ Advanced as their answer to Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max, but for now, they can only simulate what its effects will look like. GiK Acoustics refreshed their website to make ordering easier, and the new Amplitude Series replaces both the Alpha and Impression Series combo panels. CEDIA’s Reference Audio Level and SPL Capabilities white paper details exactly how they recommend speaker manufacturers list their specifications.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

00:02:09 – Quick World Headlines

00:04:28 – Personal Updates

00:18:53 – What We Watched

Rob watched Napoleon: The Director’s Cut.

00:36:28 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 124 Patreon Patrons, as well as both Ren and Julian for each sending in a whole bunch of movie codes.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Rohan, Jason, and Anonymous. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:39:04 – News: Samsung HDR10+ Advanced

Six new HDR features are aimed at rivaling Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max: https://tinyurl.com/2byspxcw

00:47:21 – News: GiK Amplitude Series

GiK Acoustics has refreshed their website to make ordering easier. And they’ve replaced both their Alpha and Impression Series combo panels with the new Amplitude Series: https://tinyurl.com/32mbbd8j

Comments:

00:50:37 – Comment: Nathan – CEDIA Reference Audio Level

Nathan shared a CEDIA white paper that gets into the nuanced details of Reference Volume and speaker sensitivity specifications: https://tinyurl.com/29p58pns

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Tom’s move in continues to progress. Warner Bros. Discovery is officially up for sale, but most prospective buyers only want pieces of it. We answer questions about tall subs, maximum output capabilities, lots of graphs, and much more.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:42 – Tiny Bit of World News

The USA and Canada are fighting again, and all because of a TV ad?

00:04:10 – Personal Updates

Lots more news about Tom’s move in, and what’s going on outside his window as we record.

00:14:15 – What We Watched

Tom watched Artistic Gymnastics European Championships – Mixed Team Final: https://youtu.be/wdilp8B7Nts

Rob watched Weapons. And he’s been listening to EJAE’s new single, “In Another World”: https://youtu.be/fSzpkgeotB8

00:28:44 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 128 Patreon Patrons, as well as Anonymous for sending Rob an Amazon gift card, and Ren for offering to send Tom a whole bunch of movie codes.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Nelson, David, Ryan, Ilango, Infinite Gary, Rohan, Karl, Sasi, Gurinder, and Anonymous. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:31:20 – News: Warner Bros. Discovery is For Sale

The plan is still to separate back into two brands. But the whole company is officially for sale now, although most prospective buyers only want pieces of it: https://tinyurl.com/y5u7d2z3

Comments:

00:38:07 – Comment: Nelson – David’s Church’s Speakers

Nelson is familiar with the mixing board being used at David’s church, so he has some useful suggestions for getting their system working.

00:42:50 – Comment: Greg – Battery Pack for Recliners

Rather than covering an extension cord with a rug, why not power your recliners with a battery pack?

– https://tinyurl.com/2evxhndb

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