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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Rob is back! Premium Audio Company added new features to Onkyo, Integra & Pioneer AVRs, including Klipsch Optimized Mode. Disney+ added an ASL option to Ant-Man. LG Display’s 10.5G OLED factory is delayed again. And BenQ announced new projector models.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjADb6k

00:00:00 – Intro

00:04:27 – What We Watched

Rob watched Barry. Tom watched Star Wars. Visions Vol. 2

00:12:47 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 137 Patreon Patrons, including Jared, as well as Greg for sending Rob several Harmony Remotes and a couple pairs of earphones.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Dan, Stan, Jared, Jeremy, Josh, Joseph, Bob, Julian, Brannon, and Rich. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:17:49 – News: New Onkyo + Klipsch Features

Via Andrew – Premium Audio Company updated Onkyo, Integra & Pioneer AVRs to provide more gaming info, and automatically set crossovers for Klipsch speakers: https://bit.ly/3VQbvvm

– https://avgadgets.com/speaker-specs-and-subwoofer-crossover-should-you-match-them/

00:21:01 – News: Disney+ Adds ASL Option

Ant-Man is the first movie on Disney+ to get an American Sign Language option: https://bit.ly/3HUEatF

00:24:02 – News: LG’s 10.5G OLED Factory Delayed

Cheaper, huge OLED panels probably won’t be coming until 2028 now: https://bit.ly/3LRq0KX

00:28:32 – News: New BenQ Projectors

BenQ announced TK860i, HT3560, HT4550i, and V5000i models: https://bit.ly/3pk1nik

– HDTV Test: 100″ UST projector vs 98″ TCL Flat Panel: https://youtu.be/6bqKbFj04IQ

Comments:

00:33:41 – Comment: Stan – Profound Hearing Loss

An expert opinion on hearing protection.

00:40:12 – Comment: Nathan – Don’t Turn Up that SoundBar

More hearing loss concerns, and a suggestion to switch to headphones.

00:40:38 – Comment: Jeremy – JPorter Studios Waterloo

A high-efficiency speaker design: https://bit.ly/3nM34Vx

QUESTIONS:

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