On this week’s show you get what you pay for! Ara’s experience buying cheap automated wall plugs. Plus we wrap up the 2024 TV season and read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. 

News:

• Roku Said to Be in the Running to Take Over the MLB 'Sunday Leadoff' Game Package From Peacock | Next TV
• YouTube TV starting to roll out Multiview on Android phones, tablets
• Peacock Hikes Price $2 Ahead of Paris Summer Olympics
• Fubo's Warner Bros. Beef Worsens -- TLC, HGTV and Other Discovery Networks Blacked Out on vMVPD | Next TV

Other:

• 'Life of Pi' director abandons 3D and HFR: "Whole ecosystem is bad" - FlatpanelsHD
• How Las Vegas' Sphere Actually Works

Recently I purchased some thread based wall plugs to turn a night light on at sunset and off at sunrise. It was an extremely inexpensive Wemo plug that ran on thread. I was excited because thread based products are extremely fast and reliable. Well that’s what I thought.

Wemo Smart Plug with Thread - I bought them for $80 for a four pack. You can get them for $30 individually.

• I deployed four, Two lose connection with the thread router every few days. Unplug and plug back in and repeat. 
• Two are rock solid
• Belkin Customer Service won’t refund my money because its well past the 30 days. 
• No info on a firmware update
• Useless product!

GE CYNC Indoor Smart Plug, Matter Compatible $30 for three pack

• This product has no support for Homekit so this was a good test to see if a Matter plug would work in an Homekit environment.
• Connecting to my home is just as easy as a Homekit device. 
• Worked for three days and then disconnected. Unplug and plug back in did nothing. Did full reset and the device can not be added to homekit or GE Cync app. DOA
• Added a second plug to my home. Just as easy as the first. Three days later, we are still in business.
• I have not contacted customer support.
• Other than the device failing, connecting a matter plug to Homekit was trivial.

Eve Energy - (Matter Compatible) $40

• I currently have four plugs deployed for six months
• They are connected using thread and bluetooth
• Super fast and super reliable
• You get what you pay for

Although this year's TV Season got a late start, we did have one however short it was. It seems like we just got new episodes and now we are looking at season finales. But even with shortened TV seasons, executives have to make tough decisions on what shows get another season and which ones say good-bye. The following is what TV Line is reporting for the end of the 2024 Television Season: 

ABC

• 9-1-1: Officially renewed for Season 8
• Abbott Elementary: Officially renewed for Season 4. 
• The Conners: A safe bet.
• The Good Doctor: Officially canceled; series finale airs this Spring.
• Grey’s Anatomy: Officially renewed for Season 21.
• Not Dead Yet: Could go either way. 
• The Rookie: Officially renewed for Season 7
• Station 19: Officially canceled; series finale airs this Spring.
• Will Trent: Officially renewed for Season 3

CBS

• Blue Bloods: Officially canceled; series finale airs in Fall 2024.
• Bob Hearts Abishola: Officially canceled; series finale airs May 6.
• CSI: Vegas: Officially canceled.
• The Equalizer: Officially renewed for Season 5
• Elsbeth: Officially renewed for Season 2
• FBI: Officially renewed (through Season 9)
• FBI: International: Officially renewed for Season 4
• FBI: Most Wanted: Officially renewed for Season 6
• Fire Country: Officially renewed for Season 3
• Ghosts: Officially renewed for Season 4
• NCIS: Officially renewed for Season 22
• NCIS: Hawai’i: Officially canceled.
• The Neighborhood: Officially renewed for Season 7
• So Help Me Todd: Officially canceled. 
• S.W.A.T.: Officially uncancelled, renewed for Season 8
• Tracker: Officially renewed for Season 2
• Young Sheldon: Officially canceled; series finale airs May 16; spinoff ordered

FOX

• 9-1-1: Lone Star: Season 5 delayed until Fall 2024.
• Accused: Too early to tell.
• Alert: Missing Persons Unit: Too early to tell. 
• Animal Control: Officially renewed for Season 3.
• Bob’s Burgers: Officially renewed for Season 15.
• The Cleaning Lady: Could go either way.
• Family Guy: Officially renewed for Season 23.
• The Great North: Could go either way.
• Grimsburg: Officially renewed for Season 2.
• HouseBroken: In perpetual limbo.
• Krapopolis: Officially renewed for Seasons 2 and 3.
• The Simpsons: Officially renewed for Season 36.

NBC

• Chicago Fire: Officially renewed.
• Chicago Med: Officially renewed.
• Chicago P.D.: Officially renewed.
• Extended Family: Could go either way.
• Found: Officially renewed for Season 2.
• The Irrational: Officially renewed for Season 2.
• Law & Order: Officially renewed.
• Law & Order: Organized Crime: A safe bet.
• Law & Order: SVU: Officially renewed.
• Lopez vs. Lopez: Could go either way.
• Night Court: A safe bet.
• Quantum Leap: Officially canceled.

The CW

• All American: Too early to tell.
• All American: Homecoming: Too early to tell
• Sight Unseen: Too early to tell
• Sullivan’s Crossing: Officially renewed for Season 2.
• Superman & Lois: Officially canceled; final season premiere date TBD.
• Walker: Too early to tell.
• Wild Cards: Could go either way.

On this week’s show we look at the Nielsen “The Gauge™” report for March 2024 and the new Sony Bravia Line of TVs. We also ask if QDEL is the future of TV Technology. We round out the show with your emails and a look at the week’s news.

News:

• Plex Flex: FAST Boasts That It Has Exceeded 1100 Channels
• Netflix Makes Major Changes to Its Plans - RetailWire
• Source: 4K Chromecast with Google TV sequel is coming with new remote

Other:

• Cambridge Audio USA | eBay Stores
• Cambridge Audio Minx X201 (Black) Ultra-compact powered subwoofer at Crutchfield
• S6 Powered Subwoofer for $300
• Sony might have perfected Mini LED TVs with its new 2024 lineup - The Verge

Nielsen today released The Gauge™ report for March 2024, which revealed that TV usage changes from February to March were very similar to those exhibited in the same interval last year, as seasonality—of both content and viewing behavior—has started to take effect. As such, the 3% drop in overall TV usage in March does not come as a surprise, but a closer look at shifts in viewing behavior over a longer period of time highlights greater changes across the broader media landscape. Full Press Release here…

Sony unveiled four new Bravia TV models, “flagship” and “premium” mini-LED editions, the Bravia 9 and Bravia 8, respectively, a “core” full-array LED Bravia 7, and a “standard” direct LED Bravia 6. Full Article Here…

In the realm of premium display technologies, Quantum Dot Electroluminescent (QDEL) is emerging as a promising innovation that could potentially replace OLED in high-end TVs and monitors. Unlike traditional LEDS, QDEL displays do not require a traditional backlight; instead, they utilize quantum dots as the light source, offering various advantages in terms of image quality, affordability, and longevity. So what makes QDEL so enticing to TV manufacturers?

Evolution from OLED 

With OLED technology becoming more common and affordable, the focus has shifted toward identifying the next breakthrough in consumer display technology. While concepts like Micro LED, transparent screens, and foldable displays are under development, quantum dots have surfaced as a leading contender to address key user concerns effectively.

Quantum Dot Technology 

Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that emit light when subjected to an electric current, offering superior color accuracy and brightness compared to traditional displays. QDEL leverages quantum dots to produce vibrant colors, high brightness, and enhanced energy efficiency without relying on a separate backlight system.

Advantages of QDEL

• Wider Color Gamut: QDEL displays are expected to surpass QD-OLEDs in terms of color accuracy and vibrancy, enhancing the viewing experience for consumers.
• Improved Brightness: By using quantum dots as the light source, QDEL screens can achieve higher brightness levels, making them suitable for various environments, including well-lit rooms.
• Cost Efficiency: The elimination of backlight components in QDEL technology may lead to more affordable displays for consumers in the future.
• Burn-In Resistance: QDEL displays are designed to be resistant to issues like burn-in, which have been a concern with certain display technologies.

Nanotechnology Development 

Nanosys, a leading quantum dot supplier, is actively involved in developing QDEL technology under the name NanoLED. This innovative approach aims to enhance display performance while offering a competitive edge in the premium display market.

QDEL represents a promising advancement in display technology, offering a backlight-less solution with improved color reproduction, brightness, affordability, and durability. As the industry continues to evolve, QDEL stands out as a technology to watch for enthusiasts and consumers looking for the next generation of premium displays.

On this week’s show we compare Mini-LED vs OLED and we put a high end listening room based on products that were exhibited at this year’s AXPONA show. We also read your email and look at the week’s news.

News:

• DirecTV and Dish Back Fubo in Its Spulu Antitrust Suit | Next TV
• Roku Upgrades Viewing Experience with New Features | TV Tech
• Hub: Smart TVs Now in Nearly 8 of 10 Homes | TV Tech
• Disney Plus Looking To Integrate Always-On Linear Channels

Other:

• Credit cards abused again in second Roku hack affecting 576,000 - FlatpanelsHD
• NBCUniversal Launches Personalized, Hyperlocal Services via ATSC 3.0 | TV Tech

We are asked from time to time to recommend a particular TV or in some cases a technology. Right now, in our opinion, the best TV technology is OLED. But is it really the best overall? Let’s take a look at OLED vs mini-LED in six important criteria.

1. Sharpness and Resolution: Both OLED and Mini-LED TVs typically offer 4K resolution, with some models supporting higher resolutions. Therefore, in terms of sharpness and resolution, it's a tie between OLED and Mini-LED.
2. Black Levels: OLED TVs excel in producing true blacks by individually turning off pixels. Mini-LED displays have not completely achieved this level of per-pixel control. In this aspect, OLED emerges as the winner for its superior black levels.
3. Brightness and Contrast: OLED TVs offer deep blacks for infinite contrast ratio, while Mini-LED TVs can achieve higher brightness levels. Mini-LED takes the lead in brightness, while OLED wins in terms of contrast ratio.
4. Color Quality: OLED TVs typically exhibit excellent color quality, often surpassing 100% of the sRGB color gamut. Although Mini-LED TVs may not reach these levels, this is more due to other factors like color filters rather than the Mini-LED technology itself. The winner in color quality is OLED.
5. Viewing Angles: OLED TVs generally have wider viewing angles compared to LCD TVs, including those using Mini-LED technology. While Mini-LED TVs can vary based on the type of display used, OLED usually outperforms them in terms of viewing angles.
6. Size and Price: In terms of size, both OLED and Mini-LED TVs are available in various sizes to suit different preferences. However, traditionally, OLED TVs have been more expensive compared to Mini-LED TVs, which could be a consideration for some buyers. Price and size considerations may vary based on individual preferences and budgets.

So which one wins? It's our opinion that OLED has the absolute best picture but mini-LED is very close and unless you are looking at them side by side you won’t notice. It really comes down to cost and since you can buy some really big mini-LED TVs for a quarter of the price, we give the nod to mini-LED.

AXPONA 2024 wrapped up last week. What is AXPONA you might ask? From their website:  AXPONA is a three-day experience featuring multiple hotel floors packed with over 200 listening rooms. The Expo Hall featuring The Record Fair, The Ear Gear Experience, and seminars. Whether you’re a serious audiophile, a newcomer to high-end audio or simply a music lover, you’ll find everything you need to immerse yourself in your favorite sounds. 

It's very similar to “The Show” that we have out here in CA every year. This year it will be June 7-9 in Costa Mesa so come out and let’s all go! While AXPONA exhibited products that most of us can buy, there are some that, quite frankly, are priced for people fly on their own jets. They probably don’t even listen to podcasts, so let’s make fun of them!! Kidding of course. Today, our very rich uncle who has $150,000 laying around has asked us to put a system together so he can listen to his extensive vinyl collection!

Transrotor Tourbillon FMD

The Tourbillon FMD is a premium turntable model with high-end features designed to deliver exceptional performance in the audio playback experience. 

The Transrotor Tourbillon FMD stands out as a top-of-the-line turntable with innovative features and premium construction materials aimed at audiophiles seeking unparalleled sound quality and precision in vinyl playback. With its advanced FMD bearing technology, dual tone arm support, and included accessories, it offers a premium and comprehensive audio experience for discerning enthusiasts in the high-end turntable market.

$60K with Cartridge

Fern and Roby Amp No. 2

Amp No. 2 is our second collaboration with Michael Bettinger who has been designing and building amplifiers for nearly 40 years. Integrated amps make building a great high fidelity audio system easy. Our goal in this project was to produce something that will turn your living room into the best listening room possible. Fewer components, cables, and cost, but delivering world class audio into your home. $8500 (Add $350 if you want Isolation Feet) 

Acora SRB Reference Loudspeaker

Acora Acoustics loudspeakers are constructed using hand crafted, specially treated granite enclosures. The rigidity of granite far exceeds that of traditional particle board or wood enclosures. One of the benefits of this is as the SRB’s drivers move to push air / create sound, the enclosure isn’t absorbing this energy and dulling or smearing the sound. Another benefit of the Acora enclosure is it does not need internal bracing to “stiffen” the enclosure. This means no additional reflections inside the enclosure that will vibrate the low frequency driver and smear the sound. The SRB also utilizes world class drivers and a hand built crossover network, however the real secret to the Acora Sound is that you only hear these, not the enclosure.

Sensitivity 86.5 db 

Frequency Response 43Hz - 35KHz 

58 lbs each

$37,000 pair

On this week’s show we preview the upcoming WiFi 7 specification and we review the Technics SU-GX70 Network Audio Amplifier Review. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.

News:

• Roku just announced a free NBA channel
• ESPN’s Stand-Alone Streaming Service Will Be Available Through Disney+
• Apple TV+ share grows in the US, but still lags behind its competitors
• LG TV owners should update their firmware, webOS vulnerability found in a few models

Other:

• Ridiculous 150" AWOL Vision Theater Setup
• Roku patent invents a way to show ads over anything you plug into your TV | Ars Technica
• A Giga-Sunset For Gigaset IoT Devices | Hackaday

Why WiFi 7 is the future of wireless technology

As of now, the finalized specifications for WiFi 7 (also known as 802.11be) have not been officially released, as the standard is still in development. However, based on industry discussions and proposals, some expected features of the proposed WiFi 7 specification include:

1. Increased Speeds: WiFi 7 is anticipated to offer even higher data rates than its predecessors, potentially reaching multi-gigabit speeds 
2. Enhanced Efficiency: Improved spectrum efficiency will allowi for better performance in crowded environments and increased capacity for simultaneous connections.
3. Low Latency: WiFi 7 is likely to target reduced latency to support real-time applications such as online gaming, video streaming, and video conferencing with minimal delay.
4. Advanced Security: 
5. Multi-User MIMO: More advanced Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology 
6. Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA): The use of OFDMA will enhance spectral efficiency and enable better resource allocation for various types of traffic.
7. Improved Beamforming: Enhanced beamforming techniques will optimize signal transmission and reception, improving network coverage and reliability.
8. Wider Spectrum Utilization: WiFi 7 may explore the use of new frequency bands or spectrum sharing techniques to accommodate more devices and applications and deliver better performance.
9. IoT Optimization: Features tailored for Internet of Things (IoT) devices to support the increasing number of connected devices and diverse IoT applications.
10. Power Efficiency Enhancements: Efforts to improve power efficiency to extend battery life in wireless devices and reduce energy consumption overall.

It's important to note that these features are based on expectations and early proposals for WiFi 7. The final specifications may vary as the standard progresses through the development and approval process.

Listening to music takes three elements, the music itself, the speakers, and the amplification. If one of these elements is not up to the task, your entire experience will be less than desired. Great speakers take high quality audio to even higher levels. The converse is also true, poor quality audio files will sound even worse. 

There is a middle layer that we don’t talk about as much, and that’s the amplification. Back in the 70’s all we cared about were watts! The more, the better! As a teenager I did not appreciate that not all power is created equal. Smart amplifier design can make your music sound even better and that’s what the engineers at Technics have done with the SU-GX70 Network Audio Amplifier (MSRP $1999.95).

The GX70 is a box that has something for everyone. First and foremost it's a digital amplifier that outputs a total of 80 Watts into 8 ohms and supports a ton of physical connections including: Line level x2, phono, HDMI ARC, optical x2, coaxial, USB Type A, USB Type B. Supporting HDMI ARC allows you to connect your own speakers as a soundbar alternative.  

As far as wireless connection goes, you have Wi-fi, ethernet, Bluetooth, Google Chromecast and Apple AirPlay 2. DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) and  FM. You can also get access to Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz through the app. 

Hi Res is supported via the USB port with a DAC that can decode 32-bit/384kHz PCM and DSD512 files and it can handle MQA streams from Tidal. This is one versatile integrated amp!!

Setup

To connect the GX70 to the network you use the Apple Home (or Google Home) app. Which seemed odd to us since there is a remote control and display screen. But once you are connected to your network you can use the Technics Audio Center App to control the system. Actually, the only reason you would need the app is if you want to send MQA streams to the amp. All the radio stations that are available through the app are available on your phone or tablet via apps source apps like iHeart Radio. You can tweak the amp to dial it in for your speakers through a calibration on the amp. But it sounded really good right out of the box. 

We’ll give it an 8 out of 10 for setup, knocking off two points because you have to use Apple/Google Home to get it connected to your network. The aforementioned remote is a better way to use and interact with the amp. You pretty much just need to connect your speakers and you are good to go.

Sound

To test the audio we turned to the HT Guys Listener Playlist (Playlist available on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify)  and listened via Airplay2, Bluetooth, and USB. All the music was played in the highest fidelity available on the platform. Both Airplay and Bluetooth lowered quality to fit within the limits of the protocol. It should be noted that the GX70 does not support AptX. 

We’ll discuss Airplay and Bluetooth together and sum it up by saying the quality was good. The only thing we’ll say is that these formats work well for convenience without sacrificing too much quality. When listening to music while doing something else, this is a nice feature. But for really listening to music we used the USB connection.

Once connected to Listened to Steely Dan, Deacon Blues (24 bit 192kHz) across three different speakers and found that the GX70 helped capture nuances in the music that we had never heard before. The sound was clean and precise. In Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Tin Pan Alley his voice was so smooth and raspy but in a good way! It's like the amp gave it more power and weight!

But can it make your walls rattle? You would think at 80W total that this was not a possibility and depending on your speakers it's not. If you have power hungry speakers they will push the amp to its limits. However, if you have efficient  speakers, it will fill the room with sound. More than we were expecting. For that we turned to UFO Strangers in the Night Live, which is an excellent album from the 1970’s, but the recording wasn’t the best. We’ll say this, the GX70 attached to Ascend Acoustics Sierra-1s, which are not extremely efficient speakers, got loud enough to where family members asked to turn down the music!

Conclusion

What we liked

• A plethora of input sources (both wired and wireless) 
• Build Quality is first rate
• LCD and Remote make it easy to use and setup
• Outstanding detailed sound quality

Needs Improvement

• Two app setup
• Would like to see Aptx for high quality audio from mobile devices.
• Needs a tad more power

The GX70 offers an elevated listening experience that brings music to life with clarity, depth, and immersive soundstaging making it a top choice for those who are serious about their music.

On this week’s show the HT Guys are on spring break but no worries we still have a brief show for you. Are Sports Fans willing to pay $50 a month to stream their favorite teams? We have a couple of emails and news stories. 

News:

• YouTube TV estimated to have more subscribers than Comcast and Spectrum by 2026
• Kaleidescape Introduces 96TB Terra Prime Movie Server

Other:

• Smart devices are turning out to be a poor investment

57% of Sports Fans Willing to Pay $50 Monthly For Live Streaming App

More than 57% of TV sports fans said they would pay $50 monthly for a sports-only streaming app service in a February online survey of 2,000 respondents conducted by CasinoReviews.net, an advocate for online wagering. Full article here…

On this week’s show SVS officially launches their Ultra Evolution Speakers, Amazon Echo Dot with LED Display is the best home automation device, and RTINGS.com is not impressed with the Formovie UST Projector. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.

News:

• One-in-ten borrow streaming passwords
• Warner Sets Rollout Date for Max in Europe
• Mediacom Launches Xumo Stream Box
• TCL Adds NFL FAST Channel to TCLtv Plus Streaming Service

Other:

• Apple TV+ Is the New HBO | WIRED

We had Nick Brown and Smith Freeman on the live stream last Friday where we talked about the speakers and had a fun time. At that time we could not discuss all the details of their new Ultra Evolution speakers. Well this week SVS announced the availability and pricing.

From the Press Release:

At first glance, the most striking design feature is the acoustically centered time alignment cabinet architecture. A curve in the front baffle aligns the sound emanation point of the tweeter and each driver on a vertical plane ensuring sound from each driver arrives at a listener’s ear in the exact same instant. This maximizes phase coherence for a more convincing and immersive soundstage with pinpoint accuracy and imaging.

For the tower models specifically, midrange drivers and woofers positioned above and below the tweeter allow for seamless crossover blending to create an idealized “point-source” where sound flows from a single point in front of the speaker to optimize dispersion characteristics.

The diamond-coated aluminum dome tweeter is also completely new for SVS. Using a modern  technology called vapor deposition, a layer of diamond carbon is grown on the surface of the aluminum dome to improve rigidity and critical acoustic properties. This breakthrough in material science raises the frequency response well beyond the limits of human hearing resulting in effortless, airy, and unveiled highs with no measurable distortion. It also pushes low frequency extension of the tweeter deeper for more seamless blending with the midrange.

Details and pricing on the new models are included below.  

• Ultra Evolution Pinnacle: 3-way floorstanding speaker - $4,999.98/pair
• Ultra Evolution Titan: 3-way floorstanding speaker - $3,999.98/pair
• Ultra Evolution Tower: 3-way floorstanding speaker - $2,999.98/pair  
• Ultra Evolution Bookshelf: 2-way bookshelf speaker - $1,199.98/pair
• Ultra Evolution Nano: Compact 2-way bookshelf speaker - $899.98/pair
• Ultra Evolution Center: 3-way center channel speaker - $799.99
• Ultra Elevation: Versatile home theater speaker with multi-angle wall/ceiling mounting bracket - $899.98/pair
•  

Ultra Evolution Nano and Ultra Evolution Tower models will ship later in Q2.

Finish options will be limited at launch. All models will soon be available in Piano Gloss Black, Piano Gloss White, and Premium Black Oak Wood Veneer finishes.

All SVS products are backed by a five-year unconditional warranty, 45-day in-home trial, fast and free shipping, expert lifetime support, SoundPoints loyalty program, and all the guarantees of the SVS Customer Bill of Rights.

I was reading an article on Tom’s Guide titled “The best smart home devices in 2024” and saw that they deemed the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock ($50) as the best smart home device overall. I wondered why? Once you dive in, you can see how they got there. From the article:

The name says it all: this is an Echo Dot with a clever LED clock built in its face. However, this seemingly simple addition adds a ton of functionality to the Echo Dot, making an even better smart home companion. In fact, we wish more smart home companies took Amazon's cue and make minor — yet effective — enhancements to already excellent devices.

I started searching online and found other reviewers saying the same thing. The Dot does everything you’d expect a device of this type to do but it's the LED that sets it apart from its competition. And if you read some of the 65,000 comments you’ll see a lot of others agree! The LED can display a clock, timers, weather, song titles, and more. 

So do you think a $50 smart speaker with an LED display is worthy of the title “Best Smart Home Device”?

Here is what some owners are saying:

• Replaced my 20 year old alarm clock
• I was looking for an "Atomic" alarm clock which automatically sets the current time and found this.
• I bought this Echo Dot for our bedroom when the old alarm clock finally quit working. This is bright, lights up when you speak and shows the time in the dark. Love it!
• A great clock for any room

Over at AVS forum a thread caught our eye titled “RTINGS what are you doing?”. The author of the thread was not happy with a review of the  Formovie UST Projector the site had posted. RTINGS gave the projector a 7.1 out of 10 for movies. Reading through the thread it was clear that owners of the Formovie were upset. One poster thought it was possible that the RTINGS methodology may be suspect. 

Question for our listeners. If you own a product and are happy with it do you seek out reviews? If they differ from your opinions does it bother you?

If you remember in 2023 Projector Central did a laser projector showdown where the Formovie UST Projector won best Best Ultra Short Throw Projector. So it may have been in the AVS forum posters mind that the Formovie was a really good projector. Projector Central did not say best projector but best ultra short throw projector. Most people agree that UST projectors are not as good as long throw projectors but they do have the ability to be viewed in rooms with plenty of ambient light.

RTINGS strictly looks at the measurements it takes objectively. When they did, the Formovie UST projector did not fare well. If you look at the scores from the shootout you see that it didn’t do much  better than what RTINGS said it did. If RTINGS did a UST shootout the F ormovie may have been the best one. It's just not the best projector.

On this week’s show we take a look at some audiophile myths and debunk them. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.

News:

• LG Debuts Wireless Dolby Soundbar For G4 OLED evo TVs
• Have You Signed Up for a Streamer to Watch a Specific Show?
• DirecTV Drops Local Stations From Lower-Priced Bundle
• CSA unveils smart home security standard
• ESPN Signs Six-Year, $7.8 Billion Extension for the Expanding College Football Playoff Tournament

Other:

• TV Station Launches Multiple 4K Broadcasts OTA on ATSC 1.0

Why do some in our hobby spend so much money on their gear? And for this discussion we are not talking about reasonably priced quality products that can cost a few thousand dollars. We’re talking about really expensive stuff like speakers that cost $20,000 each, speaker wire that costs $100 a foot, or any other product that needlessly separates you from your money all in the name of squeezing out the last bit of performance.  On today’s show we will dispel a few Audiophile Myths and hopefully save you money and help you get more out of the equipment you own.

Myth: Even though people cannot hear frequencies above 20 KHz, it is important that audio equipment be able to reproduce higher frequencies to maintain clarity.

Fact: Producing sounds at a frequency beyond what humans can hear is not sonically useful. However, a good amplifier and speaker generally have a frequency response beyond the limits of hearing.  Conversely, the lack of an extended response can indicate that the amplifier designers cut some corners. Keep in mind you don’t have to pay a lot of money for this. A Fosi amp goes for $100 and produces frequencies from 20Hz to 20kHz. 

Myth: Gold-plated connectors sound better than connectors made of standard materials (Copper, Nickel. Or Tin).

Fact: Gold does not oxidize, and oxidized connectors can cause problems. With that said, gold on it's own will not make your audio better. As far as oxidation goes, good quality wire and connectors will take years to oxidize under normal circumstances. Don’t waste money on gold plated when copper will do the exact same thing!

Myth: Speakers Need Time to Break In  

Fact: I used to believe this based on my own listening. But there was no way for me to actually remember what my speakers sounded like from day one to compare them with day five after 30 hours of use. It wasn’t until I saw objective tests performed on speakers when they were new and again when they were used for 30 hours. The wave forms were sonically identical. Conclusive scientific results. End of story!  

Now some bigger drivers like woofers and subwoofers use spiders as stiffening agents instead of thicker, more rigid materials in their production. These do lose stiffness in their suspension with use, but it usually happens within minutes — not hours or days. 

Myth: All acoustic treatments will improve the sound.

Fact: You can’t throw up acoustic treatments just anywhere and expect an improvement in sound. Acoustic treatments are made to address specific problems. With that said, if you have a room with bare walls and wood or tile floors, get soft materials on the walls and rugs on the floor. In this case dampening the echos will help. But to do a full treatment you need to be more exact, 

Here is a list of articles from Audioholics that can help you treat your room. “Room Reflections and Human Adaptation for Small Room Acoustics,” “Early Reflections and Bass for Small Room Acoustics,” and “Early Reflections in Home Theater Rooms: Beneficial or Detrimental?” 

Myth: Speakers need to be isolated to get the most out of them. 

Fact: Well designed loudspeakers don't transmit much mechanical energy through their enclosures. Loudspeakers are transmitting most of their energy into the air which then exerts force on objects in the room. You are likely getting more vibrations from pressure waves hitting other objects in the room as opposed to the cabinet vibrating.  

In my room I have played some of my speakers at very loud volumes. I then touched the drivers on the speakers that were adjacent and there was some movement. I’m not sure that they did anything to distort the sound in the room, but they were vibrating more than the cabinets of the speaker that I was using. There may be some aesthetic reasons you may want to isolate your speakers including pads to protect your floor.

Myth: All your speaker wire should be the same length.

Fact: Speed of electricity is 186,000 miles a second. That means that a 5 meter and 10 meter cable have statistically no difference as to when the signal gets to the drivers. But using similar length speaker wire will increase the resale value of your speakers should you choose to sell them!

Myth: You need to break in your speaker wire.

Fact: Yes!! Do not drive them past 10 for the first 12,000 miles. After that if your amp goes to 11, have at it!! 

Seriously, when it comes to speaker wire buy high quality wire. Just don’t pay exorbitant prices. Solid copper 14 Gauge speaker wire should not cost you more than  $25 for fifty feet. If you are doing short runs (less than ten feet) you can use higher gauge wire and save some copper both figuratively and literally!! Well provided you are paying in coins anyway.

On this week’s show we discuss John Campeas video where he claims streaming is about to get a lot more expensive and irritating. We also take a look at the top ten shows both domestically and globally at Netflix and Vudu is now officially “Fandango at Home”. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. 

News:

• LAPD issues warning about residential burglars using WiFi jammers to disable alarms, cameras
• LG's $1 billion investment boosts OLED production
• Roku Has More than 15,000 User Accounts Hacked
• YouTube TV is Going to Make it Easier to Browse & Still Watch Your Show

Other:

• The Downfall of Streaming TV | The Bubble has Burst
• Roku's Ransom: Agree to Forced Arbitration or Lose Your TV!
• First Look 2024: A new era of Samsung AI TV | Samsung

Here is what you need to know:

• FandangoNow users will need to move their accounts to Vudu
• Once FandangoNow users move their accounts to Vudu and log in again, they’ll be able to access their libraries and promo codes.
• Vudu users won’t need to take any action unless they want to link their existing Fandango account.
• Vudu and FandangoNow subscribers can also use the same username and password to log in on the rebranded service.
• Users won’t lose any content from their libraries
• Under Fandango at Home, users can take advantage of new Vudu gift cards, reward loyalty programs, and partner programs coming soon.
• Clicking on the “Buy Tickets” link goes to the Fandango website. If you don’t have an account you’ll have to create a seperate one to purchase movie tickets. No word on when or if the two sites will be merged. 
• From the Fandango website you can preorder food and drinks after you buy tickets. Available at select theaters. 

Netflix Top Ten TV Globally

# Title Weeks in Top 10 Hours Viewed Runtime Views

1 The Gentlemen: S1 1 81,500,000 6:41 12,200,000

2 Avatar The Last Airbender: S1 3 65,700,000 7:15 9,100,000

3 The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping: Limited Series 

1 22,700,000 3:12 7,100,000

4 Hot Wheels Let's Race: S1 1 16,300,000 4:02 4,000,000

5 Love Is Blind: S6 4 43,800,000 12:42 3,400,000

6 One Day: Limited Series 5 20,400,000 6:40 3,100,000

7 American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders: Season 1

2 8,900,000 3:44 2,400,000

8 Blood & Water: S4 1 10,500,000 4:40 2,200,000

9 Resident Alien: S1 4 16,200,000 7:33 2,100,000

10 The Tourist: S2 1 11,300,000 5:45 2,000,000

Netflix Top Ten TV in The US

1. The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping: Limited Series 3 Globally
2. The Gentlemen: Season 1 1 Globally
3. Love Is Blind: Season 6 5 Globally
4. Avatar The Last Airbender: Season 1 2 Globally
5. American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders: Season 1 7 Globally
6. Furies: Season 1 N/A Globally
7. The Tourist: Season 2 10 Globally
8. The Signal: Limited Series N/A Globally
9. Hot Wheels Let's Race: Season 1 4 Globally
10. Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 1 N/A Globally

We received an email from John pointing us to this video:

How Streaming Is About To Get A Lot More Expensive And Irritating 

The Host John Campea had some really good thoughts on why Streaming is about to get a lot more expensive.

On this week’s show we look at using a two channel powered speaker with ARC as a soundbar alternative and we look at the best 85” HDTVs you can purchase today. We also read your email and take a look at the week’s news.

News:

• Dish Network Loses 314,000 Pay TV Subs
• Fubo Adds 173,000 Subs and Cuts Loss in Q4
• Warner to Crack Down on Max Password Sharing Later This Year
• Fox predicts sports venture will reach 5M in 5 years

Other:

• Best Smart Home Gadgets To Avoid The Cloud

The new Kanto Ren are well-connected, featuring an HDMI input for hooking up to a TV as well as a USB-C input for playing files up to 24-bit/96kHz from a source player. An optical Toslink supports up to 24-bit/96kHz transmission, and there's a single RCA input alongside a 3.5mm jack. If you don't want to plug in directly, they're also kitted out with Bluetooth 5.3. Outputs, meanwhile, come courtesy of a single sub-out line and a single USB Charge.

The new units are supplied with a remote control and feature a choice of two extra sound modes – vocal boost and night mode. The latter does one of two things. if a subwoofer is connected, the sub-out signal will be switched off and the low-frequencies will only be emitted from the speaker itself. If no subwoofer is connected, the Ren's bass will be reduced, presumably so as not to disturb your lower-floor neighbors when they're trying to get some kip. There's also a quarter-inch hole at the base of the units for mounting.

The new units will be on sale from July, priced at $599 per pair, and are available in a choice of six colors: black, cream, white, green, brown and orange.

Potential system to rival the Kento Ren for $250 less:

Arylic Bluetooth aptX HD Stereo Amplifier $140 paired with RSL CG3M BOOKSHELF SPEAKER $210 for the pair total cost $350

We talk about large format HDTVs all the time and they range in super expensive to pretty darn cheap. But what are you getting for your money. RTINGS.com has posted their list of the 5 Best 80 - 85 inch TVs. We run them down for you on today’s show. 

Best 80-85 Inch TV

The best TV you can buy that's available in 80+ inches is the LG OLED83C3PUA ($3596). It's an excellent TV with stunning picture quality, especially in a dark room. It looks amazing in the dark thanks to its near-infinite contrast ratio that results in perfect inky blacks, with no distracting blooming or halos around bright highlights or subtitles. Combined with its high peak brightness and wide color gamut, the latest movies and shows in HDR look amazing. It's no slouch in a bright room either, as it's bright enough to fight glare, and its reflection handling is fantastic. 

Mixed Usage 9.0, TV Shows 8.6, Sports 8.8, Video Games 9.4, HDR Movies 9.0, HDR Gaming 9.1, PC Monitor 9.4 See full test results.

Best Bright Room 80-85 Inch TV

If you're rarely in a completely dark room, check out the Sony XR-85X95L ($4498) instead. It's a slightly larger TV than the LG C3 OLED, making it the best 85-inch TV you can get if you want something slightly bigger. It doesn't have the same perfect black levels as the OLED, but it has a truly incredible contrast ratio and black uniformity, leading to extremely deep blacks. Plus, it gets much brighter than the LG, so it's a better choice if you're in a very bright room, as it can overcome more glare. It also delivers brighter highlights in HDR. This, combined with its excellent color gamut, makes it an impressive choice for watching content in HDR10 or Dolby Vision HDR.

Mixed Usage  8.6; TV Shows  8.3, Sports 8.4, Video Games  8.9, HDR Movies  8.8, HDR Gaming 8.9, PC Monitor  8.7 See full test results.

Best Mid-Range 80-85 Inch TV

If you don't want to spend an arm and a leg but still want good picture quality, then a mid-range TV like the Hisense 85U8K ($2198) is a good alternative. It's significantly cheaper than the Sony X95L or LG C3 OLED but still delivers amazing picture quality. It's just as bright as the Sony, and its contrast is almost as good due to a better overall local dimming solution. The Hisense displays a wide color gamut, has surprisingly good image processing, and supports advanced audio and video formats like our top two picks, so it's an amazing home theater TV for a lower price than the Sony or the LG.

Mixed Usage 8.5; TV Shows 8.0, Sports  7.9, Video Games  8.8, HDR Movies  8.8, HDR Gaming  8.9, PC Monitor  8.5 See full test results.

Best Lower Mid-Range 80-85 Inch TV

If you're on a budget but want better picture quality than the budget option below, the Hisense 85U7K ($1798) is the best lower mid-range TV we've tested available in an 80 to 85-inch size. It's a great TV, with very good picture quality and a wide selection of additional features. It's basically a dimmer Hisense U8/U8K with a nearly identical feature set. It's still bright enough for a pleasant viewing experience in bright rooms. Its contrast, while worse than the picks above, is excellent overall, leading to deep blacks in dark rooms. Like its more expensive sibling, it's a stellar home theater TV with very good image processing and support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and advanced DTS audio formats.

Mixed Usage  8.2, TV Shows  7.8, Sports  7.8, Video Games  8.7, HDR Movies  8.3, HDR Gaming 8.7, PC Monitor  8.5 See full test results.

Best Budget 80-85 Inch TV

If you're on a budget and want a large TV, you'll have to spend more than if you were getting a smaller size. However, a few budget-friendly models are available in larger sizes, like the TCL 85Q650G ($998). It's a decent overall TV that doesn't cost nearly as much and still has much to offer. Unlike the models above, this TV doesn't have local dimming to improve its contrast, so it doesn't look as good in a dark room. It also doesn't get as bright or emphasize highlights like the Hisense U7K/U75K does, but it's still good enough to overcome glare in a bright room. Like the Hisense TVs, the TCL supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, but it doesn't have good image processing, so it's not a great choice for a home theater setup.

Mixed Usage 7.3; TV Shows 6.9, Sports  6.9, Video Games  7.9, HDR Movies  7.2, HDR Gaming  8.0, PC Monitor  7.7 See full test results.

On this week’s show we run down the top ten streaming shows of 2023 and give you ten cool automations for your home. We also read your email and take a look at the week’s news.

News:

• Amazon Denies Report Saying Freevee Is Shutting Down
• Sports Big Influence in Viewers’ Platform Choice   
• Get Ready for Another Netflix Price Hike This Year, Analyst Says

Other:

• What REALLY Happens Backstage in Live Broadcasts - INSANE Adrenaline!

Here are the 10 most streamed shows of 2023, according to Neilson, along with how many minutes that it’s been watched last year:

10) “Supernatural”: 22.8 billion minutes

9) “Heartland”: 22.8 billion minutes

8) “Friends”: 25 billion minutes

7) “Gilmore Girls”: 25.2 billion minutes

6) “The Big Bang Theory”: 27.8 billion minutes

5) “Cocomelon”: 36.3 billion minutes 

4) “Grey’s Anatomy”: 38.6 billion minutes

3) “NCIS”: 39.4 billion minutes

2) “Bluey”: 43.9 billion minutes

1) “Suits”: 57.7 billion minutes viewed

When it comes to original streaming shows, “Ted Lasso” topped the list with an impressive — but notably lesser — 16.9 billion minutes viewed. No other original streaming show cracked 15 billion minutes viewed last year.

When it comes to streaming movies, Disney’s 2016 hit “Moana” topped viewership minutes with 11.6 billion minutes viewed. No other streaming movie topped 10 billion minutes viewed.

Combining the total viewership minutes of “Ted Lasso” and “Moana” brings you to 28.5 billion. That’s less than half the total minutes viewed of “Suits,” a show that ended nearly four years ago.

Home automation has come such a long way since the Insteon X10 systems of the 1980s and 1990s. Today there are numerous systems available and just about all of us have some form of automation that we use daily. We pulled together 10 cool automation routines that you may want to try yourself.  

1. Have your lights slowly dim just before bedtime. I was a skeptic when I saw this as an option but when I go to bed I do some reading and having the lights dim as I do is a nice way to doze off. I started out with the dimming taking 10 minutes. I liked it so much I now start it a full 30 minutes before my “official” bedtime. 
2. Set the lights to randomly flash to make it appear as if you’re home when away. We all have lights that turn on automatically. This takes it to the next level. You could define a set of routines that only work when you set a “Vacation Mode” on your system. Set up different ones for each day of the week.
3. Flash your lights when your doorbell rings. This is handy if you are out in the garage, basement, or any other room where you can’t hear the doorbell. Comes in handy if you are blasting music. For bonus points you can have your wireless speakers play Men at Work’s Who Can it Be Now.
4. Create individual access codes for kids, guests, and extended family members. Then, get a phone notification when specific people arrive home.
5. Have a certain song play out your speakers when certain people arrive. Just like walk up music for baseball. It's fun and you know who just walked in or opened the garage.
6. Install a sensor on or inside your mailbox that alerts you when your mail has arrived/been picked up. I also set a virtual light switch that gets set to on when the sensor goes off. That way if I miss the actual notification I can see that the virtual light is on in my automation app. I clear it when I get the mail.
7. One button press turns on all lighting for a given room, floor or entire house. Great for when you are walking into a dark house or to scare away someone who should not be there.
8. At night, when motion is sensed, ramp lights to 15% (just enough light to see, not to be blinded).
9. Set your door to automatically lock after a set amount of time has passed. With most smart locks, you can pick intervals between 30 seconds and one hour long.
10. Dinner Bell. Set an automation tied to a button that plays a dinner bell through your wireless speakers that dinner is ready. Can also just send out a notification if people are outside.