Episode five of The Front Row Podcast is here, and this week we’re sitting down with the one and only Rob Brennan. He’s the Technical Account Manager at Epson and someone who’s been around the industry for a long time. Some of you probably remember him from his Sony days, and let’s be honest, Rob knows his stuff!

We all know projectors are awesome, but choosing the right one isn’t always easy. There’s a lot of different technology out there, and in this episode, we dive straight into it. We start by talking about how projectors made the jump from commercial cinemas to home setups and how that shift helped shape the tech we see today. Ever wonder how bright the projector is at your local movie theater? We cover that too.

From there, we break down the different types of projection tech like single-chip DLP, multi-chip DLP, LCOS, and 3LCD. Rob breaks down the differences, where each shines (pun intended), and where each might fall short. We also get into brightness levels, touch briefly on pixel-shifting tech, and talk about what all of this means for your setup at home.

We had so much fun, he’s already planning to come back in September. Next time, we’ll be digging into a topic that doesn’t get enough attention, how projectors were never really built for HDR and what manufacturers are doing to make HDR actually look good in a home theater. We’ll also get into why tone mapping matters more than you think.

If you’ve got questions about anything we covered, or if there’s something you want us to ask Rob next time he’s on, drop it in the comments below.

We want to give a big thank you to our podcast sponsor, Paradigm Electronics. At Paradigm, sound is not just heard, it’s felt. It’s audio that stirs emotion and is designed to move you.

Paradigm - Authentically Canadian, Acoustically Brilliant.

Listen to The Front Row Podcast on your favorite platform and be sure to follow and leave a review on Apple & Spotify:

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This week on The Front Row Podcast, we’re joined by Eric Bodley, founder of Future Ready Solutions and a well respected voice in the AV industry. Eric’s career spans over four decades and includes everything from launching Monster Cable programs and developing the Perfect Path brand of locking HDMI cables, to training hundreds of installers through his IHAVS certification program. He’s also a former CEDIA President and serves on multiple CTA boards. Simply put, if there’s anyone who can break down HDMI in a way that actually makes sense, it’s Eric.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into HDMI cables. We talk about why the industry moved to HDMI in the first place, walk through how it’s evolved over the years, and get into that age-old question, what really is the difference between a cheap cable and an expensive one? We also touch on some of the most common HDMI problems and how to avoid them.

Anyone who’s ever had a blank or “no signal” screen knows how frustrating it is to swap out gear only to find it was one little cable causing the problem. This episode brings some clarity to one of the most overlooked parts of any setup.

And we’re not stopping here. Next episode, we’ll keep the HDMI conversation with James Chen, Managing Director of Kordz HDMI, with a deeper dive into specs and standards and all the things that make people love and hate these cables at the same time. So like always, if you have any questions you would like us to ask, please drop them down below.

We want to give a big thank you to our podcast sponsor, Anthem Electronics. Anthem isn’t just about power, it’s about precision. From clean amplification to intelligent room calibration, every element is engineered to deliver pure, articulate sound. Unlock the performance your system was made for.

Anthem – Elevate. Refine. Enhance

Listen to The Front Row Podcast on your favorite platform and be sure to follow and leave a review on Apple & Spotify:

In Episode 3 of The Front Row Podcast, we’re back with part two of our conversation with Jason Dustal, who brings over 25 years of expertise as an ISF trainer, Level 3 calibrator, CTS certified professional, CEDIA certified instructor, and Certified for Envy Product Specialist.

This time, we dig deeper into the video technology and how we went from 1080p LED TVs to today’s 4K HDR display. We talk through the differences between HDR formats, what makes Dolby Vision unique, what bit depth really means, and why it matters. We also get into tone mapping and how it can make or break your HDR experience.

We got a lot of great feedback on Episode 2, so it only made sense to keep the conversation going. We cover a lot in this one, and if you care about getting the best out of your TV, it’s definitely one you won’t want to miss!

We want to give a big thank you to our podcast sponsor, ⁠Anthem Electronics⁠. Anthem isn’t just about power,  it’s about precision. From clean amplification to intelligent room calibration, every element is engineered to deliver pure, articulate sound. Unlock the performance your system was made for.

⁠Anthem – Elevate. Refine. Enhance⁠

Listen to The Front Row Podcast on your favorite platform and be sure to follow and leave a review on Apple & Spotify:

⁠Spotify⁠

⁠Apple Podcasts⁠

⁠iHeartRadio⁠

⁠Amazon Music⁠

⁠Pandora

Welcome to episode two of The Front Row Podcast, and the first where we sit down with a guest - Jason Dustal! As a well-known and highly respected figure in the AV industry, Jason brings over 25 years of expertise as an ISF trainer and Level 3 calibrator, CTS certified professional, CEDIA certified instructor, and Certified for Envy Product Specialist. He also serves as co-chair on multiple CEDIA standards committees, helping shape best practices for video system design and calibration. His contributions have earned him a spot on Dealerscope’s “40 Under 40” list.

In this episode, we dive into the basics of video calibration, things like why it matters, what to look for and what some TV settings actually do. From SDR on old CRT TVs to how calibration has evolved over the years, Jason walks us through where calibration started and where it’s headed. This is part one of a two-part series, with the next episode diving deeper into today’s standards such as HDR, tone mapping and much more!

So sit back, relax, and join us for a conversation with one of the true experts in video calibration.

We want to give a big thank you to our podcast sponsor, Anthem Electronics. Anthem isn’t just about power,  it’s about precision. From clean amplification to intelligent room calibration, every element is engineered to deliver pure, articulate sound. Unlock the performance your system was made for.

Anthem – Elevate. Refine. Enhance

Listen to The Front Row Podcast on your favorite platform and be sure to follow and leave a review on Apple & Spotify:

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

iHeartRadio

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Pandora

In case our written reviews and video content weren’t enough, AVSForum has officially entered the world of podcasts! Say hello to The Front Row Podcast, hosted by Erik Wesley and Ryan Charpentier. In our very first episode, we talk about what the podcast will focus on, how often you can expect new episodes and why we think it’s  worth tuning in.

We also share how we each got into the AV industry and our journeys that led us to where we are today. Since this is our very first episode, we would really appreciate your feedback. If there is something we can do better or something you want more or less of, please let us know in the comments. There is also a quick teaser for the next episode at the end and if you have any questions you would like us to ask on the next episode, feel free to drop those below.

We want to give a big thank you to our podcast sponsor, Paradigm Electronics. At Paradigm, sound is not just heard, it’s felt. It’s audio that stirs emotion and is designed to move you.

Paradigm - Authentically Canadian, Acoustically Brilliant.

Listen to The Front Row Podcast on your favorite platform:

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

iHeartRadio

Amazon Music

Pandora