AVexcel - Episode 205

AVexcel - Episode 205
Recorded on May 24, 2023
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
  - HBO is Max 
  - Netflix account sharing 
  - ESPN as a streaming service 
  - Apple tvOS 16.5 now available 
  - TCL QM8 4K TV has arrived 
  - Cambridge Audio Evo CD transport 
  - DRM and ATSC 3.0/NextGen 
  - DAC differences 
  - Your excellent feedback & questions 
  - Email us at ask@avexcel.com 
  - What we're watching 

This episode of AVexcel was made possible by generous contributions from our Patreon supporters - thank you!

Visit www.AVexcel.com for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Link to this episode page

#CommissionsEarned with some links

AVexcel - Episode 204

AVexcel - Episode 204
Recorded on May 18, 2023
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
  - YouTube TV stream failures 
  - Sonos ending local file playback 
  - A "free" 4K HDR TV 
  - madVR Envy Extreme MK2 Video Processor 
  - XMax explained 
  - Elite Screen's portable UST screen options 
  - A terrific UST screen roundup 
  - Dynamic tone mapping and artistic intent 
  - Audio ports on Macs 
  - A sweet subwoofer upgrade 
  - Your excellent feedback & questions 
  - Email us at ask@avexcel.com 
  - What we're watching 

This episode of AVexcel was made possible by generous contributions from our Patreon supporters - thank you!

Visit www.AVexcel.com for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Link to this episode page

#CommissionsEarned with some links

AVexcel - Episode 203

AVexcel - Episode 203
Recorded on May 14, 2023
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
  - Connect a phonograph to anything 
  - Netflix's "secret" AV tests 
  - AVS HD 709 calibration tool 
  - Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark 
  - Ultimate Ears UE Premier in-ears 
  - Roku V12.0.0 is now available 
  - Sub-pixel rendering follow-up 
  - Streaming your audio collection 
  - Orian 3-way speaker kit 
 - Powered speaker recommendations 
  - Roku Plus Series TVs 
  - F1 MultiView App 
  - A polyglot in the wild 
  - Navajo version of Star Wars 
  - Sony MDR-7506 headphone comfort 
  - Brainwavz and Wicked Cushions ear pads 
  - Your excellent feedback & questions 
  - Email us at ask@avexcel.com 
  - What we're watching 

This episode of AVexcel was made possible by generous contributions from our Patreon supporters - thank you!

Visit www.AVexcel.com for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Link to this episode page

#CommissionsEarned with some links

AVexcel - Episode 186

AVexcel - Episode 186
Recorded on June 28, 2022
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- DVD’s dominance among discs
- HDTVTest's Sony A95K QD-OLED review
- RTINGS reviews the LG B2 OLED TV
- Soundbar audio quality tips
- Samsung QN900B calibration session
- McIntosh MR89 AM/FM Tuner
- LG's 16x18 DualUp Monitor
- Netflix to offer ad-supported tier
- 1MORE earbud deal
- Auro-3D vs Dolby Atmos
- Subwoofer crossover settings
- Robert's PC monitor after a year
- Hacks renewed for 3rd season
- Your excellent feedback & questions
- Email us ask@avexcel.com
- What we're watching

AVexcel is 100% powered by our awesome crew of Patreon supporters - thank you! 

Visit www.AVexcel.com for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Link to this episode page

#CommissionsEarned with some links

AVexcel - Episode 104

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AVexcel - Episode 104
Recorded on November 8, 2019. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
- Black Friday Deals
- UHD color & contrast
- The Hastings Limit
- Pat has the Fiio M11
- Quobuz goes 100% lossless
- Disney+/Netflix Deathmatch
- Apple's AirPods Pro
- Chinese Hi-Fi
- Periodic Audio's Be in-ear
- YouTube's new home page
- Pre-CES 2020: ATSC 3.0
- Your excellent feedback & questions
- What we're watching

AVexcel is 100% powered by our awesome crew of Patreon supporters - thank you! 

Visit the AVexcel website for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Download the MP3 of this episode 

Link to this episode page 

AVexcel - Episode 97

AVexcel - Episode 97
Recorded on November 29, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
- California burning
- Great deals galore
- LG's updated TV chip
- JDS Labs Atom Amp
- Favorites in UHD Blu-ray
- Pat's projection tune up
- Activo CT10 digital audio player
- Your excellent feedback & questions 

AVexcel is 100% powered by our awesome crew of Patreon supporters - thank you! 

Visit the AVexcel website for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Download the MP3 of this episode 

Link to this episode page 

AVexcel - Episode 86

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Recorded on July 12, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
  - Dolby Vision on Xbox
  - HDMI audio extraction
  - Sonos adds AirPlay 2
  - Sennheiser HD1 review
  - Value calibration hardware
  - World Cup streaming snafu
  - 4K calibration discs
  - Beach party boomboxes
  - What we're watching
  - Your excellent feedback & questions 

AVexcel is 100% powered by our awesome crew of Patreon supporters - thank you! 

Visit the AVexcel website for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

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Link to this episode page 

AVexcel - Episode 81

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Recorded on May 31, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
  - Premium LCD quirks
  - Display Week 2018
  - Quantum dot tech update
  - AR/VR display updates
  - Nuraphone's BT headphone
  - Bluewave's GET
  - Help selling your gear
  - What we're watching
  - Your excellent feedback & questions 

AVexcel is 100% powered by our awesome crew of Patreon supporters - thank you! 

Visit the AVexcel website for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Download the MP3 of this episode 

Link to this episode page 

AVexcel - Episode 80

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Recorded on May 10, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
  - 2018 TV reviews
  - Caavo Entertainment Assistant
  - Screen size vs room size
  - Chroma subsampling
  - Patreon Hangout details
  - In search of subwoofer outputs
  - What we're watching
  - Your excellent feedback & questions 

AVexcel is 100% powered by our awesome crew of Patreon supporters - thank you! 

Visit the AVexcel website for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Download the MP3 of this episode 

Link to this episode page 

AVexcel - Episode 78

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Recorded on April 26, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
  - Proof of life
  - JVC RS540 first impressions
  - 2018 TCL P-Series arrives
  - Subwoofer positioning
  - Dedicated music streamers
  - Film restorations
  - ATSC 3.0 privacy concerns
  - Knowing when to upgrade
  - Your excellent feedback & questions 

AVexcel is 100% powered by our awesome crew of Patreon supporters - thank you! 

Visit the AVexcel website for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Download the MP3 of this episode 

Link to this episode page 

Detailed show notes for this episode coming soon! 

AVexcel - Episode 74

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Recorded on March 23, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
  - Bias lighting
  - Chuffing subs
  - New calibration gear
  - Tempting 2017 TVs
  - CanJam in Los Angeles
  - Universal content search
  - Projector setup
  - Your excellent feedback & questions 

AVexcel is 100% powered by our awesome crew of Patreon supporters - thank you! 

Visit the AVexcel website for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Download the MP3 of this episode 

Link to this episode page 

Detailed show notes for this episode coming soon! 

AVexcel - Episode 53

Recorded on August 17, 2017 

Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 

  • Netflix vs Disney 
  • Star Trek Discovery 
  • MQA on Tidal 
  • Apple going 4K 
  • Canon does color in the dark 
  • Excellent feedback & questions 

AVexcel is 100% powered by our awesome crew of Patreon supporters - thank you! 

Visit the AVexcel website for links, show notes, contact info, and more! 

Download the MP3 of this episode 

Link to this episode page 

Detailed show notes for this episode coming soon! 

AVexcel - Episode 48

Recorded on June 30, 2017 

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are upgrading the home theater goodness 

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and we thank 'em all 

The tingly bits

Sub-$2500 projector delights

Amazon Prime Day

DAC doings

Thank you

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We appreciate your feedback

Enjoy

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Link to this episode page

AVexcel - Episode 46

Recorded on June 15, 2017 

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are building the home theater goodness 

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and we thank 'em all 

The tingly bits

More 4K projection

AV101 - a quiet base

  • Quiet rooms make for better listening

Sweet Q&A

OTA adventures

Thank you

Visit us at AVexcel.com

We appreciate your feedback

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Link to this episode page

AVexcel - Episode 44

Recorded on June 1, 2017 

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are absorbing the home theater goodness 

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and we thank 'em all 

The tingly bits

You asked

Patrick Norton's super-interview w/Audeze co-founder and CEO, Sankar Thiagasamudram

Thank you

Visit us at AVexcel.com

We appreciate your feedback

Enjoy

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Link to this episode page

AVexcel - Episode 43

Recorded on May 25, 2017 

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are modding the home theater goodness 

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and we thank 'em all 

The tingly bits

Sweet Q&A

Headphone design redux

Final words

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We appreciate your feedback

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AVexcel - Episode 42

Recorded on May 18, 2017 

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are rectifying the home theater goodness 

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and we thank 'em all 

The tingly bits

Direct input

Remembering

Calibration doings

  • 2016 LG C6 OLED
  • 2015 Samsung JS8500 LCD
    • Best flat LCD of that year
  • Both TVs: superb white balance/color after setup
  • TIP: avoid adjusting WB controls higher - go lower

Thank you

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Connect with us

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Episode 37

Recorded on February 22, 2017 

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are recovering the home theater goodness 

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and we thank 'em all 

Pat's audio exploration

Caavo

Calibration apps: Apple TV

Your AV answers

Value '4K' UHD TV considerations

  • Most do superb HD
  • Most lack color/brightness for good UHD
  • Cheat by lowering picture contrast

Eye-candy picks of the week

Robert's Calibrated Mic

Kubo and the Two Strings

Samsung Q8 arrives

  • Brushed stainless chassis/stand
  • Curved screen design
  • >1500-nits + dang good DCI

Thank you

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Connect with us

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Episode 36

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are eyeballing the home theater goodness

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and we thank 'em all

2017 TV Pre-orders

Glorious sound

Speaker positioning vs basic setup

Vizio settles w/FTC

Ultimate HTPC GPU

AV101: High Frame Rate

Mike appreciates video calibration

Alan clarifies Dolby Vision AVR support

HD/HDR streaming pics o' the week

Classic console doings

Google Play access coming

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Recorded on February 14, 2017

Episode 33

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are still celebrating the home theater goodness

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and we thank 'em all

Recent doings

RIP Carrie Fisher

HandBrake v1.0.0 arrives

Great Blu-ray gear

Improving speech comprehension

  • IEEE article
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
  • OSU researchers training neural networks
  • 'Classifier' recovers desired sound
  • The "cocktail party" problem
  • Huge improvements
  • Next gen: adaptive learning

Here comes (pre) CES

Chris from Calgary's timing Atmos

@StaggeredSix tweets crew support

For the love of a bucket of burgers

Evan tweeted a stack

  • Sub affecting hard drives
    • We guess no problemo
  • Heat is some concern

Hsu Research

Josh from NJ is moving toward projection

Bob's home theater toddler

Boe's tweeting for DAC/AMP

Tyler brings 4K UHD BD PC playback clarity

About that intro...

Thank you

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Connect with us

Enjoy

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Recorded on December 28, 2016