AVexcel - Episode 195

AVexcel - Episode 195
Recorded on January 7, 2023
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- Favorite displays at CES 2023 
  - Bias lighting and a $130 app 
  - A new universal disc player 
  - Shipping rates way down 
  - Front projector shootout 
  - Dolby Vision discs and game consoles 
  - Update: Bathys BT headphones by Focal
  - YouTube favs: Marco Reps, Great Scott, and Big Clive 
- Your excellent feedback & questions
- Email us at ask@avexcel.com
- What we're watching

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

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

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AVexcel - Episode 189

AVexcel - Episode 189
Recorded on July 30, 2022
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- Value Electronics TV Shootout
- Color saturation
- Folding 4K LED display
- maXTouch Knob on Display
- QD-OLED quirks
- Pacific Audio Fest
- Patreon Hangout on August 14th
- The best Blu-ray players
- 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! 

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AVexcel - Episode 182

AVexcel - Episode 182
Recorded on May 19, 2022
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- The Fifth Element in theaters
- Gary Oldman in Slow Horses
- 2022 Roku Ultra
- Munich HIGH END 2022
- ifi Audio’s GO Bar
- Denon PMA-1700NE integrated amp
- Masimo acquires Sound United
- Remembering Onkyo
- How projectors make color
- Sizing your screen to perfection
- 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! 

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AVexcel - Episode 174

AVexcel - Episode 174
Recorded on March 17, 2022
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- Samsung S95B QD-OLED TV
- Amazon acquires MGM
- Subpixel love
- Vacuum tube shortages
- Netflix and account sharing
- Cleaning cellphone speakers
- Epson Pro Cinema LS12000
- Polk MagniFi Mini AX
- Cruella
- The Mitchells vs The Machines
- #askavexcel
- 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! 

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AVexcel - Episode 171

AVexcel - Episode 171
Recorded on February 24, 2022
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- Sonos' turntable
- U-Turn Orbit Basic Turntable
- The gorgeous Marantz 40n amp
- Cambridge Audio Evo 75/150 All-in-One Player
- The Color Rendering Index of lighting
- A flashlight with a good CRI
- Kali Audio LP-6 2nd Wave studio monitors
- Haptic transducer systems
- Outdoor event audio options
- Great security camera reviews
- Robert's favorite 40x PTZ cam
- #askavexcel
- 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! 

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AVexcel - Episode 114

AVexcel - Episode 114
Recorded on July 30, 2020 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- CES 2021 goes digital only
- Netflix/HBO grabbing Emmys
- App & service gatekeepers
- Clean your knob
- TCL 8-Series on sale
- Robert's PC build update
- 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! 

Link to this episode page 

AVexcel - Episode 112

AVexcel - Episode 112
Recorded on July 16, 2020 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- NBC's Peacock mess
- LG's new LED projector
- End of the Harmony Express
- New Vizio HT gear
- Robert’s building a new PC
- Sonos Amp/Arc updates
- 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! 

Link to this episode page 

AVexcel - Episdoe 98

AVexcel - Episode 98
Recorded on January 17, 2019. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
- Looking at 2019
- Pat's acoustic-wonder screen
- Never speak of Chromecast Audio again
- Dogs and Cats living together
- Your speaker/headphone stuff
- Whatabout #CES2019
- You need a projector
- LCD, LED, OLED, PDP, and CRT
- 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 67

Recorded on January 4, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:   - Happy New Year
  - 2018 LG OLED details
  - Premium powered speakers
  - Devialet's Phantom
  - Peachtree Audio's deepblue
  - Projection screen masking
  - CES preparations
  - 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 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

• LG's 77-inch Wallpaper OLED arrives
• Dolby Atmos coming to Netflix
  • LG 2017 OLEDs ready to go
  • Xbox One S/X
  • Atmos title list
• Loving dynamic metadata
• Photo-emissive QD LCDs in 2018

Sub-$2500 projector delights

• Sony sweet 45ES 1080p 3D
• LG's sub-$1500 1080p laser
• Xiaomi's sub-$1500 5K-lumen laser
• DCI color options
  • Epson Home Cinema 4000
    • Projector Central's preview
  • Optoma UHD60/UHD65
• DCI + laser = (still) expensive

Amazon Prime Day

• camelcamelcamel
• Wirecutter deals

DAC doings

• JDS Labs
  • EL DAC
  • True Performance Design
• Schiit Fulla 2
  • Original Fulla = great deal
• audioquest DragonFly
• Sean Olive on blind testing

Thank you

Visit us at AVexcel.com

We appreciate your feedback

• Tweet
  • @avexcel
  • @patricknorton
  • @robertheron
• Email
• AVexcel sub-Reddit
• Facebook

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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 deal on KEF's T105
  • UltraThin 5.1 kit
• No-projection cinema
  • DCI says OK
• Samsung's new LCDs
  • MU9000 + MU8000
    • 1000-nits
    • Low-lag 240Hz
    • Anti-reflective
    • No quantum dot tech

Sweet Q&A

• @shana_tornado desires a smart-less display
• @Nat_The_Gooner wants the 4K box
• @bucketo searches for TV OS nirvana
• @SconnieTek seeks a soundbar
  • Sonos sounds great
  • More great soundbar options
  • Hsu Research = superb subs
  • Monoprice's amazing $100 sub

Headphone design redux

• Housing/earcup design
• Driver design
• Frame design
• Fostex T50RP Mods/Measurements
• InnerFidelity

Final words

• @mike_shay reminds us that YouTube TV includes Red Originals but not an ad-free experience
• @rgherrera's looking for TV's w/BT
  • Mid-to-premium TVs often have Bluetooth
  • Could add a Roku Ultra
• Vincent Teoh's YouTube channel
• Remembering John Hurt

Thank you

Visit us at AVexcel.com

We appreciate your feedback

• Tweet
  • @avexcel
  • @patricknorton
  • @robertheron
• Email
• AVexcel sub-Reddit
• Facebook

Enjoy

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• iTunes
• Google Play
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Link to this episode page

Episode #019

Welcome to episode 019 of the AVexcel podcast

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and every bit helps

This week Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are honing the home theater goodness

Epic late night enjoyment

• GoT Season 6 Finale
• Showtime's Roadies
• DOOM's great audio
• The Man in the High Castle
• Marco Polo in HDR via Netflix
• Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
• Pride & Prejudice
• Orange Is The New Black

HDR10 Update

• Twitter update from Vizio CTO
  • '"HDR10 is coming for P Series, in test now" says me."'
• Vizio TVs coming to CANADA
• HDTVTest OLED HDR10 update

Amplifications

• Sonos PlayBar not an HDMI device
• 1More Earphones are mobile-ready

New flix

• Kung Fu Panda 3
• Dr. Strangelove via Criterion
• Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan
• Rams
• Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

4K Integral

• HDR10 metadata injector
• 2x2 matrix switch on steroids
• Stylish dip switches

4K Roku TVs arrive

• TCL
• Insignia 4K Ultra HD TV
• 4K Roku TVs
• 43- to 65-inch screens
• Some w/premium voice remote + headphone jack

The randoms

• Xfinity X1 voice remote
• Deadpool 4K UHD
• RedFox
• More calibrations
• OLED thoughts
• More quantum dot-ery
• 4K projectors starting at $8K
• 12000-lumen lust
• No Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD MA w/Xbox One
  • Can decode to LPCM instead
  • PS3 says 'what?!'
• Homeworx tuner + great 720p projector
• Don't buy a GeForce 1070 or 1080
• Nvidia Experience App
• More Marco Polo distractions

Thank you

We appreciate the Patreon support that makes AVexcel possible

Note: check mic positioning

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

• Tweet
  • @avexcel
  • @patricknorton
  • @robertheron
• Email
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Enjoy

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Link to this episode page

Recorded June 27, 2016

Episode #018

Welcome to episode 018 of the AVexcel podcast

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and every bit helps

This week Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are related to the home theater goodness

HDR madness is afoot

• Dolby Vision vs HDR10
• Dynamic metadata
• LG OLED oddness w/HDR10 playback
• Samsung demos HDR10 w/dynamic metadata
  • Firmware update later this year

seerpea wants a TV w/a light sensor

• Available on many mid-to-premium models
• Good for auto eye-friendly viewing
• Setting often buried in the menus
• Turn off during picture setup

Sound values

• Monoprice 5.1 kit = super bargain
• Energy 5.1 Take Classic kit
• Pair w/decent AV receiver
• Monoprice Pro Audio + Musical Instruments
• Monoprice 8323 headphones

For the love of 3.5mm

• Via The Verge: "Vote with your dollars."
• DRM-free content = more options
• MFi Program certification headaches
• Audeze's SINE Series headphones
• Cypher Labs's Lightning Cable
• Long live the dongle
• Long live IR ports

Tom's going outdoor projection

• Any flat-ish surface = potential screen
• Tape a white sheet to a wall
• Epson Duet 80-inch portable screen
• Gemmy's 12-foot outdoor inflatable
• Camp Chef's 120-inch portable screen
• Stretchy Screens Spandex screens
• Carl'sPlace
  • Outdoor kits
  • Screen material

Calibration time

• More E6 OLEDs
• Return of HDFury
  • Integral 4K60 4:4:4 600MHz
  • "In-te-gral"

Pat's head-related functions

• San Francisco Head-Fi Meet
  • Saturday, July 16, 2016
  • $15/$20
• InnerFidelity - headphone testing hq
• CanJam 2016 thoughts
  • Ossic X 3D Headphone
  • HRTF - Wikipedia
  • PC Gamer's sweet test platform
  • Comply Foam - tips for ear buds

Sounds from Robert

• 1More Headphones
  • Placement was key
  • Tips galore
• Riva S Bluetooth Speaker
• Riva Turbo X Bluetooth Speaker
• Shure's disposable foam tips rock
• Favorite earplugs

Be there for your friends

Enjoy

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Recorded June 23, 2016

Episode #017

Welcome to episode 017 of the AVexcel podcast

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and every bit helps

This week Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are shiny with the home theater goodness

For the love of headphones

• San Francisco Head-Fi Meet
• Saturday, July 16, 2016
• $15/$20

But first, a summary...

New Blu-ray movies this week

• Unsinkable Molly Brown
• My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
• The Crush
• Cornbread Earl and Me
• Brothers Grimsby

Wirecutter's Best Soundbars

• Overall winner
• Best budget
• Sonos = great wireless speakers
• + a great app
• Vizio soundbars bring the value
• More great speakers/mounts

Connect with us

• Tweet
  • @avexcel
  • @patricknorton
  • @robertheron
• Email
• AVexcel sub-Reddit
• Facebook

Top 2016 Smart TV Platforms

• techradar article
  • Android TV at the top
  • Firefox OS
  • Samsung's Smart Hub
  • LG's webOS 3.0

Gregg wants a UHD BD Player

• Doesn't have HDR TV
• Resolution boost only
• Short answer: don't bother
• YouTube 4K video enjoyment
• 1080p vs 4K viewing experiment
• 4K projectors are awesome/pricy

Ron asks what's up with Vizio + HDR10

• Service rep said no HDR10 coming
• Vizio CTO: "...sometime later this Summer..."
• Robert's take: ain't happening
• No HDR10 = no UHD Blu-ray
• Samsung KS8000 = worthy alternative

The random

• Quake Champions
• Vizio 2016 E-Series spotted

Bo's eyeing SpectraCal's MobileForge app

• Free is good
• External video source = handy
• Amazon Fire TV provides most capable
• Android/iOS app for color/gamma only
• DVDO AVLab TPG

Thomas likes LG's LED projector

• Short-throw = close to screen
• LG PF1000U LED projector
• LG PF1500U for more light output
• Has apps + DTV tuner
• Add 80-inch portable screen
• More great projector options
• BenQ HT2050 = good value

Quantum Dot-ery

• Nanosys
• HD color filters in a UHD world
• Rec. 2020 optimized filters needed

LG E-Series OLED TV

• Comparing to the competition

Going long...for home theater love

Enjoy

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Recorded June 16, 2016