Optoma's $2000 4K wonder
Dell's 5000-lumen Laser
Christie Digital D13HD-HS
- Blue + red lasers can do wide color
- 11,500 ANSI lumen
- 4.5x the cost of the Dell
- Not 4K, but that color...

AV101 - a quiet base

Quiet rooms make for better listening

Sweet Q&A

Mike wants a UHD disc player w/Dolby Vision
- Oppo UDP-203/UDP-205 or bust
- Chance: Xbox One S future update
James considers a Definitive setup
Kevin's looks at OLED TV burn-in
- aka uneven pixel wear
- aka permanent image retention
- More robust than plasma
- Less than LCDs
- Modern projectors very burn-in resistant
- Mix up viewed content

OTA adventures

Upgraded flat antenna
WallTenna
Live channel goodness

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AVexcel - Episode 45

June 12, 2017 by AVexcel

Recorded on June 9, 2017

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are igniting the home theater goodness

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

The tingly bits

Tired of 720p broadcasts
- In a 4K world...
- <1M video pixels on 8MP TVs
Oppo 203 gets Dolby Vision update
- Thank you, @Locobooff
- DV movies arrive
Apple's WWDC17
- Amazon (video) on Apple
- AirPods + tvOS 11 = automagic
NVIDIA SHIELD update loves NAS

Pat's Buffy-o-rama

Your awesome feedback

Jeff needs a 55-inch TV
- Budget ~$2k, then OLED
- Otherwise, go good 2017 LCD
Much love: Optoma 4K projectors
- UHD60
- UHD65
- Projector Central's 4K DLP article
@chrishoage reminds us that CableCARD + PLEX = OK

AV101

Geoffrey Morrison's HDMI explainer

Eyeballs on...

NBA Finals in glorious 720p
Civ 6
John Wick
Wonder Woman

Listening time

Amber Rubharth
- Sessions from the 17th Ward
Chesky Records
Vandersteen 2ci
Tekton Mini Lore

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AVexcel - Episode 44

June 04, 2017 by AVexcel

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

Plex Live TV for OTA enthuasiasts
4K broadcasting spec getting closer
Toshiba's new OLED
BOE's 'true QLED'

You asked

@tomprossima asked about sdr-to-hdr conversion
- Film has incredible contrast/color performance
Mikkel inquired if stereo is enough in a 4K world
Josh asked about the (potential) beauty of a look up table (LUT)

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

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AVexcel - Episode 43

May 28, 2017 by AVexcel

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

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AVexcel - Episode 42

May 21, 2017 by AVexcel

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

Element's Amazon Fire (4K) TV
- Arriving June 14, 2017
YouTube TV adds more channels
Mr. Rogers on Twitch
MP3 is probably free
Hearables
Vizio's HDR update for E-Series
Pioneer's UHD BD PC ODD

Direct input

@scottphillips88 is in search of budget 4K projection
- Look for news at CEDIA 2017
@ruairi wonders what makes a good headphone
- "It's everything"
- Cool new magnets

Remembering

Calibration doings

2016 LG C6 OLED
- Best 3D TV ever made
- Terrible power plug
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

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AVexcel - Episode 41

May 17, 2017 by AVexcel

Recorded on May 11, 2017

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are amplifying the home theater goodness

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

Stuff we love

Amazon Video is coming to the Apple TV
Sony's A1E OLED TV looks awesome
Netflix rolling out Mobile HDR
Luminoodle

Pat's Time Phase Alignment Link-o-rama

Questions/Answers/Clarity

Christian's LCD has a glowing cloud
Mike delivers DSP clarity

Eyeball grabbers

Still fascinated by The Get Down
American Gods
In search of Formula 1 in 4K
Dunkirk
Heat
Reservoir Dogs
- Has Reservoir Dogs Aged Well
Pulp Fiction

The interview

Jason Lord
- The Source AV Design Group

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AVexcel - Episode 40

May 09, 2017 by AVexcel

Recorded on May 4, 2017

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are nurturing the home theater goodness

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

Time to double-check the levels

May the 4th be with you

SFGate - 11 movies that inspired Star Wars

Bandwidth sucking neighbors

A good network helps
Better CPUs on UHD streamers
The beauty of discs

Patrick's MiniDSP project

Creating sub-channel from stereo source

Vizio is Vizio again

CTO dropping P-Series details
- Thank you, @FmHolty
*logarithmic

So many lumens

Epson Home Cinema 1450
3LCD, 1080p, 4,200-lumens
Light-rejecting screens

Scott's in search of a great $500 TV

Consider screen size first
Built-in apps generally suck
Add an HDMI switch if needed
The best $500 TV
is a projector
We love Hisense and TCL too

Pat's interview preview

Audeze
MrSpeakers
More next week

What we’re watching

Planet Earth II in UHD Blu-ray
Thankful for Unlocator
Archer - season 8
LOTS of IP cameras
American Gods
The Get Down

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AVexcel - Episode 39

March 29, 2017 by AVexcel

Recorded on March 14, 2017

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are returning to the home theater goodness

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

Great 2017 TVs Arrive

Sony XBR-A1E BRAVIA OLED
- Available April
- Acoustic Surface
- X1 Extreme processor
- Super Bit-Mapping 4K HDR
- Less banding artifacts
- Android TV
- Google Assistant
Samsung Q9 QLED TV
- Improved AR coating
- Metal quantum dots
- New sub-pixel design
- Fiber optic link to input box
- New “The Frame” design
  - 55-inch + 65-inches only
Q8 (curved) Pricing
- 55-inches $3500
- 65-inches $4800
Q7 (flat) Pricing

AV101: bi-wiring

Each speaker gets its own amp wire
Not bi-amping

Pat's speaker doings

Great questions

John needs to try Tidal
- Has Pioneer AVR
  - Load mobile app + try AirPlay
- Volumio
- Roon Labs
- ELAC Discovery Music Server
@KyleEJohnson looking at HDMI 2.x mobos
- DisplayPort 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 adapter
@SconnieTek needs a big screen value
- Love the Roku TVs
- This 65-inch Hisense 4K screen
@erikbelusic's triple-driver needs
- Start w/Monoprice 8323
- V-MODA Forza In-Ear
- 1MORE Quad Driver In-Ear
- 1MORE Triple Driver

Viewing doings

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AVexcel - Episode 38

March 15, 2017 by AVexcel

Recorded on March 7, 2017

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are listening to the home theater goodness

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

Exciting the senses

Patreon Google Hangouts
- March 16th and 30th
YouTube TV
- "TV made for you"
- $35/mo
- 6 accounts
- 40+ channels
- Unlimited DVR
Spotify to offer lossless
Netflix's AI video optimizations

Pat's electrostatic adventures

The Source AV
Sennheiser Orpheus HE 1
HIFIMAN Shangri-La
MrSpeakers Aeon

AV 101: Electrostatic loudspeaker

Dynamic (speaker) headphones
- Monoprice 8323
- Focal Utopia
Planar magnetic speakers
- Fostex T50RP
- HIFIMAN HE400s
- MrSpeakers ETHER Flow

Sonos PLAYBASE

Sound-base design
~2.3 inches high
10 speakers
- Class D drivers for each
- 6 mids
- 3 tweeters
- 1 sub
$700

LG W7 Wallpaper OLED

An all around better OLED
Superb HD reproduction
New 2-pt HDR calibration
~20ms HDR game mode
65-/77-inches

And then some...

Samsung QLED TVs available now
Dolby Lab tour
- Great view

What we're watching

Blu-rays
- Moana
- Jackie
- S.O.B.

Gaming goodness

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Episode 37

March 08, 2017 by AVexcel

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

Uniting streaming devices
Consistent UI/UX
Stylish design
$400
Articles
Harmony Elite
- Superior to Ultimate in every way

Calibration apps: Apple TV

Your AV answers

@joegasz has TiVo audio lags
- Check TV's audio settings
@KenpoB10 seeks 4K 3D Avatar
- Check out Dolby Cinema
@JoshDWalrath questions value of Atmos
- Great, if desired content exists
@AceOD wants best sub-$300 center-channel
- Match what you already have
- Pioneer's sweet center

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

Viewed at Dolby HQ
~60 speakers
2x Christie RGB laser projectors

Samsung Q8 arrives

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

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Episode 36

February 20, 2017 by AVexcel

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

Samsung Q7 - 1500-nit + new quantum dots
LG E7 OLED - Picture on Glass design
LG C7 OLED - aluminum bezel/stand
Sony 930E - superb UHD picture

Glorious sound

Vandersteen Speakers
- Model 5A Carbon
KEF LS50/LS50 Wireless

Speaker positioning vs basic setup

Pat's new SPL meter

Vizio settles w/FTC

Ultimate HTPC GPU

Palit GeForce GTX 1050 Ti KalmX
Fanless/passive cooling

AV101: High Frame Rate

Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
- Ang Lee directed
Recorded at 120fps

Mike appreciates video calibration

DIY vs hiring someone
Easiest: use picture presets
Robert's TV picture setup guide
Test discs
- Spears & Munsil
- AVS HD 709
X-Rite i1Display Pro
- White balance setup

Alan clarifies Dolby Vision AVR support

Great S&V article

HD/HDR streaming pics o' the week

Classic console doings

Panasonic 3DO
Super Nintendo

Google Play access coming

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Recorded on February 14, 2017

Episode 35

February 05, 2017 by AVexcel

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are recompiling the home theater goodness

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

Patrick's pumped for projection

Retiring: Optoma HD20
Newer: Epson 3500
Newest: Epson 3700
- Solid sub-$1500 pick
- A great 3D display
- We love lens shift
More great projectors

Plasma TV upgrade

B6 OLED or KS8000 LCD
Image quality above all else
- OLED's epic contrast
  - Viewing angles
Protect investment
- Safe extraction
- Secure installation
- Wall mount
- Check for extra warranty

Disc doings

Pioneer Ultra HD Blu-ray Drives
- AnandTech article
Software Guard Extensions
- Intel GPUs only for now
Waiting for playback software
Sony signals sagging disc sales

AV extravaganza

Elevating speakers

Pangea LS300 speaker stands
Blu-Tack reusable adhesive

Charles M seeks a good 4K HDR HDMI cable

Mike desires easy Atmos

Dolby Vision too
Onkyo SBT-A50

LG adds HDR Game Mode

Blu-ray favs this week

Amplifications

Hisense H8C
Nanosys not owned by Samsung
- Private company w/strategic partnerships
HDR clarity

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Recorded on January 31, 2017

Episode 34

January 24, 2017 by AVexcel

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are compiling the home theater goodness

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

Post CES 2017

Plague
Eye candy
Sweet sounds

TVs

LG Wallpaper OLED
- Ribbon cable for power+AV
Samsung QLED
- Quantum color volume
- AutoCal via CalMAN
- HLG DirecTV demo
Sony
- A1E OLED
- Sweet Acoustic Surface
Panasonic
- EZ1000 OLED
- Superb picture quality

Projectors

Panasonic holographic projection film
LG ProBeam 1080p laser projector
- Smart apps + ATSC tuner
JVC 4K HDR laser projector
- DLA-RS4500 ~$35K
- DCI color and beyond
- Blue-laser light engine
- 6-banks of 8-diodes
- Fixed phosphor design
Hisense 4K Laser Cast soon
- Prototype w/95% BT.2020
EVP/Elite Screens light-rejecting demos
Sony 4K HDR short throw projector

TV tech doings

Small HDR screens
HDMI 2.1
3D ghosts
HDR formats grow
- Dolby Vision
- HDR10
- Hybrid Log Gamma
- Technicolor
Nanosys quantum dots
- Not owned by Samsung
  - More strategic partnership
- Next year: QD in color filter
- Electro-emissive in 3-years

High-resolution audio

Digital downloads down
- Everyone streaming
Hi-Res Audio Press Conference
- Digital Entertainment Group (DEG)
HDtracks
Master Quality Authenticated
- ~15,000 albums MQA now
- 200+ MQA titles on TIDAL
- Stereophile's Hi-Res Breakthroughs
Pandora/Rhapsody/Napster going hi-res

All the sound