AVexcel - Episode 45

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
    • Despicable Me
    • Lego Batman
    • Fate of the Furious
    • Power Rangers
• Apple's WWDC17
  • Amazon (video) on Apple
  • AirPods + tvOS 11 = automagic
• NVIDIA SHIELD update loves NAS

Pat's Buffy-o-rama

• SD-to-HD or SDR-to-HDR
• Buffy is a butt
• Nerdist article
• Gizmodo's take
• The Verge details a mess

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

Thank you 

Visit us at AVexcel.com

We appreciate your feedback

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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

• 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

Thank you

Visit us at AVexcel.com

We appreciate your feedback

• Tweet
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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

• 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

• Arrival
• Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk
• Xbox One S bundle = UHD player deal

Classic console doings

• Panasonic 3DO
• Super Nintendo

Google Play access coming

Thank you

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

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Recorded on February 14, 2017

Episode 34

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

• Emotiva loudspeakers/amps/subs
• Audirvana
• AudioQuest
• Astell&Kern
• Panasonic
• Onkyo
• Mytek
• NAD
• Bluesound
• Air Motion Transformer
• KEF LS50 Wireless
• ELAC
  • Brother Paul requests a review
  • Debut
  • Uni-Fi
  • Adante
  • Element amp
• Revel Salon2
• Texas Instruments
  • High-Power Amps
  • Efficient
  • DIY potential

Dolby Cinema

• FINALLY arrives in San Francisco
• Dolby Cinema at AMC
• Dolby-enhanced Christe Digital 6P laser projector
• Mindblowingly colorful
• Superb contrast

Tips, tricks, and help

• @Kido1986 needs a smaller HDR screen
• @jellingwood eyeing sweet soundbars
  • Bose SoundTouch 300
  • Onkyo SBT-A500
• Nicholas Smith seeks portable FLAC
  • Astell&Kern AK Jr
  • FiiO X1

Thank you

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

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Recorded on January 12, 2017

Episode #021

Welcome to episode 021 of the AVexcel podcast

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and every bit helps

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

Vizio sold to LeEco

• $2 Billion
• Will be operated as wholly owned subsidiary
• Inscape data business to be spun off into privately owned company led by Vizio CEO William Wang
• Deal expected to wrap up later this year

@FmHolty noted Vizio HDR10 update

• CTO Matt McRae tweeted
• Update rolling out now
  • 2016 P-Series & 2016 M-Series

Color gamuts explained

• Dr. Raymond Soneira
• DisplayMate
• Display Color Gamuts Shoot-Out
  • CIE 1931 vs. 1976
• Sony 940D calibration
• Sony's new Z9D flagship 4K TV
• Check AVS Forum for owner experiences

Brian seeks a 3D audio upgrade

• Atmos, DTS:X, Auro 3D
• Isolating room acoustics
• 2-channel vs. 4-channel
• Atmos titles
• DTS:X at home
• Auro 3D experience

@Aiden_deJong's looking to drive 4-ohm speakers

• Prefers an AVR
• Expand to surround eventually
• Audioholics 4-ohm advice
  • Amp/power basics
• Check AVR specs carefully
• 4-ohm capable amps
  • Denon X2200W
  • Denon S710W/S720W
  • Marantz NR1606/NR1607
  • Yamaha Aventage AVRs

Keep pets cool and hydrated

@KenKobra asks 2K OLED or 4K LCD

• OLED contrast > pixel count
• Great TVs at great prices

David K wants widescreen cinema

• Good screens at all prices
• Zoom/focus presets a must
• Masking screens
• Check projector manufacturer for setup app
• Projector Central's Projection Calculator Pro
• AVS Forum 2:35:1 discussions
• Heron Fidelity's Great TV Deals

Thank you!

Samsung KS9800 Update

• Full array local dimming
• 1300+ nits peak brightness
• New UI + IoT functionality

More 4K Olympics

• UHD, HDR, Atmos...oh my
• Day delay for most events
  • 2.5hr delay opening/closing ceremonies
• 4K video from 8K cameras
• More 4K viewing options
  • Comcast: Xfinity Ultra High Definition Sampler app
  • Dish: Hopper 3 DVR or 4K Joey

Thank you

We appreciate the Patreon support that makes AVexcel possible

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

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  • @patricknorton
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Enjoy

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Link to this episode page

Recorded July 28, 2016

Episode #020

Welcome to episode 020 of the AVexcel podcast

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and every bit helps

This week Patrick Norton and Robert Heron support the home theater goodness

Pat returns from mandatory R&R

Comic-Con 2016

• Great summary over at io9
• DC Suicide Squad
• DC Wonder Woman trailer
• Luc Besson’s Valerian coming 2017
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
• Spider-Man Homecoming
• Black Panther panel    
• Neil Gaiman’s American Gods on Starz in 2017
• CW’s Riverdale this Fall
• Luke Cage via Netflix
• No release date for Marvel’s The Punisher yet

Glorious pixels

• Hold off for 2017, if you can
• OLED looks awesome off-axis
• LCDs brightest for foreseeable future
• All look better after calibration
  • Scootching colors

Premium HDR TV roundup

• LG G6 OLED
• LG E6 OLED
• Sony 930D LCD
• Sony 940D LCD
• Sony's new flagship Z9D
• Samsung KS9800 flagship
• Samsung KS9500 LCD
• Samsung KS8500 LCD
• Vizio P-Series UHD LCD
• 4K HDR projectors too

BitTorrent TV

• BitTorrent News via BitTorrent Live
• Apple TV and OS X - other platforms soon

Better Wi-Fi for all

• Ubiquity Labs
  • AmpliFi home mesh network
• Enterprise in the home
• Powerline networking made easy

NBC 4K Olympic coverage from Rio

• DirecTV coverage to include 8-screen mosaic
  • Channels: NBC, NBCSN, Golf Channel, Bravo, CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, + NBC Universo
  • 720p per tile on 4K TV
• Also, 4-channel quad-1080p view
  • NBCSN, Bravo, USA Network, + local affiliate
• No live 4K coverage
  • Most available after one-day delay
• Events: swimming, track and field, basketball, the men’s soccer final, judo, + “Rio scenic”

Eddy Cue: Apple TV’s Plans

• Questions
  • Live streaming service
  • 'Skinny' bundle
  • Creators vs platform providers

JVC RS400 projector

• Similar to DLA-X550R
• Calibration update
• New HDR update
• Old cables/new projector
• Lamp changes over time

Mark's 2-channel amp quest

• Needs dedicated sub out
• Efficient speakers need less power
• ICE Power amps
• CNet's sub hookup guide
• Get an amp ASAP
• Under $100
  • Dayton Audio APA100
  • SMSL SA50
• Under $200
  • Onkyo TX-8020
• Under $300
  • Onkyo A-9010
• Under $400
  • Emotiva TA-100
  • NAD D 3020

Anthony needs low-lag HDMI extension

• Use a good cable
• More great HDMI gear

andcbii asks about the XAVC-S codec

• Great for 4K camcorders
• Not so much for UHD BD playback
• Understand XAVC
• 10 things to like about XAVC

Thank you

We appreciate the Patreon support that makes AVexcel possible

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

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  • @avexcel
  • @patricknorton
  • @robertheron
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Enjoy

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Recorded July 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
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  • @robertheron
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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

Episode #013

Welcome to episode 013 of the AVexcel podcast

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and every bit helps

This week Patrick Norton and Robert Heron calibrate the home theater goodness

Watching this week

• Game of Thrones S6
• HBO NOW on Xbox/Samsung TVs/Roku...
• Archer S7
• The Martian in HDR

Robert's new laptop is well-behaved

More live streaming options

• Comcast introduces box-less service
• Neulion's live 4K streaming
• PlayStation Vue adds more live TV
• FCC wants to Unlock the Set-Top Box
• Follow FCC's Tom Wheeler on Twitter
• Next-gen broadcasting: ATSC 3.0

Sub stuff

• Patrick loves Hsu Research's subwoofers
• Wirecutter's Best Budget Subwoofer

Question: DIY video calibration

• HCFR calibration software
• X-Rite i1 Display Pro

We appreciate our Patreon supporters

Premium sound

• AXPONA audio expo
• Ultra high-end audio popularity waning
• Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB turntable
• ATI Amplifier Technologies
• Linkwitz Lab's LXmini and LXmini+2

We love our supporters

The AVexcel sub-Reddit is a great place for group interaction

We thrive with our audience's participation - thank you

Enjoy!

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Recording date: April 21, 2016

Episode #003

We've crushed our first Patreon Milestone Goal, and it's all thanks to the support of our awesome fans!

For AVexcel Episode #003, Robert and Patrick dive into:

• Roku 4 - tested and reviewed
• Sharp LE653U TV - tested and reviewed
• Vizio Reference Series - Dolby Vision for the masses
• New 1080p OLED TV = Even better value
• A great LED projector reviewed
• Amazon vs Google/Apple - video streaming showdown
• Hulu's almost ad-free option
• EFF - a fair use update

And, much more!  Please join us!

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Recording date: October 29, 2015