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!

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AVexcel - Episode 202

AVexcel - Episode 202
Recorded on April 30, 2023
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- 2023 TV tech update
- Sony's Bravia Cam
- Samsung S95C QD-OLED review
- LG G3 OLED review
- Improving OLED subpixel text rendering
- Windows 11 HDR Calibration App
- Epson 5050ub's HDR Slider
- TV streaming app popularity
- 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! 

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#CommissionsEarned with some links

AVexcel - Episode 201

AVexcel - Episode 201
Recorded on April 25, 2023
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
  - Artistic intent 
  - Car speaker specs and calibration 
  - YouTube TV testing PQ improvements 
  - Fosi Audio BT20A Pro 
  - Topping PA7/PA7 Plus 
  - Sony A95K QD-OLED calibration 
  - Focal Theva speakers 
  - TAD Compact Evolution One speakers 
  - Dirac Live audio calibration 
  - To firmware update or not to update 
  - Hanwha Vision's XNP-6400R 40x PTZ IP camera 
- 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! 

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AVexcel - Episode 200

AVexcel - Episode 200
Recorded on April 20, 2023
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- 200!
  - HBO goes Max 
  - Samsung S90C QD-OLED review 
  - VLC adds NVIDIA Video Super Resolution tech 
  - Emotiva BASX MR1 Cinema Receiver 
  - RSL Speedwoofer 12S 
  - Sony ELF-SR2 Spatial Reality Display 
  - Headphone Power Calculator 
  - Retro gaming console follow-ups 
- 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 190

AVexcel - Episode 190
Recorded on August 14, 2022
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- Remembering Anne Heche
- /r/TVTooHigh subreddit
- HBO Max + Discovery+
- More Blu-ray player tricks
- More Ad-supported streaming
- Monolith M518HT THX 5.1 speaker kit
- AVR amp/wattage specs suck
- Floor-rising projection screens
- LG HU915QB 4K laser projector review
- Emotiva Airmotiv T3+ loudspeakers
- New art for Ikea Symphonisk speakers
- Value Electronics 2022 TV shootout results
- Color saturation and Pointer's gamut
- /r/AVexcel subreddit
- Sandman on Netflix
- 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! 

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#CommissionsEarned with some links

AVexcel - Episode 173

AVexcel - Episode 173
Recorded on March 10, 2022
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- 2022 OLED price leaks
- Obi-Wan Kenobi trailer
- New Denon soundbar
- KEF has a sale
- 85-inch TV recommendations
- AVR pass-through
- QLED vs LCD vs OLED vs QD-OLED vs ...
- The Batman at Dolby Cinema
- #askavexcel
- Your excellent feedback & questions
- What we're watching

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

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AVexcel - Episode 169

AVexcel - Episode 169
Recorded on February 10, 2022
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- Redoing AV gear placement
- Academy Awards notes
- AC Infinity AVR/amp coolers
- Calibrating the Sony A90J OLED TV
- ATSC 3.0 channel scanning
- 100Mbps 4K video streams
- Home Theater PC alternatives
- Value powered speakers
- JDS Labs Element III
- #askavexcel
- Your excellent feedback & questions
- What we're watching

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

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AVexcel - Episode 163

AVexcel - Episode 163
Recorded on December 3, 2021
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- More great TV deals
- DAZN sports app
- Sonos mini-sub rumors
- "Ultimate" Ethernet switch
- Adding a center-channel speaker
- Bargain projectors
- AVexcel Patreon Meetup
- #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 157

AVexcel - Episode 157
Recorded on October 7, 2021
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- Blackout restrictions suck
- HBO Max has the classics
- Sony Z9J Master Series review
- Flanders Scientific 5000-nit+ monitor
- New mics and headphones
- Denon Home gets Alexa
- Kestrel Tab-Tension 3 Series screen
- Don't use OLED TVs for PC displays
- Stress test your PC
- #askavexcel
- Your excellent feedback & questions
- What we're watching

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

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AVexcel - Episode 143

AVexcel - Episode 143
Recorded on June 16, 2021
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- Nits, Lumens, and Lux
- Black level vs. Brightness
- ELAC Uni-Fi Reference
- Speaker/Sub deals
- Projector calibration follow-up
- Denon/Marantz AVR updates
- Emotiva GR1 Headphone
- SINAD FAQ
- When OLED isn't the answer
- #askavexcel
- Your excellent feedback & questions
- What we're watching

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

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AVexcel - Episode 141

AVexcel - Episode 141
Recorded on May 27, 2021
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- (Apologies for the audio glitches!)
- Spotify's Car Thing
- Dune 2021 this Fall
- Yamaha AVR 4K120 fix
- Amazon buying MGM Studios
- Reavon's premium UHD disc player
- Ambient light rejection
- LG HU85LA lust
- Screen Innovations and Elite Screens
- 3-chip DLP Cinema 4K RGB laser projector
- JDS Labs Atom DAC/DAC+
- HDR done right
- Lost and found
- #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 127

AVexcel - Episode 127
Recorded on December 17, 2020 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- WB going all HBO Max
- PS5/Roku welcome HBO Max
- Picture presets are your friend
- Finding earpad replacements
- The Vizio Elevate
- AVR power ratings
- HDFury in its glory
- Picking the right speaker
- ATSC 3.0/NextGen doings
- Great home theater gear
- 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 123

AVexcel - Episode 123
Recorded on November 20, 2020 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- Turkeys and joysticks
- Broken 8K AVRs
- Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
- TCL TV backdoor
- microLED for the masses
- HiFiMan HE-R10 Planar
- Nest Audio home theater
- HBO Max for all
- More Dolby Vision disc info
- 8K AVR firmware updates
- Great TV deals
- 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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#CommissionsEarned with some links

AVexcel - Episode 121

AVexcel - Episode 121
Recorded on November 5, 2020 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- Broken 8K AVRs
- Shop early
- Great TV deals
- NextGen TV aka ATSC 3.0
- 10K ppi display tech
- Patrick's ATMOS struggles
- New Epson laser projectors
- HDR Blu-ray player options
- 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 109

AVexcel - Episode 109
Recorded on April 23, 2020 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown:
- ATSC 3 tuners are coming
- Sweet speaker deals
- Where to shop besides Amazon
- 8K HDMI cables
- 4K with an older AVR
- Your excellent feedback & questions
- What we're watching

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

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AVexcel - Episode 79

Recorded on May 3, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
  - May 4th festivities
  - Tuning room sound
  - Affordable speaker cable options
  - Big TV bargains
  - Budget AVR upgrade
  - Drop-down TV mounts
  - ATSC 3.0 follow-up
  - 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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AVexcel - Episode 52

Recorded on July 21, 2017 

Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron

The rundown:

• A Tidal rant
• Traveling with good AV
• CEDIA - a favorite trade show
• Answering your awesome questions
  • Video compression
  • Searching for great OLED deals
  • TV speaker upgrade on a budget
  • Bigger screen TVs
  • Rear-channel speaker options
  • Your first Blu-ray movie
  • Headphones for everyone

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

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Download the MP3 of this episode

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Episode #029

Patrick Norton and Robert Heron are maximizing the home theater goodness

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and we thank every one of them

The guys are (finally) back

What excites your senses

• Domestic bliss
• Mayhem in moderation
• Less Mad Max in Bay Area

Speaker acceptance factor

• KEF T305 surround sound system
• ELAC Uni-FI B5
• Bookshelf speaker placement
  • Elevated + off the wall
• Speaker stands
  • Pangea Audio LS200
  • LS300 for a little more
• Blu-Tack Reusable Adhesive
• Sorbothane
• Spiked speaker stands (or not)
  • Audioholics to the rescue

Full-bore 3D sound setup

• Atmos allows for 30+ speakers
• 11-channel amp/decoder/receiver = $$$
  • Denon AVR-X6300H = fine example
• Trinnov Altitude32 preamplifier = lust-worthy
• Pat: stereo ceiling Atmos setup sounds good
• Emotiva

We want your questions ask@avexcel.com

Two Patreon Hangouts down + many more to come

Brian aka @neccros Tweeted a need for Class-T amplification

• Needs small footprint
• $200 or less
• Start w/Lepai Class-T amp
• Lepy LP-2020A Class-D
• Upgrade power supply for better sound
• Dayton Audio APA100
  • Class AB, $99

HDMI Follow-up

• Samsung UHD BD player (UBD-K8500) does 4K apps too
• Fewer HDMI issues thanks to Simplay Labs

Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) Follow-up

• Not 'no metadata', but a scene-referred signal
• For live production, not stuff on discs/streaming
• Some 4K projectors support HLG now

Favorite Blu-ray/4K/Streaming

• Netflix The Crown = really good
• To Live and Die in L.A.
• One-eyed Jacks
• Kubo and the Two Strings
• The Squid and the Whale
• C.H.U.D.

Transducers for all the LFE

• ButtKicker
• AuraSound Pro Bass Shaker
• The Bass Shaker Site

Thank you

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

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

Enjoy

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Recorded November 23, 2016