AVexcel - Episode 127

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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! 

Link to this episode page 

#CommissionsEarned with some links

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 

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AVexcel - Episode 87

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

The rundown: 
  - Cooling Summer heat
  - Sony Master Series TVs
  - Vizio P-Series Quantum TV
  - HDTVTest's TV Shootout results
  - Amazon soon streaming ATMOS
  - Finding a video calibrator
  - DIY subwoofers
  - 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 82

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Recorded on June 7, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
  - Sonos Beam soundbar
  - Amazon Fire TV Cube
  - Hands-on 2018 TVs
  - Vizio's Fathers' Day Sale
  - Lenovo 500 Multimedia Controller
  - In search of DSD recordings
  - 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 76

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

The rundown: 
  - OPPO Digital farewell
  - 2018 Vizio TV lineup
  - 4K broadcasting woes
  - CanJam SoCal 2018
  - Bias lighting follow-up
  - Calibration discs
  - 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 

Detailed show notes for this episode coming soon! 

AVexcel - Episode 71

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Recorded on February 15, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
  - OTA antenna setup
  - Caavo next-gen remote
  - Thoughtful HomePod testing
  - Vizio TVs add Alexa
  - Smart TV security issue
  - Phase vs. Polarity
  - 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 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

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

Enjoy

Subscribe to AVexcel

Download the MP3

Link to this episode page

Episode #023

Welcome to episode 023 of the AVexcel podcast

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and every bit helps

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

Robert is Olympic-ed out

  • Awaiting live 4K/UHD/WCG

Off the record

  • "Listened to your Olympics show. All the content is archived in full recorded resolution on Spectra Logic tape libraries. You didn't get this from me."
  • Other clients
    • National Geographic
    • NBC
  • Robots manage our growing archives
  • NAS = Networked Attached Storage
  • Backblaze hard drive stats

Intel Developer Forum

  • Kaby Lake CPUs 4K ready
    • Native HDCP 2.2 support
    • HEVC Main10/10-bit
    • VP9 10-bit video decoding
  • Pat playing Overwatch on Intel graphics
  • Project Alloy VR platform

Best seat in the room

  • Southern Motion theater seating
    • Power headrests
    • Fold down drink tables
    • USB charging
    • “multimedia sofas”
  • What's your movie/TV seat of choice
  • Pat's spousal acceptance factor
  • Robert's 4K office chair

Enterprise Home Theater

Archiving Blu-rays

We love your email ask@avexcel.com

HDMI cables for everyone

Evan has pixel shift concerns

@ajsmith tweets, “Any network ever broadcast live in 1080P? Are we going to compressed 4K first?”

  • Neulion’s 4K60 UFC 200 fight was the best we've seen so far
  • Broadcasters use 1080i as it converts nicely into 1080p30
  • 24p movies in 1080i film processed into original 1080p24
  • 1080p60 live streaming is doable today
  • ATSC 3.0 before we see much 4K live action

New Blu-ray Movies

Tim's tl;dr

Talking to the TV

8 vs. 4 Ohm

  • Pete encourages more experimentation
  • Use a good amp
  • THD can go up as resistance drops
  • Run speakers "small"
  • LFE to the sub

Robert’s crazy calibration week

  • Pro monitor LUT generation
  • Pro-tip: reset display to widest color gamut before doing LUT
  • OLED’s separate calibration for HD/HDR10/Dolby Vision
  • The KS9800 leaves the building
    • Impressed; yearning yet for more
    • 2015 JS9500 still a great TV
  • FlatpanelsHD’s Dolby Vision FAQ

We depend on the support of our listeners

Wear eye and ear protection when appropriate

Check our sweet AVexcel show notes

Thank you

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

Enjoy

Download the MP3
Subscribe to AVexcel on iTunes or RSS
Link to this episode page

Recorded August 26, 2016

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

Color gamuts explained

Brian seeks a 3D audio upgrade

@Aiden_deJong's looking to drive 4-ohm speakers

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

Thank you!

Samsung KS9800 Update

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

More 4K Olympics

Thank you

We appreciate the Patreon support that makes AVexcel possible

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

Enjoy

Download the MP3
Subscribe to AVexcel on iTunes or RSS
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

Premium HDR TV roundup

BitTorrent TV

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

Better Wi-Fi for all

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

Anthony needs low-lag HDMI extension

andcbii asks about the XAVC-S codec

Thank you

We appreciate the Patreon support that makes AVexcel possible

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

Enjoy

Download the MP3
Subscribe to AVexcel on iTunes or RSS
Link to this episode page

Recorded July 27, 2016

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

HDR10 Update

Amplifications

New flix

4K Integral

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

4K Roku TVs arrive

The randoms

Thank you

We appreciate the Patreon support that makes AVexcel possible

Note: check mic positioning

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

Enjoy

Download the MP3
Subscribe to AVexcel on iTunes or RSS
Link to this episode page

Recorded June 27, 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

But first, a summary...

New Blu-ray movies this week

Wirecutter's Best Soundbars

Connect with us

Top 2016 Smart TV Platforms

Gregg wants a UHD BD Player

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

Bo's eyeing SpectraCal's MobileForge app

Thomas likes LG's LED projector

Quantum Dot-ery

LG E-Series OLED TV

  • Comparing to the competition

Going long...for home theater love

Enjoy

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Subscribe to AVexcel on iTunes or RSS

Recorded June 16, 2016

Episode #011

Welcome to episode 011 of the AVexcel podcast

Our Patreon supporters make AVexcel possible, and every bit helps

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

Noise considerations: HVAC

Upgrade TV sound

Vizio SmartCast P-Series TV

News

Virtual Reality headsets

Do you care about VR? Let us know! 

CanJam Social 2016
Ossic X 3D Headphones

  • Head-tracking
  • 8-drivers
  • HRTF calibrated
  • Kickstarter project    

We love our supporters
 
The many Flavors of Audyssey MultiEQ

We thrive with our audience's participation - thank you

And, we'll soon be adding additional show support methods for folks who prefer an alternative to Patreon

Enjoy!

Download the MP3
Subscribe to AVexcel on iTunes or RSS

Recording date: April 7, 2016