AVexcel - Episode 97

AVexcel - Episode 97
Recorded on November 29, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
- California burning
- Great deals galore
- LG's updated TV chip
- JDS Labs Atom Amp
- Favorites in UHD Blu-ray
- Pat's projection tune up
- Activo CT10 digital audio player
- 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 96

AVexcel - Episode 96
Recorded on November 8, 2018. 
Hosts: Patrick Norton and Robert Heron 

The rundown: 
- Great deals on great gear
- Foldable displays are a thing
- Black Friday approaches
- Projectors vs TVs
- Contrast without sacrifice
- When to recalibrate
- 12-bit video sources
- 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 39

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
  • 55-inches $2800
  • 65-inches $4000
  • 75-inches $6000

AV101: bi-wiring

• Each speaker gets its own amp wire
• Not bi-amping

Pat's speaker doings

• Wirecutter: best speaker wire
• miniDSP UMIK-1 USB mic
• miniDSP 2x4 kit

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

• Wolf Children
• Game of Thrones
• MLB.tv

Thank you

Visit us at AVexcel.com

Connect with us

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

Enjoy

Subscribe to AVexcel

• iTunes
• Google Play
• RSS

Download the MP3

Link to this episode page

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

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

Enjoy

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

Recorded July 28, 2016

Episode #007

Welcome to episode 007 of the AVexcel podcast!

Our show grows through audience support and every bit helps!

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

• Diggin' Daniel Craig
  • Spectre
  • Layer Cake on Blu-ray
• Fewer 3D TVs
• Oculus Rift PC specs
• HBO Now passes 800K
• Robert misses Max
• Kevin asks about HDMI over Ethernet
  • Vanco makes solid gear
  • Monoprice has many options
  • Shinybow's great HDMI gear
  • Properly terminate Ethernet
• Bill asks about calibrating for sports
  • Avoid Vivid/Dynamic
  • Heron Fidelity on calibration
  • TV Picture Setup Guide
  • Spears & Munsil HD Benchmark
  • AVS HD 709 Calibration Disc
• Keith wants the original Star Wars
  • These are the droids you are looking for
• Dave wants to mount a TV on drywall
  • A stud is always preferable
  • Toggle bolts are your friend
  • Prevent TV Tip-Overs
• Jeff needs to clean a lens
  • Epson PowerLite 3500 review
  • Use a clean microfiber cloth
  • Less is better
• J-Tech Digital's Multi-function AV Switch
• RIVA Audio
  • Turbo X review
  • RIVA S
• Vizio M-Series calibration
• Sony 2016 preview
• Pat's sound lab
  • Klipsch Heresy History
  • NAD 2100
  • JDS Labs - The Element
  • AudioQuest Nighthawk headphones
  • Sennheiser MOMENTUM headphones
  • Planar magnetic headphones
  • Fostex T50RP MK3 headphones
  • Nelson Pass amp designs
  • Class A amps
  • Pass Laboratories
  • diyAudio Forums
  • Amp Camp amp (PDF)
  • Burning Amp part 1 (PDF)
  • First Watt
  • B&W DM601 speakers
• What we're watching
  • Penny Dreadful on Showtime
  • Agent Carter via iTunes
  • Better Call Saul in Netflix 4K
  • Faster than Light on Steam
  • DIY/fix-it videos on YouTube

Please comment below or drop us an email at ask@avexcel.com

Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook

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

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

Enjoy!

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Subscribe to AVexcel on iTunes or RSS

Recording date: February 10, 2016

Episode #004

Robert and Patrick have returned from the 2016 CES in Las Vegas brimming with juicy details about the favorite gear they saw.

In this episode, the guys fondly recall:

• Much love for The D
• ELAC's Uni-FI B5 speakers
• Pricing-disbelief: KEF LS50 speakers
• Hail to the JDS Labs crew
• RIVA Audio's WAND 300 speaker
• The "birth of 4K" and the UHD Alliance
• Samsung's UBD-8500 UHD Blu-ray player
• HDFURY's UHD 'splitter'
• LG's 2016 OLED tech
• Netflix around the world
• Next-gen broadcasting: ATSC 3.0
• Amazon Video coming to Apple TV
• Dish's monster 16-tuner mega DVR
• Sharp TVs looking good for 2016
• Lots of quantum dot goodness
• Sony's super-bright HDR demos
• SAVANT's sweet remote control
• Neeo: Kickstarted simple/smart remote
• Samsung improves universal control
• What are they watching

And viewer questions about alternatives to Blue Headphones, a solid 4K AV receiver, and a great 5.1 speaker kit value.

Our AWESOME audience has pushed us past our second Patreon milestone goal! The support is sincerely appreciated, and AVexcel wouldn't be possible without YOU!

Download the MP3
Subscribe to AVexcel on iTunes or RSS

Recording date: January 12, 2016

Corrections (minor or otherwise)

• LG didn't mention the use of "moth's eye" technology (it was Samsung), but LG is incorporating a triple-layer of anti-reflective/anti-glare film on its best 2016 TVs
• Quantum dots emit light when stimulated by electrons or photons