Crutchfield: The Podcast

JR and Huffy go head-to-head in a debate to answer one of the biggest questions in home entertainment: should you buy an ultra-short throw projector or a large TV? Spoiler alert: there's no loser here, only the right choice for your room, your budget, and how big you want to go.They examine the 98-to-120-inch sweet spot where these two technologies collide, covering everything from installation complexity and sound system placement to screen selection, ambient light performance, and real-world 4K considerations. JR brings the customer reviews; Huffy brings the firsthand experience. Together they'll help you figure out which big-screen setup belongs in your living room.Want more info to help you decide between a projector and a TV? Check out our How to choose a home theater projector article:https://www.crutchfield.com/learn/home-theater-projector-buying-guide.htmlTVs 80” and uphttps://www.crutchfield.com/g_146350/All-TVs.html?fa=1#&nvpair=FFScreen_Size|[rank7]80%22%20and%20upUltra Short Throw Projectorshttps://www.crutchfield.com/g_160150/Projectors.html?fa=1#&nvpair=AG_Mounting%20Options|YCUltra_Short_ThrowScreens for UST projectorshttps://www.crutchfield.com/g_160250/Projector-Screens.html?fa=1#&nvpair=AG_Features|FFUltra_short_throw

JR and Huffy may not have been in Las Vegas for CES 2026, but that isn’t going to stop them from talking about all the new gear from many Crutchfield brands. We discuss Samsung's Micro RGB televisions, LG’s newest OLED screens, wireless TVs, Klipsch Reference Signature home theater speakers, and new powered speakers. SVS debuts asoundbar that’s sure to be loud and proud, and Samsung takes Q-symphony to the next level with their Music Studio 5 and 7 speakers. In the world of car audio, Pioneer makes a splash with their new Sphera 10.1" floating touchscreen stereo with Dolby Atmos® that’s sure to enliven your commute. All this, plus much more in our January podcast episode. Please keep in mind, we are talking about products that may or may not get released in 2026; we don’t have any of this confirmed for availability or pricing at the time of this recording.Pioneer SPHERA | Spatial Audio for AllSamsung’s Serious Studio 5 & 7 Speakers. Listen UP! Klipsch Goes All In with Next Gen of Powered Speakers at… | Klipsch LG OLED evo W6: 9mm Wallpaper TV with True Wireless Tech | LG USA

JR and Huffy wrap up 2025 and the fifth season of Crutchfield: The Podcast by taking questions from our fans and providinghelpful answers. Things vary from simple compliments to deep inquiries about the quality of vintage home audio gear in comparison to newer products. One savvy fan asked about a new Pioneer retro-style car stereo that’s only available in Europe (for now). As one final gift to our listeners, JR, Zak, and Ned read and responded to some of the comments left by viewers of our YouTube channel. The comments were very observant, creative, and mostly respectful. Think Mean Tweets, but nicer!  Links to products discussed in this episode:The Pioneer SXT-C10PS, currently only available in Europe (Pioneer's EU site)Onkyo Home Theater Receivers (Crutchfield.com)Analog only Integrated Amps (Crutchfield.com)

This week Huffy and JR take turns sharing some amazing giftideas available at Crutchfield. Car stereos, subwoofers, cameras, record players, and some surprise picks! And remember: if you're buying something for yourself, we won't know the difference.Note: pricing and availability are subject to change. We’dlove to answer your questions in our December episode; please email podcast@crutchfield.com with any queries about consumer electronics gear. If you don’t make it in time for our December recording, maybe we’ll address your question in a subsequent episode. Either way, we’d love to hear from you!As promised, here are links to all the gift ideas we sharedin this episode:Belkin Stage PowerGrip Camera gripBelkin UltraCharge Qi2-compatible, 3-in-1 foldable magnetic chargerLG OLED65C5PUA (65") OLED evo AI C5 Smart 4K TVSony BRAVIA 7 (65") Smart Mini LED 4K UHD TV with HDRSquier Sonic® Stratocaster® Pack SVS 3000 Micro Ultra-compact powered subwooferAlpine prismalink subwoofersSennheiser HDB 630 Over-ear wireless Bluetooth® noise-canceling headphonesCanon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS A digital cameraSony Alpha ZV-E10 OSS II Zoom Lens Kit mirrorless camera kitDJI mic 3DJI rs 4 MINIJVC KW-M590BT Digital multimedia receiverKeep Car Alarm Connected video security — mounts in cupholderSoundburger Portable Record PlayerJBL Grip Waterproof portable Bluetooth® speaker with ambient lightKala Red Light Face Mask

Fender, the iconic brand of guitars, basses, and amps, isnow available at Crutchfield. To celebrate this momentous occasion JR and Huffy (not guitar players) invite some of Crutchfield’s most experienced guitarists to talk about the instruments they love so much. Ned and Charlie have beenvery busy writing about all the new Fender products but were able to take some time away from their keyboards to join JR and chat Fender gear. Cory and Rodell then take to the mic to discuss how Fenderand Crutchfield are working together to provide the legendary Crutchfield experience for anybody looking for Fender gear. What type of training are we doing? Do we have special Advisors to help our Fender shoppers? What are wecarrying and how do we support it all? All those questions (and more) are answered in this episode of Crutchfield The Podcast.Shop Fender at Crutchfield

JR and Huffy share the online resources they use to stay upto date on the latest in audio, video, sound, car stereo installation, and more. The Crutchfield website is a great place to educate yourself about the gear so you can shop intelligently for TVs, home theater, car stereo, speakers, amps, subs, cameras, drones, and more!  We use these resources to do our jobs more effectively atCrutchfield, and we're happy to share some favorites with our listeners. There are plenty of other great resources out there — hopefully this episode will help you start your next project or make your next gear purchase. Here's a list of the resources we covered in this month's episode: www.rtings.com www.20k.org cheapaudioman - YouTube Car Audio Fabrication - Custom Techniques , Video Tutorials Car Audio Andrew Robinson Reviews Digital Trends - YouTube CalebRated - YouTube

Emily, a Crutchfield editor and one of our TV writers, joins JR and Huffy to talk about her picks for the top TVs for 2025. She explains the reasoning behind her picks and provides some updates that weren’t in the original article. If you are interested in televisions or are just wondering which one might be best for your TV watching situation, thisepisode is a must-listen! You can also check out the Best TVs for 2025 article that we used as the basis for this discussion.Shop TVs

JR and Huffy/Eric invite Matt Palumbo to discuss the new Stinger HORIZON10 10" floating-screen infotainment center, along with where car stereo is headed. The HORIZON10 is a feature-packed digital multimedia receiver that integrates capably with Jeeps and other vehicles. It also plays well with AudioControl DSP devices and other peripherals. It’s another example of the future of car stereo. If you have a Jeep, you need to hear this! In this episode we discuss the Stinger HORIZON10 as well as AudioControl DSPs. You’ll definitely want to enter your car in to the website to see if we have any vehicle-specific solutions for you.

Factory car stereos have become so much harder to replace in the last few years. The radio in the dash is so integrated with the vehicle systems and features that it can be almost impossible to replace. Now, JVC/Kenwood have teamed up with ADS (the makers of the iDatalink Maestro OEM interface), and the result is Direct Replacement. Finally, we can offer radio replacement solutions for millions of cars that were previously difficult or impossible to upgrade.In this episode JR and Huffy (aka Eric) interview Kelvin Riviera from JVC/Kenwood to discuss how this all came about, get into some specifics about Direct Replacement, and have some fun talking about the future of car stereo. If you want to see the Kenwood Direct Replacement stereos, here’s our YouTube video. To find out if there’s a Direct Replacement option for your car, enter your vehicle and then go to custom car stereos

In this special bonus episode Eric and JR explore thequestion, “Do you need to go to the theater to enjoy movies, or can they be just as good on a home theater?” To get to the bottom of this, the guys brought in some experts and did some of their own research. First they talked with Bryan Loy from Alamo Drafthouse Cinema about why people go to movies, especially at his theaters, as well as how he watches movies. Then Eric brings his 10-year-old son Porter into the studio to share his thoughts on movies, Dolby Atmos, Minecraft, books, WWII, and more. Porter also schools JR on the lingo the kids are using these days. He’s got plenty of rizz, that’s for sure. Eric and JR go see a movie!Thinking about making your home theater feel more like amovie theater? Here are some articles you might find helpful: TV Buying GuideHow to choose a home theater projectorHome theater receivers: The complete beginner's guideIntro to home theater speakersSmall home theater ideasBest Dolby Atmos sound bars for 2025

JR’s mother is pretty cool. So cool that she recently boughtnew speakers and installed them in her 2008 Ford Escape. JR interviewed her after she finished the installation to see how it went, and to show the world how much he loves his mom.  If you are considering your own car audio installation, weare here to help. We offer plenty of insightful articles to get you going, tons of information on the products, expert Advisors for assistance in finding the right products, tech support for your new gear, and 60 days to make sure youlove it. Car stereo buying guideCar speakers buying guideCar subwoofer buying guideCar amplifier buying guide

JR and Eric invite Tech Support Supervisor Cris Baker intothe new podcast studio at Crutchfield HQ to discuss the latest developments in EVs and hybrids and what can be done to improve their sound systems. We know a lot more about these vehicles today than we did just a few years ago, as Cris explains. Cris is also working hard to fill in the information gaps so we can be even smarter about how you can put a new system in your EV or hybrid more safely.  The guys also have some fun talking about their favorite EVsand which ones they would take home today, if money were no object. There are also some new EVs on the horizon that have piqued our interest. Alpine has developed some impressive systems specifically for Tesla Model 3 and Model Y cars,  and even made a thorough installation video so you can see what’s involved before you buy. We are pretty excited about the future of audio in EVs, and you’ll know why as you listen to this episode.  Additionally, Cris and JR answer pertinent questions fromthe owner of a 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E about adding a powered subwoofer to his system. We have custom audio packages for more than just Teslas, Go here, enter your car in to the site and see what we have for your ride: Custom-fit Audio Packages at CrutchfieldCheck out Alpine’s Tesla installation video here.

We’ve been researching cars since the early days ofCrutchfield. It’s how we know what stereos, speakers, amps, subs, and more fit your vehicle. How do we do it? Who takes apart dashes and measures speaker locations? Where do we get the cars? And maybe most importantly: How can youhelp? This episode is a deep dive into the world of Crutchfield Vehicle Research. As you listen to this episode, you can play along as JRquizzes his co-host Eric about all things Vehicle Research. The answers can be found in these articles:The history of Crutchfield's car audio DIY supportWho was the Crutchfield Installation Doctor?The Crutchfield Vehicle Research TeamResearch your car the Crutchfield way

Bill Crutchfield opened our tech support department in 1979;before that, Bill was the tech support department. Now it’s a group of around 70 people helping our customer get their shiny new toys up and running. JR asked our technicians if they had any interesting stories from their experiences working with customers, and it turns out they do! This episode features several of our techs sharing their stories. And along the way we find out about them as people, what makes them tick, what the enjoy most about helping our customers. It’s a fascinating look into the world of tech support done right. And remember you get free tech support for life with everyCrutchfield purchase. Tech Support - Crutchfield - Audio, video, and more. Since 1974.What you need to know about HDMI ARC and eARC (crutchfield.com)Revive the Drive

We put out a call for questions on Facebook and Instagram: Things you, our fans, would like us to discuss on the podcast. You gave us plenty to talk about, and talk about it we did! We couldn't think of a better way to start our fifth season of the show than interacting with our listeners. We discuss tweeter styles, amplifier power, and how to replace the radio in Chevy Suburbans.   Also: Valentine's day is coming up, so we thought of some Valentine's day gift ideas for your sweetie that might be better than traditional chocolates and flowers. Give the gifts of energy, music, and togetherness instead.   mophie phone chargers: mophie at Crutchfield Sony WH-1000XM5 (Black) Over-ear Bluetooth® wireless noise-canceling headphones at Crutchfield Apple AirPods:  Bluetooth Headphones: Wireless, Noise-Canceling & more - Crutchfield.com Crutchfield: The Podcast

We get a lot of people interested in using headphones with their TV. Some want to listen on just headphones, while others need the headphones to work at the same time as the TV sound is on for others. In this episode we dive in to how to use headphones with your TV the way that works for your household. This is also our season 4 finale, and we brought in a special guest. Eric and J.R. welcome Mullins, one of our excellent Training Managers, to the show. If you want more info, check out our top recommendations for TV headphones or begin with our headphone buying guide. Our headphone glossary will help you understand all the headphone-specific terminology, so you can shop smarter. All wireless headphones

We are super excited to be talking about Home Theater in this third episode of our four-part series that examines the best ways to make your TV sound as good as it looks. JR and Eric go in to the speakers needed for surround sound, and the home theater receivers that power those speakers. If you are considering whether home theater is the thing for you, this episode should give you the guidance you need.   If you like to read, and you want more, you should check out our beginner’s guide to home theater receivers and our Introduction to home theater speakers. And if you want some more guidance, and some visuals that will help you with speaker placement for home theater, we’ve got you covered.   Home theater receivers Home speakers

In part two of this four-part series on TV sound solutions, JR and Eric dive deep on the idea of just using a stereo, 2-channel speaker set up to enhance your TV’s sound. This can be done with powered stereo speakers, or with passive speakers and a receiver. The guys go in to the connections needed to make this work. Are you more in to music, but also want your TV to sound bigger and better than the TV’s built-in speakers? This is the episode for you. If this episode is of interest to you, here’s some articles you might find helpful in your stereo system journey. This article explains the finer points of stereo speaker placement. And we put together a list of our favorite powered stereo speakers with full explanations as to why we love them. You’ll find all our powered stereo speakers that are ideal for use with a TV right here: Powered Stereo Speakers at Crutchfield

J.R. and Eric dive into the world of TV sound. In this first episode of a four-part series, the guys focus on the easiest and most popular way of making your TV sound awesome, sound bars. They talk about the various types of sound bars, how to hook them up properly, and help you determine which soundbar is right for you. In addition to this podcast, we have several helpful articles to make picking out a sound bar as easy as you pleasey. Check out our Sound bar buying guide, And if you are looking to do surround sound from just a sound bar, our best Dolby Atmos sound bars article is a good read, and lastly, if you want to know more about how to connect and set up your sound bar, we’ve got you covered.

It has arrived — the final episode of our series on how to build the perfect car audio system. Hosts J.R. and Eric have a powerful conversation about amplifiers, shedding light on industry jargon and offering shopping tips to find the best amp for your system. Choosing the right amp for your car stereo system can be crucial to achieving optimal sound quality and listening enjoyment. Your hosts explain the role amplifiers play in enhancing sound quality, increasing volume, and providing headroom. They discuss different types of amplifiers as well as the role of channels and RMS power. Need more details on the topics discussed? Check out our helpful car amplifier buying guide. And if you'd like to see if there's a vehicle-specific solution that helps your next amp installation go a little smoother, be sure to enter your vehicle information here.