HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

On this week’s show we take a quick look at a $20 set of earbuds, the Soundcore A30i. We also get you ready for your Black Friday TV shopping with 10 tips. We also read your email and take a look at the week’s news. News: Disney+ Introduces Top 10 List Of Movies & TV Shows To Help Users Discover New Content Samsung To Cease LED Production This tiny smart puck can control your entire smart home Soundcore A30i by Anker The Soundcore A30i are earbuds that are housed in a lipstick-shaped case. They are lightweight and comfortable, ensuring they feel almost weightless during use. These earbuds have “noise cancellation” but I’d say it's more like noise isolation. Going from ANC to passthrough was almost imperceptible in the amount of sound coming from the outside.  Since they do block out sounds, they work well in noisy environments. In terms of audio quality, the soundcore A30i delivers decent sound once you set the EQ. I was not happy with any of the preset EQ modes. But increasing the bass and treble yielded a nice sound. This is done through the soundcore app.  You can turn on a 3D surround sound effect via the app as well. But after about 30 seconds it was turned off. Additionally, the earbuds feature four microphones equipped with AI technology that Anker claims yields crystal-clear calls, regardless of location. Not so! I made three test calls and everyone of them sounded bad to the person on the other end. When I reconnected with my AirPods the people I was talking with said it was much better. Range wasn’t very good either. I put my phone on my workbench and by the time I got to the edge of my garage there were dropouts. I tested this multiple times. So is it all bad? Is there any redeeming features? Well yes there is, it only costs $20! For twenty dollars this makes a great stocking stuffer for a younger child who may be prone to losing things. They are also a good backup for when your Airpod Maxs start to hurt your ears. Sometimes you need to give your ears a break from the vice that’s on your head! Tips for Buying your 4K TV on Black Friday   Buying a new 4K TV can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience due to the variety of options available. With Black Friday deals right around the corner we want you to consider a few things before you go out hunting. Here are steps you need to take to ensure you get the best TV for your budget: Budget - This has to be the first consideration. Everything else is impacted by cost. Fortunately, you can get higher quality TVs for less money than when we first started doing Black Friday episodes. Once you set your budget and determine size (next tip) you can begin to decide on the other criteria.   Screen Size: Choose the right size for your room. This is where you would expect us to come up with some cool formula about seating distance and screen size. Not us! Measure your available space and put the largest screen that will fit. Of course after you consider the remaining items on this list. Also, don’t be opposed to knocking down walls or buying new furniture to gain a few more inches of diagonal ;-) Display Technology -  You’ll have to decide between OLED, QLED, and LED. Each has their place and will have an impact on screen size. By that we mean a larger OLED will cost more than an LED so you may not get the size you want.  But in a nutshell OLED - Offers superior picture quality with deeper blacks and vibrant colors, ideal for dark rooms. QLED - Provides bright colors and is better in well-lit rooms, but can have slightly less contrast than OLED. LED -  Generally more affordable but may not offer the same level of picture quality as OLED or QLED. Refresh Rate - If you're watching sports or into gaming. Higher refresh rates can provide even smoother visuals. If you watch movies and TV shows any TV on the market will have sufficient refresh rates. HDR Support - High Dynamic Range (HDR) enhances picture quality significantly by offering a brighter, more vibrant image with better contrast. Look for TVs that support multiple HDR formats, such as HDR10, Dolby Vision, or HDR10+. But make sure it has Dolby Vision at the very least. Smart Features -  Most modern TVs have smart capabilities. Check the operating system and pre-installed apps. Ensure it supports the streaming services you use (like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, etc.). If you get a smoking deal on a TV that does not have the smart apps you are looking for, don’t write it off. You can buy an AppleTV, Roku, etc with the money you saved. Audio Quality - This is a non issue. We assume ALL TVs have lousy speakers. So consider also buying a sound bar (if you don’t already own one) while you are out buying your TV. Of course we recommend that you eventually buy a multi channel system that includes a receiver and 5.1.2 speakers!! Connectivity -  Ensure the TV has ample HDMI ports, including HDMI 2.1 if you plan to connect next-gen gaming consoles. This is less important if you have a receiver doing the source switching.  Viewing Angle -  If you have a large room or plan on watching from different angles, consider a TV with good viewing angles. OLED TVs are the best. But if your viewing is head on this becomes less of an issue. Warranty and Customer Service - Finally, look at the manufacturer’s warranty and customer service reputation. A good warranty can provide added peace of mind as can buying a brand that has a good reputation. Using a particular credit card may extend the warranty. Likewise buying from Costco will do the same. Don’t pay for extended warranties. If they throw them in, great! But if a TV is going to fail it “typically” will do so within the warranty period. It's an odds game but the odds are in the consumer’s favor. By following these steps, you'll be better equipped to choose the right 4K TV for you. Happy Hunting!  

On this week’s show we discuss the Tivo Video Trends Report and we read your emails and and take a look at the week’s news. News: Streamers bet on food partners to help reduce churn Samsung Reveals Its Reach: Free Streaming TV Service Is As Big as the Major Players A Growing Number of Cord Cutters Don’t Plan to Buy a New Streaming Device in 2024, Spelling Trouble for the Tech Giants Other: 10 of the world's most expensive turntables | What Hi-Fi? TiVo Video Trends Report As we look at the content ecosystem in Q2 2024, consumers are noticeably scaling back their spend on content and as a result, the number of sources they utilize for video. In this iteration of the Video Trends Report, we continue to see respondents supplement their video bundle and save money by turning to ad-supported services. In fact, the ratio of SVOD consumers utilizing lower-cost, ad-supported tiers has increased across the board, while the share of consumers utilizing ad-free SVOD services has dropped almost 18% year-over-year. Some key findings: 84.5% of respondents are prone to browsing before landing on a show or movie. 77.8% of all respondents noted that they are at least tolerant of ads. 63% of respondents noted reducing their entertainment spending. 61.7% of respondents noted using at least one AVOD/FAST service in Q2. 22% of Pay TV subscribers cut the cord then later resubscribed to traditional TV service. Average number of video sources reverting back to 2022 levels Q2 22/Q2 23/Q2 24 Average Total Services 9.9 10.9 9.1 Avg Paid Services 6.7 6.9 5.7 Avg Non-paid Services 3.2 4.0 3.4 Household income does have an impact on the number of sources used, but it does not appear to be as substantial of a driver as demographics like age or geography. At the low end of less than $20K you have about 10 sources for 2023 and 2024. Households with incomes of $200K or more saw an increase from 10 sources in 2023 to about 14 in 2024.  Percentage of Respondents Who Watch on Each Device Q2 22/Q2 23/Q2 24 TV 81.0% 78.9% 81.3% Smartphone 50.6% 60.2% 51.8% Tablet 29.2% 30.9% 25.3% Computer 36.6% 37.3% 33.7% When it comes to discovery methods, the percentage of those who find out about new TV shows or movies from commercials has declined 3% year-over-year. In comparison, word of mouth and recommendations from friends continue to remain the most commonly used method of discovery. Top Methods of Discovery  % of all respondents/YoY Change Word of mouth / friends 50.1% +4.8% Commercials or ads that run during other shows 40.6% -2.9% Social media 39.7% +2.3% Streaming apps / home screen / carousel ads 39.3% +5.9% Suggestions in my pay-TV channel guide or menus 27.9% +1.0% Print, outdoor and/or online banner advertisements 14.3% +6.9% News articles or stories outside social media 9.7% -6.7% Emails or newsletters from streaming services 9.6% -0.1% Radio 7.8% +0.7% Daily viewership is largely consistent; Importance of local news drops 5% YoY. Fifty Four percent think local content is somewhat or very important compared to 59% in Q2 2023. Twenty One percent of all time spent watching video is spent watching local content, compared to 22.6% in Q2 2023. 27% of car owners report watching video in the car. This is down 13% from last year. Top Reasons for Watching Video In-Car To pass the time while waiting in the car 49.6% To keep children entertained 45.1% To pass the time on long road trips 34.7% To pass the time while commuting 31.6% To pass the time while filling up at the gas station 26.8% To watch something immediately/couldn’t wait to watch it later 20.0% To pass the time while charging an electric vehicle 18.4% SVOD churn declines as more respondents turn to ad-supported tiers. Eighty Four Percent utilize SVOD services. This is a slight decline from 88.0% this time last year. SVOD Viewing Habits TV 67.9% Smartphone 12.5% Computer 11.5% Tablet 8.% Transactional video on demand (TVOD) usage takes a hit in Q2 2024; Amazon remains firmly at the top. Forty Four percent use a TVOD service. This is down about 6% from 50.8% in Q2 2023, seemingly driven primarily by a decrease among pay-TV subscribers. Number of TVOD purchases per year Q2 2022 9.1%,  Q2 2023 11.3%, Q2 2024 7.3% Forty Six percent have not gone to the movie theater in over a year.  In fact, only 32.2% report that they’ll most likely see a new movie in the theater (down roughly 2% year-over-year), compared to 55.5% who would most likely wait to stream it. Reasons respondents prefer to stream new releases at home It costs us more than $30 to actually go to the movies 46.7% It’s too much of a hassle to go to the movie theater 33.2% You can’t pause the movie at the theater 30.7% I have a great TV/sound system at home 29.6% I have better snacks at home 26.1% The movie theaters near me aren’t very good 15.6% Movie theater seats are uncomfortable 15.1% Other theatergoers are loud, rude, etc. 14.9% You don’t have to sit through ads and previews at home 14.8% I don’t want to get sick 10.9% Sixty Seven percent of all free AVOD/FAST viewers noted watching some form of free live streaming TV or FAST channels, which in Q2 2024 accounts for roughly 51% the viewing time of all free AVOD/ FAST services. This has remained relatively flat year-over-year. Top Free AVOD/FAST Services (Most popular to least popular) Tubi Pluto TV Roku Channel Freevee Samsung TV Plus Crackle Vudu Global TV Plex CBC Gem Ad Tolerance by Service Type  Averse to ads (avoid watching ads during video) Tolerant of ads (don't mind watching ads sometimes) In favor of ads (I prefer to watch ads during video instead of paying) Averse/Tolerant/In Favor Pay TV 23.7% 63% 13.3% SVOD (Ad-Supported) 17.0% 69.5% 13.6% SVOD (Ad-free) 24.3% 64.2% 11.5% Free AVOD/FAST 20.7% 65.1% 14.2% VMVPD 26.8% 60.9% 12.3% Social Video/UGC 22.1% 65.3% 12.6% Free AVOD/FAST users report the excessive and repetitive nature of ads as top reasons for their ad-aversion.  

On this week’s show we take a look at the Pro-Ject 12.2 turntable and ask who is this for. And since it's Halloween we give you a list of five Halloween movies that you can watch with the family. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Best Buy supersizes its TV selection for the holidays Spectrum Invests $9 Billion to Bring High Speed Internet & TV to Rural America Fox Sports Aims To Enhance World Series Coverage With ‘Inside-Out’ Perspective Roku Keeps 37% Share of North American CTV Streaming Device Market Pro-Ject‘s Flagship Signature The Pro-Ject Signature 12.2 turntable looks like an amazing electronic device that is also art. But from a music lover's point of view, is the price tag of $14,999 worth it? Pro-Ject has made a name for itself as a pioneer in high-end technology and they say that the craftsmanship justifies the cost, but from a purely music lover’s point of view, it's ludicrous to spend that kind of money on a record player. But we get it, this product seems more like a luxury statement than a necessary audio component. So we’ll ask our listeners the question of whether anyone truly requires a turntable that costs more than many people's monthly rent. When you read the product info it's clear they are not talking to us: “With painstaking hand-polished metal parts and a chassis that involves 10 layers of paint”, so who is this really for? They do use terms like "anti-resonance" and "precision CNC machining."  Maybe I need to use terms like that in my speaker ads on Etsy. Precision cuts and only the best glue make my speakers the best out there. LOL, Actually, I wish I had a CNC machine to make precision cuts!!  What it boils down to is, does the average (or even audiophile)  music lover need their vinyl spinning on a platter that weighs almost 25 pounds? Especially when even some budget turntables can deliver decent sound quality for a fraction of the price. In the end consider this, all cars can get you from point A to point B, so why do some people drive expensive high end cars? Well it's about performance and in some cases image.  There is an absolute measurable difference driving a Porsche vs a Honda Accord. I’m not so sure you can say that about the Pro-Ject 12.2. Well unless you are going to build a shrine to it and display it prominently in your music room. It ships in November. Full Product Information… The HT Guys List of Halloween Movies to Watch As Halloween approaches, it's the perfect time to gather your friends and family for a spooky movie marathon. Whether you're a fan of classic horror, light-hearted thrills, or animated fun, there’s something for everyone in the spirit of the season. Here is a HT Guys list of five highly rated Halloween movies that you can enjoy in your home theater. Grab your popcorn and enjoy these Halloween favorites! Halloween (1978) (IMDB Rating 7.7) - Directed by John Carpenter, this classic slasher film introduces Michael Myers. Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, to kill again. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (IMDB Rating 7.9) - This animated musical by Tim Burton combines Halloween and Christmas themes as Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King, attempts to take over Christmas. A Quiet Place (2018) (IMDB Rating 7.5) - A suspenseful thriller about a family living in silence to avoid creatures that hunt by sound, appealing to teens who enjoy intense storytelling. Ghostbusters (1984) (IMDB Rating 7.8) - Three parapsychologists forced out of their university funding set up shop as a unique ghost removal service in New York City, attracting frightened yet skeptical customers. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966) (IMDB Rating 8.1) - A classic animated special that follows the Peanuts gang as they wait for the Great Pumpkin on Halloween night.  

On this week’s show Braden is back!! We discuss if greed threatens to ruin the revival and go over the 2024/2025 TV season. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Plex intros movie, TV reviews for friends to share Roku feature turns TVs into security hub DirecTV to Launch Free, Ad-Supported Streaming Service Next Month Other: www.DoItForMe.Solutions What is Home Assistant and why is it so popular? The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best UPS System for Your Home Vinyl sales drop 33⅓ as greed threatens to ruin the revival Vinyl sales are slumping after years of growth. Is greed killing the golden goose of old-school audio? Full article here…  2024 TV Season Snapshot Fox: Renewed Fox TV shows returning in fall 2024 Dramas: 9-1-1: Lone Star, Accused Comedies: Bob's Burgers, Krapopolis, The Simpsons Unscripted: The Floor, Hell's Kitchen, The Masked Singer, Crime Scene Kitchen Renewed Fox TV shows returning midseason Dramas: Alert: Missing Persons Unit, The Cleaning Lady Comedies: Family Guy, Animal Control, The Great North, Grimsburg Unscripted: Extracted, LEGO Masters, MasterChef, Name That Tune, Next Level Chef, Special Forces: World's Toughest Test New Fox TV shows for the 2024-2025 season Dramas: Rescue: HI-Surf, Murder in a Small Town, Doc (midseason) Comedies: Universal Basic Guys, Going Dutch (midseason) Unscripted: Extracted (midseason)  Canceled Fox TV shows that won't be back in 2024 Housebroken NBC: Renewed NBC TV shows returning in fall 2024 Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Found, The Irrational, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Lopez vs. Lopez, Night Court Renewed NBC TV shows returning midseason Deal or No Deal Island New NBC TV shows for the 2024-2025 season Brilliant Minds, Happy's Place, St. Denis Medical, The Americas (midseason), Destination X (midseason), The Hunting Party (midseason) Canceled NBC TV shows that won't be back Extended Family, La Brea, Magnum P.I., Quantum Leap, Transplant CBS: Renewed CBS TV shows returning in fall 2024 48 Hours, 60 Minutes, Blue Bloods, The Equalizer, FBI, FBI: International, FBI: Most Wanted, Fire Country, Ghosts, NCIS, The Neighborhood, Survivor, S.W.A.T. Renewed CBS TV shows returning midseason NCIS: Sydney New CBS TV shows for the 2024-2025 season Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Matlock, NCIS: Origins, Poppa's House, The Summit, Watson Canceled CBS TV shows that won't be back Bob Hearts Abishola, CSI: Vegas, Loteria Loca, NCIS: Hawai'i, So Help Me Todd, Young Sheldon ABC: Renewed ABC TV shows returning in fall 2024 Dramas: 9-1-1, Grey's Anatomy Comedies: Abbott Elementary Unscripted: Dancing with the Stars, Shark Tank, America's Funniest Home Videos, Press Your Luck, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Renewed ABC TV shows returning midseason Dramas: The Rookie, Will Trent Comedies: The Conners Unscripted: American Idol, The Bachelor, Celebrity Jeopardy!, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, What Would You Do? New ABC TV shows for the 2024-2025 season Dramas: High Potential, Doctor Odyssey Unscripted: The Golden Bachelorette, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (midseason) Docuseries: Scamanda Canceled ABC TV shows that won't be back Station 19, The Good Doctor, Not Dead Yet CW: Renewed CW TV shows returning in fall 2024 Dramas: Sullivan's Crossing, Superman & Lois Comedies: Children Ruin Everything Unscripted: Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Penn & Teller: Fool Us Sports: Inside the NFL Renewed CW TV shows returning in 2025 Dramas: All American, Wild Cards New CW TV shows premiering in fall 2024 Dramas: Joan Unscripted: Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, The Wranglers, WWE NXT (Broadcast Television Debut) New CW TV shows premiering midseason Dramas: Good Cop/Bad Cop, Sherlock & Daughter Canceled CW TV shows that won't be back Dramas: All American: Homecoming (final season airing in summer 2024), Walker, The Spencer Sisters Comedies: Run the Burbs, Everybody Burns

On this week’s show Ara catches up with email and news. Braden is back next week! Also, sorry for the aggressive noise gate. Trust me it's better than hearing me wheeze!   News: DirecTV and Dish to Merge Fubo Launches 'Multiview' Beta on Roku SVS Launches 17-Ultra R|Evolution Subwoofers - A Quantum Leap Forward in Subwoofer Design. Other: Victory+ Sports Network Inovelli Smart Home Google TV Streamer 4K User Interface Review Vintage Review – Technics SL-5200 Turntable AUDIO Cu | Multi-Room Audio Over Power Lines 100" Class U76N ULED 4K Google TV

I got home late last night and thought I could put a regular show together. Well I couldn’t. So instead this is my (and Braden’s) Origin story.

The State of Consumer Video: Transitioning from Cable to Streaming The landscape of consumer video has experienced a significant transformation over the past two decades, moving from the traditional cable television and movie theater experience to the era dominated by streaming services. Before the streaming revolution, cable television was the main way we consumed content, offering viewers a set number of channels bundled within packages that often included sports, news, series, and movies. Viewers scheduled their lives around broadcast times, and rentals of physical media like VHS and DVDs provided an alternative for those who sought to enjoy movies at home. While this landscape offered a reliable viewing experience, it was also limited by the constraints of channel programming and geographical restrictions regarding content access. One of the most notable changes in this new age of video consumption is the impact of streaming on live sports. Previously, fans would rely on cable networks for airtime of their favorite sports teams, creating predictable viewing habits. However, with the advent of streaming, the broadcasting rights for sports have become increasingly fragmented. Leagues like the NFL, NBA, and MLB have sought to maximize profits by licensing content across multiple platforms. This has led to challenges for fans who may need to subscribe to several services—often at a premium—to catch games from their favorite teams. The complexities of accessing live sports have frustrated fans, particularly those less tech-savvy or unfamiliar with navigating multiple apps and platforms. Consequently, many fans feel that the accessibility and enjoyment of live sports have diminished, as the once straightforward experience of flipping on the TV to catch a game has morphed into an increasingly intricate endeavor. Convenience represents another important aspect of the current state of consumer video. The rise of streaming services has undeniably enhanced the ability to watch content on demand. Rather than adhering to predetermined broadcast schedules, viewers can enjoy shows and movies whenever it suits them, utilizing smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs to access content anywhere. However, this convenience is tempered by the challenges of searching for content. With an overwhelming number of options available, finding a specific show or movie can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. In practice, many users find that they are better off searching through Google than relying on the clunky search functions offered by various streaming services. Despite advancements in technology, the complexity of content discovery remains a significant pain point for consumers in this new era. Quality, both in streaming technology and the resulting content produced, has improved significantly since the early days of streaming. High-definition and, more recently, 4K streaming have elevated viewers' experiences, offering sharper images and better sound quality than many traditional cable broadcasts. In addition, the influx of investment in original programming from platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime has resulted in a wealth of quality content that often surpasses what is offered on cable. Audiences now have access to diverse genres, innovative storytelling, and international content that previously would have been hard to find. Yet, as the volume of content increases, concerns persist about the saturation of the market and whether the overall quality will continue to maintain its standards amidst an ever-expanding catalog. Despite the many advantages that streaming offers, the economic implications for consumers cannot be overlooked. A common assertion is that streaming is a cheaper alternative to traditional cable, but this perspective can be somewhat misleading. As streaming platforms invest heavily in securing broadcasting rights for popular sports and producing high-quality original content, the costs for consumers can accumulate rapidly. Many people find themselves subscribing to multiple services to access all the content they desire, resulting in monthly bills that may rival, if not exceed, the cost of traditional cable packages. While the value that consumers receive has shifted from purely a cable-dependent model to a more content-competitive landscape, the overall expenditure on video viewing is increasingly a question of balancing financial considerations against personal entertainment preferences. In conclusion, the state of consumer video has undergone a seismic shift characterized by both newfound convenience and emerging complications. As the industry moves forward, it remains essential for content providers to streamline content discovery and access while also ensuring the quality of both the delivery mechanisms and the programming. Navigating the complicated terrain of fragmented sports broadcasting, the ease of on-demand viewing, improvements in streaming quality, and the associated costs will define the consumer video experience for years to come. As we look ahead, finding a harmonious balance between the diverse content available and the economic realities will likely be the key to ensuring a satisfying viewing experience for all.  

On this week’s show we look at the best Streaming Service for 4K content according to CNET. We also read your emails and look at the week’s news. News: Disney, DirecTV Reach Agreement To End Blackout DirecTV Stream Adds Customized User Profiles Venu Sports Antitrust Trial Set for October 2025 Netflix ad tier surges in popularity Best Streaming Service for 4K Content - CNET When looking for the best 4K content on streaming services, the top contender is Netflix. It does cost extra to get the higher quality, but it's one of the easiest platforms to use with a fair amount of good original content, regular updates and optimized features. While Max and Apple TV are also good choices, they aren't as good as Netflix. Full article here…

On this week’s show DJ gives us a recap of what he liked at CEDIA and we go through the What Hi-Fi Best of Show winners. We also read your email and take a look at the week’s news. News: YouTube TV, Sling, Fubo, Hulu, & More Added Just 49,000 Subscribers SwitchBot Launches Universal Remote With Matter Support Replace a pile of battery-hungry remotes with this solar-powered universal Other: Unfolded Circle What Hi-Fi? Best of Show Awards Winners SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle - Ultra Evolution is a complete reimagining of speaker design for SVS. This unprecedented marriage of acoustic design breakthroughs and passion for audio excellence has never existed and elevates the new series into the echelon of the finest loudspeakers in the world. Consisting of seven new models with advancements in driver design, cabinet architecture, and component materials, Ultra Evolution ushers in a new era of reference quality sound that transcends their class. $5K per pair for the top of the line Pinnacle.  Sony Electronics BRAVIA Theater Quad Wireless Speaker System - The true sound of cinema. With four wireless speakers and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, our flagship Home Theater System brings the true sound of cinema home. $2500 Sony Electronics BRAVIA 9 65” class Mini LED QLED 4K HDR Google TV -  Thousands of Mini LEDs are precisely controlled by XR Backlight Master Drive™ to deliver authentic contrast and our brightest ever 4K TV. Access billions of accurate real-world colors with QLED technology and XR Triluminos Pro™. XR Processor™ intelligently enhances every scene in real-time boosting color, contrast, and clarity. $3K Sony Electronics BRAVIA Theater U Wearable TV Speaker - Experience true surround sound audio with Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer technology. Enjoy crystal clear sound with newly developed upward-facing X-Balanced Speaker Unit. Connect to your devices with a stable Bluetooth connection. $300 Sony Electronics BRAVIA Projector 9 VPL-XW8100ES - Up to 3,400 lumens of brightness, generated by a long-lasting laser light source, for vibrant images even on a large screen. Native 4K SXRD panel provides full 4K resolution with 3,840 x 2,160 resolution. XR Processor for projector brings you the best of Sony’s image processing. $32K Sony Electronics BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 with 11 speakers, Dolby Atmos®/DTS:X® - Hear cinema-style surround sound all around you with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping. Sound is auto calibrated to your room’s characteristics with Sound Field Optimization. Supports industry-standard audio formats including Dolby Atmos®, DTS:X®, and IMAX® Enhanced. $700 Kaleidescape, Inc. Kaleidescape Terra Prime 123TB Solid-State Movie Server - Terra Prime movie servers store Kaleidescape movies, TV series, and concerts. Kaleidescape movies have lossless audio and reference video, are downloaded asynchronously and then played back from local storage. This enables playback with full fidelity, irrespective of internet connectivity. Couldn’t find pricing for the 123TB but the 31TB goes for $25K Coastal Source Coastal Source CUBE™ Subwoofer - The CUBE Subwoofer enhances the Coastal Source Outdoor Experience by providing high-performance bass (low-frequency) in a small and elegant package. CUBE makes outdoor music more three-dimensional. It provides audiophile bass from a classic, compact shape that blends into your landscape and provides years of outstanding performance in even the most challenging environments. Pricing TBD Linkplay Technology Inc. WiiM CI MOD A80 - Combines an ESS 9018K2M DAC with a TI TPA3255 Class-D amplifier, delivering 60W per channel at 8 ohms, and supporting the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 technologies. The inaugural batch of these products is scheduled to ship by October 2024. Hisense PX3-PRO Laser Cinema - The World's First Designed for XBOX UST Projector - With the HSR 240 high refresh rate and low-latency mode, get ready for smooth, lag-free gaming. $3.5K Hisense C2 Ultra - C2 Ultra redefines what’s possible in home cinema. Featuring Hisense's advanced Tri-Chroma laser technology, the C2 Ultra delivers breathtaking visuals with 3,000 ANSI lumens of brightness and a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, ensuring that every scene is vivid   and lifelike. This model also boasts IMAX Enhanced and Dolby Vision® certification, providing a cinematic experience that rivals the best theaters. The built-in JBL 2.1 channel audio system, complete with a subwoofer, delivers powerful, room-filling sound that complements its top-tier visual performance. The C2 Ultra is the ultimate choice for those who want an all-in-one premium entertainment solution. $3K L-Acoustics Xi Series - The Xi Series offers a range of installation-focused coaxial enclosures with distinct formats, bandwidth, and SPL specifically tailored for short-throw applications. These enclosures provide pristine sound quality and discreet design, allowing them to integrate elegantly into venues requiring natural and powerful sound. Meridian Meridian Ellipse - Meridian Ellipse is the third loudspeaker to emerge from our Extreme Engineering Programme, producing a natural, authentic and lifelike sound which is immersive and room-filling. Ellipse is designed for music enjoyment: with a bass response usually associated with much larger speakers, Ellipse has complete control over the sound it plays, so your music is projected into the room with clarity and authority. $3K

On this week’s show DJ travels to Denver CO to attend CEDIA and we get a field report. We also read your email and take a look at the week’s news. News: Samsung “Premieres” Two New 4K Ultra-Short Throw Projectors US Open, college football coverage pulled for millions of DirecTV customers over carriage dispute with Disney Panasonic TVs return to the US with a huge 85-inch Mini LED screen Other: Radio Shack Catalogs CEDIA EXPO 2024 CEDIA Expo, the only show dedicated to residential tech, will connect home tech pros in Denver, CO, September 5-7, 2024. The CEDIA Smart Home Technology Conference will run September 4-6, 2024. CEDIA Expo 2024 will also be co-located with the Commercial Integrator Expo.

On this week’s show Ara and DJ discuss data usage in a world that is relying more and more on streaming for entertainment. They also discuss a future where you can smell what is going on on screen. They also read your emails and discuss the week’s news. News: YouTube TV adding custom multiview to NFL Sunday Ticket Chick-fil-A Is Launching a Streaming Service DIRECTV & DIRECTV STREAM Could Soon Lose ESPN & Other Disney-Owned Channels Unless a New Deal is Reached Comcast Begins to Sunset CableCARD Other: 3D-Bluray Rental Choovie Rentals GameFly Many U.S. Broadband Users Consume More than 1 TB of Data Each Month More than 18% of U.S. broadband users now consume 1 terabyte or more of data each month, according to the latest quarterly report from OpenVault. Full article here… MovieScent brings sense of smell to home entertainment Elevated Perceptions, a specialist in the realm of immersive gaming and entertainment experiences, has unveiled MovieScent, an AI-powered device that releases real-time scents based on events and environments within movies, TV shows, televised sporting events and streams. Full Article here…

On this week’s show  we discuss a couple of solutions to Chuck’s Ethernet problem including a  revisit of Powerline Ethernet Adapters. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Venu Sports Faces Very Real Prospect of Preliminary Injunction NHL's Florida Panthers Sign ViewLift to Take Them DTC More FAST Viewers Are Dropping Subscription Streaming Services Other: The Ultimate CEDIA 2024 VIP Experience Giveaway! FAQnatics YouTube Nexuslink Gigabit Powerline Adapter A few weeks ago one of our listeners asked us for help trying to run Ethernet data over an HDMI cable. Today, in our email segment, we discussed a novel approach to his problem by just using the HDMI cable as an Ethernet cable by simply removing the connectors and using the existing wires. There is another approach, one that we have discussed many many years ago, using Powerline Adapters. Back in the day, we were happy getting one or two Mbps via these cables and for what we were doing back then it was good enough. However, streaming companies increased their data rates to improve quality and suddenly this approach was dead. If it weren’t for listening to a podcast recently I would have never thought to consider this approach. The podcast made the claim that Powerline adapters have gotten much better. To the point where they can reach gigabit speeds. Very skeptical, I went on Amazon and bought the cheapest adapters I could find, the Nexuslinlk G.HN 1200 Wave 1 Powerline Adapter Kit (GPL-1200-KIT) for $40. Features: Includes everything you need in order to turn your electrical outlets into an ultra fast network. Expand your internet anywhere in the home with up to 16 devices in one network. Enhance your network performance for streaming and gaming. Reduces Lag and dropped frames using LDPC/FEC (Forward Error Correction) technology. Designed for high density environments (eg. Apartments, business offices, condos, hotels, etc.) using NDIM Signal Segregation Technology. Delivers better real world performance with unique G.hn algorithms that improve upon older powerline standards. Technology like MIMO Dual Phase Technology delivers a faster and more reliable connection and LDPC to reliably cross phases Installing Ethernet Cable can be expensive and troublesome. Get a strong, direct internet connection without the trouble. Setup: Plug one device into a wall socket and connect the provided Ethernet into your router. It is important that the device is plugged directly into the wall. We tested with extension cables and socket expanders and found they degrade the speed. We also found that wiring into a switch slows the signal down a bit. But to be honest we don’t know if that was because we plugged into a switch or that particular wall socket was noisier than the rest.  The second adapter can be plugged in anywhere you need a network connection. In our test we chose a socket on the kitchen island and then wired into a laptop. The entire process took about ten minutes. Performance: To measure performance we ran a speed test. We did multiple tests.The fastest time were: Ping 16ms Down 64.13Mbs Up 51.34 Typical speeds were off by three or four Mbps both up and down. For comparison. Using wifi at that location saw: Ping 116ms Down 272.56Mbs Up 109.23 Which is significantly faster!  So is it worth it?  The speeds we got in our test were nowhere near what was advertised in the product literature. Your results may vary so keep that in mind. However, if you have a spot where your wifi can’t reach and you don’t want to run Ethernet cables, this solution is recommended without hesitation. At 40 dollars getting 60Mbps to your entertainment system will more than allow you to stream 4K!

On this week’s show Ara and DJ discuss what streaming services to keep and which one to let go. We also look at how going to movies are changing through charts and graphs. We also read your emails and look at the week’s news. News: Roku to Launch Dedicated FAST Sports Channel New chip design heralds arrival of compact low-power 4K projectors Netflix Christmas Day NFL Games To Be Produced By CBS Sports The Drew Carey Show Is Now Streaming for Free Online Other: onn. Google TV 4K Pro Streaming Device (New, 2024), 4K UHD resolution, Dolby Vision & Dolby ATMOS, Hands-Free Voice Control, Smart Hub I'd Keep Peacock but Skip These Streaming Services in August 2024 Streaming TV will really take off in the fall when shows like “Agatha All Along” and “The Penguin” hit the scene, but August isn't dry at all. The “Umbrella Academy” bows out for good on Netflix while “KAOS” and “A Good Girl's Guide to Murder” debut. But there are at least two streamers -- that aren't Netflix -- with worthy lineups this month, and Peacock is one of them. Full article here… How Going to the Movies Is Changing, in Charts We received an email from one of our listeners (John Lyman) in the Wall Street Journal titled - How Going to the Movies Is Changing, in Charts (paywall). John was kind enough to paste the charts in his email for our review. So here is our take on how going to the movies is changing.

On this week’s show DJ Briggs (Bright Side Home Theater) joins me while Braden is taking the month off. We discuss the Key Findings from the RTINGS.COM HDTV Stress Test and we read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.  News: Venu Sports Stays Below vMVPD Partners on Price DirecTV UX Update for Satellite Customers Is Its First in Five Years … And Perhaps Its Last U.S. Subscription Streaming Had Its Most Watched Week Ever Roku Most-Used Streaming Media Device Key Findings From Running 100 TVs for Over 10,000 Hours RTINGS.COM We have been following RTINGS.COM’s accelerated longevity test on 100 TVs pretty much from the beginning. They started this experiment back in October 2022. They have some key findings out which led them to conclude that thin LCD TVs break faster under prolonged use.  They concluded: The goal of RTINGS.com's ongoing 100 TV longevity test is to push TVs to the limits of their durability to examine failure points as they happen. One clear trend we've observed and investigated is that thin, edge-lit LCD TVs fail prematurely compared to LCD TVs with other backlighting technology. The results of this investigation are unequivocal: edge-lit TVs are inherently prone to significant durability issues, including warped reflector sheets, cracked light guide plates, and burnt-out LEDs due to concentrated heat. These problems manifest after prolonged use at maximum brightness, posing a significant risk to their long-term reliability. This analysis, corroborated by real-world observations, highlights a crucial consideration for  consumers and the industry. As manufacturers continue to push for thinner designs, addressing these durability concerns is imperative to ensure consumer satisfaction and    trust. For consumers in the market for an LCD TV to whom the durability of their purchase is important, we recommend prioritizing models with better heat distribution, such as direct-lit or FALD TVs, for improved longevity and performance.

On this week’s show we look at the Best Home Theater Systems of 2024 according to CNET. Then we define a system that actually is a home theater system! We also read your emails and look at the week’s news. News: MLB Network Launches Standalone Streaming Service, Available Without a Pay-TV Subscription Roku's ad director wants to bring Instagram-style shoppable ads to your smart TV Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney launch Hulu, Disney+, Max bundle Roku Acquires Streaming Rights for Beloved Sitcom “The Goldbergs” from Sony Pictures Television Other: NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING FOR UNLOCKING MOBILE PHONES DIRECTV Equipment Best Home Theater Systems of 2024 When we saw this article over at CNET we remembered the days of Home Theater in a Box setup. Do those even exist anymore? Anyway, we checked out this article wondering what is considered the Best Home Theater System. We came away thinking we may have taken steps backwards for the sake of simplicity. Full article here… Best Budget Soundbar - Roku Streambar Street Price ~$125 Best Budget Surround Sound Speaker Package Klipsch Reference Theater Pack  5.1 System Street Price ~ $400 Best Bookshelf Speakers Elac Debut 2.0 B6.2 Street Price ~$400  Best Home Theater Soundbar System Vizio Elevate Street Price ~$700  Best 8K receiver Onkyo TX-NR6100 Street Price ~$475 If you are looking for a capable but value 5.1 system we have designed a “Home Theater in a Box System” for you! Our system will cost you more. However, it will sound much better! And for the record, we receive nothing from the manufacturers.  For speakers - The RSL CG3M 5.1 home theater system. This is a 5.1 system that includes four bookshelf, one center, and one subwoofer. The cost is $850. For the receiver - Denon AVR-X1800H. It's a 7.2 or 5.2.2 receiver (room for growth) that supports all the things we care about! It goes for $560. Total cost $1410. Yes, that’s $535 more than the Onkyo and Klipsch system from the CNET article but it's much better and can grow with you. 

On this week’s show we take a look at the summer’s best TVs according to RTINGS.COM. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: This ‘Google TV Streamer’ set-top box is what comes after Chromecast Spotify HiFi likely to cost $17 or $18 a month Verizon Can Get Free NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV or YouTube DirecTV Warns FCC: Without Early Termination Fees, Our Equipment and Installation Costs Are Going To Be Paid For by Our Customers Upfront The  Best TVs - Summer 2024 - RTINGS.COM RTINGS.COM has published an article “The 8 Best TVs - Summer 2024” and we take a look at four of them. The article has the entire list. Best Budget TV - Hisense U6/U6K (Street Price $780 for 75” if you can find it) If you want to spend less, the best budget TV we've tested is the Hisense U6/U6K. It delivers a surprisingly great performance for the price. The Hisense has excellent contrast, so dark scenes look amazing in a dark room, with little blooming around bright areas of the screen. It also has good peak brightness in SDR and decent reflection handling, so glare isn't an issue in a brighter room. It has an excellent color volume, making this TV very colorful overall. It's bright enough in HDR for a pleasant viewing experience, and just like the Hisense U7N, it supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR, although it doesn't support advanced DTS audio formats. Full Review… Mixed Usage 7.4, TV Shows 6.9, Sports 7.0, Video Games 7.8, HDR Movies 7.5, HDR Gaming 8.0, PC Monitor  7.7 Best Mid-Range TV - LG B3 OLED (Street Price $1800 for 77”) The LG B3 OLED is the best mid-range TV we've tested if you want something cheaper and still want high-end features. It's a great mid-range TV and can be an excellent entry point into the OLED market. The TV has all the features of the more expensive LG C3 OLED, but the B3 is dimmer and has only two HDMI 2.1 ports. It still delivers outstanding picture quality, especially in a dark room, with its near-infinite contrast ratio delivering deep, inky blacks with no distracting blooming. Its built-in webOS platform is just as fast on this lower-tier model, and it still has very good image processing, so it has no issues upscaling lower-resolution content if you watch DVDs, cable boxes, or Blu-rays. It also has Dolby Vision HDR and supports DTS advanced audio formats, which is great for physical media as it tends to use DTS for their audio tracks. Full Review… Mixed Usage 8.7, TV Shows 8.3, Sports 8.5, Video Games 9.3, HDR Movies 8.8, HDR Gaming 9.0, PC Monitor 9.2 Best Bright Room TV - Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED (Street Price $3500 for 75”) If you need a TV for a room with a lot of lights on, the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED is an amazing option. Its superb reflection handling and SDR brightness mean it easily overcomes glare in the brightest rooms, so you aren't distracted by reflections on your TV screen. As impressive as this TV is in a bright room, it's also spectacular for use in a dark room. It has exceptional contrast that delivers incredibly deep blacks that are close to what you get from an OLED, with almost no blooming, thanks to its highly effective local dimming control. It's also a great option for 4k Blu-ray collectors or those looking to get the most out of high-quality streaming services due to its support for Dolby Vision and DTS audio formats. Full Review… Mixed Usage 8.8, TV Shows 8.4, Sports 8.3, Video Games 9.1, HDR Movies 9.0, HDR Gaming 9.0, PC Monitor 8.7 Best Home Theater TV - Sony A95L OLED (Street Price $5000 for 77”) If you're looking for the absolute best TV for a home theater setup and don't care as much about the price, check out the Sony A95L OLED. Although it's a very similar TV to the Samsung S90C OLED, it's better for home theaters thanks to its advanced video format support. Compared to Samsung's HDR10+ format, the Sony TV supports the more popular Dolby Vision HDR, so you'll enjoy the most advanced HDR experience possible from almost any source. Sony's processing does a better job following the content creator's intent, so the brightness and colors of HDR content look the way they're supposed to. It also offers better audio format support than the Samsung, including DTS:X passthrough over eARC, so you can simplify your connection to your audio-video receiver by running everything through your TV without sacrificing audio quality. Full Review… Mixed Usage 9.2, TV Shows 8.9, Sports 9.1, Video Games 9.3, HDR Movies 9.3, HDR Gaming 9.1, PC Monitor 9.4  

On this week’s show we have an AppleTV and a native GoogleTV comparison from a listener. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.  News: Samsung is helping to bring AirPlay to more hotel rooms NBCUniversal to Offer 400+ Hours of 4K HDR Olympics Coverage on USA Network, a Record Turns out Netflix makes more money if it just acts like regular TV Other: Handcrafted in the USA - Vintage Reclaimed Maple & Elm Speakers Doitforme.solutions Apollo Group TV Apple TV vs Google TV - John Lyman Around Thanksgiving the finance committee allowed me to purchase a new Hisense U7K 75” 4K TV.  However, once I got the TV setup and ready to go, something weird happened with my Apple TV that I had been using on the TV in that room. Max just stopped working. I did all the troubleshooting to no avail.  I decided that I would give the built in Google TV a shot to see if that could be a long-term solution. Over the course of six months I went back and forth with the two platforms and took notes. I thought I would write up my findings for everyone.   A few caveats: This is my first experience with Google TV  The Google TV is the built in version on my TV  I live in the Apple ecosystem and I have owned every Apple TV from the 1st gen to the current.  So, I do know the Apple TV a lot better, but I did my best to be fair. User Interface  Apple TV: The user interface is very nice, it seems lighter, crisp and clean. You can easily design the Home Screen the way you would like it laid out and create folders. I have a folder for my main TV/Movie apps, then one for sports, another for movies, etc.   Because you can customize the Home Screen it is very easy to navigate to where you want to go.   Google TV:  When you open it, you are at the top of google TV page with their offerings and everything is laid out in rows.  The App icons seem smaller than apps on the Apple TV and smaller than the “Google Recommended” apps.  You must scroll past those to get to your apps. I have not found a way to rearrange the main page so I can move my apps above the recommended offerings.  You can move your apps in the order you would like but it is not as nice.  I did try to find out if you can use folders on Google TV and it does not look like you can.  The interface is what it is. Remotes: Apple TV: The metal Siri remote in my opinion is one of the best remotes out there.  I can control 98% of what I need to use from that one remote.  The other 2% is for those times I can’t find a digital copy of a movie I own and need to use the Blu-Ray or tweak the picture of the TV.  Very quick to navigate with the remote around the Apple TV.  Also, the iPhone companion remote is really good too.  Google TV:  The remote that came with the TV controls my HT gear and if I used Google home I’m sure the remote's mic would give me voice control of lights and thermostat similar to the Apple remote.  Additionally, I find swiping over the touch-enabled clickpad much easier than clicking up/down/left/right buttons on the TV’s remote.  I didn’t have luck setting up the iPhone remote with the TV, this is probably a me item and I didn’t spend a lot of time worrying about it.  Apple TV+ vs Google TV’s Home app: Both apps have a lot in common, like Movie/TV suggestions, an area for your purchased content,  etc. Apple’s implementation is self-contained and can be placed anywhere on your home screen.  Google’s version is fixed at the top of the screen and you must scroll down the screen to get to your apps.  Picture quality, audio and App Responsiveness:  So the last test was to actually watch some video to see if there was any difference.   The setup: Internet – AT&T 1.0 GPS fiber, using a TPLink Mesh router – delivering 300 Mbs to the TV Denon AVR-X3200W receiver – running Dolby Atmos Speakers – RSL home theater package, 12” RSL speedwoofer and mirage omni-directional Atmos speakers I set up both the TV and my Apple TV for Dolby Vision and started watching content on both services.  One thing I couldn’t do was turn on Dolby Vision for the Google TV which shocked me.  The TV did auto switch and even though HBO Max said the movie was in Dolby Vision it would only do HDR.  I tried to figure out the issue but couldn’t quickly find an answer.  I quickly realized that any movie purchased from the Apple store was of higher quality than those from any of the streaming companies both in picture and sound.   I watched a few scenes from the latest Aqua man as there were some really dark scenes with good color and then some Star Wars.  With the Google TV setup to use HDR and the TV in the Movie preset, the picture was good. The AppleTV produced a little bit better picture with the same TV preset.  The AppleTV sounded better too. I could hear some additional sounds on the AppleTV that I couldn’t hear while using GoogleTV.   The biggest difference was App responsiveness.  When opening an app on the AppleTV, its click and it opens. GoogleTV took a few seconds.  Then clicking the play button would buffer for about 10-20 seconds before playing and the picture was lower resolution for a few seconds. The video on the AppleTV started right up and I didn’t notice any picture issues.   Built in vs Stand Alone Box  Built in OS strengths:  Built into the TV  Pretty easy to setup right out of the box  Integrated into the TV and remote  Stand Alone Strengths: Both hardware and software designed for a singular purpose  Not TV dependent  You can take it with you when you travel If new features are not supported due to hardware limitations you can buy a new STB Built in OS weakness: If new features are not supported due to hardware limitations you are stuck Hardware more likely designed for the TV and the OS a secondary  If you have multiple TVs with different OSes you will have an inconsistent experience May cause you to stay within a manufacturer’s product line to keep the same OS within the home Can become slower than the stand-alone devices over time Stand Alone weakness: They cost extra  Hard to switch eco-systems due to cost of devices if you wanted to Summary: I was really surprised by a few things after doing the comparison. The first being the lack of Dolby Vision on the Google OS built into my Hisense TV.  The option was not available for the Google Home app.  I usually leave the TV in Dolby Vision on the Apple TV as I find the picture pretty good with all content and I’m not a fan of my TV’s auto switching (going black for a few seconds).   The second was the difference in app responsiveness and picture start up times. The Apple TV was quicker in both aspects. The last was the difference in the quality of purchased movies from Apple versus the streamers and purchases from Amazon. Streamers and Amazon were inferior to the same content from Apple. I did not compare streamers and Amazon versus Google using native apps on the GoogleTV.   Bottom line I believe an Apple TV is like a well-made German car, over engineered, nice looking with features you didn’t know you wanted until you lose them.  Google OS is your typical mid-range SUV that everyone makes, most people drive and they all look similar and they get the job done of getting you from here to there.

On this week’s show we look at the “Must Keep” TV brands and 5 surefire signs it’s time to upgrade your TV according to Tom’s Guide. We also read your emails and look at the week’s news. News: Netflix Boots Legacy Subscribers Off Its $11.99 Basic Ad-Free Plan Stars and APMC pioneer game-changing VICTORY+ Sports Network LG Introduces Its First Curated Content Channel YouTube TV Still Dominates, But Frndly TV & Philo See Strong Growth in 2024 Other: Dear Roku, you ruined my TV My Media for Alexa ‘Must-Keep’ TV Brands A survey of 1,400 U.S. consumers aged 12 and up conducted in May found Netflix was the top choice for consumers for the fifth straight year, with ABC, Prime Video, CBS and Fox all finishing in the top five. Full article here… 5 surefire signs it’s time to upgrade your TV It's no secret that TVs always improve year-over-year, whether that's because they offer higher brightness, better color vibrancy, better contrast or some mixture of the three. That said, unless you have plenty of cash to spare and make it your passion project, it’s unlikely you’re upgrading every year. Full article here…

On this week’s show we continue our discussion of Rick Beato’s argument that music is too easy to make. We read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Dish to Bundle Netflix Free for Existing Customers Who Re-Up for 2 Years Fubo Launches on Xumo and Xfinity Flex Streaming Devices Redbox Owner Files for Bankruptcy Apple TV+ continues to grow in the US, this time overtaking Paramount+ Netflix Just Commissioned Its Largest Number of Titles in 3 Years (ICYMI) Other: A song about the HT Guys Haptique RS90: A True universal remote controller by Cantata — Kickstarter I Know You're Angry, So Am I.. Is Music Getting Worse? - A listener followup I just listened to your podcast episode “Is Music Getting Worse,” related to Rick Beato’s YouTube video, which I also watched a few days ago. He raised some intriguing points, both about changes over the years with sampling, autotune, and quantization, as well as how AI will undoubtedly impact the industry as well. It's a fascinating and complex topic, and I wanted to share some thoughts. First off, my daughter is a professional opera singer, so I am very sensitive to the fact that I would not want artists who are deep in their craft to be supplanted by technology. Losing the human aspect altogether would be a tragedy for us all, whether as creators or as consumers of music. Selfishly, for my daughter and for all artists, I want humans to be respected and compensated for the obvious heart and soul that they put into their craft. With respect to AI, one major and well-founded concern is that relying too heavily on AI could lead to a homogenization of music, where unique, human-driven creativity could become overshadowed by algorithms, resulting in music that degrades to the mean and lacks soul.  Which I would argue has happened well before AI has come on the scene. Having said that, AI also has the potential to enhance music production by automating tedious tasks and providing new tools for musicians, which could free up artists to focus more on the creative aspects of their work. One aspect that often gets overlooked in these discussions is that music production isn't just about the creative performers—the singers and musicians. It involves a vast array of professionals, including audio and sound engineers, mastering engineers, and various other technical experts who all play a crucial role in shaping the final product. The Beatles used these talented engineers at Abbey Road to come up with iconic sounds that would never have been achievable by the members of the Beatles alone. So, one must ask, where is the line? As AI improves and enables the creation of individual tracks, or stems (currently most AI song generators provide fully formed sound waves), it could open up new avenues to innovate and bring different types of music together by mixing and arranging music in virtually unlimited ways. While the focus tends to be on how AI might impact the creative people who write, sing, and play songs, it's also worth considering how it could empower the broader community of producers. This technology might unlock new channels of creativity and collaboration that we haven't even imagined yet. In addition, for the creators, the use of AI song/sound generators as “sketch pads” for fleshing out songs, similar to how demo tapes were used prior to final recording, is a fascinating thought exercise. It could serve as a tool to experiment and develop ideas before committing to a final version.  Or to bring an idea to a group of real musicians to refine and play live. I’m a child of the 70s and 80s. I love Cheap Trick and the Scorps! I also love British new wave, Alt and Psychedelia. To “prove” a point, I used a service called UDIO. It is one of the services that you mentioned are being sued at the moment. I prompted the AI to give me song snippets in the style of British pop, Alt Rock, Psychedelia, etc. I took a bunch of these song snippets and stitched them together in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), very much the same way that music producers currently “create” full-blown songs. I have attached the MP3 for your listening “pleasure” (take with a big grain of salt!). I share this with you as a simple example of what could be. It is not a great song by any means; it’s derivative, it’s corny, and it will never make the charts, but that’s not the point. If it was streaming at a bar in the background, I wouldn’t think it was horrible; in fact, it might be great background music for that setting. And this is version 1 of this new technology. What will it be like in the next 5-10 years? I’ve been listening to you guys for at least that long. Think about how the audio and video industries have changed so dramatically during that time, whether with the 400-pound TVs you guys referenced or in the quality of streaming vs physical media we have seen over that time. You guys questioned whether AI would be successful in music. I only have to look at throngs of people going to EDM concerts where there is no band, just a DJ playing “stream of consciousness” with audio loops to know that this technology will definitely have a place. The questions are, where, to what extent and how will the money flow?? Eager to hear your thoughts. Great show, and I appreciate your perspectives on all things home audio, video, and automation. Joe Albanian

On this week’s show Ara and Braden discuss a video made by Rick Beato where he posits that new music is getting worse. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Amid Another Worst Quarter Ever for U.S. Pay TV, Even YouTube TV Lost Subscribers in Q1, Analyst Says LG Launches OLED B4 4K TV Series Five Men Convicted of Operating Massive, Illegal Streaming Service Mini LED Backlight LCD Display Market to Surpass OLED Displays in 2025 Others: The biggest CRT ever made: Sony's PVM-4300 Twisters Movie The Real Reason Why Music Is Getting Worse Robert Spivack sent us an email with a link to this Rick Beato video titled The Real Reason Why Music Is Getting Worse. This immediately appealed to me since I spend a lot of time creating speakers to make the music I listen to sound as good as it possibly can.