HDTV and Home Theater Podcast HT Guys

On this week’s show TCL introduces new TVs and Soundbars for 2024 and can the newly named Venu Sports streaming service make cable operators obsolete? We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.
News:
Sports Streaming JV Gets a Name, Venu Sports Netflix Will Stream Two NFL Games This Christmas Day Panasonic Selects TiVo TVOS to Power Its Mid- and Entry-Level Smart TVs Sonos Ace
Comcast Prices StreamSaver Bundle at $15 a Month Other:
Forums - Squeezebox piCorePlayer Lyrion Music Server HiFiBerry Forums - Slimdevices DIY TCL Launches 2024 Home Theater Lineup With Multiple TV And Sound Bar Offerings TCL is expanding its offerings for 2024 with the launch of an expansive TV and soundbar portfolio. The new releases include TV and sound bar models for multiple price points. The new TCL TV lineup aims to provide a home theater solution for virtually every need across its Smart S Class and  QLED Q Class, along with an expanded range of sizes from 32″ to 115″. Full Article here…
TCL Q Class Smart TV
TCL’s new Q Class Smart TV models utilize Quantum Dot technology featuring UltraWide Color Gamut for enhanced QLED color. The TCL Q Class includes the Q65, Q68, QM7 and QM8 models, including three new 98” TVs and the world’s largest QD-Mini LED TV.

While TCL’s 98″ TV offerings can satisfy virtually any cinephile or sports enthusiast, the 115″ QM89 is TCL’s top-of-the-line QD-Mini LED TV for those looking to create or upgrade their theater room with an elevated viewing experience.
TCL S Class Smart TV
The S Class family of smart TVs include the S2 and S3, which will carry over into 2024’s lineup. New to this year is the S5, which includes TCL’s AiPQ Processor for enhanced image processing. Additionally, 55″+ S Class models feature Game Accelerator 120 for 120 VRR gaming.
TCL Q Class Sound Bar: High Quality Home Theater
The Q Class is TCL’s premium sound bar family, supporting Dolby Atmos for high-quality home theater audio. The Q75H is a 5.1.2 sound bar featuring built-in side surround speakers, while the  Q85H is a 7.1.4 sound bar that adds wireless rear speakers, incorporating rear Dolby Atmos up-firing drivers.
TCL S Class Sound Bar: Home Theater Made Simple
The new S Class sound bars include TCL’s S45H and S55H models, now upgraded with Dolby Atmos and Auto Room calibration. These models also include other key features such as DTS Virtual:X Virtual 3D Surround, HDMI with eARC, Bluetooth, TCL TV Ready capability, and are wall mountable.
Venu Sports and ESPN DTC Could Sink U.S. Pay TV Operators According to Aluma’s Michael Greeson, the sports JV alone could cause 10% of users to cut the cord, and that would ‘severely diminish the ability of operators to stay afloat’ Full article here… 
It boils down to the fact that the U.S. pay TV industry could face a lot of competition due to the newly named sports streaming service “Venu Sports”. A recent survey indicated that about 32% of traditional cable subscribers and 38% of IPTV subscribers indicated some level of "likelihood" that they'd sign up for the new service. 
The article says that if pay TV providers lose 10% of their customers due to the new service, it will  severely diminish the ability of pay TV operators to sustain their businesses. Additionally, the impending direct-to-consumer launch of ESPN by Disney is also anticipated to pose a threat, with a significant percentage of potential ESPN subscribers indicating a likelihood to cancel their pay TV service, potentially impacting operators further. 
These developments could have a detrimental impact on the pay TV industry, endangering the survival of operators struggling with declining subscriber bases. Side note - if the joint venture intends to rely on pull from those who have completely cut the cord, they can forget about it. Only 9% are legitimate prospects for the service.”

On this week’s show Ara gets a new TV! It came down to a UST Projector and a Mini LED. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.
News:
Amazon Debuts New Streaming Ads on Prime Disney and Warner Set to Bundle Disney Plus, Max and Hulu Starting This Summer Fox Says Tubi Now Has 80 Million Average Monthly Users; FAST Platform’s Engagement Also Up 36% Sunday Leadoff' Is Coming to The Roku Channel Apple, Netflix Amazon Want to Change How They Pay Hollywood Stars Comcast Plans Peacock, Netflix, Apple TV+ Streaming Bundle Other:
SportsNet Pittsburgh launches direct-to-consumer streaming service My ideal TV has no tuner, no speakers and no smart platform I’ve had my current TV for about a year now, and do you know how many times I’ve used its built-in tuner? None. I’ve not even plugged in the aerial. I’ve not used any of the built-in apps, either, and the built-in speakers have emitted a sound only a handful of times, and only because the connected sound system didn’t automatically switch on as it should have. Full article here…
New TV for Ara Ara’s original Vizio P-Series UHD TV finally gave out. After posting this information on X, he received a few suggestions on how it could possibly be revived. Unfortunately nothing worked. Vizio customer service even offered to help resolve the issue. But after ten years of trusty service, it was time to move on. 
Ara posted to X that it was between a Sony Mini LED and an AWOL UST projector. The response was mixed. So where did he land?
The field was quickly narrowed down to:
The AWOL LTV-2500 4K 3D Triple Laser Projector $3000 + $1000 for a 100” screen.
Bring The Cinematic Experience to Your Home: AWOL VISION LTV-2500 powered with a cutting edge Triple Laser without Color Wheel Technology, Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos 4K UHD Resolution, HDR10+, 3D available, brings you a stunning 150", 4K Movie Theater experience. Coupled with exceptional audio immersion technology with Dolby Atmos, LTV-2500 is the most colorful with details' ultra short throw 4K laser projector for controlled light environment.
and
The BRAVIA XR 75” Class X93L Mini LED 4K HDR Google TV (2023) $2500
The Cognitive Processor XR™ delivers a picture with wide dynamic contrast and natural colors, replicating how we see the real world. See ultimate contrast from thousands of Mini LEDs and billions of accurate colors, all precision-controlled by the XR Backlight Master™ Drive and XR Triluminos Pro™.
The winner is…. The Sony Bravia. 
The Process:
Cost was a factor but not as big a factor as Lina not wanting to rearrange the artwork above the current TV. Some on X said that the UST was only an option if I had good control of the light in the room. Even my first gen UST looks decent in full daylight and it does not have the lumens of this projector. So that was not and issue that disqualified the UST While I would have liked a 100” screen. The 75” Sony is a small step up from the 70” Vizio. Tip! Regardless of choice I was going to have to get rid of my old Vizio. I’m thinking I’d have to call my trash company and pay to have it hauled away. So I thought let me try to see if someone wanted a free broken UHD TV. And to my surprise, four people reached out to me. The person who ended up with it worked at a youth center and had a friend who fixed TVs. So he came and picked it up and just like that, problem solved.  Once the Bravia was delivered I simply plugged the cables in exactly as the Vizio. The output of the Yamaha RX-850 to the eARC port, power, and Ethernet. It's actually pretty heavy (97 lbs or 42Kgs). I powered it up and went through the setup. By the way, I did not accept anything that I interpreted as them spying on me. The TV is also a GoogleTV. I did not log into my account. For calibration I selected cinema mode and turned off motion flow and automated adjustments.  I did enable calibrated mode for any programming that sends that info

On this week’s show we discuss the merits of an expensive wired whole home audio streamer vs putting one together with Airplay 2 or Chromecast. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.
News:
YouTube introduces pause ads to TV app LG TVs are getting a free audio upgrade that Apple users will absolutely love 85% of Amazon Prime Video Subscribers Are on the Ad-Supported Tier Samsung's new, cheaper OLED TVs are now available to buy EchoStar Loses 348,000 Pay TV Subs in 1st Quarter Juke+ Audio Streamer Juke+, as described on their website, is an audio distribution system designed to provide high-quality sound across multiple rooms in a house. It runs about $2,500 and that’s without speakers. So here is our question; do you think it's worth the money when you can put a high end wireless system together including speakers for significantly less money? 
First let’s take a look at what the $2500 Juke+ System gets you:
Audio Quality and Control - The Juke+ system can power 6 audio zones with 12 speaker channels at 100 watts per channel, ensuring pristine audio quality. Users can fine-tune the audio settings in each room through an app-controlled audio equalizer for optimal sound customization. Wireless Control - The Juke Audio application enables comprehensive control of the audio system via Android and Apple devices. Various features include playing to any combination of zones, independent volume control for each zone, simultaneous streaming from multiple users/devices, and access through a web interface on PCs. All-in-One Solution - The Juke system integrates the functions of powering, controlling, and streaming audio to multiple speaker sets throughout the house, eliminating the need for separate receivers, streamers, or in-wall controllers. Airplay 2 Integration - Juke displays connected speaker zones as independent Airplay inputs, facilitating streaming from Apple devices to specific audio zones. Users can group zones directly within the Airplay menu and stream to Juke and other Airplay 2 devices simultaneously, maintaining audio sync. Spotify Connect Support - Each connected speaker zone is independently recognized in Spotify, allowing premium users to stream content seamlessly. The Juke app's grouping feature enables setting multi-zone endpoints in Spotify for convenient whole-house or room-specific playback. Bluetooth Connectivity - Juke supports Bluetooth streaming from any compatible device, allowing users to play content without relying on a local Wi-Fi network. Juke+ provides multiple options to enjoy TV audio through its audio distribution system. Wireless Audio from Apple TV via Airplay - You can wirelessly send audio from any app on Apple TV to Juke using Airplay over the Wi-Fi network.  Bluetooth Connectivity from Compatible Smart TVs - Juke supports receiving audio from compatible Smart TVs via Bluetooth. Hardwired Connection from TV to Juke - For a more traditional setup, you can run a hardwired connection from the audio output of your TV back to the Juke system.  Our wireless system consists of a Belkin SoundForm Connect AirPlay 2 Adapter or a Chromecast Audio ($80) and a pair of Audioengine A5+ ($500 per pair) for a grand total of $580 per zone or $3480 for six zones with speakers included! Similar passive speakers from Audioengine cost $400 which would bring a similar system to $4900. A difference of $1420. 
Let’s see if you miss anything:
Audio Quality and Control - You can control each room with any app that plays music on your phone or tablet but you can’t set separate EQ. +1 to Juke+ Wireless Control - Our system does the same as the Juke+. No advantage to either  All-in-One Solution - Our system does the same as the Juke+. No advantage to either Airplay 2 Integration - If you use the SoundForm you have identical capabilities. However, if you use a Chromecast you have capability that the Juke+ does not have. +1 to our DIY system Spotify Connect Support

On this week’s show you get what you pay for! Ara’s experience buying cheap automated wall plugs. Plus we wrap up the 2024 TV season and read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. 
News:
Roku Said to Be in the Running to Take Over the MLB 'Sunday Leadoff' Game Package From Peacock | Next TV YouTube TV starting to roll out Multiview on Android phones, tablets Peacock Hikes Price $2 Ahead of Paris Summer Olympics Fubo's Warner Bros. Beef Worsens -- TLC, HGTV and Other Discovery Networks Blacked Out on vMVPD | Next TV Other:
'Life of Pi' director abandons 3D and HFR: "Whole ecosystem is bad" - FlatpanelsHD How Las Vegas' Sphere Actually Works You get what you pay for! Recently I purchased some thread based wall plugs to turn a night light on at sunset and off at sunrise. It was an extremely inexpensive Wemo plug that ran on thread. I was excited because thread based products are extremely fast and reliable. Well that’s what I thought.
Wemo Smart Plug with Thread - I bought them for $80 for a four pack. You can get them for $30 individually.
I deployed four, Two lose connection with the thread router every few days. Unplug and plug back in and repeat.  Two are rock solid Belkin Customer Service won’t refund my money because its well past the 30 days.  No info on a firmware update Useless product! GE CYNC Indoor Smart Plug, Matter Compatible $30 for three pack
This product has no support for Homekit so this was a good test to see if a Matter plug would work in an Homekit environment. Connecting to my home is just as easy as a Homekit device.  Worked for three days and then disconnected. Unplug and plug back in did nothing. Did full reset and the device can not be added to homekit or GE Cync app. DOA Added a second plug to my home. Just as easy as the first. Three days later, we are still in business. I have not contacted customer support. Other than the device failing, connecting a matter plug to Homekit was trivial. Eve Energy - (Matter Compatible) $40
I currently have four plugs deployed for six months They are connected using thread and bluetooth Super fast and super reliable You get what you pay for 2024 TV Season Wrap Up Although this year's TV Season got a late start, we did have one however short it was. It seems like we just got new episodes and now we are looking at season finales. But even with shortened TV seasons, executives have to make tough decisions on what shows get another season and which ones say good-bye. The following is what TV Line is reporting for the end of the 2024 Television Season: 
ABC
9-1-1: Officially renewed for Season 8 Abbott Elementary: Officially renewed for Season 4.  The Conners: A safe bet. The Good Doctor: Officially canceled; series finale airs this Spring. Grey’s Anatomy: Officially renewed for Season 21. Not Dead Yet: Could go either way.  The Rookie: Officially renewed for Season 7 Station 19: Officially canceled; series finale airs this Spring. Will Trent: Officially renewed for Season 3 CBS
Blue Bloods: Officially canceled; series finale airs in Fall 2024. Bob Hearts Abishola: Officially canceled; series finale airs May 6. CSI: Vegas: Officially canceled. The Equalizer: Officially renewed for Season 5 Elsbeth: Officially renewed for Season 2 FBI: Officially renewed (through Season 9) FBI: International: Officially renewed for Season 4 FBI: Most Wanted: Officially renewed for Season 6 Fire Country: Officially renewed for Season 3 Ghosts: Officially renewed for Season 4 NCIS: Officially renewed for Season 22 NCIS: Hawai’i: Officially canceled. The Neighborhood: Officially renewed for Season 7 So Help Me Todd: Officially canceled.  S.W.A.T.: Officially uncancelled, renewed for Season 8 Tracker: Officially renewed for Season 2 Young Sheldon: Officially canceled; series finale airs May 16; spinoff ordered FOX
9-1-1: Lone Star: Season 5 delayed until Fall 2024. Accused: Too early to tell. Alert: Missing Persons Unit: Too ear

On this week’s show we look at the Nielsen “The Gauge™” report for March 2024 and the new Sony Bravia Line of TVs. We also ask if QDEL is the future of TV Technology. We round out the show with your emails and a look at the week’s news.
News:
Plex Flex: FAST Boasts That It Has Exceeded 1100 Channels Netflix Makes Major Changes to Its Plans - RetailWire Source: 4K Chromecast with Google TV sequel is coming with new remote Other:
Cambridge Audio USA | eBay Stores Cambridge Audio Minx X201 (Black) Ultra-compact powered subwoofer at Crutchfield S6 Powered Subwoofer for $300 Sony might have perfected Mini LED TVs with its new 2024 lineup - The Verge Neilsen’s Total TV and Streaming Snapshot Nielsen today released The Gauge™ report for March 2024, which revealed that TV usage changes from February to March were very similar to those exhibited in the same interval last year, as seasonality—of both content and viewing behavior—has started to take effect. As such, the 3% drop in overall TV usage in March does not come as a surprise, but a closer look at shifts in viewing behavior over a longer period of time highlights greater changes across the broader media landscape. Full Press Release here…
Sony Bows New Premium Bravia Mini-LED TVs Sony unveiled four new Bravia TV models, “flagship” and “premium” mini-LED editions, the Bravia 9 and Bravia 8, respectively, a “core” full-array LED Bravia 7, and a “standard” direct LED Bravia 6. Full Article Here…
Is QDEL The Future of Display Technology In the realm of premium display technologies, Quantum Dot Electroluminescent (QDEL) is emerging as a promising innovation that could potentially replace OLED in high-end TVs and monitors. Unlike traditional LEDS, QDEL displays do not require a traditional backlight; instead, they utilize quantum dots as the light source, offering various advantages in terms of image quality, affordability, and longevity. So what makes QDEL so enticing to TV manufacturers?
Evolution from OLED 
With OLED technology becoming more common and affordable, the focus has shifted toward identifying the next breakthrough in consumer display technology. While concepts like Micro LED, transparent screens, and foldable displays are under development, quantum dots have surfaced as a leading contender to address key user concerns effectively.
Quantum Dot Technology 
Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals that emit light when subjected to an electric current, offering superior color accuracy and brightness compared to traditional displays. QDEL leverages quantum dots to produce vibrant colors, high brightness, and enhanced energy efficiency without relying on a separate backlight system.
Advantages of QDEL
Wider Color Gamut: QDEL displays are expected to surpass QD-OLEDs in terms of color accuracy and vibrancy, enhancing the viewing experience for consumers. Improved Brightness: By using quantum dots as the light source, QDEL screens can achieve higher brightness levels, making them suitable for various environments, including well-lit rooms. Cost Efficiency: The elimination of backlight components in QDEL technology may lead to more affordable displays for consumers in the future. Burn-In Resistance: QDEL displays are designed to be resistant to issues like burn-in, which have been a concern with certain display technologies. Nanotechnology Development 
Nanosys, a leading quantum dot supplier, is actively involved in developing QDEL technology under the name NanoLED. This innovative approach aims to enhance display performance while offering a competitive edge in the premium display market.
QDEL represents a promising advancement in display technology, offering a backlight-less solution with improved color reproduction, brightness, affordability, and durability. As the industry continues to evolve, QDEL stands out as a technology to watch for enthusiasts and consumers looking for the next generation of premium

On this week’s show we compare Mini-LED vs OLED and we put a high end listening room based on products that were exhibited at this year’s AXPONA show. We also read your email and look at the week’s news.
News:
DirecTV and Dish Back Fubo in Its Spulu Antitrust Suit | Next TV Roku Upgrades Viewing Experience with New Features | TV Tech Hub: Smart TVs Now in Nearly 8 of 10 Homes | TV Tech Disney Plus Looking To Integrate Always-On Linear Channels Other:
Credit cards abused again in second Roku hack affecting 576,000 - FlatpanelsHD NBCUniversal Launches Personalized, Hyperlocal Services via ATSC 3.0 | TV Tech Mini-LED vs OLED We are asked from time to time to recommend a particular TV or in some cases a technology. Right now, in our opinion, the best TV technology is OLED. But is it really the best overall? Let’s take a look at OLED vs mini-LED in six important criteria.
Sharpness and Resolution: Both OLED and Mini-LED TVs typically offer 4K resolution, with some models supporting higher resolutions. Therefore, in terms of sharpness and resolution, it's a tie between OLED and Mini-LED. Black Levels: OLED TVs excel in producing true blacks by individually turning off pixels. Mini-LED displays have not completely achieved this level of per-pixel control. In this aspect, OLED emerges as the winner for its superior black levels. Brightness and Contrast: OLED TVs offer deep blacks for infinite contrast ratio, while Mini-LED TVs can achieve higher brightness levels. Mini-LED takes the lead in brightness, while OLED wins in terms of contrast ratio. Color Quality: OLED TVs typically exhibit excellent color quality, often surpassing 100% of the sRGB color gamut. Although Mini-LED TVs may not reach these levels, this is more due to other factors like color filters rather than the Mini-LED technology itself. The winner in color quality is OLED. Viewing Angles: OLED TVs generally have wider viewing angles compared to LCD TVs, including those using Mini-LED technology. While Mini-LED TVs can vary based on the type of display used, OLED usually outperforms them in terms of viewing angles. Size and Price: In terms of size, both OLED and Mini-LED TVs are available in various sizes to suit different preferences. However, traditionally, OLED TVs have been more expensive compared to Mini-LED TVs, which could be a consideration for some buyers. Price and size considerations may vary based on individual preferences and budgets. So which one wins? It's our opinion that OLED has the absolute best picture but mini-LED is very close and unless you are looking at them side by side you won’t notice. It really comes down to cost and since you can buy some really big mini-LED TVs for a quarter of the price, we give the nod to mini-LED.
AXPONA 2024 AXPONA 2024 wrapped up last week. What is AXPONA you might ask? From their website:  AXPONA is a three-day experience featuring multiple hotel floors packed with over 200 listening rooms. The Expo Hall featuring The Record Fair, The Ear Gear Experience, and seminars. Whether you’re a serious audiophile, a newcomer to high-end audio or simply a music lover, you’ll find everything you need to immerse yourself in your favorite sounds. 
It's very similar to “The Show” that we have out here in CA every year. This year it will be June 7-9 in Costa Mesa so come out and let’s all go! While AXPONA exhibited products that most of us can buy, there are some that, quite frankly, are priced for people fly on their own jets. They probably don’t even listen to podcasts, so let’s make fun of them!! Kidding of course. Today, our very rich uncle who has $150,000 laying around has asked us to put a system together so he can listen to his extensive vinyl collection!
Transrotor Tourbillon FMD
The Tourbillon FMD is a premium turntable model with high-end features designed to deliver exceptional performance in the audio playback experience. 
The Transrotor Tourbillon FMD stands out as a t