HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

HT Guys

The HT Guys, Ara Derderian and Braden Russell, are Engineers who formerly worked for the Advanced Digital Systems Group (ADSG) of Sony Pictures Entertainment. ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios. Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000. The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages. ADSG was awarded a Technical Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000 for the development of the DADR-5000. Ara holds three patents for his development work in Digital Cinema and Digital Audio Recording. Every week they put together a podcast about High Definition TV and Home Theater. Each episode brings news from the A/V world, helpful product reviews and insights and help in demystifying and simplifying HDTV and home theater. Our email address is hdtvpodcast@mac.com

  1. 1d ago

    Podcast #1273: The Network Behind the New House: Why I Went Beyond Mesh Wi‑Fi

    On this week's show we get into the inner workings of Ara's network at his new home and we discuss who else could benefit from a similar setup. We also read your emails and look at the week's news. News: ESPN and ESPN2 are rolling out 4K HDR in the US. Tom's Guide tested the Roku Pro Series OLED. Apple is testing surround sound from four HomePods. WiiM's first soundbar, the WiiM Bar, launches mid-October. Disney+ and Hulu raise prices again, the fourth hike in four years. HBO Max and Paramount+ will merge into one streamer under Skydance. Other: Vol. 3: Can Your Speakers Disappear?  The Network Behind the New House: Why I Went Beyond Mesh Wi‑Fi When we moved into the new house, I had a choice to make about the network. For years I've used the same kind of gear a lot of you have: an ISP gateway, then a mesh system like Orbi or eero. Those systems are good. You plug them in, run an app, and most of the house gets Wi‑Fi.  For a lot of homes, that's all you need. But I wanted something that gave me maximum control down to the connected device and remote access to manage every little detail.  Since I had the chance to run Ethernet before the walls were closed. That changed the math. Here's what I wanted: Coverage everywhere, including the theater, the backyard, and the garage, without dead spots. Wired backhaul. Mesh units talk to each other over the air, and that uses up some of the Wi‑Fi you'd rather give to your devices. When every access point has its own cable back to the rack, that problem goes away. Power over Ethernet (PoE). One cable carries both data and power to the access points and cameras. No power bricks hiding in the ceiling. VLANs and a real guest network. I wanted to keep the smart TVs, streaming boxes, and IoT gadgets separate from our computers and phones, and give guests their own network. One place to see it all. I wanted to look at a screen and see what's connected, what's using bandwidth, and what's offline. So I went with a "prosumer" setup: a UniFi gateway, UniFi access points, and two Araknis managed switches in the rack. Here's what each piece does, what I like about it, and where it falls short. Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Pro (UDM‑Pro) What it is: The UniFi Dream Machine Pro is a rack‑mounted router and firewall that Ubiquiti calls a "cloud gateway." It also runs the UniFi software that manages the access points, so I don't need a separate controller box or a computer left running.  (Tech specs) What it does in my network: This is the front door. My internet connection plugs into it, and it handles routing, the firewall, the VLANs, and the guest network. It's also the dashboard where I set up and watch the Wi‑Fi. A few specs worth knowing: Two WAN ports (one 10G SFP+ and one Gigabit Ethernet), so you can add a backup internet connection. Eight Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports plus one 10G SFP+ LAN port. IDS/IPS (threat detection) rated by Ubiquiti at up to 3.5 Gbps. A bay for a 3.5" hard drive, so it can also record security cameras with UniFi Protect.A small touchscreen on the front that shows status at a glance. Compared to a consumer router or mesh base station: You get much more control. VLANs, firewall rules, traffic stats per device, dual‑WAN failover, and a camera recorder are all built in. Most consumer systems either don't offer those or hide them behind a subscription. The honest downsides: It's a 1U rack box. If you don't have a rack or a closet with ventilation, it's awkward. It has no Wi‑Fi of its own. You have to buy access points separately. The settings can be overwhelming at first. There are a lot of menus, and some of them assume you know networking terms. It's more than one‑app‑and‑done. Plan to spend an evening learning it. Ubiquiti U7 Pro Access Points (×4) What it is: The UniFi U7 Pro is a Wi‑Fi 7 access point that mounts on a ceiling or wall. It's tri‑band (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz), and it's powered by PoE+ through a single Ethernet cable. (Tech specs) What it does in my network: These four access points are the Wi‑Fi. Each one sits on the ceiling or hidden away in attic space in a different part of the house and connects by cable back to the PoE switch in the rack. The UDM‑Pro manages all four as one network, so phones and laptops move between them as we walk around. Specs from Ubiquiti: Wi‑Fi 7 with 6 GHz support. Rated coverage of about 1,500 sq ft per access point. 2.5 GbE uplink port. PoE+ powered, with a maximum draw of 21 W. Mounting hardware for ceiling or wall is included. Compared to mesh: Every access point has a wired connection to the rack, so none of the Wi‑Fi is spent relaying traffic between units. Ceiling mounting also helps. The signal spreads out from the center of the room instead of from a box sitting on a shelf behind the TV. And because they're managed from one place, I can see which devices are connected to which access point and how strong the signal is. The honest downsides: You need a cable run to every access point. That's easy during construction and harder in a finished house. You need PoE. You'll either need a PoE switch or individual PoE injectors. Speed limit in my setup: The U7 Pro has a 2.5 GbE port, but my switches are Gigabit, so each access point connects at 1 Gbps. For us that's fine. Just know you're leaving some headroom on the table unless your switch has 2.5G ports. Four of them add up. They aren't cheap compared to a 3‑pack mesh kit. Araknis Networks 320 Series L2 Managed Gigabit Switch with Full PoE+ (16 + 2 Rear Ports) What it is: The Araknis 320 Series 16‑port PoE+ switch (AN‑320‑SW‑R‑16‑POE) is a 1U rack‑mount managed switch from Snap One, the company behind Control4. It has 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports and two 1G SFP uplink ports, all on the back. "Rear ports" matters in a rack because the cables come out the back and the front stays clean. What it does in my network: This is the switch that powers the Wi‑Fi. All four U7 Pros plug into it, and it supplies both their data and their power. It also powers my Aqara cameras and supplies its data as well. Specs from Snap One: 16 PoE+ ports (802.3af/at), up to 30 W on any single port. 250 W total PoE budget. Snap One says that's enough for about 15 W on every port at the same time. Two dedicated 1G SFP ports for uplinks. They don't take away a PoE port. Layer 2 management: VLANs, spanning tree, and IGMP snooping (helpful for multicast traffic like some multi‑room audio and video). Remote management through Snap One's OvrC platform. 5‑year limited warranty. Four U7 Pros at their 21 W maximum come to 84 W. That leaves plenty of budget for other devices like my cameras. Compared to consumer gear: Most consumer mesh systems have just a few Ethernet ports on each unit and no PoE at all. A managed PoE switch gives you one central, powered point for every wired device, and it understands the VLANs set up on the UDM‑Pro. The honest downsides: Cost. This is the most expensive piece in the rack. Dealer channel. Araknis is sold mainly through Snap One/ADI dealers and integrators, not on a regular store shelf. If you're doing it yourself, it can be harder to buy and get support. Gigabit only. No 2.5G or 10G ports, so it's not the fastest option for Wi‑Fi 7 access points. It's a second dashboard. UniFi doesn't manage Araknis switches. The switch has its own web interface and OvrC. I'll come back to this. There's a fan, so it's not something you want in a quiet room. (Snap One lists the PoE model's maximum noise at about 47 dBA.) Araknis Networks 320 Series L2 Managed Gigabit Switch (16 + 2 Rear Ports) What it is: The Araknis 320 Series 16‑port switch (AN‑320‑SW‑R‑16) is the same switch without PoE. You still get 16 Gigabit ports and two 1G SFP uplinks on the back, the same Layer 2 features, and OvrC management. What it does in my network: This one handles everything that doesn't need power over the cable: the AV receiver, streaming boxes, TVs, game consoles, the NAS, and the wall jacks in the office and bedrooms. Splitting the wired gear across two switches keeps the expensive PoE ports free for devices that actually need power. Compared to consumer gear: It's like the cheap unmanaged switch you might have behind your TV, but it understands VLANs. It's also built for a rack, and you can monitor it remotely. The honest downsides: $600 is a lot for a Gigabit switch with no PoE. You're paying for the management features, the build quality, and the Snap One ecosystem. Same dealer‑channel and second‑dashboard issues as the PoE model. If you don't need VLANs or remote monitoring, a basic unmanaged switch will move packets just as well for much less money. How It All Hangs Together The internet comes into the UDM‑Pro, which is the router, firewall, and UniFi controller. The UDM‑Pro connects to the two Araknis switches, which act as the wired backbone of the house. The PoE+ switch powers and connects the four U7 Pro access points and cameras throughout the house, and the non‑PoE switch serves the TVs, AV gear, and wall jacks. The VLANs I create on the UDM‑Pro (main, IoT/AV, and guest) are carried through the Araknis switches to the access points and wired devices. One note about the "single dashboard" goal: the UniFi app shows me the gateway, the Wi‑Fi, and every client, and that's where I spend most of my time. The Araknis switches are managed separately through their own interface. Who This Is For (and When Consumer Gear Is Still Fine) This kind of setup makes sense if you have a larger home, can run Ethernet to the ceilings, want PoE for access points and cameras, and like the idea of keeping your smart TVs and IoT devices on their own network. It's especially worth considering during new construction or a remodel, when pulling cable is easy. If you live in an apartment or a smaller home, can't run cable, or just want something that works from a p

    Podcast #1273: The Network Behind the New House: Why I Went Beyond Mesh Wi‑Fi

  2. Oct 2

    Podcast #1272: Netgear Orbi 770 and Aqara Camera Review

    On this week's show we have a listener review of the NETGEAR Orbi 770 Series WiFi 7 Mesh System as well as a review of the Aqara cameras. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Yamaha's Unveils Its Most Compact Dolby Atmos Soundbar Yet Philips Adds Two TV Lighting Sync Options Fubo will offer local hockey games in four markets  Sony Is Skipping CES 2027 for the First Time in Over Six Decades Apple's Smart Home Launch is Set Netgear Orbi 770 and Aqara Camera Review This week we have a listener review of the NETGEAR Orbi 770 Series WiFi 7 Mesh System. These can be bought in One, two, and three packs costing $300, $550, and $700 respectively. Netgear's specs say that a single unit can cover up to $2750 square feet and a three pack can cover 8000 square feet combined. And just for good measure John talks about his experience with Aqara cameras.These are the same cameras Ara uses so let's see if John has similar results. Product Features: Tri-band hardware with a dedicated backhaul is meant to keep throughput more consistent when many devices are online at once. WiFi 7 peak rating is up to 11 Gbps and it also connects WiFi 6 and WiFi 5 devices; real speed depends on your plan and hardware. Devices can easily roam between the router and satellites. Setup, device management, and guest WiFi are handled in the Orbi app. Sold for use in the United States only. John Lyman's Review A few years ago, I replaced my old Netgear Orbi system with a TP-Link Deco XE75 mesh system. At the time, my older Orbi just wasn't able to handle all the devices we had in the house. After doing some research, the Deco XE75 and XE75 Pro had great reviews, so I decided to give Deco a try. The Deco worked, but as we added more devices—and because of the design of our house—I kept having to add more and more nodes to get good, consistent coverage. Even with gigabit fiber, I never really felt like I was getting the speeds I should have been getting throughout the house. When Amazon Prime Day came around in July, I decided it was time for an upgrade. At the same time, I decided this was going to be MY "year of home automation." Back to Orbi — This Time with Wi-Fi 7 For the network, I went with the Netgear Orbi 770 Series Wi-Fi 7 mesh system. I considered going down the Ubiquiti route, but ultimately I wanted something easier to manage and more "set it and forget it." I spent enough time around networking years ago. These days, I'd rather leave my network-engineering hat in the past and have something that simply works. I've now been running the Orbi 770 for about four months, and—with one exception—it has been pretty much bulletproof. That exception was automatic firmware updates. I didn't realize they were enabled, and Orbi decided to install an update in the middle of the day. That's something I'd definitely check when setting up the system. Other than that, the performance has been excellent. I have AT&T Fiber with the AT&T gateway configured to pass the connection through to the Orbi. My office is upstairs and away from the main router, but I have my computer connected by Ethernet to an Orbi satellite. I'm consistently seeing speeds in the low 900 Mbps range both down and up. My media/home-theater room has historically been the hardest room in the house to reach with good Wi-Fi. With the Orbi, I'm seeing roughly 700–800 Mbps there over Wi-Fi, connecting on 5 GHz. More importantly, coverage throughout the house is now excellent and the system has been extremely stable. If you're considering a mesh system and aren't ready to go down the Ubiquiti route, I'd strongly suggest looking at the Orbi 770. Based on my experience with both systems, I'd skip the Deco, spend a little more and get the Orbi. The Orbi also gives you separate IoT and guest Wi-Fi networks. Devices connect quickly, stay connected and, in my experience, have worked considerably better than they did with my Deco system. Moving Away from Ring The next part of the project was home automation. Over the years, I had accumulated a hodgepodge of smart-home products: Ecobee thermostats, Ring doorbells, different cameras, Hue lights and other devices. Even the Ecobee that was supposed to work with Apple HomeKit would periodically disconnect. I wanted to simplify everything, and I particularly wanted to move away from Ring. While researching alternatives, I came across Aqara. They make doorbells, cameras, thermostats, switches, sensors and a number of other smart-home products, with particularly strong integration with Apple's Home ecosystem. So during Prime Day, I jumped in. I bought two thermostats, two cameras and two doorbells. There was definitely a settling-in period. Between changing the network and adding all the new smart-home equipment, it probably took about six weeks before everything really fell into place. Since then, however, it has been remarkably solid. The network can go down and come back up, and the Aqara devices reconnect on their own. About the only problems I've encountered have been when somebody physically unplugged one of the doorbell hubs. Since some of the other devices were relying on that hub, unplugging it naturally caused those devices to disappear as well. The $34 Camera That Surprised Me One of the biggest surprises has been the Aqara G100 indoor/outdoor cameras. I paid $33.99 each for them, and they've been excellent. For the price, I'm genuinely impressed with how well they've worked and how nicely they integrate into the Apple ecosystem. Security and privacy were also part of my decision to move away from Ring. I like having my cameras integrated with Apple Home and being able to use iCloud/HomeKit Secure Video rather than building my smart-home camera system around Amazon. The Doorbells — A Big Improvement Over Ring The Aqara doorbells have also worked really well. I have two of them. One is at our front door, and the other is on a door that we added to the house where I don't have wiring available. For that one, I use rechargeable batteries, and that setup has worked well. The front-door unit is very small and unobtrusive, which I like. More importantly, both doorbells have been rock solid. That's probably the biggest difference I've noticed compared with my old Ring setup. The Aqara doorbells are consistently connected and integrate directly into Apple HomeKit. I don't feel like I'm waiting for the doorbell to connect when I actually need to see who's at the door. They just work, which is becoming a recurring theme with most of the Aqara equipment I've installed. For me, replacing the Ring doorbells with Aqara has been one of the better parts of this whole home-automation upgrade. Aqara Thermostats — Simple, Which Is Exactly What I Want The Aqara thermostats were very simple to install. I was replacing my Ecobees, and the changeover was straightforward. They connected to Apple HomeKit easily and, since getting everything settled, they just run. Easy peasy. There's really not much more I want from a thermostat. I don't need it to be exciting—I need it to control the temperature, stay connected and work when I open the Home app. So far, that's exactly what they've done. One feature that really interested me is Apple Home's Adaptive Temperature. Instead of relying on a traditional fixed schedule, the temperature can automatically adjust based on whether people in your Apple Home are actually home or away. There are four modes you can configure: Home, Away, Night and Extended Away. Home and Away automatically adjust the temperature depending on whether anyone from the household is home. Night mode lets you set different temperatures for specific days and times, so the house can automatically adjust while everyone is sleeping. The one I'm particularly happy to have is Extended Away. When we're going to be gone for an extended period, the system can automatically adjust the temperature appropriately. That's one less thing I have to remember to change before we leave—and, more importantly, remember to change back when we get home. It's another example of what I'm looking for with this whole project: home automation that actually automates things instead of giving me another app and another device to manage. The One Finicky Aqara Device I also bought an Aqara Smart Climate Sensor with three programmable buttons. This has been the one finicky device in my Aqara setup. Getting it set up properly with HomeKit was a little tricky. Each of the three buttons is supposed to support three different actions—a single press, double press and long press—which theoretically gives you nine different programmable actions. In practice, I've only been able to get the single-press actions to work somewhat reliably. I currently use Button 1, the middle of the three buttons, and even that hasn't been as seamless as the rest of my Aqara equipment. That said, I like the concept enough that I'm planning to put a second one in my media room. The idea is to program the buttons for lighting and temperature control so the kids can simply push a button rather than flipping off the actual light switch—which, of course, defeats the whole purpose of having smart lights. So this one is still a work in progress. I really like what the device is supposed to do; I just wish the HomeKit button actions worked as reliably as the rest of my Aqara setup. Finally, One Home App That's probably the biggest improvement from this whole project. Instead of having different pieces scattered across different ecosystems, I can now open Apple's Home app and see essentially everything in one place. I've also settled on Nanoleaf as my primary smart-lighting platform. I still have some Philips Hue lights in the house, and I'm not ripping out perfectly good bulbs just for the sake of replacing them. As those eventually die, however, I'm replacing them with Nanoleaf. Four months into this p

    Podcast #1272: Netgear Orbi 770 and Aqara Camera Review

  3. Sep 25

    Podcast #1271: Consumer Reports HDTV Ratings

    On this week's show we take a look at the consumer reports ratings for 70 inch and larger TVs. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news. News: Your Google Home can now take orders from Claude and other AI agents Roku Adds 30 New Bundles To Premium Subscriptions Element Launches New TiVo-Powered Smart TVs in the U.S. Paramount Settles States' Antitrust Suit, Clearing Way for Warner Megadeal Consumer Reports Ratings for 70-inch and larger TVs: On this week's show we take a look at the consumer reports rating for 70 inch and larger TVs. This list was sent to us by Dermot who thought it may make a nice topic. We took the list and only updated pricing. So how does Consumer Reports determine a score for their TV ratings? Consumer Reports builds each TV's Overall Score from three buckets: lab performance, member surveys, and (for smart TVs) privacy/security. They do not accept manufacturer samples. Secret shoppers buy the sets at retail so they test the same units you would buy. They run 200+ TVs a year. Each set goes through 20+ tests and more than 500 data points in their Yonkers labs. Picture settings are optimized with the on-screen user controls only—not a full professional calibration. If a set needs a calibrator to look good, that hurts it. What the lab actually measures HD and UHD picture quality — test patterns plus real movie/TV clips for detail, black level, contrast, and color accuracy after the set is optimized. HDR — peak brightness (measured with a Photo Research PR-740 spectroradiometer), plus how well highlights and shadows hold up in dark and bright scenes. Viewing angle — color and contrast from both horizontal and vertical off-axis positions. Motion blur — how clean moving text and action stay. Sound quality — built-in speakers: clarity, bass, volume range, and distortion, compared against reference sets in the lab. Features / versatility — inputs, smart-TV functions, ease of use, etc. Data privacy and data security — whether the TV collects extra data, how easy it is to control that, encryption, known vulnerabilities, update practices. These scores are folded into the Overall Score. A viewing panel then watches real content side-by-side after the meter work is done. Survey piece  Predicted reliability and owner satisfaction come from CR member surveys, not from the lab unit they bought. Reliability is brand-level, not model-level. A statistical model estimates the chance a new set from that brand will have a problem in the first five years. They control for age, how often it's used, and whether it has an extended warranty. Owner satisfaction is how likely members are to recommend that brand. It is weighted at 5% of the Overall Score for every product category. Reliability's weight varies by category (typically 10–20%). For TVs it sits toward the lower end of that range because members rate reliability about even with picture performance. If a brand scores Poor or Fair on predicted reliability, that model cannot get a CR "Recommended" badge, no matter how well it tested. When they don't have enough survey data for a brand (like  on some Roku sets), they plug in category-average survey scores. How it becomes one number Overall Score is a weighted mix of the lab scores plus those two survey scores (and privacy/security). Models are then ranked against others in the same size group. That's why two 91-point sets can sit at very different prices: one won on lab performance plus surveys at a lower street price; the other is a more expensive flagship that still maxed the same scoring formula.  Brand            Model                  Overall     Score Price LG                  OLED77C5PUA   91              $1,800 Samsung      QN77S95F           91              $3,000 Samsung      QN77S90F           90              $2,500 Samsung     QN77S90H           89              $2,600 LG                OLED77G6WUA   89              $3,800 LG                OLED77G5WUA   88              $3,150 LG               OLED77C6HUP     88              $2,700 LG               OLED77M5PUA     87              $3,870 Samsung    QN77S84FA          85              $1,600 LG               OLED77B5PUA      84              $3,000 Sony           K-77XR80               83              $3,000 Sony          K-75XR90                83             $3,500 Samsung   QN75QN90F          82              $2,000 Sony          K-77XR8B               78              $2,500 Sony          K-75XR70                78             $1,500 Hisense    75U8QG                   75             $1,700 (65") LG              75QNED92AUA      75             $1,680 TCL           75QM8K                   74             Mostly Unavailable Sony          K-75XR50                73             $2,000 Roku          75R8B5                    73            $1,250 Roku          75R8C5                    72            $1,200 Hisense     75U75QG                 72            $1,700 (65") TV COMPARISON SUMMARY TOP TIER (Score 88-91) LG       OLED77C5PUA     91    $1,800    Best score-to-price Samsung  QN77S95F        91    $3,000    Same score as C5, $1,200 more Samsung  QN77S90F        90    $2,500 Samsung  QN77S90H        89    $2,600 LG       OLED77G6WUA     89    $3,800    Highest-priced LG LG       OLED77G5WUA     88    $3,150 LG       OLED77C6HUP     88    $2,700 Our takeaway is that the only score that actually matters here is not "91 vs 89." It is that the LG C5 is tied with Samsung's flagship S95F at 91, and it is $1,200 cheaper.  If we were going to spend money for a 75–77" set, we would treat the list like this: Buy the C5 if the room is normal-to-dim and you want the best picture per dollar. Buy the S95F only if the room is bright, you want a matte screen, and you specifically want a bright picture. Do not buy it just because it is tied at 91. The Samsung S84F at $1,600 / 85 is the value model if you don't want to go OLED. Anything at 75 or below is fine for a secondary room. Especially when you consider models from Samsung and LG providing higher quality for barely more in cost.  Does Consumer Reports still matter? Yes, but not as the only vote, and not the way it did 15 years ago. There are other sources out there and each weighs aspects of TVs differently. With that said, they all agree that the LG C5 is a really nice TV.

    Podcast #1271: Consumer Reports HDTV Ratings

  4. Sep 18

    Podcast #1270: 2026 Network TV Season/Series Premieres

    On this week's show we compiled a list of fall 2026 network TV season/series premieres for ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS, organized by network and then by premiere date.  We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: LG responds to findings about Smart TV spying Roku Makes Big Changes to Its Free Live TV Channel Guide on Roku TVs & Roku Players TCL sues Samsung, alleging false advertising of 'Mini LED' TVs Yamaha introduces the compact B200A soundbar with Dolby Atmos 2026 Network TV Season/Series Premieres On this week's show we compiled a list of fall 2026 network TV season/series premieres for ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS, organized by network and then by premiere date. Sports (NFL, college football) and most news/magazine shows are omitted unless they were listed as a season premiere in the official rollout. Dates and slots come from the networks' 2026 fall calendar. ABC Tuesday, September 15 Dancing with the Stars — Season 35 (Night 1 of 2), 8 p.m. R.J. Decker — Season 2, 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 16 Dancing with the Stars — Season 35 (Night 2 of 2), 8 p.m. Friday, September 25 20/20 — Season 49, 9 p.m. Sunday, September 27 America's Funniest Home Videos — Season 37 (two-episode premiere), 7 p.m. The Wonderful World of Disney (Inside Out 2), 9 p.m. Wednesday, September 30 Scrubs — Season 2 (two-episode premiere), 8 p.m. Shark Tank — Season 18 (two-episode premiere), 9 p.m. Friday, October 2 Celebrity Wheel of Fortune — Season 7, 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 7 Abbott Elementary — Season 6, 8:30 p.m. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — Season 5 continuation, 9 p.m. Thursday, October 15 9-1-1 — Season 10, 8 p.m. 9-1-1: Nashville — Season 2, 9 p.m. Grey's Anatomy — Season 23, 10 p.m. NBC Thursday, September 17 The Traitors: New Blood — Series premiere (two hours), 8 p.m. An all-civilian US season of the social-deduction reality series in which Alan Cumming hosts 22 everyday Americans at a Scottish castle as hidden Traitors secretly eliminate Faithfuls while the group races to unmask them and split (or steal) a prize of up to $250,000. Monday, September 21 The Voice — Season 30 (Night 1 of 3), 8 p.m. Line of Fire — Series premiere, 10 p.m. A family of law enforcement agents become targets of a mysterious assassin after a U.S. Marshal falls in the line of duty, forcing them to use their expertise to protect each other. Tuesday, September 22 The Voice — Season 30 (Night 2 of 3), 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 23 The Voice — Season 30 (Night 3 of 3), 8 p.m. Friday, September 25 Dateline NBC — Season 35, 9 p.m. Saturday, September 26 Saturday Night Live — Season 52, 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 7 Chicago Med — Season 12, 8 p.m. Chicago Fire — Season 15, 9 p.m. Chicago P.D. — Season 14, 10 p.m. Thursday, October 8 Law & Order: SVU — Season 28, 9 p.m. Law & Order — Season 26, 10 p.m. Friday, October 23 Happy's Place — Season 3, 8 p.m. Newlyweds — Series premiere, 8:30 p.m. A free-spirited woman and a buttoned-up professor get married impetuously after a whirlwind courtship. Monday, November 2 St. Denis Medical — Season 3, 8 p.m. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins — Season 2, 8:30 p.m. Fox Monday, September 21 Celebrity Name That Tune — Season 6, 8 p.m. Celebrity Weakest Link — Season 2, 9 p.m. Tuesday, September 22 Best Medicine — Season 2, 8 p.m. Doc — Season 3, 9 p.m. Wednesday, September 23 The Floor — Season 6, 8 p.m. 99 to Beat — Season 2, 9 p.m. Thursday, September 24 Hell's Kitchen — Season 25, 8 p.m. Special Forces: World's Toughest Test — Season 5, 9 p.m. Sunday, September 27 The Simpsons — Season 38, 8 p.m. Animal Control — Season 5, 8:30 p.m. Universal Basic Guys — Season 3, 9 p.m. Grimsburg — Season 3, 9:30 p.m. CBS Sunday, September 13 60 Minutes — Season 59 (special time after NFL), ~7:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 23 Survivor — Season 51 (two-hour premiere), 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 30 The Amazing Race — Season 39 (Night 1), 9:30 p.m. Thursday, October 1 The Amazing Race — Season 39 (Night 2), 9:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4 Marshals — Season 2, ~8:30 p.m. Tracker — Season 4, ~9:30 p.m. Monday, October 5 FBI — Season 9, 8 p.m. CIA — Season 2, 9 p.m. Harlan Coben's Final Twist — Season 2, 10 p.m. Tuesday, October 6 NCIS — Season 24, 8 p.m. NCIS: New York — Series premiere, 9 p.m. - Legendary NCIS Agent Sam Hanna returns to his NYC hometown field office, teaming with a roguish agent to lead a new team on high-stakes missions defending one of the world's most vital cities and ports. NCIS: Origins — Season 3, 10 p.m. Thursday, October 8 Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage — Season 3, 8 p.m. Eternally Yours — Series premiere, 8:30 p.m. - Follows the journey of a married vampire couple struggling to accept their daughter's human boyfriend, after being together for 500 years. Elsbeth — Season 4, 9 p.m. Cupertino — Series premiere, 10 p.m. - A scrappy lawyer takes on a powerful tech giant in a high-stakes legal battle, navigating the cutthroat world of Silicon Valley while fighting for justice and the little guy's rights. Friday, October 9 Sheriff Country — Season 2, 8 p.m. Fire Country — Season 5, 9 p.m. Boston Blue — Season 2, 10 p.m. Thursday, October 29 Ghosts — Halloween special (two episodes), 9 p.m. Thursday, December 10 Ghosts — Christmas special (two episodes), 9 p.m. A number of other series (High Potential, The Rookie, Will Trent, Shifting Gears, Ghosts Season 6 proper, Matlock, American Idol, The Bachelor, Baywatch reboot, etc.) are held for midseason 2027 and are not on this fall list. Always check local listings; NFL overruns can shift Sunday start times.

    Podcast #1270: 2026 Network TV Season/Series Premieres

  5. Sep 11

    Podcast #1269: Is Your LG Smart TV Listening to You? and Dolby AC4

    On this week's show we look into an article that alleges LG's Smart TVs are listening in on your conversations even when the screen is off. We also do a quick rundown on what Dolby's AC4 is and where you can experience it. We also read your emails and look at the week's news. News: Streaming Is Raising Prices Faster Than Cable Ever Did More than half of consumers want live TV and streaming in one package  LG Smart TVs caught listening even with the screen off Stan from Pittsburg sent us a link to an article (LG Smart TVs caught listening even with the screen off) at FlatpanelsHD claiming LG smart TVs collect more data than many owners realize — including with the screen off. What the investigation found LG TVs use ACR (automatic content recognition): they snapshot what's on screen, including HDMI sources, for ad targeting. FlatpanelsHD notes this has been industry-wide for years, not unique to LG. The TVs scan the local Wi‑Fi network, identify other devices, and send back data such as IP address, location, and nearby network names. Voice features can transcribe speech after "Hi LG." The mic can stay active 10–15 seconds after silence. Researchers reported recording/transcription even with the display off, and that locally stored data can upload later when the set reconnects (including for a firmware update). That last point is presented as conflicting with LG's claim that its TVs "do not collect, record, or store ambient conversations." LG had not commented when the article ran. Flatpanel's Recommendation Turn ACR off if you can, or take the TV off the internet and use an external streamer (Apple TV, or Roku.). Firmware can be updated via USB instead of online. ACR is an old, industry-wide problem and it's unclear why the article focused only on LG. They still argue the mic/network findings are worth attention. They also link their earlier piece ranking Apple TV 4K as stronger on privacy because it doesn't do this kind of viewing tracking. Update - In a statement sent to Tom's Hardware, LG said "The claims made in the recently published video are not true. LG TVs process voice data only when the voice button on the remote control is pressed and held, or when a wake word such as 'Hi LG' is recognized after the user has activated the Far-Field voice recognition feature. Other than these instances, the TVs do not collect or record ambient conversations. (If the wake word is not recognized, no voice data is transmitted to the server; the audio processing for wake word detection is performed locally on the device and is immediately deleted.)" Dolby AC-4 One of our listeners, Scott, sent an email asking us to discuss Dolby AC-4 so that is what we are going to do today! Dolby AC-4 is Dolby's next-generation audio codec for broadcast and streaming. It was designed as a clean-sheet replacement for the older Dolby Digital family, not as a tweak of it. Compared with Dolby Digital Plus, AC-4 aims for similar or better quality at roughly half the bitrate. It natively handles channel-based audio, object-based Dolby Atmos, dialogue enhancement, loudness control, multiple language tracks, and different renderings for speakers vs. headphones in one bitstream. There are several profiles/levels: Level 3 — the version widely built into TVs (broadcast/OTT Atmos-style delivery). Level 4 — fuller Atmos metadata, including headphone/head-tracking features. IMS (Immersive Stereo) — a stereo-plus-metadata flavor used for Atmos music on phones and headphones. Is it backwards compatible? No. An AC-4 bitstream cannot be decoded by a Dolby Digital (AC-3) or Dolby Digital Plus decoder. Old AVRs, soundbars, and TVs that only know DD+ (AC-3) will not play AC-4. What is compatible is the playback path in new TVs and set-top boxes. Those devices decode AC-4 internally, then output whatever the next box needs: PCM stereo, AC-3, DD+, or Atmos over HDMI. So the living-room chain can still work; the codec itself is not drop-in compatible with older Dolby formats. Services that must reach mixed old/new hardware still send DD+ or AAC as a fallback. Devices that support it AC-4 decoding is common in UHD TVs shipped since about 2017, especially models that already license Dolby Audio (Dolby has said it is in a large majority of new UHD TVs). Early public commitments came from Samsung, Sony, and Vizio; it is also in many Android TV / Google TV platforms and some Amazon Fire TV devices. It is not universal: Pre-~2017 TVs, most older soundbars/AVRs, and a lot of cheap streaming sticks do not decode it. ATSC 3.0 ("NextGen TV") tuners are the main over-the-air path in the U.S.; tuner support is still incomplete across brands and model lines. Most consumer AVRs still expect Atmos via DD+ JOC (Joint Object Coding) or TrueHD, not a raw AC-4 bitstream from the source. Note - JOC  allows an Atmos-capable TV, soundbar, or AVR to use the "JOC" metadata to build the immersive mix. An older DD+-only device ignores the extra data and just plays the core 5.1 Studios and television Broadcast is the main home. AC-4 is an official audio system for ATSC 3.0 in the U.S. and is adopted by DVB in Europe. NextGen TV stations can (and some do) use it for Atmos, dialogue enhancement, and multiple presentations. Immersive AC-4 on U.S. OTA is still uneven; many 3.0 stations have not yet gone full Atmos. Streaming is later. Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and most other major video services still deliver Atmos as Dolby Digital Plus + JOC. Peacock has publicly committed to AC-4 (alongside Dolby Vision 2), with rollout described as later in 2026. Atmos music already uses AC-4 IMS on several apps. Studios still master Atmos the same way. The delivery codec is chosen per platform: cinema TrueHD, most streaming DD+ JOC, NextGen TV and a few future streamers AC-4. AC-4 is in the pipeline; it is not yet the default living-room streaming format.

    Podcast #1269: Is Your LG Smart TV Listening to You? and Dolby AC4

  6. Sep 4

    Podcast #1268: Ara's New Setup First Impressions

    On this week's show Ara gives his impression of the new gear installed into his new home. We talk Internet, Home Networking, Automation, and Home Theater in an action packed show. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Apple TV Hikes Prices SVS Releases SoundPath Multi-Band Wireless Audio Adapter Roku ups premium hardware with launch of its first OLED TVs Sonos Welcomes Beam Ultra and Sonos Ace Ultra to its System Ara's New Setup First Impressions Starlink Performance - We had no issues while we were in TN. The entire week no said anything about slow speeds and our streaming was no different than when we are in CA. I tested speeds from time to time and results varied but the slowest speed (22 Mbps) never impacted TV viewing.  Ubiquity Network Management - this is a different world! I am still exploring all the things you can do. But the system is setup like a business. You have a network and wireless access points. I have four. One on Channel 11, two on 6, and one on 1. It was setip so the channels are far apart and don't overlap.  MyQ & Honeywell (matter compatible) thermostats go offline from time to time. I restart the wifi access point and they come back.  Third Reality Garage Door Opener - 2.4 GHz, Scene Management Mantel Mount MM815 Motorized Drop Down & Swivel TV Mount - $700 The MM815 is a remote-controlled drop-and-swivel TV mount. Press one button to lower the TV to eye level and rotate it as needed. It comes with an RF remote, is silent, and has two memory presets. Sony BRAVIA 7 II PRO True RGB 4K HDR Google TV with Gemini (Model Number K75XR70PRO)-  $2300 The Sony BRAVIA 7 II PRO is Sony's 2026 mid-range True RGB Mini-LED TV (65 inches and up) with independently driven red, green, and blue backlight LEDs, XR processing, and about 2,000 nits of peak brightness for stronger color volume and contrast than a typical white Mini-LED. It is 4K at 120 Hz, supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and has HDMI 2.1 gaming features (VRR, ALLM, 4K/120). Google TV includes Gemini for voice search and recommendations, plus AirPlay 2. The Pro bundle adds a three-year replacement warranty, a backlit rechargeable remote, extra Sony Pictures Core credits, and an enhanced Voice Zoom 3 dialogue mode; picture hardware is the same as the standard 7 II. Sonos Arc Ultra - $1099 The Sonos Arc Ultra supports Dolby Atmos that has a 9.1.4 driver layout and Sound Motion woofer to produce wide, height-enhanced surround and stronger bass from a single bar. It connects to a TV with one HDMI eARC cable, supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and the rest of the Sonos ecosystem (including optional Sub and rear speakers), and can be controlled with the TV remote, Sonos app, touch controls, Sonos Voice Control, or Alexa. Trueplay tunes the sound to the room, and AI speech enhancement is meant to keep dialogue clear. It is a long, low-profile bar (about 46 inches wide) sold in black or white. Sonos Sub 4 - $899 The Sonos Sub 4 is a wireless subwoofer for Sonos S2 systems, pairing with current soundbars and speakers to add bass down to about 25 Hz. Two inward-facing 5-by-8-inch woofers and dual Class-D amps use a force-canceling layout so the cabinet stays relatively still and the bass stays clean. It has the same slot-style shape as earlier Subs, in black or white matte, and can stand upright or lie on its side. Updates over the Sub 3 include Wi-Fi 6, a faster processor, more memory, lower idle power, and a slightly lighter cabinet; setup is through the Sonos app, with optional Ethernet. Two Sub 4s can be used with the Arc Ultra. Audio Advice - I'll be in Franklin in October for a SVS/Audio Advice Event. Details to come

    Podcast #1268: Ara's New Setup First Impressions

  7. Aug 28

    Podcast #1267: Nick Brown and Smith Freeman of SVS Sound

    Nick Brown and Smith Freeman of SVS Sound On today's show we have an interview with Nick Brown (VP of Marketing) and Smith Freeman (Senior Director of Product Management) at SVS Sound.  We discuss their new Auto EQ, the upcoming Soundbar and general audio chat. SVS Launches First-Ever Soundbar and New 3000 R|Evolution Series Subwoofers at CES 2026 SVS AUTO EQ Frequently Asked Questions

    Podcast #1267: Nick Brown and Smith Freeman of SVS Sound

  8. Aug 21

    Podcast #1266: Ara's New Setup

    On today's show we discuss Ara's new family room TV and Audio setup and what his plans are for the future. We also read your emails and look at the week's news. News: Marantz Introduces The CINEMA Series 2 Receivers Dolby Vision 2 HDR Is Officially Arriving On Certain Hisense TVs Nearly A Third Of U.S. Homes Get TV Only Via Streaming Peacock hikes prices for fourth straight year, this time by $3 Other: Theatrium - A home Assistant or HomeKit Dashboard for your AppleTV Parts List for Ara's New Home Family Room: Mantel Mount MM815 Motorized Drop Down & Swivel TV Mount - $700 The MM815 is a remote-controlled drop-and-swivel TV mount. Press one button to lower the TV to eye level and rotate it as needed. It comes with an RF remote, is silent, and has two memory presets. Sony BRAVIA 7 II PRO True RGB 4K HDR Google TV with Gemini (Model Number K75XR70PRO)-  $2300 The Sony BRAVIA 7 II PRO is Sony's 2026 mid-range True RGB Mini-LED TV (65 inches and up) with independently driven red, green, and blue backlight LEDs, XR processing, and about 2,000 nits of peak brightness for stronger color volume and contrast than a typical white Mini-LED. It is 4K at 120 Hz, supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and has HDMI 2.1 gaming features (VRR, ALLM, 4K/120). Google TV includes Gemini for voice search and recommendations, plus AirPlay 2. The Pro bundle adds a three-year replacement warranty, a backlit rechargeable remote, extra Sony Pictures Core credits, and an enhanced Voice Zoom 3 dialogue mode; picture hardware is the same as the standard 7 II. From RTINGS: Pros: Great black levels with minimal haloing. Bright details in HDR stand out incredibly well. Fantastic SDR brightness helps it overcome glare during the day. Fantastic upscaling and great low-quality content smoothing. Colors are incredibly bright and vivid. Cons: Dark scenes are hard to see during the day. Sonos Arc Ultra - $1099 The Sonos Arc Ultra supports Dolby Atmos that has a 9.1.4 driver layout and Sound Motion woofer to produce wide, height-enhanced surround and stronger bass from a single bar. It connects to a TV with one HDMI eARC cable, supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and the rest of the Sonos ecosystem (including optional Sub and rear speakers), and can be controlled with the TV remote, Sonos app, touch controls, Sonos Voice Control, or Alexa. Trueplay tunes the sound to the room, and AI speech enhancement is meant to keep dialogue clear. It is a long, low-profile bar (about 46 inches wide) sold in black or white. Sonos Sub 4 - $899 The Sonos Sub 4 is a wireless subwoofer for Sonos S2 systems, pairing with current soundbars and speakers to add bass down to about 25 Hz. Two inward-facing 5-by-8-inch woofers and dual Class-D amps use a force-canceling layout so the cabinet stays relatively still and the bass stays clean. It has the same slot-style shape as earlier Subs, in black or white matte, and can stand upright or lie on its side. Updates over the Sub 3 include Wi-Fi 6, a faster processor, more memory, lower idle power, and a slightly lighter cabinet; setup is through the Sonos app, with optional Ethernet. Two Sub 4s can be used with the Arc Ultra. Master Bedroom: Sony BRAVIA 3 II 4K HDR LED Google TV (Model Number K55XR30M2) - $798 - The Sony BRAVIA 3 II is Sony's 2026 entry-level 4K LED set, sold from 43 to 100 inches. It uses a direct-lit LED panel, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and the XR processor for color, motion, and upscaling. HDR covers Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. All four HDMI ports are 2.1, with 4K/120, VRR, and ALLM. It runs Google TV with Gemini, AirPlay 2, and Chromecast, plus built-in speakers that pass Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to a soundbar. The picture is good in bright rooms; but as you would expect, the contrast and HDR are limited compared with higher BRAVIA models. If you are going to use this for anything more than casual viewing or you are really critical of picture quality you may want to look elsewhere. But for those on a budget or used in a secondary room, it's a solid TV.

    Podcast #1266: Ara's New Setup
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About

The HT Guys, Ara Derderian and Braden Russell, are Engineers who formerly worked for the Advanced Digital Systems Group (ADSG) of Sony Pictures Entertainment. ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios. Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000. The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages. ADSG was awarded a Technical Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000 for the development of the DADR-5000. Ara holds three patents for his development work in Digital Cinema and Digital Audio Recording. Every week they put together a podcast about High Definition TV and Home Theater. Each episode brings news from the A/V world, helpful product reviews and insights and help in demystifying and simplifying HDTV and home theater. Our email address is hdtvpodcast@mac.com

Information

  • Creator
    HT Guys
  • Years Active
    2005 - 2026
  • Episodes
    845
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2025, HT Guys. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

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