We bookend our questions this week with lengthy discussions about room correction and why certain changes are perceived the way they are. An open, reflective room prompts some unexpected recommendations. And Samsung fixed their QD-OLEDs with firmware.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzSjAi

00:00:00 – Intro

Tom & Rob both watched the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Rob watched the new Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers movie. And Tom watched Stranger Things 4, and Brave.

00:21:55 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Aras, Bill, and Raf for their PayPal donations, plus our 141 Patreon Patrons, including Dale, as well as George for talking us up to GiK, and Dale for talking us up to SVS.

We also want to thank Dale again for giving Tom permission to use his photos on https://avgadgets.com/ . And he suggests https://www.audimute.com/ for environmentally friendly acoustic panels.

And we appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going – even through catching COVID-19 – from: George, Dan D, Dale, Jay, Aras, Dan H (yup, they were two different Dans), and Eddie.

Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:27:38 – News: Xbox Cloud Gaming Stick Cancelled

Microsoft says they’re pivoting away from the Xbox Streaming Stick that was announced last year: https://engt.co/3zbdzVp

00:32:09 – News: Samsung QD-OLEDs Fixed

Firmware for Samsung’s S95B QD-OLEDs has quickly arrived to fix Filmmaker Mode and remove the test pattern trickery: https://youtu.be/VpDBAZ0vNuo

00:34:12 – News: Anthem ARC Genesis Beta

We’re impressed by Anthem’s new approach to subwoofer-speaker phase alignment: https://youtu.be/L8RObv5DWu8

Comments:

00:37:12 – Comment: Colin – Screen / Picture Off

A great tip we didn’t think of for listening to an HDMI source without having your TV showing an image.

00:38:56 – Comment: Zach – OLED Dimming Update

Our suggestion to lower the OLED Pixel Brightness setting was a success.

00:40:38 – Comment: Mark – SVS Service Rubbing Off on Others?

A year later, and a different subwoofer brand is now willing to replace a faulty amp for free. Mark also recommends “The Losers” as a sleeper home theater hit.

QUESTIONS:

00:42:12 – Jonathan: Double Checking Room Correction

We discuss what was targeted by someone Jonathan hired to calibrate his audio system. Plus we say how Audyssey Dynamic EQ could still be applied without touching what was done.

01:01:02 – George: HDMI-ARC or New AVR?

We go over George’s room treatments. Then we discuss his options for getting 4K HDR to his TV despite his older Receiver.

– Denon X2700H from A4L: https://bit.ly/3aeGj5n

– Denon X3700H from A4L: https://bit.ly/3GH2mxP

– Integra DRX-3.4: https://bit.ly/38ZGLEv

01:15:31 – Dan: Back Cans vs Backer Boxes

We finally say, explicitly, which is better for sound quality.

01:22:21 – Blake: Challenging Open Room Setup

Blake’s in-laws want to duplicate his home theater experience, but in a bright, open, reflective room. So we give some surprising suggestions.

– Sony A80J: https://bit.ly/3GMiTjP

– Sony A80K: https://bit.ly/3MebTO7

– Sony HT-A9: https://bit.ly/3zguJkQ

– Sony SW5 Sub: https://bit.ly/3M88YWV

– KEF Wireless: https://bit.ly/3xbheBi

– SVS 3000 Micro: https://bit.ly/3NirzB6

– SVS SoundPath Tri-Band Wireless Adapter: https://bit.ly/3maGyRO

– https://avgadgets.com/qotd-can-i-use-a-tv-as-a-center-speaker/

– https://avgadgets.com/how-to-add-tactile-transducers-to-your-home-theater/

– https://www.lovesac.com/sactionals-with-stealthtech-sound-charge.html

01:41:36 – Infinite Gary: Why Dim Scenes Look Murky

We explain the lack of detail and realism in dim scenes on Gary’s DLP projector.

01:46:15 – Joseph: Corner Bass Traps Have to be Triangles?

Is the shape of corner bass traps important?

01:48:57 – Paul: Why Don’t I Love My New AVR?

After spending a lot to get a new AVR with Dirac, Paul is preferring how it sounds with it off. We explain the many reasons why that might happen.

– https://avgadgets.com/proper-microphone-positions-for-home-theater-measurements/

– https://avgadgets.com/which-room-correction-program-is-the-best-audyssey-ypao-or-dirac/

– https://www.audiocheck.net/testtones_index.php

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