There’s still time to enter our free draw to giveaway at least one Sofabaton X1S universal remote! Just email us. RGB-backlit LCD TVs go by many different marketing names, but four of the biggest brands have revealed screen sizes and prices they’ll be offering this year. Valve’s Steam Controller has a price and a release date. Microsoft actually lowered the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, but with a catch.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCSgb2

00:00:00 – Intro

00:01:50 – Sofabaton X1S Giveaway

There’s still time to enter your name into our upcoming free draw to giveaway at least one Sofabaton X1S universal remote!

00:06:07 – Personal Updates

Improv and parenting alone for a week. Spring cleaning.

00:12:27 – What We Watched

Rob watched Rental Family.

00:24:12 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 123 Patreon Patrons, including James.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Greg, Leighton, Gurinder, Terry, Hubert, Kevin, Eric, Mark, James, and Greg H. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:26:43 – News: RGB-Backlit LCD TV Prices

LG MRGB95B Micro RGB Evo, Hisense UR9S RGB Mini-LED, TCL RM9L RGB-Mini LED, and Samsung R95H & R85H Micro RGB LED TVs all get screen size and price announcements: https://tinyurl.com/3atnnpwf

00:39:23 – News: Valve Steam Controller

Still no word on the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, but the Steam Controller is arriving May 4th for $100: https://tinyurl.com/ysrw4kdu

00:43:03 – News: Game Pass Price Lowered

The recent, massive price increases were, in fact, too much. So Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass are coming back down…a bit. And there’s a pretty big catch: https://tinyurl.com/mwmayrv3

Comments:

00:49:43 – Comment: Gurinder – PJ & Screen Updates

We still can’t diagnose the power issue he had, but at least his JVC projector has been functioning fine. And he convinced himself his screen actually is acoustically transparent.

00:51:25 – Comment: Infinite Gary – Panasonic RF-1080

Another old Panasonic product find from the stash in Gary’s basement.

00:52:33 – Comment: Karl & Herb – Critical Listening w/ Hearing Aids

Karl shared an article discussing the link between untreated hearing loss and dementia. Herb mentions acoustician Leo Beranek who continued doing his professional work while wearing hearing aids.

– Audiology.org article: https://tinyurl.com/yeynjzpc

– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Beranek

00:55:02 – Comment: Eric – Completed Theater

He had most of the plans in place prior to finding our podcast. But listening to us helped him tweak some decisions, and he’s happy with the results.

QUESTIONS:

Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

We will be giving away at least one Sofabaton X1S Universal Remote. Email us to enter the free, random draw. Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO, with John Ternus taking his place in September. Optoma HCPro-5400 is a bright, RGB laser, DLP projector. PerListen X-Series on-wall speakers. And Disney Infinity Vision.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

Tom’s shelving problems and back treatment updates. Other family updates.

00:16:24 – Sofabaton X2 Was Not To Blame

Tom corrects himself, because it turns out his Sofabaton X2 was not the problem.

– https://www.sofabaton.com/product/x2/

00:21:15 – Sofabaton X1S Giveaway

We honestly don’t have the details worked out, but we will be giving away at least one Sofabaton X1S remote. Just email us and say you’d like a free Sofabaton X1S for a chance to win our upcoming random draw!

– https://www.sofabaton.com/product/x1s/

00:24:23 – What We Watched

Rob watched 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

00:33:52 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Dan and Patricio for their PayPal donations, plus our 121 Patreon Patrons, including Kenneth.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Henry, Kev, Bill, Brandon, Ren, Ray, Karl, Patricio, and Sasi. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:39:32 – News: New Apple CEO

Tim Cook is stepping down as Apple CEO in September. John Ternus will take his place: https://tinyurl.com/tnwmhbv3

00:42:35 – News: Optoma HCPro-5400

Optoma’s new $8,000 projector features RGB lasers and 5,000 lumens: https://tinyurl.com/man25sz3

00:46:17 – News: PerListen X-Series

Lower priced (for them) on-wall speakers that borrow from the A-Series: https://tinyurl.com/3y5w2n76

00:52:59 – News: Disney Infinity Vision

Sour grapes for Dune: Part 3 getting all the IMAX screens: https://tinyurl.com/2vffx5n6

Comments:

00:58:53 – Comment: Infinite Gary – That Panasonic Basement

Another Panasonic find from decades ago.

QUESTIONS:

Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Oh, we’re getting creative with our episode numbers now! HSU is running their first sale on their D15-Chimera and D15-SC Super Charger to coincide with AXPONA. SVS has launched their new 3000 Micro R|Evolution subwoofer. Paradigm announced their all-new Premier V2 Series of speakers.

Pictures shown in this episode: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCR8gz

00:00:00 – Intro

Our ridiculous episode numbers. Rob’s new glasses and awkward hair. Update on Tom’s house. Can Tom sing? And Tom’s bad back inspires a genuine justification for cable risers. Finally!

00:14:30 – What We Watched

Tom continues to watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Parks and Recreation. Rob watched Predator: Badlands.

00:26:22 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 120 Patreon Patrons, as well as Ren and Ray for sending a whole bunch of movie codes.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: Dazz, Rob S, Bill, Gurinder, Terry, and a different Bill. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:36:59 – News: HSU D15-Chimera Sale

HSU is running their first sale on their newest D15 Series subwoofer and super charger: https://tinyurl.com/yc2zdax2

00:41:47 – News: SVS 3000 Micro R|Evolution

The physically smallest sub in SVS’ current lineup is the new 3000 Micro R|Evolution: https://tinyurl.com/ynd8z9cd

00:46:40 – News: Paradigm Premier V2 Speakers

They might be calling it V2, but Paradigm’s new Premier Series speakers have been redesigned from the ground up, and we’re a little surprised in some good ways and some bad ways: https://tinyurl.com/3me6y48b

Comments:

00:56:26 – Comment: Infinite Gary

Another unusual Panasonic branded product. And Sparky the puppy is growing fast.

QUESTIONS:

Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Schedules made us record a day late. Tom has some horrible surprise news to share. Sony is calling their RGB backlit LCD TVs “True RGB”. Revel announced their new Performa 4 Series speakers, which are literally the same as the Arcam Radia Series. And Sofabaton’s next universal remote will be the U3.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

Tom’s latest horrible update.

00:10:17 – Rob’s LEGO Gift

Ordering a LEGO Enterprise netted Rob a limited time gift to show off.

00:14:20 – What We Watched

Rob watched 28 Years Later. Tom watched a couple seasons of Parks and Recreation.

00:33:46 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are our 119 Patreon Patrons.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: David, Richard, Trevor, and Sasi. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:40:06 – News: Sony True RGB

Sony demonstrated their upcoming RGB backlit LCD TVs: https://youtu.be/BVcTeXdZjV4

00:44:27 – News: Revel Performa 4 Speakers

Via Sasi: They’re exactly the same as the Arcam Radia Series speakers, but destined for the North American market: https://tinyurl.com/2knde4s9

00:50:57 – News: Sofabaton U3 Preview

It’s not on their website just yet, but Sofabaton’s next universal remote will be the U3, which combines certain aspects of the older U-Series and the X1S: https://www.sofabaton.com/

Comments:

00:57:47 – Comment: Infinite Gary – Unique Technics Product

You’ll never ever guess the Panasonic Technics branded product that Gary found in his basement.

01:00:00 – Comment: Ray – WiiM Mini for AirPlay 2

Wanna add AirPlay 2 support to any WiiM product? That’s what the WiiM Mini is for: https://tinyurl.com/bdhzszh9

01:02:25 – Comment: Anonymous – Computer Component Pricing

An argument can be made that console price increases aren’t even as large as they should be.

01:05:16 – Comment: Nelson – TCL QM8K & Sofabaton X2 Updates

He thought he’d always want a projector, but TCL’s QM8K has changed his mind. He also shares how he worked through some issues setting up his Sofabaton X2 remote.

QUESTIONS:

Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Tom has returned. Thank you to Lee Overstreet and Joe Klusnick for guest co-hosting last week. Kaleidescape is celebrating their 25th Anniversary. PlayStation 5 console prices are going up…a lot. And we discuss the improvements that Sofabaton brought to their X2 Hub-based remote with their latest firmware updates.

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

00:00:00 – Intro

Tom is back. Thanks to Lee and Joe for last week.

00:03:06 – LEGO Enterprise-D

Rob finally assembled the LEGO Enterprise-D that he bought, and he awkwardly shows it on camera a little.

00:07:18 – We’re Busy, You Guys

The little tasks in life just manage to eat up time, y’know?

00:11:05 – Impromptu AI Discussion

The number of questions being emailed to us has dwindled. But we suspect they’ll return at some point, and we explain why.

00:20:16 – Life Updates

Quick updates about our families.

00:23:16 – What We Watched

Tom has been watching SEC Gymnastics. Rob watched Zootopia 2, and Wicked: For Good.

00:40:20 – Listeners of the Week

Our Listeners of the Week are Dan for his PayPal donation, plus our 119 Patreon Patrons.

We also appreciate the notes of gratitude for keeping the podcast going from: J. Karl, and Adam. Thank you to everyone for continuing to listen!

In the news:

00:41:57 – News: Image Quality Panel Discussion

Joe Klusnick took part in Bright Side Home Theater’s “Beyond Resolution” discussion: https://www.youtube.com/live/wDTE4pZZz2I

00:42:47 – News: Kaleidescape’s 25th Anniversary

Via Joe: Kaleidescape is celebrating 25 years with a curated selection of 25 movies: https://tinyurl.com/2hwjautj

00:45:26 – News: PS5 Price Hikes

PlayStation 5 consoles are going up in price…a lot: https://tinyurl.com/mrxn2vwp

00:55:34 – News: Sofabaton X2 Updates

The latest software and firmware updates brought improvements, so we share our thoughts: https://www.sofabaton.com/product/x2/

Our Sofabaton X1S Sale Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/4rLZW73

Promo Code: TOMX1S35

Comments:

01:03:59 – Comment: J. Karl – Plumbing

Just a suggestion to check what detection equipment and techniques your plumber will use prior to hiring them.

QUESTIONS:

Read more…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS