HDTVs, projectors, and surround sound systems.
Home Theater
Should I cut the cord?
Episode 1399
Paul wants to cut the cable and he wants to know if SlingTV plus an antenna for local channels is a good way to go? Leo says yes. But you may not need the antenna as Sling offers local channels as well. What about a DVR? Three makers offer over the air DVR service. TIVO. ChannelMaster, and the Silicon Dust HD HomeRun. But Leo's worried about the TIVO since it was sold recently. You can also grow your own TVR with Plex and an old PC. But ChannelMaster is very popular.
How can I stream music to my old stereo?
Episode 1398
Lynn wants to get a new laptop to use for streaming music to her home stereo. What's the best setup for her, intel or AMD? Leo says either will do. The real issue is that since Lynn is going to be converting analog to digital, she needs a good DAC conversion. But Leo says that's not the best option. You want something that's all digital, so avoid connecting through your headphone jack. Bluetooth is sold option. Google has Chromecast Audio. That's a good idea. It's supported by Spotify and Pandora too.
Scott Wilkinson ... Va Va Va Voom!
Episode 1398
Scott Wilkinson says that there's a link over at BaseheadSpeakers.com for the top ten loudest bluetooth Speakers. VaVaVoom is their top vote getter. Scott also says that there is now a new spec that will give home theater users a nice faux stereo sound from one speaker using computer software. RIVAAudio.com is the site and he's heard it and it's pretty impressive, great for a home owner that wants to have speakers in every room but doesn't want to break the bank.
What's a good loud bluetooth speaker?
Episode 1398
Julie needs an external bluetooth speaker for events that she sponsors. Leo says you can get a Fugoo Speaker, it's great for mobile outdoor activity, but it's not that loud for large group events. Doss makes the SoundBox Plus, and it's pretty cheap for $33. But Leo says it can really project loud sound. Bose makes one called the SoundLink that's pretty loud and he likes it. But Bose is pretty expensive. Scott Wilkinson says that there's a link over at BaseheadSpeakers.com for the top ten loudest bluetooth Speakers.
Can I calibrate my TV with my computer?
Episode 1396
Dave from
Dave would like to know if video cards with an HDMI output would allow him to calibrate his TV with his computer. Scott says that HDR calibration is in its infancy and he can get HD test pattern generators. The HD Fury Integral will add HDR meta data to do it. But for the cost, it's better to have a pro do it.
Dick DeBartolo, The Giz Wiz
Episode 1396
Dickie D's gadget of the week is the LEORX Cinematic LED Lightbox. A neat way to display a message or other text with the old-fashioned look of a movie marquee. Black letters are set up in tracks on a white box lit from within. Totally readable in the brightest light or in total darkness. The uses are as limitless as your imagination. Say "Happy Birthday" to a family member, or "I love you" to your spouse. Put a sign in your window so arriving guests will know they've found the right house. These are just a few of the endless uses.
Why do I have to turn up the audio when streaming?
Episode 1396
Donald from
Donald has several TVs, and when he watches streaming content, he has to turn up the volume all the way. Scott says that different methods have different audio levels and there's really not much he can do about that.
How can I stream movies from my laptop to my TV?
Episode 1396
Jerry from
Jerry has a laptop and he wants to know if he can connect his Apple TV to it so he can watch movies. Scott says that if the laptop is a Mac, then AirPlay with the AppleTV will make it easy. If it's a Windows laptop, then Miracast is what Windows supports. Both the laptop and TV have to support it, though.
How can I reduce eye strain when watching TV?
Episode 1396
Dave from
Joe wants to know if backlighting or bias lighting will help combat eye strain while watching TV. Scott says that in a dark room, he'll get a better image, but with HDTVs being brighter, it can cause eye strain. That's why a bias or backlight helps. It shines a light behind the TV onto the wall and it smoothes out the light that your eyes see, so that your eyes aren't working as hard. It has to be a certain shade of white, though — D65. 10% of the peak brightness of the TV. The best place to get a bias light is CinemaQuestinc.com.
What's wrong with my HDMI connection?
Episode 1396
Dan from
Dan got a new cable box with Spectrum, but after a week he started to get an HDMI error because his connection has been "compromised." Scott says that the first thing to try is to power cycle the cable box. That will reload all the standard default settings. It could also be a faulty cable. So replacing the HDMI cable could solve the issue. Scott also says that being an older TV, the connection could be choking. Or maybe the HDMI connector could be failing.
