HDTVs, projectors, and surround sound systems.
Home Theater
Why is my audio video signal dropping out on my TIVO?
Episode 1730
Bruce fromBruce is having issues with his TV that the audio gets out of sync and the video goes blank on his TIVO Edge. Leo says it's losing HDMI sync when you run it through the AV receiver. And it's likely the AV Receiver that's causing it since Bruce isn't having issues connecting through his Xbox or directly. Is there a setting he needs to look for in his AVR? Look in the settings for eliminating the sync handshake. That's what's dropping out. If you can make it always on, it would never have to lose the handshake. Leo also suspects a new HDMI cable may solve the problem.
Is my TV worth fixing?
Episode 1728
Trish fromTrish's old Panasonic Viera flat-screen plasma TV finally went out. She tried to figure out what's wrong by looking online. Leo says you can get a lot of advice, most that don't help. Sadly, it's probably too expensive to repair. And they're so compact; they'd be practically impossible to fix.
Scott Wilkinson ...and the third number
Episode 1727
Scott is back to talk about a listener question that could affect all of us. He's been looking at the Denon AVRX4700, and it's supposed to have Dolby 5.1.4 or 7.1.2. What's the third digit for? Scott says that the third digit tells you how many speakers you can use overhead. It's a Dolby Atmos at Home Specs.The first mask is the number of surround speakers you can have, the middle number is the subwoofer. But if you want an Atmos system, the third number is the one you want to pay attention to.
Scott Wilkinson ... wired up
Episode 1725
Leo talks with Scott about his new home wiring project, where he's wiring all his devices with cat6 ethernet. Scott says that the viewer wireless points you have, the better the quality you'll have, and wiring everything will make them play the best they can.
Can I Sideload Peacock on Amazon Fire TV Device?
Episode 1723
Ron fromRon can't watch Peacock on any device that he has, but he's heard he can "sideload" it onto his Amazon Firestick. Is that legal and safe? Leo says yes. It's perfectly fine, but there can be risky security-wise. Android, which Amazon's FireTV is based on, has a setting that he has to enable to allow downloads from something other than the Amazon app store or Google Play. Once he has enabled that, he can install it no problem. Just keep it up to date and don't get it from anyone other than the original developer. APK Mirror is the exception. It's generally safe to download from there.
Scott Wilkinson ... Amplified and Converted
Episode 1723
Scott joins Leo to talk about the Helm Audio DB12 AAA pocket headphone amp. It uses THX amplifier technology. Noise measurements are far lower in total harmonic distortion than any chip-based amp. And while the price of the DB12AAA is $200, it does make a huge difference in audio from a mobile device. But since mobile phones have eliminated the headphone jack in favor of Bluetooth headphones, users would need an adapter to use it.
Scott Wilkinson ...Critically Conversed
Episode 1721
Scott joins Leo to talk about the latest wave of virtual trade shows and conventions that have caught on in 2020. Even the political conventions have caught on to this. The benefits are that you can watch the keynotes, sessions, and other conference opportunities when you want, and you don't catch COVID. The downside is the human interaction is limited. Check out his Interview on NET Critical Conversations here.
What's a Good Outdoor Projector?
Episode 1719
Thomas fromThomas recently performed a walk across America and wrote a book while he did it. Now he wants to know what's the best video projector for his next project. Leo says that there's a lot of choices out there with a price range of $200-20,000. Leo says a laser projector is the best option. They'll be a little more expensive, but he won't be changing bulbs. Epson makes an excellent one for under $1,000. The Epson Home Cinema 1060 is around $650. The EF100 has streaming built-in. $999.
Scott Wilkinson and the High Priced Headphones
Episode 1719
Scott joins Leo to talk about a pair of headphones he's been reviewing. They're called the Focale Stellia headphones and at $3000, they are easily the best sounding headphones he's ever used. The main word to describe them is CLARITY. These headphones are ideal for deep listening into complex mixes. The design "opens up" the recording and Leo mentions it gives each track or instrument some space to hear everything. But $3,000?!
Read Scott's review in the link above.
Why Won't My Smart TV Connect to Stream?
Episode 1717
John fromJohn has a 55" Samsung TV that's about eight years old. He also moved away from surround sound to a soundbar. But even though his TV is a smart TV, it won't accept the internet signal to stream. He talked to Samsung and after resetting several times, they decided his chip was defective. Leo says that doesn't mean he'll have to get a new TV. Those smart tv apps are terrible because they are never updated. He recommends getting a ROKU device and plugging that into the HDMI port. Let the Roku handle the stream. But don't get the stick, they tend to overheat.
