HDTVs, projectors, and surround sound systems.
Home Theater
Scott Wilkinson ... in the clear
Episode 1788
Scott recently posted a review of Clear Crescent Wireless Speakers, which support Airplay 2, which carries a much higher bitrate than bluetooth. It uses WiFi instead, meaning you need to be on the same network. But it's far superior in sound quality with 1.3GB/s streaming bandwidth. It also simulates a wide field audio spectrum. It also has party mode and Chromecast.
How can I listen to my TV with my headphones?
Episode 1788
Joe fromJoe would like to connect a pair of headphones to his LG TV. But when he does, the volume is very faint. Does he need some sort of amplifier? Leo says that most TVs get their audio from HDMI and the Audio Return Channel. If Joe has a home theater system or AV receiver, it's better to plug into that instead of the TV. What Leo thnks is maybe Joe needs to enable the setting in the TV menu. There are headphone amplifiers. Check out headphones.com for suggestions on which to get. There's plenty of options out there.
How Can I Move Closed Captioning Location On My TV?
Episode 1787
Ken fromKen got a new Vizio TV for Christmas, and he uses closed captioning. But it appears in the middle of the picture. Nobody seems to know how to move it to the bottom, where it belongs. Leo says that it could be a setting on the TV that does it. It depends on where the closed captioning is coming from. Check out this tech note from Vizio. Press CC on the remote. Then the menu.
How Can I Guard My Home Theater Against Power Outages?
Episode 1786
John fromJohn is having issues with power outages and is worried that it will brick his devices. Leo advises getting an uninterruptable power supply. That will guard against not only outages, but the power surges that arrive after the power comes back on. Leo likes TripLite. But there's also APS. John will want to avoid relying solely on power strips. They don't really do anything. But a UPS will preserve power until he can turn on the gas generator, or unplug devices.
Scott Wilkinson and the End of Harmony
Episode 1786
Scott joins Leo to talk about the news that Logitech has decided to end production of their Harmony Remote control. Citing a diminishing market due to an increase in voice control through assistants like "Alexa," Logitech continues to support and sell the existing inventory, but will no longer develop or manufacture them.
Do I Really Need Internet Access for Closed Captioning on My TV?
Episode 1785
Cheryl fromCheryl wants to know if she can get a closed captioning with no internet access. Leo says that there may not be. What you need to find is a non-profit like an Independent Living Research Center to help with alternatives. Look into that.
Why Aren't Larger TV Screens More Affordable Yet?
Episode 1785
Eric fromEric wants to know what the best option for creating a 120" screen is? Larger TV panels don't seem to be affordable. Leo says that projectors are still the best option, and short-throw projectors can help when dealing with small spaces. But microLEDs may change the game. There are microLED screens out there with sizes over 100 inches. But they are six figures right now. So it'll take a few years before the technology gets seeded down to more affordable models.
How Can I Keep an Old Plasma TV Healthy?
Episode 1784
Maurice fromMaurice still has a Pioneer Kuro Plasma Monitor that he keeps in great shape by unplugging it when he doesn't use it. Leo says that they were great TVs for their time, but OLED has actually surpassed them.
Scott Wilkinson and the Easter OLED
Episode 1784
Today, Scott is joining Leo to talk about the new LG OLED. LG is the leader now in creating OLED TVs, and this week they announced the 2021 OLED lineup, which includes a dozen different models, including a new low-end version called the A1. The 48" A1 is $1300. Not a bad price for OLED. It is a little less capable with a refresh rate of 60Hz, and it doesn't have a variable refresh rate that gamers love. But for $200 more, you can get that in the next model up.
Why Am I Getting HDCP Errors on My TV?
Episode 1782
Greg fromGreg is having a problem with HD and Dish Network. Leo says it's probably copy protection called HDCP, and if one thing in the chain isn't HDCP compliant, you'll get an error. Chances are, it's your cables. Make sure they are HDCP compliant. According to Satellite Guys, there was a firmware update on the DISH box that is causing intermittent HDCP errors. Here's a tech note about it. An HDMI splitter can also bypass the HDCP copy protection.