HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

On today's show we look at an article published at Slashgear.comthe scientifically proves that expensive cables are a waste of money. We also look at five Google TV features that you are probably not using. And of course we read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
Yamaha Introduces Two New AV Receivers
Apple TV to broadcast first major professional live sporting event shot entirely on iPhone 17 Pro
Price of lifetime Plex Pass jumping by $500
Other:
Costco's Cheap Acoustic Panels Are Amazing
Netflix is sharing your watch history — take 60 seconds to stop it
Scientific Proof That Expensive Cables Are a Waste of Money
Long time listener Scott sent us an email pointing us to an article at Slashgear.com titled WE NOW HAVE SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT EXPENSIVE AUDIO CABLES ARE A WASTE OF MONEY. Today we share three key takeaways from that article. The entire article is linked and you can check it out for the full details.
Here are the three key takeaways from the article:
Expensive audio cables perform no better than cheap ones In rigorous scientific testing by Audio Science Review, $7 Amazon Basics RCA cables performed identically to $4,000+ Kimber Kable premium cables across key metrics like frequency response, total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N), and signal-to-noise ratio. The expensive cables even showed slightly more interference in some tests.
Claims about premium cables are mostly marketing hype. High-end cables often boast exotic materials (solid silver, special dielectrics, etc.), but these make no measurable or audible difference in real-world performance for human hearing. The article highlights that this is a common area where audiophiles get overcharged.
Spend your money on what actually matters. Instead of expensive cables, invest in better speakers, amplifiers, DACs, source quality, or room acoustic treatment. These components make a far bigger difference in sound quality than cables ever will.
Bottom line: The article concludes that for most people (even serious audiophiles), cheap, well-made cables are perfectly fine.
5 Google TV features you're probably not using but definitely should
Today's show is completely fueled by our listeners. Mark fromFloriday sent us a link to Tom's Guide that lists 5 Google TV features you're probably not using but definitely should. We will go through those bow but the full details can be found at the linked article. 
Here's a summary of the five Google TV features:
Apps-Only Mode: Turn your cluttered home screen into a simple app launcher by enabling Apps Only mode. This removes most recommendations and shows just your installed apps (with one banner ad remaining).
Personalize Recommendations: Customize your home screen suggestions by selecting which streaming services you want included. This reduces unwanted content while keeping helpful recommendations from your preferred apps.
Ambient Mode: Transform your TV into a digital picture frame or art gallery. You can display beautiful artwork or your own personal photos when the TV is not in use.
Find My Remote: Quickly locate a lost Google TV remote by making it play a loud sound. Accessible through Settings > Remotes & Accessories > Find my remote.
Basic Mode: Strip Google TV down to a "dumb TV" experience. It disables apps and ads, showing only live TV and connected external devices (requires a factory reset to activate).

In this week's show we do a review of the WiiM Amp Multiroom Streaming Amplifier but first,  we read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
Tubi Will Stream The 2026 FIFA World Cup For Free
Roku launching new creator-driven content channels, hub
Disney+ to join Hulu in streaming top music festivals
Streaming Bundles Offsetting Rising Subscription Costs
WiiM Amp: Multiroom Streaming Amplifier
As you know Ara just completed a set of speakers built from salvaged MDF and brand new components from Dayton Audio. The speakers sound excellent and will end up being a part of Ara's whole home audio system in Tennessee. The only issue is that these speakers are passive and need an amplifier. So to drive them Ara is using the WiiM Amp Streaming amplifier which runs for about $300 at Amazon.
This WiiM amp is an all-in-one device that combines a high-quality streamer, ESS Sabre DAC, and Class D amplifier into one cool looking box. It's perfect for "just add speakers" simplicity with great performance, especially at this pricepoint. 
Key Features
Power Output: 60W  8 ohms
DAC: ESS Sabre ES9018 HyperStream, supports up to 24-bit/192kHz hi-res audio
Streaming & Connectivity: AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Amazon Music, Qobuz, DLNA, Bluetooth 5.1 (two-way), Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Inputs: HDMI ARC (for TV), optical digital, analog RCA line-level, USB-A (for local files/drives)
Outputs: Speaker binding posts, subwoofer RCA (with adjustable crossover)
Controls: WiiM Home app (iOS/Android), included remote, voice control (Alexa built-in, works with Google/Siri)
Other: 10-band graphic EQ + parametric EQ, room correction options, multi-room grouping with other WiiM devices, gapless playback
Setup
Setup was straightforward and took about ten minutes including the firmware upgrade done through the WiiM Home App. For Ara's setup it was, plug in power and connect the speakers and join the wifi network which was done through the WiiM Home app. Ara is not using a subwoofer but one can be added by using the sub out RCA connection. You can adjust the crossover in the app. The app is where you can select EQ, source, and do your multi-room configuration. 
There is only one physical control that controls volume and doubles as play/pause. HDMI ARC makes it an excellent TV audio upgrade with minimal hassle. No complex wiring or external DAC needed. More on that in a bit.
Sound Quality
The WiiM Amp delivers clean, lively, and detailed sound at a reasonable price. It offers good clarity, solid bass control via the sub out.  Distortion is very low even at high levels of volume. We are not saying that using these with some KEF or SVS Towers is the way to go, but for small-to-medium spaces, or desktop setups, it sounds surprisingly good. Add to it that it can make any speaker work with Apple Airplay or Google Cast Audio and you have a relatively inexpensive way to build out a wireless whole home audio system. 
The HDMI ARC support makes this a cost effective way to add a 2.1 speaker system to your TV. In this case the center channel is split evenly between the left and right speakers giving the perception that the audio is coming from the center, provided the speakers are not separated from the TV by a large distance. 
We have a listener named John who is using the Wiim Amp Pro ($379 from Amazon with no Airplay support) in this manner with an SVS subwoofer and his quote is, "It's been working perfectly".  The only issue he had was with the EQ calibration. When it was set to cut and boost frequencies he would get audio dropouts. He did some experimenting and found that if he only cuts frequencies and does not boost them, the audio dropouts stopped.  
Cool Features That Make It Worth $300
All-in-One Versatility — Streamer + DAC + amp in one small box (about the size of a small Mac mini). 
HDMI ARC + Sub Out — Turns any TV into a better-sounding system and easily adds a subwoofer with crossover control.
Advanced App EQ & Room Tools — 10-band graphic + parametric EQ plus presets let you fine-tune for your room/speakers.
Multi-Room & Ecosystem — Group with other WiiM devices for whole-home audio; excellent service integration (Spotify/Tidal Connect, AirPlay 2, etc.).
Other Extras — USB playback, two-way Bluetooth, and voice control, 
Summary
The WiiM Amp is an outstanding budget streaming amplifier that offers a lot of versatility, ease of use, and surprisingly good sound for the money. It's ideal for anyone wanting a simple, music or TV audio setup without complexity or high cost. While we don't recommend it for big rooms, it's perfect for desktop and bookshelf use, especially if you want to use Airplay 2 or Google Cast Audio. With all that said, Ara will probably never use the app again and simply connect to it via the Airplay 2 from his Mac and iOS devices.

On this week's show we take our first look at the new batch of Ikea smart home products that support matter. Are they worth the money? We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
TCL RGB Mini-LED TV with up to 9,000 nits brightness now available
AMC Wants To Start Airing Sports Programming to Fight Cord Cutting
LG ELECTRONICS LAUNCHES 2026 QNED EVO MINI LED TV LINEUP
Will micro-LED ever really replace OLED?
Other:
NBC Releases First Look at David Boreanaz in The Rockford Files Reboot
Are the Low Cost Matter Compatible Devices From Ikea Worth It?
On this week's show we take our first look at the new batch of Ikea smart home products that support matter. If you are in the Amazon, Apple, Google, Homey or Samsung ecosystem you can connect these devices directly to your home via matter. 
These are some of the lowest cost devices we have seen and they come from a reputable vendor. So how do they work? To answer that, we put the Grillplats plug and two variations of the Bilresa Remote Control (Dual Button and Scroll Wheel) through a two week test. Here is what we found. 
GRILLPLATS Plug ($7.99 at Ikea)
What can we say? This is a solidly built matter plug for $8 that never misses. 
What we like:
Extremely affordable — one of the cheapest Matter-over-Thread smart plugs available.
Energy monitoring — tracks power usage, voltage, current, and accumulated energy (great for automations like "notify when washer finishes").
Acts as a Thread repeater — helps strengthen and extend your smart home mesh network.
Compact & sturdy design with manual on/off button.
Easy setup via QR code.
Fast, responsive control.
What you should consider:
Power limits — max 300W for motor loads (e.g., not ideal for fridges, dryers, or high-inductive appliances).
Energy reporting through matter is not fully supported by all automation ecosystems. .
Can be physically wide and block adjacent outlets on some power strips.
Excellent value if you already have a Thread network and mainly need basic on/off control. It's a strong budget pick, but not perfect for heavy appliances.
BILRESA remote control kit ($14.99 at Ikea)
These dual-button remotes make it much easier to control your smart products. You can use them to turn devices on and off, dim lights, change colors, or activate groups and preset scenes. And at about $5 a piece they are the best value remote out there!
What we like:
extremely cheap — one of the most affordable Matter-over-Thread smart remotes available.
Simple & intuitive — two clearly different buttons (with indentations) for quick on/off, scenes, dimming, or groups. Supports single press, double press, and long press (up to 6 actions total).
Battery powered (2x AAA) — long life and easy to replace. Can be placed anywhere (magnetic back + adhesive metal plate for wall mounting).
Compact and unobtrusive design — looks like a simple light switch on the wall.
Responsive! Almost no delay from button push to device/scene activation.
What you should consider:
Setup can be finicky — pairing takes too long and fails requiring multiple attempts.Once device in the tree pack would not pair and said it was already in a home. Even a factory reset (done multiple times) would not fix this issue. After a call with Ikea Tech Support. A new three pack was sent out. 
Limited feedback — a small status LED doesn't give much information.
Fantastic budget remote if you want simple physical control for lights and scenes in a Matter smart home. Just be aware that two button actions are required to turn a light on and off. So if you are using it to control lights you may make a single press on the larger button turn a lamp on and a single press on the smaller button turn the lamp off. Hitting the first button does not toggle the state of the controlled device.  
BILRESA remote control with Scroll Wheel ($9.99 at Ikea) 
Use to turn smart products on/off, dim and change the color of light sources, or operate a group or preset scenes. With this controller you get three sets of buttons which are indicated by a small LED. Each set has a single, double, and long press. In addition there is a scroll wheel that is supposed to dim lights.
The dimmer did not work with homekit over matter but even if it did the action is difficult to uses since the wheel is slick and slippery. Moving between groups is cumbersome as well. You have to wake up the device to see which group you are currently on. Or just dive in and see what happens!
What we like:
Cheap!
Versatile controls — Scroll wheel for dimming/brightness or color temp/RGB adjustments (if you can get the wheel to scroll). Up to 9 programmable inputs.
Compact and portable — Small (about 2.75" x 2" x 1"), easy to hold or mount on walls/fridges. 
What you should consider:
Scroll wheel feel and usability issues — Slippery, hard to rotate (especially on a table), wobbly, or lacking grip/texture. 
Ecosystem limitations — Wheel functionality is poorly supported in some platforms like Apple HomeKit and Google Home. 
Setup and documentation frustrations — Pairing can be tricky 
Great concept and price but we recommend waiting for firmware fixes and broader Matter support. Consider the simpler dual-button BILRESA version.

On this week's show we do our annual Broadcast Network TV Renewals and Cancellations and also read your emails and look at the week's news.
News:
Fubo Lost Over 500,000 Subscribers in North America In The 2nd Quarter of 2026
AMC Theatres Partners With Arena One For Live Music Concert Streaming
Other:
Amazon.com: Panasonic Z8 Series (2025) 77-inch OLED 4K Ultra HD Smart Fire TV, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, 144Hz Refresh Rate, Hands-Free Alexa 77Z8BAP
Broadcast Network Renewals and Cancellations for the Next TV Season
It's that time of year where we look at the fate of broadcast network TV Shows. The following list is based on the latest available info.  Note that The CW has largely shifted away from original scripted programming.
ABC
Strong stability for its drama and comedy slate.
Renewed: 9-1-1 (S10), 9-1-1: Nashville (S2), Abbott Elementary (S6), Grey's Anatomy (S23), High Potential (S3), The Rookie (S9), Scrubs (revival, S2/overall S11), Shifting Gears (S3), Will Trent (S5).
On the bubble: R.J. Decker (could go either way).
Canceled/ending: Limited recent cancellations reported; some unscripted like The Bachelorette faced issues.
CBS
Very proactive with early renewals for its procedural-heavy lineup. Several new or recent shows got quick pickups.
Renewed: Boston Blue (S2), CIA (S2), Elsbeth, FBI, Fire Country, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Ghosts, Marshals (S2), Matlock, NCIS (S24), NCIS: Origins (S3), NCIS: Sydney, Sheriff Country (S2), Tracker  (S4), The Amazing Race, Survivor.
Canceled/ending: DMV (after S1), Watson (after S2), TThe Neighborhood (final season, ending after S8).
FOX
Focus on animated comedies and a few live-action holds; some cancellations in the animated space.
Renewed: American Dad! (through 2028-29), Animal Control (S5), Best Medicine  (S2), Bob's Burgers (through 2028-29), Doc (S3), Family Guy (through 2028-29), Krapopolis (through 2027-28), Memory of a Killer (S2), The Simpsons (through 2028-29), Universal Basic Guys, Grimsburg  (S3).
Canceled/ending: The Great North, Going Dutch.
On the bubble: Murder in a Small Town (safe bet).
NBC
The Chicago franchise remains rock-solid; some newer shows didn't make it.
Renewed: Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Happy's Place (S3), St. Denis Medical (S3),  Law & Order: SVU (S28), The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (S2).
Canceled/ending: Brilliant Minds, Stumble.
On the bubble: Law & Order (safe bet), The Hunting Party (long-shot).
The CW
Mostly wrapping up remaining originals.
Ending: All American (S8 is final season).
Canceled: Good Cop/Bad Cop (after S1).
The network has minimized homegrown scripted shows in recent years.

On this week's show a listener asks for some help with keeping his audio in sync with his video. We also discuss how to turn off the ACR on your Smart TV. But first we read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
Here's What's Coming in the 2026 Apple TV
Roku's Howdy Streaming Service Reaches an Estimated 1 Million Users
Deal Alert! 65" TV for $238
Audio Sync in a Home Theater
Byron's request for answers to some specific questions on audio sync: I'd appreciate it if you guys could provide some "guiding principles" on syncing audio in a home theater setup. I have four questions:
1. Should the AVR be the ONLY place to mess with syncing settings (when everything runs through it, including ARC)?
Yes, in most cases—this is the recommended approach. Start with AVR settings at zero or Auto, enable Auto Lip Sync if available, and adjust the manual audio delay there. Avoid adjusting on the TV or sources unless you have a specific reason like a stubborn source that bypasses the AVR. Changing multiple devices creates conflicts and makes troubleshooting harder.
2. If AVR is the main adjustment point, do sources automatically stay in sync after setting it once?
 Often yes, especially with Auto Lip Sync enabled and consistent sources. The AVR's delay setting (or per-input memory) applies across similar content. However:
Different video formats, resolutions, SDR vs. HDR/Dolby Vision,  60Hz vs. 24p or processing modes can introduce varying delays.
Some AVRs store audio delay per input, so one good setting per source/input often suffices. 
3. For Fire TV Sticks, Apple TV, etc.: Do sync settings apply across all apps, or per-app?
Fire TV Stick: The AV Sync Tuning (under Settings > Display & Sounds > Audio) is generally a device-wide offset. It should hold across apps for the HDMI output. Individual apps might have minor internal variations, but a global tweak usually covers most cases. Reboot the stick if sync drifts.
Apple TV: No built-in manual per-app delay slider in standard settings. There's a Wireless Audio Sync calibration that uses the iPhone for measurement, which is more global. Different apps (e.g., Netflix vs. others) can sometimes show varying sync due to their decoding/processing—users often report needing AVR tweaks when switching apps. Match Frame Rate and consistent audio formats help stability.
 In both cases, rely on the AVR for the heavy lifting.
4. Do higher-end AVRs allow different sync settings per input?
Yes! Many mid-to-high-end models store audio delay/lip sync per input source. Examples include Denon models with "Master Audio Delay" or similar, where you can set and recall different ms offsets (often 0–500ms) for each HDMI input. This is a big convenience for multiple devices. Check your AVR manual for "Audio Delay," "Lip Sync," or "per input" settings.
Additional Best Practices
Minimize variables: Disable unnecessary video processing (motion smoothing, noise reduction) on the TV and AVR to reduce video latency. Use "Game" or "Pure Direct" modes where possible for lower lag.
HDMI/ARC specifics: Ensure high-quality HDMI cables. eARC is better than ARC for bandwidth and sync negotiation. Power cycle everything (unplug) after big changes.
Order of troubleshooting: AVR Auto Lip Sync → Manual AVR delay → Source device tweaks → TV audio delay (last).
Test tools: Use built-in sync tests on your devices or YouTube "lip sync test" videos.
The Most Effective ways to Circumvent Smart TV Spying
Last week we talked about how your TV was spying on what you are watching. This week we discuss how to prevent that from happening. The following are the most effective ways to circumvent smart TV spying and related data collection, ranked from easiest/quickest to most thorough. These also help limit proxy network enrollment in shady apps.
1. Disable ACR Directly in TV Settings (Quickest First Step)
Most brands let you turn off Automatic Content Recognition (and related ad/personalization features) without losing core picture quality. Do this on every TV:
Samsung: Home button → Sidebar menu → Privacy Choices → Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy → Uncheck Viewing Information Services (and Interest-Based Ads if present).
LG: Settings → General → System → Additional Settings (or Advanced) → Turn Live Plus OFF → Also enable Limit Ad Tracking.
Sony: Settings → Initial Setup → Disable Samba Interactive TV.
Vizio: System → Reset & Admin → Turn Viewing Data OFF.
Roku TV / Roku-based: Settings → Privacy → Smart TV Experience → Uncheck Use Info from TV Inputs.
Hisense / TCL: Settings → System or Privacy → Disable Smart TV Experience or Use Info from TV Inputs.
Amazon Fire TV: Preferences → Privacy Settings → Turn off data tracking options.
After changing, restart the TV. Check the setting again after any software update, as it can reset. Also disable voice assistants, microphones, and cameras (cover them physically if needed).
2. Block Internet Access to the TV (Highly Effective)
The simplest long-term fix: Prevent the TV from phoning home at all.
Don't connect it to Wi-Fi or Ethernet in the first place.
Or, on your router: Create a guest Wi-Fi just for the TV, then use firewall rules, parental controls, or MAC address blocking to stop all outbound internet traffic (while allowing local network access if you stream from a NAS/Plex/Jellyfin).
Advanced: Use a tool like Pi-hole or AdGuard Home on your network to block known tracking domains.
Pro tip: Many people report the TV works fine (or even faster) for HDMI inputs and local streaming when fully offline. External streaming devices handle all internet needs.
3. Use the TV as a "Dumb" Display Only
Treat your smart TV like a big monitor:
Connect all content via HDMI from a more private device (never use the TV's built-in apps).
Recommended external boxes (in order of privacy-friendliness):
Apple TV — Clean interface, minimal tracking, no aggressive ads.
NVIDIA Shield or other local-media-focused devices. 
Raspberry Pi or HTPC running Kodi/Plex for full local control.
This bypasses the TV's OS almost entirely.
4. Go Fully "Dumb" (Most Private Long-Term Solution)
Buy a true dumb TV or large computer monitor (no smart features, no Wi-Fi, no ACR). Options exist in smaller sizes or from brands like Westinghouse for basic panels.
Pair it with an external streamer or your own computer/laptop via HDMI.
Many privacy-focused users prefer this setup over any "smart" panel.
Important reality check: Disabling ACR and blocking internet stops most viewing-data collection, but no method is 100% foolproof against every firmware trick or future update. The nuclear option—keeping the TV completely offline and HDMI-only—remains the gold standard for privacy.