HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

On today's show we create alternate reality TV Spinoffs of some of our favorite TV shows.  We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
What Fox's Roku Acquisition Signals For Local Broadcast
Wurl Chief Warns FAST Business Model Is 'Fundamentally Flawed'
Walmart in reported $1.4 billion deal to acquire connected TV ad platform
Google Home will soon get better at recognizing you
Other:
Pioneer SPHERA car stereo review
Clever Spinoffs to Our Favorite TV Shows
HBO Max is making a clever spinoff from "The Big Bang Theory" called "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe". The show follows comic book store owner Stuart Bloom from The Big Bang Theory in a new series where he attempts - and apparently fails - to save the universe, staying true to his unlucky nature. The spinoff consists of ten episodes, streaming every Thursday at 9 PM. It debuts July 23 on HBO Max .
So this got us thinking about some cool spinoffs with quirky characters from other shows we've watched over the years. Here are three clever spinoff concepts in the same spirit as Stuart Fails to Save the Universe:
Jack Bauer from 24
Title: 24/7
After finally retiring from CTU, Jack Bauer is forced to take a mundane job as head of security at a mid-sized suburban office park in Los Angeles — mostly to keep his health insurance.
Still operating with the intensity, paranoia, and zero-tolerance policy that once saved the world multiple times, Jack now applies his elite counter-terrorism skills to everyday annoyances: package thieves, passive-aggressive HR Manager, broken printers, and the HOA president who keeps violating noise ordinances.
Every episode plays out in real time (a 24-minute comedy format), following Jack as he tackles a new "crisis" — whether it's a missing office dog, a suspected mole in accounting, or an all-out war with the food truck that keeps getting his lunch order wrong.
Jack still does dramatic split-screen monologues, tortures (metaphorically) the vending machine, and keeps a "go bag" full of zip ties and protein bars in his desk. His long-suffering team includes a burnt-out millennial assistant, a retired cop who just wants to nap, and his daughter Kim, who keeps trying to get him into therapy.
Tagline: He saved the world 8 times. Now he has to survive the corporate retreat.
Chandler and Monica of Friends
Title: The One Where They're Spies
After years of marriage, Chandler Bing and Monica Geller have the perfect cover: a boring, stable suburban life in New Jersey. Chandler works as a "data analyst" for a vague government contractor, and Monica runs a high-end catering business.
In reality, they're a highly skilled CIA husband-and-wife operative team.
Chandler's deadpan sarcasm and quick wit make him an elite handler and master of undercover personas. Monica's terrifying organizational skills, attention to detail, and competitive nature make her an absolute weapon in logistics, interrogation, and hand-to-hand combat (she once took down three targets with a perfectly thrown fondue fork).
While they're out saving the world from international threats, they have to keep their double lives completely hidden from Ross, Rachel, Joey, and Phoebe — who still think Chandler hates his job and Monica is just an obsessive chef.
Every episode balances high-stakes spy action with classic Friends-style comedy as the couple frantically tries to explain away their suspicious behavior:
"Why do you have a go-bag in the closet?"
"Why does Chandler suddenly speak fluent Mandarin?"
"Why was Monica gone for three days and came back with a new scar and a Russian accent?"
Tagline: They're saving the world… between coffee at Central Perk.
Charles Boyle from Brooklyn 99
Title: Boyle
After a high-profile case goes sideways, Detective Charles Boyle is transferred to the NYPD's newly formed Unsolved & Unusual Crimes Unit — a ragtag squad that handles cold cases too weird or embarrassing for anyone else.
Still the passionate, food-obsessed, emotionally open romantic we know and love, Boyle now channels his legendary enthusiasm into solving the city's strangest unsolved mysteries: everything from a serial killer who leaves gourmet meals at crime scenes to a black-market truffle smuggling ring. He attacks each case with the same intensity he once reserved for perfecting his coq au vin recipe.
Backed by a small team of misfits (a jaded ex-homicide detective, a tech genius who only communicates in food puns, and a rookie who idolizes him), Boyle brings both razor-sharp detective work and delightful chaos to every investigation. He still cries during interrogations, quotes obscure food history mid-stakeout, and maintains an emergency "comfort cassoulet" in the precinct fridge.
Tagline: He may cry at crime scenes… but he always gets his man.

On today's show we take a look at the new Apple CarPlay Ultra. And with the high cost of streaming these days, we give you our pick for the one streaming service that you should keep. We also read your emails and look at the week's news.
News:
Fox Is Buying Roku in $22 Billion Deal
Gemini can now adjust your picture settings on Google TV
Blink Just Launched Its First Doorbell With 2K Video — And It's Only $50
AWOL Vision Expands Home Entertainment Portfolio
Apple's New CarPlay Ultra
A listener sent us a link to: I tried Apple CarPlay Ultra and now everything else feels outdated. The author felt that CarPlay Ultra just made every other in-car system feel clunky – and after testing it in an Aston Martin DBX, I don't want to drive without it. So why is he so excited about this update?
Main Takeaways from the Article:
CarPlay Ultra is a full dashboard takeover: Unlike standard CarPlay (which only handles the central screen), this next-gen version extends seamlessly across all screens — including the instrument cluster, driver display, and center infotainment. It creates one unified, cohesive Apple-style interface for the entire driving experience.
New design and customization with brand personality preserved: Tested in an Aston Martin DBX, it delivers crisp fonts, smooth performance, glanceable widgets (music, navigation, tire pressure, etc.), and deep customization. Aston Martin added brand-specific touches (e.g., custom dials with the wings logo, green colorway, and vehicle bird's-eye view) while keeping Apple's polish.
Complete vehicle controls inside one UI: You can adjust climate, suspension, driver assists, drive modes, fuel/range info, radio, and more without switching to the car's native system. A clever "punch through" feature seamlessly jumps to the manufacturer's menus for unsupported controls (like ambient lighting) and returns instantly.
Highly intuitive and responsive: Steering wheel controls let you swipe between views hands-free. Everything feels fast with zero lag, making it feel like a natural extension of the car rather than a bolted-on phone interface.
Safety net if phone disconnects: Core driving info (speedo, critical gauges) runs locally and stays active. Navigation/media/apps resume seamlessly upon reconnection.
Availability and future rollout: Currently live on high-end Aston Martins (with over-the-air or dealer updates for compatible models like DBX/DB12). More brands (Porsche, Mercedes, Polestar, and eventually affordable ones) are coming soon.
Overall verdict: The reviewer says it makes every other in-car system (including their own Android Auto) feel clunky and outdated. It's not just visual — it fundamentally improves the driving experience, and they "never want to drive without it again."
Netflix: The Best Single Streaming Service to Keep in 2026
With so many streamers out there costing us hundreds a year it has become expensive to watch TV. We asked ourselves, "If we had to pick only one streamer which one would it be?" And that streamer is - Netflix
Why Netflix Wins for Most People
Biggest variety and library — Massive catalog of originals (hit shows like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Wednesday, etc.), licensed movies/TV, international content, documentaries, and new releases. It has something for almost every taste and mood.
Excellent discovery tools — Strong recommendation algorithm that gets better the more you watch, making it easy to find what you'll like without wasting time.
Reliable and polished — Simple, fast interface that works great on any device (smart TVs, phones, tablets, streaming sticks, etc.). Consistent quality and frequent new content.
Other strong contenders fall short in our "one service only" scenario:
Disney+ — Fantastic for families, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar — but narrower overall appeal.
Prime Video — Great value if you already shop on Amazon (and it comes with Prime perks), but the core streaming library feels less essential alone.
HBO Max — Strong prestige dramas and movies, but smaller overall selection.
Apple TV+ — Highest production quality per show, but much smaller library.
Bottom line: Netflix gives you the broadest entertainment bang for your buck and the least chance of getting bored quickly. It's the safest "one and done" choice for a general audience in 2026.

On today's show we look at some AppleTV and Home announcements from the Apple WWDC and look at what that fuss is about the new Sony's True RGB TVs. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
Households Used More Than 10 Video Services Daily
Google Rolls Out a Major Update to Its Google TV Streamer 4k
Apple TV from Apple's WWDC 2026
Key takeaways for Apple TV from Apple's WWDC 2026 are relatively modest and software-focused, as the event emphasized iOS 27.
tvOS 27 Highlights for Apple TV
Larger Text / System-Wide Text Size Adjustment: A new accessibility option lets users increase on-screen text size across supported apps and the interface. AI-Generated / On-Device Subtitles: tvOS 27 adds real-time automatic subtitle generation for videos lacking built-in captions (including personal content). 
Other Refinements: Expect Liquid Glass UI polish, performance/stability improvements, smarter recommendations, and better smart home/HomeKit ties. Siri upgrades (more conversational, on-screen awareness) should improve voice control on Apple TV, though full Apple Intelligence features may wait for new hardware.
tvOS 27 developer betas are available now post-keynote, with public release expected in fall 2026 alongside other OS updates.
As far as the Apple Home app goes, updates  mainly dealt with Apple Intelligence integration for smarter camera handling and notifications:
The Home app now uses Apple Intelligence to generate natural language descriptions of compatible camera footage, letting you search clips conversationally by saying something like,  "show me when the dog was in the backyard"
Smarter batched notifications that feel less overwhelming. Alerts are intelligently grouped and dynamic instead of constant floods. Accessory updates update in real-time as conditions change.
With deeper Siri AI and Shortcuts integration you can describe automations in natural language and let Siri build them (including Home shortcuts). Voice control becomes more conversational and context-aware.
Hardware Notes
No new Apple TV 4K hardware was announced at WWDC (consistent with expectations). A refreshed model with A17 Pro (or similar) for full Apple Intelligence/Siri 2.0 support, better smart home capabilities, and possibly Wi-Fi 7 has been "ready for months" but is being held for later in 2026 to align with the advanced AI features.
What is Sony's True RGB TV All About?
Sony's True RGB is Sony's marketing name for their advanced RGB Mini-LED backlight technology, introduced in 2026 for high-end BRAVIA TVs the BRAVIA 9 II and BRAVIA 7 II series.
How True RGB Works
Traditional Mini-LED or QLED TVs typically use white or blue LEDs as the backlight, then pass that light through color filters or Quantum Dots to create colors. This filtering process can reduce color purity, brightness, and efficiency.
Sony's True RGB technology takes a different approach by using tiny independent red, green, and blue (RGB) LEDs in the backlight, with each color LED controllable separately across thousands or even millions of local dimming zones, generating color directly at the light source before it reaches the LCD layer rather than filtering white light.
Sony's True RGB technology delivers purer and more accurate colors with a significantly wider color volume and gamut, higher peak brightness while maintaining excellent color accuracy, superior contrast and black levels that can challenge OLED performance in certain scenarios, improved energy efficiency through smart power distribution algorithms that use less power than previous generations, and outstanding off-angle viewing with minimal color shift.
Key Advantages Sony Highlights
Sony's True RGB technology delivers true-to-source color accuracy, backed by the company's deep professional monitor expertise and decades of innovation in RGB technology dating back to the groundbreaking 2004 QUALIA series. This is powered by advanced RGB Backlight Master Drive processing that expertly manages the immense complexity of controlling millions of individual colored diodes in real time. Overall, it successfully combines the best of Mini-LED brightness with near-OLED levels of color performance and contrast.
In short, True RGB is Sony's premium implementation of direct RGB Mini-LED backlighting. Sony emphasizes not just the hardware (RGB LEDs), but their proprietary optical design, drivers, and image processing to make it perform better than competing RGB LED TVs from other brands.
Sony True RGB Models with Pricing (2026 Lineup)
Prices are MSRP/launch pricing (as of mid-2026; actual street prices and sales vary by retailer like Best Buy, Crutchfield, or Sony's site). Larger sizes command big premiums.
BRAVIA 7 II - more accessible entry into True RGB, excellent color and brightness for the price
50" — ~$1,600
55" — ~$2,100
65" — ~$2,600
75" — ~$3,100
85" — ~$4,000
98" — ~$9,000
BRAVIA 9 II - higher brightness, more advanced processing, better anti-glare, and local dimming performance
65" — ~$3,600
75" — ~$4,600
85" — ~$6,500
115" — ~$31,000 (a massive premium flagship option)

On today's show, we dive into the cost structure of audio speakers. We start with an article that asks whether 'audiophile' speaker brands are milking you for $20,000. We also read your emails and cover the week's news.
News:
Important update to your DIRECTV account
SVS Auto EQ Room Correction for R|Evolution Subwoofers
YouTube TV adds Fox One, Peacock to Primetime Channels store
Other:
Monoprice Alpha In-Wall Speaker
There's never been a better time to grab a new Google TV launcher
Are 'Audiophile' Speaker Brands Are Milking You for $20,000
The listeners keep delivering great ideas for show topics. This week Mike LaBorde sent in an article published at headphonesty.com entitled A Former FTC Economist Quit His Job to Prove 'Audiophile' Speaker Brands Are Milking You for $20,000. 
The author talks about how a former FTC economist quit his job to design and build affordable high-performance speakers.  He argued that many premium audiophile brands are significantly overpriced because they use similar OEM drivers from the same factories while charging massive markups for branding, cabinets, and dealer margins.
We'll break down this article into five points we felt were interesting. The full article is linked and you may want to read it for more details.
Many premium audiophile speaker brands rely on the same small group of OEM driver manufacturers (like Sinar Baja/SB Acoustics, SEAS (Scandinavian Electro Acoustic Systems), Scan-Speak, etc.). The same factories and engineering talent supply drivers to both high-end and mainstream brands, even when the final speakers carry vastly different logos and price tags.
"Custom" or "proprietary" drivers are often overstated. Most brands customize only the "soft parts" (cone, surround, voice coil) on top of standard off-the-shelf "hard parts" from OEM suppliers, rather than designing and building drivers entirely from scratch.
Pricing of speakers — The actual cost of the drivers is a tiny fraction of the retail price. In the Wilson Audio Yvette example, the three drivers cost roughly $530–$580 total, representing only about 2% of the $25,000+ selling price. The vast majority of the cost comes from cabinetry, finish, dealer margins (40-50%), distribution, marketing, and brand prestige, with a typical 5x markup from manufacturing cost to retail.
Only a few brands truly manufacture their own drivers in-house. Companies like Focal, KEF, Dynaudio, Paradigm, and Bowers & Wilkins are exceptions. Most premium brands outsource driver production due to the high cost and complexity of vertical integration.
High performance doesn't require extreme prices. Former FTC economist Dennis Murphy's Philharmonic Audio proves this by offering well-engineered speakers (like the $850/pair Ceramic Mini using quality SB Acoustics drivers) with minimal overhead, direct sales, and no lavish dealer/showroom costs — challenging the idea that great sound must come with five-figure price tags.
The article essentially argues that much of the ultra-premium speaker market is driven more by branding and distribution economics than by revolutionary driver technology.
What is the Cost Breakdown of Thousand Dollar Speakers?
After going through the previous article we wondered what the actual cost breakdown of Passive bookshelf speakers retailing at $1,000 per pair? ThinkKEF Q series, ELAC Debut Reference, or similar mid to high end consumer hi-fi brands. They balance good performance with accessible pricing. 
What follows is our best estimation based on the data we uncovered. If you are in the industry and have better data, please let us know and we will update this analysis. Sources for this analysis include - Audio Science Review, AVS Forum, WhatHifi, headphonesty.com, hubhifi, and a few others. 
1. Design & Development (R&D) – Upfront Investment
Typical cost: $50,000–$250,000+ for a new model line.
Includes acoustic modeling, driver selection/tuning, crossover design, enclosure simulation, multiple prototypes, listening tests, and anechoic chamber measurements.
For this price tier, brands often use a mix of off-the-shelf and mildly customized drivers rather than fully bespoke high-end ones.
 
Amortization: Spread over production volume and for this exercise we used a production run of 5,000–20,000 pairs. This adds roughly $5–$25 per pair at a reasonable scale.
2. Prototyping & Tooling
Prototypes: 5–15 iterations at $300–$1,200 each which include custom cabinets, driver samples, hand-assembled crossovers.
Tooling: CNC molds/jigs for cabinets, baffle cutting, or vinyl wrap tooling: $8,000–$40,000 upfront. Amortized to $2–$10 per pair.
3. Bill of Materials (BOM) – The Biggest Per-Unit Cost
For a typical 2-way passive bookshelf (6.5" woofer + 1" tweeter) at this price point:
Drivers - $80–$180 - 6.5" coated paper woofer (~$30–$70 ea.), soft dome or aluminum tweeter (~$15–$50 ea.). Brands like SEAS, SB Acoustics, or custom OEM.
Cabinet -  $60-$130, - Braced MDF (18–25mm), vinyl wrap or basic veneer, internal damping, port tube, terminals. Real wood veneer adds premium.
Crossover - $30-$80 - 2nd/3rd order with air-core inductors, film capacitors, resistors. Higher quality parts (Mundorf-level) push toward the upper end.
Other (grille, wiring, hardware, terminals) - $20-$50 - Magnetic grilles, internal wiring, binding posts.
Total BOM per pair: $190–$440 at volume production (typically in China or Vietnam for most brands). Premium touches (better drivers, thicker bracing, nicer finishes) push BOM toward the higher end.
4. Manufacturing, Assembly & Overhead
Labor & Assembly: $25–$60 per pair (cabinet gluing/bracing, driver mounting, crossover soldering, final wiring, testing).
Quality Control & Testing: Burn-in, frequency sweeps, distortion checks: $10–$25.
Factory Overhead/Utilities: $35 - $50.
Total Manufacturing per pair: $70 - $135
5. Full Cost Structure to Retail ($1,000/pair)
We will assume a large brand that sells 20,000 units and has already invested in tooling and requires minimal new tooling for each new speaker design. 
Design and R&D Amortized - $5
Prototype and Tooling  - $2
Bill of Materials - $315 - We split the $190 - $440 down the middle
Manufacturing -  $103 - We split the $40 - $135 down the middle
Shipping, duties etc to distributor per pair on average - $50
Total to Manufacture $474. The rest of the thousand dollars covers the distribution chain, branding, and profit. And in reality, depending on the efficiency of the factory and ability to leverage design histories from years of experience, the soft costs can be about a third of $110 we came up with, bringing the total cost to about $400.
Key Variables Affecting Cost
Volume: Higher production = lower per-unit costs.
Driver Quality: Exotic materials (beryllium tweeters, carbon fiber) can double driver costs.
Cabinet Finish: Vinyl vs. real walnut veneer = big difference.
Brand Positioning: Established names (KEF, ELAC) have higher R&D/marketing allocation than direct-to-consumer brands.
For comparison DIY builders can replicate similar performance for $300–$600 per pair in parts using higher quality drivers and crossover components and flat-pack or self-built cabinets, eliminating most of the overhead and markups.
And after building over 30 sets of speakers I can say without doubt that what you build will sound as good as speakers costing ten times the amount. Plus you can use material that works best for you as well as customizing the look to match your decor. Even my latest set built from stock off the shelf components bought from Part Express for about $200 sound simply amazing!

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).