HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

On today's show we talk about some great Black Friday Deals that are already showing up online. We'll keep the list updated over the next couple of weeks. We also read your emails and look at the week's news.
News:
LG's first 115-inch Mini-LED TV is shipping
RTINGS found "edge rot" on 14 of 16 older LG WOLED TVs in its long-term test
LG is rolling out webOS 26 to its 2025 OLEDs, starting with the G5
HBO Max and Paramount+ will launch a bundle in early 2027
Deal alert: Early Black Friday OLED and big-screen TV deals hit record lows
Deal alert: The 65-inch LG B6 OLED is $999.99 at Amazon
Deal alert: The 77-inch Sony Bravia 6 OLED is $1,798 at Amazon
Other:
Keep Shining
The Garage of My Dreams! MicroLED Video Walls, Golf Sim, Hidden Rooms & MORE!
Black Friday TV Buying Guide: Which Deals Are Actually Worth It
Black Friday lands on November 27 this year, and the TV ads are already everywhere. So we decided to do an early Black Friday deal show focusing primarily on TVs. We will continue to expand and update the list on the next two shows. 
Buy Now or Wait?
For once, the answer is simple: you don't have to wait. LG is putting a "Black Friday Price Guaranteed" tag on its 2026 C6 OLEDs, and Best Buy's 2026 models are already marked down, with some sets 40 to 60 percent off. The early prices basically are the Black Friday prices.
If you're nervous about buying early, Best Buy has a safety net. Under its Holiday Price Match Guarantee, most things you buy between October 30 and December 31 can be matched to Best Buy's own lower price through January 15. It only matches Best Buy's own price, not other retailers. Most holiday purchases can also be returned through January 15.
The OLED Sweet Spot
If you want OLED, this is the year. The 55-inch LG C6 is about $1,000, half its list price, and the 65-inch is about $1,400. Samsung's 65-inch S90H, with its glare-free screen, is at a record low of about $1,400 on Amazon. On a tighter budget, the 55-inch LG B6E is about $800 at Best Buy.
Mini-LED Picks for Bright Rooms
If your living room gets a lot of sun, Mini-LED gets brighter than OLED and costs less. The 65-inch TCL QM8L is about $1,000, down from $2,500. The 65-inch Hisense U8 is also about $1,000. On a budget, the 55-inch TCL QM6K is under $500, and the 65-inch Samsung M80H is just $500 at Best Buy.
Specs That Matter, and Specs That Don't
Start with refresh rate. A lot of sets now brag about 165Hz modes, but to actually get there you need a PC with a graphics card that supports 165Hz. If you game on a PS5 or Xbox, 120Hz is what you'll use.
HDMI 2.1 ports matter more than the box lets on. Samsung's S90H gives you four HDMI 2.1 inputs, while Sony's Bravia 8 II is limited to two. Some budget sets mix and match: on TCL's 75-inch QM64L, ports 3 and 4 top out at 4K at 60Hz. If you've got a console, a soundbar and a streaming box, count your ports.
Glare-free screens are worth it in a bright room. Dimming zones help Mini-LED sets with contrast, but a big number on the box doesn't tell the whole story, so read the reviews.
Then there's HDR. Samsung just explained its new  HDR10+ Advanced format, which uses AI tone mapping and lets creators set motion smoothing scene by scene. A football game can be silky smooth while a movie keeps its film look. It's cool tech, but right now only Amazon Prime Video supports it, on a handful of titles. Don't pay extra for it yet. And remember, Samsung TVs like the S90H still skip Dolby Vision.
Going Big, and Bundle Traps
LG just launched its first 115-inch TV, the QNED93B, a Mini-LED set that lists for about $13,000. Compare that to the 98-inch TCL QM8L at about $3,000. For most of us, 98 inches is plenty, and you keep $10,000.
Then there are the bundles. LG's 65-inch G6 is about $2,000, and it comes with a free M7 wireless speaker plus free professional wall mounting and a matching stand. Great if you'd buy those things anyway. If not, a "free" speaker is just clutter, and a plain lower price may be the better deal. Best Buy's price match doesn't cover bundle offers or free items, so a bundle can't be protected the way a plain price can.
Check the Model Number, and Last Year's Models
Some doorbuster TVs are what the industry calls derivatives: sets made for one sale or one retailer, with a slightly different model number and often fewer features, like fewer HDMI inputs or a simpler remote. Consumer Reports says some are still a good deal, so just look up the exact model number on the maker's site before you buy. And don't skip last year's models.
Beyond the TV: Gear Deals Worth Grabbing
If you're rounding out the setup around that new TV, these are the only add-on deals we'd jump on right now, and every one of them is at least 30 percent off.
Samsung HW-Q900F soundbar: about $700, down from about $1,500. That's more than half off a full 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos system with a wireless subwoofer.
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: $649, down from $999. That's about a third off and an all-time low for Bose's flagship Atmos bar, and its AI dialogue mode makes voices easier to hear.
eero Max 7: about $420, down from $600. That's an all-time low for eero's top Wi-Fi 7 router, and it doubles as a smart home hub with 10-gig ports.
Ring Indoor Cam 2K: $25, down from $60. That's nearly 60 percent off a sharp 2K indoor camera with a slide-over privacy cover.
Blink Mini 2K+: $16, down from $40. That matches its all-time low for a tiny plug-in 2K camera with color night vision.
Gone But Not Forgotten: HDTV Brands That Didn't Make It
Before you head out shopping, let's take a quick trip down memory lane and talk about TVs we actually owned and stood in line for at 3:00AM. When HDTV first showed up, a whole bunch of brands were fighting for a spot on your wall, and a lot of them aren't around anymore. How many of these did you own?
Mitsubishi: the king of giant DLP rear-projection TVs, including the laser-powered LaserVue. It dropped LCD TVs in 2011 and stopped making rear-projection sets at the end of 2012.
Hitachi: big rear-projection sets and plasmas. It quit rear-projection in North America in 2007 and stopped selling consumer products in the US and Canada in 2020.
Zenith: the company that helped build the digital broadcast system HDTV runs on, and made some of the first HDTV receivers. LG bought it outright in 1999, and Zenith doesn't make TVs anymore.
Fujitsu Plasmavision: Fujitsu brought the first plasma TVs to market, and Plasmavision was a high-end name. Fujitsu got out of plasma TVs in early 2008.
NEC: high-end plasma displays. NEC sold its plasma business to Pioneer in 2004.
Gateway: yes, the cow-box computer company. It made headlines in 2002 with a plasma TV for about $3,000, thousands less than the competition, then got out of TVs in 2005.
Dell: Dell sold LCD TVs straight from its website starting in 2003, then retired Dell-branded TVs in 2007 to focus on PCs.
HP: HP sold MediaSmart LCD TVs, then wound down its TV business in 2008, with Costco clearing out the last sets.
Olevia: Syntax-Brillian's value LCD HDTVs, sold at places like Target and Costco, ranked sixth in US market share in 2007. Syntax-Brillian filed for bankruptcy in 2008, and Emerson bought the Olevia name in 2009.
InFocus: the projector company tried ultra-thin rear-projection TVs and exited that market in 2005.
Runco: the high-end home theater brand, famous for its projectors and PlasmaWall flat panels. Planar bought it in 2007, and the last Runco projectors were phased out in 2016.
And a few famous names live on only as licensed labels on new sets: Pioneer (sadly, no Kuro), RCA, Westinghouse, JVC, Magnavox and Philips. So if one of those shows up on a Black Friday doorbuster, it's not the same company that built the TV you remember. Now, who still has one of these in the basement?

On this week's show we look at how an all Matter home operates and if it's ready for prime time. And this week Samsung has a turn in the Spy Chair. We discuss ways in which you can stop your Samsung TV from spying on you. We also read your emails and take a look at the news.
News:
Google takes down a botnet hiding in 1.3 million Android TV boxes
Sony's glasses-free 3D display comes to consumers as a 6-inch desk gadget
Amazon says Prime Video is now profitable and bringing in tens of billions a year
Google Home's latest update shows Matter plug energy use and fixes Gemini's phantom replies
Apple's HomeView may be able to double as a security camera
Dutch Cinema Tries Cinema Hypnosis Experiment
One Month in an All-Matter Home: The Wins and the Gaps
Here's one for the smart home fans. Ward Zhou at Matter Alpha moved into a new apartment and spent his first month swapping almost all of his Zigbee gear for Matter devices. Lights, wall switches, sensors, and even a smart curtain track made the jump, with Home Assistant as the main controller and Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa tied in.
But it's not all smooth. His Aqara wall switches lose features over Matter, and air conditioners bridged into Matter only control on/off, heat, and cool, with no fan speed or dry mode. He also says Matter TVs are still rare, and native Matter speakers are practically nonexistent. Still, his verdict is that an all-Matter home easily covers everyday needs.
One area we are really interested in seeing adopted that may take Matter over the top is Joint Fabric. It was added to Matter 1.6 this June, and it lets you set up a smart device once and have every platform in your house share it. Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings would all control it directly. Today you have to add a device to each platform separately, and support doesn't always match from one to the next. This is really what Matter promised from the beginning and when the following things happen we'll be there:
The big three need to catch up. Apple, Google and Amazon are still on Matter 1.3 or older, roughly two years behind.
Platforms have to actually build Joint Fabric in. It's optional, and as of August none of the big platforms had committed to it, even in beta. SmartThings reportedly has 1.6 in testing, and Home Assistant already supports the new version.
It has to work on both sides. Joint Fabric only works between two platforms when both of them support it.
More types of devices need to be covered. Newer categories like cameras still have few products. Matter TVs are rare, and Matter speakers barely exist.
New features need to arrive everywhere quickly. The head of the group behind Matter says it won't succeed "until everybody can use it at parity." Philips Hue's tech lead hopes platforms will pick up new features within a year.
We're seeing smaller companies get behind Joint Fabric because it gives them compatibility across every platform, and for them that's a huge win. For the big three, not so much. It's a cost they have to bear that doesn't really make them any money, and it probably creates more headaches. Worse, it makes it easier for you to leave. The less it matters which platform you're on, the less reason you have to stay on theirs.
Samsung's Turn in the Spy Chair, and the Fans Vibe-Coding Their TVs Clean
Samsung Gets Rooted
Not long ago it was LG in the hot seat (we covered this in Podcast #1269). This week it's Samsung's turn. Stan and Byron both sent us emails on this so we figured it would make a good topic for today's show..
According to FlatpanelsHD, a security researcher who goes by log4j rooted his own 2025 Samsung TV after noticing "weirdly targeted ads." His list of findings is long. He says the TV's microphone can stay on and classify sounds in your home, like a dog barking or a baby crying, and report those events back to Samsung. If the TV has no mic of its own, he says it will look for one on a connected device like a soundbar. He also found that ACR, the feature that fingerprints what's on your screen (even over HDMI), doesn't reliably stop when you switch it off in the menu. Add to that facial-recognition code, home network scanning, and data sharing set up with roughly 400 partners.
One big caveat: not all of this has been independently verified. But it lines up with plenty of what we've talked about before, including our ACR discussions in #1250 and #1251.
Fans Are Vibe-Coding Their Way Out
Joe sent us the other half of this story. The Verge reports that people are fed up enough to start using AI coding tools to clean up their TVs. Projects like cleanyourtv, tv-detox, and dumbtv remove sponsored ads, trim bloat so the TV runs faster, block some tracking, and swap in a simpler home screen. They work on Android TV and Google TV sets from brands like TCL, Hisense, and Sony, using the TV's built-in developer mode and ADB. No root required, and the changes can be undone.
Here's the catch. There's nothing equivalent for Samsung's Tizen, LG's webOS, Roku, or Vizio. And one person who tried to vibe-hack a Samsung TV with an AI assistant and bricked it. PCWorld offers a fair counterpoint: running unvetted scripts can leave a TV stuck in a boot loop, and you can get most of the benefit by turning off ACR and installing a well-known launcher from the Google Play Store.
What We'd Actually Do
If privacy is what keeps you up at night, here's our short list:
Keep the TV offline. If it never touches the internet, it can't phone home.
Update the firmware with a USB stick instead of over Wi-Fi.
Stream from an Apple TV, which doesn't use ACR.
Block the chatter at the network level with a Pi-hole or UniFi gear.
Will TV Makers Take the Hint?
That's the big question. When regular viewers are willing to plug their TV into a laptop and let an AI loose on it just to get a clean home screen, that sends a message. We'd love to see a simple "clean mode" setting: no ads, no ACR, no tracking, just a great picture. Will this little rebellion push Samsung, LG, and the rest to offer one? We're not holding our breath, but we'd love to be wrong. Let us know what you think.

On this week's show we take a look at the possibility of vibe coding your own SmartTV Desktop and we have another listener review of the Onkyo RZ-30 9.2 channel AV Receiver. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
XGIMI's AURA 3 projectors raise over $15 million on Kickstarter in under a day
Sony quietly drops its last standalone 4K Blu-ray player in Japan
Home Assistant now shows Matter cameras in its regular camera views
Comcast lost 144,000 broadband customers last quarter, but more are paying for gig speeds
Deal alert: LG's 77-inch C6 OLED drops to $1,999.99, and LG adds free wall mounting
Fed Up With Smart TV Ads, People Are Vibe Coding Their Own Home Screens
A guy named Gathin got tired of his parents' Xiaomi Android TV showing a sponsored ad before they could even get to Netflix. So he spent an afternoon "vibe coding" a fix with Claude Code, an AI coding tool, and his post about it has passed 6.2 million views, according to FlatpanelsHD.
What he did: His project site, CleanYour.tv, says the AI found the TV on his Wi-Fi network, removed 25 Xiaomi apps and services, and built a new home screen that looks like Apple TV's. It doesn't require rooting or uninstalling anything, and one command puts the original back. The project is free and open source, and Gathin says people have since run it on 190 TVs from 57 brands.
The catch: It only works because Android TV and Google TV let you swap the home screen. Samsung and LG TVs don't.
Why it matters: TV makers keep filling the screens we paid for with ads and tracking. Now anyone with an AI tool can strip that out in an afternoon, and that should worry them more than any one ad-free app.
The risks: Some people have bricked their TVs or gotten stuck in boot loops. Nobody vets these scripts, and a firmware update could undo or break them. PCWorld basically says "please don't."
The easier route: You don't need AI at all. Free home screen apps like Projectivy, AT4K, Kyu and Couchy install in a few clicks, and FlatpanelsHD has a roundup of them. Android Authority even found that its Google TV box ran faster without the stock home screen.
"Onkyo, and I'm a Damn Fool Who Bought One — Or Am I?" Onkyo TX RZ-30 Review
This week John Lyman is back with his review of the Onkyo TX RZ-30 ($1099 at Amazon). It's a 9.2-Channel AV Receiver with 100 Watts Per Channel, Dirac Live Out of Box, Works with Sonos Certified, and comes with THX Certification. John wrote a highly detailed review that we will excerpt here. The full review is posted on our website. 
Features:
Ultra-wide bandwidth amplifier (5 Hz–100 kHz) via custom low-noise transformers and capacitors
Dirac Live Full Bandwidth room correction included (upgrade available for Bass Control)
IMAX Enhanced for object-based 3D audio and optimized video
Dolby Atmos for immersive 3D sound + Dolby Vision for dynamic HDR video
9.2-channel home theater configuration
Built-in streaming + Sonos port for multi-room wireless distribution
Klipsch Optimize Mode with precise crossover settings for Reference Premiere speakers
Onkyo, and I'm a Damn Fool Who Bought One — Or Am I?
After 10 years of faithful service, my Denon AVR-X3200W finally decided it was time to call it quits. The HDMI board was giving out, and as luck would have it, my subwoofer decided to die around the same time.
So suddenly, I found myself shopping for both a new AVR and a new subwoofer. During a meeting with the household finance committee to discuss my equipment needs, the committee chairperson decided this would also be a great time to update the entire media room.
And just like that, a simple equipment replacement turned into a much bigger project. First came a new RSL Speedwoofer 10S MKII. Then we went furniture shopping and purchased a new sectional sofa and media cabinet. That left just one thing: the new AVR.
First, a Little About the Media Cabinet
The cabinet we purchased is a substantial, enclosed piece of furniture. It has openings in the back for cable management and two rectangular ventilation openings, but I wasn't convinced those would provide enough airflow for an AV receiver.
So I made one modification: installing an AC Infinity AIRPLATE T7 dual-fan system. The T7 has two fans that can be configured individually for intake or exhaust, and additional fans can be added if needed. It also includes a temperature controller that automatically turns the fans on when the temperature reaches a preset level.
I configured both fans as exhaust and set the controller to activate around 85°F. Installation was easy, the cost was reasonable, and it gave me peace of mind knowing I could keep the cabinet doors closed without trapping excessive heat.
The Search for a New AVR
Once my Denon X3200 started getting flaky with the HDMI board starting to go, I began researching replacements.
My initial shortlist consisted of:
Marantz Cinema 70s — a slimline receiver I considered in case I needed something that would remain visible rather than go inside a cabinet.
Denon AVR-X2800H
Onkyo TX-RZ30
I was honestly surprised that Onkyo made the list. Back in the 1980s, Onkyo was considered a top audio brand. But we all know the company went through some difficult years, particularly with reliability issues. During my research, I learned that Onkyo had undergone an ownership change and was now part of the same corporate family as Pioneer. The newer receivers seemed to be earning considerably better reviews.
Andrew Robinson, whose reviews I often consult when researching equipment, was particularly enthusiastic about the RZ30, calling it one of the best all-around home theater receivers.
I also reached out to Ara and Braden from the HT Guys podcast with my shortlist. Their recommendation?
The Onkyo.
Still, I kept researching. I've owned Denon receivers since the 1990s, and it was hard to walk away from a brand that had served me well for decades. Eventually, my X3200 HDMI board gave up, and I narrowed the decision to the Onkyo RZ30 and a Denon X2900-series receiver. During my final research I found a brand-new RZ30 for $900, with a 30-day return policy. I also noticed that the RZ50 had originally been released in 2021, while the RZ30 arrived in 2024. I figured Onkyo had a few more years to work out some of the issues with its newer receiver designs. So, against my longtime Denon instincts, I bought the Onkyo.
What Did I Buy?
The Onkyo TX-RZ30 is a 9.2-channel, THX Certified Select AV receiver featuring:
Power: 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms (2 channels driven)
Amplification: Nine Class AB amplified channels
Room correction: Dirac Live Full Bandwidth included
HDMI: Six inputs, two outputs, HDMI 2.1a
Video: 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+
Surround sound: Dolby Atmos, DTS, IMAX Enhanced
Bass management: Two independent subwoofer outputs
Streaming: AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Bluetooth, Spotify, TIDAL
Connectivity: Multichannel preamp outputs, Wi-Fi, Ethernet
The standout feature for me was Dirac Live Full Bandwidth included at no additional cost. And there was a very specific reason I wanted it and all my AI friends said I needed it.
My Media Room Is an Acoustical Challenge
Our media room is the bonus room above the garage, approximately 17 feet long by 13 feet wide. The walls rise about four feet before sloping toward the ceiling. There's a window nook, an opening to the stairs, a doorway behind the television area, and several other features that make this far from an ideal acoustical environment.
Our new sectional also means the surround speakers sit slightly in front of the main seating position rather than behind it. And I haven't installed any dedicated acoustical treatments.
My old Denon sounded good, but I occasionally struggled with dialogue during action-heavy scenes, and the bass could get a little boomy as the decorating committee does not provide many areas for the sub to live.
I was hoping Dirac Live could help compensate for some of the room's challenges and get the most out of my RSL speakers and new Speedwoofer. That's ultimately what pushed me toward the RZ30.
One other observation: the picture quality looked noticeably better to me than it did through my old X3200. I attribute much of that to moving to newer equipment and HDMI capabilities, although HDMI 2.1 itself doesn't inherently improve picture quality when the same signal is being transmitted. I would expect other modern receivers to offer similar compatibility improvements. Either way, I was impressed with what I was seeing.
Setup: It Would Have Gone Faster Had I Read the Instructions
When the receiver arrived, I unpacked it and immediately started connecting everything. That turned out to be my first mistake. Apparently, connecting the surround speakers to the correct terminals is important. Who knew?
Once I figured out where everything belonged, I started working on Dirac Live. My first attempt was using my computer, but I kept receiving errors related to room noise. I tried a few things but didn't spend much time troubleshooting. I live in the South, and this media room is above the garage. Turning off the air conditioning and fans for an extended period isn't exactly my favorite summer activity.
So I switched to the iPhone app and decided to run the quicker calibration using just three measurement positions. That worked much better. One thing I quickly discovered is that Dirac is more particular about microphone placement than I was accustomed to with Audyssey.
Dirac provides specific measurement positions, and you really need to pay attention to the on-screen instructions. Again, reading the directions would have saved me some time. Eventually, I completed the initial three-point calibration.
The first thing I did was fire up Top Gun: Maverick. And I immediately noticed an improvement. The sound seemed cleaner and more balanced than my old Denon, although the center channel was a little overpowering. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to experiment because we were leaving for a family trip to New York City to see Hamilton.
A Trip to New York and a Little Buyer's Remorse
While flying to New York, I listened to an HT Guys podcast where Ara and Braden discussed some of Onkyo's past troubles. That wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear after taking a chance on a brand I'd been hesitant to buy. I started wondering whether I'd made a mistake. And once we returned home, things didn't exactly improve.
HDMI Problems: Was I Going to Return This Thing?
The first Saturday back, I was watching college football when the picture suddenly disappeared for a couple of seconds. Then it happened again. And again. Sometimes the audio disappeared along with the picture. This was happening primarily while using the ESPN app on my third-generation Apple TV 4K. I did a lot of research, tried several suggestions, and couldn't get the issue resolved. I even requested an RMA for the receiver. But I was hesitant to return it because, HDMI problems aside, I really liked how it sounded. I decided to give it one last shot. Using Grok, I came across a suggestion to change the Onkyo's HDMI input setting from 4K Enhanced to 4K Standard. I tried it, and the dropouts stopped. The problem was that I didn't want to give up the additional video capabilities available through the enhanced HDMI modes.
So I asked Grok about switching to 8K Standard instead. It suggested trying that setting as a possible way to retain the features I wanted while improving compatibility. I made the change.
And it made a major difference. The HDMI dropouts largely disappeared, and the picture continued to look excellent. I still occasionally experience a brief dropout while watching ESPN's four-screen multiview, perhaps two or three times during a game. But it's nowhere near as frequent as it was initially.
I also found that resetting the HDMI-CEC handshake can help when the connected devices aren't communicating properly.
For anyone experiencing similar problems with an RZ30, I'd recommend checking the HDMI input signal format before assuming the receiver is defective.
Changing to 8K Standard made a significant improvement in my system, although I can't guarantee it will solve the issue for everyone. And to be fair to Onkyo, I haven't definitively established whether the remaining dropouts originate with the receiver, Apple TV, or ESPN app using quad view. At least I was finally comfortable keeping the receiver. One thing is that RZ30 offers a web interface that makes setting up the AVR easier than going through the onscreen menus. Now it was time to see what Dirac Live could really do.
Dirac Live: Bourbon and Nine Measurements
I decided to try another calibration. I made a few attempts using the computer again, but with people home, background noise, and the air conditioning running, I continued having problems. Finally, I had the perfect opportunity. The kids were gone.
The house was quiet. And I had some time to myself. So I poured a bourbon, turned off the air conditioning and fan, and decided to run the more extensive nine-position calibration using the iPhone app. Everything was going well until the AIRPLATE fans kicked on. That caused a measurement error. Even with the cabinet open, the microphones were sensitive enough to pick up the additional noise.
Fortunately, although I had to restart part of the Dirac process, the app allowed me to continue from the last successful measurement rather than repeating everything. The entire process took about 25 minutes. With the calibration completed, I went back to finish watching Top Gun: Maverick. And all I can say is: WOW!
I Never Knew My System Could Sound This Good
The difference between the initial three-point calibration and the new nine-point calibration was remarkable. The sound was incredible. For the first time, I truly felt like I was sitting in a movie theater. The bass was tight and controlled. When the movie called for the room to shake, it did. But there was none of the unnecessary boominess I'd experienced before. The sounds of the jets were fantastic. Everything seemed to be exactly where it belonged. One of the biggest improvements was the center channel. With the initial three-point calibration, the center had sounded a little loud and just not right maybe a little to much bass. After the nine-point calibration, it was perfectly balanced with the rest of the system. Dialogue was crystal clear throughout the different scenes.
No dialogue enhancement needed.
With my old Denon, action-heavy scenes could sometimes sound cluttered. When explosions, music, and dialogue were all happening at once, it could be difficult to understand what characters were saying. Not anymore.
With the Onkyo and Dirac Live, the dialogue and action remain distinct while blending naturally into the overall soundtrack. And my surround speakers, despite being positioned slightly in front of the seating area, no longer draw attention to themselves. They simply become part of the experience. It's difficult to describe, but the best comparison I can make is that it sounds like being in a good movie theater.
Movies, Musicals, and Pink Floyd
After Maverick, we watched Enchanted. The musical numbers sounded fantastic. The vocals were clear, the instruments were beautifully balanced, and the entire presentation felt much more immersive. It genuinely felt like we were there. Then I decided to try some music.
I put on Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, starting with "Speak to Me" and "Time." The clocks in "Time" were amazing. I closed my eyes and felt completely surrounded by the music. Then I listened to Wish You Were Here. Again, I was incredibly impressed. I've owned these speakers for years, and I honestly didn't realize how good they could sound. What Dirac Live did was help my existing equipment work together in a way I'd never experienced before.  And in my awkwardly shaped media room, that made an enormous difference.
Is the Onkyo Perfect? No. The HDMI issues were frustrating, and I still experience an occasional dropout with ESPN multiview. The initial Dirac setup took longer than expected, although some of that was my own fault for not reading the instructions. I've also had issues with connecting the APP to AVR, but also had that issue with my Denon. And after years of owning Denon receivers, there was definitely a learning curve. But the sound quality has made all of that worthwhile.
I can't tell you whether this Onkyo will last another 10 years like my Denon did, but at least I have a 3 year warranty. Only time will tell. What I can say is that for $900, the combination of nine amplified channels, modern HDMI connectivity, and Dirac Live Full Bandwidth represents tremendous value. More importantly, I'm enjoying my media room more than I have in years. I never knew my system could sound this good.
So, Am I a Damn Fool Who Bought an Onkyo? At first, I thought I might be. Between Onkyo's reputation, the HDMI problems, and my initial Dirac frustrations, I was seriously questioning my decision. But after getting the system dialed in and hearing the results, I don't think I made a foolish purchase at all. Quite the opposite. I'm excited to watch more movies, listen to more music, and enjoy a home theater that sounds better than I ever expected. So hopefully, I won't be the fool who bought an Onkyo. Now I just have one more challenge.
Convincing the finance committee to approve a second RSL Speedwoofer.
Not because I necessarily need more bass, but because a second subwoofer could help provide smoother, more consistent bass throughout the room. And let's face it: the RZ30 has two independent subwoofer outputs.It would be a shame to leave one unused. Now, where did I put that bourbon?

On today's show we ask if you "Should You Trade Your TV for a Laser Projector?" And we look at the five most streamed TV shows in the US per Nielsen. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
Streamers are running about 18% more ads, and viewers haven't revolted yet
DirecTV now lets you build your own Multiview with up to four sports channels
Cheap LCD TVs could be in trouble for Black Friday as panel makers raise prices
Netflix is laying off about 1,000 employees, roughly 6% of its staff
Deal: LG's 55-inch C6 OLED drops to $999.99, half its $2,000 list price
Netflix beats on earnings, but its stock slides on a softer revenue and ad outlook
Other:
Amazon.com: NCIS Caf Pow White Mug - Officially Licensed - 11 oz : Home & Kitchen  
Hackers are hijacking Plex servers to mine crypto. Update ASAP
This Week's Five Most-streamed TV Shows in the US
Here are this week's five most-streamed TV shows in the US, from Nielsen's Streaming Top 10 for Sept 28 to Oct 4. That's the newest week Nielsen has posted.
Wonka's The Golden Ticket (Netflix) had 1.078 billion minutes. It jumped to No. 1 in its second week, up 26% (The Hollywood Reporter).
The Big Bang Theory (HBO Max) had 953 million minutes and was once again the top show streaming outside its original network.
East of Eden (Netflix) had 782 million minutes in just four days. It's Florence Pugh's Steinbeck limited series (The Data Stream).
SpongeBob SquarePants (Paramount+) had 767 million minutes, spread across 336 episodes.
Ted Lasso (Apple TV) had 750 million minutes. That's down 11%, but it stayed in the top five heading into its season four finale.
Should You Trade Your TV for a Laser Projector?
This week a listener who goes by Mr Eye sent us a YouTube video titled: "I SOLD My Flatscreen (and I'm NEVER Going Back)." In it, Kirk from the "Tech It Before You Wreck It" channel sets up XGIMI's new Aura 3 Max ultra-short-throw (UST) laser projector, first in his TV room and then in his bedroom, where it replaces a flat screen sitting on his dresser. He says the picture was watchable even in broad daylight with the shades open, and it passed what he calls the "wife test," because there's no big black rectangle on the dresser when it's off.
That got us talking, because Ara is seriously thinking about shopping for a UST projector next year for his basement Media Room. This got us thinking, is this the year a laser projector can actually replace your TV, or is large format TV the way to go?
What's New in Projectors This Fall
Projectors have come a long way, and this fall's crop checks a lot of boxes that used to be deal-breakers:
Triple-laser RGB light sources are now common on the higher-end models, which means very wide, rich color.
4K at 120Hz for gaming. Back in early 2025, no DLP projector on the market could even do 4K at 120Hz. Now XGIMI and JMGO are selling models that do, along with VRR and ALLM.
Dolby Vision, plus HDR10+ on many models.
Built-in Google TV, so you don't need a separate streaming stick for Netflix or YouTube.
The Projectors Worth Watching
There's a wave of new models hitting right now:
 XGIMI Aura 3 Max and Aura 3 Pro (UST): These are the projectors from the video. They go live on Kickstarter on October 20. If you put down a $50 refundable deposit before the campaign starts, early-bird pricing is about $2,200 for the Max and $2,000 for the Pro, versus list prices of $5,000 and $4,000. XGIMI says they ship in December. Because they're UST, you can get a 120-inch picture with the projector sitting about 8 inches from the wall.
XGIMI Horizon 30 series: This isn't a UST. It's a regular-throw projector on a built-in stand, with optical zoom and lens shift. Pre-orders run through October 31, starting at about $1,900 for the Horizon 30 Pro.
JMGO IRIS Ultra Max: Started shipping October 19 at about $3,300. It's another 4K/120Hz triple-laser model, also regular throw, with optical zoom, lens shift and a motorized gimbal.
Also shipping in October: BenQ's AK800ST and AK900ST and Hisense's C3 series, according to ProjectorCentral's new projector list.
The Catch: Room Light
Here's where reality sets in. The Hook Up ran a great head-to-head between a 100-inch Hisense QLED TV, a Hisense PX3-Pro UST and a Valerion Pro 2 projector. With the overhead lights on, the TV clearly won, even though both projectors were paired with top-of-the-line ambient-light-rejecting (ALR) screens. Bright scenes were watchable on the projectors, but dark scenes just fell apart.
The reason is simple: a projector can only add light, it can't take any away. The darkest black you'll ever see is the color of the screen with the projector off, and with the lights on, even a great ALR screen looks gray next to a TV.
In a dim room, it was roughly a toss-up, and it really came down to where your windows and lamps are. In a fully dark room, it was close: the Valerion came out on top overall, the TV was second and the UST finished third.
Kirk's daylight results in the video are encouraging, but that's one reviewer's impressions, not a side-by-side measurement. Our bottom line: if you're putting a projector in a living room, budget for an ALR screen. It's not optional.
What It Really Costs
The old argument was that a projector is the cheap way to get a giant picture. At 100 inches, that's not really true anymore. Home Theater Guides priced it out on October 4:
LG 100-inch TV: about $3,300
Hisense UST projector plus a 100-inch ALR screen: about $3,600
Epson 4K projector: about $1,800, and that's before you buy a screen and a mount
So at 100 inches, the complete projector setup actually cost a little more than the TV. Where projectors pull ahead is above 100 inches. The same projector can usually fill a bigger screen, while TVs bigger than 100 inches are rare and pricey.
One wild card: TechRadar reports that LCD panel makers are raising prices heading into Black Friday, and Samsung is reportedly cutting its QLED production way back. So don't count on cheap giant TVs being quite as cheap this holiday season.
Don't Forget the Sound
Projector makers love to talk up their built-in speakers. The Aura 3 has an 80-watt, 2.0-channel Harman Kardon system, and Kirk said it sounded better than any flat screen he's tested. That may well be true, but it's still two channels coming out of a box on your credenza. That's not a sound system. If you're putting up a 100- or 120-inch picture, it deserves sound to match, whether that's a good soundbar with a sub or a real surround setup. The good news is that the new XGIMI models include an HDMI port with eARC, so hooking up a receiver or soundbar is easy.
A Word About Kickstarter Deals
Those early-bird prices on the Aura 3 are tempting. They're less than half of the list price. But backing a Kickstarter isn't the same as buying from a store. Ship dates can slip, and you're often paying before full independent reviews of shipping units are out. XGIMI is an established brand, which helps, but if you can't live with a delay or a surprise, wait for retail and reviews.
Our Take
So, should you trade your TV for a laser projector? For most people watching in a bright living room, not yet. But it's a lot closer than it used to be. Make the switch if:
You want a picture bigger than 100 inches.
You can control the light in your room, at least in the evening when you do most of your watching.
You're tired of a giant black rectangle on the wall, and you're willing to budget for an ALR screen.
You're ready to add real speakers instead of relying on the built-in ones.
Stick with a TV if you watch a lot of daytime sports with the blinds open, you want the simplest possible setup, or 100 inches is plenty for your room.
As for Ara, he has to figure out where the aesthetics committee wants the couches to sit. In one orientation there is not a space for a 100" screen so it will be a TV. In the other, there is room for a 130" screen with less light from the windows so it will be a UST projector. By then these fall models will have real reviews, the Kickstarter units will be in people's living rooms, and we'll all know a lot more.

On today's show we look at Apple's "Welcome Home" announcements and we talk about watching sports in 4K. Which apps should you use and on which devices. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
Disney+ will stream Super Bowl LXI, plus two Monday Night Football games this fall.

Newer Hue lights get a firmware update to use Zigbee and Matter at the same time.

Google TV users are starting to get ESPN 4K HDR

Google's next TV Streamer reportedly adds a built-in mic and presence sensing

Apple's "Welcome Home" announcements are official. 
Everything below comes from Apple's press releases, and pre-orders are open now.
HomeView, $299, ships Nov 13. It has a 7-inch screen and an A18 chip and comes in two versions: one that sits on a speaker base you can tilt, and one that mounts on a wall. It recognizes up to six people's faces so each person's messages and calendar stay private, and it can show up to nine camera feeds at once. Siri AI works from day one. It isn't sold in the EU. Schneider makes wall mounts starting at $59.95.
Apple TV 4K, $299, ships Nov 13. It has an A19 chip, a dedicated AV1 decoder and three microphones for hands-free Siri (S Lady), and it works as a Thread smart home hub. The new remote works with Find My, with Precision Finding to point you to it. One rumor missed: it ships Nov 13, not Oct 30.
HomePod mini 2, $149, ships Oct 30. It has an S10 chip, five colors and a light show on top. The big home theater news is that four HomePod mini 2s or second-gen HomePods can now act as surround sound with the new Apple TV. Siri AI comes later in a software update.
Apple Home Collection from LG and Schneider, starting in December. All of it uses Thread and sets up in the Home app.
LG cameras cost $199.95 to $399.95, and recordings save to iCloud+ with no separate camera subscription.

LG's video doorbell is $249.95.

LG's smart deadbolt is $349.95. It unlocks automatically as you approach and keeps working without internet.

Thermostats from LG and Schneider are $199.95, with $39.95 room sensors.

4K Sports Is Finally Here, So Why Doesn't It Always Look Better?
Baseball's playoffs are streaming in 4K, ESPN is rolling out 4K HDR one device at a time, and Peacock's Sunday Night Football is still the picture everyone compares against. In this episode we dig into what's really streaming in 4K right now, why some of it looks stunning and some of it looks like regular HD, and what you can do about it.
Who's actually streaming in 4K right now
ESPN is finally in 4K HDR, but only on Apple and GoogleTV devices so far. Monday Night Football, the NBA, the NHL, some college football, and the Super Bowl get it in the ESPN app on Apple TV 4K and GoogleTV. Other TV platforms and Disney+ are promised "this fall," with no dates given. FlatpanelsHD notes some of it is upscaled 4K.

FOX One has every FOX and FS1 playoff game in 4K. That covers the NLDS, the NLCS, and the World Series on Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, and Google TV. Last year FOX's 4K was upscaled from 1080p HDR, and that HDR is why it often looks better than "4K only" feeds. 

Peacock's Sunday Night Football is the one to beat. Peacock promised 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Atmos for live sports this year, including SNF. ecoustics found it worked best on Apple TV 4K and was hit or miss elsewhere. 

YouTube TV's 4K Plus is cheaper but doesn't promise HDR. The add-on dropped to about $10 a month, but HDR depends on each network's feed. 

Real 4K versus upscaled 4K
Not every "4K" label means the same thing. FlatpanelsHD points out that some of ESPN's 4K is upscaled from a lower resolution. Listener Brian has seen it firsthand: ESPN's 4K college football looked no better to him than YouTube TV, and Fox's 4K, which includes HDR, looked much better than YouTube TV's 4K, which doesn't. His takeaway, and ours, is that HDR can matter more than the extra pixels.
Buying advice: the streaming box matters more than the TV. Right now Apple TV 4K is the only box that gets all of these. And 9to5Mac says a new Apple TV is reportedly close, so anyone shopping might wait a bit.