HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

On this week's show Ara gives his impression of the new gear installed into his new home. We talk Internet, Home Networking, Automation, and Home Theater in an action packed show. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
Apple TV Hikes Prices
SVS Releases SoundPath Multi-Band Wireless Audio Adapter
Roku ups premium hardware with launch of its first OLED TVs
Sonos Welcomes Beam Ultra and Sonos Ace Ultra to its System
Ara's New Setup First Impressions
Starlink Performance - We had no issues while we were in TN. The entire week no said anything about slow speeds and our streaming was no different than when we are in CA. I tested speeds from time to time and results varied but the slowest speed (22 Mbps) never impacted TV viewing. 
Ubiquity Network Management - this is a different world! I am still exploring all the things you can do. But the system is setup like a business. You have a network and wireless access points. I have four. One on Channel 11, two on 6, and one on 1. It was setip so the channels are far apart and don't overlap. 
MyQ & Honeywell (matter compatible) thermostats go offline from time to time. I restart the wifi access point and they come back. 
Third Reality Garage Door Opener - 2.4 GHz, Scene Management
Mantel Mount MM815 Motorized Drop Down & Swivel TV Mount - $700 The MM815 is a remote-controlled drop-and-swivel TV mount. Press one button to lower the TV to eye level and rotate it as needed. It comes with an RF remote, is silent, and has two memory presets.
Sony BRAVIA 7 II PRO True RGB 4K HDR Google TV with Gemini (Model Number K75XR70PRO)-  $2300 The Sony BRAVIA 7 II PRO is Sony's 2026 mid-range True RGB Mini-LED TV (65 inches and up) with independently driven red, green, and blue backlight LEDs, XR processing, and about 2,000 nits of peak brightness for stronger color volume and contrast than a typical white Mini-LED. It is 4K at 120 Hz, supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and has HDMI 2.1 gaming features (VRR, ALLM, 4K/120). Google TV includes Gemini for voice search and recommendations, plus AirPlay 2. The Pro bundle adds a three-year replacement warranty, a backlit rechargeable remote, extra Sony Pictures Core credits, and an enhanced Voice Zoom 3 dialogue mode; picture hardware is the same as the standard 7 II.
Sonos Arc Ultra - $1099 The Sonos Arc Ultra supports Dolby Atmos that has a 9.1.4 driver layout and Sound Motion woofer to produce wide, height-enhanced surround and stronger bass from a single bar. It connects to a TV with one HDMI eARC cable, supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and the rest of the Sonos ecosystem (including optional Sub and rear speakers), and can be controlled with the TV remote, Sonos app, touch controls, Sonos Voice Control, or Alexa. Trueplay tunes the sound to the room, and AI speech enhancement is meant to keep dialogue clear. It is a long, low-profile bar (about 46 inches wide) sold in black or white.
Sonos Sub 4 - $899 The Sonos Sub 4 is a wireless subwoofer for Sonos S2 systems, pairing with current soundbars and speakers to add bass down to about 25 Hz. Two inward-facing 5-by-8-inch woofers and dual Class-D amps use a force-canceling layout so the cabinet stays relatively still and the bass stays clean. It has the same slot-style shape as earlier Subs, in black or white matte, and can stand upright or lie on its side. Updates over the Sub 3 include Wi-Fi 6, a faster processor, more memory, lower idle power, and a slightly lighter cabinet; setup is through the Sonos app, with optional Ethernet. Two Sub 4s can be used with the Arc Ultra.
Audio Advice - I'll be in Franklin in October for a SVS/Audio Advice Event. Details to come

Nick Brown and Smith Freeman of SVS Sound
On today's show we have an interview with Nick Brown (VP of Marketing) and Smith Freeman (Senior Director of Product Management) at SVS Sound. 
We discuss their new Auto EQ, the upcoming Soundbar and general audio chat.
SVS Launches First-Ever Soundbar and New 3000 R|Evolution Series Subwoofers at CES 2026
SVS AUTO EQ Frequently Asked Questions

On today's show we discuss Ara's new family room TV and Audio setup and what his plans are for the future. We also read your emails and look at the week's news.
News:
Marantz Introduces The CINEMA Series 2 Receivers
Dolby Vision 2 HDR Is Officially Arriving On Certain Hisense TVs
Nearly A Third Of U.S. Homes Get TV Only Via Streaming
Peacock hikes prices for fourth straight year, this time by $3
Other:
Theatrium - A home Assistant or HomeKit Dashboard for your AppleTV
Parts List for Ara's New Home
Family Room:
Mantel Mount MM815 Motorized Drop Down & Swivel TV Mount - $700 The MM815 is a remote-controlled drop-and-swivel TV mount. Press one button to lower the TV to eye level and rotate it as needed. It comes with an RF remote, is silent, and has two memory presets.
Sony BRAVIA 7 II PRO True RGB 4K HDR Google TV with Gemini (Model Number K75XR70PRO)-  $2300 The Sony BRAVIA 7 II PRO is Sony's 2026 mid-range True RGB Mini-LED TV (65 inches and up) with independently driven red, green, and blue backlight LEDs, XR processing, and about 2,000 nits of peak brightness for stronger color volume and contrast than a typical white Mini-LED. It is 4K at 120 Hz, supports Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and has HDMI 2.1 gaming features (VRR, ALLM, 4K/120). Google TV includes Gemini for voice search and recommendations, plus AirPlay 2. The Pro bundle adds a three-year replacement warranty, a backlit rechargeable remote, extra Sony Pictures Core credits, and an enhanced Voice Zoom 3 dialogue mode; picture hardware is the same as the standard 7 II.
From RTINGS:
Pros:
Great black levels with minimal haloing.
Bright details in HDR stand out incredibly well.
Fantastic SDR brightness helps it overcome glare during the day.
Fantastic upscaling and great low-quality content smoothing.
Colors are incredibly bright and vivid.
Cons:
Dark scenes are hard to see during the day.
Sonos Arc Ultra - $1099 The Sonos Arc Ultra supports Dolby Atmos that has a 9.1.4 driver layout and Sound Motion woofer to produce wide, height-enhanced surround and stronger bass from a single bar. It connects to a TV with one HDMI eARC cable, supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, and the rest of the Sonos ecosystem (including optional Sub and rear speakers), and can be controlled with the TV remote, Sonos app, touch controls, Sonos Voice Control, or Alexa. Trueplay tunes the sound to the room, and AI speech enhancement is meant to keep dialogue clear. It is a long, low-profile bar (about 46 inches wide) sold in black or white.
Sonos Sub 4 - $899 The Sonos Sub 4 is a wireless subwoofer for Sonos S2 systems, pairing with current soundbars and speakers to add bass down to about 25 Hz. Two inward-facing 5-by-8-inch woofers and dual Class-D amps use a force-canceling layout so the cabinet stays relatively still and the bass stays clean. It has the same slot-style shape as earlier Subs, in black or white matte, and can stand upright or lie on its side. Updates over the Sub 3 include Wi-Fi 6, a faster processor, more memory, lower idle power, and a slightly lighter cabinet; setup is through the Sonos app, with optional Ethernet. Two Sub 4s can be used with the Arc Ultra.
Master Bedroom:
Sony BRAVIA 3 II 4K HDR LED Google TV (Model Number K55XR30M2) - $798 - The Sony BRAVIA 3 II is Sony's 2026 entry-level 4K LED set, sold from 43 to 100 inches. It uses a direct-lit LED panel, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and the XR processor for color, motion, and upscaling. HDR covers Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG. All four HDMI ports are 2.1, with 4K/120, VRR, and ALLM. It runs Google TV with Gemini, AirPlay 2, and Chromecast, plus built-in speakers that pass Dolby Atmos and DTS:X to a soundbar. The picture is good in bright rooms; but as you would expect, the contrast and HDR are limited compared with higher BRAVIA models. If you are going to use this for anything more than casual viewing or you are really critical of picture quality you may want to look elsewhere. But for those on a budget or used in a secondary room, it's a solid TV.

On today's show we discuss Ara's garage door plan for integrating it into HomeKit, we help a listener decide on which receiver to buy, and we ask whether Atmos is worth it for a family room. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
News:
Get YouTube TV For Just $67.99 a Month Down From $82.99 For The Rest of 2026
How many subscribers do major live TV streamers have?
Other:
Bingebuster 
THIRDREALITY Smart Garage Door Opener
Last week I discussed my garage door situation where MyQ does not integrate with Apple's HomeKit. I explained that I will be using a solution called ratgdo (Rage Against The Garage Door Opener). A few of the listeners emailed and suggested that I look at the ThirdReality Smart Garage Door Opener). Available at Amazon for $50. 
Issues for me:
When you install it in Apple home it installs as a lightbulb. 
I added it to Home Assistant first because I knew Apple HomeKit was going to treat it like a light instead of a garage door. In Home Assistant, it shows up as a light entity, with the on off state following the tilt sensor. To make it behave like a real garage door, I created a Template Cover helper and set the device class to Garage. For the state, I used the template to report open when the light is on and closed when it's off. Then I set the Open and Close actions to call the light.turn_on service on the light entity, so pressing Open or Close in Home Assistant is basically the same as pressing the garage remote button. After that, it shows up and behaves like a garage door inside Home Assistant, with the right open/closed status based on the tilt sensor.
It's mechanical.
Batteries
After Jorge's email,I am now looking past these issues and considering this solution.
And yet another listener provided even more fuel for this fire!
David writes in and says:
Most door operators have a provision for a wall mounted pushbutton ( the same one used for years).  It's a momentary pushbutton closure. There is a cold contacts switch which operates in the Matter smart home standard.  As a result it works in all the various smart home systems.  It's a Shelly 1 Mini Gen 4 device…about $25.  
I have installed mine into my Apple HomeKit system to operate my Genie garage door opener. 
There is no sensing of the position of the door in the Shelly 1 Mini Gen 4 - it is only for operating the door.
I have used the IKEA "MYGGBETT" door/window sensor ($10) to sense the position of the door - it is also Matter compliant.  It is the usual magnet/reed switch pair.  
I have used this sensor to also trigger a light inside my house to signal an open garage door.
The Apple Home automation could be written to close and open door after 10 PM.  Or close a door open for more than 1 hour.
Marantz, Denon, or Onkyo
• Marantz Cinema 70s
• Denon AVR-X2800H
• Onkyo TX-RZ30
Onkyo TX-RZ30
Pros
9 amplified channels (supports 5.2.4 or 7.2.2 Atmos)
Full-bandwidth Dirac Live included (major value)
THX Select + IMAX Enhanced certified
Dual independent subwoofer outputs + full pre-outs
Strong power (~100W/ch) and generally excellent reviews for sound and value
Cons
Dirac setup can be finicky
Onkyo's past reliability reputation still in the back of my mind
Denon AVR-X2800H
Pros
Reliable, polished, user-friendly experience
Solid Audyssey MultEQ XT room correction
Good, balanced sound and strong HDMI features
Much better reliability and support
Cons
Only 7 channels (max 5.2.2 Atmos without external amps)
No Dirac (Audyssey is good but not as advanced)
Marantz Cinema 70s
Pros
Slim, stylish design that fits media cabinets
Marantz sound 
Pre-outs for future expansion
Cons
Lower power (~50W/ch) — best for smaller/efficient speakers
Only 7 channels
More expensive relative to performance and channel count
Recommendation: Onkyo TX-RZ30
It delivers the most meaningful advantages for the money — 9 channels, including full Dirac Live, THX certification, and independent dual subs. The Denon is the safer "set-it-and-forget-it" choice if you prioritize polish and reliability, while the Marantz is best if you specifically need a slim form factor. For performance and value in a modern Atmos setup, the RZ30 is the clear winner right now.
Is Atmos Worth it for a Family Room?
Yes, Atmos is usually worth it in a typical family room — but with some practical caveats.
Why it's worth it
The overhead effects (rain, helicopters, debris, ambiance) add noticeable immersion even in a normal living/family room.
A lot of modern movies, streaming shows, and games take advantage of it.
Realistic expectations for a family room
The "wow" factor is more subtle than in a dedicated theater. You're not going to get the same dramatic height effects you hear in a big cinema.
Placement matters a lot. Up-firing Atmos speakers work okay if your ceiling isn't too high or absorbent, but actual in-ceiling or on-ceiling speakers sound better.
Aesthetics Committee — extra speakers on or near the ceiling are more noticeable in a shared family space.
Bottom line recommendation
If you are starting from scratch and have access to wire ceiling speakers do it. If you don't have access you won't miss too much.
Skip if the budget is tight, ceiling placement is difficult, or you mostly watch TV/sports rather than movies.
A solid 5.1.2 Atmos setup is the sweet spot for most family rooms. You'll get most of the benefit without needing a full 7.1.4 layout.

On today's show we take a look at your family room and decide whether a 7.2 system is worth it over 5.1. We also read your emails and catch up on the week's news.
News: 
How Valuable Is TV to Smaller, Independent Cable Operators?
DirecTV and EverPass reach new deal to keep NFL Sunday Ticket in bars after threatening split
Other:
Rage Against the Garage Door Opener (ratgdo)
Family Room - 5.1 vs 7.2 what makes sense?
Most of us don't have a fully dedicated theater room to fully deck out with a 7.2.4 Atmos system. Most of us have family rooms and would like some sort of a surround sound experience beyond a low end sound bar. The question we get asked a lot is whether a 7.2 system will provide a noticeably better experience than a 5.1 system. So today we answer that question.
Spoiler, in most family living rooms, a well-set-up 5.1 system is the smarter choice. A 7.2 system only becomes clearly better if you have good space behind the seating and can place the rear speakers properly. Let's get into it.
Pros of Going 7.2
Better immersion - The two extra rear speakers create a more continuous sound field. Sounds that move from front to back (or circle around you) feel smoother and more realistic.
Improved envelopment - You get a stronger sense of being "inside" the movie instead of just having sound coming from the sides.
Smoother bass (the .2) - Two subwoofers reduce bass peaks and nulls. This is often the biggest real-world improvement over a single sub.
More seating flexibility -  Multiple people can enjoy better surround effects even if they're not in the exact sweet spot.
Future-proofing - Many modern receivers can use the extra channels for Atmos height speakers later if you decide to expand.
Cons of Going 7.2
Space requirements - You need room behind the main seats for the rear speakers. If your sofa is against the back wall (very common), the rear speakers end up too close and the benefit largely disappears.
Higher cost - Two extra speakers + a second subwoofer + possibly a more expensive receiver adds significant cost.
Harder placement - Getting the rear speakers at the right height, distance, and angle is more difficult in a shared family room.
Diminishing returns in smaller rooms - In rooms under about 15x15–16x18 feet, the extra speakers can actually make the sound less coherent if they're too close together.
More clutter & wiring - Extra speakers and cables are harder to hide in a multi-purpose family room.
Content reality - Most streaming content is still mixed in 5.1. True discrete 7.1 tracks are less common outside Blu-rays
Rules of Thumb for a Family Room
If your sofa is against the back wall you are realistically looking at a 5.1 system since the rear speakers have nowhere to go. If you have 3 feet or more behind you, 7.2 may be worthwhile. If you can't fully afford a proper 7.2 system you will be better served with better speakers and a great subwoofer.
Bottom Line
For a typical family room:
A high-quality 5.1 almost always delivers more enjoyment for the money and effort.
Only go 7.2 if you have decent space behind the seating and are willing to spend more for the extra immersion and smoother bass.
Next week should we discuss if Atmos is worth it in a family room?