HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

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).

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.