The HT Guys, Ara Derderian and Braden Russell, are Engineers who formerly worked for the Advanced Digital Systems Group (ADSG) of Sony Pictures Entertainment. ADSG was the R&D unit of the sound department producing products for movie theaters and movie studios. Two of the products they worked on include the DCP-1000 and DADR-5000. The DCP is a digital cinema processor used in movie theaters around the world. The DADR-5000 is a disk-based audio dubber used on Hollywood sound stages. ADSG was awarded a Technical Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2000 for the development of the DADR-5000. Ara holds three patents for his development work in Digital Cinema and Digital Audio Recording. Every week they put together a podcast about High Definition TV and Home Theater. Each episode brings news from the A/V world, helpful product reviews and insights and help in demystifying and simplifying HDTV and home theater. Our email address is hdtvpodcast@mac.com
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Podcast #1277: An All Matter Home and Now Samsung is Spying on You
Friday, November 6, 2026 • Duration 38:31
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.
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.
Podcast #1276: Onkyo, and I'm a Damn Fool Who Bought One — Or Am I? - Onkyo TX RZ-30 Review
Friday, October 30, 2026 • Duration 37:25
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.
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.
"Onkyo, and I'm a Damn Fool Who Bought One — Or Am I?" Onkyo TX RZ-30 Review
Podcast #1275: Should You Trade Your TV for a Laser Projector?
Friday, October 23, 2026 • Duration 49:40
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.
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.
Should You Trade Your TV for a Laser Projector? The Projectors Worth Watching The Catch: Room Light What It Really Costs Don't Forget the Sound A Word About Kickstarter Deals Our Take
Podcast #1274: Apple's Welcome and 4K Sports
Friday, October 16, 2026 • Duration 35:15
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.
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.
, $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.
4K Sports Is Finally Here, So Why Doesn't It Always Look Better? Who's actually streaming in 4K right now Real 4K versus upscaled 4K
Podcast #1273: The Network Behind the New House: Why I Went Beyond Mesh Wi‑Fi
Friday, October 9, 2026 • Duration 45:42
On this week's show we get into the inner workings of Ara's network at his new home and we discuss who else could benefit from a similar setup. We also read your emails and look at the week's news.
The Network Behind the New House: Why I Went Beyond Mesh Wi‑Fi
When we moved into the new house, I had a choice to make about the network. For years I've used the same kind of gear a lot of you have: an ISP gateway, then a mesh system like Orbi or eero. Those systems are good. You plug them in, run an app, and most of the house gets Wi‑Fi.
For a lot of homes, that's all you need. But I wanted something that gave me maximum control down to the connected device and remote access to manage every little detail. Since I had the chance to run Ethernet before the walls were closed. That changed the math. Here's what I wanted:
Podcast #1272: Netgear Orbi 770 and Aqara Camera Review
Friday, October 2, 2026 • Duration 51:02
On this week's show we have a listener review of the NETGEAR Orbi 770 Series WiFi 7 Mesh System as well as a review of the Aqara cameras. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
This week we have a listener review of the NETGEAR Orbi 770 Series WiFi 7 Mesh System. These can be bought in One, two, and three packs costing $300, $550, and $700 respectively. Netgear's specs say that a single unit can cover up to $2750 square feet and a three pack can cover 8000 square feet combined. And just for good measure John talks about his experience with Aqara cameras.These are the same cameras Ara uses so let's see if John has similar results.
Product Features:
Tri-band hardware with a dedicated backhaul is meant to keep throughput more consistent when many devices are online at once.
Podcast #1271: Consumer Reports HDTV Ratings
Friday, September 25, 2026 • Duration 36:47
On this week's show we take a look at the consumer reports ratings for 70 inch and larger TVs. We also read your email and take a look at the week's news.
Consumer Reports Ratings for 70-inch and larger TVs:
On this week's show we take a look at the consumer reports rating for 70 inch and larger TVs. This list was sent to us by Dermot who thought it may make a nice topic. We took the list and only updated pricing. So how does Consumer Reports determine a score for their TV ratings?
Consumer Reports builds each TV's Overall Score from three buckets: lab performance, member surveys, and (for smart TVs) privacy/security. They do not accept manufacturer samples. Secret shoppers buy the sets at retail so they test the same units you would buy.
They run 200+ TVs a year. Each set goes through 20+ tests and more than 500 data points in their Yonkers labs. Picture settings are optimized with the on-screen user controls only—not a full professional calibration. If a set needs a calibrator to look good, that hurts it.
What the lab actually measures
HD and UHD picture quality — test patterns plus real movie/TV clips for detail, black level, contrast, and color accuracy after the set is optimized.
— peak brightness (measured with a Photo Research PR-740 spectroradiometer), plus how well highlights and shadows hold up in dark and bright scenes.
Podcast #1270: 2026 Network TV Season/Series Premieres
Friday, September 18, 2026 • Duration 48:32
On this week's show we compiled a list of fall 2026 network TV season/series premieres for ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS, organized by network and then by premiere date. We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news.
On this week's show we compiled a list of fall 2026 network TV season/series premieres for ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS, organized by network and then by premiere date. Sports (NFL, college football) and most news/magazine shows are omitted unless they were listed as a season premiere in the official rollout. Dates and slots come from the networks' 2026 fall calendar.
Podcast #1269: Is Your LG Smart TV Listening to You? and Dolby AC4
Friday, September 11, 2026 • Duration 36:35
On this week's show we look into an article that alleges LG's Smart TVs are listening in on your conversations even when the screen is off. We also do a quick rundown on what Dolby's AC4 is and where you can experience it. We also read your emails and look at the week's news.
LG TVs use ACR (automatic content recognition): they snapshot what's on screen, including HDMI sources, for ad targeting. FlatpanelsHD notes this has been industry-wide for years, not unique to LG.
The TVs scan the local Wi‑Fi network, identify other devices, and send back data such as IP address, location, and nearby network names.
Voice features can transcribe speech after "Hi LG." The mic can stay active 10–15 seconds after silence. Researchers reported recording/transcription even with the display off, and that locally stored data can upload later when the set reconnects (including for a firmware update).
That last point is presented as conflicting with LG's claim that its TVs "do not collect, record, or store ambient conversations." LG had not commented when the article ran.
Flatpanel's Recommendation
Dolby AC-4
Podcast #1268: Ara's New Setup First Impressions
Friday, September 4, 2026 • Duration 54:28
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.
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.
- $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.
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.
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
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Coverage everywhere, including the theater, the backyard, and the garage, without dead spots.
Wired backhaul. Mesh units talk to each other over the air, and that uses up some of the Wi‑Fi you'd rather give to your devices. When every access point has its own cable back to the rack, that problem goes away.
Power over Ethernet (PoE). One cable carries both data and power to the access points and cameras. No power bricks hiding in the ceiling.
VLANs and a real guest network. I wanted to keep the smart TVs, streaming boxes, and IoT gadgets separate from our computers and phones, and give guests their own network.
One place to see it all. I wanted to look at a screen and see what's connected, what's using bandwidth, and what's offline.
So I went with a "prosumer" setup: a UniFi gateway, UniFi access points, and two Araknis managed switches in the rack. Here's what each piece does, what I like about it, and where it falls short.
Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Pro (UDM‑Pro)
What it is: The UniFi Dream Machine Pro is a rack‑mounted router and firewall that Ubiquiti calls a "cloud gateway." It also runs the UniFi software that manages the access points, so I don't need a separate controller box or a computer left running. (Tech specs)
What it does in my network: This is the front door. My internet connection plugs into it, and it handles routing, the firewall, the VLANs, and the guest network. It's also the dashboard where I set up and watch the Wi‑Fi.
A few specs worth knowing:
Two WAN ports (one 10G SFP+ and one Gigabit Ethernet), so you can add a backup internet connection.
Eight Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports plus one 10G SFP+ LAN port.
IDS/IPS (threat detection) rated by Ubiquiti at up to 3.5 Gbps.
A bay for a 3.5" hard drive, so it can also record security cameras with UniFi Protect.A small touchscreen on the front that shows status at a glance.
Compared to a consumer router or mesh base station: You get much more control. VLANs, firewall rules, traffic stats per device, dual‑WAN failover, and a camera recorder are all built in. Most consumer systems either don't offer those or hide them behind a subscription.
The honest downsides:
It's a 1U rack box. If you don't have a rack or a closet with ventilation, it's awkward.
It has no Wi‑Fi of its own. You have to buy access points separately.
The settings can be overwhelming at first. There are a lot of menus, and some of them assume you know networking terms.
It's more than one‑app‑and‑done. Plan to spend an evening learning it.
Ubiquiti U7 Pro Access Points (×4)
What it is: The UniFi U7 Pro is a Wi‑Fi 7 access point that mounts on a ceiling or wall. It's tri‑band (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz), and it's powered by PoE+ through a single Ethernet cable. (Tech specs)
What it does in my network: These four access points are the Wi‑Fi. Each one sits on the ceiling or hidden away in attic space in a different part of the house and connects by cable back to the PoE switch in the rack. The UDM‑Pro manages all four as one network, so phones and laptops move between them as we walk around.
Specs from Ubiquiti:
Wi‑Fi 7 with 6 GHz support.
Rated coverage of about 1,500 sq ft per access point.
2.5 GbE uplink port.
PoE+ powered, with a maximum draw of 21 W.
Mounting hardware for ceiling or wall is included.
Compared to mesh: Every access point has a wired connection to the rack, so none of the Wi‑Fi is spent relaying traffic between units. Ceiling mounting also helps. The signal spreads out from the center of the room instead of from a box sitting on a shelf behind the TV. And because they're managed from one place, I can see which devices are connected to which access point and how strong the signal is.
The honest downsides:
You need a cable run to every access point. That's easy during construction and harder in a finished house.
You need PoE. You'll either need a PoE switch or individual PoE injectors.
Speed limit in my setup: The U7 Pro has a 2.5 GbE port, but my switches are Gigabit, so each access point connects at 1 Gbps. For us that's fine. Just know you're leaving some headroom on the table unless your switch has 2.5G ports.
Four of them add up. They aren't cheap compared to a 3‑pack mesh kit.
Araknis Networks 320 Series L2 Managed Gigabit Switch with Full PoE+(16 + 2 Rear Ports)
What it is: The Araknis 320 Series 16‑port PoE+ switch (AN‑320‑SW‑R‑16‑POE) is a 1U rack‑mount managed switch from Snap One, the company behind Control4. It has 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports and two 1G SFP uplink ports, all on the back. "Rear ports" matters in a rack because the cables come out the back and the front stays clean.
What it does in my network: This is the switch that powers the Wi‑Fi. All four U7 Pros plug into it, and it supplies both their data and their power. It also powers my Aqara cameras and supplies its data as well.
Specs from Snap One:
16 PoE+ ports (802.3af/at), up to 30 W on any single port.
250 W total PoE budget. Snap One says that's enough for about 15 W on every port at the same time.
Two dedicated 1G SFP ports for uplinks. They don't take away a PoE port.
Layer 2 management: VLANs, spanning tree, and IGMP snooping (helpful for multicast traffic like some multi‑room audio and video).
Remote management through Snap One's OvrC platform.
5‑year limited warranty.
Four U7 Pros at their 21 W maximum come to 84 W. That leaves plenty of budget for other devices like my cameras.
Compared to consumer gear: Most consumer mesh systems have just a few Ethernet ports on each unit and no PoE at all. A managed PoE switch gives you one central, powered point for every wired device, and it understands the VLANs set up on the UDM‑Pro.
The honest downsides:
Cost. This is the most expensive piece in the rack.
Dealer channel. Araknis is sold mainly through Snap One/ADI dealers and integrators, not on a regular store shelf. If you're doing it yourself, it can be harder to buy and get support.
Gigabit only. No 2.5G or 10G ports, so it's not the fastest option for Wi‑Fi 7 access points.
It's a second dashboard. UniFi doesn't manage Araknis switches. The switch has its own web interface and OvrC. I'll come back to this.
There's a fan, so it's not something you want in a quiet room. (Snap One lists the PoE model's maximum noise at about 47 dBA.)
What it is: The Araknis 320 Series 16‑port switch (AN‑320‑SW‑R‑16) is the same switch without PoE. You still get 16 Gigabit ports and two 1G SFP uplinks on the back, the same Layer 2 features, and OvrC management.
What it does in my network: This one handles everything that doesn't need power over the cable: the AV receiver, streaming boxes, TVs, game consoles, the NAS, and the wall jacks in the office and bedrooms. Splitting the wired gear across two switches keeps the expensive PoE ports free for devices that actually need power.
Compared to consumer gear: It's like the cheap unmanaged switch you might have behind your TV, but it understands VLANs. It's also built for a rack, and you can monitor it remotely.
The honest downsides:
$600 is a lot for a Gigabit switch with no PoE. You're paying for the management features, the build quality, and the Snap One ecosystem.
Same dealer‑channel and second‑dashboard issues as the PoE model.
If you don't need VLANs or remote monitoring, a basic unmanaged switch will move packets just as well for much less money.
How It All Hangs Together
The internet comes into the UDM‑Pro, which is the router, firewall, and UniFi controller. The
UDM‑Pro connects to the two Araknis switches, which act as the wired backbone of the house. The PoE+ switch powers and connects the four U7 Pro access points and cameras throughout the house, and the non‑PoE switch serves the TVs, AV gear, and wall jacks. The VLANs I create on the UDM‑Pro (main, IoT/AV, and guest) are carried through the Araknis switches to the access points and wired devices.
One note about the "single dashboard" goal: the UniFi app shows me the gateway, the Wi‑Fi, and every client, and that's where I spend most of my time. The Araknis switches are managed separately through their own interface.
Who This Is For (and When Consumer Gear Is Still Fine)
This kind of setup makes sense if you have a larger home, can run Ethernet to the ceilings, want PoE for access points and cameras, and like the idea of keeping your smart TVs and IoT devices on their own network. It's especially worth considering during new construction or a remodel, when pulling cable is easy. If you live in an apartment or a smaller home, can't run cable, or just want something that works from a phone app in ten minutes, a good mesh system from eero, Orbi, or similar is still a great choice.
Honestly, it's what I'd recommend to most people. This setup is more money and more learning. The payoff is control, coverage, and a wired backbone that will last for years.
The Cost Tally
Item
Qty
Price
Ubiquiti UniFi Dream Machine Pro (UDM‑Pro)
1
$430
Ubiquiti U7 Pro Access Point
4 × $190
$760
Araknis 320 Series L2 Managed Gigabit Switch with Full PoE+, 16 + 2 Rear Ports
That doesn't include the cable, the rack, patch panels, or installation labor. In a new build, those can add up just as quickly. In my home the network part of the build cost almost $9,000. That included all wiring, trim, and labor. Note - the labor included installing cameras that I provided.
WiFi 7 peak rating is up to 11 Gbps and it also connects WiFi 6 and WiFi 5 devices; real speed depends on your plan and hardware.
Devices can easily roam between the router and satellites.
Setup, device management, and guest WiFi are handled in the Orbi app.
Sold for use in the United States only.
John Lyman's Review
A few years ago, I replaced my old Netgear Orbi system with a TP-Link Deco XE75 mesh system. At the time, my older Orbi just wasn't able to handle all the devices we had in the house. After doing some research, the Deco XE75 and XE75 Pro had great reviews, so I decided to give Deco a try.
The Deco worked, but as we added more devices—and because of the design of our house—I kept having to add more and more nodes to get good, consistent coverage. Even with gigabit fiber, I never really felt like I was getting the speeds I should have been getting throughout the house.
When Amazon Prime Day came around in July, I decided it was time for an upgrade. At the same time, I decided this was going to be MY "year of home automation."
Back to Orbi — This Time with Wi-Fi 7
For the network, I went with the Netgear Orbi 770 Series Wi-Fi 7 mesh system.
I considered going down the Ubiquiti route, but ultimately I wanted something easier to manage and more "set it and forget it." I spent enough time around networking years ago. These days, I'd rather leave my network-engineering hat in the past and have something that simply works.
I've now been running the Orbi 770 for about four months, and—with one exception—it has been pretty much bulletproof.
That exception was automatic firmware updates. I didn't realize they were enabled, and Orbi decided to install an update in the middle of the day. That's something I'd definitely check when setting up the system.
Other than that, the performance has been excellent.
I have AT&T Fiber with the AT&T gateway configured to pass the connection through to the Orbi. My office is upstairs and away from the main router, but I have my computer connected by Ethernet to an Orbi satellite. I'm consistently seeing speeds in the low 900 Mbps range both down and up.
My media/home-theater room has historically been the hardest room in the house to reach with good Wi-Fi. With the Orbi, I'm seeing roughly 700–800 Mbps there over Wi-Fi, connecting on 5 GHz.
More importantly, coverage throughout the house is now excellent and the system has been extremely stable.
If you're considering a mesh system and aren't ready to go down the Ubiquiti route, I'd strongly suggest looking at the Orbi 770. Based on my experience with both systems, I'd skip the Deco, spend a little more and get the Orbi.
The Orbi also gives you separate IoT and guest Wi-Fi networks. Devices connect quickly, stay connected and, in my experience, have worked considerably better than they did with my Deco system.
Moving Away from Ring
The next part of the project was home automation.
Over the years, I had accumulated a hodgepodge of smart-home products: Ecobee thermostats, Ring doorbells, different cameras, Hue lights and other devices. Even the Ecobee that was supposed to work with Apple HomeKit would periodically disconnect.
I wanted to simplify everything, and I particularly wanted to move away from Ring.
While researching alternatives, I came across Aqara. They make doorbells, cameras, thermostats, switches, sensors and a number of other smart-home products, with particularly strong integration with Apple's Home ecosystem.
So during Prime Day, I jumped in. I bought two thermostats, two cameras and two doorbells.
There was definitely a settling-in period. Between changing the network and adding all the new smart-home equipment, it probably took about six weeks before everything really fell into place.
Since then, however, it has been remarkably solid.
The network can go down and come back up, and the Aqara devices reconnect on their own. About the only problems I've encountered have been when somebody physically unplugged one of the doorbell hubs. Since some of the other devices were relying on that hub, unplugging it naturally caused those devices to disappear as well.
The $34 Camera That Surprised Me
One of the biggest surprises has been the Aqara G100 indoor/outdoor cameras.
I paid $33.99 each for them, and they've been excellent. For the price, I'm genuinely impressed with how well they've worked and how nicely they integrate into the Apple ecosystem.
Security and privacy were also part of my decision to move away from Ring. I like having my cameras integrated with Apple Home and being able to use iCloud/HomeKit Secure Video rather than building my smart-home camera system around Amazon.
The Doorbells — A Big Improvement Over Ring
The Aqara doorbells have also worked really well.
I have two of them. One is at our front door, and the other is on a door that we added to the house where I don't have wiring available. For that one, I use rechargeable batteries, and that setup has worked well.
The front-door unit is very small and unobtrusive, which I like. More importantly, both doorbells have been rock solid.
That's probably the biggest difference I've noticed compared with my old Ring setup. The Aqara doorbells are consistently connected and integrate directly into Apple HomeKit. I don't feel like I'm waiting for the doorbell to connect when I actually need to see who's at the door.
They just work, which is becoming a recurring theme with most of the Aqara equipment I've installed.
For me, replacing the Ring doorbells with Aqara has been one of the better parts of this whole home-automation upgrade.
Aqara Thermostats — Simple, Which Is Exactly What I Want
The Aqara thermostats were very simple to install. I was replacing my Ecobees, and the changeover was straightforward. They connected to Apple HomeKit easily and, since getting everything settled, they just run.
Easy peasy. There's really not much more I want from a thermostat. I don't need it to be exciting—I need it to control the temperature, stay connected and work when I open the Home app. So far, that's exactly what they've done.
One feature that really interested me is Apple Home's Adaptive Temperature. Instead of relying on a traditional fixed schedule, the temperature can automatically adjust based on whether people in your Apple Home are actually home or away.
There are four modes you can configure: Home, Away, Night and Extended Away. Home and Away automatically adjust the temperature depending on whether anyone from the household is home. Night mode lets you set different temperatures for specific days and times, so the house can automatically adjust while everyone is sleeping.
The one I'm particularly happy to have is Extended Away. When we're going to be gone for an extended period, the system can automatically adjust the temperature appropriately. That's one less thing I have to remember to change before we leave—and, more importantly, remember to change back when we get home.
It's another example of what I'm looking for with this whole project: home automation that actually automates things instead of giving me another app and another device to manage.
The One Finicky Aqara Device
I also bought an Aqara Smart Climate Sensor with three programmable buttons. This has been the one finicky device in my Aqara setup.
Getting it set up properly with HomeKit was a little tricky. Each of the three buttons is supposed to support three different actions—a single press, double press and long press—which theoretically gives you nine different programmable actions.
In practice, I've only been able to get the single-press actions to work somewhat reliably. I currently use Button 1, the middle of the three buttons, and even that hasn't been as seamless as the rest of my Aqara equipment.
That said, I like the concept enough that I'm planning to put a second one in my media room. The idea is to program the buttons for lighting and temperature control so the kids can simply push a button rather than flipping off the actual light switch—which, of course, defeats the whole purpose of having smart lights.
So this one is still a work in progress. I really like what the device is supposed to do; I just wish the HomeKit button actions worked as reliably as the rest of my Aqara setup.
Finally, One Home App
That's probably the biggest improvement from this whole project.
Instead of having different pieces scattered across different ecosystems, I can now open Apple's Home app and see essentially everything in one place.
I've also settled on Nanoleaf as my primary smart-lighting platform. I still have some Philips Hue lights in the house, and I'm not ripping out perfectly good bulbs just for the sake of replacing them. As those eventually die, however, I'm replacing them with Nanoleaf.
Four months into this project, I'm very happy with where I've ended up.
For networking, the Orbi 770 has been fast, stable and about as close to "set it and forget it" as I could have hoped for. If you want a high-performance home network but don't want to make the jump into something like Ubiquiti, I think Orbi deserves a serious look.
And if you're an Apple/HomeKit household and looking to build out a smart-home ecosystem, I'd also recommend taking a look at Aqara.
The combination of Orbi, Aqara, Nanoleaf and Apple Home has finally given me what I was looking for:
A smart home that doesn't require me to constantly mess with it.
HDR
Viewing angle — color and contrast from both horizontal and vertical off-axis positions.
Motion blur — how clean moving text and action stay.
Sound quality — built-in speakers: clarity, bass, volume range, and distortion, compared against reference sets in the lab.
Features / versatility — inputs, smart-TV functions, ease of use, etc.
Data privacy and data security — whether the TV collects extra data, how easy it is to control that, encryption, known vulnerabilities, update practices. These scores are folded into the Overall Score.
A viewing panel then watches real content side-by-side after the meter work is done.
Survey piece
Predicted reliability and owner satisfaction come from CR member surveys, not from the lab unit they bought.
Reliability is brand-level, not model-level. A statistical model estimates the chance a new set from that brand will have a problem in the first five years. They control for age, how often it's used, and whether it has an extended warranty.
Owner satisfaction is how likely members are to recommend that brand. It is weighted at 5% of the Overall Score for every product category.
Reliability's weight varies by category (typically 10–20%). For TVs it sits toward the lower end of that range because members rate reliability about even with picture performance.
If a brand scores Poor or Fair on predicted reliability, that model cannot get a CR "Recommended" badge, no matter how well it tested.
When they don't have enough survey data for a brand (like on some Roku sets), they plug in category-average survey scores.
How it becomes one number
Overall Score is a weighted mix of the lab scores plus those two survey scores (and privacy/security). Models are then ranked against others in the same size group.
That's why two 91-point sets can sit at very different prices: one won on lab performance plus surveys at a lower street price; the other is a more expensive flagship that still maxed the same scoring formula.
Samsung QN77S95F 91 $3,000 Same score as C5, $1,200 more
Samsung QN77S90F 90 $2,500
Samsung QN77S90H 89 $2,600
LG OLED77G6WUA 89 $3,800 Highest-priced LG
LG OLED77G5WUA 88 $3,150
LG OLED77C6HUP 88 $2,700
Our takeaway is that the only score that actually matters here is not "91 vs 89." It is that the LG C5 is tied with Samsung's flagship S95F at 91, and it is $1,200 cheaper.
If we were going to spend money for a 75–77" set, we would treat the list like this:
Buy the C5 if the room is normal-to-dim and you want the best picture per dollar.
Buy the S95F only if the room is bright, you want a matte screen, and you specifically want a bright picture. Do not buy it just because it is tied at 91.
The Samsung S84F at $1,600 / 85 is the value model if you don't want to go OLED.
Anything at 75 or below is fine for a secondary room. Especially when you consider models from Samsung and LG providing higher quality for barely more in cost.
Does Consumer Reports still matter? Yes, but not as the only vote, and not the way it did 15 years ago. There are other sources out there and each weighs aspects of TVs differently. With that said, they all agree that the LG C5 is a really nice TV.
The Traitors: New Blood — Series premiere (two hours), 8 p.m. An all-civilian US season of the social-deduction reality series in which Alan Cumming hosts 22 everyday Americans at a Scottish castle as hidden Traitors secretly eliminate Faithfuls while the group races to unmask them and split (or steal) a prize of up to $250,000.
Line of Fire — Series premiere, 10 p.m. A family of law enforcement agents become targets of a mysterious assassin after a U.S. Marshal falls in the line of duty, forcing them to use their expertise to protect each other.
NCIS: New York — Series premiere, 9 p.m. - Legendary NCIS Agent Sam Hanna returns to his NYC hometown field office, teaming with a roguish agent to lead a new team on high-stakes missions defending one of the world's most vital cities and ports.
Eternally Yours — Series premiere, 8:30 p.m. - Follows the journey of a married vampire couple struggling to accept their daughter's human boyfriend, after being together for 500 years.
Cupertino — Series premiere, 10 p.m. - A scrappy lawyer takes on a powerful tech giant in a high-stakes legal battle, navigating the cutthroat world of Silicon Valley while fighting for justice and the little guy's rights.
Turn ACR off if you can, or take the TV off the internet and use an external streamer (Apple TV, or Roku.). Firmware can be updated via USB instead of online.
ACR is an old, industry-wide problem and it's unclear why the article focused only on LG. They still argue the mic/network findings are worth attention. They also link their earlier piece ranking Apple TV 4K as stronger on privacy because it doesn't do this kind of viewing tracking.
Update - In a statement sent to Tom's Hardware, LG said "The claims made in the recently published video are not true. LG TVs process voice data only when the voice button on the remote control is pressed and held, or when a wake word such as 'Hi LG' is recognized after the user has activated the Far-Field voice recognition feature. Other than these instances, the TVs do not collect or record ambient conversations. (If the wake word is not recognized, no voice data is transmitted to the server; the audio processing for wake word detection is performed locally on the device and is immediately deleted.)"
One of our listeners, Scott, sent an email asking us to discuss Dolby AC-4 so that is what we are going to do today! Dolby AC-4 is Dolby's next-generation audio codec for broadcast and streaming. It was designed as a clean-sheet replacement for the older Dolby Digital family, not as a tweak of it.
Compared with Dolby Digital Plus, AC-4 aims for similar or better quality at roughly half the bitrate. It natively handles channel-based audio, object-based Dolby Atmos, dialogue enhancement, loudness control, multiple language tracks, and different renderings for speakers vs. headphones in one bitstream. There are several profiles/levels:
Level 3 — the version widely built into TVs (broadcast/OTT Atmos-style delivery).
Level 4 — fuller Atmos metadata, including headphone/head-tracking features.
IMS (Immersive Stereo) — a stereo-plus-metadata flavor used for Atmos music on phones and headphones.
Is it backwards compatible?
No. An AC-4 bitstream cannot be decoded by a Dolby Digital (AC-3) or Dolby Digital Plus decoder. Old AVRs, soundbars, and TVs that only know DD+ (AC-3) will not play AC-4.
What is compatible is the playback path in new TVs and set-top boxes. Those devices decode AC-4 internally, then output whatever the next box needs: PCM stereo, AC-3, DD+, or Atmos over HDMI. So the living-room chain can still work; the codec itself is not drop-in compatible with older Dolby formats. Services that must reach mixed old/new hardware still send DD+ or AAC as a fallback.
Devices that support it
AC-4 decoding is common in UHD TVs shipped since about 2017, especially models that already license Dolby Audio (Dolby has said it is in a large majority of new UHD TVs). Early public commitments came from Samsung, Sony, and Vizio; it is also in many Android TV / Google TV platforms and some Amazon Fire TV devices.
It is not universal:
Pre-~2017 TVs, most older soundbars/AVRs, and a lot of cheap streaming sticks do not decode it.
ATSC 3.0 ("NextGen TV") tuners are the main over-the-air path in the U.S.; tuner support is still incomplete across brands and model lines.
Most consumer AVRs still expect Atmos via DD+ JOC (Joint Object Coding) or TrueHD, not a raw AC-4 bitstream from the source.
Note - JOC allows an Atmos-capable TV, soundbar, or AVR to use the "JOC" metadata to build the immersive mix. An older DD+-only device ignores the extra data and just plays the core 5.1
Studios and television
Broadcast is the main home. AC-4 is an official audio system for ATSC 3.0 in the U.S. and is adopted by DVB in Europe. NextGen TV stations can (and some do) use it for Atmos, dialogue enhancement, and multiple presentations. Immersive AC-4 on U.S. OTA is still uneven; many 3.0 stations have not yet gone full Atmos.
Streaming is later. Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and most other major video services still deliver Atmos as Dolby Digital Plus + JOC. Peacock has publicly committed to AC-4 (alongside Dolby Vision 2), with rollout described as later in 2026. Atmos music already uses AC-4 IMS on several apps.
Studios still master Atmos the same way. The delivery codec is chosen per platform: cinema TrueHD, most streaming DD+ JOC, NextGen TV and a few future streamers AC-4. AC-4 is in the pipeline; it is not yet the default living-room streaming format.
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
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