Scott Wilkinson

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Ask S&V
Streaming DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 08, 2012  |  13 comments
When one streams a movie from Netflix or other online services, the video probably looks good, but will I get the sound of DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD through my system, or just Dolby Surround as one gets from cable?

Wolf

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The Big Picture
Men In Black 3
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 06, 2012  |  3 comments
I saw Men In Black 3 last night, and as with most 3D movies, I chose to see this one at an Imax theater, which uses two projectors—one for each eye—to increase the overall brightness of the image. Even though MIB3 was shot in 2D and converted to 3D in post-production, I thought the 3D effect was quite good overall. In fact, it seemed to me that the movie had been shot with 3D in mind, with lots of depth in many images—I especially enjoyed Agent J's fall from the skyscraper as he jumps back to 1969.
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Ask S&V
The Best 2D Full-Array LED-LCD TV
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 05, 2012  |  1 comments
I want to get the best 55-inch 2D full-array LED-LCD TV in the $1500 to $2000 range. I see that you have highly rated the Vizio XVT553SV on your site. Is that model still your first choice in my price range?

David Henry

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Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 114: Ron Williams
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 05, 2012  |  0 comments
Ron Williams, CEO of The Landmark Group and consultant to the film and broadcast industries, discusses the growing importance of 4K and Quad HD, 4K in film and TV production, 4K displays and cameras, the emergence of 8K in Japan, consumer preferences for 4K versus 3D, true stereoscopic versus converted 3D, high frame rates, answers to chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 1:05:38

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TV ReviewsLCD TV Reviews
Samsung UN40EH6000 LED-LCD TV
Scott Wilkinson  |  Jun 04, 2012  |  1 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $850 At A Glance: Superb detail & color • LED-array backlighting eliminates uneven illumination • LEDs turn off momentarily in some dark scenes

In my quest to find good-performing flat panels under $1000, I was eager to try the Samsung UN40EH6000. The company's entry-level EH-series LED-LCD TVs are available in several lines, of which the EH6000 is top of the heap, and each line includes several sizes, ranging from 26 to 65 inches. (Not all sizes are available in all lines.) At 40 inches, the model reviewed here is the smallest of the EH6000 line.

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Ask S&V
Choosing Between a Projector and Flat Panel
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 31, 2012  |  4 comments
I am trying to decide between a JVC DLA-X3 projector and a Sony XBR-55HX929 full-array LED-backlit LCD TV, both of which I have found for around $3500. This is about what my wife will let me spend. I like to watch movies, play video games, and watch sports and other TV shows. I'm not a 3D fan, so that doesn't matter to me. I am much more concerned with 2D performance. I like the idea of a projector because of the larger image, but I don't want to sacrifice the brightness, black level, or shadow detail of the Sony. Also, if I get the projector, I will need to get a quality screen, which will add to the cost.

Richard Gonzalez

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Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 113: Kevin Miller
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 29, 2012  |  3 comments
ISF video calibrator Kevin Miller talks about the Eighth Annual Flat Panel Shootout held at Value Electronics in Scarsdale, New York, where some 70 participants rated six high-end flat panels—the LG 60PM9700, Panasonic TC-P65VT50, and Samsung PN64E8000 plasmas as well as the Panasonic TC-L47WT50, Samsung UN60ES8000, and Sharp Elite PRO-60X5FD LED-LCD TVs—after they were all calibrated as close to correct as possible. Which one came out on top? Find out here.

Run Time: 56:10

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Premiere Design
3DAA Demos MDA Director
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 25, 2012  |  0 comments
The concept of 3D audio is gaining a lot of traction lately, in both commercial and consumer settings. Tom Norton recently wrote about his experience with a system called Imm Sound, which employs many speakers around and above the audience in commercial cinemas, as does Dolby Atmos and Barco Auro. On the home front, several companies have developed technologies that purport to create 3D soundfields from two speakers or a soundbar, including Gen Audio's Astound Sound and Sonic Emotion's Absolute 3D, both of which have been discussed on the Home Theater Geeks podcast here and here, respectively.

Then there's SRS Labs, which has been working on 3D audio perhaps longer than anyone else. Not only does this company offer a variety of proprietary soundfield-expansion algorithms, it is also the founding member of the 3D Audio Alliance (3DAA), which is working on an open-standard specification called Multi-Dimensional Audio, or MDA.

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Ask S&V
The Difference Between Dolby Digital and THX
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 23, 2012  |  0 comments
Because you are a home-theater Jedi, my question may seem a bit primitive. However, I am compelled to ask only because my own A/V guy can only seem to give me answers in terms of bass curves and decibels. Which processing mode is better to use, Dolby Digital or THX?

I am using an Integra DTR-7.9 A/V receiver with Anthony Gallo A'Diva Ti speakers for the front left, right, and center, three Gallo Micro Nucleus Ti speakers for the surrounds, and a Gallo MPS-150 sub modified by Gallo with its upgraded TR-3 driver for a 6.1 setup. My receiver automatically switches to Dolby Digital EX or THX Surround EX (whichever I choose) when I play 5.1 or better content, but which one should I have it switch to?

Where THX is concerned, I know that all speakers should have a frequency response down to at least 80Hz, which only three of mine do—the A'Diva Ti speakers (the Nucleus Micro Ti speakers only go down to 90Hz). I fear you may tell me to just set it to whichever sounds better, but a guy like me needs more than that. With my setup, what would you do? I like the brightness of Dolby Digital, but I also like the punch of THX, though the highs seem muddled because of Re-EQ (which I can turn off). Should I turn on Loudness Plus and ditch Dynamic EQ? Lots of questions, too many settings, I need guidance!

"Help me Obi-Scott Kenobi, you're my only hope."

Adam Meyerson

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Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 112: Andrew Jones
Scott Wilkinson  |  May 22, 2012  |  5 comments
Andrew Jones, chief speaker engineer for Pioneer and TAD Labs, talks about his illustrious career as a speaker designer with KEF and Infinity, the difference between research and product development, the importance of knowing what and how to measure audio performance, how he was able to design Pioneer's entry-level speakers to perform so well, his work with ultra-high-end speakers at TAD Labs, answers to chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 1:08:37

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