Scott Wilkinson

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Upconverting S-video to HDMI
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 28, 2012  |  7 comments
I need a new A/V receiver to replace my non-HDMI Denon AVR-3805. Among my source devices are two JVC S-VHS VCRs, so I hope to find an AVR with at least one S-video input that is upconverted to HDMI. What would you recommend for under $1000?

Stan Sexton

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Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 104: Carlos Angulo & James Kittle
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 27, 2012  |  1 comments
Vizio product marketing manager Carlos Angulo and product engineer James Kittle talk about Vizio's soon-to-be-released 21:9 CinemaWide flat-panel TVs, including size considerations, LED edgelighting and backlighting with Smart Dimming, Vizio Internet Apps, scaling 2.35:1 movies to the panel's native 2560x1080 pixel resolution, and passive 3D. They also discuss Vizio's upcoming Google TV implementation, its 4K technology demonstrations at trade shows, answers to chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 51:18

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Upgrade Dilemma
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 26, 2012  |  14 comments
I currently own a Yamaha RX-V661 A/V receiver, and I play DVDs and Blu-rays on a PS3. My receiver is only compatible with HDMI 1.2a. Is it true that the PS3 decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and sends them losslessly to my receiver? I ask because I just bought a new house, and I am setting up an entry-level home theater with a projector. I am stuck between buying new surround speakers or a new AVR such as the Pioneer VSX-1021 or Onkyo TX-NR609. I currently have some outdated Bose speakers that I use for surrounds and rears, and I would like to upgrade them to match the Klipsch speakers I have for my front left and right, center, and powered sub.

Jerry VanOort

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What is Your Viewing Distance?
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 23, 2012  |  18 comments
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THX Certification
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 23, 2012  |  18 comments
I understand that THX certification is a high honor for home-theater gear, but how important is it? I often see reviews of speakers, receivers, and TVs with very high ratings, but they don't have THX certification. (GoldenEar's Triton Two tower speakers come to mind.) Is this because the product isn't quite up to THX standards, or is something else going on?

Mark Nott

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LED Backlighting vs. Edgelighting
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 21, 2012  |  7 comments
I hear you talk about LED backlighting and edgelighting in LCD TVs, and I can't seem to find which one my Samsung UN60D7000 uses. I thought it was backlit, but hearing you talk about it made me wonder if I was right.

Joe Souders

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Home Theater Geeks Podcast
Podcast 103: Bob Schulein
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 20, 2012  |  0 comments
Audio-product designer Bob Schulein talks about his long and distinguished career, including microphone design and his pioneering work on multichannel matrix encoding and decoding for broadcast and music recordings. He also explains his current project called ImmersAV, in which he shoots high-def video and records binaural audio to create a more immersive A/V experience. In addition, he discusses his extensive headphone measurements and how they relate to perceived sound quality, answers chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 1:05:46

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Projector Reviews
Mitsubishi HC4000 DLP Projector
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 20, 2012  |  3 comments
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $1,495 At A Glance: Many advanced features • Superb detail and color • Deepest blacks we've seen at this price level • Poor shadow detail

A front-projection system is usually the display of choice for serious home-theater enthusiasts. But such systems are more expensive than most flat panels and rear-projection TVs, especially when you consider the cost of a good screen. So finding a low-cost projector that performs well is the Holy Grail for those who want a true home cinema without breaking the bank.

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Separate vs. Integrated Subwoofers
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 19, 2012  |  3 comments
I have a couple of questions:

1. Should a home-theater speaker system have separate subwoofers instead of subwoofers in the main front towers?

2. Should an amplifier's power-output rating match the power-handing rating of a speaker system?

Bob Spencer

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Have You Used Digital Copy?
Scott Wilkinson  |  Mar 16, 2012  |  13 comments
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