John Sciacca

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Ask S&V
Should I Connect My Apple TV to the TV or Receiver?
John Sciacca  |  Jun 21, 2023
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q What is the best way to set up my new Apple TV 4K (third generation)? I have a Denon AVR-S750H surround receiver and an LG OLED77CX 4K TV. I am assuming the best way is to connect my ATV directly to an available HDMI port on the receiver, but older S&V discussions, along with some other sites, recommend connecting the Apple TV directly to the TV. Please help! —Barry Neulen

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The Connected Life
Troubleshoot Your Network Like a Boss, Part 2
John Sciacca  |  Dec 23, 2021
Given the proliferation of internet-connected devices in the home, the most common system problems can often be boiled down to network issues. Whether it is slow Wi-Fi, choppy streaming quality, or a total inability to connect, if something is amiss with your home’s network, there will be a cascade of glitches. Here's how to figure out what's going on.
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Ask S&V
Which Will Lead to Better Sound: Upgrading My Power Amp or Treating Room Acoustics?
John Sciacca  |  Nov 07, 2023
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I’m wondering which upgrade will make a more significant audible difference in my home theater: upgrading the power amplifier or treating room acoustics? — Michael (last name withheld)

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The Connected Life
11 Must-Have Tools for Your DIY Toolkit
John Sciacca  |  Oct 20, 2017
Having the right tool makes any job easier — or even possible — and when my company’s vans show up for an installation, they are loaded down with a huge array of gear to help us overcome virtually any hurdle. Between specialized drill bits, to hand tools for terminating an assortment of fittings, to fiber-optic cameras for peering into walls, having the right tool on hand can make the difference between a job well done and an impossible one.
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Other Tech
15 Must-Have A/V Tools
John Sciacca  |  Jun 09, 2008

Having the right set of tools makes any job easier: everything from wall-mounting your new flat panel TV (see Step By Step: How to Mount a Flat-Panel TV) to adding some in-wall speakers (see Continue Reading >

Ask S&V
2 Ways to Connect an External Amp to an AV Receiver
John Sciacca  |  Sep 13, 2023
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q Essentially this is a two-for-one, as both Ed Mendelson and Sam V had very similar questions about connecting an external amplifier to a Marantz AV receiver. Ed wants to add a 3-channel amp to his Marantz SR7012 to power his L/C/R speakers. Sam wants to use his Marantz SR5013 for the audio processing but use a Yamaha RX-A3020 for the amplification. How do we do this?

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The Connected Life
3 Things You Can Do to Get Bigger, Better Bass
John Sciacca  |  Nov 18, 2015
When you consider that subwoofers cover a scant 0.3 percent of the audible spectrum—from 20 to 80 Hz—it might be easy to discount just how important bass is to solid audio playback. I mean, who would complain about having a solid 99.7 percent, right? But when you take those crucial two octaves away, everything else sounds thin and diminished, showing just how important a solid low-end foundation is for your audio playback system.

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HDTV TechThe Connected Life
3D TV Demystified
John Sciacca  |  Sep 10, 2010

My dad called me the other day. He had just rented Avatar and he wanted to know if I had seen it and if the version I watched was in 3D and why his wasn't. A client sent me an e-mail asking whether he could use a new 3D TV to watch regular, non-3D programming.

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The Connected Life
4 Things to Keep in Mind When Wall Mounting a TV
John Sciacca  |  Sep 30, 2015
As a custom installer, meeting with clients building new homes, remodeling, or just looking to upgrade their entertainment systems is a big part of my job. And after 17 years of walking through job sites and looking at blueprints, I pretty quickly hone in on the few key areas that determine the project’s difficulty and cost.
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The Connected Life
4 Ways to Hide Your TV in Plain Sight
John Sciacca  |  May 19, 2017
How to enjoy a large TV without having it dominate your room.
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