John Sciacca

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What’s the Best Way to Connect a Subwoofer to My Stereo Receiver?
John Sciacca  |  Dec 22, 2022
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a Yamaha stereo receiver and would like to connect a Polk active sub to the “B” speaker jacks while powering a pair of Polk speakers from the “A” speaker jacks. Will this work, or must I instead connect the speakers to the line out on the sub? Which connection will give me the best result without causing damage to the amp? — Alex Parkes, via email

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Why Do I Get a “Not 4K” Warning When I Stream on My 4K Roku Setup?
John Sciacca  |  Nov 29, 2022
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q When I’m streaming 4K through my Roku Ultra, I occasionally get an onscreen warning that says “not 4K-compatible.” I also have a Panasonic DP-UB9000 Ultra HD Blu-ray player but there’s no issue with it. Every check I make shows that I am set up properly for 4K streaming and my Wi-Fi signal to the Roku is great. Any ideas? It’s making me crazy. —Michael Henn, via email

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The Connected Life
Working With a Custom Installer, Part 1
John Sciacca  |  Nov 15, 2022
If you’re looking to hire an installer for a job — or really have any trade come and work in your home — here are some suggestions for making the project go smoother for everyone, starting with things you should do and be aware of leading up to installation day.
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How Can I Get Sonos to Randomize My 700-CD Collection?
John Sciacca  |  Oct 31, 2022
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a Sonos system for playing music throughout the house. I've recorded my 700-CD collection and like to listen to the songs randomly but Sonos does not access the whole collection — only about 4,000 of the 6,000 available songs. Can you recommend a solution, or do you know of an app that can safely randomize files? —Clive Fox, Richmond, VA

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The Connected Life
Big-Screen Duality: A 2-in-1 TV/Projection Solution
John Sciacca  |  Sep 15, 2022
When I began this series of columns earlier this year, I had no idea it would turn into a four-part, treatise on the evolution and current state of choosing a big-screen TV for your media room or home theater. To conclude this tetralogy, I address two additional solutions that straddle the divide between wanting a fantastic, cinematic experience in a non-dedicated/light-controlled room — options that don’t require a wallet melting budget.
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The Connected Life
Big Screen Dilemma: TV or Video Projector?
John Sciacca  |  Jul 12, 2022
When I started my career as a custom installer, getting a cinema-size image meant a front projection system in a light-controlled room. But technology has since developed to the point where you can now get a 100-inch flat-panel TV for well under twenty grand. Which solution is right for you?
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The Connected Life
You’ve Got to Hide Your Screen Away
John Sciacca  |  May 18, 2022
No matter how large and thin your TV is, you have the equivalent of a giant black hole on the wall when the set is turned off. Here are five ways to hide your screen.
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The Connected Life
Big Screen Decisions
John Sciacca  |  Mar 08, 2022
When I started out as a custom installer back in 1998, a “big screen” was a 60-inch rear-projection TV, with high-end models available from the likes of Mitsubishi and Pioneer Elite. These were 4:3 aspect ratio, cathode ray tube-driven sets with 480i resolution, and they were physically hulking beasts weighing upwards of hundreds of pounds. Boy, have things changed over the past 20-plus years.
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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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The Connected Life
Troubleshoot Your Network Like a Boss
John Sciacca  |  Nov 01, 2021
For years, most of the service calls my company received were cable TV-related. And it didn’t matter if the customer’s TV screen read “No Signal,” there was no sound, image quality was poor, or they couldn’t change channels or access the program guide, all issues were usually fixed with one simple action: rebooting the cable box. Nowadays, the service calls we get usually involve issues with a home’s network...
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