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Upgrading a 5.1.2 Setup that Has Bi-amped Front L/R Speakers
John Sciacca  |  Jan 30, 2023
Got a tech question for Sound & Vision? Email us at AskSandV@gmail.com

Q I have a 5.1.2 setup based around an Onkyo TX-RZ840 receiver and a Monitor Audio Bronze speaker package using the Bronze 2 stand mounts. My left and right front speakers are bi-amped and I’m looking to upgrade to 5.1.4. I wish to add external amplifiers plus an AV receiver in preamp mode or a preamp processor. Would I get a worthwhile upgrade in audio quality choosing the preamp processor? —Dan Pinnock, via email

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The Connected Life
Working With a Custom Installer, Part 2
John Sciacca  |  Jan 16, 2023
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 to help make the project go smoother for everyone. In Part 1 of this mini-series we covered what to do and be aware of leading up to installation day. Here, we cover what to expect on the day of the installation.
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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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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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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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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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