AVRant Home Theater Podcast

Calling All Listeners!

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:34:02 +0000

Got a system? Proud of it? Maybe you’re just looking for suggestions. Here’s your chance. We’ve opened a new page called Listener Systems. Here we will display your system for all the world to see. Come on, guys, you know you can’t help bragging about your huge display, massive speakers, or VW Bug sized subwoofer. [...]

Wii Finds Its Place

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:45:40 +0000

The News Apparently, the Wii has gotten to the point that developers don’t want to make games for it anymore. Well, you’ve got to expect that is going to be the case when you have such an underpowered piece of kiddie gear. But as long as sales are up, the developers will come, right? Unfortunately, sales [...]

AVRant #153: Kids and Speakers

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:48:47 +0000

This week Tom and Dina tackle a number of listener questions including where to place surround speakers and which type are the best (according to Tom). John has a question about why we calibrate displays to 6500k. Best Buy is looking to get out of Brick and Mortar? Kids and speakers – what to consider. [...]

Netflix Streaming on PS3 Starts Friday

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:59:24 +0000

Got this today from Netflix. Looks like Netflix is going live on the PS3 on Friday November 6th. Look for a report on the next podcast.

AVRant #152: Interview with Shane Rich of RBH Sound

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:53:55 +0000

You’ve asked for it, and now you have it – an interview with the guy that designs the speakers for RBH Sound (and their sister companies Destination Audio, EMP Tek, and Status Acoustics). Shane Rich is the Technical Director and Vice President of Engineering at RBH. Topics include: A bit of history about Shane. Shane’s design process. How [...]

AVRant #151: Slip of the Tongue

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:30:00 +0000

Tom goes on and on about being a geek in this one. How setting the distance of your subwoofer can affect its performance. Center channel woes – what causes muddiness and how to fix it. A preview of an extra AV Rant episode on the horizon. What’s the deal with pro versions of displays versus [...]

New AV Rant Phone Number

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:07:40 +0000

New new Google Voice Widget won’t fit in the sidebar (yet) so I wanted to give you a way of using it. Basically, click on it, enter your phone number, and Google will call whatever phone number you enter and the new AV Rant line. It’s easy and kind of cool in a big brother [...]

AVRant #150: HT Guys on AV Rant

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:03:36 +0000

This week we have the honor of having the HT guys, Ara and Braden, on AV Rant. Tom talks with the guys about them, their gear, and their show. If you’re not already listening, you should. You know what is cool about Internet Direct gear? It doesn’t get stolen. Thoughts on DLP, a HT Guys [...]

AV Rant #149: Nerdcore Tom

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:30:26 +0000

Dina’s back, and then back again. You’ll get it once you hear the podcast. Leif’s second question is answered. $1000 system is recommended (sort of). As a follow up, not including the display, you should spend 50% on speakers, 25% on receiver, and 25% on everything else. At least that’s what Tom thinks. Will commercials [...]

AVRant #148: Beating on Beats

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:36:56 +0000

Dina’s having a girls only week so apparently that doesn’t include AV. Yes, the logic escapes us too. Mark is this weeks guest host and he has a lot to say about Def Tech (let the hate mail begin). Leif has a question about diffusion which leads into a question from Rob about affordable absorption. [...]

AVRant #147: Cyborg

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:15:35 +0000

This week Tom and Dina talk about Starbucks, Natal, and the Beatles. UPS really did one on John. Akamai HD looks to be pretty interesting – check it out if you haven’t already. Tom is going to be on the HT Guys – next week (not this one like he thought). A receiver you want [...]

AVRant #146: Graduate Education

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:44:38 +0000

Get your hot pizza straight from your PS3. For a limited time only! Tom got a bunch of Emails this week. Jon has a question about why the neoHD has Tom so excited, Richard wants to know what speakers to buy, Ronald has an opinion, and Michael uses Tom as a teaching aid. CA sees [...]

AVRant #145: Alien Tom

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:13:22 +0000

A report from CEDIA via patient Zero. Everyone thank Clint. Sony has a new Blu-ray player that actually has Tom’s interest. Has he turned to the dark side? They also seem to be doing 3-D and 120Hz processing correctly. A cool new remote from NGHP that will have you wishing you knew a foreign language. [...]

AV Rrant 144: DPP

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:44:24 +0000

ooVoo is definitely working now (though Dina spends a goodly amount of time pixelated). Can AV Rant be turned into a drinking game? Tom thinks so. Tom loves his 80″ projection screen – even more now that he spent the weekend on a 32″ CRT. Evan has a question, Tom has sort of an answer. [...]

AVRant #143: Copper Improvement

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:43:52 +0000

ooVoo take two. Last time I seemed to be a success. If it works again, we’ll call it not-a-fluke. Does anyone make their own Blu-ray players any more or do they just upgrade the feet? 3D Blu-ray coming… soon? Gamers like to hold discs – Tom is amazed. Apple is going to make their own [...]

AVRant #142: On a Burro

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:55:20 +0000

We’re giving ooVoo a shot again. See below for the full video of the taping session complete with lots of pre-banter and a sneeze and topic Tom edited out. This week Dina and Tom discuss PlayOn the Wii, Best Buy theft policies, and something about Samsung. Engadget has a poll (and so does AV Rant). [...]

AVRant #141: Custom Love

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:18:58 +0000

Dina’s back and is around for a long while. All you wanna-be guest co-hosts, we’ve got plans for you too. Tom STILL hates Microsoft. He’s not all that fond of California either. Custom installers and the games they play. Tom needs to clean up his wires (not as much as these guys). PS3 is cheaper [...]

AVRant #140: Back in Action

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:32:22 +0000

We’re back after a week’s absence. Sorry about that. A lot of listener questions get answered (and some get forgotten after the loss of the last podcast – ask again if you think you are one of those). Jonathan understands HTiBs. Onkyo has a few new ones on the way that are pretty interesting. George [...]

Banging Oppo BDP-83 Deal

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:32:18 +0000

Looking for a new receiver and want the latest and greatest Universal Blu-ray player (goes for $3500 under the Lexicon brand)? Pick up the popular Yamaha RX-V3900 and get the Oppo BDP-83 (plays CDs, DVDs, SACDs, DVD-As, Blu-rays and more) for $.05! That’s right, the Yammy normally goes for $1799.95 but with the deal you [...]

Netflix 2.0 on Xbox LIVE

info@avrant.com (Tom Andry, Clint DeBoer) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:57:36 +0000

Netflix seems to be updating its interface on the new Xbox LIVE update coming tomorrow. Why I think this is significant is that it finally adds the ability to browse titles and add them to your queue sans PC… Currently, you have to leave the Xbox 360, pull up your desktop/laptop and add new titles [...]