AVForums Podcast: Episode 252 - 11th February 2019

Phil Hinton

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00:01:01 - What has everyone done this week?
00:11:11 - Current Competitions
00:13:48 - Another Hi-Fi and AV high street retailer closes the doors
00:23:26 - JVC N7 native 4K Projector first thoughts
00:37:38 - Ed reviews Monitor Audio Gold 100 speakers
00:40:43 - Phil reviews Alita: Battle Angel at the cinema
00:48:28 - Cas reviews Lego Movie 2 at the cinema
00:54:58 - Cinema releases this week
00:57:22 - Blu-ray and 4K disc releases this week
01:03:12 - TV shows to watch right now!
01:12:26 - Is 4K streaming quality good enough for film rentals? Cas finds out...
01:27:00 - Goodbyes

Presented by Phil Hinton with Ed Selley, Cas Harlow and Steve Withers

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Time: 01:28:02 | File Size: 134mb | Direct Link
 
Thanks Lads,

If you cant wait to get another ep of The Defiant Ones, its on Netflix, and agreed, its excellent, one of the best Docs I watched last year.
 
Thanks Lads,

If you cant wait to get another ep of The Defiant Ones, its on Netflix, and agreed, its excellent, one of the best Docs I watched last year.
Was just going to say the same lol.
 
If you want a great rabbit hole of YouTube to disappear down while you should be working I recommend the channel Curious Droid. It's like the most perfect channel for the sort of 40 something bloke who spent his childhood with posters of Avro Vulcans and the Space Shuttle.
 
Top podcast chaps. Regarding buying tech from physical stores, I try to support my local TV/electronics shop and they've been stellar. I've bought my last 5 TVs from there:)eek:), and they were good enough to let me return an LCD when I wasn't happy with it in exchange for a new plasma. Would definitely deal with them again. Same with HiFi stuff, I go the local specialist in town who have always been superb too. If they've made the effort to help me with a purchase then I'm happy to pay that little extra.

Look forward to the TV vs projector discussion. Especially with regard to HDR, when big TVs seem like very good value compared to good quality projectors, plus there's a whole lot less faff in setting up a TV (Screens, light in rooms, mounting, noise etc). I've frequently looked at projectors for the big screen size, but the costs involved to get something with as good a quality as my DX902 really puts me off.

This may seem old fashioned, but you can rent films from Cinema Paradiso which has an increasing number of 4K films and works out way cheaper than streaming rentals, which IMHO is way too expensive. Admittedly you do lose the on demand access for a film but I'm really happy with this.

Thanks for the heads up on The Expanse moving to Amazon too. It's tremendous.
 
I’m the same, have bought all my AV kit from my trusted Edinburgh supplier.
Worth the extra for knowledge / demo / recommendations although I did purchase my oled online as I didn’t want to mess him around around with swapping out if not happy which was a good call as it took several attempts...
It’s the recommendations that really helped me, for video I’m pretty clued up, on the audio side not so much..
 
Have to admit I am pretty shocked at Cas admitting to buying a disc, using the download code and then selling the physical disc on....not sure I agree with that at all (still using an extra "licence" for the film than was originally purchased, - no difference imo to buying a 4k disc and selling the BR that came with it...still only buying one licence on multiple formats).

If I misheard him, then apologies.

I alos agree with the podcast about those who demo kit in a physical store and then purchase from elsewhere.

The only other thing that makes me nervous about "buying" downloads (ie via Raskutin ? service) ….you never know when they will lose the licence for whatever you have bought, and it could just disappear over night( or how likely the actual service will continue for a long time?) and not be available or perhaps only periodically.
 
Have to admit I am pretty shocked at Cas admitting to buying a disc, using the download code and then selling the physical disc on....not sure I agree with that at all (still using an extra "licence" for the film than was originally purchased, - no difference imo to buying a 4k disc and selling the BR that came with it...still only buying one licence on multiple formats).
What if you buy a film, use the code, but then decide to sell it on. You can't move the code on. Really I think you are given licences for physical and digital versions of the film, and when selling on you specify you only have the physical version to sell and price accordingly.
 
Good to hear Cas give 4K streaming a go. While I still buy 4K blus for titles I love, having a 4K version on iTunes with Dolby Vision and Atmos is sometimes to good to pass up at a fraction of the price of the physical copy. Even better are automatic upgrades should you already own the title.

Just a couple of weeks ago there was a massive sale to encourage digital ownership and dozens of recent releases were only £2.99. Not having shelf space to spare and having recently got fibre, it was way too good to pass up. While I'm sure you can tell a difference, on my projector, they all look amazing.

Need to give that Jim Clark doc a watch, he is my Dad's hero and I local legend in my neck of the woods.
 
Just a quick post to mention that the documentary on Dr. Dre and Jimmy Lovine The Defiant Ones broadcast by the BBC has been available via Netflix since 2017. I'm pretty sure that it was mentioned in a podcast previously by Mr Hinton or am I imagining things?
 
What if you buy a film, use the code, but then decide to sell it on. You can't move the code on. Really I think you are given licences for physical and digital versions of the film, and when selling on you specify you only have the physical version to sell and price accordingly.

I guess it is the same as buying a disc, ripping it and storing it on a hard drive before then selling it on? I do rip the discs I buy to a NAS, but don't then sell the discs. I do however still get better audio and video via the majority of rips I've made when compared to what I'd get via a streaming services. THe ripped titles simply make it easier to access the titles. I am technically breaching the copyright though.

Most people don't use the digital download option you get in association with the physical discs, mainly because of the poor quality. I'd hazard this to be one reason why the UltraViolet service has closed down?

UltraViolet service to close down


I'm also rather bemused by you thinking that the physical disc would in some way be worth less without the access code for a download? The studios would charge you the same irrespective of whether or not a downoad code was included so cannot see why you'd not do likewise if selling just the disc? The inclusion of the option will be costing the studios and or the distributors next to nothing to facilitate. They only really need one file and the space to store it. The space required to store such files may become a major issue as time goes by though, expecially if wanting 4K and then 8K content to be made available via streaming services. Maybe that will be the future, huge server farms covering all the land in the world and the people having to live on boats watching TV? It should also be noted that you don't technically own anything if using a streaming service! Those hosting it can erase it or remove it at any time for any reason. Apple have already experienced critism for doing so and some will lose content they thought they owned in relation to the closure of UltraViolet.


By the way, the server farm will be in the southern hemisphere while the north is occupied by the massive Amazon warehouse where everyone will be buying their life jackets and inflatable bananas from :)



Nearly forgot to mention that we'll be adopting the 9 day week to enable us all to have the time to actually watch all this stuff that is apparently going to be readilly available. THe subscription will also be deducted directly from your wage because everyone will either work for Amazon, their subsidiaries or at the server farm blowing cold air over the servers and winding up the clockwork hard drives. That's right, steam punk becomes a reality!
 
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took my son to see Alita Battle Angel on Sunday at the local 3d IMAX
based on the feedback of members here, we were not disappointed , the visuals alone were worth the price of admission and the story was pretty good as well although as many have said clearly setting up a sequel.

interesting how Superfi has gone bust , i always thought they were a bit of cheapo company yet Richer Sounds 'seems' to be doing very well and they have shops ……...and importantly a strong online presence
 
Good podcast gents and a few words of warning to Ed and Cas - It's even harder when they become teenagers! Wifi and the amount of mobile data on their contracts are the only negotiating tools you have at that age.

Interesting how Superfi has gone bust , i always thought they were a bit of cheapo company yet Richer Sounds 'seems' to be doing very well and they have shops ……...and importantly a strong online presenc
I did not regard Superfi as anything but a " cheapo company " especially against RS. I used to visit their 2 branches across the road from each other in Birmingham. Superfi were more upmarket and the staff extremely knowledgeable.
 
Never visited a physical Superfi store. But looking through my Amazon history it seems I've bought quite a bit of kit from them that way over the years. Also bought my latest AVR from them direct via their website. I remember there was an issue with the transaction (at my bank's end) and Superfi's customer was excellent - helpful and friendly. It's a shame to see them go.
 
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Thank you.

‘The Defiant Ones’ all episodes has been on Netflix for some time and still is. Excellent documentary.
 
The crew talked last week about doing the podcast from Phil’s Mustang.

Cas sounds like he is already locked in the boot. (Sorry, Trunk :) ).

Struggling to hear!

Love the Podcast though.
 
I’m not sure in Cas has access to an Apple TV 4K box but there is an absolute plethora of 4K, HDR/DV content to be streamed (rented or purchased) at often very reasonable prices. The updates to 4K versions of previously purchased SDR movies is a real positive, too.

I’d be very interested to see a comparison of bit rates between those offerings.
 
To me eyes watching on 2 x LG OLEDC7 TV’s there is a massive difference in picture and sound for [4K HDR 10/DOLVISION] content on iTunes via 4k Apple TV compared to [4K HDR 10/DOLBYVISION] content on Netflix.

However iTunes on Apple TV4K compared to 4K BLU RAY - the biggest significant difference is ‘AUDIO’. If I had a top end 50k AV System I would much prefer the audio on DISC. For picture the Apple TV4K is good enough. Netflix and Amazon are often disappointing, even the HDR/DV picture and sound is rubbish.
 
I’m not sure in Cas has access to an Apple TV 4K box but there is an absolute plethora of 4K, HDR/DV content to be streamed (rented or purchased) at often very reasonable prices. The updates to 4K versions of previously purchased SDR movies is a real positive, too.

I’d be very interested to see a comparison of bit rates between those offerings.

Forgive me if I’m wrong but the Rakuten segment sounded a bit like an advertorial. Happy to be corrected but the lack of any comparison to Apple 4K etc made me a bit suspicious.

As I say, happy to be proven wrong!
 
Whoa, Allen Hughes directed The Defiant Ones? Going to have to watch it now.

Oh, and despite the negativity expressed towards Happy Death Day on the podcast, it's a blast. Nothing revolutionary, but a massively enjoyable slasher with a terrific lead. Roll on Happy Death Day 2U this weekend!
 
I can only pronounce Rakuten as Ra-koo-teen, then sing “RA-RA-RAKUTEN, RUSSIA’S GREATEST LOVE MACHINE” in the style of Boney M.

Ahem.

Carry on.
 
I can only pronounce Rakuten as Ra-koo-teen, then sing “RA-RA-RAKUTEN, RUSSIA’S GREATEST LOVE MACHINE” in the style of Boney M.

Ahem.

Carry on.

I salute and/or endorse this message.
 
Forgive me if I’m wrong but the Rakuten segment sounded a bit like an advertorial. Happy to be corrected but the lack of any comparison to Apple 4K etc made me a bit suspicious.

As I say, happy to be proven wrong!
No, it wasn't an advertorial. We are always 100% transparent about such things. Rakuten gave Cas a code to try out a rental, which was disclosed in the podcast and that was it. We didn't have to talk about it or praise the service in any way. Much like a manufacturer giving us a piece of kit to review or a check disc.
 
Further to my comments in the podcast, I still think the X7900 (X7500 in my case) has the edge in terms of pure contrast numbers, but there's so doubt that the N7 is the superior projector when it comes to HDR. Now that I've got mine set up properly, I'm over the moon with the SDR and HDR performance. My only real complaint is that the 3D is dimmer than the previous generation, and there's no dedicated 3D mode. I had create one of my own 3D mode and needed to use the high lamp mode with 3D content, which I didn't need to do with my X7500. Having said that, there's absolutely no crosstalk in the 3D image, which is impressive. I still think the lens cover is very shoddy though.
 

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