HDTV and Home Theater Podcast

On today's show we will discuss the expected Black Friday deals we can all look forward to on the day after Thanksgiving. Last year the cheapest Blu Ray player was $128 and a  50 inch 720p plasma was going for $900. This year the cheapest Blu Ray player comes in at $78 and you can pick up a 50 inch 1080p plasma with a Blu Ray player for $1000. There are so many deals out there we can't talk about all of them.

The HT Guys buying guides have become an annual tradition, and something that we really look forward to putting together.  Last week we covered TVs, this week we'll do A/V Receivers.  We'll break them down into price categories, just like last year, $500 or less, between $500 and $1000, and greater than $1000. It's become commonplace for receivers to support Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio, so we'll be looking for other features to distinguish each unit this time around.

It's time for our annual HDTV buying guide. Just like last year, we're listing them by size instead of technology. Prices have dropped quite a bit in just 12 months, and there are some really exciting deals available right now. This year the prices for tier one manufacturers are even more affordable. Without further ado, here is the list for 2009:

On Episode 386 we got into the details of Ara's whole house music system based around Airport Express and iTunes.  Braden has a whole house audio system based on Logitech Squeezebox devices and their Squeezbox Server software.  Logitech let us play with a new Squeezebox Radio.  It's pretty cool.

As Daylight Savings time draws to a close those of us with lights on a timer need to do our bi-annual ritual of readjusting the settings so lights are on when it gets dark. This year Ara decided that he wanted to look into home automation so his lighting could be set once. He decided to go with an Insteon System starter package that included two lamp controllers, one appliance controller, a computer interface, access points for the mesh network, a remote control, and software.

We'll admit it, there are other companies that make remote controls.  We decided to try one this week.  The Prestigo 8008 is a cool remote with a color screen, but how does it stack up to the entry level Harmony 510?  Excellent question. And we had a chance this week to take a look at the CinemaTube from brite-View.  It's a network media player that supports full 1080p/60 video and Dolby Digital and DTS audio, so it's right up our alley.  After all, who wants to stream video if you can't get it in high def?

All of us have a need to take our content on the road for one reason or another. There are plenty of devices that can do that for you. Anything from an iPod or a laptop to a portable media center. You can choose the ultra portability of an iPod but you'll give up video quality. If you want HD quality you can use a laptop or portable media center but those are a bit bigger and more difficult to drag around with you. Today we are taking a look at the ZuneHD. With the Zune you can have ultra portability and HD video quality in one nice looking package. Save $10 on any order of $50 or more of Insteon Products at SmartHome. Use Checkout Code EHTGUYS. Offer good through 10/12.

Ara had the opportunity to speak with Tom Andry of AV Rant.We hope you enjoy this bonus mid-week show! Save $10 on any order of $50 or more of Insteon Products at SmartHome. Use Checkout Code EHTGUYS. Offer good through 10/12.

Not content with what the HT Guys have declared the best universal remote on the market, Logitech continues to put out new Harmony Universal Remotes.  Of the two most recent models on the market, the Harmony 700 and the Harmony 900, we've had a chance to look at the 700.  It is the less expensive of the two, and can be found in retail stores and online for an MSRP of $150 US (Buy Now).

With so many devices connecting to the Internet these days we like to see products like Powerline Ethernet adapters come to market. In general the technology has improved vastly since our first review back in 2006. At that time we reviewed a product that was rated at 85Mbps and we were lucky if we got 10 Mbps. So imagine our excitement when we heard about the Gigabit Adapter from Belkin (Model # F5D4076).

We received a great listener review of the Denon AVR-3310CI Home Theater Receiver, so we'll share that with you. We also found a slightly different take on this year's CEDIA show with a few more products to talk about. Then we dive into the ageless debate, what to buy: a Front or Rear Projector for your home theater.

CEDIA stands for "Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association". Each year they have an expo where manufacturers show off there wares. This year the show is in Atlanta. While the HT Guys did not go we have friends who did attend. Listen to the show for some first hand reports from the show. In the mean time we run down some of the announcements that came out of the show.

It's that time of year again.  The weather begins to cool, leaves start to change colors, Football is back and we get a bunch of new HDTV shows.  When we were kids we looked forward to Christmas and the first day of summer.  As adults, we look forward to the fall more than anything else.  Some of our favorite shows are coming back with new episodes and we get the opportunity to fill the DVR with brand new series to see what sticks.

Now that you can find Blu-ray players at Wal*Mart for less than $150 we thought it would be a good idea to present five slightly more expensive options that you may want to consider. Spending a little more can get you a more capable player that won't feel obsolete by Christmas.

It's football season, and we're ready to watch a serious amount of football. For us, it's one of those things that you miss in the off season, but you don't really realize how much you miss it until it it's back. A recent San Diego Chargers pre-season game was blacked out because they didn't sell enough tickets. To see it live, you've have to attend, which isn't cheap. Is it worth it?