Home Theater Geeks 501: Chatroom Q&A Special 2!

Host: Scott Wilkinson
Date: September 25, 2025
Podcast: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
Episode Type: Live Q&A with Chat Room

Episode Overview

In this lively special episode, home theater authority Scott Wilkinson answers a wide array of questions from the live chat room audience. With insight, candor, and his trademark friendly style, Scott covers topics such as AR glasses for entertainment, home theater audio and video gear, display technology, soundtracks, lossless audio streaming, AV system dilemmas, and the future of frame rates and 3D in movies. Listeners get a direct, informative, and often opinionated look at the evolving landscape of home media, calibration, and personal preferences.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. AR Glasses and the Movie Experience

[00:55–07:49]

• Scott opens with commentary on Meta’s new AR glasses, which project images onto the lenses and feature built-in cameras, microphones, and speakers.
• He’s skeptical about using AR glasses for movie watching, citing the problems of translucency and immersion:

  • "Watching a movie that way would be just terrible, in my opinion. So no thanks." (Scott, 03:32)

• He acknowledges some practical uses: language translation and possibly navigation maps, though is wary about driver distraction.
• Contrasts his preferences with those of "kids today," mentioning how he doesn’t watch movies on his phone, preferring big screens and immersive sound.

Notable Moment

• James Cameron’s Presentation: During Meta's event, Cameron spoke about AR and 3D, but Scott remains unconvinced that AR glasses can meaningfully enhance the cinematic experience.

2. Theater Preferences & Viewing Experiences

[05:36–09:32]

• Scott laments the lack of local IMAX/Dolby Cinema in his area; he's willing to drive to San Jose for "tentpole" movies.

  • “For Tron Aries… I think I will go over the hill to Dolby Cinema… because the visual imagery is going to be so important and I'm really going to want to see it in the best possible presentation." (Scott, 07:41)

• Recommends seeing comedies (like "Spinal Tap 2") in any format, but insists tentpole films deserve premium venues.

3. Connecting Legacy Equipment to Modern Home Theater

[09:32–12:55]

Chat Q: “Is there a media switcher for older inputs (Laserdisc, tape decks) to HDMI?”

• Scott explains composite, S-video, and component video and their historical prevalence.
  • Composite: worst quality; Component: best.
• Suggests affordable solutions: individual analog-to-HDMI converters are available ($18–$32 each).

  • “At that price, you could get a few of them…” (Scott, 11:49)

• Notes that modern AV receivers rarely have these legacy inputs, so external converters are often necessary.

4. Soundtracks That Outshine Their Movies

[12:01–13:30]

Chat Q: “What movie has a soundtrack that outperforms the movie?”

• Scott highlights Blade Runner 2049 for its outstanding bass-heavy soundtrack:

  • "The soundtrack on that is awesome. Really, really good." (Scott, 12:18)

• He contends the soundtrack is an integral part of the film and hard to judge in isolation.
• Cites Gravity as an exemplary Atmos demo for immersive sound.

5. Current TV Recommendations

[13:30–15:52]

Chat Q: “What are the best TVs out there?”

• Scott champions OLED tech—especially Quantum Dot OLED (QD-OLED) panels from Sony and Samsung, with a personal preference for Sony due to Dolby Vision support.

  • "My first preference of current technology is OLED... at the top of that heap is QD OLED which is made by Sony and Samsung. Samsung makes the panels for both. But I prefer the Sony one."

• LG OLEDs are also praised for performance and price.
• He notes:
  • OLED: "Goes down to infinite black...off axis performance is great."
  • LCD/LED: Brighter and more affordable, but inferior black levels and off-axis viewing.
  • For bright rooms or lower budgets, high-end LED/QLEDs from reputable brands are good alternatives.

6. Bluetooth 5.4 & Lossless Audio

[14:31–17:55]

Chat Q: “Is Bluetooth 5.4 lossless?”

• Scott explains that the new AptX Lossless codec in Bluetooth 5.4 allows for "CD-quality lossless" streaming.

  • "If it says it's lossless, then I would have to assume it is... that means the audio, the digital audio, is not compressed... I certainly prefer to listen to lossless..." (Scott, 14:39)

• He recommends FLAC and ALAC for true lossless streaming.

7. 42-Inch TV as Monitor

[15:52–17:55]

Chat Q: “What’s the best 42-inch TV for use as a monitor?”

• Few OLEDs exist at 42”. LG and Sony are the best bets; LG is more affordable.
• For non-OLEDs: recommends QLED/LED models from Sony, Samsung, TCL, or Hisense.
• "[Hisense and TCL] are now part of the top tier,” says Scott, thanks to major improvements (16:57).

8. Sonos Equipment Opinion

[18:03–18:26]

Chat Q: “What do you think about Sonos nowadays?”

• Sonos still dominates whole-home audio.
• Scott notes they're generally excellent but "very expensive"; value depends on your budget.

9. HDMI Audio Extraction for 7.1

[18:27–20:47]

Chat Q: Should I use an audio extractor with a 20-year-old Onkyo AV receiver and PS5?

• Scott clarifies: PS5 can send 7.1 via HDMI; connect directly to Onkyo, then from Onkyo to TV—no extractor needed if the receiver supports it.

10. Audio Quality: CD vs. High-Res Debate

[20:47–22:59]

• Scott finds 16-bit/44.1kHz (CD quality) perfectly sufficient.

  • "If you're an adult, you can't even hear 20 kilohertz. So what's the point of spending all that money...?" (Scott, 21:42)

• Acknowledges some argue for high sampling rates and ultrasonics, but lacks evidence it makes an audible difference for most listeners.

11. Worst Testing/Review Experience

[22:59–25:05]

• Calibration can be frustrating when TV controls are "too coarse"—difficult to get accurate results.
• Reviewing poor products is hard, but Scott insists on honesty despite possible advertiser pressure.

  • "...when something is just hideously terrible... I hate writing those reviews. I did it because that was my job. But man, I just hated writing those reviews of things that really sucked." (Scott, 24:27)

12. High Frame Rate (HFR) Content: Is 60+ fps the Future?

[26:41–34:02]

Chat Q: “Opinion on high frame rate (HFR) content?”

• Scott loves HFR—describes Gemini Man and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk as "a feast for the eyes," with sharp detail and no motion blur.

  • "I am in a minority that really likes 60 frames per second high frame rate content." (Scott, 26:51)

  • "No judder, no motion blur."

• Most viewers prefer the "cinematic" look of 24 fps, due to tradition.

  • "It didn't look cinematic. Well, it only looks cinematic because that's the way cinema has looked for the last hundred years." (Scott, 27:45)

• Explains "motion smoothing" on TVs and the "soap opera effect": dislikes synthetic frames, prefers original creative intent.
• HFR great for live sports; 3D at HFR (like the Hobbit at 48 fps) is divisive—Scott liked it.

13. AV Receiver Recommendations Under $2,000

[34:02–35:03]

• Favors Denon, Marantz, and Yamaha for AV receivers in this price range. Onkyo and Pioneer also viable.

14. Watching Avatar and Filmmaker Intent

[35:03–35:38]

Chat Q: “Will you watch all Avatar films in 3D as James Cameron intends?”

• Scott is committed to seeing Cameron’s Avatar films in 3D, trusting Cameron's skill in handling stereoscopic depth.

  • "Yes, I am. Absolutely. No question about it. I am. I have enjoyed 3D more than a lot of people."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Movies are meant to be immersive...it's plenty immersive enough for me on a big screen in front of me with speakers all around."
  — Scott Wilkinson, on AR/VR as cinema platforms (04:43)

• "OLED...goes down to infinite black to zero black. LCD TVs of any stripe don’t typically."
  — Scott Wilkinson, on why he loves OLED (13:57)

• "If Bluetooth 5.4 can transmit CD quality losslessly then that's a great thing. I would be all for that."
  — Scott Wilkinson, on wireless hi-fi progress (15:20)

• "Normally, calibration is actually a kind of a meditative process and I get kind of mellowed out by doing it. But when the TV's not cooperating...that gets pretty frustrating."
  — Scott Wilkinson, on his least favorite testing moments (23:44)

• "I am in the minority that really likes 60 frames per second high frame rate content... I thought it was great." — Scott Wilkinson, on HFR movies (26:51)

• "I have enjoyed 3D more than a lot of people. Some people really just hate it. And it's not true 3D. It's stereoscopic. But as long as the filmmaker is careful...it can be comfortable or it can be uncomfortable if they put things too close. James Cameron knows what he's doing."
  — Scott Wilkinson, on 3D cinema (35:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:55 – Scott’s AR glasses & movie-watching critique
• 05:36 – Premium cinematic experiences & theaters
• 09:32 – Solutions for vintage inputs to HDMI
• 12:01 – Movies with standout soundtracks
• 13:30 – Current TV technology recommendations
• 14:31 – Bluetooth 5.4 and the promise of lossless wireless audio
• 15:52 – Best TVs at 42" for monitor use
• 18:03 – Thoughts on Sonos
• 18:27 – 7.1 audio extraction and PS5/Onkyo setup
• 20:47 – CD audio quality vs. high-res streaming
• 22:59 – Most frustrating calibration/testing moments
• 26:41 – High frame rate (HFR) content in movies
• 34:02 – AV receiver recommendations
• 35:03 – Commitment to seeing Avatar in 3D

Tone & Style

Scott’s delivery is relaxed, candid, and deeply informative. He maintains a geeky, affable tone and is unafraid to disagree with mainstream trends. Listeners get both technical expertise and honest, practical advice.

Summary

This episode offers a hands-on, wide-ranging Q&A session with leading home theater expert Scott Wilkinson, delivering actionable advice and opinionated insights on everything from A/V gear shopping, system setup, and content formats to the evolving nature of film and streaming technology. For anyone passionate about home theater or just looking to make more informed choices in their entertainment setups, this episode is densely packed with wisdom and user-friendly guidance.