Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Side note….I thought the Panasonic 9000 had great tone mapping, but the NZ8 blows it out of the water. This thing is insane. I am easing into it with picking up on Westworld season 2 UHD, and can easily say the projector is worth every penny spent and having to wait for it. It is that good.

They are worth the high cost.

I'm very impressed. I thought it would be amazing and it had better be amazing but thankfully .... it is!

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by gotmule

I am a bit more curious now that you shared that. There is really only one direct function I want which I have come across after a few hours which is lens memory to switch between aspect ratios without having to go into the menu. The projector itself senses SDR and HDR content and automatically adjusts based on how each of those are dialed in since they each provide very different adjustments. I ordered a JVC remote that has direct access to the lens presets (suggested by Sapiendut) so will see how that does.

Side note….I thought the Panasonic 9000 had great tone mapping, but the NZ8 blows it out of the water. This thing is insane. I am easing into it with picking up on Westworld season 2 UHD, and can easily say the projector is worth every penny spent and having to wait for it. It is that good.

I am going to look into the options you mentioned though on remotes. I need an itch to start scratching.

Even with the legendary blacks of a JVC, and having a an all blacked out room, I am a bear for matting each film individually. The JVC finally allowed me to go AT and CIH so that my matting is simply moving black velvet from the sides on velcro now. Having lens presets set at the touch of a button is clutch. The great thing about the HARMONY is that I can load codes from multiple JVC models to get features that seemed to have been left off of that year's remote. The remote from the x570r is no great shakes either.

Not only is the HARMONY easily used by all members of the family, many features work with my google hub. ANYONE can walk into the dadcave and say OK GOOGLE FIRE UP THE THEATER or TURN ON THE TV and everything comes to life. Once a movie is selected, it can be paused, played and stopped, channels can be changed all with voice commands. OK GOOGLE SHUT DOWN THE THEATER does what you think it would although that took some doing in programming the remote because of the JVC's 2 step shut down procedure.

At some point, I'll get around to figuring out how to voice activate the aspect ratio presets, but for now, they're simply assigned colour coded hard buttons on the remote.

[bhampton]

Watched American Psycho last nignt.



It had been a while since I had seen it on Blu Ray. When I loaded it I checked the "settings" and noticed the audio was ATMOS so I figured that's new. When I watched it I was stunned. This movie currently costs half what a full priced UHD BD costs but the AV quality is exceptional.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Watched American Psycho last nignt.



It had been a while since I had seen it on Blu Ray. When I loaded it I checked the "settings" and noticed the audio was ATMOS so I figured that's new. When I watched it I was stunned. This movie currently costs half what a full priced UHD BD costs but the AV quality is exceptional.

Just ordered it. I remember watching that on dvd the same day I watched Fight Club. I wasn’t even sure who I was at the end of that double billing. Thanks for the recommendation!

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by gotmule

Just ordered it. I remember watching that on dvd the same day I watched Fight Club. I wasn’t even sure who I was at the end of that double billing. Thanks for the recommendation!

The first thing I thought when I saw his post was - Oh No...don't add to GOTMULE's backlog! .... I'm waiting on new pics of your setup!!

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

The first thing I thought when I saw his post was - Oh No...don't add to GOTMULE's backlog! .... I'm waiting on new pics of your setup!!

I know right? I took some pics of the JVC but haven’t grabbed any good screen caps yet. The ones I took yesterday had the lighting all screwed up. Maybe my iPhone doesn’t like lasers. I did update the picture of the front end with the new amps but I need to take some of the room since I moved a couple of subs also.

[bhampton]

You will need a good SLR and tripod if you want to try to demonstrate how good the projector is.

[gotmule]

Originally Posted by bhampton

You will need a good SLR and tripod if you want to try to demonstrate how good the projector is.

The room is very dark so that would actually help with the others also. Now I need to find someone who has one that I can borrow.

[cheez avenger]

Doctor Strange 2 tonight in Dolby Cinema. Just gotta get through the work day today and then some libations at a "Cinco de Drinko" party before we see the good Doctor. It's gonna be a long day!

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

Not only is the HARMONY easily used by all members of the family, many features work with my google hub.

Glad it works for you, Echo Cube or Google Mini would not work for me in the home theater, they just could not hear me with movie going . Does work pretty well in other parts of the house, have a Samsung SmartThings hub (Z-Wave, Zigbee) and Harmony Hub controlling lots of devices. At our age we are more forgetful so its nice when we are away to see if we let the garage door down or if the front door is locked.

I have spent a lot of money over the years with various control devices* and none came close to the ease of use as my URC MX-980 button remote. Also have URC MX-5000 with touch screen and it does IR, RF and IP. The 980 is just IR and RF but I like it better.

* iRule, Rommie, The Home Remote and several other mobile based apps

[slimjean]

Originally Posted by bhampton

Watched American Psycho last nignt.



It had been a while since I had seen it on Blu Ray. When I loaded it I checked the "settings" and noticed the audio was ATMOS so I figured that's new. When I watched it I was stunned. This movie currently costs half what a full priced UHD BD costs but the AV quality is exceptional.

I love all Brad Easton Ellis movies. They have an 80's dark screwed up way about them.

Yes I also liked the Canyons and the Informers.

You get a Lindsay Lohan and Amber Heard playing in train wreck situations.

Less Than Zero needs to come to 4K so bad!!

[crutzulee]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Glad it works for you, Echo Cube or Google Mini would not work for me in the home theater, they just could not hear me with movie going . Does work pretty well in other parts of the house, have a Samsung SmartThings hub (Z-Wave, Zigbee) and Harmony Hub controlling lots of devices. At our age we are more forgetful so its nice when we are away to see if we let the garage door down or if the front door is locked.

I have spent a lot of money over the years with various control devices* and none came close to the ease of use as my URC MX-980 button remote. Also have URC MX-5000 with touch screen and it does IR, RF and IP. The 980 is just IR and RF but I like it better.

* iRule, Rommie, The Home Remote and several other mobile based apps

It's actually the Google mini that I have.. funny that you would have difficulty with the voice commands as a favorite past time in our house is trying to trip up the AI... I'm a master at mimicking accents and my kids will often say something that only rhymes with the desired command. I often give the command to fire up the theater from the top of the stairs outside my HT.

No matter how much I mangle the command, this thing seems to intuit what I mean... it's almost scary how good it is and strange as the same tech on my S21 phone ( where I actually have to have it LEARN my voice) often yields less than stellar results...

Programming the new projector into the Harmony was a more problematic thing as testing the shutdown sequence was not something I wanted to do often as it involved sparking up the bulb... but once that was finally set, the voice side of things did not require any changes.
I've often contemplated picking up another used Harmony as I will be screwed if this thing ever gives up the ghost... unfortunately, the used prices did these things got out of hand once Harmony decided to pack it in. I payed about $40 CDN for my HARMONY ULTIMATE ONE with the hub and 2 extra IR blasters..

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by crutzulee

It's actually the Google mini that I have.. funny that you would have difficulty with the voice commands

No difficulty when it can hear me but in the home theater that was a problem at times, voice 79 dB SPL, movie 94 dB SPL, movie wins . Routine home theater use is via macros on the remote. I can push a button on the remote and be in the popcorn room before I could call out a voice command.

Superseded a Harmony remote a long time ago with its 15 device limitation.

Below is just the pages for my Yamaha AVP for main zone. It has 3 other zones plus tuner controls.

[Show spoiler]

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I can push a button on the remote and be in the popcorn room before I could call out a voice command.

I want a room!

[Wendell R. Breland]

Curious question: IF SVOD services change their cancellation method from online to call in will you continue with that service?

For me, I would cancel. I am in that group that providers dislike, the churners!

With Netflix in free fall ($701 to $185) there is no telling how they and other services will respond. Netflix now being sued just adds to their troubles.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Curious question: IF SVOD services change their cancellation method from online to call in will you continue with that service?

For me, I would cancel. I am in that group that providers dislike, the churners!

With Netflix in free fall ($701 to $185) there is no telling how they and other services will respond. Netflix now being sued just adds to their troubles.

They will 100% introduce ads. I thought that 5 years ago and I believe it now. They simply have no choice. They will be clever with it as to not frustrate their subscribers and may even have ads as screensavers when a person pauses a show. I see regular ad slots for a tv show or film and self promotion ads for the method I mentioned. It will be perfect to advertise their upcoming shows and latest mobile games.

I hsve said for years these streaming services are built on sand, studios starting to lose their nerve now and it’s not surprising.

Now,we have news Peacock will force ads in their free tier apparently. There will be a frame around the currently running show used to advertise and possibly introduce interactive elements.

[Lee A Stewart]

Netflix's stock was way over valued to begin with so it's no surprise there was a market correction when they hit a speed bump.

All SVOD Streaming Services will have to offer a cheaper with ads version. Why they haven't already is a mystery. Ad revenue is in the 100s of billions of dollars per year. Business 101: follow the money.

And no . . . they will not make it difficult to cancel a membership. They will fight churn by selective programming content. Weekly episodes helps.

One thing they will do is crack down on password sharing - you can take that to the bank.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Netflix's stock was way over valued to begin with so it's no surprise there was a market correction when they hit a speed bump.

.

I think many stocks are over rated but it's still kind of a surprise when they fall.

I think TSLA in particular is over rated by 10x. But, there's an army of minions with a crush on Elon that will do literally anything to support him.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Netflix's stock was way over valued to begin with so it's no surprise there was a market correction when they hit a speed bump.

All SVOD Streaming Services will have to offer a cheaper with ads version. Why they haven't already is a mystery. Ad revenue is in the 100s of billions of dollars per year. Business 101: follow the money.

And no . . . they will not make it difficult to cancel a membership. They will fight churn by selective programming content. Weekly episodes helps.

One thing they will do is crack down on password sharing - you can take that to the bank.

Judging by what NBCUNIVERSAL have planned for Peacock, it sounds like HT enthusiasts idea of hell. Forced ads as a frame around the screen while the show plays. Talk about intrusive!
Their other great idea that they seem to be putting into place is in-screen ads, in other words product placement graphics built into the film or tv show itself. Think billboards, posters on windows and passing vehicles etc..

It really sounds like their heart belongs to quality content!

I expect Disney and Netflix to follow suit. What a future! Shoppable ads a a side dish! Absolutely disgusting.

Ownership of discs is becoming more vital by the week.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I expect Disney and Netflix to follow suit. What a future! Shoppable ads a a side dish! Absolutely disgusting.

In the US many years ago TBS starting inserting their logo during content play. It did not take long before all the me too's started doing the same and continues to this day.

Ownership of discs is becoming more vital by the week.

Not for me, always has been, is, and will continue.