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

[sapiendut]

The phono input on all receivers I’ve calibrated are shiitake-mushroom. Spend $200 on a Rek-O-Kut phono preamp instead.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

The phono input on all receivers I’ve calibrated are shiitake-mushroom. Spend $200 on a Rek-O-Kut phono preamp instead.

Thanks for the advice, but it seems really strange to me that many pre-amps that cost north of $2500 usually don't include a phono connection or any other legacy connections for that matter.

I mean, if a good phono pre-amp retails for $200, why can't a $2500+ pre-amp include one? Their wholesale cost for a phono pre-amp must be substantially less. I am just surprised that these higher end pre-amps are so limited in the source devices that they support. Many of these expensive pre-amps only accept source devices that connect via HDMI; they are largely HDMI or nothing.

[sapiendut]

Analog connections are expensive. That’s the reason there are less and less analog input options to receivers and processors.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by sapiendut

Analog connections are expensive. That’s the reason there are less and less analog input options to receivers and processors.

Which is all the more puzzling as analog connections are included on most AVRs, many of which sell for far less than the expensive pre-amps that omit them.

The pre-amps and AVRs that I have looked at priced at or under $2500 include phono, composite, and component video connections. Even the AVRs that cost up to $5500 include them. However, with most pre-amps, and many that cost above $2500, these analog connections disappear leaving only HDMI connections.

Most AVRs at all price points include analog inputs while most pre-amps exclude them.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Most AVRs at all price points include analog inputs while most pre-amps exclude them.

The Anthem AV-70 (here), Rotel RSP-1576 (here) and Yamaha CX-A5200 (here) have phono inputs. Have not read the specs on these. Do you plan to use moving magnet or moving coil cartridge?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

The Anthem AV-70 (here), Rotel RSP-1576 (here) and Yamaha CX-A5200 (here) have phono inputs. Have not read the specs on these. Do you plan to use moving magnet or moving coil cartridge?

Moving magnet is all I need for phono, but I also need some component video connections. I gotta keep that state of the art technology laserdisc player of mine in the loop.

Of the three models that you listed, only the Yamaha has both. I will have to read some reviews on the Yamaha separates; I don't hear many people discuss that brand.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Of the three models that you listed, only the Yamaha has both. I will have to read some reviews on the Yamaha separates; I don't hear many people discuss that brand.

Yamaha has several threads at AVS (here). I have the previous model to the one I mentioned earlier, it is the CX-A5100 (here). It had the desired features that I wanted and when Magnolia Design Center ran them on a 3 day sale for less than half price I procured one.

IMO, I see no advantage or disadvantage to owning the same brand of power amplifier(s) as the AVP other than powering On or Off. I have no experience with multi-channel amps but it appears they can be controlled with 12V triggers. Outlaw Audio (here) has some at very reasonable prices. 7 + 5 channels < $1800.

Did you see the thread on the new Tascam UHD BD player?

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

Yamaha has several threads at AVS (here). I have the previous model to the one I mentioned earlier, it is the CX-A5100 (here). It had the desired features that I wanted and when Magnolia Design Center ran them on a 3 day sale for less than half price I procured one.

IMO, I see no advantage or disadvantage to owning the same brand of power amplifier(s) as the AVP other than powering On or Off. I have no experience with multi-channel amps but it appears they can be controlled with 12V triggers. Outlaw Audio (here) has some at very reasonable prices. 7 + 5 channels < $1800.

Did you see the thread on the new Tascam UHD BD player?

I have no experience with 12V triggers; aren't they just a minor convenience?

I did see the thread on the new Tascam 4K disc player. I had never heard of that brand before, but I am always happy to see a new UHD player on the market. Are you likely to buy one?

[cheez avenger]

Went nuts for some 4K discs this morning. Amazon and Best Buy have titles starting at $7.99 - $9.99. Snagged about 14 titles total and my average with sales tax was just about $10 a piece, which is what I was going for.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Went nuts for some 4K discs this morning. Amazon and Best Buy have titles starting at $7.99 - $9.99. Snagged about 14 titles total and my average with sales tax was just about $10 a piece, which is what I was going for.

Great score! Congratulations! Which titles did you grab?

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I have no experience with 12V triggers; aren't they just a minor convenience?

I did see the thread on the new Tascam 4K disc player. I had never heard of that brand before, but I am always happy to see a new UHD player on the market. Are you likely to buy one?

Just so you know. The Tascam bd-mp4k only supports HDR10. No Dolby Vision. HDMI 2.0. (2 outputs: A+V and A only) It looks to retail for about $680. Available sometime in January 2021.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Just so you know. The Tascam bd-mp4k only supports HDR10. No Dolby Vision. HDMI 2.0. (2 outputs: A+V and A only) It looks to retail for about $680. Available sometime in January 2021.

Thank you for the information.

Dolby Vision support could be added later via a firmware update like it was with the Oppo 203/205. Still, it is odd that the Tascam would not include Dolby Vision support right from the start.

[Lee A Stewart]

TASCAM Expands Professional Blu-ray Line with BD-MP4K. Professional-Grade 4K UHD Blu-ray Player

https://tascam.jp/int/support/news/6381

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Vilya

I have no experience with 12V triggers; aren't they just a minor convenience?

I believe they can be used to power up (or down) amplifiers when the AVP (or AVR) is powered on or off. All my amps are commercial grade stereo amps mounted in a standard 19" rack. Power is controlled via commercial grade relays and X10 controls the relays, system On or Off via one button push via programmable remote.

I did see the thread on the new Tascam 4K disc player. I had never heard of that brand before, but I am always happy to see a new UHD player on the market. Are you likely to buy one?

Very likely.

Originally Posted by Vilya

Dolby Vision support could be added later via a firmware update like it was with the Oppo 203/205. Still, it is odd that the Tascam would not include Dolby Vision support right from the start.

IMO, the Tascam will not ever have DV as it is aimed at the commercial market (large screen projection systems). I am fine with it as long as it passes HDR10 metadata.

[JohnAV]

Just in time for Christmas, those fees for allowing live TV broadcasts on streaming keep going up.

As we continue to refine the Hulu + Live TV experience, we're reaching out to let you know the price of your Hulu + Live TV plan will increase from $54.99/month to $64.99/month on Friday, December 18, 2020.

Hulu to Increase Price of Live TV Offering - Hollywood Reporter

[JohnAV]

For M1 Mac watchers, how fast stuff launches on laptop, Mac mini. Its sick.

Apple Silicon MacBook Air Launching Every Default App Quickly! - YouTube

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Just in time for Christmas, those fees for allowing live TV broadcasts on streaming keep going up.



Hulu to Increase Price of Live TV Offering - Hollywood Reporter

Happy Holidays and bend over from Hulu: a price hike one week before Christmas.

I am so glad that I pay neither for TV service or for subscription streaming. My antenna is enough for the former and account sharing is perfect for the latter. This is my Christmas card to the lot of them: not one cent from me; Ho Ho Ho.

[Vilya]

Originally Posted by Wendell R. Breland

I believe they can be used to power up (or down) amplifiers when the AVP (or AVR) is powered on or off. All my amps are commercial grade stereo amps mounted in a standard 19" rack. Power is controlled via commercial grade relays and X10 controls the relays, system On or Off via one button push via programmable remote.

Very likely.

IMO, the Tascam will not ever have DV as it is aimed at the commercial market (large screen projection systems). I am fine with it as long as it passes HDR10 metadata.

As projectors don't do Dolby Vision anyways, I can see projector owners not caring about it, either.

I do care about it and the lack of Dolby Vision is a non-starter with me, but I am still happy to see another 4K disc player enter the market.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Just in time for Christmas, those fees for allowing live TV broadcasts on streaming keep going up.

Hulu to Increase Price of Live TV Offering - Hollywood Reporter

Just to clarify for the lurkers.

This is not Hulu AVOD/SVOD streaming. Those prices are still $5.99 (with ads)/$11.99 (no ads).

This is "pseudo-cable" Hulu+ Live. This is the second price hike. Nov. 2019 they increased it from $44.99 to $54.99. Now they are increasing it to $64.99.

Hulu+ Live is like Sling TV and YouTube TV.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by cheez avenger

Went nuts for some 4K discs this morning. Amazon and Best Buy have titles starting at $7.99 - $9.99. Snagged about 14 titles total and my average with sales tax was just about $10 a piece, which is what I was going for.

I grabbed Dark Fate 4K locally , looking what else is good. They released The Croods 4K (2013) today I grabbed for $20 also. Per samlop10 post

93 Mbps for the video alone! That’s an insane bitrate. Is it the highest on a 4K disc so far?