Podcast #403: Last Minute Shopping Guide 2009

You know we're always looking out for you, so we've decided to revisit the last minute shopping guide we assembled last year.  We know you've been busy, and so have we, but if you screw up on the gift you get for special someone in your life, you'll be paying for it for a long, long time.  We do recognize that procrastination could be strategic, you need to make sure you get the absolute perfect gift, so we aren't trying to judge here.  Whatever the reason, if you still need a gift, we have some tips for you.

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Podcast #402: RedEye Remote Control and HTiB Buying Guide 2009

Typically we are not big fans of Home Theater in a Box (HTIB) systems. Its not because the electronics are not good. In most cases the electronics are decent middle of the road components. The area we feel HTIB systems break are the speakers. When you consider that the manufacturer needs to bundle 7 speakers in a system that goes for $500 how good can the speakers be?

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Podcast #401: What we're thankful for '09

Thanksgiving is a time to, well, to give thanks.  So that's what we're going to do; give thanks for everything we have in our lives.  The things we're most thankful for: our families, our health, our friends, and our wonderful listeners, don't make good topics for a show about HDTV and Home Theater. So as is tradition over the last five Thanksgivings, on today's show we give you our list of consumer electronics things we are thankful for.

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Episode #1: AV After Dark - Inaugural Edition

Welcome to this inaugural edition of AV After Dark. This podcast is planned to be a once a month collaboration between the HT Guys and AV Rant. This month we discuss such burning topics as Windows 7 and how un-sucky it is (mostly). Why do Blu-ray players come with composite video cables? Braden has the answer. What is Managed Copy? I'm not sure any of us really knows. The Oppo-83SE - is it for you? Hint - No. Netflix via the PS3 - experiences. Is the Wii really worth it as an exercise device? The guys weigh in. Thanks for listening. You can find AV Rant at their website and the HT Guys right here. We really enjoy these collaborations and hope you do too.

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Podcast #400: Black Friday Preview

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.

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Podcast #399: Receiver Buying Guide 2009

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.

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