Podcast #1232: Large Format TV vs Projector

On this week’s show DJ Briggs from Brightside Home Theater fills in for Braden who is away on business. We ask DJ to give us his opinion on using a large format TV as a replacement for a projector. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.

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Today's Show:

News:

• LG will debut its first Micro RGB television at CES
• Local ABC, CBS, FOX, & NBC Stations Are Demanding Up to a 50% Price Hike for Cable TV Customers
• WBD board recommends rejection of Paramount’s takeover bid

Other:

• YouTube TV Wants to Unbundle the Cable Package That Streamers Were Meant to Kill in the First Place
• Tailwind
• Meross Garage Door Opener
• HT Guys Amazon Lists
• HT Guys Music Playlist on Apple Music
• HT Guys Music Playlist on Amazon Music
• HT Guys Music Playlist on Spotify
• Ara's Woodworking

HT Guys Amazon List

Swapping a projector for a 100” TV 

Jon Taylor recently purchased a TCL 98QM7K (2025 model, QD-Mini LED QLED with Google TV) during Black Friday for $1,999.99 (50% off the $3,999.99 retail price). After using it for a couple of weeks in his basement home theater (replacing an older 82" Samsung and supplementing a projector setup), he shares highly positive impressions.

Key Highlights:

• Size and Installation: The 98" screen is enormous and immersive. Delivery and installation (included from Best Buy) went smoothly, though modifications to basement stairs were needed to fit the massive box.
• Picture Quality: Exceptional deep blacks (best non-OLED he's seen, rivaling his old Panasonic plasma), vibrant colors, and strong contrast. Upscaling of lower-resolution content (720p/1080p from cable, Blu-ray, streaming) is excellent. 4K sources, including Ultra HD Blu-ray and YouTube, look stunning with minimal motion blur.
• Performance Across Sources:
  • Built-in Google TV streaming: Clear and smooth.
  • Roku Premier: Deep blacks and popping colors.
  • Standout: Apple TV 4K shines brightest, leveraging Dolby Vision for an incredibly vivid, "popping" image—far superior to non-Dolby Vision devices on his previous Samsung.
• Gaming and Features: 144Hz refresh rate delivers outstanding performance with low motion lag. Fun feature: Displays four simultaneous 48" screens for NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV.
• Observations: Large size exposes weaknesses in poor cable signals (fixed by rerouting). He notes TCL (and Hisense) are seriously challenging premium brands (Samsung, LG, Sony) with high-end specs at budget prices, earning praise from reviewers like RTINGS.com.

Jon historically preferred established brands for reliability but now sees TCL/Hisense as the new value leaders, similar to how Samsung/LG rose decades ago. He recommends checking out the latest high-end TCL models, especially for large sizes where premium brands were too expensive for him. He's also considering switching from Verizon Fios to a streaming TV service to cut costs.

Overall, Jon is thrilled with the TV's performance and value, calling it a "force to be reckoned with."

Download Episode #1232