Home Theater Geeks Podcast

MIT postdoc researcher Gordon Wetzstein and Ph.D. student Matt Hirsch explain a new glasses-free 3D flat-panel technology they are working on at the MIT Media Lab. Conventional stereoscopic displays show two views (left and right eye) in a narrow viewing area, and all viewers see the same perspective. The new display shows many perspectives across a wider area, providing each viewer with a different perspective, much like a hologram. The new display combines several LCD layers, directional backlighting, and sophisticated processing to achieve its remarkable result. This isn't going to be a commercial product any time soon, but it does point the way toward a more realistic 3D display without needing those annoying glasses.

Run Time: 55:22

Dave Duncan, Business Manager of DLP Cinema for Texas Instruments, explains the technology of Digital Light Processing, including the impossibly tiny moving mirrors on the surface of a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) chip, 3-chip versus single-chip designs, and switching speed. Other topics include the transition from film to digital projection in commercial cinema, 2K versus 4K, 3D, high frame rates, alternative illumination sources such as lasers and LEDs, answers to chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 57:12

In this episode, I show you around my new podcast studio, which is also my home recording studio, and then answer questions from the chat room, including how to position speakers, the different types of 3D for commercial cinema and home, HDMI cables, the difference between THX post processing and audio codecs from Dolby and DTS, full-range speakers and subwoofers, Dolby Atmos, Disney's WOW setup disc, and much more.

Run Time: 1:02:21

Tyll Hertsens, editor of our sibling website InnerFidelity.com, responds to Steve Guttenberg's comments on a previous podcast that objective measurements are not useful in predicting a user's preference for one piece of audio gear over another, illustrating his points with graphs from his measurements of various headphones. He also talks about the importance of subjective listening, answers chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 1:04:41

Ron Williams, CEO of The Landmark Group and consultant to the film and broadcast industries, discusses the growing importance of 4K and Quad HD, 4K in film and TV production, 4K displays and cameras, the emergence of 8K in Japan, consumer preferences for 4K versus 3D, true stereoscopic versus converted 3D, high frame rates, answers to chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 1:05:38

Andrew Jones, chief speaker engineer for Pioneer and TAD Labs, talks about his illustrious career as a speaker designer with KEF and Infinity, the difference between research and product development, the importance of knowing what and how to measure audio performance, how he was able to design Pioneer's entry-level speakers to perform so well, his work with ultra-high-end speakers at TAD Labs, answers to chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 1:08:37

Boxee co-founder and CEO Avner Ronen talks about the new paradigm of online video delivery, image and sound quality versus bandwidth, integrating and unifying various online sources, the importance of the user interface, the trend toward encrypting basic cable channels, the founding and evolution of Boxee, the Boxee box and remote, online delivery of 3D and 4K, answers to chat-room questions, and more.

Run Time: 1:00:21