Kodi Audio Settings – Quick Reference Chart

   What is Kodi?  Kodi (formerly XBMC) is an open source cross-platform media player program.  Kodi is well sorted out, and easy to install and setup.  Kodi can play streaming videos, dvd’s/cd’s, display photos, update weather, and much more. One of Kodi’s is strengths is that it is flexible, allowing plugins to expand and vary… Continue reading Kodi Audio Settings – Quick Reference Chart

AT&T U-verse – A Review After 18 Months Of Service

In The Beginning: Nearly two years ago I gave up my Dish Network satellite, Vonage phone service, and my DSL Extreme ISP. An AT&T U-verse bundle was the reason for this change. Three hundred TV channels, Free Movie Channels, VOIP with many features, and a faster internet (18 MPS from AT&T verses 3 MPS from… Continue reading AT&T U-verse – A Review After 18 Months Of Service

Simple Audyssey Tweaks For Your AV Receiver

 Audyssey is included in audio-video receivers made by Creston, Denon, Integra, Marantz, NAD, Onkyo, and Wisdom.  It makes speaker setup and calibration on an AV receiver fairly painless. For the most part, one simply needs to follow the manufacture’s instructions for speaker placement, speaker wiring, and peripheral connections. Then, connect a supplied microphone to the… Continue reading Simple Audyssey Tweaks For Your AV Receiver

The Behringer UCA202 (UCA222) USB Audio Interface On Linux

Behringer UCA222

My kingdom for a horse! For several years, I used a Mac Pro “Cheese-grater”, with two Power PC G5 processors, as my home theater computer. The video was fine (as long as I ran it at 720P), and the audio was very good with fiber optic “out” . Its aging Mac OS X worked well… Continue reading The Behringer UCA202 (UCA222) USB Audio Interface On Linux

Review: Logitech Harmony Smart Control Remote Model #915-000194

If you have a home theater system with multiple devices, then you also have a number of remotes. Running your system with multiple remotes requires patience, time, planning, and did I say patience? After juggling a half dozen remotes for a while, you realize that a universal remote will make your life a lot easier,… Continue reading Review: Logitech Harmony Smart Control Remote Model #915-000194

Cut The Cable On Satellite And Cable TV

Boudicca, The Celtic Warrior Queen

Do You Really Want To “Cut the Cable”? Here in the States, cable and satellite TV providers bundle channels into packages.  On the surface, purchasing any of these packages seems like a great deal.  You can get 50, 150, 250, 350 or more channels.  Unfortunately, most users typically watch only a small portion of the… Continue reading Cut The Cable On Satellite And Cable TV

Mohu Leaf Plus HDTV Indoor Antenna Review

Like many people here in the States, I am dropping my satellite TV service.  Both cable and satellite services are getting more expensive, and the value just isn’t there.  I currently have 250 channels available to me, of those I typically watch 5 or 6 routinely, and another 5 or 6 occasionally.  So, I watch… Continue reading Mohu Leaf Plus HDTV Indoor Antenna Review

Subwoofer and Surround Sound Speaker Configuration

Subwoofer placement is critical

Simplistically, a subwoofer is a speaker designed to reproduce bass sounds at 80hz or less.  It is a critical component of your home theater system, and when setup correctly, adds fullness and depth to your music, as well as a sense of realism to your videos.  Incorrectly setup, your home theater system subwoofer can sound… Continue reading Subwoofer and Surround Sound Speaker Configuration

Home Theater AV Receiver Listening Modes Defined

Listening modes create an immersive home theater experience

You unboxed your new home theater AV receiver, ran a spool or two of speaker wire to your speakers,  hooked all your devices into your receiver, calibrated your speakers, and finally ran the last HDMI cable from your AV receiver to your TV.  Time to watch a DVD.  After the movie starts, you notice the… Continue reading Home Theater AV Receiver Listening Modes Defined

XBMC Media Center PC Setup

A media center PC installed in your home theater network gives you access to a huge selection of internet available streaming video content, news, and weather, as well as being able to show your own photos, and video content.  It does not require a high powered computer, and the XBMC software you will be using… Continue reading XBMC Media Center PC Setup