Pete's Write

The price of TVs have decreased dramatically in recently years. Once upon a time, you will need to fork out upwards of ten grand for a 50” flatscreen.  Nowadays a quarter that same money can buy you a screen with twice the real estate. Yet you have TVs that still cost upwards of ten grand. However most consumers will baulk at that much coin and may wonder if it’s all worth it.  Step in the Sony x85j, a 2021 model which straddles the middle ground with a price that’s nearly twice that of the most entry offerings from the budget brands. Will average Joe see any benefits? First the specs and tech blurb:  From the official site https://www.sony.com.sg/electronics/televisions/x85j-series Plus more info from Best Buys: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-85-class-x85j-series-led-4k-uhd-smart-google-tv/6453209.p?skuId=6453209&intl=nosplash 4K HDR Processor X1™ Powerful TV processing that delivers a picture that is smooth and clear, full of rich colors and detailed contrast TRI...

The world is staying home more and realising they have the opportunity to enjoy movies in the comforts of their homes. However as TVs get thinner, so does the kind of sound coming out of their in built speakers. So there is a new demand for good quality sound and not everyone wants a fancy 5.1 surround system with cabling and large speakers. Here is where the soundbar steps in. A decent soundbar can give allow you to enjoy better dialogue and in an ideal environment, even some kind of surround experience.  There are a few things one should look out for in a soundbar and I've previously posted about it here: https://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2021/02/what-do-you-look-for-in-soundbar.html  As more streaming platforms offer Atmos, allowing a more immersive and 3D surround experience, buyers of  Home Theatre systems are now more aware of this and asking for it.  Atmos is now not just the preserve of those who own large surround sound systems. Even those who are bu...

Many people regard OLED TVs as the best for producing blacks and great contrast. However the maximum brightness they produce and well as the risk of burn in have also prevented more widespread adoption. Their higher price tag have also deterred others. Sony has been active in both OLED and LED TVs and this year, the 2021 panels have added a few goodies that have made them the TVs to compare against. The XR90J has already been review here: ( https://peteswrite.blogspot.com/2021/05/sony-xr65x90j-tv-review.html ) and it was a worthy replacement for the 9000H.  The XR95J is the replacement for the 9500H. 2021 brings a new XR chip which is touted to provide better brightness and contrast. Currently it is available in 65” and 85” options locally, and it is priced above the X90J introduced earlier this year. So is it worth the extra outlay? The extra outlay does go towards tangible things. There is some extra brightness, the ultrawide feature, and a more fancy remote. There...

Why are folks paying about twice the price of a Corolla for an Audi of the same size?  Is it folly by Audi or is it a truly genius move?  IMO, it's a sharp marketing move. Price it to cater to the consumer who is interested. Audi is considered one of the three major German luxury marques. It builds on the perceived reliability of VW, and tries to add the extra hint of luxury. There are many cool looking cars based on more prosaic chassis, think of the Audi TT, which has Golf underpinnings or the Scirocco, which is a two door hatch of the Golf but carries a significant price premium. So if it is priced like a Merc, then it may be in danger of going head to head with the market leader of mid to high tier luxury, and it will also clash with their entry level offerings from the C Class up. BMW has the ultimate driving machine moniker, and buyers will forgive the lower reliability compared to the Merc, and focus on the driving experience.  So Audi has decided to go for the VFM...

Once upon a time, TV speakers were hefty affairs, which could go to deafening levels, with decent bass and allowed the dialogue to be anchored to the screen. You only went to the home theatre route if you wanted a complete surround experience. Then TV panels became wafer thin, and manufacturers found that they could not pack the speakers of the same volume into the panels to make credible sound for movies and definitely not for music. So the soundbar was born. Initially, you needed to connect this via RCA outputs or digital ones like an optical cable. Things have since progressed, and now you have ARC (Audio Return Channel) and eARC, which uses a single HDMI cable to bring sound to and from the TV. Some use Bluetooth for a wireless connection.  Then you have 3 dimensional sound in the form of Atmos, and it become fashionable to get soundbars with this moniker. But today, we are reviewing a 3 channel soundbar, which can eventually be expanded into a full 5.1 experienc...

This is a rather lazy review or perhaps a statement on The Fifth Element: After I recently found a meme of the movie, I took out my DVD, BR and then my 4k disc of Fifth Element for three spins and it does show the beauty of technology, literally... So anyway, in case anyone hasn't seen it, a hot chick from space hands bald man a bunch of stones to save the world from a jacked up Gary, and an evil black mass, with Jean Paul G showcasing some snazzy outfits and some punchy tunes and even punchier lines. It has a rather original plot, solid chemistry, acting and comic timing, along with good action and tip top surround. Visually, despite it's age, it's still one of my favorite demo movies, but hey I was already sold on the Superbit DVD I owned.. It made stars of Milla J, did a lot of good for Bruce Willis, reinforced Gary Oldman as an exquisitely versatile actor and Luc as one of the guys from France who could bring it to the world and paved the way for many more collaboration...

Just acquired a new Atmos capable system? Keen to put that system through the rope? Firstly make sure you set it up right, then after that, you may lust for material to play on it. I still feel disc based lossless tracks are the best source, but if you are streaming, it's an alternative to get Atmos into that system. If you do a search online, there are many sites which give suggestions for the most awesome soundtracks to use in your new Atmos system, and here's my own: Some tracks are only on discs, but I've tried to choose those where you can get it on a disc as well as from streaming sites. Covid has decreased the number of new movies but there are some are older movies which have been upgraded and now feature Atmos tracks: - Hunter Killer : big dumb fun about a sub entering Russian waters and you get a suicide squad doing a rescue mission too. Lots of explosions and surround effects - Angel Has Fallen: Another Gerard Butler effort with plenty of bass, surround effects a...

 - termites and insect treatment - 6months of redirecting mail  - inform PUB or new supplier - network and fibre install - check all powerpoints - phone system and wifi check of signal strength - turn on aircon at full blast  - check roof for leaks and rain checks - final coat of wall paint - deep cleaning of all surfaces especially with Covid around - polish floor - ventilate to get rid of VOC smells - turn on lights  - get gas tanks for cooking - invite neighbors :) 

It's a balance of power. Too little and your compressor works too hard and runs the risk of breaking down earlier. Too large a compressor, you may pay more in electric bills than needed. I've checked a few places and some sites have excellent info, such as this: https://silverbackaircon.sg/aircon-btu-calculation-guide/ https://www.homeanddecor.com.sg/design/home-tips/home-tip-how-to-choose-the-right-aircon-for-your-home-and-save-money/ 1. Calculate the amount of cooling capacity you need per room using the recommended formula below Cooling capacity required in kW = Total area to be air-conditioned [m2] ÷ 5 *to convert to Btu/hr, multiply the kW result by 3412 2. Then look at which combination suits your place. It has to be either equal or higher than your calculations. 3. Then compare the rated kW of the same combination per room against your calculations. Again, it has to be equal or higher than your calculations. MKM85 Combination Room 1 Room 2 Room 3 Room 4 Total 2...

In the past, there were LEDs and plasma TVs, and despite the best efforts by LED makers, they weren’t really able to give that kind of contrast that plasmas offered.  Then came OLED TVs, and these offer amazing contrast, and superb viewing angles, reaction times and it seemed that we can finally let that plasma TVs die. Sony has been obtaining their panels from LG and then adding their own magic sauce, using a different set of SOC and video chips.  The Sony A80J was recently released and it is a truly impressive panel. It is now followed up by the 90J and this panel cost more. For the price of a 77” A80J, you will be able to own the 65” panel.  So is the extra outlay worth it? Some info from the official site: https://www.sony.com.sg/electronics/televisions/a90j-series Features to note: - new XR processor, which promises gains in motion contrast and overall picture quality  - HDMI 2.1 (two ports only) - acoustic calibration - pseudo surround sound - eARC - 3 USB port...