Audio Video, Tech Support
Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Powered Subwoofer (Single, Black)
As far as entry subwoofers go, this is probably the best bang for your buck, especially considering the quality of the build. Built around high quality medium density fiberboard and using a highly efficient 10″ driver, the PSW-10 manages to bang as well, if not louder, than other subwoofers in this category, despite running at 50 watts RMS. One shortcoming about the Polk is the lack of an LFE input: you only get RCA and speaker line inputs meaning that there is no way you can bypass the internal crossover of the sub. Considering the market it’s aiming for, this shouldn’t be too big of a problem for most people, but owners with good receivers might be a bit vexed by this.
From Amazon:
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Single 10-inch subwoofer in black with built-in high-current amplifier for big bass
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Equipped with one 10-inch polymer-composite dynamic-balance cone driver
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Laser-based Klippel measurement technology for improved linearity and deep, precise sound
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Non-resonant all-MDF enclosure construction with 0.75-inch-thick baffles and internal bracing
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Measures 14 by 14.38 by 16.12 inches (WxHxD)
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Audio Video, recycle, Tech Support
A few years ago I had purchased a Sony STR-KG700 audio receiver for use primarily as a 5.1 decoder in my back bedroom. At the time my house AV system was wired for component video. Eventually I converted the system over to HDMI for simplicity of wiring and to take advantage of the progressive scan HD formats. After the conversion however the Sony STR-KG700 was basically useless as it couldn’t switch the HDMI audio/video. I needed a way to upgrade a non HDMI receiver to both switch HDMI inputs and extract surround sound information carried by the HDMI. My solution was to add the Etekcity® 4 Port HDMI Intelligent Switch Switcher Selector with Audio to the rig and it has worked flawlessly. By adding the Etekcity HDMI switch I can now switch HDMI inputs and the Etekcity switch routes the 5.1 encoded audio to my old Sony via S/PDIF using Toslink or coax in essence converting it to an AVR. So for a little more than $40 I was able to upgrade my non-HDMI receiver to a AVR adding years of service to it’s service life.
Etekcity® 4 Port HDMI Intelligent Switch Switcher Selector with Audio, IR wireless remote, AC power Adapter, Supports 3D 1080P, Toslink, Coaxial, 3.5mm AUX Stereo
From Amazon:
- With 4 Inputs and 1 Output; Supports 3D, HD resolutions up to 1080p
- IR remote with battery, AC adapter is UL FCC certified
- Supports 12bit per channel (36bit all channel) deep color and 225MHz/2.25Gbps per channel (6.75Gbps all channel) bandwidth
- Switch automatically with 4 high speed HDMI inputs into one output (based on active input)
- Supports manual switching using the supplied IR wireless remote or the button on the device
Audio Video, Tech Support
I’m a big fan of XBMC KODI but have an issue when it comes to the way KODI handles removing watched movies. When you delete a movie from the database (and file system if you’ve configured KODI to allow file deletion) KODI deletes the movie file but not the directory, thumbnails, and various other accompanying files. After a while you have all these orphaned movie folders lying around.
Here’s a thread on the subject: //forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=128963
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Audio Video, Tech Support
HDMI could soon be replaced by new cable technology (link)
(PhysOrg.com) — A new audio/video cable techology is being developed that might spell the end of HDMI cables, which are currently used to connect a wide range of audio and video devices. The new technology is known as HDBaseT and carries audio and video signals and power on standard Cat 5e/6 Ethernet cables.
I’m a big fan of 
