Podcast #1068: Sunday Ticket without the Satellite and The Fosi Digital Amp for Audiphiles
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This week we take an extended look at an email from Chris who is paying for two sports packages but still can’t watch all his team’s games. Is there a VPN solution? Did you know you can get Sunday Ticket from DirecTV without a Satellite? There are some limitations but we have the info. Finally we have a brief review of two portable amplifiers from Fosi Audio that pack a huge punch. All that plus your emails and the week’s news!

News:

• Netflix Estimates Ad-Supported Tier Will Reach 40 Million Viewers by Late 2023)
• ELAC Announces Powered Bookshelf Speakers With HDMI ARC)
• Platin Audio’s wireless (WiSA) home theater speaker system now handles Dolby Atmos)

Other:

• Commando - 'Let off some steam Bennett')
• PREDATOR  - STICK AROUND - KNIFE THROW)

VPN for dummies I use Xfinity for cable & internet service in Central PA but also have an apartment in Central NC with ATT internet. 

Back home, if I subscribe to MLB.tv, I can watch all games except for the Pirates and Phillies.  My team is the Orioles.

In Central NC, the Orioles are blacked out even though the stadium is 5.5 hours away (it's only 3 hours from Central PA).  Figure that one out...

Your show on 9/16 talked about Sling Box and VPNs.  

I don't mind paying for a service but when you are paying (sometimes multiple times), it is frustrating to not get what you pay for.

(((Ara, you'd appreciate this-I am a Washington Capitals fan.  I pay for the NHL Network, I subscribe to the ESPN+, and when I go to a youth hockey tournament, I cannot use my Roku in the hotel to watch a Caps game that night because it's on the NHL Network...which I pay for back home!)))

There are alot of YouTube videos about VPNs but a simple questions is:

what is the best way to use my laptop in Central NC and make it think I am in Central PA?  Xfinity will only let you watch certain "To Go" channels if you are on your home wifi.  NHL Network is one of them.  I can record the event but then only watch it after it completes the recording.

Thanks guys.

Chris Sunday Ticket without Satellite NFL Sunday Ticket)

Offer Details:

• NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV service is only available to non-DIRECTV customers who live in select multi-dwelling unit buildings (apartments, condos, etc.,) nationwide in the U.S. where DIRECTV service is not available
• Live in select areas within various metropolitan cities 
• Live in a residence that has been verified as unable to receive DIRECTV satellite TV service due to obstructions blocking access to satellite signals 
• Actively or previously enrolled college students 
• NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV U only available to students actively enrolled or previously enrolled within the last 18 months in post-secondary educational institutions from the date of purchase. 
• NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV consists of all out-of-market Sunday regular-season NFL games (based on customer's device location) broadcast on FOX and CBS. 
• Games broadcast by your local FOX or CBS affiliate will not be available in NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV. 
• Access via NFL SUNDAY TICKET App to only one game at a time based on device location.

If you qualify, here are the packages and prices:

NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV TO GO - $69.49 for four months or $277.96

INCLUDES

• Enjoy every live out-of-market game every Sunday afternoon.(Eligibility restrictions and other conditions apply)
• Watch on your compatible tablet, smartphone, laptop, or connected device like a game console
• Get real-time stats and scores
• Customize your Game Mix to watch up to 4 games of your choice on one screen
• Track up to 20 of your favorite players with Player Tracker
• Short Cuts: see whole games, commercial free, in 30 minutes

NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV MAX - $93.49 for four months or $373.96

INCLUDES

• Enjoy every out-of-market NFL game LIVE, every Sunday(select int'l games excluded)
• Watch on your compatible tablet, smartphone, laptop, or connected device like a game console
• Get real-time stats and scores
• Customize your Game Mix to watch up to 4 games of your choice on one screen
• Track up to 20 of your favorite players with Player Tracker
• Short Cuts: see whole games, commercial free, in 30 minutes
• RED ZONE CHANNEL®
• DIRECTV FANTASY ZONE CHANNEL®

Add NFL+ PREMIUM $48.00

Exclusive offer! Add NFL+ Premium to this NFLSUNDAYTICKET.TV package for $48.00 (currently retails for $79.99). Enjoy replays of NFL games all season long and more

Payment for MAX + NFL+ Premium must be made in full at checkout. Fosi Audio Digital Amplifies  I was looking for a new amplifier to test my speakers more in different rooms of my house. So the amp needed to be small, high quality, and inexpensive. My searching around the internet landed me on Fosi. A company I had never heard of.

From the company’s web site:

Audio equipment company with a focus on HiFi sound Fosi Audio was founded in 2017 by a team of engineers and music lovers with the objective of delivering high-quality audio products. After years of research and development, we have mastered the art of miniaturizing HiFi sound and bringing it to any space, big or small. Fosi Audio’s range of products includes speakers, amplifiers, headphones, turntables, and other hi-end audio equipment. Our goal is to make audiophile-grade sound accessible to everyone and to further the advancement of music technology.

I first bought the BT20A) ($75 direct from Fosi)) which sounded really good. 

Features:

• Frequency Range: 20Hz - 20kHz (±1 dB)
• Output power: 100W + 100W
• Input mode: Bluetooth and Analog
• Bluetooth 5.0 core, up to 33ft connection range
• Size Product Size: 130 x 100 x 35mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 1.4 inches)
• Product Weight: 700g (1.5 lbs)

The device worked great and connected instantly.The sound was quite good and would work for any desktop or temporary use outdoors. This was just the thing I needed for verifying that any speaker I build passes audio. But being so impressed with how good they sounded without Hi-Res or even AptX I looked into their higher quality amp, the  DA2120C) ($160 direct from Fosi)) 

The 2120 is far more capable but only 80W a channel, which is imperceptible even at max volume. It takes twice the wattage to hear 3dB difference at the ear. 

Features:

• Frequency Range: 20Hz - 20kHz (±1 dB)
• Size: 180 x 130 x38mm (7x5x1.5 inches)
• USB Chip: Cmedia CM6642 SUPPORT 24bit/192Khz
• Bluetooth Chip: Qualcomm QCC3031 Bluetooth 5.0 chip supports aptX, aptX-HD, SBC, AAC
• Output Power: 2 × 80W at 10% THD+N Into 8 Ω

The main reason I decided to upgrade is that I want to put the highest quality audio through my speakers to determine their quality. The 2120 gives me a lot of connection options, Bluetooth, USB, optical, coaxial, and RCA. There is also a remote that you can use to select the inputs, switch modes, adjust the volume, bass, treble and EQ to dial in your sound.

The sound was outstanding. Listening to my favorites sounded as good as they did when using my SVS amp. Deep tight bass and bright highs. I find my latest speakers are a bit brighter than my typical JBL 2500 makeover. That is due to the fact that I ended up using a Dayton Audio 1 inch Titanium tweeter instead of the ones that come with the 2500. There is a video that goes along with this on our Youtube channel but we’ll link it here as well. 

In my comparison of 24bit 192Khz audio vs what was being sent via AptX Bluetooth, I couldn’t hear a difference. As much as I tried I just couldn’t. It could be my ears, the speakers, or even the recording. But it did sound really good. So good that it may replace my SVS amp as my main amp for my office.  If you are looking for a small portable amp check out the Fosi Audio BT20A) and the DA2120C) you will thank me!

For our listeners who listen to the end of the show. We are giving away the BT20A. Send an email to [email protected] with Bluetooth Amp in the subject line. We’ll pick a winner at random and announce it on next week’s show. We won’t mention this anywhere else so entries will be small.  Contest open to anyone with a US mailing address. Entries must be received by Wed October 28th at Noon Pacific Time. Void where prohibited.