The Front Row

Welcome to The Front Row Podcast, where we dive into everything audio, video, and home entertainment with a mix of expert insight and real-world experience. Whether you're already invested into the AV space or just starting out, this show is here to break topics down and make the details easier to understand. Hosted by Erik Wesley and Ryan Charpentier, each episode covers topics like speaker specs, video formats and system calibration that will help you make sense of what you're seeing and reading online. We’ll have honest conversations with knowledgeable guests and share plenty of practical takeaways you can actually use in your own setup.

Episodes

Manufacturing, Myths, and Misfires of HDMI Cables

October 6, 2025 • 91 mins

We’re back with part three of our HDMI series featuring James Chen, Managing Director of Kordz. This time, we’re taking a look at the physical side of HDMI: how the cables are manufactured, what testing looks like, and what’s really going on inside once you strip away the jacket. James walks us through the cable-building process and gives us a clear understanding of how design and build quality play a role in performance and longe...

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CEDIA 2025 Recap

September 18, 2025 • 147 mins

This week, we’re switching gears for a special CEDIA 2025 recap episode. It’s a more relaxed conversation, more like a roundtable hangout, and we’re joined by a few friends we caught up with at the show: Don from Horizon Home Theater, Ike from EasyHT Tech, and Paul from Brews and Views. CEDIA is one of those events that’s hard to explain unless you’ve been there. Yes, it’s about gear and demos, but it’s also about reconnecting wit...

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HDMI Part Two: Because One Episode Wasn’t Enough

September 2, 2025 • 72 mins

In Episode 7 of The Front Row Podcast, we’re back with part two of our deep dive into HDMI with James Chen, Managing Director of Kordz. Last episode, we set the stage by unpacking the fundamentals, from pin layouts to protocols like TMDS and FRL. This time, we’re going further down the rabbit hole. We start by breaking down HDMI 2.2 and what it actually means in a real-world setup. From there, we look at the different types of HDM...

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Everything You Didn’t Know About HDMI (But Probably Should) Part One

August 19, 2025 • 88 mins

In Episode 6 of The Front Row Podcast, we’re joined by James Chen, Managing Director of Kordz, for a deep dive into HDMI—what it is, how it works, and why it’s been both a blessing and a headache. In Episode 4, we laid the foundation by explaining the basics and frustrations around HDMI. This one peels back the layers and gets into the engineering and signal science behind the cable we all love to hate. We explore what actually go...

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Projectors (Almost)

August 5, 2025 • 99 mins

Episode five of The Front Row Podcast is here, and this week we’re sitting down with the one and only Rob Brennan. He’s the Technical Account Manager at Epson and someone who’s been around the industry for a long time. Some of you probably remember him from his Sony days, and let’s be honest, Rob knows his stuff! We all know projectors are awesome, but choosing the right one isn’t always easy. There’s a lot of different technology...

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HDMI - Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It

July 15, 2025 • 90 mins

This week on The Front Row Podcast, we’re joined by Eric Bodley, founder of Future Ready Solutions and a well respected voice in the AV industry. Eric’s career spans over four decades and includes everything from launching Monster Cable programs and developing the Perfect Path brand of locking HDMI cables, to training hundreds of installers through his IHAVS certification program. He’s also a former CEDIA President and serves on mu...

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The Path From 1080p to HDR Is More Layered Than It Seems

July 2, 2025 • 105 mins

In Episode 3 of The Front Row Podcast, we’re back with part two of our conversation with Jason Dustal, who brings over 25 years of expertise as an ISF trainer, Level 3 calibrator, CTS certified professional, CEDIA certified instructor, and Certified for Envy Product Specialist. This time, we dig deeper into the video technology and how we went from 1080p LED TVs to today’s 4K HDR display. We talk through the differences between HD...

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From CRTs to Calibration and Everything in Between

June 17, 2025 • 85 mins

Welcome to episode two of The Front Row Podcast, and the first where we sit down with a guest - Jason Dustal! As a well-known and highly respected figure in the AV industry, Jason brings over 25 years of expertise as an ISF trainer and Level 3 calibrator, CTS certified professional, CEDIA certified instructor, and Certified for Envy Product Specialist. He also serves as co-chair on multiple CEDIA standards committees, helping shape...

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Where Our Home Theater Journey Began - The Front Row Podcast Episode 1

June 3, 2025 • 74 mins

In case our written reviews and video content weren’t enough, AVSForum has officially entered the world of podcasts! Say hello to The Front Row Podcast, hosted by Erik Wesley and Ryan Charpentier. In our very first episode, we talk about what the podcast will focus on, how often you can expect new episodes and why we think it’s worth tuning in. We also share how we each got into the AV industry and our journeys that led us to whe...

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