Home//Home Cinema Choice/February 2019/In This Issue
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019WelcomeCES 2019, p18 'I didn’t know so many “blockbuster” movies could be released in one year,' says an HCC reader on our Facebook page, about films coming to cinema in 2019. And they have a point – there are plenty of appetising titles on the horizon (see p22), and the traditional notion of the 'Blockbuster Summer' has gone out the window. Big-budget movies now launch almost all year round, as Hollywood fights back against smallscreen binge-watching. More so than ever, the industry is banking on films that demand to be seen in the biggest and best theatres. This is all great news for home cinema owners, as it ensures a steady feed of audio-visual heavyweights arriving on 4K Blu-ray. And if you're on the hunt for new display hardware to…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019CONTRIBUTORSJohn Archer: The experienced TV tester cut his teeth as an early HCC stafferJon Thompson: Film producer and post-production expert delves into Hollywood and AVSteve May: HCC’s former Ed. is one of the UK’s most respected AV journosMartin Pipe: Technical expert Martin is renown throughout the industryRichard Stevenson: Former Editor of the UK CE trade journal ERTEd Selley: Audiophile Ed mixes his home cinema passion with a love of vinylSteve Withers: Movie fan, display calibrator and object-based audio obsessive…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Aiming higher→ www.acoustic-energy.co.ukAcoustic Energy celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017 by relaunching its AE109 floorstanding speaker, and ushering in a new 100 Series range with centre and subwoofer options. Now it's gone further with the AE120, which retains the slender dimensions of the AE109 but ups the driver count, adding dedicated bass units to become a true three-way model. Pricing is £800-per-pair for the pictured walnut finish, while satin black is £850 – step up to 5.1, with AE100s on surround duty, for around £1,500.Invisible home theatreBoasting that 'invisible speakers are no longer an audio compromise,' Stealth Acoustics will launch its LRx85 in-wall speaker, with paintable front panel for a seamless installation, at ISE in February. A two-part design, the speaker adds a 2 x 8in woofer bass panel below its…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Playlist…Mission: Impossible – Fallout (UHD Blu-ray) Two months on and 2018's most spectacular action sequel is still on near constant rotation in our movie den – and will probably remain so until M:I 7 is released. Final Score (All-region BD) This enjoyable 'Die Hard in a football stadium' action flick is now on Blu-ray, joined by a look at how the filmmakers pulled it off. A Midwinter's Tale (Netflix) The streaming service gave fans of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina a creepy Xmas gift with this festive special. Roll on Season Two. Opera (Region BD) Dario Argento's slick 1987 shocker looks absolutely sensational on this newly restored UK Blu-ray. The Blob (Region B BD) This vintage Steve McQueen creature-feature is a welcome addition to Criterion's UK line-up.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019At the 'plex…The MuleJanuary 25: Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this thriller about a 90-year-old Korean War veteran who resorts to running drugs for a Mexican cartel in order to stave off financial ruin.How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden WorldFebruary 01: The third and final instalment in DreamWorks' phenomenally popular animated franchise finds Hiccup and Toothless battling a new enemy and venturing off in search of a mythical world of dragons.Alita: Battle AngelFebruary 06: Delayed from its original release in Summer 2018, Robert Rodriguez's live-action adaptation of Yukito Kishiro's classic manga finally hits the bigscreen today. Time to find out if it was worth the wait……1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019At the 'plex…The Mule January 25: Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this thriller about a 90-year-old Korean War veteran who resorts to running drugs for a Mexican cartel in order to stave off financial ruin. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World February 01: The third and final instalment in DreamWorks' phenomenally popular animated franchise finds Hiccup and Toothless battling a new enemy and venturing off in search of a mythical world of dragons. Alita: Battle Angel February 06: Delayed from its original release in Summer 2018, Robert Rodriguez's live-action adaptation of Yukito Kishiro's classic manga finally hits the bigscreen today. Time to find out if it was worth the wait……1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019News x101 Rise of the machinesThis year's CES tech show (see p18) saw LG's CLOi GuideBot become the first robot to ever help deliver a CES keynote speech. Taking to the stage alongside LG Electronics President and CTO Dr. I.P. Park, CLOi was only on hand to illustrate LG's plans to 'unlock the potential of A.I. technologies' and develop a Robot Service Delivery Platform (RSDP) – and most definitely not to subjugate mankind for our new robotic overlords.2 We're in this togetherAlso at CES, AV brands Hisense, Panasonic, Samsung and TCL confirmed the formation of the 8K Association, a non-profit body designed to promote the nascent 7,860 x 4,320 technology. Perhaps its first goal should be to conjure up some native 8K content…3 MUBI signs 'prestige' moviesCurated movie streaming service MUBI…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019News x101 Rise of the machines This year's CES tech show (see p18) saw LG's CLOi GuideBot become the first robot to ever help deliver a CES keynote speech. Taking to the stage alongside LG Electronics President and CTO Dr. I.P. Park, CLOi was only on hand to illustrate LG's plans to 'unlock the potential of A.I. technologies' and develop a Robot Service Delivery Platform (RSDP) – and most definitely not to subjugate mankind for our new robotic overlords. 2 We're in this together Also at CES, AV brands Hisense, Panasonic, Samsung and TCL confirmed the formation of the 8K Association, a non-profit body designed to promote the nascent 7,860 x 4,320 technology. Perhaps its first goal should be to conjure up some native 8K content… 3 MUBI signs 'prestige' movies…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Back of the 'netPeele prepares more terrorWriter/director Jordan Peele returns with another chiller on March 15. New movie Us, judging from Universal Pictures' trailer, takes its cues from Invasion of the Body Snatchers and adds a dose of home invasion horror. Will it be as much of a hit as Peele's Oscar-winner Get Out?youtu.be/hNCmb-4oXJADirac for dummiesArcam has launched a nine-part YouTube series of videos outlining the setup process and benefits of Dirac Live room EQ, now a feature on its AV receivers and processors. Topics covered include taking multiple measurements and reviewing the final data. Start with Part One, link below.youtu.be/27oceswdx6YDon't pick it up!Chloë Grace Moretz stars in suspense flick Greta (in cinemas April 19), which finds her do-gooding Manhattanite entangled with Isabelle Huppert's mysterious title character when she returns a bag left…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019'This speaker is just right'Dynaudio Evoke → www.dynaudio.comDynaudio's Evoke series comprises two floorstanders, two standmounts and a centre channel, and aims to hit what the company deems the 'Goldilocks zone – the perfect balance of performance and price.' Working towards this fairy tale goal are driver and design implementations trickled down from Dynaudio's high-end Contour and Confidence lines, although with prices reaching around £4,000-perpair for the flagship three-way Evoke 50 tower (pictured), you might need to stick to porridge for breakfast……1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 201925 big movies of 2019CAPTAIN MARVELHinted at in the post-credits scene at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel makes her debut in this solo outing – but don't expect any revelations about the future of Marvel's other superheroes after Thanos clicked his fingers, as a 1990s setting means this movie predates the existing MCU Phase 1/2/3 storylines.Marvel's first female-led blockbuster stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, an amnesiac former US fighter pilot-turnedalien space commando, who returns to Earth looking for clues about her past, only to discover that extraterrestrial baddies have infiltrated the planet. Samuel L. Jackson provides continuity with the other MCU films (thanks to some nifty digital de-ageing FX) as a young Nick Fury.Marvel has a track record of success when it comes to introducing lesser-known characters (Iron Man,…15 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019On the boxGame of ThronesSky AtlanticThe eighth and final season of HBO's zeitgeist-defining fantasy airs from April, promising six more episodes of bloody murder, battle and dragons.The Umbrella AcademyNetflixStreaming from mid-February, Netflix's Dark Horse Comics adaptation features a 'family' of superpowered children raised by a billionaire entrepreneur.Good OmensAmazon Prime Video/BBC TwoA TV version of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's wickedly funny apocalypse novel will finally arrive this year, first on Amazon Prime and then on terrestrial telly.WatchmenSky Atlantic (TBC)We're assuming that Sky's relationship with show-maker HBO will see this much-anticipated graphic novel series get a UK airing.Stranger ThingsNetflixKick back with more 1980s-set pop culture-tastic horror/fantasy when the third season of Netflix's superb original series streams on July 4 (US Independence Day).…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Where to get IMAX Enhanced?AVRs/processorsSound United (parent corp of Denon and Marantz) and Arcam are the first audio specialists to commit to IMAX Enhanced. Firmware for Arcam's hardware arrived late 2018, introducing support to its AVR390, AVR550 and AVR850 receivers, and AV860 AV processor. Updates for Denon's AVR-X6500H and AVR-X4500H (pictured), and Marantz's AV7705 and AV8805 processors, are expected February.TVs/projectorsThe only display partner so far announced for IMAX Enhanced is Sony – at the US CEDIA expo in September it promised IMAX Enhanced Mode updates for its 4K projector range, and has said 2018 and 2019 premium TVs will also come online.UHD playersIMAX Enhanced discs use HDR10+, meaning playing choices are currently limited to hardware from Panasonic, Oppo and Pioneer. Samsung has previously suggested its own decks would be upgraded to HDR10+ capability, but…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019SONA steps out in styleUK INSTALLER SONA delivered this impressive Dolby Atmos basem*nt cinema as part of a whole house project in a converted vicarage. The system was shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Best Home Cinema’ category of the CEDIA Awards 2018.SONA was asked to reimagine an empty bare-brick basem*nt as a dedicated cinema space. A 7.2.4-channel audio setup was specified, using Artcoustic speakers and Anthem processing and power (totalling 4,000W on tap). All speakers are in optimum positions according to industry standards – some are hidden by acoustically transparent posters (produced by Artcoustic’s digital printing service) to deliver a movie-based aesthetic but keep the desired sound quality.Visuals are provided by a 4K Sony projector with a Panamorph anamorphic lens system, with material coming via a Kaleidescape player, Oppo BD deck and Sky…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019A life in the theatreHow much would you pay for a dollop more brightness and better contrast? In the world of high-end projection, Sony reckons the step up is worth three grand. In truth, if you have to mull it over, it’s probably not worth the price premium. But if you don’t, you’re in for a treat.The VPL-VW570ES, you see, sits in that potentially precarious home cinema space above the brand’s entry-level (okay, it sells for £5,000) VPL-VW270ES. The assumption is that AV fans will be prepared to spend considerably more for a modest increase in performance. After all, the surcharge is but a drop in the ocean compared to the £25,000 laser-light VPL-VW870ES, Sony's domestic flagship.The price hike over the VPL-VW570ES’s cheaper stablemate is warranted by the inclusion of a dynamic iris, and…9 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Where to get IMAX Enhanced?AVRs/processors Sound United (parent corp of Denon and Marantz) and Arcam are the first audio specialists to commit to IMAX Enhanced. Firmware for Arcam's hardware arrived late 2018, introducing support to its AVR390, AVR550 and AVR850 receivers, and AV860 AV processor. Updates for Denon's AVR-X6500H and AVR-X4500H (pictured), and Marantz's AV7705 and AV8805 processors, are expected February. TVs/projectors The only display partner so far announced for IMAX Enhanced is Sony – at the US CEDIA expo in September it promised IMAX Enhanced Mode updates for its 4K projector range, and has said 2018 and 2019 premium TVs will also come online. UHD players IMAX Enhanced discs use HDR10+, meaning playing choices are currently limited to hardware from Panasonic, Oppo and Pioneer. Samsung has previously suggested its own decks would be…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Cello C55SFS4K QLEDONCE BITTENTom Hardy stars in comic book caper Venom on 4K BD, p92PATRIOTIC SORTS THAT we are, we’d love to love the Cello C55SFS4K QLED. It is, after all, a TV that’s born and bred in the UK. Sadly, though, it doesn’t put Britain on the TV hardware map as convincingly as we’d hoped.First impressions are strong. From its narrow metallic bezel to its startlingly thin, gleaming silver rear it looks more like a high-end OLED TV than a relatively affordable LCD model. Its half-moon stand is also elegant – if faffy to build.It’s well connected, too, with four HDMIs, two USBs, an Ethernet port and built-in Wi-Fi ticking the boxes.Extremely unusually for a sub-£800 TV, the C55SFS4K QLED uses Quantum Dots to paint its colours. These can usually run…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Slimline cinema sounds excitingJust when you think Marantz's venerable slimline NR receiver range (first introduced, rather sheepishly, back in 2011) is ready for retirement, it bounces back, magically reinvigorated and ready to dance some more. It's the Dick Van Dyke of home cinema hardware. You could be forgiven for thinking there are no more incremental additions left to make. Last season’s NR1608 was a well-specified little belter. But Marantz’s engineers have been working away, and have conjured up even more functionality. The NR1609, in terms of hierarchy, sits above the £500 NR1509, which shares the same form factor but is a 5.1 offering sans Atmos. It’s nearest full-sized sibling is the 7.1-channel SR5013, which sells for a hefty £200 more. Cosmetically, there’s little new with this season’s upgrade. The model adopts the familiar…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Wharfedale aims for an epic VistaWHARFEDALE ISN'T LIKE many other loudspeaker companies. It largely ignores the high-end market and focuses on affordable, crowd-pleasing designs. Recently we've seen examples of this ethos in its Diamond 11 HCP and DX-2 5.1 packages, both offering excellent value for money. So when it launches a soundbar-plus-subwoofer system for less than £250, it catches our attention. The Vista 200S (priced £230) is actually the more potent of two new Wharfedale models. The other, the Vista 200, is about £100 cheaper and doesn't come with a subwoofer – hence the additional 'S'. No lost ARC here Spec-wise the Vista 200S is basic, but not entry-level. While it lacks the voice control smarts, virtual surround modes, Dolby Atmos integration and multiroom skills of pricier soundbars, it does offer some useful features. Chief…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Point of ViewIT APPEARS MY three decades of pursuing a profligate philosophy of home cinema hardware excess might have been misplaced. A cathartic rebuild of the cinema room is starting to make me think that less might actually be more. Sometimes.Looking back, I could have won awards for AV kit buying and probably kept several manufacturers afloat. The 1990s saw my inaugural entry into the school of home cinema extremism with a surround sound ‘array’. A long, narrow room with a rear-pro TV at one end meant the rear channels (just two, remember that…) struggled to create convincing surround effects. I tried dipoles and bipoles and had a tri-curious phase too. Yet, it just didn’t sound the same as the local cinema, which used multiple rear channel speakers along the side walls……3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Cello C55SFS4K QLEDONCE BITTEN Tom Hardy stars in comic book caper Venom on 4K BD, p92 PATRIOTIC SORTS THAT we are, we’d love to love the Cello C55SFS4K QLED. It is, after all, a TV that’s born and bred in the UK. Sadly, though, it doesn’t put Britain on the TV hardware map as convincingly as we’d hoped. First impressions are strong. From its narrow metallic bezel to its startlingly thin, gleaming silver rear it looks more like a high-end OLED TV than a relatively affordable LCD model. Its half-moon stand is also elegant – if faffy to build. It’s well connected, too, with four HDMIs, two USBs, an Ethernet port and built-in Wi-Fi ticking the boxes. Extremely unusually for a sub-£800 TV, the C55SFS4K QLED uses Quantum Dots to paint its…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Philips 55PUS6753WHILE PHILIPS HAS got its European brand back on track with its high-end OLED TVs, it hasn't ignored the budget arena. Which is good, as it leads to TVs like the 55PUS6753. When we tested this screen back in the Summer, it impressed us even at £700. Now, though, you can pick one up for just £480, making it almost irresistible. The sheer amount of tech you get for so little money is remarkable. Its slightly plasticky silver bodywork is partnered with Philips’ Ambilight technology. This fires out pools of coloured light onto your wall from the TV’s top, left and right sides. Set the lights to track the colour and intensity of the pictures you’re watching to bolster your immersion. The VA-type LCD screen uses direct backlighting, with lights…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Samsung UE55NU7300OTHER BRANDS HAVE now abandoned curved TVs, but the technology’s ‘inventor’, Samsung, still ships a few models, including the UE55NU7300 tested here. Curved screens don’t contribute anything much to the viewing experience on 55in TVs. In fact, they can look a little odd when wall mounted or viewed from an extreme angle. In other situations, though, the curve can look quite cute – despite being delivered here in rather plasticky bodywork. Curved sets also generally cost more than flat ones. The UE55NU7300, though, is currently available for just £580, which is very competitive for a big, ostensibly mid-range 4K TV from a major brand. The UE55NU7300 uses an edge-lit VA panel. Its Standard picture mode appears to operate a ‘whole frame’ dimming system to boost contrast, too. There’s no local…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Panasonic player has do-it-all attitudeTHERE’S NOT MUCH choice if you want a Dolby Vision-capable 4K Blu-ray player to partner a Dolby Vision TV, but don’t want to blow your cash on a high-end offering like the Panasonic DP-UB9000 or Pioneer UDP-LX500. Typically, it’s been a coin toss between the Sony UBP-X700 and LG UBK90, the latter an upgrade on the previous UP970. But now there’s a third way. Panasonic’s DP-UB820 is a mid-range proposition, positioned north of the entrylevel DP-UB420, and supports both Dolby Vision and rival dynamic metadata standard HDR10+, the platform created by 20th Century Fox, Panasonic and Samsung. While only a handful of titles that utilise HDR10+ are available at the time of writing (see page 30 for more), it’s good to know compatibility is waiting (remember you’ll need a matching…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Caine and gang are still ableKING OF THIEVESThe robbery at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company, over the 2015 Easter weekend, has so far inspired three movies, all drawn to two details in particular: the value of the property pilfered (estimated at £100-£200m) and the thieves themselves, who turned out to be men in their 60s and 70s.While King of Thieves takes a typically British slant, mining comic elements from a story of OAP criminals, the movie retains a mean(ish) streak. Michael Caine's ring-leader Brian Reader may resemble your grandad, but he's also a career criminal. Even Jim Broadbent is given a chance to show off a capacity for a darker side.Joe Penhall's screenplay takes a straightforward approach, introducing Reader and his coconspirators as they plan and then execute the heist, before moving on to…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Johnny English Strikes AgainRowan Atkinson's daft secret agent returns for a third film and – once again – your enjoyment will depend entirely on your tolerance for watching the man who was once Blackadder pulling funny faces and pratting around. While the film did little for us, we can at least report that it looks pretty smart on Blu-ray, with a sharply defined 2.40:1 1080p encode. The DTS:X mix delivers plenty of bass and makes effective use of the surrounds, but discrete height effects are few and far between. Seven short featurettes and a chat-track are also included.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Schizophrenic thrills4K ULTRA HDDISC OF THE MONTHVENOMIf you've seen Spider-Man 3 then you'll be familiar with Venom, but if not, he's a head-eating alien symbiote that takes over journalist Eddie Brock. Due to various rights issues this new film doesn't include Spider-Man, so instead you get a Venom origin story that concentrates on Brock and his relationship with the symbiote – basically 'one man and his parasite'.Tom Hardy plays Brock as a man with a split personality, although in this case one of the personalities can turn into a giant monster. Hardy also voices Venom, and the interaction between them provides many of the film's best moments. However, the schizophrenic nature of the lead character also applies to the overall tone of the film.Venom switches from dark comedy to comic book…4 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Hotel ArtemisStrip it of its near future sci-fi trappings and this pulp thriller about the plan to kill a gang boss during his stay in a secret hospital that caters to criminals could well feel like part of the John Wick franchise. It doesn't quite measure up to those films, yet still delivers a similarly enjoyable mix of high-concept ideas, stylish violence and dry humour. It also makes for an agreeable BD, marrying a sharp and colourful 2.40:1 Full HD image to a particularly lively DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix. A worthwhile chat-track by the director and editor is the sole extra.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019In The MixPOST-CHRISTMAS BLUES SEEM to be hitting the high street again. Home entertainment retailer HMV has gone into administration, six years since it was last rescued from the point of collapse by Hilco Capital. Poor trading over the Christmas period and pre-Brexit consumer nerves are being blamed. When it (almost) went under in 2012 it was easy to see that shopping at HMV was more expensive than using online operations like Amazon. But at the moment HMV is actually cheaper than Amazon on many things. So, is it that people are now just too lazy in the UK to go to an actual store? Perhaps. I recently bought Christopher Robin and They Shall Not Grow Old on Blu-ray. The cost was £29.98 from Amazon, with free delivery via my Prime membership…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Arrow sets sail for adventureWaterworld: Limited EditionOriginally conceived of as a low-budget Mad Max rip-off, this seagoing post-apocalyptic action flick ended up making waves for all the wrong reasons. Plagued by rewrites, cost overruns and production problems, Waterworld – which had already turned into a $100m blockbuster when director Kevin Reynolds and star Kevin Costner came aboard – ended up costing $175m, a record for the time.But for all the negative press that surrounded its production and release, Waterworld did make a profit and, if not some under appreciated classic, it's not a total dud either. This is particularly true of the two extended cuts that are also present in this Blu-ray release. Running some 40 minutes longer than the original theatrical release, the Extended TV Cut and 'Ulysses' edit (which restores some violence…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019WelcomeCES 2019, p18'I didn’t know so many “blockbuster” movies could be released in one year,' says an HCC reader on our Facebook page, about films coming to cinema in 2019. And they have a point – there are plenty of appetising titles on the horizon (see p22), and the traditional notion of the 'Blockbuster Summer' has gone out the window. Big-budget movies now launch almost all year round, as Hollywood fights back against smallscreen binge-watching. More so than ever, the industry is banking on films that demand to be seen in the biggest and best theatres.This is all great news for home cinema owners, as it ensures a steady feed of audio-visual heavyweights arriving on 4K Blu-ray. And if you're on the hunt for new display hardware to see you…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019BULLETINRoll up, roll up!LG Signature OLED TV R → www.lg.com/ukAs statement products go LG's new TV R is quite a stunner, implementing the brand's rollable OLED display technology into a premium consumer proposition. The 65in 4K resolution panel rises from its industrial-styled chassis unit at the touch of a button – for movie/TV watching, select LG's Full View option. Zero View hides the screen, turning the TV R into a standalone speaker via the cabinet's 4.2-channel Dolby Atmos array. Line View, meanwhile, partially unrolls the display, allowing for app-based fun from the UI dashboard. Pricing of the set is unannounced, but we know we want one.HCC ONLINE…For breaking AV news, blogs, features and reviews visit www.homecinemachoice.comFollow us on Twitter @hccmagLike us on Facebook facebook.com/homecinemachoice…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Playlist…Mission: Impossible – Fallout (UHD Blu-ray)Two months on and 2018's most spectacular action sequel is still on near constant rotation in our movie den – and will probably remain so until M:I 7 is released.Final Score (All-region BD)This enjoyable 'Die Hard in a football stadium' action flick is now on Blu-ray, joined by a look at how the filmmakers pulled it off.A Midwinter's Tale (Netflix)The streaming service gave fans of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina a creepy Xmas gift with this festive special. Roll on Season Two.Opera (Region BD)Dario Argento's slick 1987 shocker looks absolutely sensational on this newly restored UK Blu-ray.The Blob (Region B BD)This vintage Steve McQueen creature-feature is a welcome addition to Criterion's UK line-up.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Oppo 4K BD gets HDR10+With player prices hitting £650 for the UDP-203 and £1,400 for the UDP-205 when they launched in 2017, those who shelled out on Oppo's UHD machines would have been right to have worried when the company shuttered its home entertainment division, Oppo Digital, last Summer. Though Oppo pledged to maintain support, both in terms of in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs, and firmware updates – the latter would be tackled 'from time to time', owners were told – most wondered whether the players could end up left behind by format and feature developments. An 'official' firmware release for the UDP-203 and UDP-205 (UDP20XEU-60-0625) in July 2018 allayed these fears, with Oppo adding MQA support to the UDP-205's USB DAC, and refining Dolby Vision playback (particular with regard to Sony TV hardware). And…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Edifier soundbar has you surroundedChinese audio brand Edifier has launched an upper-tier home cinema soundbar with external surround speakers, the S90HD. Due to hit shops priced around £750, it's a 4.1-channel solution, combining its main stereo 'bar and surround modules with a wireless subwoofer. The system claims an overall frequency response of 40Hz-20kHz. The mature-looking soundbar (it uses a curved-edged, wooden enclosure) features a titanium dome tweeter and dual midbass drivers for each (L/R) channel, while the surrounds use a single full-range driver. The S90HD has Dolby and DTS decoding onboard, and connections include twin HDMI inputs, an HDMI ARC output, and coaxial, optical, stereo phono and 3.5mm audio inputs. Bluetooth (aptX) is also an option. The 'bar's front fascia offers a volume control and display window signifying the current source. The system is…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Extras…The Howling: Studies in the Horror FilmAnybody who has listened to any of the Blu-ray chat-tracks Lee Gambin has appeared on will know just what to expect from his new book about Joe Dante's 1981 werewolf movie. Informed and informative, this fascinating tome offers a scene-by-scene analysis of The Howling, peppered with rare photos and extensive new interviews with the cast and crew. It's guaranteed to leave fans of the film, erm, howling with delight.LEGO Star Wars: Death Star EscapeIf the £400 asking price for LEGO's 2016 Death Star set was a little too rich for your wallet, then this new build will be right up your street. Selling for just £25 and recreating the iconic scene from A New Hope where Luke and Leia swing to safety across a…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Premiere…More Spidey toons set to swing into cinemasProducer Amy Pascal has revealed that work has already begun on a sequel to animated hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. A 'Spider-Women' spin-off focusing on Gwen Stacy's Spider-Gwen, Cindy Moon's Silk and Jessica Drew's Spider-Woman is also in the works.Vikings is historyThe History Channel has revealed that its hit drama series Vikings will end with its sixth season, which will run through late 2019 into early 2020. However, it also confirmed that discussions about potential spin-off shows are underway.Nothing comical about this comic book movieSpawn creator Todd MacFarlane says there will be no room for 'fun' in the movie reboot of his superhero comic, which is due to go before cameras this Summer. 'There's gonna be no fun lines in it. It's just…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Fly me to the moonFirst Man → Universal Pictures → Digital Download/DVD/BD/UHD Blu-rayFilmmaker Damien Chazelle reunites with his La La Land leading man Ryan Gosling on the Neil Armstrong biopic First Man, which makes its UK disc debut on February 18. Extras include a commentary with Chazelle, writer Josh Singer and editor Tom Cross, a pair of deleted scenes, and eight Making of… featurettes. Both the Blu-ray and 4K platters feature Atmos sonics, while the Ultra HD disc adds HDR10 and Dolby Vision grading to the film's unusual mix of 16mm, 35mm and IMAX 65mm photography.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Fly me to the moonFirst Man → Universal Pictures → Digital Download/DVD/BD/UHD Blu-ray Filmmaker Damien Chazelle reunites with his La La Land leading man Ryan Gosling on the Neil Armstrong biopic First Man, which makes its UK disc debut on February 18. Extras include a commentary with Chazelle, writer Josh Singer and editor Tom Cross, a pair of deleted scenes, and eight Making of… featurettes. Both the Blu-ray and 4K platters feature Atmos sonics, while the Ultra HD disc adds HDR10 and Dolby Vision grading to the film's unusual mix of 16mm, 35mm and IMAX 65mm photography.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Back of the 'netPeele prepares more terror Writer/director Jordan Peele returns with another chiller on March 15. New movie Us, judging from Universal Pictures' trailer, takes its cues from Invasion of the Body Snatchers and adds a dose of home invasion horror. Will it be as much of a hit as Peele's Oscar-winner Get Out? youtu.be/hNCmb-4oXJA Dirac for dummies Arcam has launched a nine-part YouTube series of videos outlining the setup process and benefits of Dirac Live room EQ, now a feature on its AV receivers and processors. Topics covered include taking multiple measurements and reviewing the final data. Start with Part One, link below. youtu.be/27oceswdx6Y Don't pick it up! Chloë Grace Moretz stars in suspense flick Greta (in cinemas April 19), which finds her do-gooding Manhattanite entangled with Isabelle Huppert's mysterious title…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Face to FaceThe 2019 films you're most excited about… Avengers: Endgame, Glass [pictured above], Star Wars 9, Cap Marvel and Spider-Man. Robi Lee What’s Christopher Nolan working on? Stuart Gifford This will be the first time I'll miss a Star Wars movie. Thanks Disney for ruining it. Mike Short What you're watching on your home cinema… Definitely the new Mission: Impossible movie on Blu-ray and found Hell Night [left] on Blu-ray yesterday! Troy Chaske Venom, The House with a Clock in Its Walls and A Simple Favour on 4K UHD Blu-ray. Walter White A Chucky festival with Bride of Chucky, Seed Of Chucky, Curse Of Chucky and Cult of Chucky. Alan Hoare The French Connection. Sean D Dobson Saturday Night Fever. John Deal I’ll be watching Catch and Release, Red Sparrow and…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019IMAX ENHANCED TOUCHES DOWN…IMAX ENHANCED ISN’T a new disc format – it's more of an extension to Ultra HD Blu-ray, as to be a full new 'format' it would have to be included as mandatory on all players and be ratified by the Blu-ray Disc Association. But it will still get some die-hard AV enthusiasts excited, and has certainly impressed me.IMAX Enhanced is a set of features that go from content to screen, starting with a specially encoded Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, to a TV or projector with an IMAX Enhanced mode, as well as an audio processor with an IMAX audio mode.IMAX and DTS, which have co-launched IMAX Enhanced, say the goal of the format is to 'introduce IMAX digitally re-mastered content for the home environment to provide the sharpest 4K HDR…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019IMAX ENHANCED TOUCHES DOWN…IMAX ENHANCED ISN’T a new disc format – it's more of an extension to Ultra HD Blu-ray, as to be a full new 'format' it would have to be included as mandatory on all players and be ratified by the Blu-ray Disc Association. But it will still get some die-hard AV enthusiasts excited, and has certainly impressed me. IMAX Enhanced is a set of features that go from content to screen, starting with a specially encoded Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, to a TV or projector with an IMAX Enhanced mode, as well as an audio processor with an IMAX audio mode. IMAX and DTS, which have co-launched IMAX Enhanced, say the goal of the format is to 'introduce IMAX digitally re-mastered content for the home environment to provide the sharpest…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Covering all anglesANIMAL INSTINCTNatural history series Dynasties does 4K HDR proud, p101SONY’S KD-65ZD9 TV [launched in 2016, reviewed in HCC #267] was a classic. Its cutting-edge lighting system introduced a new level of picture quality. It’s fair to say, then, that I couldn’t have been more excited by the arrival of that set’s successor, the 65ZF9. But, while this high-price LCD delivers marked improvements in some areas, it’s ultimately let down by an unexpected surprising new flaw – disappointing black levels. More on that later…Big, but not beautifulThe 65ZF9 isn’t the world’s sexiest TV. Once assembled upon its oversized feet, it's pretty much just a black rectangle with a chunkier-than-usual back end. It is extremely well built, though.Its connections are forward-thinking. The four HDMIs all handle 4K HDR at up to 60Hz,…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Hisense 55A6200HISENSE’S 55A6200 ISN’T much of a looker. It’s plasticky black screen frame and chunky rear make it look like a throw back to 2007. At least its feet are more elegant than most.Its remote is much more friendly than the Cello’s, though. It’s spaciously and logically laid out, and provides direct buttons for Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and Rakuten. It also carries the Freeview Play app to bring together catchup of the UK’s main terrestrial broadcasters. Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube are available in 4K and HDR.The smart interface looks dated, and a fair number of its apps are of little interest. But getting even a half-decent smart hub on a £430 55in 4K TV is arguably a bonus.The set supports HDR10 via its three HDMI inputs, and carries both…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Samsung UE55NU7300OTHER BRANDS HAVE now abandoned curved TVs, but the technology’s ‘inventor’, Samsung, still ships a few models, including the UE55NU7300 tested here.Curved screens don’t contribute anything much to the viewing experience on 55in TVs. In fact, they can look a little odd when wall mounted or viewed from an extreme angle. In other situations, though, the curve can look quite cute – despite being delivered here in rather plasticky bodywork.Curved sets also generally cost more than flat ones. The UE55NU7300, though, is currently available for just £580, which is very competitive for a big, ostensibly mid-range 4K TV from a major brand.The UE55NU7300 uses an edge-lit VA panel. Its Standard picture mode appears to operate a ‘whole frame’ dimming system to boost contrast, too. There’s no local dimming, but the…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Final standingsTHIS GROUPTEST PROVES again that if you buy a budget bigscreen TV, you have to accept that you’re only going to get a very limited high dynamic range performance. None of the TVs featured here – not even the discounted Samsung and Philips models – are bright enough to do much justice to HDR.That said, the best budget sets are now doing a better job of ‘mapping’ HDR sources to their screen’s capabilities. And provided you can live with the HDR limitations, some of today’s models are also now doing great things when it comes to sharpness and motion.In last place here is the Cello C55SFS4K QLED. Motion and backlight problems pretty much negate its use of Quantum Dots, leaving it as the weakest performer of the four – despite…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Amazon delivers with HDR streamerLET’S NOT BUFFER. Amazon’s latest HDMI streaming stick is an absolute stonker.This upgraded dongle is noticeably longer than the previous Fire TV Stick, but with multi-HDR support (not only does the device handle HDR10 and its dynamic variant HDR10+, it’s also Dolby Vision compatible), Alexa voice control and dual-band, dual-antenna MIMO Wi-Fi reception, it packs a heck of a lot into its matt black shell. Available for the bargain price of £50, it's hard to find a reason not to buy one.Before you ask, adding this Amazon streamer to your 4K TV will not magically bequeath HDR10+ or Dolby Vision compliance. It’s merely a conduit for those metadata encoded streams. You’ll still require a telly that’s compatible with one or the other.Of course, the reality is that the relevant client…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Digital CopyTHE BRILLIANCE OF home cinema is being able to pop a bag of popcorn, kick back on your sofa and enjoy a movie in comfort and quality without having to get properly dressed. What's not so great about being a member of the AV brigade is having to reassign HDMI options in a deep sub-menu, pore through a 200-page AV receiver manual, or worry about format developments. Yet sometimes the technical side seems to dominate the conversation, rather than, y'know, the actual movie stuff. I've spent hours talking frame interpolation with Team HCC member John Archer – I don't even know what his favourite film is.And like (I suspect) many of you, I've become the go-to guy among friends when they're thinking of buying a new TV/soundbar/anything with a plug.…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019In The MixPOST-CHRISTMAS BLUES SEEM to be hitting the high street again. Home entertainment retailer HMV has gone into administration, six years since it was last rescued from the point of collapse by Hilco Capital. Poor trading over the Christmas period and pre-Brexit consumer nerves are being blamed.When it (almost) went under in 2012 it was easy to see that shopping at HMV was more expensive than using online operations like Amazon. But at the moment HMV is actually cheaper than Amazon on many things. So, is it that people are now just too lazy in the UK to go to an actual store?Perhaps. I recently bought Christopher Robin and They Shall Not Grow Old on Blu-ray. The cost was £29.98 from Amazon, with free delivery via my Prime membership (£79 per…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Star Letter…Hi HCC. I read with interest Anton van Beek’s column [#293] in which he talks about the recent headlines of how streaming has killed the beloved DVD player. While I would agree that I too find streaming to be a more convenient and simpler way of experiencing movie and TV entertainment, I’m pleased to report that DVDs are actually making something of a resurgence – in our front room at least.Our daughter is now at an age (7) where she has taken an interest in films and likes us to sit as a family for 'Movie Night' on a weekend, complete with occasional popcorn or a pick-and-mix. But what to watch? This is where the now-expanding storage box of DVDs is opened, and she gleefully roots through all the cases…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019WIN! Great Blu-rays up for grabs…Doctor Who: The Complete Eleventh SeriesFresh from breaking ratings records on TV, Jodie Whittaker's first series as the Thirteenth Doctor is now available to own on DVD, Blu-ray and Amazon-exclusive Steelbook. Thanks to BBC Studios we have three copies of the Doctor Who: The Complete Eleventh Series Blu-ray up for grabs. To be in with the chance of winning one, answer the following correctly…Question:Jodie Whittaker played a grieving mother in which acclaimed UK crime series?Answer:A) BroadchurchB) Happy ValleyC) The FallVenomHaving cleaned up at the box office last year, comic book blockbuster Venom makes its Digital debut on January 26, with the 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD following on February 4. To mark the release we have teamed up with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and have five Venom BDs to…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Share your cinema system in the mag!1. Go big. Set your camera to take images at the largest possible size, and at the highest resolution. Don't worry about cropping or resizing – we will make them print-ready.2. Get in focus. Make sure your photos are as sharp and clear as possible. If you have one, use a tripod, or place your camera on a flat, steady surface and take pictures on a delay. The sharper they are, the bigger we can print them.3. Let some light in. While we tend to watch movies in the dark, our cinema systems look their best when they are lit. If you can shoot with natural daylight, do so. If your room doesn't get a lot of light (a garage conversion, for instance) then switch on whatever lights are fitted.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Sci-fi via The Last Boy Scout4K ULTRA HDTHE PREDATOR'Did you not see the new Predator? It's evolving.' So says lead character Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) in this long-awaited sequel directed by Shane Black and co-written with Fred Dekker. The line refers to the bigger, badder trophy-hunting beastie running amok in smalltown USA, but is also an upfront admission that this movie might not be what fans were expecting.Black takes on this studio blockbuster challenge with glee, layering the movie with foul-mouthed soldiers, black humour and rapid-fire violence – tonally The Predator feels more akin to Predator 2 than the more mature (and more assured) 1987 original. At its best it's sharp, kinetic and filled with blood and belly laughs. At its worst it feels disjointed and out of control.Picture: The film's gory action arrives on…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019The House with a Clock in Its WallsBad taste specialist Eli 'Hostel' Roth makes an unexpected leap into the world of family films with this tale of a 10-year-old boy who is sent to live in a creepy old mansion with his oddball uncle after his parents are killed in a car crash. A fun mix of silly gags and kid-friendly horror, Roth's movie also looks very appealing on Blu-ray, thanks to a robust 2.40:1 encode. Sadly, there's no sign of the Dolby Atmos track included on Universal's US release – we have to make do with a DTS-HD MA 7.1 mix. Extras are plentiful but – beyond a chat-track – pretty inconsequential.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019AlphaMenace II Society and The Book of Eli co-director Albert Hughes helms this gripping and stylish Paleolithic survival adventure about a young tribal hunter (Kodi Smit McPhee) and the friendship he forms with a wounded wolf. Sony's Blu-ray sports crisp and colourful 2.40:1-framed Full HD versions of two cuts of the movie (the slightly shorter 'Director's Cut' rearranges some scenes for the better and is a little more violent), both accompanied by a potent DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix that keeps the entire soundstage engaged. Extras include deleted scenes and a featurette about the film's furry co-star.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Arcade ActionSuper Smash Bros. UltimateNintendo → Nintendo Switch → £60Nintendo's madcap fighting game finally hits its latest console and does so in style. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate lives up to its name as the gaming giant has thrown everything at this version, including playable characters we'd forgotten even existed. Yep, even the Wii Fit Trainer and Cloud from Final Fantasy VII.It effectively plays much like other Super Smash Bros. games from yesteryear, from its N64 debut in the 1990s onwards. It is a 2D beat-'em-up on multiple platforms and capable of catering for up to eight challengers in its multiplayer modes.However, it is the single-player adventure modes that really win it for us. They are essential for unlocking a mighty selection of the in-game characters, but that's fine as you'll want…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019A Simple FavourIf the quality of a movie reflects the experience that people had making it, then director Paul Feig and stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively clearly had a blast subverting expectations with this deliciously twisty and funny slice of 'suburban noir'. Although A Simple Favour isn't the most visually dynamic movie, it arrives on Blu-ray with a pristine 2.00:1 Full HD encode bursting with warm colours and cleanly delineated textures. Meanwhile, the Dolby TrueHD 7.1 soundtrack is unexpectedly involving. A trio of commentaries heads up a sizeable set of bonus features that puts most blockbusters to shame.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Still doing the right thing4K ULTRA HDBLACKKKLANSMANBased on the (remarkably) true story of a black detective involved in an undercover operation against the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s, Spike Lee's latest deftly combines some of the director's best deadpan humour since Do The Right Thing with unflinchingly sharp observations of racism in America both at the time the film is set and today.There are strong performances from all the leads, and aside from one or two overlong moments of self-indulgence in the film's first third, Lee balances the political messaging with narrative drive superbly. There are even some genuine moments of triumph here – though typically and astutely, these are almost immediately followed by a hard slapdown.Picture: Lee shot BlacKkKlansman on film, from which a 4K digital intermediate was created for the film's…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019FeedbackBothered by banding I’m hoping you can help me with a problem on my Panasonic LCD TV (65in DX750), which is driving me absolutely mad. When we are watching a film, whether it’s from a Blu-ray or Sky, whenever there is a dark scene (e.g. night time or deep water) and there is a bright light source, there are concentric circles of grey emanating from the light source getting darker towards the black. This was particularly evident and annoying during the underwater scenes in The Shape of Water. I’d be grateful if you could tell me what’s causing this and if it is correctable by altering something in the TV's settings. And last but not least, I bought some 3D glasses off eBay which were supposed to be compatible with…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019CONTRIBUTORSJohn Archer: The experienced TV tester cut his teeth as an early HCC staffer Jon Thompson: Film producer and post-production expert delves into Hollywood and AV Steve May:HCC’s former Ed. is one of the UK’s most respected AV journos Martin Pipe: Technical expert Martin is renown throughout the industry Richard Stevenson: Former Editor of the UK CE trade journal ERT Ed Selley: Audiophile Ed mixes his home cinema passion with a love of vinyl Steve Withers: Movie fan, display calibrator and object-based audio obsessive…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019BULLETINRoll up, roll up! LG Signature OLED TV R → www.lg.com/uk As statement products go LG's new TV R is quite a stunner, implementing the brand's rollable OLED display technology into a premium consumer proposition. The 65in 4K resolution panel rises from its industrial-styled chassis unit at the touch of a button – for movie/TV watching, select LG's Full View option. Zero View hides the screen, turning the TV R into a standalone speaker via the cabinet's 4.2-channel Dolby Atmos array. Line View, meanwhile, partially unrolls the display, allowing for app-based fun from the UI dashboard. Pricing of the set is unannounced, but we know we want one. HCC ONLINE… For breaking AV news, blogs, features and reviews visit www.homecinemachoice.com Follow us on Twitter @hccmag Like us on Facebook facebook.com/homecinemachoice…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Aiming higher→ www.acoustic-energy.co.uk Acoustic Energy celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017 by relaunching its AE109 floorstanding speaker, and ushering in a new 100 Series range with centre and subwoofer options. Now it's gone further with the AE120, which retains the slender dimensions of the AE109 but ups the driver count, adding dedicated bass units to become a true three-way model. Pricing is £800-per-pair for the pictured walnut finish, while satin black is £850 – step up to 5.1, with AE100s on surround duty, for around £1,500. Invisible home theatre Boasting that 'invisible speakers are no longer an audio compromise,' Stealth Acoustics will launch its LRx85 in-wall speaker, with paintable front panel for a seamless installation, at ISE in February. A two-part design, the speaker adds a 2 x 8in woofer bass…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Oppo 4K BD gets HDR10+With player prices hitting £650 for the UDP-203 and £1,400 for the UDP-205 when they launched in 2017, those who shelled out on Oppo's UHD machines would have been right to have worried when the company shuttered its home entertainment division, Oppo Digital, last Summer.Though Oppo pledged to maintain support, both in terms of in-warranty and out-of-warranty repairs, and firmware updates – the latter would be tackled 'from time to time', owners were told – most wondered whether the players could end up left behind by format and feature developments.An 'official' firmware release for the UDP-203 and UDP-205 (UDP20XEU-60-0625) in July 2018 allayed these fears, with Oppo adding MQA support to the UDP-205's USB DAC, and refining Dolby Vision playback (particular with regard to Sony TV hardware).And there was more…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Edifier soundbar has you surroundedChinese audio brand Edifier has launched an upper-tier home cinema soundbar with external surround speakers, the S90HD.Due to hit shops priced around £750, it's a 4.1-channel solution, combining its main stereo 'bar and surround modules with a wireless subwoofer. The system claims an overall frequency response of 40Hz-20kHz.The mature-looking soundbar (it uses a curved-edged, wooden enclosure) features a titanium dome tweeter and dual midbass drivers for each (L/R) channel, while the surrounds use a single full-range driver.The S90HD has Dolby and DTS decoding onboard, and connections include twin HDMI inputs, an HDMI ARC output, and coaxial, optical, stereo phono and 3.5mm audio inputs. Bluetooth (aptX) is also an option.The 'bar's front fascia offers a volume control and display window signifying the current source. The system is also shipped with a…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019The 2018 results are in!Thanks to a trio of Marvel titles, a Pixar sequel and a Star Wars prequel, Disney towered above rival Hollywood majors at the box office in 2018.Superhero smash-hit Avengers: Infinity War led the charge, amassing just over $2bn worldwide, including $678m in the US. Franchise partner Black Panther, meanwhile, outpaced it on native soil to earn $700m as part of a $1.346bn global take.Backed up by the The Incredibles 2 ($1.24bn), Ant-Man and the Wasp ($622m) and Solo: A Star Wars Story ($392m), Disney ended 2018 with a dominant market share, including 26 per cent in the US, according to Box Office Mojo. By comparison, Warner Bros. (which released titles including A Star is Born, Aquaman and The Meg) grabbed a 16 per cent slice, while Universal Studios' 15 per…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019The 2018 results are in!Thanks to a trio of Marvel titles, a Pixar sequel and a Star Wars prequel, Disney towered above rival Hollywood majors at the box office in 2018. Superhero smash-hit Avengers: Infinity War led the charge, amassing just over $2bn worldwide, including $678m in the US. Franchise partner Black Panther, meanwhile, outpaced it on native soil to earn $700m as part of a $1.346bn global take. Backed up by the The Incredibles 2 ($1.24bn), Ant-Man and the Wasp ($622m) and Solo: A Star Wars Story ($392m), Disney ended 2018 with a dominant market share, including 26 per cent in the US, according to Box Office Mojo. By comparison, Warner Bros. (which released titles including A Star is Born, Aquaman and The Meg) grabbed a 16 per cent slice, while Universal Studios'…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Extras…The Howling: Studies in the Horror Film Anybody who has listened to any of the Blu-ray chat-tracks Lee Gambin has appeared on will know just what to expect from his new book about Joe Dante's 1981 werewolf movie. Informed and informative, this fascinating tome offers a scene-by-scene analysis of The Howling, peppered with rare photos and extensive new interviews with the cast and crew. It's guaranteed to leave fans of the film, erm, howling with delight. LEGO Star Wars: Death Star Escape If the £400 asking price for LEGO's 2016 Death Star set was a little too rich for your wallet, then this new build will be right up your street. Selling for just £25 and recreating the iconic scene from A New Hope where Luke and Leia swing to…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Premiere…More Spidey toons set to swing into cinemas Producer Amy Pascal has revealed that work has already begun on a sequel to animated hit Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. A 'Spider-Women' spin-off focusing on Gwen Stacy's Spider-Gwen, Cindy Moon's Silk and Jessica Drew's Spider-Woman is also in the works. Vikings is history The History Channel has revealed that its hit drama series Vikings will end with its sixth season, which will run through late 2019 into early 2020. However, it also confirmed that discussions about potential spin-off shows are underway. Nothing comical about this comic book movie Spawn creator Todd MacFarlane says there will be no room for 'fun' in the movie reboot of his superhero comic, which is due to go before cameras this Summer. 'There's gonna be no fun…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Face to FaceThe 2019 films you're most excited about…Avengers: Endgame, Glass [pictured above], Star Wars 9, Cap Marvel and Spider-Man.Robi LeeWhat’s Christopher Nolan working on?Stuart GiffordThis will be the first time I'll miss a Star Wars movie. Thanks Disney for ruining it.Mike ShortWhat you're watching on your home cinema…Definitely the new Mission: Impossible movie on Blu-ray and found Hell Night [left] on Blu-ray yesterday!Troy ChaskeVenom, The House with a Clock in Its Walls and A Simple Favour on 4K UHD Blu-ray.Walter WhiteA Chucky festival with Bride of Chucky, Seed Of Chucky, Curse Of Chucky and Cult of Chucky.Alan HoareThe French Connection.Sean D DobsonSaturday Night Fever.John DealI’ll be watching Catch and Release, Red Sparrow and Lady Bird.Robert CorriganThe Meg, Watchmen and Ghost Rider [left].Time to go a bit retro.Steve OldGoing for Solo… on…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019TV's Big Four dazzle at CES 2019Samsung pushes Micro LEDThe future isn’t OLED, it’s not even QLED. According to Samsung, the best display technology for tomorrow is going to be Micro LED. And to prove its point, at CES 2019 it unveiled a 75in Micro LED model.There’s no launch date or price, but the brand seems to be eyeing a 2020 commercialisation.Micro LED is a self-emissive display technology, comprising modules which 'slot' together to form a screen of any desired size or shape. There’s no bezel in the traditional sense, just bricks of LED bulbs. The technology builds on The Wall, first shown by Samsung at CES a year ago.The 75in home version (if you aspire to something bigger, Samsung also presented a 146in alternative, and a gigantic 219in iteration) is a 5K display, but as…5 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019'This speaker is just right'Dynaudio Evoke → www.dynaudio.com Dynaudio's Evoke series comprises two floorstanders, two standmounts and a centre channel, and aims to hit what the company deems the 'Goldilocks zone – the perfect balance of performance and price.' Working towards this fairy tale goal are driver and design implementations trickled down from Dynaudio's high-end Contour and Confidence lines, although with prices reaching around £4,000-perpair for the flagship three-way Evoke 50 tower (pictured), you might need to stick to porridge for breakfast……1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019TV's Big Four dazzle at CES 2019Samsung pushes Micro LED The future isn’t OLED, it’s not even QLED. According to Samsung, the best display technology for tomorrow is going to be Micro LED. And to prove its point, at CES 2019 it unveiled a 75in Micro LED model. There’s no launch date or price, but the brand seems to be eyeing a 2020 commercialisation. Micro LED is a self-emissive display technology, comprising modules which 'slot' together to form a screen of any desired size or shape. There’s no bezel in the traditional sense, just bricks of LED bulbs. The technology builds on The Wall, first shown by Samsung at CES a year ago. The 75in home version (if you aspire to something bigger, Samsung also presented a 146in alternative, and a gigantic 219in iteration) is a…5 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 201925 big movies of 2019CAPTAIN MARVEL Hinted at in the post-credits scene at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel makes her debut in this solo outing – but don't expect any revelations about the future of Marvel's other superheroes after Thanos clicked his fingers, as a 1990s setting means this movie predates the existing MCU Phase 1/2/3 storylines. Marvel's first female-led blockbuster stars Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, an amnesiac former US fighter pilot-turnedalien space commando, who returns to Earth looking for clues about her past, only to discover that extraterrestrial baddies have infiltrated the planet. Samuel L. Jackson provides continuity with the other MCU films (thanks to some nifty digital de-ageing FX) as a young Nick Fury. Marvel has a track record of success when it comes to introducing lesser-known…14 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019On the boxGame of Thrones Sky Atlantic The eighth and final season of HBO's zeitgeist-defining fantasy airs from April, promising six more episodes of bloody murder, battle and dragons. The Umbrella Academy Netflix Streaming from mid-February, Netflix's Dark Horse Comics adaptation features a 'family' of superpowered children raised by a billionaire entrepreneur. Good Omens Amazon Prime Video/BBC Two A TV version of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's wickedly funny apocalypse novel will finally arrive this year, first on Amazon Prime and then on terrestrial telly. Watchmen Sky Atlantic (TBC) We're assuming that Sky's relationship with show-maker HBO will see this much-anticipated graphic novel series get a UK airing. Stranger Things Netflix Kick back with more 1980s-set pop culture-tastic horror/fantasy when the third season of Netflix's superb original series streams on July 4…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Slimline cinema sounds excitingJust when you think Marantz's venerable slimline NR receiver range (first introduced, rather sheepishly, back in 2011) is ready for retirement, it bounces back, magically reinvigorated and ready to dance some more. It's the Dick Van Dyke of home cinema hardware.You could be forgiven for thinking there are no more incremental additions left to make. Last season’s NR1608 was a well-specified little belter. But Marantz’s engineers have been working away, and have conjured up even more functionality.The NR1609, in terms of hierarchy, sits above the £500 NR1509, which shares the same form factor but is a 5.1 offering sans Atmos. It’s nearest full-sized sibling is the 7.1-channel SR5013, which sells for a hefty £200 more.Cosmetically, there’s little new with this season’s upgrade. The model adopts the familiar half-height design and…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Wharfedale aims for an epic VistaWHARFEDALE ISN'T LIKE many other loudspeaker companies. It largely ignores the high-end market and focuses on affordable, crowd-pleasing designs. Recently we've seen examples of this ethos in its Diamond 11 HCP and DX-2 5.1 packages, both offering excellent value for money. So when it launches a soundbar-plus-subwoofer system for less than £250, it catches our attention.The Vista 200S (priced £230) is actually the more potent of two new Wharfedale models. The other, the Vista 200, is about £100 cheaper and doesn't come with a subwoofer – hence the additional 'S'.No lost ARC hereSpec-wise the Vista 200S is basic, but not entry-level. While it lacks the voice control smarts, virtual surround modes, Dolby Atmos integration and multiroom skills of pricier soundbars, it does offer some useful features.Chief among these is ARC…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019SONA steps out in styleUK INSTALLER SONA delivered this impressive Dolby Atmos basem*nt cinema as part of a whole house project in a converted vicarage. The system was shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Best Home Cinema’ category of the CEDIA Awards 2018. SONA was asked to reimagine an empty bare-brick basem*nt as a dedicated cinema space. A 7.2.4-channel audio setup was specified, using Artcoustic speakers and Anthem processing and power (totalling 4,000W on tap). All speakers are in optimum positions according to industry standards – some are hidden by acoustically transparent posters (produced by Artcoustic’s digital printing service) to deliver a movie-based aesthetic but keep the desired sound quality. Visuals are provided by a 4K Sony projector with a Panamorph anamorphic lens system, with material coming via a Kaleidescape player, Oppo BD deck…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Philips 55PUS6753WHILE PHILIPS HAS got its European brand back on track with its high-end OLED TVs, it hasn't ignored the budget arena. Which is good, as it leads to TVs like the 55PUS6753.When we tested this screen back in the Summer, it impressed us even at £700. Now, though, you can pick one up for just £480, making it almost irresistible.The sheer amount of tech you get for so little money is remarkable. Its slightly plasticky silver bodywork is partnered with Philips’ Ambilight technology. This fires out pools of coloured light onto your wall from the TV’s top, left and right sides. Set the lights to track the colour and intensity of the pictures you’re watching to bolster your immersion.The VA-type LCD screen uses direct backlighting, with lights sited behind the…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019A life in the theatreHow much would you pay for a dollop more brightness and better contrast? In the world of high-end projection, Sony reckons the step up is worth three grand. In truth, if you have to mull it over, it’s probably not worth the price premium. But if you don’t, you’re in for a treat. The VPL-VW570ES, you see, sits in that potentially precarious home cinema space above the brand’s entry-level (okay, it sells for £5,000) VPL-VW270ES. The assumption is that AV fans will be prepared to spend considerably more for a modest increase in performance. After all, the surcharge is but a drop in the ocean compared to the £25,000 laser-light VPL-VW870ES, Sony's domestic flagship. The price hike over the VPL-VW570ES’s cheaper stablemate is warranted by the inclusion of a dynamic…8 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Panasonic player has do-it-all attitudeTHERE’S NOT MUCH choice if you want a Dolby Vision-capable 4K Blu-ray player to partner a Dolby Vision TV, but don’t want to blow your cash on a high-end offering like the Panasonic DP-UB9000 or Pioneer UDP-LX500. Typically, it’s been a coin toss between the Sony UBP-X700 and LG UBK90, the latter an upgrade on the previous UP970.But now there’s a third way. Panasonic’s DP-UB820 is a mid-range proposition, positioned north of the entrylevel DP-UB420, and supports both Dolby Vision and rival dynamic metadata standard HDR10+, the platform created by 20th Century Fox, Panasonic and Samsung.While only a handful of titles that utilise HDR10+ are available at the time of writing (see page 30 for more), it’s good to know compatibility is waiting (remember you’ll need a matching TV, too).So…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019The inbetweenerIF YOU'VE BEEN paying any attention to the tech world over the past few years, you'll have noticed the rise of Amazon's Alexa, and when it comes to AV, shouting into thin air is replacing fumbling with a remote control. Optoma's UHL55 projector is Alexa-ready, meaning that – when combined with an Echo device with the Optoma SmartProjection skill enabled – you can say things like 'Alexa, increase volume on movie room" (having set 'movie room' as the name for the UHL55,), or ask it to switch inputs, change image modes and more.As well as this unusual feature, the 4K HDR UHL55 has a few other strings to its bow, including an LED light source that's rated at 30,000 hours and 2,000 Lumens, and a built-in Bluetooth speaker for smart…4 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Covering all anglesANIMAL INSTINCT Natural history series Dynasties does 4K HDR proud, p101 SONY’S KD-65ZD9 TV [launched in 2016, reviewed in HCC #267] was a classic. Its cutting-edge lighting system introduced a new level of picture quality. It’s fair to say, then, that I couldn’t have been more excited by the arrival of that set’s successor, the 65ZF9. But, while this high-price LCD delivers marked improvements in some areas, it’s ultimately let down by an unexpected surprising new flaw – disappointing black levels. More on that later… Big, but not beautiful The 65ZF9 isn’t the world’s sexiest TV. Once assembled upon its oversized feet, it's pretty much just a black rectangle with a chunkier-than-usual back end. It is extremely well built, though. Its connections are forward-thinking. The four HDMIs all handle 4K…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019FeedbackBothered by bandingI’m hoping you can help me with a problem on my Panasonic LCD TV (65in DX750), which is driving me absolutely mad. When we are watching a film, whether it’s from a Blu-ray or Sky, whenever there is a dark scene (e.g. night time or deep water) and there is a bright light source, there are concentric circles of grey emanating from the light source getting darker towards the black.This was particularly evident and annoying during the underwater scenes in The Shape of Water.I’d be grateful if you could tell me what’s causing this and if it is correctable by altering something in the TV's settings.And last but not least, I bought some 3D glasses off eBay which were supposed to be compatible with my Panasonic TV but…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Hisense 55A6200HISENSE’S 55A6200 ISN’T much of a looker. It’s plasticky black screen frame and chunky rear make it look like a throw back to 2007. At least its feet are more elegant than most. Its remote is much more friendly than the Cello’s, though. It’s spaciously and logically laid out, and provides direct buttons for Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and Rakuten. It also carries the Freeview Play app to bring together catchup of the UK’s main terrestrial broadcasters. Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube are available in 4K and HDR. The smart interface looks dated, and a fair number of its apps are of little interest. But getting even a half-decent smart hub on a £430 55in 4K TV is arguably a bonus. The set supports HDR10 via its three HDMI inputs,…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Certified: AV-Holic!Welcome to the AV-Holic Hall of Fame! Introduce yourself…My name is Stefan, and I am from Germany. I am member of a regional home cinema club (HDRGB – Homecinema Dreams ReGensBurg), which does a 'tour' each year to various regions in (so far) Germany and Austria, visiting other home cinema owners and their movie rooms. We'd love to come to the UK – check out our website www.hdrgb.de/touren/touren.htm.How long have you been into home cinema, and what was the first setup you had?My first setup must have been in 2001 or 2002, with a Sony VPL-HS1 projector in our living room, combined with a Bose Acoustimass 5 Series speaker system, Sony DVD player and a Technics AV receiver which already featured DTS – unfortunately I don‘t remember the model numbers…7 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Final standingsTHIS GROUPTEST PROVES again that if you buy a budget bigscreen TV, you have to accept that you’re only going to get a very limited high dynamic range performance. None of the TVs featured here – not even the discounted Samsung and Philips models – are bright enough to do much justice to HDR. That said, the best budget sets are now doing a better job of ‘mapping’ HDR sources to their screen’s capabilities. And provided you can live with the HDR limitations, some of today’s models are also now doing great things when it comes to sharpness and motion. In last place here is the Cello C55SFS4K QLED. Motion and backlight problems pretty much negate its use of Quantum Dots, leaving it as the weakest performer of the four…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Amazon delivers with HDR streamerLET’S NOT BUFFER. Amazon’s latest HDMI streaming stick is an absolute stonker. This upgraded dongle is noticeably longer than the previous Fire TV Stick, but with multi-HDR support (not only does the device handle HDR10 and its dynamic variant HDR10+, it’s also Dolby Vision compatible), Alexa voice control and dual-band, dual-antenna MIMO Wi-Fi reception, it packs a heck of a lot into its matt black shell. Available for the bargain price of £50, it's hard to find a reason not to buy one. Before you ask, adding this Amazon streamer to your 4K TV will not magically bequeath HDR10+ or Dolby Vision compliance. It’s merely a conduit for those metadata encoded streams. You’ll still require a telly that’s compatible with one or the other. Of course, the reality is that…5 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019The inbetweenerIF YOU'VE BEEN paying any attention to the tech world over the past few years, you'll have noticed the rise of Amazon's Alexa, and when it comes to AV, shouting into thin air is replacing fumbling with a remote control. Optoma's UHL55 projector is Alexa-ready, meaning that – when combined with an Echo device with the Optoma SmartProjection skill enabled – you can say things like 'Alexa, increase volume on movie room" (having set 'movie room' as the name for the UHL55,), or ask it to switch inputs, change image modes and more. As well as this unusual feature, the 4K HDR UHL55 has a few other strings to its bow, including an LED light source that's rated at 30,000 hours and 2,000 Lumens, and a built-in Bluetooth speaker for…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Digital CopyTHE BRILLIANCE OF home cinema is being able to pop a bag of popcorn, kick back on your sofa and enjoy a movie in comfort and quality without having to get properly dressed. What's not so great about being a member of the AV brigade is having to reassign HDMI options in a deep sub-menu, pore through a 200-page AV receiver manual, or worry about format developments. Yet sometimes the technical side seems to dominate the conversation, rather than, y'know, the actual movie stuff. I've spent hours talking frame interpolation with Team HCC member John Archer – I don't even know what his favourite film is. And like (I suspect) many of you, I've become the go-to guy among friends when they're thinking of buying a new TV/soundbar/anything with a…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019Point of ViewIT APPEARS MY three decades of pursuing a profligate philosophy of home cinema hardware excess might have been misplaced. A cathartic rebuild of the cinema room is starting to make me think that less might actually be more. Sometimes. Looking back, I could have won awards for AV kit buying and probably kept several manufacturers afloat. The 1990s saw my inaugural entry into the school of home cinema extremism with a surround sound ‘array’. A long, narrow room with a rear-pro TV at one end meant the rear channels (just two, remember that…) struggled to create convincing surround effects. I tried dipoles and bipoles and had a tri-curious phase too. Yet, it just didn’t sound the same as the local cinema, which used multiple rear channel speakers along the side…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|February 2019SearchingSony Pictures → All-region BD £15 [HMV exclusive]Agimmick in search of a better storyline, this missing person thriller is told entirely through smartphone screens and laptop windows. As shown by 2015's Unfriended, it's an idea that can work very well. However, after a solid opening act, Searching begins to falter and if you can't tell whodunnit by the 30-minute mark you clearly don't watch many films. Visually, the Blu-ray is a mixed bag: screen icons and desktop windows are pin-sharp, but the video they show is intentionally murky and pixelated. The DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix is front-heavy. A chat-track and two featurettes are also included.…1 min
