Home//Home Cinema Choice/May-18/In This Issue
Home Cinema Choice|May-18CONTRIBUTORSJohn 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 Vincent Teoh: Professional video calibrator writes about technology and tweaking…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Sky relaunches VR appSky is rebooting its VR app this Spring and has enlisted Sir David Attenborough for its most ambitious project yet. Hold The World, produced in partnership with the Natural History Museum, invites VR viewers to take a closer look at some of the museum’s most popular exhibits, including a blue whale, stegosaurus, trilobite and pterosaur, with Sir David as their personal guide.Sky CEO Stephen van Rooyen says the project puts his company at the ‘leading edge’ of VR technologies. ‘This is a brand-new experience.’Once users enter the VR museum, they can choose a route to the Conservation Centre, the Earth Sciences Library or the Cryptogamic Herbarium. In each Sir David is on hand to relate in-depth info. Once a full examination has taken place, the object ‘comes to life.’ The…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Sky relaunches VR appSky is rebooting its VR app this Spring and has enlisted Sir David Attenborough for its most ambitious project yet. Hold The World, produced in partnership with the Natural History Museum, invites VR viewers to take a closer look at some of the museum’s most popular exhibits, including a blue whale, stegosaurus, trilobite and pterosaur, with Sir David as their personal guide. Sky CEO Stephen van Rooyen says the project puts his company at the ‘leading edge’ of VR technologies. ‘This is a brand-new experience.’ Once users enter the VR museum, they can choose a route to the Conservation Centre, the Earth Sciences Library or the Cryptogamic Herbarium. In each Sir David is on hand to relate in-depth info. Once a full examination has taken place, the object ‘comes to…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Samsung targets cinemaA cinema in Zurich has become the first in the world to officially install a Samsung Cinema LED screen, news that has the Korean corp boldly claiming: ‘The movie screen and traditional projection technology are a thing of the past.’ Samsung’s next-gen cinema display features 24million LEDs, using a modular construction to fill an area measuring 10.2m wide and 5.4m high. While in essence a giant TV, it’s certified by the DCI (Digital Cinema Initiative) and delivers a 4,096 x 2,160 4K resolution. Exit light The benefits of this projector-less approach are numerous, believes Samsung. An absence of light reflections enables ‘pitch dark’ theatres, in addition to ‘true’ blacks on screen. Switching between aspect ratios is achievable without masking technologies. Cinema LED also delivers ‘unprecedented colour brilliance, luminosity and sharpness,’…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Cutting the cost of 4K projectionThe arrival of Texas Instruments’ 4K DLP solution was always tipped to dramatically lower the entry price of UHD home cinema projection. BenQ’s TK800, available now for £1,200, is proof that such claims weren’t wide of the mark.Compact at 35cm wide and given a funky blue face plate, this affordable 4K DLP PJ is very much designed for use in everyday living rooms. A 3,000 Lumens brightness rating, suggests BenQ, makes it ideal for sports viewing in well-lit environments – and there’s even a Football Mode viewing preset.The projector’s 1.2x optical zoom leads to a fairly short 1.47-1.76:1 throw ratio, with a 100in image possible from a distance of 3.25m. Automatic keystone correction is supplied to align bigscreen images, in place of vertical lens-shift functionality.Connections include a 12V trigger, twin…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Extras…Alien Queen Wall SculptureGive your movie den an Aliens-style makeover with this life-size wall sculpture of the Alien Queen from Hollywood Collectibles Group. Priced around $1,600(!), the hand-painted ‘museum quality’ sculpture is constructed from fibreglass and mixed media. An alternate version with an interchangeable extended inner jaw is also available.Stormtrooper Wireframe LightImperial Stormtroopers may be associated with the Dark Side, but that doesn’t stop them from lighting up your cinema room. This USB-powered, Trompe L’oeil effect 2D etched acrylic light is based on the original movie helmets created in 1976 by prop master Andrew Ainsworth (whose signature is printed on the base). Grab one from TheFowndry.com for £25.Jurassic Park GatesTo mark the 25th anniversary of Jurassic Park, US toy and collectible maker Factory Entertainment will be releasing a detailed polystone…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18The show must go on…Roll up and grab a ringside seat for one of the year’s most dazzling films. Fresh from a barnstorming run at the UK box office (where it has taken a stonking £51m), musical smash The Greatest Showman comes to Digital Download on April 27, followed by DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray on May 14. Although disc details have yet to be confirmed, Fox is promising two hours of behind-the-scenes footage and a ‘Jukebox’ feature that should thrill those who want to join in with their favourite musical numbers.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18The show must go on…Roll up and grab a ringside seat for one of the year’s most dazzling films. Fresh from a barnstorming run at the UK box office (where it has taken a stonking £51m), musical smash The Greatest Showman comes to Digital Download on April 27, followed by DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray on May 14. Although disc details have yet to be confirmed, Fox is promising two hours of behind-the-scenes footage and a ‘Jukebox’ feature that should thrill those who want to join in with their favourite musical numbers.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18SONY TUNES 4K HDR IN 2018THERE’S MORE TO Sony’s 4K TVs than meets the eye. The Japanese major says it’s exploiting years of expertise in the broadcast field and cinema production to ensure its 2018 TV range is a class apart.Certainly, looking at the brand’s incoming flatscreen lineup, with its premium designs and head-turning image quality, it’s difficult to believe there was once speculation that Sony would shut down its loss-making TV business. But that was then, this is now. With a new high-end OLED hero, plus a formidable fleet of LED 4K flatscreens, Sony is (literally) a brand to watch. HCC was invited to Sony Europe’s HQ to peer behind the new panels.Its. An(other). OLEDThe company’s 2018 headliner is the AF8. First spotted at CES, this second-generation 4K OLED offering takes a more conventional…6 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Further aheadVenomLong in gestation, this Spider-Man spin-off (confusingly unrelated to the Marvel Cinematic Universe) finally arrives in cinemas in October. Tom Hardy will be growling his way through dialogue as the titular anti-hero.The Predator’There’s no killing what can’t be killed,’ said King Willie in Predator 2, a tenet that perhaps explains Fox’s continued efforts to get its killer alien franchise back in theatres. At least this time it has an A-list director (Shane Black) and original producing team Joel Silver and Lawrence Gordon onboard. Hunt it down in cinemas in September.Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of GrindelwaldWarner Bros returns to the world of Harry Potter in November for another prequel written directly by J.K Rowling. The first Fantastic Beasts was an unbridled joy (and made for a great 4K platter) so fingers…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18POETRY IN MOTIONWHILE CONTRAST, COLOURS and video processing are important considerations for those who value picture quality, motion performance is something that can make or break a television. After all, the vast majority of content we watch on TV is moving imagery.Let’s start with the movies we have all come to appreciate and love. Traditionally, the frame rate of such material has been 24fps (or frames per second), a standard that was adopted initially for financial and technical reasons – it was the slowest frame rate at which comprehensible sound could be produced from synchronisation of the optical track running along the film.However, over the decades 24fps has become synonymous with the ‘film’ look: its dreamy and surreal aesthetics key to the suspension of disbelief that allows us to immerse in movies…10 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Room rebornKIT CHECKLISTSONY: VPL-VW550ES 4K HDR projector (with Panamorph Paladin anamorphic lens); PS4 ProLUMAGEN: Radiance Pro video processorDENON: AVR-X6300H AV receiverDISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES: Dynamic-2S projector screen with 4:3/16:9/2.40:1 maskingARTCOUSTIC: 3 x SL 8-4s (front LCR); 4 x 40-30 SL 4-2s (surround/rear); 4 x Architect SL 4-2s (height); 2 x Control 2 subwoofers; 2 x PA-750 sub ampsSKY: Q Silver PVRAPPLE: Apple TV 4K; iPad (control)OPPO: UDP-205 Ultra HD Blu-ray/universal disc player (multi-region)NINTENDO: Switch; Wii UMICROSOFT: Xbox One XRTI: XP-6 control processorFOR THIS PROJECT, Cheshire-based installer SONA was asked to take an existing (and underused) room and give the owner a setup worthy of the Sony 4K projector and 11-channel Denon receiver they’d already invested in, with two rows of seating, a motorised masking projection screen for constant height presentation, and a ‘full-fat’…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18NAD and Dirac’s lucky sevenNAD is entering the 3D audio premium AVR market with its T 777 V3. As the name suggests, this is the latest revision to the 777 platform. However, changes are significant enough that it could have been marketed as an all-new model and I wouldn’t have felt aggrieved.At its core, the T 777 V3 is a seven-channel design. These channels can be allocated as 7.1 or 5.1.2, with support for Dolby Atmos at the time of review and DTS:X compatibility in the pipeline.Of course, these days any premium AVR limiting its user to just seven channels is going to get some odd looks, so it’s no surprise to see the T 777 V3 featuring phono preouts for 5.2.4, 7.2.2 and 7.2.4 support via external power amplifiers – products that NAD…7 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18All guns blazingDenon’s AVC-X8500H has taken the AV amplifier concept and turned it up to 11. Well, more than that actually. With a claimed 1,950W spread through its 13 independent channels, plus every key AV feature currently available, this is the undisputed champion of AV specification trumps. But do you need so many channels of power on tap?Yes, as it turns out. While you can divert some of those powered channels to a second or third stereo zone, the real magic is what they can do in your cinema.Object-based audio formats map sound into your room, making the most of however many speakers you have. The more the merrier. Or, rather, the more speakers, the more accurate the positioning of effects and more believable the ambience of the movie. Dolby Atmos uses…9 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18QLED TV fights backSamsung probably thought when it unveiled its debut QLED displays last year that they’d take the world by storm. Surely punters wouldn’t be able to resist the unprecedented brightness and colour range delivered by the brand’s new metal-clad Quantum Dots? But things didn’t turn out that way. Instead, rival OLED sets, bolstered by performance tweaks and wider availability, became the year’s ‘must-have’ TV item.Samsung doesn’t seem to have liked this very much. How do I know? Because it’s responded with the QE65Q9FN: the best, most futureproofed TV I’ve yet seen.This pricey 65in flagship emphatically addresses the chief issue that hindered the QLED charge last year: backlighting. All of the brand’s TVs in 2017 featured edge LED arrays, but the QE65Q9FN uses more precise direct lighting with local dimming. Samsung doesn’t…7 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Hitachi’s XXL TVTHE APPEAL OF the Argos-exclusive Hitachi 75HL16T64U is brutally simple. It gives you 75 inches of native 4K, HDR-capable pictures for just £1,350. It quickly becomes apparent, though, that its bigscreen bargain status comes with some pretty hefty performance strings attached.For starters, the design is largely uninspired. The frame is wider than most and wears a dull black finish, while its feet are just there to do a job rather than look stylish.The rear of the TV sports four carry handles – the first time I’ve seen these outside of the commercial display world for years. They do aid setup, though, even if they make wall-hanging the set pretty much impossible.Connections are decent for the 75HL16T64U’s money, with highlights being three HDMI inputs and two USBs. Two of the HDMIs…4 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Airpulse Audio A200WHILE THE BRAND may not be familiar, the designer behind Airpulse Audio might be. Phil Jones helped found British hi-fi outfit Acoustic Energy, and was responsible for a run of high-performing designs. These studio-style active monitor speakers are built from comparable sonic DNA.Build quality and cosmetics are unmistakably premium; the cherry wood cabinetry has a lush, satin-lacquer finish that is definitely living room friendly.Built into the enclosures are 5.5in midbass drivers with stiff aluminium cones, and horn-loaded ribbon tweeters.These tweeters are key to the Airpulse Audio A200’s outstanding detail. A CD rip of Blondie’s Sunday Girl is conveyed as fresh and punky; the scritch of guitar and percussive detail sounding as exciting as a night on the town in 1970s New York.Connectivity is good. The integrated amp on the ‘master’…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Focal Sib Evo Dolby Atmos 5.1.2TIME ON TEST: TIME ON TEST: Seven months REVIEWER: REVIEWER: Mark CravenLAST SUMMER, THE French audio company Focal entered the arena of Dolby Atmos speakers with a sub/sat system – an idea that no other brand had apparently considered at the time. The likes of KEF, ELAC and PSB had targeted those with speaker setups already in place with upfiring Dolby Atmos modules. Here was a 5.1.2 option designed for those who wanted an entire package.Eight months on, the Sib Evo Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 remains the only Atmos-equipped sub/sat system you can buy (to the best of my knowledge). How long before other companies follow suit?What’s good about it?There are various sub/sat systems available that cater to those on tight budgets, and some are guilty of reaching so low in…5 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Film FanaticTHE AWARDS SEASON is over for another year and, no matter how happy we were to see Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water nab the Academy Award for Best Picture, it has shown yet again just how divorced these events have become from popular tastes.Do I believe that The Fate of the Furious or Wonder Woman should have been in the running for the Best Picture Oscar? No. But since the number of nominations in that category pretty much doubled in 2009 (from five to ten, but now apparently settled at nine), you’d think there’d be space for more films along the lines of Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk; ones that manage to straddle that middle-ground between box office success and critical acclaim.It hasn’t always been this way. And putting together…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18In the MixONE OF THE technologies on display at CES this year which earned excited coverage in the press was Micro LED. Samsung had a prototype screen called ‘The Wall’. It’s perhaps more revolutionary than you might have thought – the first new display technology for around ten years.The last major revolutionary launch was OLED, not by LG which is carrying the flag these days, but by Sony, which debuted an 11in screen back in 2007 – ten years before its bigscreen A1 successor.Don’t hate me, but I reckon we are seeing the end of life of OLED, as it can’t deliver the performance needed for today’s display technology HDR. It’s never going to achieve the brightness of the HDR specification, and relies on tone mapping; you really need a 2,000-nit brightness,…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18FeedbackCan I improve my AV setup?Hi. As a regular reader of Home Cinema Choice, I like reading about all the latest speaker systems and receivers and related AV equipment, even though most of the technical details go over my head.My setup is based around the fact that I have to wear headphones. It’s usually late at night when I get to watch films and not having a dedicated room means that for now speakers are not an option.I have a basic setup. An Epson EH-TW6700 projector fires onto a wall painted with Smarter Surfaces projector screen paint. I use a Sony BDP-S5200 Blu-ray player and Panasonic RP-HTX7 headphones. I plug the headphones into the back of the projector.My question is: how do I go about improving this basic system, in…10 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Why so Blu?LG MAY HAVE relentlessly pursued the premium end of the TV market with its 4K OLED and LED models, but the UP970 is very much cut from the same budget cloth as its previous 2K Blu-ray offerings. The player is full-width (430mm) but thin. It’s anonymously smart, although clearly a commodity product. Don’t expect to find the same level of build quality here as on Oppo’s premium Dolby Vision players. It’s more akin to the Panasonic DMP-UB300 and Samsung UBD-K8500. As is LG’s long-standing want, the UP970 has little stick-on transport buttons positioned beside a front-facing USB port disguised by a tethered cover. There’s no on-body status display, just very discreet green and red LEDs. The rear of the deck is similarly stripped back. There are two HDMI outputs, with…4 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Share 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|May-18There’s nothing fishy here4K ULTRA HDTry summarising Guillermo del Toro’s latest movie to someone and it’ll sound like the very worst kind of student film. A romantic fairy tale set in an Art Deco world, about misfits falling in love, where one of the misfits is an actual monster who looks like he’s walked straight off the set of The Creature from the Black Lagoon? It ain’t Fast and Furious, certainly.Yet so beautifully written and sensuously filmed is The Shape of Water that any resistance to its apparent tweeness lasts for all of five minutes. This is cinema at its enchanting best, and as such it deserves the many awards that have been lavished on both the film itself and its writer-director. Picture: Despite only getting a 2K cinema release from a predominantly…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18WIN! A Q Acoustics 7000i 5.1. Slim speaker packIN THIS ISSUE we’re teaming up with Q Acoustics to give away a 7000i 5.1 Slim speaker package worth £1,000! The latest evolution of the UK speaker expert’s premium sub/sat package, it combines class-leading performance with a smart, discreet design (available in black or white finishes). And it could be yours… Return to slender The Slim revamps Q Acoustics’ previous 7000i packages with a new 7060S subwoofer designed to make the system even easier to accommodate in your viewing room. Measuring only 6in deep, and using a sealed box design, you’ll have no trouble finding space for it, while the 8in driver, onboard 150W amp and 35Hz frequency response rating deliver tight, well-controlled, cinematic bass. Joining the 7060S in this multichannel array are Q Acoustics’ neatly styled satellite speakers. Each…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Pitch Perfect 3Struggling to adjust to life outside college the Barden Bellas reunite for one last musical tour in this final instalment of the comedy series. It’s not as sharp as the original, but Pitch Perfect 3 does at least improve on its immediate predecessor and finds a few new beats to add to the formula. The undoubted highlight of this BD release is an effortlessly fluid and wide-ranging DTS:X soundtrack that takes the a capella musical numbers to new heights; the AVC 1.85:1 Full HD encode is also richly detailed and clean. A pair of chat-tracks head up a sizeable set of extras.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Arcade ActionFar Cry 5Ubisoft → PS4, Xbox One → £50Since its inception almost a decadeand-a-half ago, the Far Cry franchise has been acclaimed for innovation and pushing the boundaries of the first-person-shooter genre. Far Cry 5 does neither. It is, however, an excellent game and a stunningly beautiful one to boot.If you were a big fan of Far Cry 4 you will find much here that is familiar and, even, directly lifted from that previous title. But while this fifth instalment brings very few new tricks to the table, it gives players an enormous open-world environment to roam and hundreds of missions and side quests to undertake. It is a huge game and no mistake.This time the action has switched to the United States and a corner of Montana that is…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18In the MixONE OF THE technologies on display at CES this year which earned excited coverage in the press was Micro LED. Samsung had a prototype screen called ‘The Wall’. It’s perhaps more revolutionary than you might have thought – the first new display technology for around ten years. The last major revolutionary launch was OLED, not by LG which is carrying the flag these days, but by Sony, which debuted an 11in screen back in 2007 – ten years before its bigscreen A1 successor. Don’t hate me, but I reckon we are seeing the end of life of OLED, as it can’t deliver the performance needed for today’s display technology HDR. It’s never going to achieve the brightness of the HDR specification, and relies on tone mapping; you really need a…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Playing games with nostalgiaDuring detention, four high school teenagers – nerdy Spencer (Alex Wolff), self-centred Bethany (Madison Iseman), football jock ‘Fridge’ (Ser’Darius Blain) and loner Martha (Morgan Turner) – find a vintage video game console. Within moments of turning it on they are sucked into the Jumanji game world, appearing in the forms of the avatars they had chose to play as.Spencer is now the muscular explorer Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), Bethany the cartographer Professor Sheldon ‘Shelly’ Oberon (Jack Black), ‘Fridge’ the diminutive zoologist Franklin ‘Mouse’ Finbar (Kevin Hart) and Martha the lethal Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan). Only by completing the game and recovering the mystical Jaguar’s Eye jewel from the evil Professor Van Pelt (Bobby Cannavale) can they hope to return to the real world.Cleverly updating the board game concept from…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18BreathlessJim McBride’s 1983 US remake of Jean-Luc Godard’s French New Wave classic may not be held in the same sort of critical regard as the original, but taken on its own terms it’s an enjoyable piece of pop cinema that is arguably a lot more fun to watch. Although the pleasingly colour-saturated 1.85:1 encode featured on this UK Blu-ray looks very reminiscent of the 2015 US release, Second Sight has improved on Shout! Factory’s essentially barebones Region A platter by including an interview with actress Valérie Kaprisky and an impassioned defence of the film from critic Mark Kermode.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18For your ReferenceKEF has added an in-wall speaker to its Reference range, featuring drivers especially designed for its flush-fit form factor. Dubbed the Ci5160REF-THX (and THX Ultra certified), the metre-long speaker uses a quartet of 6.25in woofers and a single Uni-Q unit, fed by ‘high-grade’ crossover networks claiming a smooth response with minimal distortion. Priced at £7,500, each model comes with a certificate signed by the audio craftsman who built it – order one now and it’ll be ready in a couple of weeks…HCC ONLINE…For breaking AV news, blogs, features and reviews visit www.homecinemachoice.comFollow us on Twitter @hccmagLike us on Facebookfacebook.com/homecinemachoice…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Playlist…Thor: Ragnarok (Ultra HD Blu-ray) While we may have some concerns regarding the Atmos mix, there’s still plenty to savour about this visually spectacular and extremely funny Marvel sequel in 4K. Score (R2 DVD) Matt Schrader’s documentary charts the development of the modern movie score over the decades. Fascinating stuff Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (R2 DVD) Playful biopic dealing with the unconventional love life of the man who created Wonder Woman. Goodbye Christopher Robin (All-region BD) A tough watch made all the more bearable by the superb 1080p encode it receives on Blu-ray. Dogs (Region B BD) The UK Blu-ray debut of this enjoyably silly 1976 revenge-of-nature flick is thankfully no dog……1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18At the ‘plex…Avengers: Infinity WarApril 26: A decade of Marvel Studios movies has been leading to this: the biggest and most spectacular superhero film ever made. Turn to p22 to find out why we’re so excited…The Strangers: Prey at NightMay 04: Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks stars in (and Johannes Roberts directs) this belated sequel to the 2008 home invasion horror flick, which finds the masked maniacs stalking a family at a secluded trailer park.How to Talk to Girls at PartiesMay 11: Elle Fanning, Alex Sharp and Nicole Kidman appear in this sci-fi comedy (based on a Neil Gaiman short story) about an alien visitor who learns about teenage love during a visit to London in the 1970s.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18A super day out for fansFrom the gleaming cityscapes of Metropolis to the beaches of Themyscira, via an overnight stay in crime-ridden Gotham, the new DC Exhibition: Dawn of Super Heroes offers a whistle-stop tour of the DC universe. Mingling film props and costumes with comic art, the show has begun a six-month residency at The O2, London. HCC donned a cape and cowl and took a closer look…A co-production between DC Entertainment and Art Ludique-Le Musée, the exhibition is rich in heroic detail. With 45 original costumes and props, 300 or so concept sketches and more than 200 pages of original comic art, there’s no shortage of spandex to revel in.After the gauntlet of merch, visitors are ushered through a predictable chronological warren. Our advice is walk slowly, else you might miss some gems.…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Extras…Alien Queen Wall Sculpture Give your movie den an Aliens-style makeover with this life-size wall sculpture of the Alien Queen from Hollywood Collectibles Group. Priced around $1,600(!), the hand-painted ‘museum quality’ sculpture is constructed from fibreglass and mixed media. An alternate version with an interchangeable extended inner jaw is also available. Stormtrooper Wireframe Light Imperial Stormtroopers may be associated with the Dark Side, but that doesn’t stop them from lighting up your cinema room. This USB-powered, Trompe L’oeil effect 2D etched acrylic light is based on the original movie helmets created in 1976 by prop master Andrew Ainsworth (whose signature is printed on the base). Grab one from TheFowndry.com for £25. Jurassic Park Gates To mark the 25th anniversary of Jurassic Park, US toy and collectible maker Factory Entertainment will…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Face to FaceThor: Ragnarok’s Blu-ray soundmix…The sound is so lacklustre! Stewart HeedI’ve a feeling it might be to do with the film’s original soundmix. I saw it whilst on holiday in Florida, at a Cinemark XD screen, by all accounts a fantastic cinema. I wasn’t too impressed with the Dolby Atmos sound – it basically adhered to all the criticisms in your review. Lack of power, lack of actual surround sound… not what I’d expect from a big Marvel movie on a premium screen!Mark HornsbyWhat you’re watching on your home cinema…Good Easter films for me! Strangled and Psycho II! Robert CorriganThe Spider-Man Trilogy in 4K, Justice league in 4K and GoldenEye on DTS Laserdisc.Mike WadkinsThe third and fourth Indiana Jones films – impressive sound and picture from normal BD – plus The…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Face to FaceThor: Ragnarok’s Blu-ray soundmix… The sound is so lacklustre! Stewart Heed I’ve a feeling it might be to do with the film’s original soundmix. I saw it whilst on holiday in Florida, at a Cinemark XD screen, by all accounts a fantastic cinema. I wasn’t too impressed with the Dolby Atmos sound – it basically adhered to all the criticisms in your review. Lack of power, lack of actual surround sound… not what I’d expect from a big Marvel movie on a premium screen! Mark Hornsby What you’re watching on your home cinema… Good Easter films for me! Strangled and Psycho II! Robert Corrigan The Spider-Man Trilogy in 4K, Justice league in 4K and GoldenEye on DTS Laserdisc. Mike Wadkins The third and fourth Indiana Jones films – impressive sound…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Bargain huntThe ‘e’ suffix denotes this DLP projector is an evolution of Optoma’s previous HD27, with the PJ specialist claiming improvements to lamp-life, running noise and image punch (through a 3,400 Lumens rating). Native resolution remains 1,920 x 1,080 rather than state-of-the-art 4K, but factor in the dual HDMI inputs, 12V trigger output, 3D playback, powered USB for streaming device hookup, neat design and £550 price tag and you may find you don’t crave any extra pixels.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Unexpected frame rateFor his trilogy of Hobbit movies, director Peter Jackson returned to Middle-earth with a new weapon – a high frame rate. The first flick in the series, 2012’s An Unexpected Journey, was shot at 48fps, and both sequels followed suit.Not all cinemas screened the movie at 48fps, however. In fact, most didn’t, instead using a more standard 24fps conversion, meaning most audiences didn’t experience it.Response to Jackson’s groundbreaking presentation was generally unfavourable. ‘It looks uncomfortably like telly, albeit telly shot with impossibly high production values,’ said film critic Peter Bradshaw. Yet Jackson was adamant that 48fps was the right way to go, telling movie website Den of Geek: ‘48 frames is by far the best way to see this film… 24 frames was arrived at in a very arbitrary way,…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Further aheadVenom Long in gestation, this Spider-Man spin-off (confusingly unrelated to the Marvel Cinematic Universe) finally arrives in cinemas in October. Tom Hardy will be growling his way through dialogue as the titular anti-hero. The Predator ’There’s no killing what can’t be killed,’ said King Willie in Predator 2, a tenet that perhaps explains Fox’s continued efforts to get its killer alien franchise back in theatres. At least this time it has an A-list director (Shane Black) and original producing team Joel Silver and Lawrence Gordon onboard. Hunt it down in cinemas in September. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Warner Bros returns to the world of Harry Potter in November for another prequel written directly by J.K Rowling. The first Fantastic Beasts was an unbridled joy (and made for a…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18POETRY IN MOTIONWHILE CONTRAST, COLOURS and video processing are important considerations for those who value picture quality, motion performance is something that can make or break a television. After all, the vast majority of content we watch on TV is moving imagery. Let’s start with the movies we have all come to appreciate and love. Traditionally, the frame rate of such material has been 24fps (or frames per second), a standard that was adopted initially for financial and technical reasons – it was the slowest frame rate at which comprehensible sound could be produced from synchronisation of the optical track running along the film. However, over the decades 24fps has become synonymous with the ‘film’ look: its dreamy and surreal aesthetics key to the suspension of disbelief that allows us to immerse…10 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Unexpected frame rateFor his trilogy of Hobbit movies, director Peter Jackson returned to Middle-earth with a new weapon – a high frame rate. The first flick in the series, 2012’s An Unexpected Journey, was shot at 48fps, and both sequels followed suit. Not all cinemas screened the movie at 48fps, however. In fact, most didn’t, instead using a more standard 24fps conversion, meaning most audiences didn’t experience it. Response to Jackson’s groundbreaking presentation was generally unfavourable. ‘It looks uncomfortably like telly, albeit telly shot with impossibly high production values,’ said film critic Peter Bradshaw. Yet Jackson was adamant that 48fps was the right way to go, telling movie website Den of Geek: ‘48 frames is by far the best way to see this film… 24 frames was arrived at in a very…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Room rebornKIT CHECKLIST SONY: VPL-VW550ES 4K HDR projector (with Panamorph Paladin anamorphic lens); PS4 Pro LUMAGEN: Radiance Pro video processor DENON: AVR-X6300H AV receiver DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES: Dynamic-2S projector screen with 4:3/16:9/2.40:1 masking ARTCOUSTIC: 3 x SL 8-4s (front LCR); 4 x 40-30 SL 4-2s (surround/rear); 4 x Architect SL 4-2s (height); 2 x Control 2 subwoofers; 2 x PA-750 sub amps SKY: Q Silver PVR APPLE: Apple TV 4K; iPad (control) OPPO: UDP-205 Ultra HD Blu-ray/universal disc player (multi-region) NINTENDO: Switch; Wii U MICROSOFT: Xbox One X RTI: XP-6 control processor FOR THIS PROJECT, Cheshire-based installer SONA was asked to take an existing (and underused) room and give the owner a setup worthy of the Sony 4K projector and 11-channel Denon receiver they’d already invested in, with two rows of seating,…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Sony plays a peaky blinderIt’s all about the backlight. You can have the smartest image processor in the showroom, but if your backlight isn’t up to snuff then that shiny new LCD panel just isn’t going to impress. This is one very good reason why AV enthusiasts adore full array LED systems – even the cleverest edge-lighting tends to betray itself sooner or later with light pooling and splotchy artefacts. Unfortunately, direct-lit LED TVs aren’t particularly common, not least because the majority of consumers equate thinness with quality, and those extra lamps add girth to a set. It matters not a jot on the high street that a direct LED-backlit TV will typically do a better job presenting HDR highlights and deeper blacks. Thankfully, Sony continues to offer enthusiasts the option. Last year’s XE9005…7 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18NAD and Dirac’s lucky sevenNAD is entering the 3D audio premium AVR market with its T 777 V3. As the name suggests, this is the latest revision to the 777 platform. However, changes are significant enough that it could have been marketed as an all-new model and I wouldn’t have felt aggrieved. At its core, the T 777 V3 is a seven-channel design. These channels can be allocated as 7.1 or 5.1.2, with support for Dolby Atmos at the time of review and DTS:X compatibility in the pipeline. Of course, these days any premium AVR limiting its user to just seven channels is going to get some odd looks, so it’s no surprise to see the T 777 V3 featuring phono preouts for 5.2.4, 7.2.2 and 7.2.4 support via external power amplifiers – products…7 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Digital CopyIT’S NOT BEEN a great year so far for the UK high street, with retailers and restaurants all posting dire financial warnings or falling into administration. And in the latter camp is Maplin, a business that I expect some of you are familiar with.I was never a frequent shopper at Maplin, but clearly remember the last time I went to one of its stores. It was a Sunday, and I was in urgent need of a phono cable to hook up a subwoofer. Maplin is where I ended up.For those who never experienced this UK technology retailer, it always felt to me like the middle ground between PC World and a specialist independent shop, where big-brand soundbars and headphones would clamour for shelf-space alongside Ethernet switches and home security widgets.…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18All guns blazingDenon’s AVC-X8500H has taken the AV amplifier concept and turned it up to 11. Well, more than that actually. With a claimed 1,950W spread through its 13 independent channels, plus every key AV feature currently available, this is the undisputed champion of AV specification trumps. But do you need so many channels of power on tap? Yes, as it turns out. While you can divert some of those powered channels to a second or third stereo zone, the real magic is what they can do in your cinema. Object-based audio formats map sound into your room, making the most of however many speakers you have. The more the merrier. Or, rather, the more speakers, the more accurate the positioning of effects and more believable the ambience of the movie. Dolby…8 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18I’ve been in my loft…Hello all. Having read articles about old technology, and at a loose end, I decided to dig out my VCR from the loft. I also found a copy of Suspiria to try it out. I connected the VCR to my TV and sat back to watch – I had forgotten how good the opening credits are. Even in stereo the rolling thunder sounded awesome! Needless to say the Blu-ray is on my to-buy list.On another subject, reading Wendy Hiley’s letter [HCC #284] makes me realise I must have married the wrong woman!John Ellison, via emailMark Craven replies: With vinyl resurgent in hi-fi circles, some have wondered whether VHS might also be due a re-appreciation. But while I understand the nostalgia value, let’s be honest – it was a bit rubbish.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Star Letter…Regards the article about IMAX and the section on premium film experiences [HCC #284], I reckon Cineworld’s 4DX is one of the best ways to enjoy your action film of choice. As long as it’s the second time you’re watching it.The main reason for this is that the 4DX experience can be a distraction from the film’s narrative, especially if your seat is shaking, you’re getting water sprayed in your face and the cinema suddenly smells like it’s on fire.For those that haven’t yet strapped in to the 4DX rollercoaster, as well as a 3D screening, you get chairs that move in three dimensions, vibration plates and ticklers in the base and back of the seat, air jets behind your head and neck, water sprays above and in front (for…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Hitachi’s XXL TVTHE APPEAL OF the Argos-exclusive Hitachi 75HL16T64U is brutally simple. It gives you 75 inches of native 4K, HDR-capable pictures for just £1,350. It quickly becomes apparent, though, that its bigscreen bargain status comes with some pretty hefty performance strings attached. For starters, the design is largely uninspired. The frame is wider than most and wears a dull black finish, while its feet are just there to do a job rather than look stylish. The rear of the TV sports four carry handles – the first time I’ve seen these outside of the commercial display world for years. They do aid setup, though, even if they make wall-hanging the set pretty much impossible. Connections are decent for the 75HL16T64U’s money, with highlights being three HDMI inputs and two USBs. Two…4 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Cello C32277T2THIS TV FROM UK manufacturer Cello isn’t just another portable. It’s battery-powered, which basically means you can take it on the road or install it in the garden on a balmy Summer night. Fully charged, Cello quotes an impressive 10-hour usage when the screen runs on its most eco of settings. Everything you need, plus a bit more, is in the box. The set even comes with two long-lead LED lights which plug directly into the back. These are bright enough to illuminate a tent or patio. To the rear you’ll find two HDMIs and a PC VGA input. There are four USB ports, two for media playback or recording onto an external hard drive. The other two can recharge a smartphone, or power a streaming dongle if you’re setting…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18A sign of the times for HDRWriter/director Martin McDonagh’s drama about a mother seeking justice following the murder of her daughter has been pretty omnipresent on the recent awards circuit – and its acclaim is deserved. Despite being a little overtly theatrical at times, it remains a powerful, brilliantly-acted smalltown America drama that holds up well to repeat viewings.Picture: Three Billboards… was shot at 2.8K, and only received a 2K digital intermediate for cinematic release. Hardly surprising, then, that the image on this 4K Blu-ray isn’t the sharpest around, lacking the detail and crispness of the best-looking releases.That said, the picture does improve on the 1080p transfer. The lush landscapes look slightly more defined and three-dimensional, while close-ups reveal more refinement in the actors’ care-worn faces.The HDR10 upgrade also means that sunny exteriors appear naturally bright…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Focal Sib Evo Dolby Atmos 5.1.2TIME ON TEST:TIME ON TEST: Seven months REVIEWER:REVIEWER: Mark Craven LAST SUMMER, THE French audio company Focal entered the arena of Dolby Atmos speakers with a sub/sat system – an idea that no other brand had apparently considered at the time. The likes of KEF, ELAC and PSB had targeted those with speaker setups already in place with upfiring Dolby Atmos modules. Here was a 5.1.2 option designed for those who wanted an entire package. Eight months on, the Sib Evo Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 remains the only Atmos-equipped sub/sat system you can buy (to the best of my knowledge). How long before other companies follow suit? What’s good about it? There are various sub/sat systems available that cater to those on tight budgets, and some are guilty of reaching so…5 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18A new hope for AV?4K ULTRA HDThe Force Awakens, with its familiar narrative beats and cast of returning favourites, was undoubtedly the ideal first movie for Disney as it sought to reignite fan passion in all things Star Wars. Follow-up flick The Last Jedi successfully takes the series into something of a new direction. As it surely had to.Plot-wise, the movie (written and directed by Rian ‘Looper’ Johnson), picks up where Force Awakens left off, with Rey (Daisy Ridley), meeting up with Jedi veteran Luke Skywalker at his remote island hideaway. Meanwhile, Poe (Oscar Isaac) and Finn (John Boyega) are embedded with the Resistance fleet as it flees from First Order ships and new series baddies Kylo Ren and General Snoke. Johnson’s script then balances the action between Rey’s Jedi training and the Resistance…4 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Film FanaticTHE AWARDS SEASON is over for another year and, no matter how happy we were to see Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water nab the Academy Award for Best Picture, it has shown yet again just how divorced these events have become from popular tastes. Do I believe that The Fate of the Furious or Wonder Woman should have been in the running for the Best Picture Oscar? No. But since the number of nominations in that category pretty much doubled in 2009 (from five to ten, but now apparently settled at nine), you’d think there’d be space for more films along the lines of Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk; ones that manage to straddle that middle-ground between box office success and critical acclaim. It hasn’t always been this way. And…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Outlander: Season ThreeFollowing the same pattern as its second season, this latest run of 13 episodes is split between two arcs – the first focusing on reuniting time-displaced lovers Claire and Jamie, the second on sending them on a fresh adventure. This time around, though, it’s a bit more unbalanced, stretching the former arc too far and not giving the latter arc the space it really needs; at least the chemistry between the leads is as strong as ever and helps paper over these issues. Also distracting your attention somewhat is the typically excellent AV performance and generous selection of extras this Blu-ray release rustles up.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18FeedbackCan I improve my AV setup? Hi. As a regular reader of Home Cinema Choice, I like reading about all the latest speaker systems and receivers and related AV equipment, even though most of the technical details go over my head. My setup is based around the fact that I have to wear headphones. It’s usually late at night when I get to watch films and not having a dedicated room means that for now speakers are not an option. I have a basic setup. An Epson EH-TW6700 projector fires onto a wall painted with Smarter Surfaces projector screen paint. I use a Sony BDP-S5200 Blu-ray player and Panasonic RP-HTX7 headphones. I plug the headphones into the back of the projector. My question is: how do I go about improving…10 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Heimat: Limited Edition BoxsetSubtitled ‘A Chronicle of Germany’, Edgar Reitz’s 15-hour TV drama follows the life of a family from a small German village between 1919 and 1982. Restored from the original negative and presented in its cinema version (which joins pairs of shorter episodes together to make feature-length instalments), Heimat looks sensational on Blu-ray; the 1.66:1 1080i encodes cope equally well with the series’ black-and-white and colour visuals. A disc of extras includes a look at the restoration process and Reitz’s ‘Hunsrüch Villages…’ documentary.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Star Letter…Regards the article about IMAX and the section on premium film experiences [HCC #284], I reckon Cineworld’s 4DX is one of the best ways to enjoy your action film of choice. As long as it’s the second time you’re watching it. The main reason for this is that the 4DX experience can be a distraction from the film’s narrative, especially if your seat is shaking, you’re getting water sprayed in your face and the cinema suddenly smells like it’s on fire. For those that haven’t yet strapped in to the 4DX rollercoaster, as well as a 3D screening, you get chairs that move in three dimensions, vibration plates and ticklers in the base and back of the seat, air jets behind your head and neck, water sprays above and in…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18CONTRIBUTORSJohn 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 vinylVincent Teoh: Professional video calibrator writes about technology and tweaking…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18For your ReferenceKEF has added an in-wall speaker to its Reference range, featuring drivers especially designed for its flush-fit form factor. Dubbed the Ci5160REF-THX (and THX Ultra certified), the metre-long speaker uses a quartet of 6.25in woofers and a single Uni-Q unit, fed by ‘high-grade’ crossover networks claiming a smooth response with minimal distortion. Priced at £7,500, each model comes with a certificate signed by the audio craftsman who built it – order one now and it’ll be ready in a couple of weeks… 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|May-18Playlist…Thor: Ragnarok (Ultra HD Blu-ray)While we may have some concerns regarding the Atmos mix, there’s still plenty to savour about this visually spectacular and extremely funny Marvel sequel in 4K.Score (R2 DVD)Matt Schrader’s documentary charts the development of the modern movie score over the decades. Fascinating stuffProfessor Marston and the Wonder Women (R2 DVD)Playful biopic dealing with the unconventional love life of the man who created Wonder Woman.Goodbye Christopher Robin (All-region BD)A tough watch made all the more bearable by the superb 1080p encode it receives on Blu-ray.Dogs (Region B BD)The UK Blu-ray debut of this enjoyably silly 1976 revenge-of-nature flick is thankfully no dog……1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Samsung targets cinemaA cinema in Zurich has become the first in the world to officially install a Samsung Cinema LED screen, news that has the Korean corp boldly claiming: ‘The movie screen and traditional projection technology are a thing of the past.’Samsung’s next-gen cinema display features 24million LEDs, using a modular construction to fill an area measuring 10.2m wide and 5.4m high.While in essence a giant TV, it’s certified by the DCI (Digital Cinema Initiative) and delivers a 4,096 x 2,160 4K resolution.Exit lightThe benefits of this projector-less approach are numerous, believes Samsung. An absence of light reflections enables ‘pitch dark’ theatres, in addition to ‘true’ blacks on screen. Switching between aspect ratios is achievable without masking technologies.Cinema LED also delivers ‘unprecedented colour brilliance, luminosity and sharpness,’ says the company. The screen’s…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18At the ‘plex…Avengers: Infinity War April 26: A decade of Marvel Studios movies has been leading to this: the biggest and most spectacular superhero film ever made. Turn to p22 to find out why we’re so excited… The Strangers: Prey at Night May 04: Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks stars in (and Johannes Roberts directs) this belated sequel to the 2008 home invasion horror flick, which finds the masked maniacs stalking a family at a secluded trailer park. How to Talk to Girls at Parties May 11: Elle Fanning, Alex Sharp and Nicole Kidman appear in this sci-fi comedy (based on a Neil Gaiman short story) about an alien visitor who learns about teenage love during a visit to London in the 1970s.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Cutting the cost of 4K projectionThe arrival of Texas Instruments’ 4K DLP solution was always tipped to dramatically lower the entry price of UHD home cinema projection. BenQ’s TK800, available now for £1,200, is proof that such claims weren’t wide of the mark. Compact at 35cm wide and given a funky blue face plate, this affordable 4K DLP PJ is very much designed for use in everyday living rooms. A 3,000 Lumens brightness rating, suggests BenQ, makes it ideal for sports viewing in well-lit environments – and there’s even a Football Mode viewing preset. The projector’s 1.2x optical zoom leads to a fairly short 1.47-1.76:1 throw ratio, with a 100in image possible from a distance of 3.25m. Automatic keystone correction is supplied to align bigscreen images, in place of vertical lens-shift functionality. Connections include a…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18A super day out for fansFrom the gleaming cityscapes of Metropolis to the beaches of Themyscira, via an overnight stay in crime-ridden Gotham, the new DC Exhibition: Dawn of Super Heroes offers a whistle-stop tour of the DC universe. Mingling film props and costumes with comic art, the show has begun a six-month residency at The O2, London. HCC donned a cape and cowl and took a closer look… A co-production between DC Entertainment and Art Ludique-Le Musée, the exhibition is rich in heroic detail. With 45 original costumes and props, 300 or so concept sketches and more than 200 pages of original comic art, there’s no shortage of spandex to revel in. After the gauntlet of merch, visitors are ushered through a predictable chronological warren. Our advice is walk slowly, else you might miss…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Back of the ‘netThe beasts are backWarner is already hyping its Fantastic Beasts… sequel (The Crimes of Grindelwald) in advance of its November cinema release, and judged from this teaser trailer the studio has given director David Yates a massive SFX warchest. Look out for Jude Law taking on the role of a young Dumbledore.youtu.be/_bUbEu3SlmEThe end of the lineMargot Robbie (pictured) stars in Terminal, an independent crime drama due for release in May, also starring Dexter Fletcher, Simon Pegg and Mike Myers. If that description doesn’t float your boat, check out this trailer, which suggests it may have a unique, neon-infused, noirish vibe.youtu.be/AW-NivlFgrQSaddle up againWestworld’s first season was one of the best TV dramas of recent years, so this follow-on (beginning on Sky Atlantic right about now and hitting disc later this year),…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Back of the ‘netThe beasts are back Warner is already hyping its Fantastic Beasts… sequel (The Crimes of Grindelwald) in advance of its November cinema release, and judged from this teaser trailer the studio has given director David Yates a massive SFX warchest. Look out for Jude Law taking on the role of a young Dumbledore. youtu.be/_bUbEu3SlmE The end of the line Margot Robbie (pictured) stars in Terminal, an independent crime drama due for release in May, also starring Dexter Fletcher, Simon Pegg and Mike Myers. If that description doesn’t float your boat, check out this trailer, which suggests it may have a unique, neon-infused, noirish vibe. youtu.be/AW-NivlFgrQ Saddle up again Westworld’s first season was one of the best TV dramas of recent years, so this follow-on (beginning on Sky Atlantic right about…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Summer lovin’THE BIRTH OF the Summer blockbuster began in June 1975, when shark thriller Jaws surfed a wave of unprecedented pre-release promotion to swallow remarkable box office takings of more than $100m. Canny marketing by Universal studios, the success of Peter Benchley’s source material and a wide release strategy made it the first true ‘event picture’. A template had been set.In 2018, Hollywood still follows the Jaws rulebook. Spend millions on promotion, open big and hope the ticker tape comes rolling in. And it’s gone global too – while Jaws opened during the Christmas of 1975 in the UK, modern movies are typically released in the same week across domestic and international markets.What has changed, however, is the notion of the ‘Summer blockbuster’. Summer is getting longer.The so-called ‘Oscar season’ of…12 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18SONY TUNES 4K HDR IN 2018THERE’S MORE TO Sony’s 4K TVs than meets the eye. The Japanese major says it’s exploiting years of expertise in the broadcast field and cinema production to ensure its 2018 TV range is a class apart. Certainly, looking at the brand’s incoming flatscreen lineup, with its premium designs and head-turning image quality, it’s difficult to believe there was once speculation that Sony would shut down its loss-making TV business. But that was then, this is now. With a new high-end OLED hero, plus a formidable fleet of LED 4K flatscreens, Sony is (literally) a brand to watch. HCC was invited to Sony Europe’s HQ to peer behind the new panels. Its. An(other). OLED The company’s 2018 headliner is the AF8. First spotted at CES, this second-generation 4K OLED offering takes…5 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Summer lovin’THE BIRTH OF the Summer blockbuster began in June 1975, when shark thriller Jaws surfed a wave of unprecedented pre-release promotion to swallow remarkable box office takings of more than $100m. Canny marketing by Universal studios, the success of Peter Benchley’s source material and a wide release strategy made it the first true ‘event picture’. A template had been set. In 2018, Hollywood still follows the Jaws rulebook. Spend millions on promotion, open big and hope the ticker tape comes rolling in. And it’s gone global too – while Jaws opened during the Christmas of 1975 in the UK, modern movies are typically released in the same week across domestic and international markets. What has changed, however, is the notion of the ‘Summer blockbuster’. Summer is getting longer. The so-called…12 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Sony plays a peaky blinderIt’s all about the backlight. You can have the smartest image processor in the showroom, but if your backlight isn’t up to snuff then that shiny new LCD panel just isn’t going to impress. This is one very good reason why AV enthusiasts adore full array LED systems – even the cleverest edge-lighting tends to betray itself sooner or later with light pooling and splotchy artefacts.Unfortunately, direct-lit LED TVs aren’t particularly common, not least because the majority of consumers equate thinness with quality, and those extra lamps add girth to a set. It matters not a jot on the high street that a direct LED-backlit TV will typically do a better job presenting HDR highlights and deeper blacks.Thankfully, Sony continues to offer enthusiasts the option. Last year’s XE9005 was a…7 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Mid-priced 4K marvelAfter finding it difficult in the past to maintain a consistent foothold in the UK’s notoriously tough home cinema/media room projection market, Taiwanese brand Vivitek now has a committed distributor keen to show British movie fans what its DLP models can do. Which, on the evidence of the well-priced HK2288, is a heck of a lot.This projector is the latest in a rapidly growing line of affordable 4K DLP models using Texas Instruments’ XPR fast-switching technology. The imaging chip isn’t native 4K (it incorporates 4.15m mirrors), but TI’s proprietary processing claims to deliver two discrete pixels for each mirror – resulting in a 4K picture. From my experience, the technology gets closer to a true 4K experience than any rival ‘pseudo’ technology – and has been certified as ‘real 4K’…7 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Why so Blu?LG MAY HAVE relentlessly pursued the premium end of the TV market with its 4K OLED and LED models, but the UP970 is very much cut from the same budget cloth as its previous 2K Blu-ray offerings.The player is full-width (430mm) but thin. It’s anonymously smart, although clearly a commodity product. Don’t expect to find the same level of build quality here as on Oppo’s premium Dolby Vision players. It’s more akin to the Panasonic DMP-UB300 and Samsung UBD-K8500.As is LG’s long-standing want, the UP970 has little stick-on transport buttons positioned beside a front-facing USB port disguised by a tethered cover. There’s no on-body status display, just very discreet green and red LEDs.The rear of the deck is similarly stripped back. There are two HDMI outputs, with the second designated…4 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Cello C32277T2THIS TV FROM UK manufacturer Cello isn’t just another portable. It’s battery-powered, which basically means you can take it on the road or install it in the garden on a balmy Summer night. Fully charged, Cello quotes an impressive 10-hour usage when the screen runs on its most eco of settings.Everything you need, plus a bit more, is in the box. The set even comes with two long-lead LED lights which plug directly into the back. These are bright enough to illuminate a tent or patio.To the rear you’ll find two HDMIs and a PC VGA input. There are four USB ports, two for media playback or recording onto an external hard drive. The other two can recharge a smartphone, or power a streaming dongle if you’re setting up in…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18WIN! A Q Acoustics 7000i 5.1. Slim speaker packIN THIS ISSUE we’re teaming up with Q Acoustics to give away a 7000i 5.1 Slim speaker package worth £1,000! The latest evolution of the UK speaker expert’s premium sub/sat package, it combines class-leading performance with a smart, discreet design (available in black or white finishes). And it could be yours…Return to slenderThe Slim revamps Q Acoustics’ previous 7000i packages with a new 7060S subwoofer designed to make the system even easier to accommodate in your viewing room. Measuring only 6in deep, and using a sealed box design, you’ll have no trouble finding space for it, while the 8in driver, onboard 150W amp and 35Hz frequency response rating deliver tight, well-controlled, cinematic bass.Joining the 7060S in this multichannel array are Q Acoustics’ neatly styled satellite speakers. Each model, whether it’s…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Mid-priced 4K marvelAfter finding it difficult in the past to maintain a consistent foothold in the UK’s notoriously tough home cinema/media room projection market, Taiwanese brand Vivitek now has a committed distributor keen to show British movie fans what its DLP models can do. Which, on the evidence of the well-priced HK2288, is a heck of a lot. This projector is the latest in a rapidly growing line of affordable 4K DLP models using Texas Instruments’ XPR fast-switching technology. The imaging chip isn’t native 4K (it incorporates 4.15m mirrors), but TI’s proprietary processing claims to deliver two discrete pixels for each mirror – resulting in a 4K picture. From my experience, the technology gets closer to a true 4K experience than any rival ‘pseudo’ technology – and has been certified as ‘real…7 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18QLED TV fights backSamsung probably thought when it unveiled its debut QLED displays last year that they’d take the world by storm. Surely punters wouldn’t be able to resist the unprecedented brightness and colour range delivered by the brand’s new metal-clad Quantum Dots? But things didn’t turn out that way. Instead, rival OLED sets, bolstered by performance tweaks and wider availability, became the year’s ‘must-have’ TV item. Samsung doesn’t seem to have liked this very much. How do I know? Because it’s responded with the QE65Q9FN: the best, most futureproofed TV I’ve yet seen. This pricey 65in flagship emphatically addresses the chief issue that hindered the QLED charge last year: backlighting. All of the brand’s TVs in 2017 featured edge LED arrays, but the QE65Q9FN uses more precise direct lighting with local dimming.…7 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Certified: AV-Holic!Welcome to the AV-Holics Hall of Fame – introduce yourself!My name is Mark Burton, I’m a Director for a local recruitment agency.How long have you been into home cinema?I purchased my first plasma screen in 2003 – a 42in Fujitsu – and since then I have been hooked! I bought my first projector the following year, and had my first dedicated cinema room about 10 years later.Upon moving to a new house in 2016, one of my prerequisites when finding a suitable home was somewhere that would give me the ability to have a proper cinema room, taking things to another level. However, things panned out slightly differently when moving in. The garage I had planned on converting wasn’t suitable, so, with the help of my dad, I decided on…4 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Airpulse Audio A200WHILE THE BRAND may not be familiar, the designer behind Airpulse Audio might be. Phil Jones helped found British hi-fi outfit Acoustic Energy, and was responsible for a run of high-performing designs. These studio-style active monitor speakers are built from comparable sonic DNA. Build quality and cosmetics are unmistakably premium; the cherry wood cabinetry has a lush, satin-lacquer finish that is definitely living room friendly. Built into the enclosures are 5.5in midbass drivers with stiff aluminium cones, and horn-loaded ribbon tweeters. These tweeters are key to the Airpulse Audio A200’s outstanding detail. A CD rip of Blondie’s Sunday Girl is conveyed as fresh and punky; the scritch of guitar and percussive detail sounding as exciting as a night on the town in 1970s New York. Connectivity is good. The integrated…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18The SnowmanIt was always likely that Hollywood would try to bring one of Jo Nesbø’s bestselling crime novels to the screen, but who would have thought it would make as big of a hash of it as this? Rushed into production (director Tomas Alfredson claims he didn’t have the time to shoot around 15 per cent of the screenplay), the film is an incomprehensible mess of abandoned subplots that fails to realise the cinematic potential of Nesbø’s novel. This BD sports a suitably cool and crisp Full HD encode, while the DTS-HD MA 7.1 mix is pleasingly immersive. Extras are limited to five short promo featurettes.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18FerdinandThe classic children’s book The Story of Ferdinand (about a bull who would rather smell flowers than compete in bullfights) gets a fairly charmless CGanimated update courtesy of the studio responsible for the Ice Age films. While the ‘toon itself is unlikely to excite you, this Blu-ray should hold your attention with its bright, colourful and perfectly rendered 2.40:1-framed Full HD encode. The disc’s DTS-HD MA 5.1 track is no slouch either, delivering plenty of action across the soundstage. Bonus goodies are plentiful, although they’re almost entirely aimed at little kids.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Digital CopyIT’S NOT BEEN a great year so far for the UK high street, with retailers and restaurants all posting dire financial warnings or falling into administration. And in the latter camp is Maplin, a business that I expect some of you are familiar with. I was never a frequent shopper at Maplin, but clearly remember the last time I went to one of its stores. It was a Sunday, and I was in urgent need of a phono cable to hook up a subwoofer. Maplin is where I ended up. For those who never experienced this UK technology retailer, it always felt to me like the middle ground between PC World and a specialist independent shop, where big-brand soundbars and headphones would clamour for shelf-space alongside Ethernet switches and home…3 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Britannia: Season 1If you’re the sort of person who prefers a more serious TV historical drama then you should steer clear of this recent Sky production. Set during the Roman invasion of Britain, the series serves up a heady mix of violence and mysticism that is more indebted to Game of Thrones than I, Claudius. However, if you buy in to the show’s comic book-esque brand of lunacy then there’s plenty to enjoy. Sharp, colourful 1.78:1 1080p visuals partnered with pleasingly dynamic DTS-HD MA 5.1 sonics help make it easy to savour on Blu-ray.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Amazon Women on the MoonBased around flicking between TV channels late at night, this 1987 sketch movie may be a pretty inconsistent affair, but when the parodies hit their targets (as in Carl Gottlieb’s Son of the Invisible Man, John Landis’s Blacks Without Soul and Joe Dante’s Bulls**t or Not?) the results are truly side-splitting. Despite Universal’s iffy track record with DNR application on its back-catalogue HD masters, the one licensed to 101 Films for this release retains a film-like appearance throughout. Fun extras include a chat-track, two interviews and six cut skits.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18Not as amazing as the original4K ULTRA HDThis 90-minute nature film from the BBC Earth team responsible for Planet Earth II plays very much like an Americanised excuse (it’s narrated by Robert Redford and backed by a near-incessant easy-listening music track) for repurposing lots of footage from that acclaimed documentary series.Restructuring the material around a day in the life of our planet opens the door to some new insights, though, and watching beautiful scenery and wildlife in 4K HDR never grows old. Meanwhile, the relatively short running time and easier narrative makes it a lot more child-friendly than the original Beeb show.Picture: Curiously, we weren’t as consistently blown away by Earth: One Amazing Day’s 4K HDR picture quality as we were by that of Planet Earth II.Close-ups of animals still reveal far more fur and…2 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18I’ve been in my loft…Hello all. Having read articles about old technology, and at a loose end, I decided to dig out my VCR from the loft. I also found a copy of Suspiria to try it out. I connected the VCR to my TV and sat back to watch – I had forgotten how good the opening credits are. Even in stereo the rolling thunder sounded awesome! Needless to say the Blu-ray is on my to-buy list. On another subject, reading Wendy Hiley’s letter [HCC #284] makes me realise I must have married the wrong woman! John Ellison, via email Mark Craven replies: With vinyl resurgent in hi-fi circles, some have wondered whether VHS might also be due a re-appreciation. But while I understand the nostalgia value, let’s be honest – it was…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18The Awful TruthThe Criterion Collection has recently become something of a haven for fans of Cary Grant’s screwball comedies. Directed by Leo McCarey, this 1938 film is another treat for fans, with Grant and co-star Irene Dunne on sparkling form as the warring husband and wife going through a divorce. While bonus features aren’t all that extensive (just a pair of informative video essays, a 1978 audio interview with Dunne and a 1939 radio adaptation), the 4K restoration of the film itself is a joy to behold, revealing excellent stability, authentic black levels and well-resolved film grain.…1 min
Home Cinema Choice|May-18OtleyThis 1968 comic spy thriller from writing duo Ian Le Frenais and Dick Clement finds Tom Courtenay’s f*ckless, couch-surfing layabout Gerald Arthur Otley somehow getting caught up in a conflict between two espionage agencies, both of which believe he knows far more than he’s letting on. This off-kilter comedy comes to Blu-ray with an impressive 1.85:1 encode that only really takes a turn for the worse during a sequence in a Tube station (and that is entirely down to the different film stock that was required). Once again Indicator offers up a terrific array of extras, including a chat-track and interviews.…1 min
