Home Cinema Choice April 2019

Back in the '90s, I drove a tiny car that gave me next to no street cred. But I didn't really care, as I'd added a home-made subwoofer (not by me, I should add – I'm not smart enough) and under-seat amplifier, so no matter how much the motor whined when tasked to go up a slight hill, I couldn't hear it over the throbbing bass, pressure-loading the windows as I listened to Radio 1's One in the Jungle. Since then, I've had a love affair with bass. I imagine many of you do too. Dramatic low-frequency rumbles and tight, quick-fire hits are everywhere in film soundtracks, and the ability to convey these with accuracy and the necessary level is what separates a home cinema system from the speakers hidden…

John 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…

Heard but not seen Artison Backpack → www.red-line.co.uk Billed as 'the world's smallest 5.1 AV amplifier,' Artison's Backpack wants to lurk behind your TV, discreetly providing multichannel audio and source switching from its 1in-high chassis. Despite the ultra-sleek dimensions, back-panel connectivity includes a trio of 4K HDR-compatible HDMI inputs and one output, plus analogue and digital audio ports, and Ethernet, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are integrated. Claimed power is 3 x 75W (LCR) and 2 x 30W (L/R surround). It's available now, priced £1,200 approx. 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…

Priced £600, Monitor Audio's second-generation MASS system once again targets living room setups. Its five identical satellite speakers are two-way designs, with 0.75in soft dome tweeters and 3.5in midbass drivers, while the bundled subwoofer opts for an 8in woofer and 120W power plant. Finish options are Mist (pictured) or Midnight (inset), all units sporting acoustically transparent cloth wraps. Wall-mount the satellites or place them on Monitor Audio's optional stands (£100 per pair). High-end all-in-one Premium US brand McIntosh reckons it has 'redefined' the all-in-one wireless music player concept with its RS200 (£3,500). Sporting the usual McIntosh styling, this desktop unit features Apple AirPlay 2, aptX Bluetooth (5.0) and DLNA streaming, and incorporates an eight-driver speaker system and 650W of onboard power. Physical connections are a subwoofer output, plus optical and…

Philips is spreading Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support across 90 per cent of its TV range this year – and this format generosity even includes its upcoming budget 6 Series models. What's more, all these Double-D screens will also feature HDR10+ dynamic metadata compatibility. Philips' director of product strategy and planning Danny Tack told HCC the new inclusion of Dolby Vision on relatively low-brightness 4K HDR displays will help those screens deliver a superior picture performance with Dolby Vision-encoded video, laying down the gauntlet to competitor mass-market sets. As reported last issue, the introduction of Dolby Vision begins with Philips' two OLED models, the 804 and 854, which will be available in 55in and 65in screen sizes. These models employ a third-generation P5 image processor, said to be 20…

Bohemian Rhapsody (UHD Blu-ray) The superb soundtrack (rendered in Dolby Atmos on Twentieth Century Fox's 4K disc) ensures this rock biopic never strays too far from our cinema setups. House of Cards: Season Six (Region B BD) Don't have Netflix? Well, now you can catch the final eight episodes of its acclaimed political drama on Blu-ray instead. Crucible of the Vampire (Region B BD) An atmospheric throwback to the Sapphic heyday of 1970s Eurohorror, despite the odd stumble during a rather frantic climax. Videoman (R2 DVD) A melancholy Swedish love story involving a fan of '80s horror, shot like an Italian giallo. Weirdly good. Johnny English Strikes Again (UHD Blu-ray) Rowan Atkinson's silly spy spoof polishes up well in this sizzling 4K incarnation.…