Home Cinema Choice November 2019

We're approaching the time of year when our home cinema setups really start to pay us back. The summer's cinematic blockbusters are filtering down to Ultra HD Blu-ray releases, and autumn's darkened evenings make kicking back with a movie that much more appealing. Winter is coming, and I'm happy. We're also getting to the end of the 2019 hardware run. Our favourite brands already have one eye on next year, and with the IFA technology show done and dusted (see page 20), they're now gearing up for the CES show in Las Vegas. Having had my mind boggled at IFA by prototype flatscreens, game-changing personal audio systems and IMAX-powered surround sound, I can't wait to see what the future will bring. Editor…

We're approaching the time of year when our home cinema setups really start to pay us back. The summer's cinematic blockbusters are filtering down to Ultra HD Blu-ray releases, and autumn's darkened evenings make kicking back with a movie that much more appealing. Winter is coming, and I'm happy. We're also getting to the end of the 2019 hardware run. Our favourite brands already have one eye on next year, and with the IFA technology show done and dusted (see page 20), they're now gearing up for the CES show in Las Vegas. Having had my mind boggled at IFA by prototype flatscreens, game-changing personal audio systems and IMAX-powered surround sound, I can't wait to see what the future will bring. Editor…

A fresh update on the Motion Series from US speaker marque Martin Logan is arriving at UK retailers via its distributor PMC. The lineup, which at launch spans seven models and targets both music lovers and home cinephiles, is named after its Folded Motion tweeters, which feature on all speakers and are joined by aluminium cone bass and midbass drivers. Pricing starts at £695 for the smaller Motion 30i centre channel, and reaches £2,995 for a pair of the Motion 60TXi floorstanders.…

Denon has added two models to its range of HEOS multiroom soundbars. The £800 DHT-S716H spreads nine drivers across a three-channel configuration, and can be partnered with additional Denon HEOS speakers to create a multichannel system, using the optional DSW-1H dual-driver subwoofer. The slim-line £700 DHT-S516H (pictured) is supplied with its own sub for a one-stop 2.1 solution. Both 'bars pack hi-res file playback over USB/network, and Apple AirPlay 2. Jamo Studio 8 Series gets active Having previously released passive floorstanders, standmounts and Atmos modules in its Studio 8 Series, Jamo is now adding active desktop monitors. Sharing the same clean styling and form factor as the S801 bookshelf, the S 801 PM (£290 per pair) features 2 x 24W amplification, plus optical digital audio, USB and stereo analogue inputs, and Bluetooth…

Disney+, the Star Wars/Marvel-laden streaming service that aims to break the Netflix/Amazon duopoly, will debut in the US, Canada, Australia New Zealand and the Netherlands this November. Yet UK telly addicts are being made to wait to find out exactly when the platform will become available. Details of the streaming service were announced by Disney at its D23 Expo in advance of its US rollout, with the company aiming to cover plenty of bases when it comes to device compatibility. Xbox and PlayStation consoles, Roku streaming devices and TVs, plus Apple and Google hardware (the latter including Android TVs and Chromecast players), are all on the supported list. Amazon's range of Fire TV players, on the other hand, appears to have been ignored. Regards AV specifications, Disney has confirmed the platform will…

Denon has added two models to its range of HEOS multiroom soundbars. The £800 DHT-S716H spreads nine drivers across a three-channel configuration, and can be partnered with additional Denon HEOS speakers to create a multichannel system, using the optional DSW-1H dual-driver subwoofer. The slim-line £700 DHT-S516H (pictured) is supplied with its own sub for a one-stop 2.1 solution. Both 'bars pack hi-res file playback over USB/network, and Apple AirPlay 2. Jamo Studio 8 Series gets active Having previously released passive floorstanders, standmounts and Atmos modules in its Studio 8 Series, Jamo is now adding active desktop monitors. Sharing the same clean styling and form factor as the S801 bookshelf, the S 801 PM (£290 per pair) features 2 x 24W amplification, plus optical digital audio, USB and stereo analogue inputs,…