Home Cinema Choice December 2016

We all dream of a dedicated home cinema where space isn't a concern; where speakers can stand metres high, screens fill an entire wall and AV amplifiers have noticeable gravitational pull. Usually, however, life isn't that easy. Good news, then, that manufacturers are working away to create space-saving hardware. US brand Definitive Technology raises eyebrows this issue with its BP series floorstanders (p40) that integrate active subwoofers and off er a seamless connection to Dolby Atmos upfiring speakers. Suddenly a 5.2.2 system doesn't seem quite so intrusive. Meanwhile, Marantz's NR1607 (p48) proves that AV receivers don't need to be bulky to get the job done, and Samsung's KS8000 flatscreen (p44) shows that 4K still rewards on a sub-50in screen. If you have big ambitions but a small room, there are…

John Archer: The UK’s most experienced TV tester cut his teeth as an early HCC staff er Jon Thompson: Film producer and post-production expert delves deep into Hollywood and AV Steve May: HCC’s former Editor-in-Chief is one of the UK’s most respected AV journos Martin Pipe: Technical expert Martin is renown throughout the home cinema industry Richard Stevenson: Industry veteran and former Editor of UK CE trade journal ERT Adrian Justins: Made his name as the editor of What Video & TV and What Home Cinema…

News highlights CAMBRIDGE AUDIO Soundbase speakers get a refresh HISENSE Flatscreen giant teases 8K TV for next year SONY PS4 Pro 4K console arrives OPPO First look at debut UHD disc spinner NEWS X10 The hottest news stories in bite-sized chunks STAR TREK BEYOND Sci-fi sequel gets 4K/Atmos release & MORE! Epson is following its EH-LS10000 laser projector with a sequel that introduces HDR and Ultra HD Blu-ray playback to the spec sheet. Available from November priced around £6,000, the ISF-certified EH-LS10500 employs Epson's usual 3LCD reflective panel tech – combined with a dual laser light source – to deliver a claimed 1,500 Lumens brightness output and full coverage of the DCI wide colour space. Lifespan of the PJ's laser is rated at a whopping 30,000 hours. Native resolution is…

Sonic guru Cambridge Audio has revamped its Bluetooth soundbase speaker line to bolster both performance and ease of use. The optical and analogue audio inputs of the TV2 (£200) and TV5 (£300) are now joined by an ARC-capable HDMI output, while a revised DSP engine has, we're told, lowered distortion and resulted in a 'louder, crisper and fuller sound.' Onboard power has been doubled, too, and the downfiring woofers (one in the TV2, a pair on the TV5) are now housed in their own sealed enclosures. Both 'bases are available soon. Did you hear an Echo? Amazon Echo, the retail giant's voice-controlled smart wireless speaker, has launched in the UK priced £150. Employing a 360-degree driver array, the Echo integrates with Prime Music, Spotify, TuneIn and other services, while its…

Chinese TV brand Hisense likes to think big. To prove the point, the company, official television supplier to Red Bull Racing, has installed a huge LED display in the team's state-of-the-art Operations Room in Milton Keynes. Not your average bigscreen telly, this bespoke display measures 9.6m x 3.6m and is made from 288 individual 14-bit colour panels, each driven by its own power supply. The giant display reputedly took nine days to assemble. 'We were approached to provide a unique solution for Red Bull's newly-created Ops Room,' explains Hisense UK deputy managing director Howard Grindrod. 'I think it fits the bill.' HCC was invited to view the monster display and it is, indeed, stunning. Eff ectively a video wall, it relays track data and video feeds from Formula One Management,…

At the 'plex… Heading out to see a flick? Catch these this month Doctor Strange Out now: The cinematic debut of Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme had its release date bumped forward and arrived in UK cinemas just before this issue hit the stands. Get down to your local multiplex for a magical bigscreen experience. Arrival November 11: Canadian director Denis Villeneuve follows up the superb Sicario with this 'first contact' sci-fithriller starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them November 18: Get ready for some more movie magic in the coming weeks as this long-awaited Harry Potter spin-off arrives. Set in 1929, the film follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he goes on the hunt for dangerous creatures in the United States. September saw…