Sonic revolution! HIGH-PERFORMANCE SOUND & VISION Dolby Atmos put to the test, see p50 Best Buy TV Smart bargain! Panasonic’s price-friendly fl atscreen On test 300: RISE OF BenQ projector AN EMPIRE Sword ‘n’ sandals JL Audio subwoofer sequel hits BD, p96 Eclipse speakers Klipsch soundbar Philips 4K TV

Leaning towers Can Neat’s Motive system stand out?

■ 4K Blu-ray...

NEW KIT EXPLOSION■ Technics returns ■ Bendable OLEDPower rangers Atmos speakers High-end Parasound amplifiers pack an almighty punch

■ DESTINY ■ GODZILLA ■ THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 ■ OCULUS ■ WALKING DEAD S4 www.homecinemachoice.com ISSUE 240 DECEMBER 2014 £4.50 AUS- $9.99 NZ- $12.99 CAN-$12.99 ENTER A NEW WORLD OF SOUND. OPINION 3

www.homecinemachoice.com EDITORIAL TEAM Editor Mark Craven [email protected] Deputy Editor Anton van Beek [email protected] Art Editor John Rook CONTRIBUTORS Steve May, Richard Stevenson, Adrian Justins, Danny Phillips, John Archer, Tekura Maeva, Martin Dew, Ed Selley, Adam Rayner, Grant Rennell Photography Mike Prior, Claire Collins ADVERTISING Senior Advertising Executive Jo Holmes Tel: 01689 869 919 E-mail: [email protected]

MARKETING AND SUBSCRIPTIONS UK: New, Renewals and Enquiries Tel: 0844 543 8200 E-mail: [email protected] USA & CANADA: New, Renewals and Enquiries (001)-866-647-9191 REST OF WORLD: New, Renewals and Enquiries Tel: +44 (0) 1689 869 896 BACK ISSUES Tel: 0844 848 8822 From outside UK: +44 (0) 2476 322234 Email: [email protected] www.myhobbystore.co.uk MANAGEMENT TEAM Group Editor Paul Miller, [email protected] Group Sales Manager Duncan Armstrong A bigscreen TV can be the ideal centrepiece for Head of Design and Production Julie Miller Chief Executive Owen Davies Chairman Peter Harkness a home cinema system, but the ultimate goal for all Published by MyTimeMedia Ltd Enterprise House, Enterprise Way of us (assuming that space and budget are irrelevant) Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6HF Tel: 0844 412 2262 From outside the UK: +44 (0) 1689 869 840 is to have a projector. Such a machine is, after all, Distributed in the UK by Seymour Distribution Ltd what's used in commercial theatres. Yet the projector world TEST WALL IMAGES: ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/CUI QUNYING ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/SIMON INGATE is in a curious state at the moment – while 4K TVs are

Home Cinema Choice, ISSN 1359-6276, is published monthly with an additional issue in May by AVTech Media Ltd, a division of MYTIMEMEDIA Ltd, Enterprise House, Enterprise Way, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 6HF, UK. The US annual subscrip- launching everywhere you look, you can count the number of tion price is 65GBP (equivalent to approximately 108USD). Airfreight and mail- ing in the USA by agent named Air Business Ltd, c/o Worldnet Shipping Inc., 156- 15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Jamaica NY 11431. US Postmaster: Send address changes to Home Cinema Choice, Worldnet Shipping Inc., 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. Subscription records are maintained at CDS GLOBAL Ltd, Tower House, Sovereign Park, domestic 4K PJs on one hand. And they all come from Sony. Market Harborough, Leicester, LE16 9EF. Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent. The IFA and CEDIA shows came and went without any rival models being unveiled (see our report on p25). And while I've heard that DLP 4K models can only appear in 2015 at the earliest due to licensing issues, neither JVC (D-ILA) or Epson (LCD) seem in the mood to embrace the new era of Ultra HD. Whether this is down to pricing worries, technology issues or

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DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 4 ISSUE 240 ➜ DECEMBER

Contributors

John Archer: The UK’s most experienced TV tester cut his teeth as an early HCC staff er

Richard Stevenson: 08 Industry veteran and former Editor of UK CE trade journal ERT 25 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

Adam Rayner: The UK's foremost expert in extreme audio writes about bass, hi-fi and, er, cartoons

Adrian Justins: Made his name as the editor of What Video & TV and What Home 36 40 Cinema

FEATURES BULLETIN REGULARS In-depth interviews and special reports. Th e place for hot products, trends Whether you want our opinions or your own, Starts... p25 and technology. Starts... p7 these are the places to look. Starts... p73 COVER STORY 25 New kit explosion! 07 Bigscreen bling 73 Digital copy We uncover the hottest tech and trends LG brings a touch of glamour to OLED display Would you queue up to get 4K Blu-ray? at this year's IFA show and CEDIA Expo 08 Altitude sickness! 74 Film fanatic 36 Unleashing the roar of Godzilla Trinnov's cutting-edge 32-channel pre-amp Celebrating the lost art of matte painting The secrets behind the monster movie reboot 09 Studios never saw 4K coming 77 The Insider 40 Basement turned AV beauty Years of UHD scanning have been squandered In praise of American AV engineering Building a stylish cinema in an unused cellar by Hollywood, claims AV legend Joe Kane 86 Feedback 78 DemoPad: Smart control for all? 10 Tidal to off er wave of content Share your thoughts with other AV addicts Can an iPad replace your army of remotes? Lossless music and HD video streaming service is ready to make a splash 92 Film franchise 82 Certifi ed: AV-Holic Collecting Friday the 13th on Blu-ray and DVD Another HCC reader shares their AV setup 12 TiVo gets a face-lift Rapid growth in catch-up services leads Virgin 122 Point of view SELECT Media to shake-up its user interface Should our movie and music setups be separated? Th e place to look if you're planning to buy 13 News x10 some new AV gear. Starts... p109 Featuring Amazon, Apple, HMV and Freesat COMPETITIONS 109 Gear guide 14 Primed for Atmos 88 Great Blu-rays to be won! HCC's comprehensive Top 10s list only the Transformers: Age of Extinction confi rmed Oculus, 3 Days to Kill and Walking on Sunshine very best home cinema kit money can buy as the UK's fi rst Dolby Atmos Blu-ray all up for grabs!

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 SUBSCRIBE! Sign up to the world’s best AV magazine and you'll save money and get some great gifts p16

46

50 54

18 'An endlessly appealing combination of jaw-dropping power and dynamics' 58

REVIEWS PLAYBACK With a focus on performance, these Th e latest Blu-rays, DVDs and videogames are in-depth tests you can trust... p18 reviewed and rated. Starts... p95 COVER STORY 18 High-end hero: 62 HDAnywhere mHub 96 300: Rise of an Empire 3D Parasound Halo A21/A31 Want to distribute your AV all around the 97 Oculus Two heavyweight amps combine to deliver house? This multiroom maestro can help Wolfcop supreme levels of power Bad Neighbours COVER STORY 64 Sony FDR-AX100 Frank 46 Panasonic TX-42AS600 Shoot your own 4K/UHD content with 98 Godzilla 3D Sub-£500 42in Full HD TV with Freetime Sony's sophisticated consumer camcorder 100 Destiny functionality is a must for bargain hunters Metro: Redux COVER STORY 64 Eclipse TD-M1 50 Hannibal: The Complete Season Two Onkyo TX-NR838 Premium-priced desktop loudspeakers serve The Walking Dead: The Complete Fourth Dolby Atmos arrives with this mid-range up 'egg-cellent' sonics Season 7.2-channel AV receiver Doctor Who: 50th Anniversary Collector's COVER STORY 66 Panasonic DMR-BWT740 Edition 54 Neat Acoustics Motive SX Let this fl exible Smart Blu-ray/HDD Freeview+ 101 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 3D The Brit hi-fi brand wants a slice of the home HD recorder manage your TV intake 102 Steven Spielberg: Director's Collection cinema pie with this fl oorstanding setup 103 Ghostbusters 1 & 2 68 Klipsch R-10B Attack on Titan: Part One 58 JL Audio E-Sub e112 Functional-looking soundbar/subwoofer Ghost in the Shell: Limited Edition 'Entry-level' 12in subwoofer from the American combi knows how to deliver the goods From Dusk Till Dawn: Season One bass specialist Killer Klowns from Outer Space 70 Philips 55PUS7809 60 104 Das Cabinet Des Dr. Caligari BenQ W1070+ Cash-conscious 55in Ambilight UHD/4K TV Blacula: The Complete Collection Enjoy bigscreen home entertainment on the fi nds tech brand cutting a few corners Affl icted cheap with this re-imagined Full HD projector Only Lovers Left Alive

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE Quality is in the DNA of the Best Brands

EISA is the unique association of 50 special interest magazines in hi-fi, home theatre, in-car electronics, mobile electronics, photo and video, from 20 European countries.

Every year the EISA jury of experts rewards the best products in each class with an EISA Award. Your assurance for quality Where you see the EISA Award logo it’s your assurance that the product is Tested by the Experts of outstanding quality. www.eisa.eu WWW.HOMECINEMACHOICE.COM 7

➜News highlights VIRGIN MEDIA Taking TiVo to a new level TIDAL Hi-res music and HD video streaming service arrives JOE KANE Video calibration legend joins the 4K standards debate TRINNOV Fancy a 32-channel AV processor? NEWS x10 The hottest news stories in bite-sized chunks TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION Robots on the rampage in Dolby Atmos AND MUCH MORE! Bigscreen bling LG Swarovski OLED ➜ www.lg.com/uk

LG has joined forces with jewellery honcho Swarovski to add a touch of over-the- top glamour to its reference-level curved OLED display. Unveiled at the IFA show, the 4mm-thin, 16kg screen sits on a stand embellished with 460 luminescent Aurora Borealis crystals, of three diff erent sizes, all applied by hand. 'The epitome of luxury and refi nement, Swarovski crystals and LG’s premium OLED TV complement each other perfectly,' whispers the AV brand. Don't expect to see this on sale in Curry's. Or anywhere, actually.

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 8 TRINNOV ➜ JOE KANE ➜ PLAYLIST

Altitude sickness! Trinnov Altitude32 ➜ www.anthemavs.co.uk

Home cinema pre-amps probably don't come more cutting-edge than the new Altitude32 from luxury marque Trinnov – off ering 32-channel processing and support for both Dolby Atmos and Auro 3D, this £20,000 slab caters for sophisticated cinema rooms. Traditional specs include 8-in, 2-out HDMI connectivity, remote control over a network and UPnP/DLNA hi-res audio streaming, while Trinnov's bespoke loudspeaker/room optimisation system and futureproofed and fully-upgradable software- based processing platform fettle its sonic output.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 BULLETIN 9

In-walls for all Bluetooth with bite Powerline pushed Playlist... Q Acoustics has launched After a Kickstarter Peripherals specialist a range of aff ordable campaign, startup Devolo has upped the Team HCC spins up its disc home cinema in-wall product The Vamp has speed of its Powerline picks of the month speakers. The new gone on sale. This dinky networking range Q-Install line features a Bluetooth adapter with the launch of the dLAN 1200+. Captain America: three-driver LCR model, brings convenient audio streaming to Claiming a bandwidth of 1,200Mbps that The Winter Soldier two diff erent fl avours of surround model non-Bluetooth speakers, connecting via makes it the fastest product in its class (All-region BD) (one using a 6.5in midbass driver, the traditional terminals – the idea being that and seemingly ideal for data-heavy This superior comic other an 8in version), and a passive it allows music fans to 'upcycle' their home-networking (shoving 4K video book sequel packs subwoofer, with prices ranging from £180 much-loved loudspeakers. Priced at £50, around the house, perhaps), the dLAN a suffi cient hefty for the smaller Qi 65RP surround to £250 The Vamp comes in red, white and black 1200+ is compatible with existing dLAN punch in the hi-def for the Qi SUB 80SP woofer. Magnetic fl avours, and off ers a built-in battery models, and features one-button AV department to make low-profi le grilles and slim designs (the alongside its internal amplifi er. External encryption to restrict network access. it a true home cinema hero. maximum rear depth requirement for the hookups (microUSB and 3.5mm) cater A starter pack will sell for £120, individual sub is 100mm) ease installation. for non-Bluetooth devices. adaptors for £65. Homeland: Season Three www.qacoustics.co.uk www.thevamp.co.uk www.devolo.co.uk (All-region BD) Studios never saw 4K coming Years of UHD scanning have been lost, claims AV legend Joe Kane It starts a little shakily, but this third season of the hit espionage series quickly picks up steam and builds Hollywood has squandered decades' worth of 4K Joe Kane: 'This year we are celebrating to an unforgettable fi nale. 22 years of working in the 4K format, and post-production that would have led to a content we have almost nothing to show for it' Plastic windfall for the UHD generation. That’s the view (Region B BD) of AV industry legend Joe Kane. Familiar to HCC to fi lm, he says. The original 4K fi les readers for producing the DVD Essentials test disc were never kept. and its Full HD successor, DVE HD Basics, Kane has Perhaps surprisingly, Kane also worked closely with the AV tech community since reveals that 4K mastering for disc the 1980s. He told HCC that one of the key reasons was actually pioneered on the failed HD DVD format. for the defi cit of material available today for 'When HD DVD fi rst hit the market, Microsoft was nascent 4K services such as Netfl ix and Amazon a major partner,' he recalls. 'They hired me to help is that ultra high-resolution material was never them make sure it looked better than anything This surprisingly fun addition to the archived in the past. anyone had ever seen before.' Almost all the Warner British crime genre serves up lovely 'This year we are celebrating 22 years of working HD DVDs initially launched were scanned and sun-drenched 1080p visuals and in the 4K format, and we have almost nothing to processed in 4K with 16-bit colour and 4:4:4: chroma rocking DTS-HD MA 5.1 sonics. show for it,' he moans. 'Nobody in the production sampling, explains Kane, then downconverted to The 'Burbs world wanted to save that much data, or ever felt 1080p and 8-bit 4:2:0. 'It produced some of the best (Region B BD) it would be used.' pictures anybody had ever seen!' he says. Certainly, Kane was a consultant for Eastman Kodak during fi rst-wave HD DVD discs looked considerably better the development of its fi rst 4K 35mm fi lm scanner. than rival Blu-ray releases, leading to an enthusiastic 'Kodak launched that in 1992. At the time 4K was early adopter following. thought to be the limit for what was necessary for Kane says HD DVD also ushered in hard drive 35mm fi lm.' The problem was, he notes, that no one archiving for the fi rst time. 'At the time we were had high-resolution displays: 'So we just didn’t know recording 1080p on a machine called the D5, which Arrow's meticulous 2K restoration what the value of the format was. Nobody got the had 5:1 fi xed compression. That compression had a and expansive array of extras make fact that the displays were going to get better.' signature all the way through the disc’s VC-1 encode this UK platter a must for fans. Kane cites the 1993 restoration of Disney’s and made it onto the disc. So we went to HDD for Snow White and the Seven the fi rst time.' The Ipcress File Dwarves as an early missed Snow White was mastered in 4K in 1993, At least Hollywood (Region B BD) opportunity. The animated and some HD DVD discs were processed at 4K appears to have learnt its classic was the fi rst movie to lesson. 'Today, now we have be scanned into a 4K digital 4K DLP projectors, we can fi le. It was electronically actually see why we need to cleaned-up and output back scan 35mm fi lm at 6K, and 65mm at 8K,' he says. And good news for enthusiasts From picture quality to extras, – Kane is currently working Network's recent UK BD improves in on a 4K iteration of his test every way on ITV's 2008 platter. disc series.

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 10 TIDAL STREAMING ➜ SONY HT-GT1 ➜ EXTRAS

Extras... Tidal to off er wave of content Small items that could make a big impression Lossless music and HD video streaming service launches in UK Empire of the B's A must for all B-movie Music streaming services aren't a new concept, Andy Chen: 'Tidal is about the ultimate music experience that makes you want fans, this fantastic but the brains behind new platform Tidal hope to stop and listen' book looks back at to expand the idea by introducing HD videos and the history of Charles curated content in addition to CD-quality audio. use lower bitrates, typically ranging Band's legendary Launched by the company behind Scandinavian from 96kbps to 320kbps. indie studio Empire Pictures, with music-on-demand service WiMP Hi-Fi, Tidal should Users can choose to stream reviews of all of the fi lms it released have arrived in the UK (and the at a lower bitrate if they want to and interviews with the people US) by the time you read this. (when connecting over a mobile data responsible for them. The platform provides network, perhaps) via two alternative a music library of around 25 formats dubbed High (AAC 320kbps) Living Language: million tracks and works on and Standard (AAC+ 96kbps). Dothraki an ad-free, subscription model As well as live streaming, Tidal Teach yourself the granting unlimited access. subscribers will be able to archive fi ctional mutterings The fee is high compared to music offl ine, downloading tracks of Game of Thrones competing platforms (£19.99 to playback devices in the characters with the per month) but Tidal hopes its same format. aid of this guide by feature set will tempt those language expert David J. Peterson. seeking good quality and More than music Doctor Who FAQ a diff erent user experience. Beyond better-quality audio, 'Initially, streaming was all Tidal claims two more As Doctor Who about access to everything, elements that it believes currently thrills everywhere, which many services will help it stand out. viewers on Saturday now provide,' explains CEO Andy A big draw could be its library nights, it's a good Chen. 'Tidal is not just another one of HD music videos, with the time to dive into this of those providers. From the start, launch catalogue comprising unoffi cial guide that promises to we knew that music streaming is 'more than 75,000' titles. reveal 'all that's left to know about not just about millions of tracks or In addition, Tidal promises the most famous Time Lord.' thousands of playlists. Instead, it is a curated experience aided by Guardians of the Galaxy about the ultimate music experience its team of editors. Handpicked Vinyl Figures that makes you want to stop and features will include 'album listen. Rather than remaining in the spotlights' such as Album of Show your love for background to some other activity, The Week and Hi-Fi Album of Marvel's intergalactic music deserves to take centre stage The Month, 'close-ups' on artists, misfi ts with Funco's with quality at its heart.' labels, sub-genres and music eras, and playlists with new range of fi ve To reach that ear-pleasing state, Tidal will 'a mission to educate, entertain, and enrich the music Pop! vinyl fi gures off er FLAC fi les (or ALAC for Apple iOS users) at experience via in-depth knowledge.' – including everyone's favourite CD-quality 16-bit/44kHz streamed at 1,411kbps. In Aim your browser at www.tidalhifi .com to see space-faring racoon... comparison, rival services such as Spotify and Rdio if it fl oats your boat. Sony wants to party with HT-GT1 soundbar Aimed at those with music as well as television in mind

Sony's new HT-GT1 soundbar is being billed as the catwalk. And the boom box nostalgia doesn't stop The HT-GT1 off ers a light show to ideal partner for nighthawks throwing all-night there – the HT-GT1 off ers LEDs that illuminate in go with its 'extreme' bass raves in their living room, as well as an upgrade time to the music and a Bass Bazuka button for a fl atscreen TV with weedy audio. (seriously) that promises to take low-frequencies A stereo soundbar/subwoofer combi, endowed to 'crazy extremes'. Other party-friendly features with 260W of grunt, the HT-GT1 off ers Sony's usual include syncing with a Sony mini system (via Party Clear Voice technology for dialogue boosting and Chain mode) and smart control achieved via the digital audio hookup to your TV, in addition to brand's SongPal app. Bluetooth streaming (including NFC device pairing) The sub even comes with handles so you can and a USB input for plug-n-play MP3 audio. lug it from one room to another, and the 'bar Styling, however, is more in-yer-face than the itself can be mounted brand's other soundbars/soundbases, particularly on top. It's available the woofer, which looks like it's stepped off a 1980s now, priced at £200.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 IN CINEMAS NOVEMBER 7

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Diary Our calendar ensures that you don't miss out…

➜ OCTOBER 17: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Cowabunga dudes! The quartet of awesome amphibians are ready to make another splash at cinemas today with an action-packed 3D blockbuster produced by Michael Bay. www.paramountpictures.co.uk 20: Maleficent Disney hopes to work its magic on disc collectors as this live-action re-imagining of Sleeping Beauty (starring Angelina Jolie as the TiVo eponymous wicked fairy) arrives on DVD, Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray. www.disney.co.uk gets a face-lift 24: Fury Catch-up boom leads Virgin Media to usher in UI shake-up, ponder 4K

Virgin Media TiVo is getting its fi rst user interface Scott Kewley: 'Our Virgin Media TiVo box is four years old, but it's still way ahead revamp since launching four years ago. While of anything that's out there' features have been added and tweaked to the Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf star in a World War II drama about a tank set-top box, this is the fi rst fundamental revision product,’ explains Kewley. ‘The box crew trapped, outnumbered and of the subscription TV platform. A roll-out of the was originally built using Flash for outgunned behind enemy lines. new UI to all 2.3 million TiVo households will be its apps, but increasingly apps are Find out if they make it back alive completed by Christmas. now being built in HTML 5. when the film hits cinemas today... www.sonypictures.co.uk Director of Digital Entertainment Scott Kewley Adopting this standard means we’ll be able to told HCC that while the new colour scheme and introduce more apps to the platform and make 29: Connect with CEDIA Birmingham crisper font are primarily cosmetic ('the old red them faster.’ An HTML5 version of iPlayer will be Following September's London- interface background is going, what we have now introduced toward the end of the year. centric affair, this informal trade- is plum. Not purple – plum'), deeper changes to The cable giant is also promoting Quick Start, only event offers members of the CI industry based in the Midlands the set-top box’s navigation have been driven by a self-install option for TiVo users. However, there the chance to chat with CEDIA. the changing way users are viewing TV. are no changes planned for the three-tuner TiVo box www.cedia.co.uk Catch-up TV is the big benefi ciary, now with itself. ‘Our box is four years old, but it’s still way ➜ NOVEMBER its own menu tab. ‘We’re constantly building our ahead of anything that’s out there.’ 03: Spirited Away on-demand library; you’ll see more changes over the StudioCanal brings its run of Hayao next six months as we introduce more VOD catch-up The 4K question Miyazaki Blu-rays to an end with the services,’ explains Kewley. Over a billion programmes At the recent IBC broadcast expo, TiVo demonstrated long-awaited hi-def release of his Academy Award-winning animation were watched on-demand via TiVo during 2013. a 4K-enabled HEVC STB, but declined to timetable Spirited Away. Other new features include a Partially Watched a release. While Virgin Media is unlikely to introduce www.studiocanal.co.uk tab that takes you immediately to shows you haven’t a dedicated 4K channel any time soon, it’s possible 07: Interstellar fi nished with, without any need to renegotiate that it would support 4K via Netfl ix and others. Christopher Nolan's individual programme folders, and What to Watch ‘It’s not anything we intend to announce on,’ says new flick warps into Now, which builds on TiVo’s all-important intelligent Kewley. ‘Obviously we talk to Netfl ix all the time, but cinemas today, telling the story of a mission search functionality. we don’t have anything to confi rm.’ Kewley concedes, to transcend the limits ‘TiVo search is already the most intelligent on however, that he’s watching 4K developments closely. of human space exploration. any TV platform,’ argues Kewley. ‘It uses the entire While Virgin Media’s broadband speeds have Matthew McConaughey stars. www.warnerbros.co.uk TiVo universe of viewers to determine the relevancy soared past 100Mbps, the current TiVo PVR still uses of search results and ranks search results by a dedicated 10Mbps modem. According to Kewley, 10: X-Men: Days of Future Past Get ready for plenty of time-bending engagement. It knows the likelihood of any search this isn’t a limitation of the hardware: ‘We could off er mutant mayhem as the latest entry term [an example is 'E' which immediately brings more, it’s a limit we’ve imposed on it, but there’s still in the popular franchise gets a DVD, up EastEnders]. What to Watch Now works the same capacity. HD video only requires 6-8Mbps. As we Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray release. way, but in real time, recommending content based look forward and the demands for quality increase, www.fox.co.uk on your viewing behaviour.’ Initially the service only we may look at it.’ 13: HCC #241 pulls from live TV, but in time will be extended to On the subject of a next-gen Virgin Media 4K TiVo The next issue of your favourite home cinema magazine hits the stands include on-demand. box, he says: ‘It depends on what happens in the today, packed with hardware tests, TiVo’s auto-recording suggestion functionality content space. For 4K, the whole industry has to shift. features, outspoken opinion is also changing, to shows fi ltered by type. Panel manufacturers have to support it; HDMI has to and in-depth software reviews. www.homecinemachoice.com There are key changes being made under the support it; broadcasters and studios have to support bonnet, too. ‘We’re introducing HTML 5 into the it. If everyone gets behind it, that kind of helps…’

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 BULLETIN 13

This month’s top 10 news stories in handy, bite-sized chunks... Premiere Atmos upgrade Datasat has announced that its reference- What's happening in the grade RS20i home cinema processor is world of TV and fi lms... 6being updated to incorporate Dolby Atmos compatibility, with an early 2015 date earmarked. Rambo returns to action 'Datasat and Dolby have worked closely for many Sylvester Stallone has confi rmed years to integrate all successful Dolby formats into that he'll be wrapping up the story its products and will continue with the integration of John Rambo with Rambo: Last of Dolby Atmos across the Datasat product range,' Blood. Stallone also plans on calling says the audio brand. the shots from behind the camera, as he did on 2008's Rambo. Fire TV blazes a trail to UK Mu-so adds Spotify Amazon's Fire TV streaming box is now on sale Naim Audio has confi rmed that its new £900 Damon back for Bourne in the UK. Priced around £80, the dinky STB Mu-so wireless music system will feature 1 provides easy access to various streaming 7 Spotify Connect functionality. And for those services (including Netfl ix and Prime Instant Video) who like a splash of colour with their kit, the and games. Amazon boasts that Fire TV off ers company is also releasing a selection of optional three times the processing power of Apple TV, Deep Blue, Burnt Orange and Vibrant Red custom four times the memory of Chromecast, and voice grilles for the Mu-so, priced at £70 each. search functionality. Universal has apparently wooed Clip shows Matt Damon and director Paul Apple boss Netfl ix is exploring Greengrass into making a fourth drops TV hints the possibility of Jason Bourne movie. Gossip hints at Apple CEO Tim Cook 8 off ering specially a release date as early as July 2016, 2has been dropping curated two-to-fi ve minute pushing the planned Bourne Legacy more hints about the brand's clips from TV shows and sequel (starring Jeremy Renner) rumoured entry into the TV fi lms for commuters to watch back indefi nitely. However, Fast & market. Interviewed on the on mobile devices during Furious director Justin Lin is still Charlie Rose Show, Cook short journeys. At least it attached to helm the latter project. stated that 'TV is one [area] should make a change from Mann takes Vacation we continue to have a great watching entire seasons of interest in… but TV is one of Breaking Bad in tiny bursts. Queen of comedy Leslie Mann (This those things that is stuck is 40) is in talks to join the cast of back in the '70s. The interface is terrible. I mean, Vigilance pays off the upcoming National Lampoon's it's awful.' With the Apple Watch now out there, Members of staff from nine cinema chains Vacation reboot-cum-sequel. Mann maybe the time is fi nally right for Apple's iTV? have been rewarded for preventing the will play the now-adult Griswald illegal fi lming of movies in their respective daughter Audrey, who falls for 9 a cocky news anchor (a role Meridian uses Imagination theatres. The rewards included cash and certifi cates High-end AV specialist Meridian Audio is and were given as part of the Take Action scheme earmarked for Chris Hemsworth) gearing up to move into the wireless audio jointly funded by FACT (Federation Against Copyright 3 market. The company has announced a Theft) and the FDA (Film Distributor's Association). partnership with Caskeid creator Imagination Technologies to collaborate on what it describes as Freesat recommends We asked… the 'next-generation of multichannel high-resolution Subscription-free TV provider Freesat wireless audio streaming systems.' has launched a refreshed version of its When it comes to playing 10 Showcase recommendation service. discs, is your home HMV fi ghts back New features provided by Showcase 2.0 include cinema multi-region? Paul McGowan, Chief Executive of HMV more recommended picks, more content categories ■ Multi-region for BD and DVD parent Hilco, claims that 'it's only a matter and specially curated recommendations based ■ Locked BD and multi-region DVD 4 of time before we overtake Amazon' when around key events like Christmas and Easter. 'TV is ■ Region-locked for BD and DVD it comes to UK music and DVD sales. Recent fi gures created by people, for people, and we fi rmly believe show that steadily increasing sales at HMV have that recommendations from other people helped the chain take 19 per cent of UK music and are the best way DVD sales, compared to Amazon's 20 per cent share. for viewers 26% 33% to fi nd Destined for success something to Destiny (the latest fi rst-person shooter from watch', said Halo creators Bungie) pulled in a spectacular outgoing 5 $500m in fi rst-day sales for publisher Freesat MD Activision – with an analyst from fi nancial guru Director Cowen & Co. describing it as the most pre-ordered Emma Scott. 41% game in history that wasn't a sequel. Turn to p100 Results from www.homecinemachoice.com Go online for more polling action to see if we think it was worth the hype… Freetime's Showcase gets a retweak

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 14 DISC PREVIEW Primed for Atmos Transformers: Age of Extinction ➜ Paramount ➜ All-region BD & R2 DVD

Dinobots! Mark Wahlberg! Spectacular action! Michael Bay! There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the UK Blu-ray release of Transformers: Age of Extinction, but chief among them for home cinema fans is the news that it will be the UK's fi rst BD with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, as well as a Dolby 7.1 TrueHD mix. On top of that sonic goodness, you can look forward to plenty of extras on the two-disc 2D and 3D BDs that arrive on November 17. It's also available as a Digital HD download from November 3, but you don't care about that, do you?

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014

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arasound will be a brand unfamiliar to some, mainly because it does its business at the upper-end of AV, where budgets don't always reach. But its power amp line, dubbed Halo, Pis certainly worth saving up for...

Ed Selley's love of all things American extends from chunky power amps like Parasound's Halos to chunky peanut butter and jam sandwiches

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 REVIEWS 19

WHEN WE REVIEW a product, we take prices that even high-end AV receivers performance, functionality, ease of use and fetch after a few years eye-watering. value into account to conjure up a fi nal The cost of staying up to date with formats verdict. Yet there is one aspect that our and video processing is high. limited skills in clairvoyance occasionally There ought to be a better way of prevent us from discussing – how quickly it safeguarding your setup, and their almost will be replaced and the eff ect of that on the is. At its heart, an AV receiver contains audio value of your purchase. and video processing and amplifi cation. We can never say for sure when a product While there is continuous innovation in the like an AV receiver will be turfed out on its former categories, amplifi cation is more of ear in favour of an upgrade, but we can be a constant, so if you separate the amps from fairly certain it is rarely longer than a year the processing, these can stay in place when between models being released. So if you change your front end – although, you're desperate to keep up with changing admittedly, aff ordable multichannel AV standards and specs, it can mean replacing processors aren't exactly growing on trees. an entire product fairly often, and suff ering Still, if you can reduce the cost of your sharp depreciation on the original amp when updates once you've made the initial you trade it in. As someone who still has at purchase, then over time the power amps least one foot in stereo, I fi nd the cut-down will pay for themselves.

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE HIGH END HERO

Of course, Parasound would probably Both the A21 and A31 employ a 'soft-start' prefer for you to think of its Halo A21 and A31 feature that limits current surge when fi red up as something more than a canny piece of economics. The Halo range is the American They are built like bomb shelters, as fi rm's fl agship line, and as well as the stereo someone who had to lift them out of their and three-channel options seen here, studio fl at-sized boxes will attest. Yet they contains a fi ve-channel amp and a truly are pleasingly understated. There is no Herculean monoblock. As well as allowing hiding their signifi cant overall size but the you to reduce the ‘churn’ in your electronics, clean styling with minimal controls and they should off er you a signifi cant boost to indicators looks suitably smart. Parasound the performance of your system. has taken the logical and welcome decision to put the heatsinks on either side of the It's all about power! enclosure, which means that stacking them First up, let’s talk power. The Yamaha is entirely possible. Around the rear, as well RX-A3040 I reviewed recently – and which as handles for making it (slightly) easier to served as the processing front-end for this move them around, you have a choice of review – quotes a power output of 150W balanced and unbalanced inputs (and into eight Ohms with two channels driven. looped outputs on the A21 only) with trim This is far from unimpressive, but given The result of this painstaking attention to pots for each channel. Only the slightly wimpy that the Yamaha actually runs nine detail isn’t cheap (although in relative terms, speaker terminals count against the weapons- channels, probably not truly representative the Halos aren’t exorbitantly priced) but the grade construction. of what fi gures you’ll get into fi ve, seven Parasounds have drawn the attention of some or nine speakers. The higher fi gures that big names, as the brand likes to shout about. Two + Three = fl exible fun Yamaha quotes are into a single-channel We're told the new Atmos theatre at Dolby's I know what you're thinking: why the hell and at distortion fi gures a little higher US HQ uses multiple A21s to make it go. And are we reviewing a three-channel and two- than ideal. But that's how the AV spec both amps are THX Ultra2 certifi ed, which is a channel amp combi when Parasound sells game is played. fairly demanding set of hoops to jump through. a fi ve-channel model in the same range? Both Parasounds, by contrast, dispose of 250W into eight Ohms at trace distortion levels into all channels. Four-Ohm load? No problem – the fi gures climb to a signifi cant 400W; again with all channels running simultaneously. There are very few multichannel speaker packages that are 'Eff ortlessly cinematic – with the Parasound Halo amps in situ, movie night will be any night you can justify' C B going to present these amplifi ers with any diffi culty driving to stadium levels. Peer through the lids and a signifi cant chunk of the internal real estate is given over to a power supply the size of a melon. A These are seriously potent. They are more than pure muscle though. The Halo amps have been designed with the principles of extremely high, measured performance and considerable longevity. Features like direct coupling keep the output stage as simple as possible, but thanks to extensive use of high-specifi cation components, such as metal fi lm resistors Taking the top off: Parasound's Halo A31 with 1 per cent tolerance and polypropylene and mica capacitors, practically no unwanted A Silent running B Keeping it cool C Magic number The toroidal power Twin side-mounted The three amplifi er modules nastiness is likely to make its way into the transformer is rated at full-height cooling fans use four pairs of 'high- circuit. Equally impressive is the carefully 1.5kVa and housed in a work to ensure heat is output' bipolar transistors thought-through soft start procedure that resin-sealed steel case dissipated away from and are rated at delivering both amps employ to restrict the surge of for silent performance the power circuitry over 80 Amps of current current on boot-up.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 FKF @EKFK?<J<8I:?G8E

THE SHOW  The ultimate high-end hi-fi experience

eturning for a second year, the hugely memorable high-end audio experiences. Each of successful Hi-Fi Show Live will once again our major suites will feature examples of the very provide a thrilling showcase for the world's best that the high-end can offer with scheduled R most spectacular hi-fi systems, presented presentations, demonstrations and workshops by a by the industry's most respected professionals. mix of famous designers and audio personalities. Brought to you by the trusted audiophiles behind Our other suites will offer interactive demos of the Hi-Fi News & Record Review and Hi-Fi Choice best headphones and headphone amplifi ers, hi-res magazines, the Hi-Fi Show Live is now bigger than digital media and audiophile accessories. ever with ten additional demonstration suites. For up-to-the-minute information on In a refreshing departure from the conventional exhibiting brands, advance ticketing and other show format, visitors will be treated to a series of announcements, please visit our website.

1-2 November • Beaumont House Estate • Old Windsor, West Berkshire

8MK\Z_ hifinews.co.uk/show d\[`Xck[

Czech Republic – Stereo & Video INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SUPPORTERS OF THE HI-FI SHOW 2014 Finland – Hifi maailma France – Stereo Prestige & Image Germany – Eins Null, Hifi Test TV Video, LP Greece – Hxos Eikova Hungary – Sztereo Sound & Vision Italy – AUDIOreview Norway – Watt Poland – Audio Portugal – Audio & Cinema em Casa Russia – Stereo & Video Serbia – Hi-Files Spain – AV Premium Sweden – Hifi & Musik Ukraine – Stereo & Video HIGH END HERO

Backside story

Both the A21 (top) and A31 (bottom) off er an unbalanced phono connection to your AV processor – those with compatible gear can use the balanced XLR inputs for greater signal purity. Additional rear controls include a 'ground' switch to tackle unwanted audible hum caused by ground loops, and Auto Turn On, which allows for both automatic 12V trigger and audio signal boot up.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 REVIEWS 23

Trust us, there is a degree of common sense crisper, incidental sounds are a little easier Specifications to proceedings. The availability of a three- to discern and the front-to-back eff ects off er channel amp gives you the ‘odd’ number of a greater sense of immersion. The peerless PARASOUND A21/32 channels your AV system is likely to need while eff ects placement and believable soundstage POWER OUTPUT (CLAIMED): 2 x 250W/ 3 x 250W, into eight Ohms, all channels driven allowing you to park a dedicated stereo amp that the Yamaha excels at is now being CONNECTIONS: Phono and balanced XLR in place for your main speakers. It also means backed up by amplifi cation that digs deeper, inputs per channel with adjustable trim. Looped that for listening in stereo, you only need to hits harder and has the headroom for any outputs on A21 turn one amp on. Or, as Parasound suggests, eventuality. It's never done in an obvious DIMENSIONS: 438(w) x 480(d) x 178(h)mm WEIGHT: 28.2kg (A21); 29.5kg (A31) you could just use the three-channel A31 for way, but when I switched the Parasounds out ALSO FEATURING: THX Ultra2 certifi cation; the key front soundstage and the amps in a of the system, it was like shrinking the room, Auto turn-on/trigger start; relay-bypassed more aff ordable AVR (which you can use for and the speakers, and leaving you with the soft-start circuit; direct coupled design; complementary MOSFET driver stage and JFET processing and switching duties also) for the standard presentation when you really want input stage; independent transformer windings rest of an array. the deluxe screening and unlimited popcorn. for each channel; attachable rack-mount With there being a stereo amplifi er here, brackets; also available in silver... Living with these leviathans the performance with two-channel music With the amplifi ers in situ, connected to is something to be genuinely excited about. the Neat Motive speakers (see p54) and the I stuck the Yamaha receiver in Pure Direct Yamaha RX-A3040 running as a processor, mode, let the A31 have a well-deserved rest there are a few possible misconceptions and had the A21 running solo. The outcome that need to be tackled. With 250W on tap was excellent with (almost) no qualifi cations for all speakers you might think that there is – not ‘good for AV’ or ‘useful to have’, but a degree of volatility to living with the Halos something that is able to grab your attention – like toasting marshmallows over an active and keep it held regardless of the music that volcano – but in reality they slot in well. you throw at it. At my most picky, I would With the Yamaha controlling gain, setting argue that the A21 has some of the same volume levels is easy and the Halos are just eff ortlessness that the entire setup shows as happy providing the power for The Great with fi lm material, when I really want British Bake-Off as they are rampaging through a little more bite and attack with my tunes, movie night. but I could happily live with this pre/power And movie night is likely to be any night partnership and not feel short-changed by it. you can justify. What the tremendous power Multichannel music is similarly inviting, and available translates into is an eff ortlessness while I’ll always be a stereo fan at heart that means even when all hell is breaking [Blasphemy! – Ed], the horsepower and loose on screen, there is a control and refi nement of the Halo duo makes fi ve- cohesion that allows you to appreciate the channel listening a convincing experience. fi ner nuances in the most seismic moments. Verdict Helicarriers plummeting from the sky? A cinch. The class of Class A/B Category Five Kaiju? Coming right up. I have felt for some time that the area of The word that keeps cropping up again and greatest ‘squeeze’ in AV receivers has been again in my listening notes is ‘cinematic’. There in terms of the amplifi cation. We want more is no more suitable term. This setup delivers bells and whistles, more licenses and more a sound that does justice to a bigscreen image channels, but at the same price points from – unforced, detailed and supremely fl uid. time immemorial. Given this near impossible Insight and delicacy aren't cast aside in demand, I think that AV receiver manufacturers favour of brute strength either. Returning to have done amazingly well, but there is little Super 8 as one of my favourite examples of arguing after listening to these slick power- huge sound eff ects rising from nothing, the pushers that really sublime Class A/B Halos are absolutely at the top of their game. amplifi cation doesn’t come cheap. The fi lling station scene is a fi ve-minute Neither, however, does it go out of fashion. masterclass in what the Parasounds can do; Once such amps are installed, they are a fi xed the quiet eff ects of the gas pump and insects point around which you can change the rest are conveyed with no sense of undue force, of your setup. Halo A21/A31 nor oversized, before the grunt needed to I’m aware that asking people to save money ➜ £2,400/£3,000 ➜ www.parasound.co.uk ➜ Tel: 0843 289 1254 make you feel that police car move arrives on long-term by dropping over fi ve grand in the HIGHS: Immensely powerful yet refi ned cue. Naturally, this sonic delivery benefi ts from short is a little odd. Also, you may well be the multichannel delivery; superbly built and the quality of the speakers used, but the Halos type of high-end AV player with the funds to styled; 2/3-channel setup provides a level of fl exibility are likely to wring every last ounce out of spare anyway. So I’ll just stress for a fi nal time LOWS: Very slight lack of excitement whatever you wire them to without ever that the Parasound Halo A21 and A31 are with music; cumbersome; slightly weedy showing signs of strain. awesomely talented. Living with them has speaker terminals This is not a sound that is the preserve witnessed an endlessly appealing combination of raucous action fi lms either. Oscar-winning of jaw-dropping grunt and dynamics with Performance drama American Hustle showed a depth and a warmth, even-handedness and general Design detail that was a step up again from the civility that means that – aside from their Features Yamaha AVR on its own – and to reiterate, the considerable dimensions – they are the Yamaha is talented in this regard. Voices are defi nition of simplicity ■ Overall

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE nad masters sttaatemmene t off the art

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rediscover the cult of nad at nadelectronics.com available at select sevenoaks sound & vision stores SHOW REPORT 25

Thanks to the twin tech expos of IFA and CEDIA running in consecutive weeks on either side of the Atlantic, Autumn is now the launchpad for all manner of AV hardware, from budget soundbars to high-end home cinema amps. Mark Craven, Steve May and Martin Dew report NEW KIT EXPLOSION!

CES 2015 IS only a few months away, see here can be hi-fi brands and – you've guessed it – but global tech giants can't wait that long. considered the Autumn/Winter collection. curved soundbars. First at the IFA Berlin show, and then just Naturally, HCC was present at both Also, on page 34, we report on perhaps a few days later at the CEDIA Expo in the shows, and we've rounded up our favourite the best news of all – confi rmation of a new US, product launches have come thick and product launches, ranging from high-end 4K Blu-ray standard. Start saving some fast. The consumer electronics industry Dolby Atmos processors and 4K fl atscreens pennies for Christmas 2015, as that's when now mirrors the fashion trade – what you to laser projectors, Blu-ray players, reborn the sought-after new format should arrive...

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 26 NEW KIT EXPLOSION

BITS AND SONY LOWERS COST OF 4K PROJECTION PIECES... More tech news from IFA, CEDIA and beyond Sonos ditches the Bridge The multiroom audio giant has simplifi ed its eco-system by ushering in a software update which enables a Sonos system to be run via a Wi-Fi network – meaning new customers no longer need to shell out for the hardwired Sonos Bridge. However, existing customers with the Bridge aren't advised to bin it. 'The dedicated Sonos As well the VPL-VW300ES, Sony also network, which is only obtained showcased its new SS AC3 stereo through a wired connection to speakers (left, with Sony's Eric Kingdon) your router, remains the best way to ensure the most bulletproof With zero competition from rival When it comes to the price the FIFA World Cup, shot in native experience,' says the company. projector brands at IFA, Sony drop, it seems Sony has found a 2,160p60, looked so vivid it was Bose revamps 'phones... decided to compete against itself less obvious way to cut corners. better than being there, while by launching the VPL-VW300ES, There’s no longer a dynamic iris to concert footage of Karmin a slightly down-spec’d version of max-out contrast (no biggie, we performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live the brand’s already remarkable usually turn that off anyway) and showcased deep blacks and VPL-VW500ES. At £5,500 it’s brightness is down from 1,700 to contrast. And to prove this SXRD the most aff ordable 4K/UHD 1,500 Lumens (an undetectable upstart has no problem handling projector yet. diff erence in a light controlled moody cinematics, the opening In truth there’s little to separate dark room environment). sequence to the TV show The Bose is replacing its 'legendary' these sibling Sonys. Both feature Certainly, demonstrations of Blacklist, lensed in 4K, boggled QuietComfort 15 cans with the new the same low-noise chassis and the VPL-VW300ES were good with its levels of detail. QuietComfort 25s, which sport a crisp optics. There’s no diff erence enough to have us choking on our Features include two HDMI more portable design, improved in picture processing either, as the currywurst. Off ering astounding 2.0 inputs with HDCP 2.2 copy noise reduction and a retooled EQ. newcomer similarly embraces the levels of resolution, bold yet protection, plus a 2.06x zoom, Bose claims the latter results in brand’s mysteriously vague convincing colour performance lens shift and Active Shutter 3D a smoother frequency response Triluminos colour processing and and terrifi c dynamics, this support. On this showing, we across the audio band at all Digital Reality Creation engines. projector redefi nes expectations reckon the VPL-VW300ES listening levels. Available now It can even cope with both digital at the £5K price point. For the looks set to become pound-for- for around £270. cinema 4,096 x 2,160 resolution unveil Sony had a crowd-pleasing pound the best value model ...and soundbase, too as well as domestic UHD. showreel: on-pitch action from in home cinema projection. Bose's Solo TV is famous for being the TV speaker that kickstarted the soundbase category back in 2012, but its chunky, squat form KEF EMBRACES ATMOS factor is beginning to look a little dated. Hence the need for the Those hunting for a Dolby Atmos speaker upgrade Solo 15, a larger model able to are now catered for by KEF's R50 add-on module, accommodate fl atpanels up to unveiled at CEDIA. Designed to partner the brand's 50in, but also sleeker in design. R Series speakers, the R50s employ a Uni-Q driver Priced at £400, it off ers coaxial (a 1in tweeter mounted coaxially with a 5.25in mid/ and optical digital audio inputs, bass cone) angled upwards in the wedge-shaped an analogue stereo input and a cabinet – rear speaker terminals are fed by a Dolby rear-mounted bass adjustment Atmos-enabled AV receiver, with the R50s output knob to fi ne-tune the sound from then refl ected off your ceiling toward the listening its quintet of internal drivers. position. These £600-per-pair speakers can, of course, be placed atop any existing speaker to build an Atmos array. KEF's brand development guru Johan Coorg told us the R50s will be in production by November. 'KEF’s thing has been Uni-Q with its even dispersion off -axis,' said Coorg, 'so it lends itself amazingly to the Atmos spec.'

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 SHOW REPORT 27

Jazz pianist and audio engineer Michiko Ogawa: a key part of the Technics Project

For the rest of us is the more compact Premium TECHNICS RETURNS! C700. It comprises the €1,400 SU-C700 amp, €1,100 ST-C700 network player, €1,100 SL-C700 CD player One of the world’s legendary hi-fi marques made a and €1,500 SB-C700 monitor-style loudspeakers. surprise return at IFA. Technics was relaunched by While both systems major on fi le replay, the Premium Panasonic as a high-end audio proposition with an retains a CD option because the brand feel there’s ear to the hi-res future. The fi rst new Technics kit plenty of disc spinners still out there. to be launched in six years comprises a Reference The driving force behind the new range will be system and upmarket Premium separates, and as a familiar name to regular readers. Chief Engineer befi ts a 2014 reboot, high dynamic range, low jitter Tetsuya Itani formerly masterminded Panasonic’s BD and spacious imaging are all cherished objectives. player development. However, a passion for hi-fi led Fittingly, directing the Technics Project (as it’s him to gather a group of like-minded engineers to called behind closed doors) is a jazz pianist of work ‘off -book’ on a secret project in 2010. He told renown. Michiko Ogawa, a former Technics audio us that a meeting with HCC was partially responsible engineer, took the lead earlier this year. 'I think the for the return of the brand: 'When I came to see you Technics team were looking for someone with in 2010, you told me Panasonic was not an audio musical involvement,' she says. 'I felt at the time, brand. It was a TV brand, a video brand. So when all my various careers inside the Panasonic company I went back to Japan I talked to my guys and we had led to this moment. It was my destiny.' began thinking. While Viera and Blu-ray were getting Intended to make a statement, the reference-class stronger, Panasonic audio was getting weaker.' The Premium C700 system R1 system is unapologetically refi ned. It’s led by the Early demos of both systems are mightily incorporates amp, network player, €14,000 55kg SE-R1 stereo amplifi er, which features impressive. The Premium C700 clearly has the chops CD player and stereo speakers both XLR and phono inputs and a JENO (Jitter to shake-up the mid-range market Elimination and Noise-shaping Optimisation) engine. while the Reference system Partnering it is the €8,000 SU-R1 Network Audio sounds breathtaking in its Control player, which introduces a newly developed scale and clarity. Technics Digital Link transmission interface along with various noise isolation technologies. File compatibility includes 192kHz/24-bit FLAC, WAV, AIFF and DSD 2.8MHz. Completists can fl ank this duo with a pair of €18,000 SB-R1 fl oorstanders.

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 28 NEW KIT EXPLOSION

LG PUSHES THE TV ENVELOPE, SAMSUNG PUSHES UHD CONTENT

Not got room for a 105in, 21:9 ratio Ultra Hi-Def TV (left)? Then settle for a 98in 8K model instead...

Perennial South Korean looked sublime. The company adversaries LG and Samsung also showcased its 77in fl exing screen featuring the company’s Most Wanted, Real off ered IFA visitors the usual OLED. When asked what the celebrated WebOS smart Football 2014 and Golf Star to its bravura display of extraordinary consumer benefi t of a fl exible platform, and parked its incoming downloadable Games selection. TV extravagance and engineering OLED screen might be, LG’s 65in and 77in 77EC980V and Samsung also fi nally delivered bluster. LG looked the clear senior manager for TV product 65EC970V models on its stand. its long-promised UHD 4K video winner of this big-brand clash, planning Howard Kim told HCC: By way of contrast, Samsung pack promotion. Available to however, previewing its limited- ‘Diff erent types of content look had little new hardware to show, buyers of the HU8500 curved edition Swarovski OLED panel better on fl at and curved screens. but high-end displays already 4K telly, the Samsung-locked and a lab sample 8K LED If you’re watching news or TV witnessed at CES still drew UHD media player contains 4K monster to those wielding secret shows, then a fl atscreen may be crowds. It did, however, make encodes of World War Z, Night backstage passes. Super preferred. When you’re watching a number of content at the Museum, The Counselor, Hi-Vision 8K prototypes are movies, a curve might work announcements. In addition Star Trek, Star Trek: Into Darkness, common currency at tech expos, better.’ So now we know. to more streaming 4K services Forest Gump, Life of Pi and The but this is the fi rst we’ve seen LG also debuted the (Wuaki TV, Amazon Instant Book Thief, plus a slew of from LG’s display division, and it 55EC9300, a 55in Full HD OLED Video), it added Need For Speed documentary material.

OPTOMA UNLEASHES BRIGHT STAR

Although it already outed a raft The rated contrast ratio, of new projectors this Summer, made possible by Dynamic including the HD50 reviewed Black technology, is 30,000:1 last issue, Optoma has added – a reduction on the 50,000:1 another Full HD light-chucker of the HD50. Casual users will, to its stable. however, appreciate the The DLP-based HD36 claims implementation of an onboard to a be a 'bright extension' to 30W speaker system, which the brand's range, courtesy of can be fed externally by the PJ's a claimed 3,000 Lumens output phono or 3.5mm audio inputs. that should see it well-suited to Optoma's HD36 Like other models in living room environments where claims a 3,000 Optoma's home cinema line, ambient light control is an issue. Lumens output the HD50 off ers 144Hz 'rapid- Setup is aided by the provision refresh' 3D through the of a 1.5x zoom, vertical lens shift and a 12V trigger port for optional ZF2100 system. The unit can also work with the automated systems. Additional connections include a single company's (not bundled) WHD200 wireless HDMI transmitter. HDMI input, plus DVI and VGA support. Pricing is £800 approx.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 Mr Scott, energize! Who says you can’t fly in an armchair: 
  

  . All there is. 30 NEW KIT EXPLOSION

PANASONIC LETS 4K FLAGSHIP FLY BITS AND PIECES... More tech news from IFA, CEDIA and beyond Philips embraces Spotify Devotees of Spotify are being targeted by the Dutch marque with its SW700M and SW750M multiroom speakers. Priced at €100 and €150 respectively, the former features a pair of 2.5in full-range drivers; the latter uses a duo of 3in mid/bass drivers joined by two tweeters. Both off er a one-touch Spotify play button and Spotify Connect app control, and multiple speakers can be grouped together for whole-house music. Onkyo heads back to base Panasonic's 4K range grew at IFA, and it also debuted a 'smart mirror' that can give you make-up tips...

3,000Hz backlight Perhaps the biggest scanning (BLS) Panasonic 4K surprise was and advanced the arrival of the entry-level local dimming AX630 series. While these trickery, which screens support 2160p60 and The IFA-launched LS-T30 eff ectively HDCP2.2, they lack an internal soundbase speaker is designed Panasonic claimed pole position reduces the halo eff ect HEVC decoder, so consequently for larger and heavier high-end at IFA when it came to new traditionally associated with the will need an external box for fl atscreens – think up to 70in and screen reveals. Firstly, its technology. Few would argue 4K content. 60kg. Hookups run to Bluetooth, long-teased AX902 UHD model that it looked spectacular. The company also revealed 3.5mm, optical digital audio and was fi nally given form at the If you need larger, Panasonic it will off er a fi rmware upgrade phono stereo (with cabling show. Hailed as the display which introduced the AX940; at 84in for owners of its AX802 screens, provided). Within its MDF cabinet picks up picture performance it certainly makes an impact. allowing them to spool Netfl ix the Onkyo sports a quartet of from where its plasma division A 4K model using a panel more 4K. Previously, it said this would drivers in conjunction with a left off , this new fl agship commonly seen on the brand’s never happen, but apparently down-fi ring 10 in woofer. It will (available in 55in and 65in pro AV displays, it boasts a good deal of hard-nosed retail for £350. screen sizes) features a full-array 2,000Hz BLS, an HEVC decoder negotiation has solved the (not edge) backlight with and HDCP 2.2 copy protection. technical snafu responsible.

SAMSUNG CURVES ITS AUDIO, TOO

The IFA show also witnessed the launch of the 'world's fi rst curved soundbar,' presumably because no one other than Samsung would even consider such a product line necessary. Crying out to be tucked underneath one of the brand's 'pringle' screens, the HW-H7500 is winging its way to retailers waving a £700 price tag. The well-specced soundbar features Bluetooth streaming, a USB input for MP3, FLAC, WAV, WMA, AAC and OGG fi le playback, optical and HDMI inputs and an HDMI out. TVSoundConnect technology also enables wireless hookup to your Samsung screen if you have a cable phobia. Power is rated at 160W into an eight-channel driver array, with two of these side-fi ring to widen the soundfi eld. Another 160W resides in an accompanying subwoofer, which we assume won't be curved, but as it wasn't on show we're not 100 per certain.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 THEY SAID THAT IMMERSIVE SOUND AT HOME WAS IMPOSSIBLE THEN THEY HEARD THE DATASAT LUXURY SERIES LS10

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BITS AND EPSON POINTS ITS LASERS AT 4K. SORT OF PIECES... More tech news from IFA, CEDIA and beyond Parasound caters for power rangers Got plenty of rooms in your house? Parasound has introduced a multizone 12 x 50W power amp. With bridgeable modes available Epson's new laser projectors and and independent zone switching, EH-TW6600W (inset) the ZoneMaster Model 1250 claims to be a power pusher for multi- room applications. And, courtesy of those dozen channels, the 2U rack-space amp is also positioned as an ideal package to complement any Dolby Atmos processor in the setup of a next-gen home cinema, such as... Acurus is in on the Act Two new PJ off erings from Epson, therefore switch ‘on’ or ‘off ’ cinema), although no source with signifi cantly larger footprints immediately. 'It’s more like a TV material is currently available ...the Act 4 from US brand Acurus, than its regular EH-TW models, than a projector,' said marketing to support the feature. Motorized which was showcased at CEDIA by caused a pleasant commotion manager, Jason Palmer. lens shift (both horizontal and Ted Moore, all-in-one co-founder, at the CEDIA Expo in Denver, not Lifetime expectancy of the vertical), a 2.1x zoom and lens COO and CTO of the American corp. least because pre-show info light engine is 30,000 hours, while memory are among the user- Manufactured in Indianapolis, the suggested native 4K machines contrast is claimed as 'infi nite', friendly features on off er. But fl agship 11.3-channel Act 4 home were in the offi ng. Sadly, that as no light from the laser means with an $8,000 price point cinema command centre off ers 8 x wasn't the case – the custom zero lumens – or 'as black as you for the LS10000, buyers will HDMI inputs and twin HDMI install-focused LS9600 and can get', we're told. The LS9600 expect them. outputs. An impressive Dolby LS10000 LCD projectors employ claims 1,300 Lumens; its bigger The week before, at IFA, Epson Atmos-licensed unit, with a 1080p panels, but the latter debuts brother 1,500. confounded expectations by colourful and straightforward Epson’s own '4K Enhancement' In a demo room on the not launching a follow-up to its front interface panel, it includes an tech (which works in a similar CEDIA show fl oor, images were 2013 top-fl ight EH-TW9200W. embedded web server and control fashion to JVC's e-Shift) to claim perceptibly bright (on an 11ft Instead, it unleashed a trio through its associated web app. a sharper, up-rezzed image. More screen), detailed and contrast- of more aff ordable models: The Act 4 will be available in interestingly, both use a laser- rich. Both projectors can also the EH-TW6600W and (non- February and will retail for US driven light engine, as opposed achieve a DCI colour space wireless) EH-TW6600, $6,000. Representation in the UK to a traditional lamp; each will (equivalent to professional digital and the 720p EH-TW570. will be via Genesis Technologies. Toshiba widens its aims It wasn't only the Korean brands fl aunting 21:9 ratio screens at IFA DARBEE GOES PRO WITH DARBLET – Japan's Toshiba joined in the widescreen fun with a prototype Joining its ever-popular Darblet (DVP-5000) HD technology inside, which will allow the 105in 'Super Wide Ultra HD TV' standalone video processor, the palm-sized tool signal to be sent over a longer cable without with a 5K (5,120 x 2,160) resolution. which analyses pixel depth cues to enhance signal loss, and a USB drive for fi eld The sheer size of the display wasn't picture contrast and detail, Darbee Visual upgradeability and customisation.' helped by the addition of Presence announced a brand new rack- While the DVP-5100CIE retains the Hi-Def, side-mounted speaker bars... mountable version for custom installers at Gaming and Full Pop options of its sibling, it the CEDIA Expo. doesn't add Of more immediate interest, the Adam Darbee, 4K support. brand confi rmed a new U Series son of inventor However, the 4K model (with traditional 16:9 and self- company says it form) to arrive in Europe next year, proclaimed is working on 4K off ering HEVC support, CEVO 'janitor,' says of products and Picture processing and the the diff erences that while 2,160 MediaGuide replay feature of in the new images can be its 2014 Smart screens. DVP-5100CIE: stunning, 'they 'It has Phase are still fl at...'

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 SHOW REPORT 33

PIONEER RETURNS TO THE BLU-RAY HIGH-END

While the Blu-ray Disc Association was prepping Blu-rays can be upscaled to UHD resolution us all for a 4K BD future (see p34), Pioneer used before being output over HDMI – there's a secondary IFA to unveil a duo of high-end (regular) Blu-ray HDMI out for split AV setups. Beyond video concerns, spinners – the BDP-LX88 and BDP-LX58 – that it Pioneer woos audiophiles with support for high-res believes capture the same design and performance (192kHz/24-bit) FLAC, ALAC, WAV and AIFF fi les, as ethos of its well-regarded 2008-era BDP-LX91. well as stereo and multichannel DSD, from USB or Of the two new decks, it's the BDP-LX88 over a network; an onboard Sabre32 ES9018 DAC; (pictured below) that is the most intriguing. and PQLS anti-jitter tech. 'Our expert engineers Due to hit stores in December and costing a not- aimed for reference-level audio performance by The BDP-LX88 separates its power inconsiderable £1,300, it will seek to steal rack optimally tuning the entire audio path and by and digital and analogue circuits space from the likes of Oppo's BDP-105D and selecting the best electrical/mechanical parts, Primare's BD32. With that in mind, build quality aims down to the tiniest screws,' says the company. to impress – the player uses a full-width, chunky The step-down BDP-LX58, which misses out ultra-rigid chassis with 3mm-thick iron-plate bottom, on some of the sonic niceties of its stablemate and weighs over 13kg. Internally, the power supply (including balanced outputs and Precision Audio section and digital and analogue circuits are isolated internal clock management system) is on sale now Pioneer's high-end player in separate chambers. for £600. will arrive in December

STEINWAY LYNGDORF SAVOURS THE ATMOS

If there was a prize for no-holds-barred swagger we control the power supplies of all the amplifi ers. at CEDIA, it would go to Danish brand Steinway Only the power supplies are changed when the Lyngdorf, which showcased an Atmos/Auro 3D- volume goes up or down. In fact, we don’t really capable surround system employing its speakers, have power amplifi ers. We have power, but it’s amps and processor. The story behind this high-end the D-to-A converter driving the speaker.' audio marque is that piano behemoth Steinway & For this state-of-the-art setup, the company will Sons approached audio guru Peter Lyngdorf in 2005 control outright system design in a customer’s home after a tip-off from a customer that his speakers or studio in order to guarantee performance. No mix could reproduce the sound of a piano with incredible and match of components will be tolerated, which accuracy. As Lyngdorf recalls, he travelled to New makes pricing any Steinway Lyngdorf product/ York and told Steinway. 'You choose a room, we’ll The Model P200 supports both system not only variable, but positively academic. reproduce a Steinway grand piano with our system. Atmos and Auro 3D surround formats The proprietary RoomPerfect analyzer in the P200 If you’re happy with what you hear, we’ll make a deal.’ works to remove unwanted room imperfections They were, he tells us, fl abbergasted. – it might go without saying that the setup in a The new Steinway Lyngdorf Model P200 less-than-perfect hotel conference hall showed off processor is the heart of the system, and took centre a reel of Dolby Atmos demo trailers with impeccable stage in a demo room in conjunction with digital clarity and transparency, a truly immersive amplifi ers. Lyngdorf explained: 'From the processor, soundstage, and thumping, accurate low bass.

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 34 NEW KIT EXPLOSION

HFR (as seen on The Hobbit AND FINALLY... fi lms) will be in the 4K BD spec 4K BLU-RAY IS CONFIRMED FOR 2015!

In a move designed to reassure early players themselves won’t off er 4:4:4 'HDR, in real terms, will be the most adopters that it hadn't been doing nothing post-processing, as currently happens on signifi cant breakthrough in picture quality since 4K TVs broke cover, the Blu-ray Disc Panasonic’s BDT700. since analogue to digital. Five years ago Association (BDA) was in attendance at IFA The discs could be a mixture of two-layer no one would have thought of a brighter to give us all the news we've been waiting 50GB and 66GB, and three-layer 100GB, theatrical display or television display, for – confi rmation of a 4K Blu-ray standard depending on content requirements. because we had backlights and plasmas that by next Summer and hopefully products in Ron Martin is vice president of the could only put out so much brightness. We’re shops by the end of 2015. Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory (PHL) not just talking about a new type of display. ‘The Blu-ray Disc Association’s board has Contents Solutions Centre. Not only does It's a whole new signal, a whole new agreed to add 4K/UHD specs to the Blu-ray he work closely with the Hollywood creative mastering format, a new production format.' disc specifi cations,' revealed Victor Matsuda, community, he also sits on the board of the So is HDR more important than resolution Chairman of the BDA's Global Promotions BDA. He again confi rmed to HCC that the when it comes to viewing experience? Yes, Committee, when we quizzed him. spec for the next iteration of Blu-ray was says Martin. 'The combination of the two, 'This is great news, especially for hardcore now in place, but was less sure on a deadline. with the frame rates... we’re getting very close home theatre enthusiasts. We are looking for 'We’re very close to fi nal to this thing in the '90s when we used to say licensing to commence sometime in Spring technology packages, the HD was like looking out of a window. Well, or Summer of 2015. If we look at the tool development. The end it wasn’t! But now we’re getting to a point roadmap for getting product to the market of next year is a reasonable where you will have to do a double-take.' afterwards, that would put us on a scale – target for us to hit, but it if everything transpires in a similar manner to would also be a good Tackling the streamers the past – where the fi rst products would hit target for us to miss. I’d Considering that Netfl ix, Amazon and others the market in time for the holiday season.’ will have been off ering 4K streaming for When we asked why it had taken so long 'People have diff erent over a year by the time 4K Blu-ray launches, to announce, Matsuda said: ‘We want to the job of the BDA will be to make people make sure that what we’re talking about has needs and wants. It's understand the value of a physical media some substance, we want to make sure that alternative. Here, Matsuda believes the AV we’re getting it right.' going to be a long playing fi eld is big enough for everyone. Of course, part of the delay in fi nalising ‘There are diff erent use cases, diff erent specs is due to the additional features that time before packaged types of content. I’m fi ne with watching this turbo-charged BD format will off er media disappears' old black-and-white I Love Lucy episodes beyond a greater pixel count. 'We’ve always on Netfl ix. But there are times when I want prided ourselves on being the best of the rather set that up and be a really high-quality, really strong consumer best,' explains Matsuda. 'So in this particular a little late than keep experience – and I want it in an case the important thing is that it’s about delaying it.' uninterrupted high-quality manner. much more than just resolution as far as the Will 4K Blu-ray be I prefer that stable, high-quality experience Association is concerned. We’re also talking compatible with fi rst- that you get every time with a Blu-ray disc. about frame rates, we’re talking about generation 4K TVs? Is ‘Whether it’s in the home or on a mobile bit-depth, we’re talking about HDR (High HDCP 2.2 copy protection product, there are diff erent needs and wants Dynamic Range), we’re talking about the going to be an issue? that service providers and content owners enhanced colour gamut. We’re looking 'Part of our manufacturing challenge is need to address. There’s been a lot of at all the other things I just mentioned as that we have to maintain backwards experimentation. There’s been a lot of eff orts a total package when it comes to the 4K/ compatibility. If someone has a 4K TV they in regards to streaming and watching things UHD upgrade to the Blu-ray specifi cation.’ bought this year or last year, and it’s only on the go and stuff . I certainly see that it’s HDMI v1.4, the 4K Blu-ray player will detect going to be a long time before packaged Blu-ray bits and bobs that and will adjust the signal accordingly. media disappears, that’s for sure.’ Kazuhiko Kouno is the chief engineer If a studio produces a 2,160p60 movie but A name for the fi nished product still at Panasonic in charge of Blu-ray player the player is connected to a v1.4 HDMI, then hasn't been chosen, according to the BDA development, and we spoke to him to nail the player will do the conversion internally, spokesman; it will be conducting research down some of the details: 'The 4K Blu-ray giving you a 24p pulled-down version; the into what might be appeal. 'It has to be specifi cation supports 2,160p60 and 10-bit player will also do the translation for colour consumer friendly and it has to encompass colour,' he revealed, suggesting that the space and for dynamic range. We’re not that it goes far beyond the notion of specifi cation would be largely BT2020 going to leave anyone not capable of playing resolution,' says Matsuda. ‘I also think we (aka REC.2020) compliant. Kouno also anything. But the studios will control this.' should take advantage of the Blu-ray name; suggests that there is provision within the Martin also confi rmed a data rate the huge asset that we have been able to spec to accommodate HDR as and when of between 50-70Mbps (by comparison, create for ourselves.' He also said he expects there are displays capable of delivering it. Netfl ix streams 4K at 15.6Mbps). HDR could 4K Blu-ray to arrive fully-formed, avoiding 4K discs will use 4:2:0 chroma sub- be the real story of 4K Blu-ray, however. the 'Profi les' that dogged Full HD Blu-ray sampling, although that’s not to say the according to the PHL man. in its early years ■

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014

36

UNLEASHING THE

The star of countless monster movies returns to home cinemas with the arrival of Gareth Edwards' Godzilla reboot. We chat to the director about continuing the Kaiju tradition

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 PLAYBACK EXTRA 37

Godzilla is a cinema icon, so how did you The original Japanese Godzilla roar... it seems approach bringing this character to the screen? to have been some sort of fl uke where they had a It’s funny. At the start of the process I felt that in double bass and – don’t ask me why – they scraped some way we could decide and control who Godzilla a leather glove down it and got this unique [...] was. And a strange thing that came from it was that, animal roar, and it was used over and over again in as we went along, you start to realize that Godzilla every movie. So it’s become the iconic sound for him. was going to tell us who he was, just like actors who And, obviously, that was recorded in the fi fties, have their own take on their characters. We couldn’t and [we did] this in Dolby Atmos, so it wasn’t an totally dictate what it was going to be. It was more option to use that particular sound. We wanted to

about just trying diff erent ideas and permutations. update it. If you imagined that Godzilla was real, then And slowly he revealed himself to us. what we hear in the 1954 fi lm is just what it sounds One of the conversations you get into with the like on 1950s' tapedecks. We wanted to capture that animators quite often is they would say, 'If this was a live sound in its full power with all the fi delity we’re real human, a real character, who would he be?' And capable of today. In the sound department there is a after thinking about it for a while, the thing we came double bass and a leather glove, and I think they tried up with was that he was like the last Samurai. It was lots of diff erent experiments. that idea of a lone, ancient warrior that would prefer to just not be part of the world if he could and be left And you played the roar on set for the actors... alone, but events in the world force him to resurface. Initially, that wasn’t the idea. But what happened It was very interesting, with all these ideas, even was we have a lot of scenes where a giant monster designing his look. We have a set of instinctive is over our main characters and they have to react to reactions to animals that have evolved over millions it. We’d already animated this stuff with pre-vis, and of years, and you try diff erent things until you feel we could show the actors what they would be doing, the right emotion when you see him. I wanted to where Godzilla would be and what the shots were get something that was very noble. And we tried for this scene, and they would understand. the obvious things, like bear faces and dogs. But But then, when we were fi lming, everyone’s got something that felt the most noble was a bird of diff erent ideas in their head about the timing. So, to prey, like an eagle. Eagles have their eyebrows very, get the timing synchronized, you'd be shouting out Director Gareth Edwards [left] proved very close to their nose, so we made his snout very direction through a microphone, 'Okay, he’s coming! his love of bigscreen beasts with his high up, just near his brow line, and it gives him this Okay, he’s starting to appear! Back off , back off !' And 2010 low-budget debut Monsters look of nobility. So, it was just trial and error. You try something and the strongest choice becomes clear, and before you know it, you’ve gone down this path and found Godzilla. I thought it was going to be an easy journey because, obviously, Godzilla has been in so many Japanese fi lms. But, actually, it took us about a year to get the design right and to fi gure out his behaviour as well. Is he an animal? Does he fi ght just like an animal or has he got more of a human-like nobility to him? There was always a fi ne line between making him too animalistic and making him too human.

How did you design his trademark roar? Erik Aadahl, who’s one of the sound designers, really has the secrets about the roar. He won’t actually tell me how he’s achieved a lot of the sound FX because often these things are achieved through the most bizarre ways. They’re not even animals sometimes.

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 38 GODZILLA

I found that me saying it was not giving the right You've also got Bryan Cranston in the cast... reactions. So what I started doing is, I have an iPod I’m sort of embarrassed how good our cast is. I feel with my pre-vis on it, which had all the sound like somewhere in the world there’s a fi lm without eff ects on it as well, and I just put the microphone any cast because we had them all. against the iPod speaker, so all these roars would When I was casting Godzilla, I was kind of nervous come out at the right times. And it was really about approaching all these actors because it's a eff ective. You can tell the diff erence, I think, monster movie and there are preconceptions people between the takes where there was no sound being have with a movie like this. But I was keen and kept played on set and the ones where we had Godzilla’s Naturally, much of Godzilla's trying. With a lot of people in Hollywood, the way roar blasting out. destruction was recreated via VFX they steer their career is, 'Okay, I’m going to do an artistic fi lm and then I’m going to do a commercial Away from Godzilla, how did you approach the movie.' And for me, the idea was that commercial human element of the story? movies can be artistic. So I would tell them when For me, these sorts of movies, as exciting as they I spoke to them, 'You should view this like it’s a great are, are not as powerful or eff ective if you don’t Iconic drama and it just happens to have Godzilla in it.' care about the characters that are caught up in the sonics! The thing with Bryan is that he’s got so much event. So from day one it was important that we experience. He’s so good at what he does. I mean, try and create characters that you can relate to. Our favourite movie yelps, I couldn’t picture anybody else playing the role that They’re not superheroes or anything. Bryan played [Joe Brody]. And, strangely, it wasn’t The sort of movies I grew up with, like the early growls and bleeps through Breaking Bad, it was actually from Malcolm in Spielberg fi lms, were perfection at weaving the Middle. It’s not that this is a comedy performance relatable human drama through these fantastic The Wilhelm Scream at all; it’s just that I think that comedy acting is events. And we certainly harked back to that era First heard in the 1951 fl ick Distant probably harder sometimes than dramatic acting, of fi lmmaking when we were conceiving the movie. Drums, this theatrical death yelp and his ability and timing at comedy is so good. I In terms of revealing Godzilla, obviously you can has since been used excessively by used to think when I was growing up, 'Oh, if this guy create a story and then you can just lay Godzilla Hollywood sound staff . Listen out got a chance at doing like a proper drama, I think he over it, and for some people that would work fi ne. for it in now in various movies from would knock it out of the park.' And, obviously, he did But the real trick was trying to come up with Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg with Breaking Bad. characters who were aff ected by the events in such and Quentin Tarantino. He can go from 0-100mph in one second. We’d a way that their story became very much part of this Tarzan's yell be on the set and he’d be doing a scene and have movie. You know, there’d be thousands of stories us all tearing up and really crying around the monitor. to tell if this sort of event really happened, so for us, Weird fact: The legendary yell of And then, the second we fi nished, he'd crack a joke it was like looking at something like World War II Johnny Weissmuller's cinematic and we'd all burst out laughing and then we'd go for and trying to fi nd amongst all these millions of Tarzan – 'Arrgh-aaaayayya-yaaah- a second take and we’d all be crying again. He’s people the family or character that had the biggest aaayaay-yaaarrrrgh!' – was pretty phenomenal like that. emotional journey through it all. And that was very registered as a trademark in 1998. hard to fi nd. It took about a year and a half to land T-Rex's roar The fi lm's score is by Alexandre Desplat – on something that we felt was good enough, really. what did you want to evoke with the music? This screeching cry crops up When you work on a fi lm like this, the most inspiring frequently in Jurassic Park, and And the fi lm's main character, Ford Brody thing to draw on is music. The fi rst thing I ever do is was produced by recording the (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) acts as create a playlist on my phone with the soundtracks roar of a baby elephant and the emotional centre for the fi lm... that I’ve loved that I think have the right tone and slowing it down, according to The most important thing for me was that [Brody] quality for this fi lm, as well as the sinister horror and Gary Rydstrom, the audio is a kind of 'everyman' through the fi lm. He plays darkness that was going to obviously come into play noodler responsible. this military guy, an EOD, bomb disposal guy, but with Godzilla. There is a lot of haunting emotion to I’m not a military person and I didn’t want it to feel R2-D2's bleeps... the movie. And Alexandre defi nitely got a high score like this movie was about the military. It’s really Star Wars' R2-D2 has plenty on my playlist from his previous scores. about a father and a son, who happens to be in the to say, all delivered by He was a bit of a hero of mine musically. Navy. And Aaron, as an actor, has got a very soulful a series of bleeps. So when it came to who was going to be our way about him. Without subtitles, composer, I was just like, 'I want Alexandre.' I was We have a lot of visual storytelling in this fi lm, the only way of going to put my foot down about this one. It was like, and because of the action and events, there is knowing what he 'We’re getting Alexandre. I don’t care how we do it.' a long period of time when no one really says is on about comes And, thankfully, he saw the previous fi lm I did, and anything. It’s all told visually and with the sound courtesy of C-3PO's was very excited about working on Godzilla. and the music. So we needed someone who could frustrated replies. But, again, there’s a preconception about what convey how he's feeling just through his eyes. these big movies must be like and I think he was very And I was really impressed with Nowhere Boy, ...and lightsabers! keen, as well, to inject a lot of emotion into this. And where he played John Lennon. He gave a very One of legendary sound designer the score is just stunning. I’m really excited. I can’t soulful performance. I always felt like he was having Ben Burtt's best-known creations, quite believe not only having Alexandre doing the a million thoughts every time you looked at him. the 'whoomp' – and crackle when Godzilla soundtrack, he’s done my soundtrack. It’s Also, he’s a fellow Brit, so there’s a shorthand. two 'sabers come into contact – like the most amazing gift I think I’ll ever get ■ I would say it was nice to have a British actor on is so famous that Ewan McGregor set, but he’s kind of a bit method when it comes to couldn't stop himself mimicking it Godzilla is available to own on DVD, Blu-ray and his accent, and would talk with an American accent when fi lming ...Phantom Menace. Blu-ray 3D from October 27, courtesy of Warner in between takes, which would throw me a bit. Home Entertainment, and is reviewed on p98.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 The hi-fi soundbar with built-in subwoofer

The M4 Soundbar made for music and movies Plays music, TV and movies equally well - with no extra boxes required Wirelessly connects smartphones, tablets and laptops using aptX Bluetooth Wall mounts with built-in bracket or shelf-mount with supplied anti-vibration feet www.Qacoustics.co.uk

What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision, AV Forums ‘Highly Recommended’, Home Cinema Choice ‘Best Buy’, August 2014 July 2014 July 2014 40 PRO INSTALL ➜ £22,000 approx ➜ www.blueberrygreen.co.uk Former basement turned AV beauty

This stylish eight-seat cinema room began life as an unused cellar. The fi nished result mixes aff ordable AV with bespoke décor to remarkable eff ect, says Mark Craven

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 INSTALL 41

WANT TO MAKE sure your cinema room stands out from the crowd? Then take inspiration from this visually arresting makeover by Bristol-based AV installation outfi t Blueberry Green, where the goal was to deliver a home entertainment space with design fl air as well as quality performance. The cinema has been carved out of a derelict cellar in a rural property. Blueberry Green had been engaged to do electrical, lighting and networking elsewhere in the property, and the owner wanted to know ‘Lighting eff ects are used throughout the room to add a pinch of wow factor and highlight the design'

what could be done in the basement. The suggestion – a bespoke movie room and foyer area – was obvious. The budget was relatively tight, considering it had to cover all building work, lighting/ electrics, AV and décor – originally pegged at £17,000, but eventually rising to £22,000. 'The owner increased his audio budget,' reveals installer Steve Weaver. 'Mainly with REL subs.'

It's time to tank! The room construction was a major undertaking, with the basement walls nothing more than exposed stone, and an unused lavatory and crumbling plaster ceiling completing the ramshackle feel, reveals Weaver. Therefore, tanking was necessary – applying a waterproof coating to the walls – before the stud walls, fl oor (with underfl oor, touchscreen thermostat-controlled heating) and ceiling could be constructed. These were all fully insulated for both heat and sound. To achieve the room's distinctive aesthetics – 'we didn't want to build a square box and put some speakers in it,' says the installer – angular 'pillars' are used on the walls and across the ceiling to break up the straight lines and divide the room into three sections. There are eight in total, the side ones fi nished Kit checklist with a travertine marble plaster to give the impression that they're hewn straight from OPTOMA: HD82 single-chip DLP projector limestone. This design element proved ONKYO: TX-NR727 AV receiver SAMSUNG: BD-F8500 Blu-ray player to be the tricky part of an otherwise quite Q ACOUSTICS: 2 x Q2050 (L/R); 1 x Q2000Ci straightforward project. 'The building of (centre); 6 x Q2020i (surrounds/rears); 4 x these was extremely challenging,' we're CT180 (surrounds/rears) told, 'due to so many exact angles and the REL: R528 SE subwoofer; R218 subwoofer LIGHTWAVERF: 3 x 4-gang black nickel need for the front edge of both the ceiling and light switches with Wi-Fi control wall pillars to run perfectly from the fl oor on SCREEN: Custom-made by installer one side, over the ceiling and down to the fl oor SEATING: Sourced via owner from eBay – £250 each approx with recline/massage on the other.' functionality Various LED lights are used throughout the space to add a good pinch of wow

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 42 PRO INSTALL

The room provides seating for eight fi lm fans factor; some pick out the texture of the pillars, others help denote the separate areas. The ceiling lighting rig off ers six diff erent dimming patterns, while eight coloured light boxes are sunk into the walls for a contrasting impact. All the lighting is controlled via an aff ordable LightwaveRF system, as the owner was adamant that he didn't want anything more elaborate in terms of system management. Everything is wired back to a central point allowing an upgrade to a fully-automated setup at a later date. Wall-mounted Q Acoustics Q2020i speakers are employed for the surround channels Everyday electronics The hardware in this home theatre is far-removed from the AV exotica specifi ed in much costlier professional installs. For instance, the speaker array uses models from Q Acoustics: 'We used these because we were tied to a very tight budget and they are about the best in that price range,' says Weaver. The setup is tailored to fi t the lengthy The various lighting eff ects are activated nature of the room and the inclusion of three via LightwaveRF controllers seating rows over fi ve metres. The surround

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 INSTALL 43

The custom-made 16:9 projector screen takes up most of the front wall

left/right channels each get four speakers (a mix of on-wall and in-ceiling models) to ensure a full soundfi eld. Meanwhile, the centre channel cabinet is mounted at an angle above the custom-made screen, to both create space for the largest screen possible and to project dialogue deep into the movie room.

Completing the system Once he had his sights set on a dedicated home An Optoma HD82 projector (a single-chip The cinema room occupies a former unused basement. theatre, preparation began. After the clear-out phase, The property owner asked installer Blueberry Green what the room was tanked to ensure waterproofi DLP model with Full HD resolution) is could be done with it... ng ceiling-mounted, with the rest of the AV equipment racked into the wall that divides the cinema room from the outer foyer area. The centre channel speaker is mounted Here, a mid-range Onkyo TX-NR727 AV above the screen, receiver takes care of audio processing and angled slightly downwards power. Hi-def Blu-ray visuals arrive courtesy of a Samsung BD-F8500 player, which also brings the benefi t of a class-leading Smart platform for video-on-demand. The last key element of this room is the seating. There are eight chairs in total, décor-matching recliners, arranged on diff erent-height plinths (each plinth has its own LED lighting eff ect) to retain line of sight to the projector screen on the front wall. Off ering massage and recline functions, these were purchased by the owner via eBay, for around £250 each. Bargain! ■

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

WWW.HOMECINEMACHOICE.COM 45

➜Hardware highlights PANASONIC 42in Full HD AS600 series TV & BD/PVR combi deck NEAT ACOUSTICS Motive SX surround sound speaker package BENQ Bargain-priced Full HD DLP projector KLIPSCH Soundbar/subwoofer duo with horn tweeter tech JL AUDIO American-made high-end cinema subwoofer PHILIPS A 55in Ambilight 4K TV for only £1,500... AND MORE!

Atmos antics Ratings Key… Outstanding Above average Onkyo's TX-NR838 receiver gives us our fi rst chance Acceptable to sample domesticated Dolby Atmos. See p50 Disappointing Dire

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 46 PANASONIC TX-42AS600 ➜ Approx £430

The Panasonic's svelte styling belies its aff ordable price tag AV I n fo

PRODUCT: 42in Full HD TV with Freetime support and My Home Screen Smart interface POSITION: Roughly at the centre of Panasonic’s HD TV range despite its aff ordability PEERS: Samsung UE40H6400; Sony 40W605

SWORD PLAY Sequel 300: Rise of an Empire cuts a dash on Blu-ray, p96

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 REVIEWS 47

This 42in Full HD set costs less than £500. How things have changed, marvels John Archer A sign of the 4K times

THIS YEAR WAS always likely to be a tricky one for Panasonic in TV terms, without having its ever-reliable plasma division to woo fi lm fans. And to be honest it’s lived up – and down – to expectations, with the brand so far delivering a slightly untidy mix of hit-and-miss LCD sets.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that simple. I’m also a fan of its My Home Screen the TX-42AS600 on test here is defi nitely one interface, which allows personalisation of the of Panasonic’s 2014 ‘hits’. set's home page to contain only the content Let's start with the price tag. At £430, links you want. this is eye-catchingly aff ordable for a TV that’s Rounding out the TX-42AS600's Smart not even from the bottom end of Panasonic’s sophistication is My Stream, which highlights current range. Yes, it's a mere 42in and only content based on analysis of your viewing a Full HD resolution – bigger screen sizes history; and the TV’s ability to be used in and 4K resolutions have changed the market conjunction with an Android/iOS app that No touchpad remote considerably – but it can still form the centre makes it easier to both control the set and here – just a piece of a smallscale cinema setup. share content between devices. standard zapper It also delivers instant shelf appeal by not looking at all like a bargain-priced telly. VA is for victory Panasonic has endowed its AS600 series From a picture quality point of view, the fi rst with an on-trend super-slim bezel, and there's thing to say is that the TX-42AS600 doesn’t a bold contrast between the silvery trim of the support 3D playback. It does, though, carry bottom edge and the glossy black fi nish a 100Hz motion reproduction system which applied to the other three sides. is driven – along with other processing-based Connections are solid. A trio of HDMIs, two aspects of picture reproduction – by a USBs and both Ethernet and integrated Wi-Fi dual-core engine. By far the best bit of news options make up the most important stuff . about the TX-42AS600, though, is that it uses Those network connections enable a VA-type LCD panel rather than an IPS one. streaming of video, photo and music fi les from The struggles of IPS panels to deliver a networked DLNA-capable devices, and access good black colour has been painfully exposed to Panasonic’s online service. The highlight of this year by the black level improvements of the latter is the integrated Freetime system. rival VA-style panels – and unfortunately many Also found higher up Panasonic’s 2014 range, of Panasonic’s 2014 TVs have used IPS. this brings catch-up services for all the main The appeal of a VA design can be UK terrestrial broadcast channels via an EPG appreciated the instant you feed the TX- guide that can be scrolled back in time as well 42AS600 any predominantly dark image. as forward. For any technophobes worried As Batman is mercilessly pummelled by Bane about not being able to get their heads around in the gloom of the villain’s underground lair, a normal video-streaming hub, Freetime is for instance, the darkness of the walls around a dream come true. him suff ers impressively little with the misty This isn't the only way Panasonic works grey look associated with low-contrast LCD hard to make potentially complicated things TVs. There's more shadow detail in Batman’s

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 48 REVIEWS

scenes, as the set loses quite On the menu a chunk of resolution over moving objects. It does, at least, keep a decent lid on judder by sub-£500 standards. It's a rather average handler of standard-defi nition material, too – colours end up lacking fi nesse following the upscaling process. Finally, while I'd recommend that you leave the 42AS600’s ‘adaptive ➜ A major string in the Panasonic's Smart backlight’ feature on (at its bow is the inclusion of Freetime, enabling lowest power setting) to get idiot-proof catchup TV streaming of the fi ve UK terrestrial channels rid of some minor traces of backlight clouding visible during very dark scenes, Specifications The screen off ers a good this feature does occasionally contrast performance cause some slightly 3D: No. 4K: No. distracting ‘jumps’ in the TUNER: Freeview HD suit and the walls, too, helping the scene enjoy image’s overall brightness. Having said CONNECTIONS: 3 x HDMI inputs; 2 x USB; RGB an expansive sense of depth. that, these luminance leaps are neither Scart; component video input; RF input; built-in Furthermore, deeper, more natural black as common nor as aggressive as those I'm Wi-Fi; Ethernet port SOUND: 20W stereo colours mean dark hues of red and green increasingly noticing on IPS panels, where BRIGHTNESS: N/A appear more believable than they tend to on such contrast-boosting tools have to work CONTRAST RATIO: N/A low-contrast displays. that much harder to combat the lack of DIMENSIONS (OFF STAND): 947(w) x 552(h) x 53(d)mm And, as you don’t need to remove as much native contrast. WEIGHT (OFF STAND): 12kg brightness from images to optimise black The main arguments used to justify using FEATURES: 100Hz Backlight Blinking; My Home levels on the TX-42AS600, lighter areas of IPS panels in modern fl atscreens are that they Screen interface; TV Anywhere system; Freetime built in; Smart Viera app access; Panasonic TV dark scenes can retain more brightness – deliver a markedly wider viewing angle and Remote 2 app support with ‘swipe and share’ the overall experience is more dynamic. This produce a more video-friendly colour palette. tech; My Stream content recommendation However, while it’s true that the TX-42AS600’s system; Dynamic/Normal/Cinema/True Cinema/ images start to lose contrast and colour Custom presets; dual-core processing engine; For any technophobes DLNA/USB media fi le playback saturation from narrower viewing angles than trying to get their a typical IPS panel would, the diff erence isn’t great enough to upset me. And while good heads around catch- IPS TVs may look marginally more balanced with their colour reproduction overall, this is up TV, Freetime is countered by the better contrast and natural a dream come true' dark tones on off er here. Sonically, the TX-42AS600 is somewhat is especially clear in the scenes in The Pit in hamstrung by its slender form factor. There's Verdict The Dark Knight Rises, particularly with the a lack of bass from the 2 x 10W speaker array shots looking up from the bottom of The Pit that, with my Batman Blu-ray, leaves Bane’s at the daylight above. growling voice sounding less menacing and Moving away from the contrast advantages reduces the impact of explosions and other of the TX-42AS600’s VA panel, a run-through large soundstage moments. However, the bass of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (Blu-ray) reveals shortage doesn’t cause trebles to become it to be capable of producing impressively too exposed and harsh at the other end of bold colours. It captures HD detailing from the spectrum, and the mid-range is strong Blu-rays and good-quality HD broadcasts very enough to both maintain vocal clarity under well, too, with minimal noise and no sign of duress and propel the soundstage a surprising Panasonic TX-42AS600 forced edging or fi zzing noise over areas of distance away from the physical confi nes of ➜ £430 Approx ➜ www.panasonic.co.uk ➜ Tel: 0844 844 3899 ultra-fi ne detail. Obviously, I'm not talking the chassis. HIGHS: Good, contrast-rich picture quality; about anything to rival 4K/UHD displays, decent value; Freetime is a welcome Smart TV but if you were hoping to get 4K for this price Value proposition addition; unobtrusive design you’re living in dream land. For now, anyway… The motion softness the 42AS600 suff ers LOWS: Some motion blur; standard-def colours look a little basic; some strong competition at with, in particular, means it would struggle this price level Poetry not in motion in a shootout with higher-spec fl atscreens. The aforementioned strengths are enough But at the same time Panasonic’s decision Performance to help the TX-42AS600 stand out from to turn to VA LCD technology has helped it Design this year’s often lacklustre budget TV crowd. construct a great-value TV that’s a no-brainer Features But this Panasonic is, inevitably, not perfect. for second-room use and could also The most obvious problem is that the crisp comfortably pass muster as a main system Overall look to HD images reduces during action display if fi nances are tight ■

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 the sound of craftsmanship

Th e art of AV Receivers With WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, the NR1605 AV Receiver lets you enjoy all your digital fi les - wherever they are. And with 4k Ultra-HD you get breath-taking pictures, razor-sharp lines. All in an elegant slim-line design with a powerful punch. Enjoy!

www.marantz.co.uk 50 ONKYO TX-NR838 ➜ Approx £1,000

Onkyo lands the fi rst Dolby Atmos AVR for the home. Steve May's ears prick up The revolution begins here

WITH APOLOGIES TO Tom Cruise, welcome to the edge of tomorrow. Dolby Atmos, the sound system which has taken theatrical audio to another level courtesy of object-based design and metadata-driven image placement, has migrated to the home, and nothing will ever sound quite the same again.

By the end of 2014, you can expect to see playback (audio only). In addition to Ethernet, Dolby Atmos-ready AV receivers from the the AVR has integrated Wi-Fi, so getting online majority of AV audio brands, but the fi rst to should not prove problematic. arrive on our test bench comes from Onkyo. However, it’s the Dolby Atmos performance The £1,000 TX-NR838 is an upper-class which is of prime interest. Short story long: proposition, strategically positioned above Atmos is the most signifi cant development in the brand’s TX-NR737 and entry-level Atmos- home theatre since the introduction of Dolby ready TX-NR636 models. It’s a seven-channel Digital 5.1, elevating the listening experience design capable of delivering either extended 7.1 (literally) to a new level and relegating previous surround or a 5.1.2 Atmos soundstage (the last height and width adventures with Pro-Logic IIz two numbers refer to the Atmos channels). and Audyssey DSX to interesting diversions. As befi ts its price, the overall spec is good and But implementing it successfully is no it’s not short of muscle. Onkyo rates the power cakewalk. Long story short: for serious home output at 150W ‘Dynamic’ into eight Ohms, cinemaphiles there are issues to address. or 130W with all channels driven. I rate it meaty Much depends on your home cinema layout. enough to easily drive the average room. My theatre happens to be a dedicated room The receiver is 4K-friendly, courtesy of four with in-wall and in-ceiling speakers arranged HDMI 2.0 inputs, and off ers HDCP 2.2 (High- in a traditional 7.2 confi guration. On paper at bandwidth Digital Content Protection) support least, it’s a relatively straightforward task to on Input 3 (labelled STR/DVR), although this re-purpose two in-ceilings to accommodate couldn’t be checked for obvious reasons. the 5.1.2 output of the TX-NR838. In practice, Beneath the lid lurks a Silicon Image SiL9679 though, a number of issues become apparent. HDCP 2.2 chipset which handles 2160p up to 60fps with 4:2:0 chroma subsampling. It's demo time! Get to the speaker binding posts and things Dolby Atmos-encoded software is rather are intriguing. In addition to the standard L/C/R thin on the ground at present. Indeed, for this terminals you’ll fi nd Surround and Surround audition I had only a demonstration disc to Back options, plus Height and Width. As this play with. However, it contains all the various model only off ers seven channels of power, theatrical idents used in Atmos cinemas not all can be driven at the same time; you (including Amaze, Leaf and Conductor), in need to choose your preferred confi guration. addition to a short Red Bull F1 promo and It’s not possible to implement a dual seven- Bailando, a dance track from Enrique Iglesias. channel and Atmos home cinema layout. Not a lot to go on, but these are early days. The TX-NR838's The TX-NR838 is network savvy. In addition The fi rst surprise was discovering just how handset is refreshingly to Bluetooth, there’s Spotify Connect, Deezer, much better the system sounds with refl ective button-lite Aupeo!, internet radio and local LAN media speakers delivering the height ambiance,

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 REVIEWS 51

AV I n fo

PRODUCT: £1,000 seven-channel Atmos AV receiver POSITION: Middle of Onkyo's Dolby Atmos range PEERS: Denon AVR-X4100W; Pioneer SC-LX58; Yamaha RX-A2040

Onkyo's SKH-410s These Atmos add-ons are small, but still impress With Onkyo off ering a pair of these up-fi ring speakers for free with the TX-NR838 (until the end of October) it seemed logical to use them in our review. With a retail price of £130 for two, it's obvious that these aren't a high-end proposition, but – and with nothing else to compare them too – it's clear they do the job intended, and their portability proved useful during system setup. Each speaker features a single, angled 3.25in paper cone driver, and is supplied with rubber feet to stop them damaging any speaker that you may mount them on. 52 REVIEWS

Speaker terminals allow for a 5.1.2 or 7.1 setup On the menu

➜ Onkyo's menu system sports a functional but clean design. System confi guration is aided by room layout graphics, which include a replica upfi ring speaker... compared to in-ceilings. The latter proved theatrically), is similarly immersive. A twig Specifications too directional, localizing the audio sent to crisply breaks to your front right, sending the DOLBY ATMOS: Yes the height channel in a way that was often titular leaf on its downward spiral; you can DOLBY TRUEHD: Yes distracting. While it would be presumptuous to almost feel the air pressure as it moves DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO: Yes rule out in-ceilings altogether (I suspect I’ll fi nd around the soundstage, before landing with a THX: Yes. Select 2 MULTICHANNEL INPUT: No a subliminal output level that convinces, deep bass ripple front-left. I played these clips MULTICHANNEL OUTPUT (CLAIMED): alternatively a 5.1.4 confi guration may be more endlessly for days, and never stopped grinning. 150W, eight Ohms ‘dynamic’, 130W with all suitable), it became apparent that Onkyo’s Sonically, the TX-NR838 is very adept, channels driven dinky SKH-410s were doing a better job. These capable of crisp, delicate nuance and MULTIROOM: Yes. Two additional AV zones AV INPUTS: 3 x composite; 5 x digital audio (3 x have an angled driver designed to bounce audio tumultuous drama. In stereo mode it’s optical and 2 x coaxial) off the ceiling (2.4m high in my room), aided surprisingly articulate, thanks in part to some HDMI: 7 x inputs; 2 x outputs (v2.0 and v1.4) by some complimentary processing in the AVR. lovely Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit DAC magic. VIDEO UPSCALING: Yes. To 2,160p COMPONENT VIDEO: 1 x input; 1 x output The positioning of these boxes provides its It revels in unplugged sessions and light DIMENSIONS: 435(w) x 400(d) x 198.5(h)mm own challenge. It’s widely envisaged that they’ll classics alike; in straight multichannel mode it’s WEIGHT: 15.5kg be positioned atop the front stereo pair. In my a rock-solid actioneer. Add Dolby Atmos to the ALSO FEATURING: AccuEQ auto-calibration system; Bluetooth; integrated 2.4GHz mix and it becomes even more extraordinary. Wi-Fi; Ethernet; USB; Spotify Connect; internet ‘I believe the days of The TX-NR838 can also upmix 5.1 content. radio; AM/FM tuner; HDCP 2.2 copy protection; Confusingly this process is simply labelled QDeo video processing; twin LFE outputs; IR buying a non-Dolby Dolby Surround in the menu (nomenclature input; 12V trigger output; RS232 port; Burr- Brown 192kHz/24-bit DAC; 4 x DSP gaming decided by Dolby itself). Quite how convincing modes; GUI overlay on HDMI; PLL (Phase Locked Atmos-enabled AV said upmixing is versus a native Atmos mix Loop) anti-jitter technology; seven-channel remains open to debate, although the simple phono output receiver are drawing expedient of using the Atmos channel with rapidly to a close' 5.1 content appears to add spatial depth. The only catch, of course, is that the room, that wasn’t an option. However, physical arrangement I landed upon as simulating the position with the little Onks on optimum for Atmos performance is not loudspeaker stands didn’t appear to work. With something that would work in most homes. Verdict my prime listening position approx 4.5m away Having refl ective height speakers positioned from the L/C/R, it was clear they were too almost mid-room is impractical. Conversely, distant for any sonic refl ection to be eff ective. I suspect that an Atmos 5.1.2 confi guration in Yet bringing these speakers to within 2m of my a smaller space is not only going to work well, listening position made a dramatic diff erence. but will be easier to set up. I can’t vouch for The Dolby Atmos soundstage itself is quite what will happen if you have artex, though, unlike traditional 5.1. Although we talk blithely and woe betide you if your ceiling has any of height channels, there’s not a sense of sort of Atmos-killing acoustic treatment. Onkyo TX-NR838 tiered audio. Image placement is simply more ➜ £1,000 Approx ➜ www.onkyo.co.uk realistic. The eff ect is not unlike wearing good Delightful debut ➜ Tel: 08712 001996 HIGHS: Immersive Dolby Atmos performance; headphones, albeit without the physical Even without Dolby Atmos compatibility, four 4K/60p inputs; good network specifi cation sensation of earcups. When a mosquito buzzes this Onkyo would be a formidable sonic with Bluetooth; HDCP 2.2 copy protection at the start of the forest clip Amaze, the insect proposition. Design, features and performance LOWS: No support for dual-band 5.6GHz Wi-Fi; Atmos confi guration takes time to tune; you’ll appears to dance around your head, moving on are all solid. However, in full Atmos guise need to sacrifi ce conventional 7.1 to go 5.1.2 an unpredictable vector; then an exotic bird it thrills with extraordinary precision and does a complete and seamless fl y-around. presence. On the strength of the Onkyo Performance When the thunderstorm breaks, the LFE TX-NR838, I predict the days of buying a Design rumble is prodigiously deep, before rainfall non-Dolby Atmos-enabled AV receiver are Features appears to engulf the listening room. drawing rapidly to a close. The future of home Leaf, the ident used to preface Brave (the theatre begins here. The trick will be learning Overall fi rst Atmos-encoded movie to be released to live with it ■

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014

54 NEAT ACOUSTICS MOTIVE SX 5.0 ➜ £3,675 APPROX

Looking for compact speakers that sound anything but? Ed Selley thinks you should look no further

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 REVIEWS 55 Honest Motives

NEARLY EVERY MAJOR speaker maker off ers a fi ve-channel package, so what can possibly be gained from wandering off the beaten track and choosing an off ering from a smaller brand? Quite a lot, actually.

Smaller companies frequently have a AV I n fo diff erent way of going about things, and it may be that their approach is the one that best PRODUCT: matches your personal tastes. In the case of Slim-enclosure 5.0 speaker array Neat Acoustics, the Durham-based outfi t has a distinctive method to voicing its speakers, POSITION: which is almost entirely predicated around The entry point into Neat Acoustics' extensive listening to a wide variety of genres speaker range rather than a measurement-based process. PEERS: This should not be taken to mean that the Tannoy Precision 5.1; speakers have been created by means of a Monitor Audio Silver ‘short cut’, though – in the case of the larger 6AV12; Bowers and Wilkins models in particular, their design complexity 683 Theatre should point to Neat knowing its way around the serious engineering side of things. Neat hopes to create speakers that function in a consistent way almost regardless of the room. The Motive SX range is an updated version of the original Motive series and is the smallest complete range in the brand's line-up. This setup comprises a pair of the SX1 fl oorstanders, a pair of the SX3 standmounts and an SX-C centre speaker. There is no subwoofer here. Neat doesn't build bass bins, and the company is exclusively passive in terms of output. I'm not suggesting for a moment that you run 5.0 – the market of dedicated subwoofers from the likes of Velodyne, REL, SVS, Paradigm and JL Audio exists for a reason.

Revamped tweeters All the speakers are built around varying complements of the same two drivers. The fi rst is an anodised aluminium tweeter with an inverted dome. This replaces the titanium example in the older models and is intended to off er a much-improved high-frequency response. This is partnered with a 5.25in mid/ bass driver that continues almost unchanged from the previous models. The two drivers are handled by a revised crossover, built around some rather high-end components such as Mundorf capacitors. Neat has built the SX-C centre channel as a sealed cabinet, which allows for fairly Time alignment concerns mean the SX1 unfussy placement. The SX1 fl oorstander fl oorstanders lean back is more unusual, in that it is fi tted with a

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 56 REVIEWS

roll-off by that point, it still means that Specifications this slender fl oorstander packs a mighty punch. This in turn allows the subwoofer MOTIVE SX1 FLOORSTANDER you employ to concentrate on authentic DRIVE UNITS: 2 x 5.25in polypropylene midbass cones; 1 x 1in inverted aluminium subsonic frequencies. tweeter The lower midbass proff ered by the Neats ENCLOSURE: Downward-ported positively teems with energy – the roar of FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 25Hz-30kHz 1970s race engines in Rush is absolutely SENSITIVITY: 87dB POWER HANDLING: Not specifi ed intoxicating. And with the cheerful insanity DIMENSIONS: 160(w) x 925(h) x 200(d)mm of the fi nal runway scene in Fast and Furious 6, WEIGHT: 14kg the Motives make as much sense of the MOTIVE SX3 STANDMOUNT lunacy on screen as they can, keeping DRIVE UNITS: 1 x 5.25in polypropylene midbass dialogue clear and well defi ned above the cone; 1 x 1in inverted aluminium tweeter roar of jet engines and general silliness. ENCLOSURE: Rear-ported The Motives don’t go in for forensic detail, FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 45Hz-30kHz SENSITIVITY: 86dB but instead give a comprehensible and natural POWER HANDLING: Not specifi ed picture of the whole event. They remain DIMENSIONS: 160(w) x 325(h) x 200(d)mm civilised under all but the most abusive uses WEIGHT: 6kg Each speaker uses of the volume control and even when they MOTIVE SX-C CENTRE a 1in inverted do harden up, they do so with as much grace DRIVE UNITS: 2 x 5.25in polypropylene aluminium tweeter as they can muster. It is likely that you will run midbass cones; 1 x 1in inverted aluminium tweeter out of amplifi er before you really get any ENCLOSURE: Sealed downward-fi ring port (meaning that the plinth harshness out of them. FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 50Hz-30kHz is both fi xed and entirely necessary) and the Spend a little time with the Motives SENSITIVITY: 86dB whole cabinet is angled back to assist in the and you realise that in all senses of the POWER HANDLING: Not specifi ed DIMENSIONS: 470(w) x 160(h) x 200(d)mm time alignment of the drivers. The speaker is word, their integration is peerless. The WEIGHT: 10kg happiest when placed on a solid rather than crossover between tweeter and midbass is suspended fl oor. imperceptible and the movement of sound The two-way SX3 standmount speaker from speaker to speaker is smooth and is rear-ported. consistent. Compared to the almost The Motives are attractive in an understated holographic (and only fractionally more sort of way. If you are after lacquered cabinets expensive) Tannoy Precisions that I reviewed and chrome detailing, these probably aren’t previously, these slimmer speakers don’t for you. There's something old-fashioned and, possess the same front-to-back depth and well, hi-fi about their appearance. The sensible they craft a far more defi nite ‘sweetspot.’ dimensions (just 160mm wide) will go down However, the resulting payback in terms of well in many rooms, though. speed and impact is enough to win me over. One slightly disappointing aspect of this A fi nal trump card is a predictable one. multichannel pack is that the centre cabinet From a company that fi rst and foremost is only available in black meaning that a deals in the world of two-channel, Neat's SX1 matching set of speakers can only be had fl oorstander is excellent used in this manner. in the same slightly austere fi nish – a shame Its potent low-end extension works wonders as some of the wood options are rather tasty. with bassy material, and the entire package is Another aspect of Neat's design that magnifi cently rich, powerful and exciting. If needs to be taken into account is that these your interests divide equally between movies speakers place some demands on your and music, these speakers do exceptionally amplifi cation. With sensitivity in the mid 80s well at meeting those dual requirements. and an impedance of 6 ohms, they are not ridiculously insensitive, but it will show up if Solid all-rounders your partnering AVR is a bit short of puff . The Indeed, for all-round ability these speakers Motives were happy on the end of a £2,000 take considerable beating. I have tested much Verdict Yamaha receiver, but I’d be lying if I said they bulkier and ornate packages that have been didn’t relish the additional horsepower from less able to fi ll a room with such a full-bodied Neat Acoustics Motive SX 5.0 the Parasound Halo combination also tested soundfi eld. There is no question that this ➜ £3,675 approx ➜ www.neat.co.uk ➜ 01833 631021 at the same time. ability comes with some caveats – as said HIGHS: Powerful, cohesive and exciting sound earlier, the Motives require hefty amplifi cation with music and fi lm; usefully compact In at the deep end and some will want a design that looks more LOWS: Require plenty of power; centre channel only available in black; you'll have to budget for It is worth pandering to the Motives, though. in line with the £3,675 price tag, let alone the a separate subwoofer In many ways these are singular speakers option of a fi nish other than black. that do some slightly unexpected things. In a darkened room, though, the latter is of Performance First and most immediately, for relatively no consequence and if you budget accordingly Design compact designs, the scale and sheer impact for a bit of muscle to drive them, the former is Features that they have is genuinely surprising. The SX1 hardly insurmountable either. So if you work claims a frequency response down to 25Hz with them, the Neat Motive SX 5.0 array Overall and while I don’t doubt there is considerable makes for an entertaining sonic solution ■

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www.rel.net REL. Accept No Substitutes. 58 JL AUDIO E-SUB E112 ➜ £2,050 approx Baby 'zilla Adam Rayner discovers that even an entry-level JL Audio subwoofer off ers the kind of monster performance your home cinema deserves

AV I n fo

PRODUCT: 12in home cinema subwoofer POSITION: One of two E series models (the other uses a 10in driver) PEERS: REL 528SE; Velodyne SPL 1200 Ultra; Paradigm Studio Sub 12

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 REVIEWS 59

JL AUDIO’S FACTORY in Florida is set up a As soon as I fi red up this shiny, deep-grilled Specifications bit like a cottage industry. Small departments cube in my room, I smiled. It's immediately beaver away feverishly on individual products, apparent that its large cone has mercurial DRIVE UNITS: 1 x proprietary 12in long- in their own little production areas. In one of alacrity to fl ing itself a long way to and fro excursion forward-fi ring bass driver ENCLOSURE: Sealed them resides a frankly enormous machine, under almost any drive (JL Audio suggests FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 22Hz-118Hz (+/- armed with cutting teeth tipped with industrial- a maximum excursion of 3in). And when it 1.5dB). Also rated at 21Hz (-3dB) and 17Hz grade diamonds – and it eats these like does it with anger and intent, it creates wave (-10dB) candies, at a rate of two a week. The machine fronts at a fabulous speed. Basically, when ON-BOARD POWER: 1,500W RMS Class D switching amplifi er is employed to cut through the two-inch resin your Blu-ray soundtrack goes bang, you'll be REMOTE CONTROL: No and carbon fi bre composite of the brand's scared – fi reworks, explosions, car crashes and DIMENSIONS: 394(w) x 412(h) x 467(d)mm subwoofers, a material so rigid and tough that other high-impact moments, where the WEIGHT: 33.3kg CONNECTIONS: Phono stereo low-level input/ it takes four passes around each hole. In the director and sound designer meant the theatre output; high-level input hulking body of its fl agship (which is called subwoofers to wake up and squeeze the Gotham and looks like Batman thought it up), audience’s adrenals, will startle you. there are two giant holes to accommodate its The smallish cabinet and driver size, dual 15in drivers. compared to some of the behemoths of bass UK subwoofer fans will struggle to get their we've auditioned in HCC, only means a hands on the Gotham. European standby diff erence in scale. Cavernous rooms would no power regulations are hindering its arrival, doubt benefi t from a duo, or a larger (and I gather. So it's necessary to step down a notch more expensive) option. But having said that, on the product ladder. Previously we've the e112 still seems to perform beyond its reviewed the Fathom series; auditioned here stature, and can achieve the most profound is the 12in model from the new E series. lows, with its low-frequency rating of 17Hz at a -10dB, still-feel-it fashion. Trickle-down technology I lived with this sub for a good few weeks/ JL Audio's home woofers all run technology movies. With Frozen on Blu-ray, the opening developed for its fl agship automotive W7 sequence where ice is being harvested from a transducer. So in this, the E-Sub e112, you get lake and boots thump on the solid surface was a fi ltered-down, best price possible application conveyed with a deep, chest-pounding bass of the same driver that lurks in its bigger subs. response. My room shook with a controlled We would all love a detached outbuilding and pulse. The baritone dialogue immediately four Gothams, but it's good to know that in the following this was equally rich and deep. real world, the speed, grip and drop of the W7 In the later rock troll sequence, the sound of heritage can be had for an ‘entry-level’ price. the creatures assembling off ers a huge, scary, Entry-level? Okay, perhaps not. At £2,050, bassy rumble that has you believing you're the E-Sub is at the top end of what many UK surrounded by rolling boulders. The e112 was buyers would ever consider spending on their poised enough to handle the subtle complexity LFE needs. So what does your outlay get you? of the sound design. And in the infamous Let it A lot of power to play with, certainly. This Go tune, there's a monstrous slice of LFE as single 12in woofer has a 750W RMS amplifi er the ice palace is conjured on the mountain. to drive it. And that's just for one of the coils The soundmix intends this to be thunderous – the other also has a 750W RMS amp, and ground-shaking and, while it could have Verdict running on the same switching power supply. been more intense, the e112 managed it fairly So that's 1,500W as potential top power, and whereas some lesser woofers would simply a sub bass system that truly shows a driver- cough apologetically. I was impressed. maker given free rein. The Elysium Blu-ray features a main menu The rear connections bear witness to the that is useful for subwoofer tuning as it has a company's car audio roots, with quick-release bass-heavy soundtrack on a loop. Head from speaker wire connectors on the high-level here to the opening sequence that zooms in on inputs. There are also twin phonos for the habitat of Elysium and the LFE channel is line-level input and output. The control used to shock and awe, with a lengthy section, meanwhile, is mounted on the top descending tone. It made the hair stand up on panel. It's well hidden until you need it, tucked my arms – the weight of pressure crafted by JL Audio E-Sub e112 underneath a weighty piece of coated metal the e112 is impressive yet the control is ➜ £2,050 approx ➜ www.jlaudio.co.uk ➜ 07974 735 998 held in place by magnets. Controls are labelled incredible. When the eff ect fi nishes, the HIGHS: Tremendous power, depth, speed and to be used from above, with you leaning over subwoofer stops like a fl y on glue. grip; excellent room-position tuning features; from the front. Handy, as it saves needing to sensible control placement LOWS: Entry-level yet not cheap; would benefi t get around the back after installation for Long-term, low-frequency investment from simultaneous dual-level inputs occasional adjustment. There are options for JL Audio's newest subwoofer is certainly crossover, master level and (sweepable) costly, but unlike other elements of your Performance phase. The latter, unusually, off ers adjustment AV system you won't have to worry that Design from 0-280 degrees. In combination with the it will be obsolete by this time next year. Features e112's 0/180-degree polarity switch, it allows If you can aff ord it, it's worthy of your for plenty of by-ear fi ne-tuning to get the best consideration. Nice to look at, even better Overall integration between sub and speakers. to hear, and heartily recommended ■

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 60 BENQ W1070+ ➜ Approx £650

BenQ plays the iteration game

The projector brand's re-imagining of last year's W1070 model is hardly revolutionary, but it’s still insanely good value reckons John Archer

AS ITS NAME makes no attempt to hide, the in the sculpting to make it look as if someone AV I n fo BenQ W1070+ projector only improves a little actually cared how the W1070+ looked. on the original, widely-admired W1070. Not While taking in the W1070+’s design, I was PRODUCT: enough, certainly, to justify being given a whole pleased to fi nd a vertical image shifting system Aff ordable single-chip DLP PJ new model number. But with a price tag of under a slide-back panel. This welcome setup with Full HD and 3D only £650, any improvement at all has the aid is often ignored on projectors under £1,000. playback support potential to make the W1070+ a bargain With two HDMIs inputs, an RS-232 system POSITION: of insane proportions. integration port and a 12V trigger output, Towards the lower Despite costing so little, the W1070+ the PJ's connections are pleasing, too. end of BenQ’s home delivers a Full HD resolution from its DLP There are some hookups that mark the entertainment projector range engine; a promising claimed contrast ratio W1070+ out from the original W1070: MHL of 10,000:1; and a high brightness of 2,200 mobile phone playback via an optional dongle PEERS: Optoma HD50; Lumens. It’s also been tuned expressly for and a new wireless HD video transmission BenQ W1080ST home cinema use, too, rather than being system. This latter feature is optional (£250 a re-purposed data projector. as a standalone add-on, or buyable with the projector for £800 all-in). You attach the Angling for acceptance transmitter to your video source and the The W1070+ is pretty enough to sit happily receiver to the projector, so you can send your in a living room environment. Its mainly video wirelessly as far as 30 metres, rather gloss-white fi nish rests attractively alongside than having to cable around your room. The W1070+ off ers an metallic grey highlights around the lens barrel, Another diff erence on the W1070+’s on-body 1.3x zoom and and there are enough artful curves and angles specifi cations sheet is its 2,200 Lumens versus vertical lens shift

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 REVIEWS 61

the W1070’s 2,000 Lumens. This extra lurid colour palette is done full justice, even Specifications luminance aims to boost both colour response during scenes, such as the opening Kaiju and shadow detailing. battle, that feature hyper-colourful graphical 3D: Yes. Active (but glasses are optional) Am intriguing new feature for the W1070+ interfaces. There’s a pop and impact here, 4K: No. 1,920 x 1,080 CONNECTIONS: 2 x HDMI inputs; component is a built-in 10W ‘resonant chamber’ speaker compared to the dullness I've witnessed video input; D-Sub PC port; MHL input; mini-jack array. This works remarkably well, delivering on budget projectors. In fact this is one area audio input; composite video input; USB for a wide, clean, surprisingly dynamic soundfi eld where the W1070+ out-performs the fi rst power supply; RS-232C; 12V trigger output that’s tolerable to listen to. Dare I say it, it's W1070, with its improved brightness giving BRIGHTNESS (CLAIMED): 2,200 ANSI Lumens pretty much a fi rst for the PJ audio world. colours a little extra punch. CONTRAST (CLAIMED): 10,000:1 Of the features the W1070+ shares with its Subtle, shadowy detailing in Pacifi c Rim’s DIMENSIONS: 312(w) x 104(h) x 244(d)mm predecessor, a highlight is the wealth of picture darker scenes, such as those lensed within the WEIGHT: 2.75kg FEATURES: Single-chip DLP projector; Jaeger interiors, is conveyed with aplomb. 6-speed/6-segment colour wheel; Brilliant ‘BenQ continues to The W1070+'s extra brightness achieves this Colour processing; ISF certifi ed; 1.15-1.5 throw without compromising the projector’s black ratio; 40in-235in image; 1.3x optical zoom; response which, while actually the weakest claimed lamp-life of 6,000 hours in SmartEco reign supreme when mode; vertical lens shift; vertical and horizontal element of the W1070+’s picture make-up, keystone adjustment; 28dB fan noise; optional it comes to bigscreen is still convincing considering the price point. wireless HD transmission system The W1070+’s clarity remains almost home entertainment completely intact when there’s lots of motion on the cheap' in the frame – a familiar strength of DLP technology, especially when, as here, calibration tools. These include colour and the six-speed/six-segment colour wheel gamma management and help the unit secure arrangement is good enough to stop moving the endorsement of the Imaging Science skin tones looking fi zzy. Foundation (ISF). You can get deeper black levels and more The W1070+ supports 3D playback, but nuanced colours if you spend quite a chunk you don’t get any of BenQ’s active shutter 3D more on a projector. And occasionally I noticed glasses included for free. traces of the so-called DLP rainbow eff ect, where stripes of pure red, green and blue fl it Sharp-shooter into view over stand-out bright parts of the This mid-sized living room light-cannon is picture. Some are more susceptible than a remarkably accomplished performer for others to this, so you should probably grab its money. HD sources (which is what your a demo if you can. bigscreen diet should solely consist of these The BenQ is less successful in 3D mode, days) look razor-sharp; the stunning levels of Here, the image becomes bizarrely infused detail in my much-loved Pacifi c Rim Blu-ray with red. This isn’t too noticeable during are rendered beautifully. The projector easily bright footage, but during the night-time Kaiju picks out such image minutiae as the battles the sky was endowed with a distracting weathered look to Becket’s aging Jaeger war scarlet tinge. It's unfortunate, because machine. The image doesn’t suff er with stressy elsewhere the W1070+ is a credible 3D edges or excessive grain or dot crawl either, machine, delivering plenty of detail, colour showing the sharpness is natural rather than richness and brightness. forced by processing. A fi nal point to add: the wireless HD Another potent element of the W1070+’s transmitter, if you opt to get it, works fl awlessly images is its colour response. Pacifi c Rim’s in 2D and 3D mode, adding no interference or extra image delay Verdict (I consistently measured input lag at an impressively low, gaming-friendly 34ms).

Object of desire Basically, I'm in love BenQ W1070+ with the W1070+. ➜ £650 Approx ➜ www.benq.co.uk The improvements ➜ Tel: 0906 753 3443 engineered over the HIGHS: Stunning value; good 2D pictures for the already brilliant-value money; cute design; plenty of setup tools LOWS: Curious red tinge to 3D; black levels only W1070 may be slight so-so; occasional traces of rainbow eff ect but they’re all worthwhile, ensuring Performance that BenQ continues to Design reign supreme when it Features comes to delivering genuine bigscreen thrills Overall on the cheap ■

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 62 HDANYWHERE MHUB ➜ Approx £1,000 Return to the matrix

HDanywhere’s mHub matrix is an insanely versatile HDMI over IP distribution solution. Steve May routes his HD hither and thither

diminutive receivers. Each Specifications requires its own power supply, and has an RJ45 VIDEO FORMAT SUPPORT: Full HD 1080p connection, AUDIO FORMAT SUPPORT: PCM; plus IR RX/TX multichannel PCM; Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio bitstream jacks, an HDMI CONNECTIONS (MATRIX): 4 x HDMI inputs; output and 4 x HDMI outputs; 4 x RJ45 Ethernet cable coaxial digital outputs; IR TX/RX control; RS232 and IP control interface audio breakout. You can CONNECTIONS (RECEIVERS): RJ45 Ethernet manually toggle ARC for each receiver. inputs; IR TX/RX; HDMI outputs; coaxial audio WITH A MULTIPLICITY of HD sources Rounding out the package is a small remote outputs fi ghting for ingress into our shiny new TV zapper, and assortment of neatly packaged REMOTE CONTROL: Yes DIMENSIONS (MAIN UNIT): 440(w) x 45(h) x screens, be they in the living room, bedroom power supplies and cables. 200(d)mm or bathroom, managing and distributing them WEIGHT (MAIN UNIT): 1.82kg traditionally presents a challenge. The mHub, Considering confi guration FEATURES: Locking power lead connector; rack-mount ears; 165Mhz processor with an HDMI over IP matrix, presents a powerful Setup takes no time at all. For most the 4.95Gbit/s data rate solution. With it you can route any combination challenge will lie in simply running individual of four sources to any combination of four Ethernet cables to required locations. HDMI-equipped displays, using Cat5e The mHub is versatile when it comes to (and up) cable as the data carrier between confi guration. There are local mirrored HDMI the transmitter and receiver. The system can outputs for each of the four inputs on the deliver Full HD video (up to 60p), with support mHub itself. This means the matrix can also for 3D, at distances rated up to 50m. function as a fancy HDMI switcher for the main HDanywhere, a brand of UK AV and custom viewing location. This local matrix output is install specialist HD Connectivity, is known for available even when routing HDMI over IP from pro distribution products, but every so often the same output to one of the receivers. If you launches kit that straddles the enthusiast want to route sources to display and projector, divide. The mHub is one such, designed for or even diff erent HDMI inputs on your TV professional deployment in smaller custom (maybe to allow users to circumnavigate an install projects, but using technology unlikely AVR), without constantly pulling plugs, you to phase keen AV-holics. can. You can also toggle any of the four inputs As we've come to expect from the marque, for each display output, all controllable at the mHub adopts an unapologetically the display end thanks to those IR repeaters. industrial design. The metal cabinet may The mHub matrix off ers Simple EDID promise longevity, but it'll stick out like a sore management. This applies to each output, thumb in a living room equipment stack. This allowing you to best match the signal to your is primarily intended for racking in a boot room. display devices. For example, I confi gured one Verdict Bolt-on rack ears are supplied in the box. The to deliver multichannel audio (Dolby TrueHD rear panel features four HDMI v1.3 inputs and and DTS-HD MA, bitstream or LPCM) to an AV HDanywhere mHub corresponding display receiver, while two-channel PCM was sent to ➜ £1,000 Approx ➜ www.hdanywhere.co.uk ➜ Tel: 01684 576 348 AV I n fo outputs, comprising a remote display. HIGHS: Versatile 4 x 4 input/output mixing; a single Cat cable and The transmission of HD video is artefact Simple EDID management; lossless audio and video support PRODUCT: HDMI for each of the free; IP-delivered material looks identical to four displays served. source. A variety of motion resolution tests LOWS: Cosmetically industrial; doesn't support 4 x 4 HDMI/IP 4K video; you may need a crib sheet to keep matrix/switcher There's also a quartet delivered via Blu-ray revealed no unwanted track of what’s going where POSITIONING: of matching IR anomalies. The HD video at the display end HDanywhere's send-and-receive is a mirror of what's going in. Performance entry-level minijacks, plus IP When it comes to multi-source HD signal Design multiroom solution and RS232 for bigger distribution, the HDanywhere mHub takes Features PEERS: system integration. some beating. It off ers extreme versatility, is Climax Digital Multiroom HD The mHub pack simple enough to install, and performs well. Overall includes four Can we have one in black plastic please? ■

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 home technology DW\RXU÷QJHUWLSV

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Progressive Audio Visual Ltd 01892 860801 Unit A4 Speldhurst Business Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0AQ progressive-ht.com

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D.I.Y. delight Steve May goes shootin' in 4K

THE 4K HOME video revolution has reached also shoot the consumer camcorder market, with Sony’s AVCHD and fi rst mainstream UHD shooter. The brand XAVCS HD. had touted the FDR-AX1 in 2013, but that was A Dual prosumer kit – this off ering is a good deal Record mode smaller and more aff ordable, priced not much helpfully higher than you would have seen premium records a Hi8 video cameras back in the heyday of tape. more easily In terms of sophistication, this Wi-Fi- distributable enabled camcorder ticks an awful lot of boxes. MP4 version The camera is light at 915g (with its battery simultaneously when So, a neat high-end toy, providing far in place), and the LCD touchscreen is bright recording 4K. greater creative control than your 4K 'phone. and engaging – although you’ll struggle to Handily, playback can be achieved directly You’ll need to invest in a serious SD card, see much here on a sunny day. When it comes from the cam, using a supplied Micro-to-full though – ideally 64GB Class 10 or faster ■ to imaging, the 1.0-type Exmor R CMOS sensor HDMI lead. I connected the camcorder to is gratifyingly sensitive, with the 29mm Zeiss Sony’s VPL-VW1100ES fl agship 4K projector, Vario-Sonnar T* lens wide enough to capture eff ectively creating a home-made digital Verdict televisual vistas. The FDR-AX100 shoots 3,840 cinema ecosystem. The level of recorded fi ne x 2,160, but is capped at 30fps. detail was just jaw-dropping when super-sized, Sony FDR-AX100 ➜ £1,700 4K image quality transpires to be adding new perspectives to even the most exceptional. Footage is captured in XAVCS mundane of subjects. Colour vibrancy was Overall format, with bitrates up to 50Mbps. You can delicious, too.

ECLIPSE TD-M1 ➜ Approx £1,000 Egg-cellent performers We only allowed Adrian Justins one 'egg' pun in this review. And that was it

A GRA ND IS a substantial sum for a pair of inferior DAC and enjoying hi-res FLAC and Sonically, this is a superb system. With a TV desktop speakers but these are no ordinary ALAC fi les), and AirPlay wireless connectivity. it serves up resonant vocals backed up by an monitors. Twelve years in the making, Eclipse's Happy days then for Apple fans, but beautifully well-balanced soundscape. It’s TD-M1s pack a 192kHz/24-bit Wolfson DAC, perhaps not so good for Android users, equally adept with daytime TV shows as more a fi ngernail-sized 50W amplifi er, asynchronous although kit can be hooked up to the USB A complex material, and makes even muttered USB B input (for bypassing your computer’s or 3.5mm aux jacks. Actually, that last input and scrambled dialogue sparkle. Musically, also ensures compatibility with it's perhaps more impressive; Chris Isaak’s any TV headphone output Wicked Game sounds rich, dynamic and and the TD-M1s make sonorous, and pleasingly free from distortion splendid-looking substitutes when cranked up loud. for a soundbar. There's an eff ortless nature here that's hard The speakers themselves not to love. In fact, the TD-M1s have such a sport glass fi bre egg-shaped good performance that the dilemma is enclosures, designed to perhaps which room to put them in ■ minimalise internal standing waves; inside, various anti- Eclipse's iconic vibration tech marries to the single Verdict design should glam full-range driver for an optimised up your room sound signature without Eclipse TD-M1 ➜ £1,000 the need of a crossover or timing worries (hence the Overall Time Domain branding).

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   66 PANASONIC DMR-BWT740 ➜ Approx £500

Panasonic's archiving angel

Panasonic's Smart Blu-ray/HDD Freeview+ HD recorder provides unique fl exibility when it comes to managing your TV intake. Grant Rennell reaches for the remote...

PANASONIC'S 2013 BLU-RA Y/HDD The front fl ips down (automatically when AV I n fo Freeview+ HD recorder, the DMR-BWT735, the disc tray opens) to reveal two more was an impressive PVR, Blu-ray player/burner operating buttons, a USB port and an PRODUCT: and multimedia machine, although some SD card slot. Rear connections include All-in-one BD player/recorder/ functionality clashes counted against it. an RF loopthrough, HDMI output, optical and HDD PVR This year's model, the DMR-BWT740, coaxial digital and stereo phono audio outputs POSITION: shares much of its predecessor's specifi cation, and a Scart input for recording from external Panasonic's top but notable new features are 4K upscaling for equipment. There's also an Ethernet port recording option your Full HD Blu-ray discs, 4K JPEG playback, for networking (Wi-Fi is built-in) and another PEERS: the ability to display content from Miracast- USB port on the rear. Samsung compatible Android mobile devices via the The remote, which was handily able to BD-H8900M; recorder on your fl atscreen, Wi-Fi Direct also control my Panasonic TV, isn't short LG HR939M compatibility and a web browser. It will on buttons, but sensible grouping, use of naturally also play 3D Blu-ray discs and colour and shortcuts make it fairly easy to convert 2D sources to 3D. There's a roomy 1TB use. The box can also be controlled using hard drive onboard, or you can store recordings Panasonic's DIGA Player app for compatible on a USB HDD (although they can't be played iOS and Android devices. on other devices). This combi deck is heavy and rather Recording choices large but looks a little smarter than the The user interface has seen some visual DMR-BWT735, although it's still on the improvements, in particular the Function Menu conservative side in terms of styling. A power where selections zoom in and out attractively. button and one for the disc tray are situated The EPG displays information for Freeview on the top and a large LED display performs channels in a straightforward grid format, multiple functions, such as displaying the sortable in myriad ways, such as showing name of the channel you're watching and HD or only those in a favourites list (of which if you're recording or timeshifting. you can have four). Employ the EPG to set

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 REVIEWS 67

bits or dividing them up. An extensive number On the menu of recordable DVD and Blu-ray formats are catered for with a (quieter but it takes longer) 'normal speed' copying option. Note that you can't record to the HDD while archiving to disc. You can utilise the 1TB drive to pause/ rewind live TV for up to 90 minutes. As a media hub, the DMR-BWT740 allows for fi le playback from a variety of locations: the HDD; SD card; an optical disc; USB drive; or from a networked device via DLNA. There's support for music playlists and a slideshow ➜ Recordings can be accessed and managed in option for photos. Format compatibility is the Direct Navigator menu where they can be broad, although I was unable to stream MKV renamed, protected from deletion, converted and edited. You can also create chapters and fi les from my networked laptop running export them to disc or USB drive. Those which Windows 7. Miracast functionality (you need can only be copied to disc once are fl agged Android 2.2 or higher) can be enabled via the Function Menu. The box can also act as a server, streaming Specifications recordings, including series links (you're video – including live or recorded (SD only) notifi ed if a programme is also available in TV – and photos to networked machines, HDD: 1TB TUNER: Yes. 2 x Freeview HD HD). Alternatively, an attractive online Rovi including compatible TVs and Blu-ray players, MULTIREGION: No. Region B BD/R2 DVD Guide can be used for scheduling. with the DIGA Player app. This worked for my CONNECTIONS: HDMI output; Scart input; Recordings can also be instigated by laptop where the PVR was recognised by optical digital audio output; coaxial digital audio output; stereo phonos; RF loopthrough; hitting record, via a now-and-next 'channel Windows Media Player. Ethernet port; 2 x USB 2.0 ports; SD card slot; information' bar, using a manual timer or, As well as the Rovi Guide and web browser, integrated Wi-Fi if you want to be really clever, via the internet internet apps include Netfl ix, YouTube, BBC UPSCALING: Yes. To 4K (BD) using Panasonic's Remote Recording Service iPlayer, Facebook, Twitter, iConcerts and DIMENSIONS: 430(w) x 59(h) x 238(d)mm approx on a PC, smartphone or tablet. games from PlayJam. The Freetime catchup WEIGHT: 3.3kg service, which Panasonic has successfully FEATURES: Freeview+ HD recorder; BD-R (SL/ Standby for action integrated into a number of its 2014 TVs, DL) BD-RE (SL/DL), DVD-R (SL/DL), DVD-RW, DVD+R (SL/DL), DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, CD-R, Up to two channels can be recorded at once would be a welcome addition here, but is not CD-RW, CD-DA discs supported; 3D Blu-ray from the internal tuners, including while supported. The web browser is relatively easy playback; 2D-3D conversion ability; 7-day playing a recording. You can even record to navigate even from the supplied handset. Freeview EPG; HDD stores up to 259 hours of HD while the player is in standby. Spooky. Flash isn't supported, but that's less of a big or 518 hours of SD DR-quality recordings or 1,724 hours(!) using EP setting; automatic series There are numerous recording modes deal these days. recording; favourites lists; remote recording to consider. The default 'DR' quality setting The tuners generate crisp-looking images scheduling; 90-minute live pause; copy matches that of the original broadcast. from HD and upscaled (to 1080p) SD TV, recordings to disc and USB drives; editing and chapter creation; Smart feature including Netfl ix, Watch-and-wipers who keep a tight rein on which was maintained in DR-quality YouTube, Rovi Guide, Facebook, Twitter, HDD capacity should stick to this. You can recordings. Quality inevitably worsens iConcerts, games, web browser; media playback also choose from less space-intensive HG, when using the lower settings, though DR from USB/SD card/DLNA; 4K JPEG playback; DIGA Player app compatible; Miracast support; HX, HE, HL and HM modes for hi-def or the HD recordings converted to HM are passable. Wi-Fi Direct support standard-def XP, SP, LP and EP. DR recordings Recordings from a Scart-connected Virgin Media TiVo looked acceptable, too. ‘As a media hub, Blu-ray performance also impresses. The sharp textures of Toy Story 3 are woven Verdict the deck caters for without digital hiccup and details in the playback from a variety murkier scenes of Alien shine through. Taking it to task of locations, and acts Frustratingly, as with the DMR-BWT735, multi-tasking is not this machine's strong Panasonic DMR-BWT740 as a server, too' ➜ £500 Approx ➜ www.panasonic.co.uk point. I was unable to make use of the Smart ➜ Tel: 0844 844 3899 can be downconverted to other formats apps, stream media fi les to the box or play HIGHS: Versatile TV recording and disc archiving – for archiving to BD or DVD – while the box them from a USB drive while recording. capabilities; good overall build quality; laden with functions; 4K JPEG playback is in standby, but not while recording or Considering that in this era of series links and LOWS: Not great at multi-tasking; no Flash playing something. multiple channels, we're not always aware support for web browser; chunky design; An estimated 259 hours of HD or 518 hours that our PVR is in action, this is a bit of plethora of recording modes you won't use of SD DR-quality TV can be stored on the HDD a downer. That aside, the modish feature or 1,724 hours of EP-quality recordings. Anyone additions, other 'tweaks' and good build Performance who does that is obviously nuts, though. quality and performance altogether make the Design Accessible via a Direct Navigator menu, the DMR-BWT740 another likeable all-rounder. Features Panasonic allows you to protect and rename However, its appeal is very niche indeed recordings, create chapters (this can be done – unless you're keen to archive TV shows Overall automatically, too) and edit them by deleting to disc there's a lot here you won't need ■

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 68 KLIPSCH R-10B ➜ Approx £500 Totally Klipsch

The US speaker brand was never likely to launch a soundbar/subwoofer combi that would appeal to fashionistas. Adrian Justins ignores the black box design and likes what he hears

The 8in subwoofer connects Specifications wirelessly over the 2.4GHz band DRIVE UNITS: 2 x 3in polypropylene mid-range drivers; 2 x 0.75in textile dome tweeters married to twin Tractrix horns AMPLIFICATION: 100W CONNECTIONS: Digital optical; stereo phono analogue DOLBY TRUEHD/DTS-HD MA: No/No SEPARATE SUB: Yes. 150W, 8in driver REMOTE CONTROL: Yes. DIMENSIONS: 1,015(w) x 105(h) x 71(d)mm WEIGHT: 3.2kg FEATURES: Dolby Digital decoder; Bluetooth wireless audio streaming with apt-X; 1.5m optical cable; rubber feet; wall-mounting template; 3D sound mode; wireless subwoofer that tote slender or angular designs. Not so the R-10B, KLIPSCH’S R-10B SOUNDBAR houses two which measures 10.5cm tall. The wireless 3in mid-range drivers and two 0.75in tweeters sub is probably easier to accommodate. mated to dual Tractrix horns. These horns are fi ltered down from the Klipschorn, a legendary Ready to rumble high-end fl oorstander which has been in There’s nothing worse than a soundbar that continuous production for over 60 years. Yet needs constant tinkering to get the best out of while the R-10B might wow you with its sonic it. Luckily, you can hardly tinker with the R-10B, technology, visually it’s a diff erent story. It looks and nor do you need to. Clarity and detail are about as cutting-edge as a rubber knife. the order of the day, especially with vocals The woofer and 'bar do feel solidly built, and other mid-range sounds, and the woofer though, which is arguably more important. The is the perfect Torvill to the soundbar’s Dean. main unit is hewn from satin black plastic with In Ice Age 4’s DTS-HD MA soundtrack, a steel mesh grille. There’s no display window, scenes where the landscape breaks up are just a series of buttons and an LED. The basic underpinned by rich, resonant, controlled controls are duplicated on a mini remote. creaking, and when Scrat plummets to Earth The soundbar’s maximum power output is he lands with a meaty thud. Explosions and rated at 100W, whilst the sub, which has an 8in sonic booms won’t rattle your chandeliers but side-fi ring driver, maxes out at 150W. There are the rumble of thunder and roar of a sabretooth no DSP modes to play with but the R10-B tiger are a vast improvement over a TV’s sports Dolby Digital decoding and CD-quality speakers, and as the gang sledge down a apt-X Bluetooth audio streaming. Socketry mountain you can pick out the individual voices comprises digital against the musical score and whoosh of the Verdict optical and stereo sledge on the snow. Scenes such as this, which AV I n fo phonos, so no HDMI have a broad dynamic range and multiple, Klipsch R-10B ➜ £500 Approx ➜ www.klipsch.co.uk and only one digital varied eff ects, are coherently presented, with HIGHS: Balanced, distortion-free sound; well PRODUCT: input. You'll use your Klipsch's horn-loaded tweeters admirably integrated (and wireless) subwoofer; Bluetooth Soundbar/ TV as a hub. lending impact to the high frequencies. streaming subwoofer combi LOWS: Dull design; limited socketry including Plenty of The bar’s 3D mode is a waste of time and POSITION: zilch HDMI inputs; sizeable form could make Below the R20B, soundbars are quite unnecessary as the R-10B has a very good installation awkward which off ers a larger mounted on a table sonic dispersion. Sit almost anywhere with woofer and top or some kind of a view of the screen and you're catered for. Performance additional drivers rack or stand, where Overall, the R-10B may not be the most Design PEERS: they risk partially exciting product to look at or use but it delivers Features Q Acoustics Media 4; blocking the TV the sonic goods with panache and is ideal for Bose Cinemate 1SR; Sonos PlayBar screen. Hence the a small to medium-sized viewing room. On the Overall fashion for models pricey side, though ■

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4K for the everyman?

Philips continues to show John Archer its new wallet-friendly side with this strikingly aff ordable UHD TV, but with some corners cut along the way this 55-incher is hard to recommend

PHILIPS HASN’T TRA DITIONALLY high-spec a Philips TV as you can get. The back of the AV I n fo been a brand associated with extreme value, handset has a QWERTY And the question therefore becomes: does at least with its relatively top-end sets keyboard for Smart apps this mid-range model have anything going PRODUCT: – Korean and Japanese brands for it beyond its price tag? Aff ordable 4K TV with Ambilight have often released fl agship models that manage to Hey, good lookin' POSITION: Currently the most undercut Philips' range-toppers First impressions bode well. The 55PUS7809 top-end TV we’re in terms of price. However, as off ers a slim bezel that still manages to look getting from Philips testament to how focused the characterful and robust courtesy of a glossy in the UK revamped marque is on re-establishing black fi nish off set by a metallic outer trim. PEERS: itself as a major player, the 55PUS7809 And the desktop stand is a common- Sony 55X8505; launched at only £1,500. And it's a 4K model, sense design that will work seamlessly Samsung UE55HU7500 making it the cheapest 55in 4K TV I’ve tested with your AV furniture. to date. Then there’s Ambilight, There are other more expensive 4K screens Philips' proprietary and pouring forth from the company's factory engaging technology that – the 8000 and 9000 series – but it's not yet casts coloured light pools clear whether these will ever be on sale in the – potentially matched in UK. At the moment, the 55PUS7809 is as tone and position to the

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 REVIEWS 71

pictures being watched – from the TV’s left unnaturally brighter than others. And the On the menu and right sides. It's a clever feature that you're provided dynamic backlight system, which likely to leave on. you might consider employing in pursuit of The 55PUS7809’s connectivity is deep blacks, is infuriatingly unsubtle. problematic, though. The quantity of sockets Yet in other ways the 55PUS7809 is a great is good (there are four HDMI inputs, three USB performer for its price. It delivers the eye- ports and wired and wireless network options) opening detail expected from a UHD/4K but the HDMIs don’t provide version 2.0 screen, with native 2,160p sources appearing support. So they can’t play 4K at higher so pixel-packed and clean that you almost frame rates than 30fps. forget they’re TV pictures at all. It's also a fi ne That’s not the only 4K shortcoming, upscaler of Full HD sources, remapping even either. The lack of any HEVC decoders in the gritty content like my 300 Blu-ray to its 4K ➜ Philips' Smart hub sports a fuss-free design, 55PUS7809 means it can’t play Netfl ix’s 4K resolution cleanly and thoughtfully. with app icons arranged in a grid. Some key streams – as well as, most likely, streams from Action scenes and sports footage reveal video-on-demand services – ITV Player, for instance – are missing, and the Netfl ix other upcoming UHD internet services. Given better-than-expected motion handling. app doesn't support 4K as the TV has no There’s minimal reduction in the intense HEVC decoder ‘This TV serves up the sharpness over moving objects, meaning the 4K 'eff ect' remains intact and consistent. rich hues of Spider- The cleanest motion is achieved using the Specifications TV’s Natural Motion processing. But I’d Man's costume with recommend against this, as it can create 3D: Yes. Passive (four pairs of glasses supplied) 4K: Yes. 3,840 x 2,160 the right combination processing artefacts that detract from the TUNER: Freeview HD whole experience. CONNECTIONS: 4 x HDMI (v1.4); component Colour performance is fi ne. The video; 3 x USB; integrated Wi-Fi; Ethernet; Scart; of punch and subtlety' D-Sub PC port; CI slot; optical digital audio 55PUS7809 serves up the rich hues of output; stereo analogue audio input the current dearth of 4K sources beyond IPTV, Spider-Man’s costume with just the right SOUND: 25W this lack of HEVC support is a major downer. combination of punch and subtlety, ensuring BRIGHTNESS: N/A There is a solution in the shape of Philips’ that despite the dynamism of the suit’s colours CONTRAST RATIO: N/A DIMENSIONS (OFF STAND): 1,232(w) x UHD 880 media player, which is due to launch you can still see all the tiny shifts in tone that 710(h) x 35(d)mm early in 2015 for around £250. But while make it look real rather than cartoonish. WEIGHT (OFF STAND): 19.5kg this will support HEVC streaming, it won’t If 3D is still a big deal to you then the FEATURES: Two-sided Ambilight; Pixel Precise Ultra HD processing; 600Hz-emulating Natural overcome the 55PUS7809’s 30fps 4K 55PUS7809 is a superb option, with Motion processing; IPS panel; ISF certifi cation; limitation. And it takes a shine off the TV's stereoscopic images that combine vivid colour management system; DLNA/USB media price-based appeal. colours, high brightness levels, an almost total fi le playback; Smart hub; USB recording/pause The Smart features here are rather limited, freedom from crosstalk ghosting noise and a live TV; QWERTY remote control; Quad Core processor; Miracast screen mirroring; 2D-3D including only a few of the key video streaming good sense of space that’s extremely eff ective conversion services I look for. It's fair to say I can’t wait for with Spider-Man 2’s New York vistas. And the Philips to launch its Android TVs in Blighty. 4K panel helps retain a level of sharpness and detail with Full HD BDs that regular passive Calibration options screens can't provide. The TV's picture specifi cation highlights are Sonically, this slinky 55-incher performs a claimed motion handling rate of 600Hz, quite well. With the Spidey fl ick, it reproduces Verdict and Philips' Micro Dimming Pro system, which the blockbuster soundtrack with plenty of evaluates the image as thousands of separate distortion-free volume, good treble detailing blocks prior to picture processing. You also and well-rounded vocals. The catch is that get a huge list of adjustment options for heavy bass content swamps the audio band, calibration, including colour management to the detriment of other frequencies. tools and control over most aspects of the brand's Pixel Precise Ultra HD video processing First-gen off ering engine. The TV is certifi ed by the ISF. The 55PUS7809 is an interesting fl atscreen. The use of an IPS-type LCD panel means In some aspects it performs admirably given colours and contrast hold up well from wide its price point, even though it's another Philips 55PUS7809 ➜ £1,500 Approx ➜ www.philips.co.uk viewing angles. However, contrast is less example of an IPS-based model that has ➜ Tel: 020 7949 0319 impressive. During the sequence in The a middling contrast performance. HIGHS: Sharp UHD and HD pictures; rich Amazing Spider-Man 2 where Spidey and It will no doubt catch the eye of those but subtle colours; neat and tidy design; aff ordable price Electro fi ght at night in an electrical substation, looking for an aff ordable 4K upgrade, too. LOWS: Black levels aren’t great; care needs to dark parts of the picture appear noticeably However, in this regard, it's very much a be taken with some processing options; no HEVC grey. There’s also a shortage of shadow detail fi rst-gen off ering at a time when rival brands 4K support; no HDMI 2.0 ports in these murky backgrounds, which serves are well into their second stage of UHD to fl atten the image and reduce the sense development. The addition of Philips' Performance of scale the fi ght sequence should off er. forthcoming media player will work around the Design Skip to shots where Electro’s bright, glowing HEVC defi ciency – at a cost – but the lack of Features face and body stand against the night sky and HDMI 2.0 support will be a bigger concern for there are noticeable areas of backlight those with an eye on future 4K Blu-ray and Overall clouding, where some parts of dark areas look (especially) broadcast TV platforms ■

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The buzz created around product launches from Apple leads to customers queuing up to buy. Mark Craven wonders if the same will ever be said about 4K Blu-ray

APPLE SURE KNOWS how to launch a product, boiled hacks behaving like tweens at a One Direction doesn't it? Back in September, its triple-release of concert. I may try the same approach at the next two new phones and a Smart Watch dominated unveiling of an HDMI switcher.) the webpages of the gadget press, and even some of the front pages of the broadsheets, too. Embrace the hype The iPhone 6 Plus, in particular, was everywhere, So here's an idea – the brains behind 4K Blu-ray generating more column inches than the front should adopt the same strategy. This is, after all, aspect of the Acropolis despite being, essentially, big news in tech terms. 4K Blu-ray will revamp Apple's version of a plethora of other largescreen a format that has been adopted by hundreds handsets that have been out for a couple of years. of millions of people. So it should conduct a lavish Why does the Californian corporation garner worldwide same-date launch, away from CES, such excitement? For a variety of reasons, certainly. CEATEC, IFA or any other tech show. Perhaps from The obvious one is that its eco-system is huge a shiny televised platform in Hollywood, with The – the number of people using an iOS device is into Rolling Stones on hand to sing Start Me Up while the hundreds of millions, so when an update is the 4K BD deck is booting, and an announcement announced, it's major news for planet Earth. that software and hardware will go on sale the very But there's another big reason why its launches next day. are so successful, and that's simply because it puts None of this will actually happen, of course. in a lot of eff ort, turning them into an event in their Mainly because the Blu-ray Disc Association has own right. already jumped the gun and announced the new Apple doesn't grace global tech shows with its format will arrive. So from now until it eventually presence. It could have announced its new hardware surfaces, you can expect a drip-feed of information, at the earlier IFA show, which is where Samsung arriving from all manner of places, which will then outed its Galaxy Note 4 'phablet', but it chooses be pulled apart and analysed by AV commentators, to go it alone. 'We're better than the rest,' Apple to the point when the fi rst players hit shop shelves is saying. And while the leaks come, the company – probably before any discs have arrived – and the never confi rms before the day what it will be overriding feeling is one of massive ennui. launching. An Apple event is treated as Surely 4K technology is a Big Thing? Not as big a tech surprise (with U2 thrown in for as a new smartphone (oddly, if you ask me) but still good measure) so that when it fi nally big enough to be treated as such. The forthcoming In pursuit of happens, the excitement has reached Blu-ray upgrade, if it's to capture public and press platform fairness fever pitch. And the launch itself is supremely excitement and wrestle some of the initiative away Mark Craven slick, streamed globally over the 'net to its fans and from streaming services, needs to be launched with uses an Apple laptop, Windows with an audience of rabid tech journos whooping some real razzmatazz. And to help out, I would even PC and Android and clapping from the seats. give it a standing ovation ■ phone. And buys (As an aside, this is the oddest thing about an blackberry-fl avour Have you ever queued up to buy new tech? cough sweets Apple launch – supposedly brand-neutral hard- Let us know: email [email protected]

JESSICAKIRSH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 74 OPINION

Revisiting Ghostbusters on Blu-ray helps Anton van Beek rediscover the power of the traditional matte painting…

SINCE THE WIDESPREAD adoption of digital Just look at the image taken from Ghostbusters visual eff ects during the 1990s, several fi lmmaking that appears at the top of this article. Painted by arts have essentially fallen by the wayside. The celebrated special eff ects artist Matthew Yuricich most notable for me is the demise of the matte (who worked on some 70 fi lms, including The Robe, painting – a technique used to combine a piece of Ben-Hur, Blade Runner and Die Hard) it depicts an live-action footage of a limited scale with a more exterior shot of the damage done to Dana's expansive, or ornate, painted background or apartment as the movie's four heroes enter it. foreground. This was a method used to create epic If this shot was being created today in an entirely vistas that otherwise couldn't be achieved without digital workspace, I have no doubt that it would be a bankrupting the studio. spectacularly rendered cityscape packing in masses Part of the fi lmmaking process since the earliest of intricate detail. However, while Yuricich's painted days of cinema, the matte painting was traditionally matte also sells that epic sense of scale, by done directly on to a large sheet of glass, which departing from absolute realism it has even greater would be positioned in front of the camera; an impact. By pushing the perspective slightly beyond unpainted space left on the glass is where the the norm, Yuricich's matte heightens the unnatural live-action material would be visible. The camera feeling of what we’re looking at. This feeling is aided would then capture both elements while fi lming, further by the use of unusual pink highlights combining them into a single image on the negative. elsewhere in the cityscape – a colour that Unsurprisingly, the arrival of computer Ghostbusters regularly linked to supernatural events. technology has led to this notion of painted mattes being ditched entirely in favour of 100 per cent Artifi ciality vs reality digital composites. And why not, when this advance These days, the quest for photo-realism in visual in processing power clearly off ers greater fl exibility eff ects seems to have trumped everything else. to fi lmmakers? Why would anyone spend And while the inherent fakeness of a painted matte ages repainting an image by hand could be used to give a shot more emotional depth when they could just hit 'Undo' on a (just look at 'Pop' Day's exquisite mattes for Black drop-down menu on their computer? Narcissus), the all-too clinical and 'realistic' nature However, to my eyes it has also removed some of of most digital mattes off er little beyond visual the artistry from the matte eff ect. I’m not disputing spectacle. Furthermore, the chance of fi nding any that there is an inherent artistic talent needed in the trace of the artists themselves in the fi nished VFX Anton van Beek creation of a digital matte, but I do feel that they shots is simply nonexistent. may only live in a frequently comes across as looking rather soulless. Personally, I think this is a real shame. At least the smallscale fl at, By contrast, what I love most about old-school existence of Blu-ray allows me to savour the painted but thanks to a matte painting on painted mattes were the minor imperfections mattes of older fi lms in greater clarity and detail a pair of glasses, and the artistic license that was sometimes taken than I ever felt possible ■ it always looks to heighten the visual and emotional impact of a like a Georgian Do you have any favourite visual eff ects shots from fi lms? townhouse to him specifi c shot. Let us know: email [email protected]

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014

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facebook.com/uk.yamaha.av http://uk.yamaha.com OPINION 77

The insider

After a fl ying visit to the CEDIA Expo, Martin Dew sticks up for the precision and 'how do they do that?' nature of American design and engineering

SOME YEARS AGO, The Sunday Times ran an home cinema kit with such studied precision and excellence-in-design feature on the last page of its attention to detail. I think the US draws a short colour supplement. The Seattle-born Boeing 747 straw sometimes on a fractious and cynical was one of its nominees and the writer cited, as two world stage, so I will go out on a limb here and of its chief attributes, a passenger cabin ambience unashamedly give up a high-fi ve to our trans- reminiscent of '5-star hotels', but best of all, on Atlantic friends. its exterior, a 'friendly face like a St. Bernard dog'. Now, we don’t normally associate design Some like it hot sophistication with America – the words 'big' I feel I must weigh in on Richard Stevenson’s recent and 'brash' tend to be thrown around a bit – but Point of View column about watching movies as someone pointed out to me recently, 'casual during a Summer heatwave, because he surely elegance' is where the country’s architects excel. has it lucky. I cancelled a number of my Wednesday And nor do we necessarily think of the US as a hub movie nights during July, August and September, of great engineering prowess. simply because not even my air-conditioner could While gazing out of the window from my seat compete with the intense heat radiating from my on a Boeing 737 bound for the CEDIA Expo in equipment rack. In September, the temperature Denver, my fi eld of view was fi lled by a General here in the San Fernando Valley was nudging 110°F Electric engine riveted so assuredly to its wing via (er… that’s 43°C, folks). Combine that with an a massive, oversized pylon, that I wondered in awe Epson projector that blasts Vesuvian exhaust gases at the laboured processes that must have been onto my guests’ heads, fan-cooled power amps required to turn the beast into reality. And arriving that will still remove the skin from your fi ngers at the tech show, I saw so many small to mid-size if you touch them accidentally, and an Integra American companies – still alive and well after an processor that should read 'Fry eggs here' on the unforgiving and fl at-lining recession – committed to grate of the chassis, and you have a recipe for the very same design and build ethics. There is a discomfort. I did affi x a low-profi le Middle Atlantic legacy of quality that has driven fan to that steamy area of my pre-amp, but now it America’s massive consumer just redirects scorching air on to my wall-mounted electronics market for years. It's just Darblet, which itself could double as a travel-size rarely talked about. hot water bottle. Two small home-grown companies particularly As we upgrade and add equipment to our home UK-born Martin grabbed my attention. Both Paul Brownlee, director cinemas, more and more attention needs to be paid Dew trained as an of operations at Parasound, and Ted Moore, to management of heat, cables and power. At a actor but ended co-founder of Acurus, talked me proudly through push, I'd say that’s also what makes our hobby fun, up working for Lucasfi lm THX and their off erings of mouth-watering and beautifully- but sometimes I'd still swap the Californian weather then NEC in the rendered power amplifi ers and processors. Neither for the drizzle of Blighty... ■ US. Now, though, organisation can boast more than a handful of he's back in front Does the design and styling of your AV hardware matter? of the camera employees, yet they manufacture middle/high-end Let us know: email [email protected]

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 78 DemoPad: Smart control for all?

With its do-it-yourself interface design and iDevice compatibility, DemoPad off ers a tempting gateway to intelligent system operation to those on a tight budget. Or does it? Richard Stevenson investigates

YOU HAVE JUST got to love touchscreen devices already. So how do you set about turning controllers. Long before we had tablets and phablets, the humble iPad into a giant universal remote control the likes of Crestron and AMX were sticking LCD for your AV and home automation system screen controllers on the walls and coff ee tables without spending a fortune? What you need of well-heeled gadget fans. These enable you to be is a programmable app, like iRule, Roomie, master of your whole-house custom AV, lighting, Commandfusion or DemoPad, and some method heating and home automation systems from the of getting your iPad to interface with devices that comfort of your sofa. Proper big boys' toys, they are normally controlled by IR signals, RS232 serial are excellent. But excellence doesn’t come cheap. commands, 12V triggers, RF, or IP signals over Doubly so as the setup and programming of such Ethernet cable. systems is practised only by fully qualifi ed and Having messed about with plenty of bargain- certifi ed installers. priced control apps, I came to DemoPad. It seemed DemoPad uses an iOS device – ideally an iPad – for touchscreen control. In the age of the smartphone and iPad, you to tick all the boxes and be less prone to hissy-fi ts. Currently, Android isn't an option probably have several full-colour LCD touchscreen Okay, it’s £27.99 rather than free to start with, but it has a professional feel and you don’t need to go down the in-app purchase route to make it work. I had already sourced some Wi-Fi to IR and Wi-Fi to RS232 interfaces from Global Cache when DemoPad announced its Centro8 control centre. This box of tricks takes Wi-Fi commands from your iPad via your router and outputs control signals to 16 individually addressable IR ports, four RS232 ports, four contact closures and hardwired Ethernet. And this made the DemoPad system the obvious choice to seamlessly control of all my AV and home cinema components. It was the one controller to rule them all and in the darkness bind them. That was the theory anyway. At home, the reality was far more Mordor than a Bag End bash. The sheer man-hours invested in learning, understanding and programming the system, the head-scratching and internet-surfi ng, evolved over time into abject frustration. The complexities of programming any home control system make for a steep and very tall learning curve. What I needed was a certifi ed

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 TECH FOCUS 79

DemoPad installer. Better still, I needed to become DemoPad is programmed on the company’s a certifi ed DemoPad installer... DemoDesign PC software and the result is pushed Strings were pulled with industry contacts and to your iOS device as a working interface. This allows I was duly booked on Stage One of DemoPad’s you to make changes on the PC then test what Certifi ed Installer Programme, courtesy of AV and works and how it looks on the controller separately. DemoPad trade distributor, Alltrade. Based in Hove There is no Mac software or Android app at present in East Sussex, the course didn’t get much past the but several (real) custom installers on the course opening introductions and coff ee before otherwise- were using Macs running Parallels Windows confusing pieces of the DemoPad programming emulator successfully. The DemoDesign software system began to fall neatly into place. It’s certainly easier when you have someone who knows what ‘You probably already they are doing in the room. have a full-colour Taking it one step at a time The workfl ow of setting up DemoPad and building touchscreen device your controller is relatively straightforward if you take it in small steps. Lots of small steps. For the training – what you need is a session we used an Apple TV device and Sky box. programmable app' These are two tricky products to integrate into a controller system because, without jailbreaking uses a tab-based architecture and there are some them, neither provides an IP control interface so subtle yet important diff erences between the home you have to use IR remote control codes. We used a user version and the certifi ed installer version, too. Centro8 controller with two of its IR outputs running One of the key features being an ‘auto-size’ function cables with ‘magic eyes’ stuck over the IP input of in the pro version which allows your controller build each. Imagining a rack of equipment with IR control to work on diff erent-sized iOS devices automatically. cables dangling from the front of each component, Then the fun begins. In the software you start by you can understand why installers often hide the addressing the corresponding port numbers of your kit away. IP interface and direct IP-controlled products.

The CI-friendly Centro8 features 16 assignable IR outputs and a quartet of RS232 ports

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 80 DEMOPAD

Planet of the Apps... Check out these DemoPad alternatives

My AV Pro This Android app is available from the Google Play store for a tempting fee of £4.99, and in particular targets AV receiver owners looking for a control solution that also handles their TV, BD player and set-top box. Uses IP control. Visit www.myav.co.uk for details of device compatibility. iRule A free app for Android and iOS, this DemoPad rival requires the additional iRule Builder, which is DemoPad's user interface is free for 30 days but commands a fully customisable fee thereafter. Plenty of fl exibility here, including IP, IR and RS232 Finding out what the port numbers are is the fi rst subpages that successfully covered the basic control, but to get the best out challenge. Most domestic network products use port functions of an Apple TV and Sky box. It was far of it you're advised to call in a pro. 80, most serial devices use port 23 and the majority from pretty and I had not got close to looking into Roomie of Global Cache and Keene IP interfaces use port the functionality of the Centro8, which can create Available for Apple touchscreen 4998. Outside of those you are left trying to pin macros of commands and automate features based devices only, this universal control down the port number by mapping your network on time of day or sequences. So, for example, you app starts with a basic £6.99 fee for drive or Googling the answer. could power up the AVR and projector, dim the lights control of two IP devices. Additional From here you set up a home page with a number and drop the screen automatically as soon as you in-app purchases improve its scope. of buttons that access subpages, each of which press play on the Blu-ray controller page. Updated regularly, Roomie off ers acts as a control page for your individual devices. If you were to build DemoPad controllers on support for Sonos, iTunes and The standard home pages are fairly basic but you a daily basis they would certainly get better with Kaleidescape media guides as well have the option to go for complete customisation experience – so a professional will be way ahead as a wide range of hardware. if you have the time and artistic skills. The software of you in that regard, and likely to have designs for an provides a raft of downloadable icons for key devices array of popular devices already. Moreover, DemoPad (TV, BD deck, AVR, projector etc) under various off ers a much extended library of graphics and graphics themes, but you can just as easily use your devices for certifi ed programmers and their private own JPEG or PNG images. PNG off ers better colours forum is full of installers happy to mutually exchange and transparent backgrounds, so is the graphics complete build pages. Given the gorgeous graphics format of choice here. and customisation of some of the projects I've seen, On each subpage you then build a replica (or I know I am never likely to achieve such design merit variation if it takes your fancy) of the remote control on my own. you are trying to emulate. For both the Sky box and Apple TV there are suites of icons available that look The choice is yours remarkably like the original remote buttons. You Yes, DemoPad is available to D.I.Y. installers and place each button where you like on the subpage enthusiasts, but unless you have a lot of time, an and then allocate a command code artistic fl air and unfl appable patience, to it. DemoPad off ers a device library the result probably won't as slick and of codes for popular devices, as does polished as the images on this page. the Logitech Harmony website, for Sadly these are not my eff orts but example. If you have a few Hokey- the work of experienced DemoPad Kokey 2000 products in your system installers. My Sky box page looked like then you may need to look to the ‘My First Remote Control’ and lacked manufacturer for help. If that fails, many functions of the original physical then for devices controlled by IR you device. So if I have one take-home can learn the IR codes, button by message from the DemoPad training button, using a device such as Global course, it is that a good programmer Cache’s GC-IRE IR Extender. is worth every penny of their fee. By all After a long day in the training means try the D.I.Y. option fi rst, but be D.I.Y. installers are catered for by the DemoDesign software and course I had a fairly dull ‘off -the-shelf’ prepared to swallow your pride and free online tutorials -style front-end controller with two get a pro onboard ■

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014

82 READER'S ROOM 'It's a 4D cinema...' HCC reader Ryan McDonald describes his setup as an 'extreme budget home theatre.' But while cobbled together on a shoestring, it also proves there's no substitute for passion

AV-HOLIC RYAN MCDONALD hails from 'I should explain that I have no manual skills Cash-strapped Ryan McDonald has Northern Ireland, possesses a fi endish sense and even fewer fi nancial resources. I cleaned assembled his AV of humour, and is the proud owner of this and painted the roof and walls and put spare array for a cost cinema setup that oozes budget charm. carpet down. I bought a Panasonic projector of just £250 It illustrates that you don't need mega-bucks from Gumtree for £60, a Philips surround to enjoy bigscreen, surround sound thrills. sound DVD system for £20 (which I used In fact, you don't even need more than a few as an amp as the DVD element was broken) The magic happens hundred quid if you have a spare shed in and connected an Alba DVD player. I got inside this the garden. a wonderful shelving system from IKEA for uninsulated corrugated iron shed 'I am lucky,' says Ryan. 'To the jealousy of £17 and a Sony PlayStation 2.' many readers I have a dedicated space for my Ryan's devotion to lost-cost home home cinema, detached from the house and entertainment was helped when he acquired out of reach of the kids. I have a large shed/ a tripod projector screen for free. Everything garage (18ft x 10ft) with the windows blacked was then plugged via an extension block into out. That really is where the jealousy will one socket. 'This looks like it was fi tted in end, though.' 1954,' says Ryan. 'And the entire cinema room The garage was previously full of 'other is tastefully lit by sophisticated 1980s shop people’s junk' and used for storage. But at the fl oor fl uorescent strip-lighting.' end of 2012, Ryan started to clear it out and prepared to realise his life-long dream of Blu-ray, come what may having a dedicated cinema room. But there Since the initial makeover, Ryan has upgraded were always fi nancial considerations at play. the AV: 'I have been lucky with my Gumtree

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 AV-HOLIC 83

trawls to manage to replace my projector The shed is still being used for some with an Epson EB S02 for £70 and grab storage, so there are dartboards, printers, an LG Blu-ray surround sound system for £45. bicycles, tents and camping gear creeping Both have been superb, but as the projector into the cinema experience. The addition is not HD I am not enjoying the full benefi ts of another baby has also meant the shed is of the Blu-ray deck!' being called up to accommodate anything An HD TV is out of the question. 'I am in the house surplus to requirements. Ryan Before decking out the shed with sofa and chairs, AV equipment and TV and fi lm posters, Ryan had to clear getting to the stage where I am wary to remains stoic: 'On the plus side I have inherited away some other bits and bobs... fork out on an HD TV in fear that they are a footstool and coff ee table.' about to go out of fashion. I long for an HD projector but just can't justify the spend and Perfect for chillers Woman in Black. But some of that 4D feeling no one is selling cheap second-hand ones Ryan counts The Dark Knight as his current has been lost since one of his neighbours for under £200.' favourite disc in terms of all-round cinematic 'selfi shly' cut down the 25ft tree. 'However, So 4K defi nitely isn't on the agenda then? fl air, but exactly how often does this fi lm they are now able to enjoy all of the screams 'I am encouraged by the emergence of 4K, but fanatic make use of the space? Not as much and roars from my subwoofer without the as he would like. 'I am only able to use the tree blocking any noise. I was surprised that ‘Watching The Thing, cinema for a few months as I cannot aff ord the tree came down without crushing my to insulate the walls and roof or put up timber-frame garage.' set in the snow, with plasterboard. For around nine months And he still gets another level of interaction. of the year it is freezing out there.' 'As the garage isn't used for half of the year freezing draughts But he does brave the elements it does attract some creatures. Imagine sometimes, with interesting results. 'Watching watching Arachnophobia with spiders literally surrounding me, the 1982 The Thing set in the snow with coming out of the woodwork. I am planning was breathtaking' freezing draughts surrounding me was quite to watch Showgirls soon and fi ngers crossed literally breathtaking. Twister, although not for the same features...' ■ intrigued on how this compares with the a great movie, was equally enjoyable as capabilities of my ZX Spectrum, which several times I thought the corrugated iron boasted 48k over 30 years ago,' he jokes. roofi ng was going to lift off with the real-life Be in HCC! Ryan had also managed to source two sets winds echoing around.' EMAIL US: If you want to share your home of double cinema seats for £30 each, originally Ryan also says that trees scraping on the cinema setup with other readers, email a from a commercial cinema. However, he external walls, birds and cats running along selection of hi-res pictures (including one admits he had underestimated the size and the roof and his neighbour's dog howling of yourself if you want) to letters@ had to move them on. 'At least I was able to provided a '4D' experience for horror movies homecinemachoice.com with the subject heading 'AV-Holic', and we'll be in touch. help someone else build their dream room...' such as The Haunting, The Descent and The

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE ADVERTISEMENT Home cinema Which sort of visual system do you go for? Projector and screen, or plasma, LCD or LED TV? 3D or non-3D?

Choosing a home cinema system of a decent 2-channel hi-fi amp, which is selected and installed on a DIY basis (that is a potential minefield that must not that easy to find. Having an amp with is without professional input) are be negotiated with great care or the right inputs for the best connectivity is performing at way below their optimum essential but you will also need to decide level. To compound matters, most are also safely avoided by letting experts on a 5.1 or 7.1 speaker system, passive or ill-matched to the room in which they are guide you. If you want to end up active sub and, crucially, where they will installed and are, in reality, the wrong with a system that, as a minimum, be sited for the best results. In short, it’s system. Without considerable knowledge meets your expectations in terms complicated and very fertile ground for or experience, high quality home cinema of picture and sound quality, getting it wrong. is not a suitable DIY activity. Our aim must reading magazine product reviews be to buy a home cinema system that will and choosing the recommendations, Achieving potential provide an excellent picture quality plus an audio delivery that will match, or even five-star favourites or best buys To select a system, you could choose a better, the commercial cinema experience. can only ever be part of the answer collection of ‘Best Buy’ components in the It must be exciting, reliable and deliver hope that they will be a great combination. at best. Looking for the cheapest true value for money. price and having a system Maybe, but probably not. You could buy a delivered to your door, even with a pre-packaged all-in-one system from one ‘knowledgeable’ friend to help set it manufacturer. This is almost certainly not the best route either, as you will miss out up, is a well-trodden path to on enormous potential. From informal disappointment. surveys conducted, it appears highly likely that the majority of home cinema systems There is a bewildering choice of components on the market today and also Home cinema different ways in which components can be installed and connected together. so good you’ll believe Which sort of visual system do you go for? Projector and screen, or plasma, LCD or you’re “ there! LED TV? 3D or non-3D? Full 1080p capability is now the only sensible choice but the appropriate source components, such as a Blu-ray player, need to be part of the equation. The sound performance of a system is ” also hugely important, even more so if you will be listening to music, or music DVD’s, through the same system. If so, you need an amp that approaches the performance

Selecting and installing home cinema on a DIY basis may leave the system performing at way below its optimum level. Confused ? What and Where to buy Getting the best deal To ensure a home cinema system is right Unless you’ve got money to burn, you’ll for you, where do you start? Here’s an be living with your new system for years. important tip …don’t start with WHAT, start Most of these dealers offer much longer with WHERE. There’s only one way to give equipment guarantees than provided by yourself the best chance of getting it right the manufacturer, a very worthwhile first time, and that’s through a specialist benefit, but it also makes it in the dealer’s AV dealer. It’s possible you have interest to ensure high build quality and preconceived ideas that put you off visiting reliability. Maybe you could save a few one. Although you would welcome the pounds by buying piecemeal but you’ll The Dealers listed below have been advice and guidance, you don’t know the lose out on the overall package. As far as selected because they are known to do technical jargon. You don’t want to be the dealers are concerned, they believe an excellent job in guiding customers talked down to. Your friend has said they that taking care of their customers towards home cinema systems that only sell expensive gear and they’re not properly is a far better way of doing will provide years of superlative interested if you don’t have a big budget. business than just handing over boxes. performance and total satisfaction. They’re expensive. These are just myths. Most specialist AV dealers are running Our Top20 AV shops in the country their business because, above all, home cinema is their hobby. They spend a large SOUTH N1 GRAHAMS HI-FI portion of their time comparing systems to Chelmsford 190a New North Road. 020 7226 5500 get the best possible results. They know RAYLEIGH HI-FI SOUND & VISION www.grahams.co.uk the component combinations which don’t 216 Moulsham Street. 01245 265245 SW11 ORANGES & LEMONS gel together and, conversely, they know www.rayleighhifi.com 61-63 Webbs Road, Battersea. the combinations which give the best Kingston-upon-Thames 020 7924 2040 performance within a given price range. INFIDELITY www.oandlhifi.co.uk Very importantly, they know how to get a 9 High Street, Hampton Wick. system working to its optimum. But they all 020 8943 3530 MIDLANDS also know the system must suit you. www.infidelity.co.uk Coventry Maidenhead FRANK HARVEY HI-FI EXCELLENCE Buying or being sold to? AUDIO VENUE 163 Spon Street. 024 7652 5200 36 Queen Street. 01628 633995 www.frankharvey.co.uk There are dealers around, web based or www.audiovenue.com Nottingham otherwise, who will sell you anything you Norwich CASTLE SOUND & VISION are willing to pay for. They may be a bit MARTINS HI-FI 48/50 Maid Marian Wa y. cheaper but that’s all they offer. Now 85-91 Ber Street. 01603 627134 0115 9584404 there’s a carefully selected group of long- www.martinshifi.co.uk www.castlesoundvision.com established specialist dealers who are Rayleigh, Essex Solihull totally committed to putting the customer RAYLEIGH HI-FI SOUND & VISION MUSIC MATTERS first. Their idea of ‘selling’ is to discuss 44a High Street. 01268 779762 93-95 Hobs Moat Road. your requirements, offer their advice, give CUSTOM INSTALL DEPT. 0121 742 0254 www. musicmatters.co.uk you the best options, then play the 01268 776932 systems for you and allow you to be the www.rayleighhifi.com NORTH judge. You’ll probably be surprised and, Southend-on-Sea York almost certainly, relieved to discover how RAYLEIGH HI-FI SOUND & VISION SOUND ORGANISATION easy it is to see and hear the differences 132/4 London Road. 01702 435255 2 Gillygate. www.rayleighhifi.com between components and between 01904 627108 Tunbridge Wells systems. You’ll be able to make a clear www.soundorg.co.uk KENT HOME CINEMA and informed decision about what to buy. 69 London Road, Southborough. The story doesn’t end there. These shops 01892 535007 won’t abandon you once you’ve put your www.kenthomecinema.co.uk hand in your pocket. They won’t leave you LONDON The majority of the above dealers are members of one or both of to set up the system you’ve selected as Ealing the major trade organisations, best you can. They’ll install it in your AUDIO VENUE BADA or CEDIA. home, make sure it performs to its best, 27 Bond Street. 020 8567 8703 www.top20uk.info and ensure you’re entirely happy with the www.audiovenue.com way it works. Why? Because a high proportion of these dealers’ custom comes STAR QUALITIES through people who have bought from VALUE FOR MONEY ...... 2 2222 them before, either directly or by 22222 recommendation. It’s vital to them to get it SERVICE ...... FACILITIES...... 2 222 2 right for you. VERDICT ...... 2 2222 ...Talk to the experts 86 DOLBY ATMOS ➜ MOVIE SEQUELS ➜ STAR LETTER Feedback

Got an axe to grind? Need to comment on current technology? Want to share your knowledge with our readers? HCC is here to help

I'm ready for Atmos! An interesting article in your recent issue about Dolby Atmos, and it's got me thinking about an upgrade. At the moment I have a 5.1 speaker setup in my living room, using Monitor Audio Radius models. As much as I want to have 7.1 there just isn't the room behind my sofa. Rear speakers would be positioned so close to our heads that I'm pretty certain the eff ect would be too noticeable to the detriment of the rest of the Denon's AVR-X4100W: 5.2.2 Atmos ready surround sound. So I'm thinking of a new plans to release Dolby Atmos hasn't been viable for a number Will we be reviewing the receiver and some 'upfi ring add-on speakers? of people without undertaking Onkyo TX-NR838? We will speakers' to add to my existing 5.1 Craig M, via email serious furniture re-arrangement. and we have – see p50 for Steve system. Will you be reviewing the As you say, space behind the May's verdict on this £1,000 new Denon AVR-X4100W and Mark Craven replies: I think your listening position is often limited. receiver. And, yes, the Denon the Onkyo TX-NR838? And do situation will be common Craig, Atmos upfi rers should be a AVR-X4100W will be on test you know if Monitor Audio has as we know that standard 7.1 simpler option. in our very next issue.

Star lett er… I'm an IMAX fan – and Dolby Atmos has turned my head

Watcha guys. I have just read your brilliant Mark Craven replies: When the Empire cinema over the river at Waterloo, and until article on Dolby Atmos in HCC #239. Leicester Square chose to close down its that point Screen One had been running I fi rst experienced Dolby Atmos a while gargantuan Screen One and split it in two London's only Dolby Atmos array. back at the Empire Leicester Square when it there was plenty of grumbling amongst Thankfully, it's been back up and running was showing Star Trek Into Darkness and was the movie-going community, not least for a good few months. blown away by the sound. Since then the because there's a perfectly good IMAX Your letter has got me thinking, though, cinema has shut down the main large screen about the number of Atmos and totally renovated it into two separate, screens in the UK. While US smaller screens. One of the theatres is movie-fans are reasonably well now a fantastic-looking and sounding catered for, there really aren't IMAX (a format which I've been a big fan of that many over here. Going by for a long time). The second screen that's the information on Dolby's own opened is called Impact, which is actually website, which I assume is up-to- Dolby Atmos. I went to see Dawn of the date, there are next-gen theatres Planet of the Apes there and once again was now in Birmingham, Derby, totally blown away by how enveloped in Nottingham, Llanelli, Leeds, sound you are. Gateshead, Cramlington, I've now seen Guardians of the Galaxy in Glasgow and two in London, both the IMAX and Dolby Atmos screens including the Empire at the Empire Leicester Square and I can't Leicester Square. If anyone believe I'm saying this as a huge IMAX fan, knows of any more, please but the Dolby Atmos experience is better. get in touch. So bring on Dolby Atmos for the home! What this means is that Lee Regan, via email home cinema fans who

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 LETTERS 87

Is this what Team HCC's Richard Stevenson will look like in 20 years?

As for add-on speakers certain that more speaker brands retrospectively adding Dolby soundfi eld and hugely immersive from Monitor Audio: as yet, the will get onboard over the next Atmos support to a 2013 AV cinema experience.' company hasn't announced any year, as there really seems to receiver isn't an option. And new enclosures that are Atmos- be (for once) a concerted drive we asked Yamaha's AV product Sequels that don't suck enabled. Brands that have, at in the industry to provide plenty specialist Chris Wray for an Last issue's 'Playback Extra' the time of writing, are Teufel, of Dolby Atmos options. offi cial explanation why: 'In a feature about movie sequels Defi nitive Technology, Onkyo, nutshell, it’s near impossible to [The 22 Best Movie Sequels on KEF, Triad and Atlantic I'm ready for Atmos, but... fi rmware upgrade a non-Atmos Blu-ray] was missing a few Technology. However, we're The recent announcement of enabled AV amp to fully support obvious choices! I agree that the Dolby's forthcoming Atmos must the full-whack Atmos likes of Empire Strikes Back, have caused outbreaks of soundtracks. This is largely Aliens, Terminator 2 and Mad Max 'upgrade-itis' in many households. down to the new Atmos format 2 are all great sequels, but how The minimum upgrade appears requiring the amplifi er to have can you include Predator 2 and choose to upgrade are in the to be the purchase of an Atmos a Dolby ‘renderer’ on board not include Back to the Future 2? position of being able to enjoy capable receiver and two that can decipher what the It's a classic movie that ties the Dolby's new audio technology speakers. I wonder, however, soundtrack is supposed to do whole trilogy together. (if more Blu-ray releases appear, whether there is another route with the audio objects moving Graham Lambe, via email of course), while the rest of the for punters like myself with 5.1 around in 3D space. population faces a bit of a systems using 7.1 receivers. My 'Of course, any Atmos content Anton van Beek replies: Back to famine. Atmos cinema releases present receiver is a Yamaha that comes out is going to use The Future 2 was certainly on our are coming thick and fast, but RX-V775 which performs well the TrueHD codec anyway, so the early list, and if we'd had more there aren't enough seats! (for my ears at least). I'm soundtrack will still play through space we would have included it. On the other hand, it means wondering whether it's likely that the amplifi er as it stands right In fact, considering the quality that the AV industry that's the manufacturers will be off ering now, but will not give you the (and wealth of extras) of the hoping to sell Atmos hardware software modifi cations to convert Atmos channels, just a regular region-free trilogy Blu-ray set, to the public needs to get demo my redundant two channels to 5.1 audio track.' perhaps we defi nitely should. facilities in place, as many Atmos streaming. This would If you don't want to swap out Maybe in place of Predator 2. people (those living in East seem to be a very practical your AVR, Chris suggests Anglia, for instance) may never solution to the upgrade. It may, of investigating Yamaha's Build quality matters have even heard it... course, be impractical from a cost CinemaDSP technology with Is sound and picture quality that point of view or the manufacturers a pair of presence or 'height' important? Well, of course it is, Star letter-writer Lee Regan wins may prefer to sell lots of lovely speakers. This won't give the and I'd be the fi rst to argue the a copy of the Withnail and I new receivers. Your comments same eff ect as Atmos, but case. Anyone who viewed an early Limited Edition Dual-Format will be appreciated. would add another layer to fl atscreen TV or listened to even Blu-ray and DVD boxset, which is Keith Arnold, via email your soundstage 'You could also a good-quality cassette tape will available to buy from October 20 utilise the CinemaDSP eff ects know that almost all of today's courtesy of Arrow Video. Mark Craven replies: with DTS soundtracks, and even equipment gives excellent Unfortunately, Keith, stereo as well, to give a massive performance. Terrifi c

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 88 AV BUILD QUALITY ➜ COMPETITIONS

improvements have been experiences with even some of achieved by the industry. the cheapest equipment (for Sure, there are diff erences example the £10 Sky Now TV between diff erent brands, and it's box which, with recent software one of the reasons why I continue updates, can now access all of the reading HCC each month. But for main catch-up TV services and many, performance diff erences has a vastly improved UI). between brands are not the only So there are two points I'd like consideration: unlike your to make. The fi rst is, is it possible reviewers, we're not constantly to give some indication in your swapping equipment around reviews in respect of how well and being subject to very subtle built your tested items are – do diff erences which may not matter they use conservatively rated much anyway. For me at least, components, or – for example – I am increasingly concerned not do they have transistors running just with sound and picture quality at high temperature which may but by the reliability and durability fail at a moment's notice, usually of modern equipment. a month after the warranty has Freesat, etc) is getting better all Sky TV enjoyed UI changes this year And these days that doesn't expired? Does the manufacturer of the time with fewer bugs and just depend on the hardware, concerned off er good service and more functionality. I think HCC but the software too. I have had support, or do they rely on the should keep abreast of these on what we have in front of us, good and bad experiences at retailer to take care of issues? changes, some of which are which is the best system the opposite ends of the market. And the second point is, maybe so signifi cant that they render manufacturer or service can off er These range from expensive your reviewers should revisit your initial test invalid. at that time. And sometimes we amplifi ers and CD machines equipment following major Lawrence Pearce, via email will wait until a specifi c update which have failed prematurely software revisions. I've already has happened before looking at and early digital TV recorders mentioned the improved Now TV Mark Craven replies: Firmware a product that may have already whose software can no longer box, but equipment provided updates certainly do complicate been on shelves. be updated to meet current for all of the main TV viewing the reviewing process! Obviously, Revisiting products after broadcast standards, to good platforms (Freeview, YouView, our hardware reviews are based updates that have occurred

Win! Three great Blu-rays up for grabs Just email your answer to [email protected] to be in with a chance

Oculus 3 Days to Kill Walking on Sunshine Mirror mirror on the wall, is Kevin Costner and Amber Add a little romance and this the scariest fi lm of Heard star in this action music to your life with this them all? Find out for thriller about a retired CIA British comedy from the yourself when this creepy agent living with a terminal makers of Streetdance tale of a haunted mirror illness who is off ered a that has been described makes its debut on DVD potential cure in exchange as 'the feel-good fi lm of and Blu-ray on October 20, for one last job. 3 Days to the year.' Released on courtesy of Warner Home Entertainment. Kill explodes onto DVD and Blu-ray on October DVD and Blu-ray on October 20, we've To celebrate the spook-tacular release, we've 20, and thanks to EntertainmentOne we've teamed up with EntertainmentOne to give got fi ve copies of the Blu-ray up for grabs! scored fi ve Blu-rays to dish out. away fi ve copies of the hi-def version.

Question: Question: Question: Oculus star Karen Gillan played which 3 Days to Kill director McG helmed bigscreen Walking on Sunshine was a hit in 1985 for character in TV's Doctor Who? updates of which 1970s TV show? which English rock band? Answer: Answer: Answer: A) River Song B) Veronica Lake A) Charlie's Angels B) Mission: Impossible A) Katrina and the Waves B) The Cure C) Amy Pond C) The Brady Bunch C) Siouxsie and the Banshees Email your answer with 'Oculus' as the Email your answer with '3 Days to Kill' as the Email your answer with 'Walking on subject heading – and include your postal subject heading – and include your postal Sunshine' as the subject heading – and address! address! include your postal address!

Terms & Conditions 1. Entrants must be over 18 years old and resident in the United Kingdom. 2. Employees of MyTimeMedia Ltd and companies supplying competition prizes are not eligible to enter. 3. No responsibility will be accepted for delayed, mislaid, lost or damaged entries. 4. Prizes will be awarded to the fi rst correct entries drawn at random after the closing date. 5. No alternatives, cash or otherwise, will be off ered to the winner as prizes. 6. The editor’s decision is fi nal. 7. The closing date is November 20, 2014.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014

90 CATCH-UP TV ➜ SUMMER BLOCKBUSTERS

months or even years later compared to other TV brands isn't always an option, for the which include all the TV catch-ups. (obvious) reason that we I know I can do all this on my no longer have access to the computer and hook it up to the hardware. And there are new TV, but then I wouldn't require products to be tested too a Smart TV ( or Smart Blu-ray that, for most people, will player) in the fi rst place. take precedence. Jonathan Blane, via email We make an eff ort to fl ag up product overhauls in our news John Archer replies: One of the The Alumni 3 soundbar is a passive section, and do revisit the most great things about Smart model, so needs an amp to drive it popular platforms (such as Sky) platforms, be they on TVs or when we think it's necessary. Blu-ray players, is that they As for the reliability and can be updated. And one of the My setup comprises an LG 47in revelation: clear dialogue from durability of kit, again this isn't annoying things about them TV, a Marantz slim-line AV the centre, front soundstage is the easiest element for our is when they aren't. receiver, Panasonic BD player and smoother with clear separation reviewers to judge. We have You say the other TV Digital Stream PVR. Until recently across the three channels, and the no way of knowing whether a manufacturers all include the TV I have had a conventional 7.1 surrounds really come alive. product will pack in 'a month catch-ups in their Smart services. speaker setup using a Yamaha Tim Wardlaw, Lincoln after the warranty has expired,' This isn't actually the case. NS-P110 package for centre and and it would be unfair for us Sony is in the same 'no ITV surround duties with a pair of Mark Craven replies: Thanks for to suggest it might. Of course, Player/4OD' boat, as are Toshiba Wharfedale Diamond 9.0s for the letter, Tim. We've tested a if something feels poorly put and Philips. Only Samsung and front left/right. couple of passive soundbars in together, we'll tell you. Panasonic now off er these I have never felt the sound the past, and Richard Stevenson services on their TVs – and balance has been satisfactory has one in his living room setup, Where are my Smart apps? Panasonic has incorporated and have tried other combinations but perhaps it's an area that we Over a year ago I bought an LG Freetime to achieve this. of speakers, but the dialogue and should have another look at. Blu-ray deck with Smart how's- It's been hard to get a straight front soundstage has always your-father and it works fi ne. answer from anyone on this issue seemed crowded and muffl ed. Summer of silliness At the time it only had the BBC concerning why some brands Looking to improve on this I Anton van Beek's latest column iPlayer catch-up, but the salesman have them and others don't. started to look at soundbars, [Film Fanatic, HCC #239] about said it was sure to add the other From what I can best gather, often up for review, but they are the Summer's blockbuster movies TV catch-up services before long though, ITV and 4OD do indeed all active units, not compatible only goes to show how much and the software would update. want fi nancial contributions for with a full surround setup. Hollywood has run out of ideas. Well, the software has updated their catch-up apps (if I'm wrong, My next step was to see I'm not interested in another several times to include apps for please tell me!) which I assume if anybody made a passive Transformers movie or the Netfl ix and so on. However, there's some brands refuse to play ball soundbar, never having seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles no sign of 4oD or ITV Player. with. There are no longer, so far or heard of one. To my delight, – where are the crime fi lms and How come? Do the TV as I am aware, any exclusive I came across a number of such thrillers of the 'olden days'? manufacturers have to pay to deals in play. units online. In the end I took the Thank God for my disc collection! include these apps? They are plunge and ordered a Mordaunt- Daz, via Facebook free to download to computers Passive soundbars Short Alumni 3 and connected after all! As a regular reader of your it up. No big speakers on stands Anton van Beek replies: We still If LG is never going to go magazine and being a keen next to the TV and no trailing get crime fi lms and thrillers, Daz, beyond BBC iPlayer in terms of TV movie viewer I am always on the lengths of ugly cable. but they're released over the catch-up I think we should be told lookout for ways to improve my What can I say? The results Winter, leaving the Summer free – this is an important defect viewing pleasure. from this one change are a for tent-pole blockbuster movies. For instance, Taken 3 will be Heat: a classic Christmas movie? released in January 2015. And it's been that way for a while, actually – remember Heat in 1995? That was released in December of that year ■

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Film Franchise Friday the 13th We take a trip to Crystal Lake to investigate the legacy of this enduring horror series…

Jason felt strangely at home when he stopped off at Madison Square Gardens during his 1989 visit to New York…

BORNE OUT OF the success of John Of course, as horror fans well know, Jason Voorhees defi nitively out of the equation – Carpenter's 1978 box offi ce smash barely featured in the fi rst Friday the 13th. the focus shifted to Jason instead. Halloween, the 'seasonal slasher' came In that movie he was nothing more to dominate the horror genre during than a motivational backstory for his Making a killing the following decade – there wasn't mum's murderous rampage, plus a It was a canny decision; one that enabled a holiday or special event around fi nal Carrie-inspired scare to keep the Paramount Pictures to release seven sequels that didn't have its very own audience on its toes. But with the into cinemas during the following decade cinematic serial killer. And the fi lm generating massive piles (as well as producing a completely unrelated undisputed king of them all of cash as the box in all-but-name TV series). Only when the is the Friday the 13th franchise's offi ce – and Mrs. embarrassment of being associated with mask-wearing madman, Keep a weapon handy if the franchise started to outweigh dwindling Jason Voorhees. you go to Crystal Lake profi ts did the studio fi nally call a halt.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 Number of Jason's victims to date (not including those killed by A New Beginning's fake 163 Jason or the unknown number on the destroyed Solaris space station in Jason X, of course) PLAYBACK EXTRA 93

Pick of the Best… Collectibles

Jason Lives: No self-respecting Friday the 13th fan Friday the 13th Part VI can aff ord to miss out on these… Having killed off Jason and then replaced 1 him with a copycat killer, where next for NECA Jason Mask Prop Replica the franchise? Bring him back as a zombie, Replica hockey masks are a dime a obviously! Writer-director Tom McLoughlin's dozen, but they don't get any better entry is an absolute hit – mixing all the than NECA's 1:1 scale resin replica of mayhem afi cionados crave with a knowing Jason's damaged mask from Friday sensibility that pokes fun at its own stupidity. the 13th: The Final Chapter. Friday the 13th: Crystal Lake Memories The Final Chapter Author and fi lm fan Peter M. Bracke In many ways this is just the same-old delivers the defi nitive history of 2shtick, with Jason slaughtering yet more the franchise with this exhaustively- generic teens. But it's elevated by some of Tom researched coff ee table book. Savini's best gore eff ects (particularly Jason's Fans should also import the Smallscreen scares: It may not have demise) and a better than expected cast, region-free US Blu-ray of the six-and-a-half featured Jason Voorhees, but Friday the hour tie-in documentary of the same name. 13th: The Series still managed to scare up including Corey Feldman and Crispin Glover. some top-tier directing talent, including NECA 25th Anniversary Boxed Set David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan. Freddy vs. Jason First mooted by Paramount and New Line back in 1987, the two titans of 3 terror fi nally came to blows on the bigscreen in 2003. The resulting no-holds- barred supernatural slobberknocker was clearly what fans wanted, pulling in an impressive $115m at the box offi ce. Released in 2007, NECA's deluxe $70 set includes And the Worst… action fi gure replicas of both Jason and Pamela Voorhees, as well as the shrine Jason had to his Jason Goes to Hell: dearly departed mommy in Friday the 13th Part 2. The Final Friday Friday the 13th videogame There are some who will argue that Friday the This 1989 game for the traditionally 13th: A New Beginning's Jason copycat was family-friendly NES (Nintendo Behind the mask: Kane Hodder is the only as low as the series could sink. They've clearly Entertainment System) console actor to have played Jason more than forgotten all about this 1993 turkey, which gave players control of one of six once, donning the mask for …The New tried to re-imagine Jason as a body-hopping Blood (pictured), …Jason Takes Manhattan, camp counsellors trying to stop Jason demon. Even some inventive gore eff ects (in Jason Goes to Hell and fi nally Jason X. while dodging deadly zombies, wolves and crows! the uncut version) couldn't save this stinker. The Ultimate Collection… The very best of Friday the 13th available to buy on Blu-ray and DVD…

Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday the 13th: The Original (R1 DVD – US Import) Friday [rated & unrated] Movie [1980] (All-region BD) Friday the 13th [2009]/ (R1 DVD – US Import) Friday the 13th: Ultimate A Nightmare on Elm Street Jason X (R2 DVD) Collection – Limited Edition [2010]/Freddy vs Jason – Friday the 13th [with hockey mask] Triple Feature [1980] (R2 DVD) (All-region BD – But there was to be no stopping Jason US Import) Voorhees. Enter New Line Cinema, which had Friday the 13th: From Crystal Lake to Crystal Lake long dreamed of teaming him up with its Manhattan – Memories: own horror icon Freddy Krueger. While their Ultimate Edition DVD The Complete History eventual pairing didn't occur until 2003, New Collection of Friday the 13th Line kept Jason alive in the meantime with two (R1 DVD – US Import) (All-region – US Import) more sequels, including a trip into space... Friday the 13th Friday the 13th: The The horror heavyweight returned in 2009 [2009] Complete Collection in a modern remake, but since then: nothing. (All-region BD) (All-region BD – US Import) However, in recent months, rumours have Freddy vs. Jason started swirling about both a new fi lm and (Region B BD) a new TV series. So Jason could 'live' again.

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

WWW.HOMECINEMACHOICE.COM 95

➜Software highlights 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE 3D Stereoscopic swords 'n' sandals sequel battles its way onto Blu-ray OCULUS Karen Gillan doesn't like what she sees in the mirror THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 3D Superhero franchise continues to weave its web in your home cinema DESTINY The makers of Halo set their sights on conquering next-gen consoles AND MUCH MORE!

Up from the depths Godzilla 3D ➜ Warner Home Entertainment ➜ All-region BD

Can Hollywood's second attempt at tackling Godzilla succeed where Roland Emmerich's 1998 version failed? Find out as we get to grips with Gareth Edwards' stereoscopic monster-mash on p98.

Ratings Key…

Outstanding Above average Acceptable Disappointing Dire

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 'Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough!'

The Persian empire strikes back It's more of the same from Snyder's swords 'n' sandals franchise – so great news for AV-hedz!

➜ 300: Rise of an Empire 3D Picture: The Blu-ray's stereoscopic MVC-encoded 2.40:1 1080p transfer is absolutely gorgeous. The Arriving eight years after Zack Snyder's surprise box complete fi delity to the fi lm's heavily-stylised gold- offi ce hit, Noam Munro's 300: Rise of an Empire and blue-hued imagery means that it rarely appears serves as not only prequel and sequel to that fi lm, razor-sharp, but that's how it's supposed to look. but also a 'side-quel' depicting another battle that Otherwise, blacks are invitingly deep, contrast is took place while the Spartans clashed with Persian spot-on and the 3D is employed convincingly Ironically, the real Themistocles ended up forces at Thermopylae. As such, the focus of the fi lm throughout to give an even greater sense of scale living in Persia as a governor shifts to Athenian warrior Themistocles (Sullivan and spectacle to the action sequences. Stapleton), who leads the relatively small Grecian The 2D AVC 2.40:1 1080p encode (presented navy against the might of Persian warships led by on a separate platter) looks even more refi ned, with the ferocious Artemisia (Eva Green). a notable uptick in brightness over the 3D version If this all sounds a little reminiscent of the fi rst – although some of the more frantic fi ght scenes fl ick, that's because it is. 300: Rise of an Empire really appear a little more cluttered in this version, is just more of the same – right down to Munro aping lacking the clean sense of separation inherent in every element of Snyder's exaggerated comic book the stereoscopic encode. aesthetic. Which is, no doubt, great news for fans. Audio: The fi lm's DTS-HD MA 7.1 mix off ers a tour de However, other viewers may fi nd it harder to get force of bone-crunching bass and furious surround Verdict past the repetitive visual trickery (so much slo-mo!), eff ects that really brings the battles to life. gigglesome homoeroticism (not helped by the least Directionality and panning are particularly 300: Rise of an Empire 3D convincing sex scene you'll ever watch) and impressive, a healthy dynamic range is maintained ➜ Warner Home Entertainment downright dodgy sexual politics (there's not and – somehow – despite all of the clanging ➜ All-region BD ➜ £28 Approx WE SAY: Impressive 3D visuals and a a woman in sight who hasn't been raped at swords, the dialogue never gets lost. barnstorming 7.1 mix make for a bloody some point in the franchise). In other words, Extras: As well as the fi lm, the 2D platter off ers good home cinema experience 300: Rise of an Empire is the very defi nition up eight enjoyable featurettes. The best and of big dumb fi lmmaking – but at least it most substantial of these is the 23-minute Movie frequently leads to spectacular material to Real Leaders & Legends, which explores the Picture feed your home cinema… historical events behind the story. Audio Extras Overall

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 PLAYBACK 97

Wolfcop Bad Neighbours Frank We asked… StudioCanal ➜ Region B BD Universal Pictures ➜ All-region BD Curzon Film World ➜ Region B BD £23 Approx £25 Approx £23 Approx As many fi lmmakers Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne Between this and Inside Which of the following have discovered, horror and Zac Efron star in Llewyn Davis, 2014 is sequels are you most comedies are extremely this inspired comedy shaping up to be a good excited about? tricky things to get right. about a young couple year for movies about ■ Avengers 2 ■ Terminator 5 That this low-budget with a newborn baby troubled musicians. ■ Batman vs Superman fl ick about an alcoholic cop who actually forced to live next door to a raucous While the Coens' fl ick won the major ■ Rambo 5 ■ Star Wars Ep VII gets better at his job after becoming a off -campus frat house. Mixing big belly critical plaudits, we had more fun with this werewolf gets more right than wrong is laughs with acute observations about the deeply weird, yet curiously aff ecting, satire testament to both the people involved in anxieties that accompany the journey exploring the distinction between talent making it and the goodwill engendered by to adulthood, Bad Neighbours is one of and fame. It certainly doesn't hurt that 29% its ridiculously fun set-up. This BD sports the year's funniest fi lms and (refreshingly) Frank arrives on Blu-ray with an intricately 35% vibrantly coloured and pristinely rendered doesn't outstay its welcome thanks to a rendered 2.40:1-framed 1080p encode 1.78:1 Full HD visuals alongside a playful brisk 97-minute running time. In addition partnered with a boisterous DTS-HD MA DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. Extras to attractive 1.85:1 imagery and powerful 5.1 mix that comes into its own whenever include promo videos and an engaging DTS-HD MA 5.1 sonics (just check out the music starts up. Informative extras 11% 46-minute Making of… charting the fi lm's those party scenes), Universal's Blu-ray include a 13-minute Making of… and two 14% unusual route to the bigscreen. serves up some fun bonus bits. audio commentaries. 11%

Results from www.homecinemachoice.com Go online for more polling action Mirror mirror on the wall… Mind-bending fright fl ick takes you on a journey through the looking glass

➜ Oculus

From Robert Hamer's entry in the classic portmanteau chiller Dead of Night to Kim Sung-ho's South Korean shocker Into the Mirror, the notion of a haunted mirror is one that just keeps cropping up in the horror genre. Writer-director Mike Flanagan is the latest to 'refl ect' on the concept, with this smart and scary feature-length expansion of his 2006 short Oculus: Chapter 3 – The Man with the Plan. Smarter than most mainstream frighteners, Flanagan's fi lm succeeds by eschewing the usual trappings of the genre. Instead of cheap jump scares Karen Gillan shot to fame as and gratuitous gore (not that there aren't a few nasty Amy Pond in Doctor Who tricks up its sleeve), Oculus heads off in a much more creative direction; its narrative plays out across two never heard that), there's a lot to enjoy about this Verdict time-lines that become increasingly entangled and Blu-ray's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. confused as the story progresses. All the while, it Like any good horror fi lm, the sonic engineers make Oculus builds towards a mind-bending and emotionally- frequent use of every speaker in the setup to create ➜ Warner Home Entertainment ➜ All-region BD ➜ £25 Approx shattering conclusion that fi nds the two main a palpably spooky atmosphere, while directional WE SAY: Extras may be in short characters (played to perfection by Karen Gillan eff ects are delivered with precision. The subwoofer supply, but on refl ection Oculus is still and Brenton Thwaites) trying to work out whether isn't left to sit idly by either, with rumbles of deep a smart and scary Blu-ray chiller what they're experiencing is real or simply a twisted bass accompanying the majority of the fi lm's scares. Movie refl ection of a childhood trauma. Recommended. Extras: In a word: disappointing. The one saving Picture: Oculus features a suitably gloomy AVC grace is the inclusion of Flanagan's original short fi lm Picture 2.40:1 1080p encode. Colours are fairly muted for (32 minutes), which makes for fascinating viewing Audio the most part, favouring Autumnal tones, although in comparison with the feature version. Otherwise, Extras there are a couple of brightly-lit exterior scenes that the only other extras are the rather perfunctory Inside have a little more pop. Thankfully, despite the overall the Mirror: Creating Oculus featurette (10 minutes) Overall darkness of the image, the bulk of the transfer and six deleted scenes (10 minutes). exhibits excellent clarity and sharpness, ensuring Unfortunately, it appears that Warner either close-ups are still packed with detailing. wasn't willing or able to include the chat-tracks for Audio: While undoubtedly not as enveloping as the the feature fi lm, the short and the deleted scenes fi lm's original 11-channel Auro mix (although we that appeared on Fox's earlier US disc.

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE The commute to work was going to be worse than ever today… The king of the monster movies? Blockbuster creature-feature roars onto Blu-ray with a reference-quality 7.1-channel soundtrack

➜ Godzilla 3D Picture: While Godzilla wasn't shot in native 3D, the conversion here works pretty well, thanks Hollywood's second attempt at bringing to the fi lm's vast amount of green-screen and Godzilla to the bigscreen avoids the (many) digital VFX. This is evidenced by the Blu-ray's pitfalls that befell Roland Emmerich's stereoscopic 2.40:1-framed MVC 1080p terrible 1998 eff ort. However, this hasn't encode, which off ers good separation and stopped this new reboot from stumbling into dimensionality for much of its running time. a couple of its own making. Unsurprisingly, image clarity drops off a touch Returning to the original idea of its titular during the fi nal act as Godzilla and the M.U.T.O.s character as a nuclear-powered force of nature, face-off against one another at night in the ruins of Godzilla positions its human cast as spectators in San Francisco, although the use of pockets of light a battle between the beast and the new-made on diff erent planes during night shots helps sell the M.U.T.O. (Massive Unidentifi ed Terrestrial Organism). 3D eff ect in even the darkest scenes, demonstrating This allows director Gareth Edwards to build on a level of forethought on the Edwards' part that the techniques he developed for his 2010 debut hasn't always been present in other ret-cons. The fi lm reportedly contains more than Monsters; the action is viewed from humanity's point The alternate AVC 2.40:1 1080p 2D presentation 960 separate visual eff ects shots of view, with the monsters themselves frequently (which arrives on a separate disc) scores better obscured by the destruction they cause and their when it comes to the overall clarity and brightness sheer scale. of the image. This in turn aids the resolving of It's not a bad idea and goes some way to bringing shadow detail, resulting in an even more fi nely- a little mystery back to the franchise. The trouble nuanced and textured hi-def presentation. Given is that the character who acts as the audience's the frequently dark and gloomy visuals the fi lm primary viewpoint into the fi lm (Aaron Taylor- adopts, it's about as good as you could hope for. Johnson's bomb disposal expert) just isn't very Audio: As we learnt from Pacifi c Rim, any movie interesting, and the contrivances needed to ensure based around the notion of giant monsters that he's always where the action occurs sometimes rampaging around cities is going to come with beggars belief. The supporting cast is packed with some hefty assumptions where the soundtrack is actors like Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe, Sally concerned. Even so, this Blu-ray release of Godzilla Hawkins and Juliette Binoche – any one of whom still managed to trump our expectations with its could have improved the human element that staggering DTS-HD MA mix. Aaron Taylor-Johnson was put through a dominates so much of the fi lm had they only Dynamic, powerful, aggressive, expansive and 'mini-bootcamp' by military advisors been given more screen time. detailed from start to fi nish, the disc's 7.1-channel

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 PLAYBACK 99

Demo Screen… Godzilla 3D Time code: 093.22 – 096.16

Jump to it: With the sound of Breaking wind: As the soldiers fall Descent into hell: A long shot of the Point-of-view: The 2.40:1 encode Gyorgy Ligeti's Requiem rising in through the clouds, the sound of soldiers descending through the tests your system's ability to the soundmix, the soldiers begin the wind seamlessly whips around clouds above the city provides render accurate black levels their H.A.L.O. jump into the ruins the 7.1-channel soundstage, while a respite from the AV maelstrom with terrifying shots taken from of San Francisco in the one of the the plumes of red smoke give the and gives you a chance to savour the point of view of one of the fi lm's most striking scenes. 3D image a real sense of depth. the fi ne detail in the image. H.A.L.O. jumpers.

this Blu-ray release hasn't been turned into Something had gone the fl ag-bearer for the home incarnation of very wrong at the technology. Walter White's Extras: There's not a lot to get excited about here. meth lab… Monarch: Declassifi ed hosts a trio of in-universe fi lms – Operation: Lucky Dragon (three minutes) regards the original encounter with Godzilla, The M.U.T.O. File (four minutes) explores the fi lm's other monsters, and The Godzilla Revelation (seven minutes) refl ects Verdict on the events of the movie. Godzilla 3D The Legendary Godzilla contains four featurettes ➜ Warner Home Entertainment looking at the making of the fi lm. Godzilla: Force of ➜ All-region BD ➜ £28 Approx Nature (19 minutes) is an interesting overview of the WE SAY: Astonishing 7.1-channel soundtrack delivers on all levels. And while it production, A Whole New Level of Destruction (eight sonics make this agreeable monster movie a must-own on Blu-ray was inevitable that there would be no shortage of minutes) deals with the set and production design, booming bass, it's the way in which low-end eff ects Into the Void: The H.A.L.O. Jump (fi ve minutes) looks Movie are controlled that really stands out. at this key scene from the fi lm; and Ancient Enemy: Picture To see what we mean, spin up the railway bridge The M.U.T.O.s (seven minutes) handles the creation sequence in Chapter 8 where the bass-rich clicks of Godzilla's opponents. Audio and vocalisations of the M.U.T.O circle around the If Godzilla is to be re-released on Blu-ray with a Extras soundstage – as the creature itself circles around the Dolby Atmos audio upgrade in the not-too-distant Overall two soldiers hiding there. It's an astonishing acoustic future (and if it was we'd queue up to buy it), then experience of precision and control. Warner Home Entertainment should also take the So do we have any complaints? Only, considering opportunity to give the extra features a much- the fi lm was mixed theatrically for Dolby Atmos, that needed boost as well.

Nobody could believe their eyes when Godzuki turned up!

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 100 THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 ➜ ARCADE ACTION

Arcade Action Hannibal: Season Two StudioCanal ➜ Region B BD £40 Approx Bigscreen home entertainment isn’t just Roles are reversed in this about movies anymore. Check out these two spellbinding second season games vying for time on your home cinema… of the crime drama based on Destiny Thomas Harris' novels, as FBI Activision ➜ Xbox 360/Xbox One/PS4/PS3 ➜ £55 Approx profi ler Will Graham is the lunatic locked away behind bars Make no mistake about it, Destiny is a beautiful-looking game – Halo and Hannibal Lecter is on the loose and aiding the law. As if that creator Bungie has clearly worked hard wasn't a compelling enough reason to pick up this set, Hannibal to dazzle gamers with the graphical continues to be one of the best-looking shows available on BD. prowess of this ambitious 'persistent' online fi rst-person shooter. But how Best of all, though, this time around UK fans get the full does it actually play? complement of extras, including eight episode commentaries. As you'd expect from Bungie, Destiny's shooting mechanics are fl awless; the perfect combination of fl uid controls and impeccable collision detection. Enemies, meanwhile, provide a reasonable challenge, favouring the use of cover to blindly charging into the range of your weaponry. All of which makes the fi rst few hours The Walking Dead: Season Four of play an absolute delight – particularly when you have a group of friends EntertainmentOne ➜ Region B BD along for the ride. £45 Approx The major problem right now stems from the story itself. Unlike your traditional A seemingly idyllic life behind online multiplayer shooter, Destiny is very much a story-driven experience, and prison walls is cut short for Rick the bland, repetitive missions and portentous storytelling are plain annoying. The Badlands games could get away with this by masking it all with humour, and his fellow survivors as the but Bungie's fi rst-person-shooter-cum-massively-multiplayer-roleplaying-game popular comic book adaptation is far too serious to ever crack a joke or two. However, as Bungie has already lives up to its potential with announced plans for additional story content, there's a chance that Destiny could still reach its full potential. this brilliantly harrowing latest season. In AV terms, the fi ve-disc Blu-ray boxset is on a par with the previous season, delivering colourful and grainy 1.78:1 Full HD imagery that accurately refl ects the original 16mm footage, plus Metro: Redux impressively expansive and active DTS-HD MA 5.1 sonics. It also Deep Silver ➜ Xbox One/PS4/PC ➜ £35 Approx delivers the goods when it comes to extras, with seven episode Highly regarded sci-fi shooter Metro 2033 gets fashionably commentaries and numerous featurettes. remastered for its next-gen console debut and the result is a signifi cant visual improvement over the original. But there’s more to this timely remaster than extra pixels; the gameplay feels genuinely cinematic, with some great high-defi nition lighting and atmospheric eff ects. It also runs at a smooth 1080p60 on the PS4 (version Doctor Who: 50th Anniversary Collector's Ed. tested), which really complements the BBC Worldwide ➜ All-region BD £55 Approx FPS shenanigans. Limited to just 10,000 copies Based on the titular novel by Dmitry Glukhovsky, the story is strong for a (6,000 BD and 4,000 DVD), game that essentially involves a lot of this boxset collects Matt creeping about in tunnels. There’s a pleasing variety of gameplay, allowing you Smith's fi nal three stories as to opt for either full-on carnage or stealth. These Spartan and Survival modes ease you into the action and there’s a hardcore Ranger mode for those that like well as giving the one-off BBC to play tough. The package is formidable value too, as it includes the sequel drama An Adventure in Space Metro: Last Light plus all previously available Season Pass DLC content. Sonically, and Time its UK Blu-ray debut. That the bumper array of extras though, it's rather less compelling: the voice work is hokey at best and, while natively multichannel in design, there’s very little of note about the sound mix includes hi-def versions of the 2013 Proms performance and and eff ects beyond basic directional steerage. That said, Metro: Redux remains Peter Davison's witty The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot only makes a reasonable upgrade for Metro veterans and if you’ve not explored post- it more appealing. However, the decision to omit the 3D version apocalyptic Russia before, there’s no reason to say ‘nyeht comrade’ any longer. of The Day of the Doctor is annoying for completists.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 Spidey never had any trouble fi nding somewhere in town to park his car What a tangled web we weave An over-stuff ed plot and surfeit of villains leaves Sony's superhero franchise dangling by a thread

➜ The Amazing colours and textures, so the deep blue-blacks Spider-Man 2 3D of police uniforms are rendered rich with detail. In 2D guise, the image never falls into Marc Webb's 2012 Spider-Man reboot didn't have oversaturation or peaky contrast, and the sheer the same kind of impact as Sam Raimi's fi rst entry detail on show, even in the darkened tunnels in the in the franchise, but remained a fun piece of spandex Roosevelt station scene, is jaw-dropping. Switch to action backed up by excellent chemistry between 3D and the picture loses some of its punch in favour leads Andrew Garfi eld (Peter Parker/Spidey) and of extremely deep perspective. It’s not massively Dane DeHaan's Green Goblin is just one Emma Stone (Gwen Stacy). subtle, although individual characters and objects of the sequel's trio of baddies So it's disappointing to see this sequel fritter away get a solid 3D treatment as opposed to looking like pretty much all of the goodwill its predecessor built cardboard cut-outs. up. Saddled with countless sub-plots and a roster Audio: This DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix is bit of a of under-developed characters (none more so than superhero, too, with eff ects and score playing equally Dane DeHaan's Harry Osborn/Green Goblin), it important roles. And, far from being a gratuitous barely manages to tell a coherent story despite the sonic storm, all but the fi nale is delivered in a patience-testing 142-minute running time. Even the supremely well balanced and even-handed style. action scenes feel overly repetitive, relying far too Dialogue is given a crisp leading role, the score times much on obvious CG wizardry with pin-point precision (although its trick of starting and lacking a human touch. in the front soundstage and swelling to the surrounds Verdict Picture: The Full HD 2.40:1 begins to grate after a while) and the LFE channel imagery here pays subtly underpins only the largest eff ects. Okay, something of a homage maybe we would have liked a bit more bass gusto, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 3D ➜ Sony Pictures ➜ All-region BD to the fi lm's comic roots. but you can’t knock the cohesive balance and clarity. ➜ £28 Approx Colours are bold, deep Extras: The Wages of Heroism is a brilliant six-part WE SAY: A confused sequel that at and well saturated and Making of… documentary that clocks in at 104 least excels in the AV department there is high dynamic minutes and is defi nitely worth a spin. Also on off er Movie contrast in almost every are the eight minute The Music of Amazing Spider- scene. This pays its biggest Man 2, which fi nds director Marc Webb ruminating Picture dividends with graduated on the fi lm's score; a writers/producers commentary Audio (accompanying both the 2D and 3D presentations); Extras Not even Jamie Foxx's Electro can add a 13 deleted and alternate scenes with optional spark of excitement to this tired sequel chat-track; and an Alicia Keys music video. Overall

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 102 SPIELBERG BOXSET ➜ GHOSTBUSTERS 1 & 2

While Duel (main) and Jaws (below, right) dazzle on Blu-ray, other fi lms in this set are more hit-and-miss

Taking the direct(or) approach Bumper boxset sees four more Spielberg movies make their long-awaited Blu-ray debut

➜ Steven Spielberg: production, the 1.85:1-framed image exceeds Director's Collection expectations with its plentiful detail and fi lm grain. While presumably taken from an older master, the This eight-fi lm boxset brings together all but one 2.40:1 Full HD presentation of The Sugarland Express (Schindler's List) of the fi lms Steven Spielberg does at least maintain the fi lm's slightly hazy visual has made for Universal to date – Duel (1971), The style. Sadly, both versions of 1941 (see below) have Sugarland Express (1974), Jaws (1975), 1941 (1979), been tarred with the DNR brush, resulting in a rather E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Always (1989), digital-looking transfer. While Always also shows Jurassic Park (1993) and The Lost World: Jurassic Park some signs of digital tampering, it's not quite as (1997) – four of which get their fi rst HD outing here. egregious as that on 1941, resulting in an image Duel was Spielberg's feature debut, albeit akin to the quality of Jurassic Park and its sequel. directing a TV movie (which was released theatrically Audio: Duel, 1941 and Always all sport eff ective abroad with extra footage). As calling cards go, this DTS-HD MA 5.1 mixes that deliver plenty of dynamic Verdict tale of a lone driver being stalked by a mysterious eff ects. The Sugarland Express receives a more tanker truck is hard to fault. modest DTS-HD MA 2.0 upgrade. Once again, Duel Steven Spielberg: The Sugarland Express is a more low-key, but still is the pick of the bunch, making great use of the rears Director's Collection entertaining, piece of comic-melodrama, playing like whenever the truck bares down on our hero's car. ➜ Universal Pictures ➜ All-region BD ➜ £80 Approx a more sympathetic version of Bonnie and Clyde. Extras: While The Sugarland Express and Always can WE SAY: Worth a punt if you don't Meanwhile World War II comedy 1941 may be a only muster trailers, the other two newcomers fare already own any of his fi lms on BD misfi re, but at least it's a spectacular misfi re. far better. Duel off ers a trio of interviews, plus a photo The same cannot be said for Always, Spielberg's gallery and trailer, while 1941 gets two versions of the Movie remake of Victor Fleming's 1943 romantic drama fi lm (each on its own BD platter), a feature-length Picture A Guy Named Joe, which would be reminiscent of Making of…, deleted scenes and more. Audio Ghost – but only if that fi lm had been stuck with The other four Blu-ray platters in the boxset (Jaws, Extras a lopsided plot and a fairly unlikable lead. E.T.…, Jurassic Park and The Lost World…) are identical Picture: The newly-restored Duel is the undoubted to their original standalone Blu-ray releases in all Overall star here. Looking every bit the authentic 35mm regards – right down to their extra features.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 PLAYBACK 103

Attack on Titan: Ghost in the Shell: From Dusk Till Dawn: Killer Klowns from Part One Limited Edition Season One Outer Space Manga ➜ Region B BD Manga ➜ Region B BD EntertainmentOne ➜ R2DVD Arrow Video ➜ Region B BD/R2 DVD £30 Approx £30 Approx £30 Approx £25/£28 Approx This latest anime smash Previously available This TV adaptation of A goofy late '80s horror is thematically similar only as an 'enhanced' Robert Rodriguez's every bit as ridiculous to the recent spate of Blu-ray that recreated 1997 cult fl ick pits two as its title suggests. 'Young Adult' literary some scenes using criminals and a family Thankfully, the Chiodo adaptations like The terrible CG animation, of hostages against Brothers' fi lm is also Hunger Games and Divergent. This time this latest release fi nally off ers a Full HD vampire strippers. It starts brightly, but fully aware of this and keeps tongue around the coming-of-age story takes presentation of the original version of this stretches the story too thinly over its ten wedged fi rmly in cheek during the ensuing place in a world where what remains Japanese animated classic. Window- episodes (we don't enter the infamous hour-and-a-half of coulrophobe- of humanity takes shelter in walled cities boxed at 1.85:1, the imagery doesn't look strip bar until episode six) and gets bothering mayhem. In addition to the from enormous fl esh-eating giants! too sharp, but this is largely down to the bogged down trying to build a bigger satisfying AVC 1.85:1 1080p encode and Manga's double-disc Blu-ray set serves up fi lmmakers' decision to blow-out the mythology. This three-disc DVD set fairly undemanding LPCM 2.0 stereo crisp and vibrant AVC 1.78:1 1080p versions contrast in many scenes, giving the fi lm struggles to captures the show's stylised soundtrack, this Blu-ray (available in of the fi rst 13 episodes with a choice of an intentionally gauzy look. Frustratingly, visuals, with vibrant colours in the regular and steelbook versions) Japanese LPCM 2.0 and English DTS-HD there are no disc-based extras whatsoever anamorphic 1.78:1 transfers suff ering comes loaded with an extraordinarily MA 5.1 soundtracks. The only extras are – which is a major oversight for such from obvious bleed. Still, the DD 5.1 mixes comprehensive array of extras – several a pair of episode commentaries. a highly-regarded fi lm. sound great and there are plenty of extras. of which are exclusive to this release.

Blu-ray bustin' makes us feel good! One aff ordable double-pack. Two stunning 4K restorations. Lots of bonus features…

➜ Ghostbusters 1 & 2 He's behind you!

Ghostbusters celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, but thanks to its brilliant ensemble cast, witty script and imaginative special eff ects, the iconic comedy-horror about a trio of friends who set up a ghost extermination business in New York still feels just as fresh as it did back in 1984. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the sequel, which off ers fl at plotting, a bland villain and a surprising lack of actual ghost-busting. The leads are all on fi ne form, however, wringing as many laughs as possible out of the rather thin material. Picture: This is actually the third time that Ghostbusters has been released on Blu-ray, and this latest version is based on the superb 'Mastered in Verdict adding plenty of dynamic fl air to the audio. 4K' platter released last year; it shares that disc's The mixes also pack a surprising bass heft, with improved clarity and more authentic colour grading. Ghostbusters 1 & 2 huge throbs of LFE erupting from the subwoofer A heavy layer of grain is persistent throughout, but ➜ Sony Pictures channel every time a proton pack is turned on and ➜ All-region BD ➜ £20 Approx is pleasingly refi ned, resulting in an authentically WE SAY: New extras and the hi-def charged up. fi lm-like viewing experience. debut of the sequel make this Extras: While the previous 'Mastered in 4K' Blu-ray Ghostbusters 2, which makes its Blu-ray debut in double-pack a must for fans release of Ghostbusters was a barebones aff air, the this double-pack, looks every bit as good. Once again version included here is packed with extras (including Movie 'Mastered in 4K', the disc's AVC 2.40:1 1080p everything from the very fi rst Blu-ray release, bar imagery is packed with intricate textures and vibrant Picture a videogame promo). Highlights are an audio colours (particularly when it comes to the fl ood of Audio commentary, picture-in-picture viewing mode, 30th pink slime). Film grain is present again, and it's Extras anniversary poster gallery, the music video for Ray considerably fi ner here due to the diff erent fi lm stock Parker Jr's original song and the fi rst part of a new used to lens the sequel. Overall interview with actor/writer Dan Aykroyd and director Audio: Both movies carry DTS-HD MA 5.1 remixes Ivan Reitman (24 minutes). of the original soundtracks. In truth, neither off ers Ghostbusters 2's extras are less impressive. much to get excited about when it comes to rear The main draw is the second part of the chat with speaker deployment, but they do exhibit excellent Aykroyd and Reitman (16 minutes). There are also separation across the front L/C/R soundstage, seven deleted scenes, trailers and a music video.

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 104 DAS CABINET DES DR. CALIGARI ➜ VAMPIRES!

Add another trophy to the cabinet New 4K restoration helps this classic early horror shine brighter than ever

Das Cabinet Des Dr.➜ Caligari

Director Robert Wiene's 1920 silent movie recounts the tale of the titular carnival hypnotist and the somnambulist he uses to kill for him. While the plot may appear fairly simple, Wiene's fi lm infuses each frame of the story with a nightmarish quality, running Actor Conrad Veidt made one fi lm shot in from the overtly theatrical performances to his colour, 1940's The Thief of Bagdad pioneering use of an Expressionist aesthetic – the latter creating a blatantly artifi cial landscape, full of harsh jagged angles, that serves to exaggerate the psychological terror. Utterly captivating. Picture: Sourced from a brand-new 4K restoration of the original camera negative undertaken by Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung (with missing material reconstituted from other sources), this Blu-ray's 1.33:1 1080p imagery is a revelation. Yes, there are still scratches to be found in the Verdict Extras: Film historian David Kalat provides an audio image, but the sharpness and clarity is leagues commentary that's on a par with the fascinating one ahead of any previous version. The overall sense Das Cabinet Des Dr. Caligari he recorded for the label's earlier Nosferatu Blu-ray. of freshness is aided by the unexpected vibrancy ➜ Eureka! Masters of Cinema Further analysis of the fl ick can be found in the Region B BD/R2 DVD ➜ £23 Approx of the colour tinting. We never imagined that Wiene's WE SAY: A stunning hi-def 53-minute Caligari: The Birth of Horror in the First horror could look this good. presentation for one of the classics of World War and the 16-minute You Must Become Audio: The longer running time of this presentation silent horror. Simply unmissable. Caligari, a video essay by critic David Cairns that is of Das Cabinet... means that Eureka! hasn't been slightly lighter in tone (yet no less rigorous in its Movie able to include the Timothy Brock score that many analysis) and perhaps added as a riposte to some fans will be familiar with from the label's original Picture of the more contentious statements made in the fi rst DVD release (nor any of the multitude of others Audio documentary. Rounding out the Blu-ray extras are a produced over the decades). Thankfully, while very Extras nine-minute piece on the restoration of the fi lm and diff erent, the new score proves equally atmospheric the re-release trailer. and appears in both LPCM 2.0 stereo and DTS-HD Overall The set also includes a DVD copy and a MA 5.1 incarnations – the latter makes surprisingly beautifully illustrated 44-page booklet featuring an expansive use of the larger soundstage. essay on Expressionist fi lm and an archival review.

Blacula: The Complete Collection Affl icted Only Lovers Left Alive Eureka! ➜ Region B BD/R2 DVD EntertainmentOne ➜ R2 DVD Soda Pictures ➜ Region B BD £23 Approx £18 Approx £20 Approx The best-known examples of A trip around the world White-haired hipster the blaxploitation genre's brief goes horribly wrong for and doyen of the US two friends when one independent fi lm scene fl irtation with horror, Blacula comes down with a Jim Jarmusch appears and its sequel remain enjoyable mysterious disease that an unlikely fi gure to try fi lms beyond their joke titles gives him increased strength and a taste his hand at the vampire genre. And yet for human blood. This clichéd found- Only Lovers Left Alive, which stars Tom and outrageously funky scores. footage update of the traditional vampire Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton as two This release packs both Blacula and Scream, Blacula, Scream story has scooped a number of awards vampires trying to keep their love going as onto a single BD50 platter with no obvious trade-off in image at genre festivals – but outside of an the world dies around them, proves to be quality – the encodes have a rough-hewn charm that seems appreciation of how much it achieves his best in years. The fi lm's luscious visuals on a small budget, it's hard to see why. are well served by the disc's vibrant 1.85:1 to be a fi tting reproduction of their rather grainy photography. If you're still tempted to take a bite, this 1080p encode, while the tonality of the Audio for both is presented as LPCM 2.0 mixes that are adept DVD release features a modest DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix gets the best out of at handling the scores. Best of the limited extras is a 25-minute anamorphic 1.85:1 transfer and dynamic the haunting soundtrack. A 50-minute DD 5.1 audio. Meagre extras take the form documentary following Jarmusch as he discussion of the movies by critic Kim Newman. of a chat-track and interview. works on the fi lm is the pick of the extras.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 NEW

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OPTOMA • HD50 • DLP PROJECTOR JVC • DLA-X500R • 4K D-ILA PROJECTOR SONY • VPL-HW55ES • SXRD PROJECTOR Created for movie-lovers, the new HD50 brings digital cinema 4K Projector with a high contrast ratio achieved by adopting an A fantastic option for movie lovers who want an incredible quality images into the comfort of your home. optical engine with new wire grid and 6th generation D-ILA device. cinematic experience at home, far beyond the reach of TV.

PLEASE NOTE: SOME BRANDS/PRODUCTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL STORES. SPECIAL/ADDED VALUE OFFERS ARE NOT IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER (NICWAOO). ADVERT VALID UNTIL 19/11/2014. E&OE

click & collect NOW AVAILABLE www.SSAV.com £SSAV £499 £1199 NEW NEW OR LESS .COM OR LESS

ARCAM • FMJ UDP411 • 3D BLU-RAY PLAYER MARANTZ • UD7007 • UNIVERSAL DISC PLAYER PANASONIC • DMP-BDT700 • 3D BLU-RAY PLAYER With more than ten years of digital video experience, not to Enjoy exceptional sound and picture quality from many New top of the range model boasting up to 4K 60p output, mention global recognition of its efforts, Arcam is proud to formats including SACD, DVD-Audio, 3D Blu-ray and HDMI 2.0 support, 7.1-channel analogue audio output, announce the arrival of its newest disc player, the UDP411. your home network. along with ground-breaking 4K Direct Chroma up-scaling. Also Available: NAD T 567 Also Available: MARANTZ UD5007 Also Available: PANASONIC DMP-BDT260 & DMP-BDT460

£599 £SSAV £259 NEW OR LESS NEW .COM NEW OR LESS

PIONEER • BDP-LX58 • 3D BLU-RAY PLAYER SONY • BDP-S7200 • 3D BLU-RAY PLAYER YAMAHA • BD-S677 • 3D BLU-RAY PLAYER New universal disc player compatible with SACD and The new Sony BDP-S7200 3D Blu-ray Player with 4K New 3D Blu-ray Player with Miracast and advanced network DVD-Audio discs plus lossless high-res support up to upscaling and powerful smart features - it will be be the functions. This highly versatile player is compatible with the 192 kHz/24 bit resolution. centre piece of your home entertainment system. Yamaha smartphone/tablet control app and Dropbox. Also Available: PIONEER BDP-LX88 Also Available: SONY BDP-S5200 & BDP-S6200 Also Available: SAMSUNG BD-F7500

£3999 OR LESS NEW NEW

£599 £999 BUY FOR £3249 OR LESS OR LESS SAVE £750 WHEN YOU TRADE-IN ANY HOME THEATRE PRODUCT OFFER ENDS 31/12/2014 - ASK FOR DETAILS

ARCAM • FMJ AVR750 • AV RECEIVER NAD • T 748V2 • AV RECEIVER NAD • T 758 • AV RECEIVER 7.1-channel AV receiver combines 4K “Ultra HD” upscaling The remarkable 7.1 channel NAD T 748V2 is an ideal choice AV receiver featuring NAD’s Modular Design Construction for and 3D video capability with Arcam’s legendary sound quality. for the most advanced home cinema and multi-room systems. future upgrades along with exceptional sound quality. Also Available: ARCAM FMJ AVR380 & AVR450 Also Available: NAD T 787 Also Available: NAD T 777

NEW NEW NEW

£1299 £999 £1399 OR LESS OR LESS EXPERIENCE ATMOS! OR LESS CLAIM A PAIR OF ONKYO SKH410 DOLBY ATMOS ENABLED SPEAKERS OFFER ENDS 31/10/2014 - ASK FOR DETAILS DENON • AVR-X4100W • AV RECEIVER ONKYO • TX-NR838 • AV RECEIVER PIONEER • SC-LX58 • AV RECEIVER AV receiver with Wi-Fi, AirPlay and Bluetooth built-in plus New 7.2-channel Network receiver supporting Dolby Atmos® New 9.2-channel Network receiver with with Class D Amplification, Spotify Connect and Dolby Atmos® for immaculate audio. upgradability, multidimensional sound plus Ultra HD streaming. Wi-Fi, AirPlay, DLNA, Bluetooth and Dolby Atmos® upgradability. Also Available: DENON AVR-X2100W & AVR-X3100W Also Available: ONKYO TX-NR636 & TX-NR3030 Also Available: PIONEER VSX-924 & SC-LX88

NEW NEW NEW

£479 £559 £1999 OR LESS OR LESS OR LESS

SONY • STR-DN1050 • AV RECEIVER YAMAHA • RX-V677 • AV RECEIVER YAMAHA • RX-A3040 • AV RECEIVER 7.1-channel AV receiver with Bluetooth and NFC compatibility, New highly capable and versatile 7.2-channel Network AV New AV receiver with built-in Wi-Fi, 11.2 channel expandability, for instant wireless playback from any compatible device. receiver with AirPlay and Spotify Connect. highest grade construction and Dolby Atmos® upgradability. Also Available: SONY STR-DA2800ES Also Available: YAMAHA RX-V377 & RX-V477 Also Available: YAMAHA RX-A1040 & RX-A2040

FOR THE LATEST PRICES AND OFFERS VISIT WWW.SSAV.COM OR CONTACT YOUR LOCAL STORE

Real Stores Real People Sevenoaks Sound & Vision have 26 stores nationwide with plans to open more during 2014. Our staff are friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about music and fi lm and the Each carries the best in home cinema and Hi-Fi equipment on display, ready for you to equipment needed to get the most out of your collection. They will be delighted to assist you watch, listen to and compare in our dedicated demonstration rooms. in making the right selection to ensure you enjoy your system for years to come. Real Products Real Value A wide selection of products from the world’s leading manufacturers is in stock and Fantastic value for money is our aim. Although we remain independent, you will be available for you to take home. We also offer a delivery and installation service as well as a pleasantly surprised just how competitive we can be - with the added benefi t of seeing, convenient on-line click and reserve option for many of our products. hearing and touching the product before you buy, and someone to help if things go wrong.

click & collect NOW AVAILABLE www.SSAV.com CANTON • DM 50 • SOUNDBASE BLUESOUND The Canton DM 50 sets a new standard for TV sound. HI-FI FOR A WIRELESS GENERATION Intended to be positioned under a TVs pedestal stand, the DM 50 creates a convincing, room fi lling sound. The new multi-room wireless streaming system from Bluesound offers high- resolution 24-bit playback. There are fi ve components in the Bluesound range, available in gloss black or gloss white, which can be controlled using iOS or Android apps on a smartphone or tablet. £399 PRICES START FROM £399 NEW OR LESS NOVEMBER 2014

SONOS Q ACOUSTICS • MEDIA 4 • SOUNDBAR PRICES START FROM £169 The new Q Acoustics Media 4 is a high performance SYSTEMS BEST MULTIROOM SYSTEM THE WIRELESS HI-FI SYSTEM SONOS Soundbar designed to deliver high fi delity reproduction The Sonos Wireless HiFi System delivers of music, and high quality audio from a TV or set top box, all the music on earth, in every room, with tablets and smartphones. deep, richly textured sound. One year of music included. Buy any Sonos player and claim 365 days of Deezer Premium+ worth over £100 £399.95 NEW OR LESS

£899 £1499 NEW SPEAKER PACKAGES OR LESS BEST STYLE PACKAGE £1400-£1800 OR LESS MONITOR AUDIO RADIUS R90HT1 £499 OR LESS

YAMAHA • SRT-1000 • SOUNDBASE Enjoy richly realistic and powerful sound just by placing it KEF • E305 • SPEAKER PACKAGE MONITOR AUDIO • RADIUS R90HT1 • SPEAKER PACKAGE under your TV! Surround sound system featuring Digital Sound The E Series packs uniquely advanced technologies in highly Award-winning speaker package comprising four Radius 90 Projector technology. Supports Bluetooth® and a dedicated distinctive satellite speakers and a powered subwoofer. satellites, Radius 200 centre speaker and Radius 390 subwoofer. app for smartphone control.

£2849 £1939 SPEAKER PACKAGES SPEAKER PACKAGES YAMAHA • YSP-2500 BEST TRADITIONAL PACKAGE £2500-£3500 OR LESS BEST STYLE PACKAGE £1800+ OR LESS KEF R100 5.1 BOWERS & WILKINS MT-60D DIGITAL SOUND PROJECTOR Reproduces overwhelmingly real presence and impact-fi lled bass sound. Two-unit YSP with ultra-refi ned design and high-grade aluminium chassis. Bluetooth® equipped, capable of wireless music play and App control.

KEF • R100 5.1 • SPEAKER PACKAGE B&W • MT-60D • SPEAKER PACKAGE £799 Comprises four R100 speakers, an R200C centre speaker and Speaker package combining M-1 speakers with the stunning power NEW R400B active subwoofer. Great for both home cinema and music. and control of a PV1D subwoofer. Available in a matt black or white. OR LESS

NEW NEW REL • S2 SUBWOOFER £129 £599 Fast, tuneful, fun OR LESS OR LESS and exceptionally dynamic, the REL S2 permits those with limited space or NEW compact speakers ONKYO • SKH-410 • DOLBY ATMOS ENABLED SPEAKERS KEF • R50 • DOLBY ATMOS ENABLED SPEAKERS to enjoy the £999 A convenient and affordable way to unlock the full Dolby Atmos Designed to sit above freestanding or wall-mounted speakers benefi ts of Serie S OR LESS sound experience without the need to install in-ceiling speakers. allowing you to enjoy Dolby Atmos at home. performance.

Bishop’s Stortford• 01279 506576 • Guildford 01483 536666 • Sheffield• 0114 255 5861 • The Stores Nationwide innovative We have a national network of Bristol• 0117 974 3727 Holborn• 020 7837 7540 • Southampton• 023 8033 7770 • stores and a hard-won reputation Brighton NEW 01273 733338 Kingston• 020 8547 0717 • Tunbridge Wells 01892 531543 • electrical for outstanding customer service. retailing Bromley 020 8290 1988 • Leeds (Wetherby) 01937 586886 • Weybridge 01932 840859 • Cambridge• 01223 304770 • Loughton• 020 8532 0770 • Witham (Essex) 01376 501733 • awards 2014 Website Chelsea• 020 7352 9466 • Maidstone 01622 686366 • Yeovil• 01935 700078 • WINNER Visit our website for a stream- Cheltenham• 01242 241171 • Norwich• 01603 767605 • Best Independent Retailer (Large) VISIT WWW.SSAV.COM FOR STORE ADDRESS DETAILS, Consumer Electronics lined on-line experience with an • Chorleywood 0845 5046364 • Oxford 01865 241773 • OPENING HOURS AND BRANDS STOCKED outstanding product selection • • Best Independent Retailer (Large) Epsom 01372 720720 • Reading 0118 959 7768 • • Consumer Electronics plus the latest product news and THESE STORES ARE FRANCHISED AND OPERATE UNDER • A LICENCE AGREEMENT TO SEVENOAKS SOUND & VISION Award Winner 2014 store infomation. Exeter 01392 218895 • Sevenoaks 01732 459555 •

Please Note: Some brands/products are not available at all stores. Special/added value offers are not in conjunction with any other offer (NICWAOO). ADVERT VALID UNTIL 19/11/2014. E&OE

WWW.HOMECINEMACHOICE.COM 109

➜Gear Guide TELEVISIONS From entry-level 40in LEDs to flagship 4K monsters BLU-RAY PLAYERS Which deck rules the roost? PROJECTORS It's time to blow up your video! AV RECEIVERS 5.1, 7.1, 9.2 – we've got all the options covered SPEAKERS Killer surround sound setups for all rooms and budgets PVRs Including super-slim Freeview boxes and Sky+HD AND MORE!

NEED A NEW AV RECEIVER? Our Top 10 guide is here to help

Ratings Key…

Outstanding Above average Acceptable Disappointing Dire

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 110 GEAR GUIDE

Top 10 All prices are approx and TELEVISIONS may have changed

1 ➜ Sony KD-65X9005B £3,600 Tech Info: Televisions

A groundbreaking set from Sony. The 'Wedge' cabinet design aff ord rooms for a best-in-class audio performance from the side-mounted speakers, while imagery is hard to fault, with crisp 4K visuals and impressive motion. HCC #236 2 Samsung UE65HU8500 ➜ £4,000 This second-gen 4K fl agship is a fi rst-rate (curved) fl atscreen with colour-rich, lethally-sharp images. The external connections box provides welcome futureproofi ng. HCC #234 What? No plasma?: The TV market is now dominated by LED-lit LCD screens, reaching 3 Panasonic TX-P60ZT65 ➜ £3,800 sizes up to 90in. Manufacture and sale of This plasma lives up to its 'Beyond Reference' billing, with the plasma display panels (PDPs), which best 1080p picture in town – imagery is eff ortlessly cinematic. previously came into play above 42in, has But at this price, you might want 4K... HCC #223 all but ceased, although you may still fi nd 4 some end-of-line stock. With LED comes NEW Samsung UE55HU7500 ➜ £2,300 ENTRY newer technologies. 4K models with a Don't want the curved form or higher price of the HU8500 native resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 should range? Then step down to this fl at model. No One Connect box, at least be on your audition list if you're but otherwise it's equally impressive in PQ terms. HCC #239 thinking of a new display; curved models, 5 Sony KDL-50W829 ➜ £900 from the likes of Samsung and LG, are also Impressively aff ordable, Sony's 50in LED stands out courtesy a consideration if you want to really impress of brilliant motion handling and sharp Full HD imagery. The new the neighbours... 2014 user interface off ers a few Smart tricks, too. HCC #233 6 John Lewis 55JL9000 ➜ £1,600 The department store enters the bigscreen arena with this LG WebOS-powered Smart TV with clever, integrated soundbar design and punchy HD visuals. HCC #238 7 Samsung UE40H6400 ➜ £650 This mid-market TV will probably sell like hotcakes. It ignores 4K in favour of Full HD, and combines a pleasing AV performance with plenty of useful Smart features. HCC #236 Active or Passive: At the beginning of the 3D 8 revolution, most TVs featured the Active Finlux 50F8075-T ➜ £600 system that uses relatively expensive, The best screen we've seen yet from the direct-retail corp, this powered 3D specs to deliver Full HD images 50-incher matches its aff ordability with a great user interface to each eye. Passive 3D TVs, which are and solid, but not awe-inspiring, HD visuals. HCC #234 increasingly common and now sold by LG, 9 Philips, Toshiba, Sony and Panasonic, have Panasonic TX-50AX802 ➜ £7,000 a fi lter over the screen and use non- This second-gen 4K TV again off ers HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort connectivity, joined by a well-contrasted colour-rich image and powered specs with polarising fi lters. elegant design. Netfl ix 4K support added by fi rmware. HCC #237 The glasses are cheap as chips, but the resolution of Full HD 3D is halved to 540 10 Sony KDL-55W955 ➜ £1,600 lines horizontally (but remains at 1,920 Top of the Japanese giant's 1080p line up, the W955 off ers vertically). Glasses-free 3D, heralded by excellent motion handling and great sonics, but is held back Toshiba's ZL2 TV, hasn't caught on. by backlight uniformity errors and sluggish operation. HCC #234

Top 5 BLU-RAY MOVIES

The LEGO Movie 3D A Hard Day's Night Captain America: Rush Gravity 3D A fantastic family blockbuster A brand-new 4K restoration The Winter Soldier This Formula One biopic is simply Alfonso Cuarón's sci-fi fl ick (complete with LEGO versions adds plenty of sparkle to this Short of extras, but everything magnifi cent, both in terms of rewrites the rulebook on movie of Batman and Superman), this iconic musical fl ick – the 1.75:1 else here is spot on – Marvel's production values/performances sound design, and stakes a claim gorgeous-looking 'toon packs Full HD image is faultless, while sequel outdoes the original with and its thrilling DTS-HD 5.1 mix. to the 3D crown. A disc you'll a 5.1 punch and enough smart remixed 5.1 audio provides plenty it paranoid plot-line, and the The BD hosts a nice selection of return to again and again when gags to keep you laughing all of foot-tapping fun. Oodles of DTS-HD 7.1 track oozes bass extras, too – an essential disc you want to test your system the way to the toy shop. extras for Beatles fans, too. weight and separation. for petrolheads. – nice extras as well.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 SELECT 111

Top 10 All prices are approx and BLU-RAY PLAYERS may have changed

1 ➜ Oppo BDP-103EU £500 Tech Info: Blu-ray players Oppo's fi rst deck for two years was worth waiting for. The universal BDP-103EU features a class-leading build and all Matching your deck to your AV receiver: Blu-ray manner of bonus goodies, including twin HDMI inputs. AV decks are designed to deliver top-notch performance is faultless, and the onscreen menus are images but Blu-ray is also about enjoying superb. A new model, the £600 BDP-103D, adds Darbee superior quality sound. When choosing a player, bear in mind the connectivity and Visual Presence processing for you to play with. HCC #215/#228 decoding features of your AV receiver. 2 Oppo BDP-105D ➜ £1,000 If you're still using an older model that This heavyweight deck builds upon the premium picture doesn’t off er HDMI inputs, then you’ll need performance of the BDP-103D with a wealth of audiophile a Blu-ray player with multichannel analogue upgrades – if you're serious about music, check it out. HCC #234 audio outputs to enjoy decoded hi-res 3 surround sound formats. Similarly, older but NEW Sony BDP-S7200 ➜ £220 still HDMI-equipped receivers may not be ENTRY A Sony deck without the curious angular design, the BDP-S7200 able to cope with 3D video signals, in which off ers SACD support, hi-res audio streaming and 4K upscaling case you’ll need a deck with dual HDMI HCC #239 that's worth investigation. Not too pricey, either. outputs – one channelling audio to your 4 receiver amp, the other piping video direct Panasonic DMP-BDT700 ➜ £500 to your TV. Claiming THX-certifi ed 4K upscaling and HDMI 2.0 60p passthrough, this mid-range deck from Panasonic is a good What about the PlayStation?: Sony's console partner for a modern display. Great audio option, too. HCC #237 still represents an easy path to hi-def 5 heaven. For a low-budget home cinema Samsung BD-H6500 ➜ £130 system, the £200 PS3 Slim (160GB) makes Our current fave bargain BD deck – actually Samsung's 'fl agship' a decent choice – especially if you like model – is packed with Smart features, including support for the playing games (in 3D, if you fancy it). brand's multiroom system, and super-quick in operation. HCC #236 Control via a joypad is a pain, though, 6 and the console runs more noisily than most Denon DBT-3313UD ➜ £900 BD spinners. The newer, more expensive As a 'transport', this universal deck lacks built-in decoders and analogue outs, but partner it with one of the brand's AVRs via PS4 is a much better gaming machine, Denon Link HD and you'll be rewarded. HCC #217 but won't play CDs! 7 LG BP645 ➜ £100 An aff ordable, likeable off ering from LG. The BP645 claims Spotify compatibility and Wi-Fi-enabled headphone listening among its bonus features. Slim but lightweight design. HCC #236 8 Sony BDP-S5200 ➜ £100 Using a compact bedroom-friendly design, Sony's quirky-looking deck is a good budget option, but not as Smart or as smooth to use as some of its price-point rivals. HCC #236 9 Pioneer BDP-160 ➜ £130 The successor to the BDP-150 adds integrated Wi-Fi, making Demo delight media fi le playback simpler. The Smart cupboard is still practically empty, but SACD support softens the blow. HCC #227 Prometheus: Ridley Scott's return to the sci-fi genre is a treat for your senses, with 10 Toshiba BDX5500 ➜ £120 a crystal-clear HD image and spine-tingling The key attraction of Toshiba's £120 player (aside from its 3D, sonics. The 3D presentation of this Miracast, 4K scaling and DLNA features) is its small form factor outer-space horror is impressive too – it and vertical alignment. Good for space-tight setups. HCC #238 oozes depth and proves utterly immersive

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 112 GEAR GUIDE

Top 10 All prices are approx PROJECTORS and may have changed

1 ➜ Sony VPL-VW500ES £8,800 Tech Info: Projectors

Sony's second-gen 4K projector is around half the price of the VPL-VW1000ES (below) and comes with HDMI 2.0 chippery and Triluminos colour wizardry. Auditioning this classy PJ is a no-brainer. HCC #228 2 JVC DLA-X500R ➜ £5,000 Armed with a more adept third-generation of the brand's proprietary e-shift technology, the X500R continues JVC's winning ways – contrast rich, sharp and full of tweaks. HCC #232 Installation: Although projectors can be temporarily placed on a cupboard, stand or 3 Epson EH-TW7200 ➜ £1,900 shelf situated at the rear of the room (use Priced to appeal to those unable to dabble in the £3,000 market, the adjustable feet on its base to level the Epson's mid-ranger is a great purchase. No frame interpolation image so that it aligns with the screen), on off er, but colours, contrast and brightness impress. HCC #232 a much better long-term solution is to 4 mount it on your ceiling with an appropriate JVC DLA-X700R ➜ £7,300 bracket. Projectors can be quite heavy, A hefty chunk more expensive than the X500R, but with an though, so it's important to ensure that the improved contrast performance (and more fl exible installation bracket is attached fi rmly – ideally, it should options) that will reward those who splash the cash. HCC #238 be secured to a joist. Position your PJ so 5 NEW ➜ that an imaginary line from its lens to the ENTRY Optoma HD50 £1,000 With a retweaked user interface that improves upon previous opposite side of the room hits the screen Optoma light-cannons, the 12V-trigger-toting HD50 is a brilliant exactly half-way along its width. The budget buy. A detailed, colour-rich performer. HCC #239 location of your screen should therefore 6 dictate where your projector is. A decent Philips Screeneo HDP1590 ➜ £1,500 tape-measure or laser pointer will help you Neatly designed, the Screeneo off ers ultra-short throw projection to determine the position. thrills, albeit at 720p (and the DVB tuner is SD). Punchy speakers Throw distance: Throw distance specifi es the and networking skills complete a nice package. HCC #233 distance between the projector and screen 7 Sony VPL-HW55ES ➜ £2,800 for a focused image of given size. As the Not one of Sony's 4K models, but this keenly priced Full HD vast majority of projectors are equipped projector delivers where it counts, with solid calibration options, with a zoom lens, minimum and maximum simple setup and brilliant 2D visuals. No 12V trigger. HCC #230 throw distances are often specifi ed – say, 8 3.01m to 6.08m for a 100in. 16:9 image. Epson EH-TW9200W ➜ £3,000 Shorter throw distances are ideal for A brilliant mid-range projector with wireless HD transmission and smaller rooms, and longer ones for larger ISF certifi cation, yet the noise generated when running in rooms. Simple. 'Normal' lamp mode could be a concern for some. HCC #231 Throw ratio: Sometimes, a manufacturer 9 Acer 6510BD ➜ £500 will quote a throw ratio rather than a A Full HD projector that's 3D-ready (no glasses supplied), the throw distance. This is basically the throw Acer off ers great value considering its lowly £500 ticket. Not the distance divided by the image width. To get punchiest of pictures, but it'd be churlish to complain. HCC #237 the projected image size, divide the distance 10 between projector and screen by the Optoma HD30 ➜ £1,100 specifi ed fi gure. Once again, the inclusion A step up from the HD25, this claims an increased contrast ratio of a zoom lens means that upper and lower and again off ers a pleasing bigscreen performance. UI could be fi gures are usually specifi ed. better, and zoom is somewhat limited. HCC #233

Award-winning home cinemas At Cyberhomes our home cinemas aren’t just about the amazing picture and jaw-dropping sound. We also implement the lighting, the seating, the intuitive control system from Savant, Crestron or Control4, and so much more. For details visit www.cyberhomes.co.uk/hcc

™

UK Best Cinema Install 2012

Home cinema design and installation • Lighting control systems • Multi-room audio and video • Home automation CCTV and security • Data and communication networks • Occupancy simulation • Heating and air conditioning 0845 094 2718 [email protected] www.cyberhomes.co.uk SELECT 113

Top 10 All prices are approx SPEAKERS and may have changed

1 ➜ B&W 683 Theatre 5.1 £2,750 Tech Info: Speakers

The fi rst step on the fl oorstanding ladder in B&W's speaker stable, the revamped 600 Series incorporates new tweeter and bass driver designs and off ers absurd value for money. Not the prettiest cabinets, but you really won't care. HCC #234 2 KEF R Series 7.1 ➜ £6,500 A 7.1 array mixing dipolar and direct surrounds, this authorative package takes its cues from KEF's Blade concept speaker and off ers faultless, largescale home cinema sonics. HCC #217 Centre speaker: Handles most of the dialogue and onscreen eff ects. Should be positioned 3 B&W MT-60D ➜ £2,000 above or below the screen as close to it as This 5.1 set sits at the upper end of the sub/sat market, but possible. Of course, if you're using a buyers are rewarded by a potent performance, with the PV1D projector screen, it should ideally be placed subwoofer dazzling in particular. They look lovely, too. HCC #212 behind it. 4 Front speakers: Left and right speakers DALI Rubicon LCR 5.1 ➜ £6,275 should be positioned either side of the Trickle-down tech from DALI's high-end Epicon speakers (including ribbon/dome hybrid tweeters) squeezed into on-wall screen, in line with the centre. Turn the cabinets – supremely adept with music and movies. HCC #238 speakers in slightly to face the listener if there isn’t an even movement of sound 5 Wharfedale Diamond 100 HCP ➜ £950 across the front of the room. Yet another excellent aff ordable package from Wharfedale, the Subwoofer: Can be positioned wherever it Diamond 100 HCP off ers a sound quality beyond what you might sounds best or can be tucked out of sight expect from its sub-£1,000 ticket. Maturely styled. HCC #224 due to the non-directional nature of 6 low-frequency signals. Be aware that close Kreisel Sound Quattro 7.2 ➜ £8,500 positioning in corners or next to walls can Mixing two mammoth woofers with some surprisingly manageable multi-tweeter speakers (including TriFX surrounds) create a boomy eff ect. this US package is supremely assured. HCC #232 Surrounds: Position alongside the listener, 7 pointing in or slightly behind the ears for Artcoustic Spitfi re SL 7.2 ➜ £17,000 a good surround eff ect. The back wall is Slimmed-down cabinets now even easier to install on-wall or not a good position for surrounds – it is, behind a screen, with a multi-driver design ensuring they're easy in fact, where you should locate the sixth to drive to high SPLs. Ideal for dedicated rooms. HCC #233 and seventh speakers (rears) in a traditional 8 Tannoy Precision Series 5.1 ➜ £4,450 7.1 array. These speakers' classic look belies the brand's hi-fi heritage, but this multichannel setup works wonders with movies, too – a rich, large and dynamic sound is on off er. HCC #226 Demo delight 9 Monitor Audio Radius R90HT1 ➜ £1,500 Gravity: This award-winning sci-fi thriller was The long-loved Radius speakers have been revamped with new a cinematic showcase for the powers of drivers and rear ports, and this 5.1 set provides a clear, detailed Dolby Atmos – but even the BD's regular sound with plenty of heft. Looks good in white, too. HCC #230 DTS-HD mix is something special. The 10 audio design off ers precision steering and Roth OLi RA 5.1 ➜ £850 panning eff ects all around the soundstage, A fl oorstanding array with neat design and reassuring build, this plus deep LFE and crisp Foley eff ects. The value-for-money pack delivers an impressive slice of scale to go opening scene is a great speaker show-off . with its full-range prowess. HCC #233

HOME CINEMA MULTI-ROOM AUDIO MULTI-ROOM SKY & HDTV LIGHTING CONTROL HOME AUTOMATION For a demonstration in our showroom call 01922 623000 www.getthebigpicture.co.uk

Certified Certified Home Imaging Electronic Kaleidescape Acoustics Science Systems Specialist Alliance Foundation Professionals installer Certified Certified

ISE Winner of ISE Winner of ISE Winner of Best Media Room Best Cinema Install Most Professional 2012 2014 AV Rack 2014

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 114 GEAR GUIDE

Top 10 All prices are approx AV RECEIVERS/AV PROCESSORS and may have changed

1 NEW Yamaha RX-A3040 ➜ £2,000 ENTRY Tech Info: AV receivers

A superb fl agship AVR, this dovetails nine-channel amplifi cation (and 11-channel processing) with a fl uid, dynamic sonic signature and slick operation. Design and build impress, and it's Atmos ready for when you are. HCC #239 2 Anthem MRX-510 ➜ £1,700 The Canadian brand returns in style with an AVR that ignores streaming/networking features but boasts supreme room EQ and eats movie soundtracks for breakfast. HCC #232 Tackling new heights: You may fi nd your AV receiver off ering Dolby Pro-Logic IIz, 3 Arcam AVR750 ➜ £4,000 Audyssey DSX or DTS Neo: X post- If all you want from an AV receiver is vast power and eff ortless processing – possibly all three. All of performance, this high-end 7.1-channel beast is tailored to you. these can deliver two further Front Height Little bonus features beyond audio networking. HCC #225 channels, with the aim of adding weight 4 and control to the front soundstage, Krell Foundation ➜ £6,500 particularly in terms of lifting the centre One of the US marque's more aff ordable off erings, the channel and adding scale to vertical Foundation is a seven-channel processor that delivers an surround eff ects – rainfall for example. insightful, smooth and epic sound. And it looks fab. HCC #224 The catch is that you will need to add two 5 Yamaha CX-A5000 ➜ £2,500 new physical speakers, mounted near your Part of Yamaha's new high-end separates line (you can match it ceiling above the regular left and right with the MX-A5000 amp), this 11-channel processor sounds channel cabinets, and make use of two clean, precise and off ers a dizzying range of features. HCC #228 of the receiver's channels of amplifi cation. 6 A newer alternative, Dolby Atmos, uses NEW Marantz NR-1605 ➜ £600 ENTRY object-based encoded info rather than A brilliant option for those cowed by full-form AVRs, the NR- matrixed eff ects, for a more immersive 1605 sees Marantz retool its slender line to include integrated experience. Atmos Blu-rays are on the way, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Agile, sprightly and easy to use. HCC #239 as are add-on speakers that work around 7 the need for dedicated ceiling models. Primare SPA23 ➜ £3,500 A stripped-down fi ve-channel amp that majors on sublime, and How much power?: Many of the mass-market power-packed, multichannel delivery. Limited functionality, but AV receiver manufacturers are involved in a that's not what this luxury slab is all about. HCC #237 specifi cations race to see who can say their 8 model is the most powerful, which can be Pioneer VSX-924 ➜ £500 confusing for consumers. For instance, both Pioneer's newest £500 model brings Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, an Krell's £7,000 S-1500 seven-channel power even better control app, HDMI 2.0 specifi cation and under-the- amp and Yamaha's £500 RX-V675 both hood tweaks. A great-value, great performer. HCC #236 claim 7 x 150W – the important part is that 9 Krell's fi gure is into an eight-ohm load with Yamaha RX-V577 ➜ £500 all channels driven, and that Yamaha's is Loaded with DSP modes (some fun, some not) and Wi-Fi- enabled for audio streaming, this clean-sounding Yamaha is a with one channel into a four-ohm load, great low-budget option. Bluetooth via optional dongle. HCC #237 which is hardly a real-world situation. The best advice is ignore the numbers game and 10 Sony STR-DN1050 ➜ £500 get a demo of your desired AVR with the A fabulous user interface, smart design and excellent spatial same, or similar, speakers that you intend imaging lend this Sony serious appeal, although we found the to partner it with. integrated Wi-Fi a bit fl aky. HCC #238

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 SELECT 115

Top 10 All prices are approx SUBWOOFERS & may have changed

1 ➜ Bowers & Wilkins DB1 £3,250 Tech Info

Featuring a bipolar arrangement of 12in drivers powered by 1,000W of amplifi cation, B&W's stylish fl agship sub is a faultless performer, off ering both musicality and sheer muscle. Fit to partner the fi nest of speakers. HCC #197 2 SVS SB-2000 ➜ £650 With a new 12in driver and revamped 500W Sledge DSP amplifi er, this mid-sized woofer off ers immense value for money and imbibes BDs with potent LFE. Easily recommended. HCC #233 Why use more than one sub?: Using two subwoofers (or perhaps four) should, in 3 JL Audio Fathom F212 ➜ £5,900 theory, bring huge rewards in terms of bass The US brand arrives in the UK in style – this 2 x 12in, 3,000W performance. But remember that LFE is a brute not only looks gorgeous, it's capable of a mindblowing tricky beast to control. Running two subs performance. Got a big room? Get one of these! HCC #214 may simply double problems in your room 4 like room boom and suck-outs, where Tannoy TS2.12 ➜ £550 outgoing and refl ected bass sounds cancel The TS2.12 is easily Tannoy's best woofer yet – using a 12in driver each other out. If you have some fl exibility in (opposite a passive 12in cone) and 500W amp to deliver a rich, where you place subwoofers, trial and error bass performance. Aff ordable and good-looking, too. HCC #208 may well throw up some interesting results. 5 REL S-5 ➜ £1,600 The acoustics wizard Floyd E Toole (his A step up from the T series (below), this 12in model is large and book Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics weighty, with a performance level to match. Fast and tight but and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and capable of dropping very low indeed. HCC #234 Rooms is fi ne bedtime reading) suggests 6 one LFE sub to either side of the room may REL T-7 ➜ £650 be best for accuracy while placing them in The T-7 uses an 8in driver in tandem with a 10in passive radiator, the front corners would be best for overall and features simultaneous speaker-level and LFE inputs and bass power. Yet there is no hard and fast Class A/B amplifi cation. An excellent all-rounder. HCC #223 rule as to what will work best for every 7 room, and you may fi nd that simply using Bowers & Wilkins PV1D ➜ £1,200 one (large) subwoofer is preferable as On of the coolest-looking subs on the planet, B&W's revamped PV1 uses DSP trickery to craft an opulent low-end performance. it's the easiest to get sounding right. The touch-sensitive OLED display is pure class. HCC #212 8 REL Habitat 1 ➜ £1,300 Demo delight With its LongBow wireless system and wall-mountable design, REL's newest woofer is aimed at those seeking discreet bass. The LEGO Movie: This colourful, great-looking Twin 6.5in drivers work fast and with considerable grip. HCC #231 animation from Warner Bros. is a visual 9 treat on Blu-ray, and matched by a 5.1 SVS SB12-NSD ➜ £650 DTS-HD Master Audio mix that revels in A 12in driver squeezed into the smallest enclosure possible, the SB12-NSD packs a 400W 'Sledge' amp and off ers a weighty yet its use of the LFE channel. Stonking bass fast and accurate sound. Looks a bit bland, though. HCC #223 is the order of the day here – the bangs, thumps and explosions of the manic 'toon 10 Quadral Qube 10 ➜ £525 action are underpinned by a forceful, A gorgeous-looking woofer with a build quality that belies its full-bodied low-end that's guaranteed lowly price tag, the Qube 10 takes Quadral's musical heritage to get the most out of your subwoofer. and delivers a controlled, poised performance. HCC #223

Top 5 HD GAMES

Ultra Street Fighter IV Forza Motorsport 5 Grand Theft Auto V Assassin's Creed IV: Titanfall New characters, stages and This game's headline trick is Rockstar's newest slice of Black Flag EA redefi nes the online shooter gameplay mechanics make this delivering its huge car collection car-jacking, gun-wielding fun is This sequel takes to the high with this breathtaking arena update of the four-year-old title and decent selection of tracks in absolutely massive in both scale seas for piratical fun, with an blaster that ups the ante on the best beat-'em up around. wonderfully detailed 1080p at a and ambition – a big-budget enormous open world, absorbing the competition with its fl uid If you're having a family row over silky smooth 60fps. That it's not game that will leave a big grin on gameplay, beautiful graphics run-and-gun mechanics, giant what fi lm to watch, this is the quite perfect – dodgy AI, for your face. Graphically gorgeous, and a soundtrack packed with mechs you can take control best way to settle it. a start – is less important. and the 5.1 mix isn't bad, either. well-realised ambient eff ects. of and gorgeous graphics.

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE 116 GEAR GUIDE

Top 10 All prices are approx and ACCESSORIES may have changed

1 ➜ Now TV box £10 Tech Info: Media players An unqualifi ed bargain, this Wi-Fi VOD streamer from Sky (and built upon Roku hardware) brings BBC iPlayer, Demand 5 and the Roku Channel Store to any HDMI-toting telly, plus subscription access to Sky Movies and Sky Sports. The quality of the adaptive bitrate streaming is impressive, and the £10 tag gets you P&P and an HDMI cable. HCC #226 2 Sony SRS-X9 ➜ £600 A Wi-Fi, Airplay and Bluetooth speaker with a penchant for hi-res audio, Sony's premium one-box design off ers a fi ne build, quality drivers and a beguiling performance. HCC #235 What about my TV?: Many fl atscreen TVs from the major brands (Sony, Samsung, 3 NEW Devolo dLAN 650 Triple+ starter pack ➜ £120 Panasonic, LG, Toshiba and Sharp) also ENTRY This package makes Powerline networking fast (claimed at up to incorporate media player functionality, 600Mbps) and easy. The three-port Ethernet extender is sleekly using Ethernet or Wi-Fi to stream from your designed, and provides a regular plug socket, too. HCC #239 home network, or from plugged-in USB 4 drives. Most modern Blu-ray players off er Dune HD Base 3D ➜ £250 this, too. However, fi le support is rarely as A media player for the AV enthusiast. Full-width and fully- extensive as on dedicated devices from the featured, it provides support for 3D BD rips and much more, with likes of Western Digital and A.C. Ryan, and a slick user interface and plenty of connectivity. HCC #235 our experience shows some are more adept 5 Sony MDR-HW700DS ➜ £450 at playback from USB than over a network. Comfy cans supplied with an HDMI-toting surround processor, Nor (obviously) is a TV or BD player enabling multichannel audio to be fed to a virtual 9.1-channel portable. If your media collection extends soundstage. The eff ect is superb – great for late nights. HCC #234 beyond JPEGs and MP3s into lossless audio 6 rips and esoteric HD video formats, then Philips Hue ➜ £180 a standalone player is a good investment. These Wi-Fi enabled lightbulbs might be expensive (this £180 Storage: You can, if you really want, store all starter pack includes two, plus the Wi-Fi bridge) but making your your fi les on a plethora of USB drives, or on own multicoloured lighting scheme is a blast. HCC #220 your PC, but it's best to get a NAS (Network 7 Monitor Audio Airstream A100 ➜ £400 Attached Storage) device for simplifi ed Partner your TV with the speakers of your choice with this sharing of your media across a network with networked, AirPlay-streaming two-channel amp. Great, sleek multiple players, design – bit awkward to control, though. HCC #238 such as one from 8 Netgear's Roku Streaming Stick ➜ £50 ReadyNAS range Adopting the same form as Google's Chromecast, this HDMI (pictured). These stick gives full access to Roku's lengthy channel list and enables dedicated devices content sharing from a smartphone. Great for old TVs. HCC #235 often off er RAID 9 array fi le backup, Microsoft Xbox One ➜ £430 and are managed Not as graphically potent as the PS4 (below) but the new Xbox lives up to its billing as a home entertainment hub – voice control via browser and multi-tasking tricks prove very useful. HCC #230 software. Storage capacity can be 10 Sony PlayStation 4 ➜ £350 anything from 1TB The PS4 off ers a killer gaming experience, with the under-the- to 12TB and hood power resulting in great-looking games. 3D Blu-ray beyond. playback has now been added via fi rmware. HCC #229

Top 5 BLU-RAY/DVD BOX SETS

Game of Thrones: The True Detective: The Werner Herzog Video Nasties: The Twin Peaks: Complete Third Season Season One Collection Defi nitive Guide Part Two The Entire Mystery More fantastic fantasy TV HBO's award-winning eight-part Eight discs packing 18 of the Superb three-disc DVD package Both seasons of the US cult delivered on Blu-ray – as crime series starring Hollywood fi lmmakers' earlier fl icks partnering a feature-length TV series and the prequel fl ick with previous seasons, the heavyweights Matthew (from 1967 to 1987). The HD documentary about the 'video ...Fire Walk With Me are given a AV quality here ensures the McConaughey and Woody presentations are strong, and nasties' craze of the 80s/90s fan-pleasing 10-disc BD release, show's big-budget bombast Harrelson arrives on BD looking Herzog pops up on numerous with trailers/analysis of 83 of the sporting 7.1 DTS-HD audio and shines through. great. Essential viewing. commentary tracks. controversial fi lms in question. a treasure trove of bonus bits.

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 www.hifichoice.co.uk Fuel your passion for THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE... sound and make your music sing to getting the best possible sound OUT NOW! from your hi-fi, whether you’re buying, tuning or tweaking

twitter.com@HiFiChoiceMag facebook.com/hifichoice.co.uk 20/3/14 12:10:15 15/5/14 11:32:19 SELECT 119

Top 5 PVRs

Virgin Media TiVo, Sky+HD, £subscription Panasonic DMR-HW220, Pure Avalon 300R Samsung BD-H8900, £330 £subscription Sky's channel choice is £250 Connect, 1TB, £350 This 1TB model combines a This triple-tuner PVR off ers second-to-none and its twin Panasonic's PVR mixes a 1TB Pure's debut Freeview+ HD Freeview+ PVR with a Smart BD ultimate recording fl exibility, tuner 2TB PVR is a perfect hard drive with its Smart Viera off ering is assured. While it can't player. Loaded with bonus useful features – you can partner. The recent EPG tweak is functionality and media match YouView for VOD content, features (CD ripping anyone?) undelete deleted shows! – and welcome and Anytime (the push streaming – so at £250 it's an the user interface here is but a little uninspired in build, awesome TiVo functionality. A no VOD service) is brilliant for absolute steal, regardless of the unrivalled and four-way HDMI and the IPTV and Freeview brainer if you're in a cable area catching up on new movies uninspired design switching a welcome addition elements remain segregated.

Top 5 SOUNDBARS

Yamaha YAS-103, £230 Canton DM 50, £400 Monitor Audio ASB-2, Philips HTL9100, £600 Q Acoustics Media 4, £400 Bluetooth-enabled and This sturdily built soundbase £1,000 A soundbar/sub that A no-nonsense off ering form the app-controllable, this speaker may lack HDMI inputs This premium proposition incorporates two removable speaker specialist, which ignores single-enclosure solution boasts but makes up for it with marries Monitor Audio's C-CAM side speakers to allow it to HDMI inputs and daft DSP a great design and solid build. Bluetooth streaming and drivers with AirPlay and DLNA become a wireless 5.1 system, modes in favour of creating a Audio from its 2.1-channel a full-bodied 2.1-channel music streaming. Performance is this Philips is a neat proposition. nuanced and impressively solid driver array is rich, clean and performance. Movies and music exemplary – powerful and Easy to install and with a 2.1 soundscape. Punchy, surprisingly potent benefi t from clarity and power polished in equal measure heavyweight sound. controlled and well-built.

Top 5 SYSTEMS

Panasonic SC-BTT590, Samsung HT-H7750WM, Harman/Kardon BDS470, LG BH8220B, £650 Panasonic SC-HTB570, £630 £850 £650 With its silver fi nish, this is a £350 The use of new bamboo/ The top-fl ight system from Harman's 2.1 system eschews suitable one-box system to A commendable slim-line 2.1 charcoal drivers and noise- Samsung in 2014 uses tallboy 'net TV and streaming features partner with LG's fl atscreen TVs, system that can also be clicked shaping tech pays dividends speakers all around. Plenty of but majors in heavyweight with a commendable, if slightly together to make a soundbar. here, with a classy sound quality features here, and a fulsome 5.1 build quality and solid AV lacking in HF fi nesse, sound. The punchy wireless subwoofer to match the wealth of features performance, but the build performance. We tested a 2.1 Additional features including does a lot of the work. Bluetooth (3D BD, Smart TV and more) quality is a bit disappointing iteration – 5.1 is also available CD-ripping to USB. Handy music streaming is onboard

ISSUE #241 ON SALE Nov 13 ➜ In the next issue ➜ On test Treat your setup to some awesome add-ons Pioneer SC-LX88 AV receiver Epson EH-TW6600W with our Christmas gift guide projector LG 65UB980V flagship 4K TV Denon Audio explosion – does the Atmos mix on AVR-X4100W AV receiver Monitor Audio Shadow Transformers 4 set a new reference level? speakers 47in/48in flatscreen grouptest PLUS News, 4K Blu-ray – what we want to see! software, opinion, installs and more!

CONTENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE – BUT ONLY FOR THE BETTER

DECEMBER 2014 HOME CINEMA CHOICE

122 OPINION

Dreaming of a balanced audio performance, Richard Stevenson wonders if it's time he ditched his fl oorstanding speakers and adopted a true sub/sat system

I HAVE HAD another Atmos-inspired epiphany, one specifi c volume. Move the volume knob up or and being a man who lives by the axiom that large down or swap between tracks recorded at diff erent fl oorstanding loudspeakers are a life essential, levels and either the speakers or sub will end up it's quite a shocker – I've realised that bijou speakers louder. Sometimes a lot louder. Just try balancing might be the best bet for home cinema. a sub/sat system with a bass-light Fleetwood Mac The revelation came about as I ran-in my new recording and then switch to Eminem with the Atmos ceiling speakers by setting them up as a front volume still in ASBO territory. You will be picking stereo pair for a music session. My Atmos weapons bits of your eardrums out of the back wall for a week. of choice are a cabinet-based on-wall/on-ceiling This is not an issue with fl oorstanders. Driven by Tannoy model with a relatively compact 21-litre a single amplifi er with a crossover that ensures the enclosure. Mrs S banned in-ceiling models, very likely driver complement reacts uniformly with changes due to this column's previous cartoon illustration of to input level, the frequency response stays pretty her in twin-set and pearls overseeing me cutting consistent irrelevant of volume or the eccentricities holes in the plasterboard. of the recording. Floorstanders are a much better bet These on-walls have a very THX attitude to than a sub/sat system for music. frequency response and bass response falls off Back in movie land, where you set the levels and a cliff like a lemming below 80Hz. What they need is sit back for two hours without changing the content, a THX subwoofer that takes over at 80Hz and below. director or volume, the vagaries of how the speaker And thus the speakers were duly set up at front of system handles these variations is irrelevant. It’s house, dialled in with my Velodyne DD18+ subs and set-and-forget. Moreover, a full-range sub/sat a high-volume music fest ensued. speaker system may off er LFE down to 20Hz, giving And what a nightmare it was too. The trouble is, you the full audio spectrum the director intended. in an age where music is streamed off a NAS drive Even better, having identical satellite speakers allows and accessed via an app, you tend to listen track by for seamless pan-directional timbre-matching. You'll track rather than sitting down to enjoy an entire ‘LP’. get the same with fl oorstanders for every channel, The Beatles might follow Beethoven, Laura Marling of course, but I am told by friends this would only might follow Metallica and Nina Simone might be possible in their homes ‘over their dead bodies,’ follow Nightwish (well, in my music collection at which seems impractical. least). Every few minutes you are swapping between Quite clearly Atmos has got a lot to answer for. recordings from diff erent eras, mastered with Not only do I suddenly understand the unique Richard diff erent tech by diff erent producers, each with merits of small speakers, I have realised that the Stevenson's a diff erent slant on what balance and levels sound best speakers for home cinema and the best for hi-fi eclectic taste in right – and that really upsets a sub/sat system. are very diff erent beasts. This, of course, now means music is mirrored by his eclectic Because the speakers and woofer are running I am going to have to split my music and home taste in cinema off diff erent amps with diff erent gain depending on cinema systems into two discrete setups. Oh dear ■ snacks. He eats input, and feeding drivers with diff erent effi ciencies, hotdogs with Do you have separate setups for music and movies? ice-cream topping they are only ever going to be properly balanced at Let us know: email [email protected]

HOME CINEMA CHOICE DECEMBER 2014 ILLUSTRATION: BY TEKURA MAEVA PURE, AUTHENTIC SOUND REPRODUCTION - delivered by the brand new DALI RUBICON series

Producing a wonderfully wide dynamic range and imaging so real, you’ll believe that you are right in the middle of the action.

The RUBICON LCR is a wall-mounted speaker in a class of its own and features DALI’s hybrid tweeter module and wood-fibre cones. The LCR boasts an ingenious bass port configuration built into the back panel that uses the wall to extend its acoustic properties - this delivers an unrivalled bass response and eliminates the need to add a subwoofer to your two-channel system.

FForor more information on the new RUBICONRUBICON series:serie www.dali-rubicon.comicon.com