Home Cinema Choice Magazine - December 2016

In this issue

Our cover star speakers from Definitive Technology have a hidden sonic secret – built-in powered subwoofers and top-mounted Dolby Atmos-enabled drivers! Suddenly a 5.2.2 setup doesn’t seem so intrusive. But can this space-saving system offer the performance power to match its smart design? We reveal all in our exclusive review.
Also on the test bench is Samsung’s 49KS8000 – a 4K/HDR TV with a picture quality and price tag that’ll grab your attention – plus Marantz’s new slim-line NR1607 receiver that squeezes state-of-the-art AV skills into a living room-friendly chassis; Epson’s EH-TW9300 home cinema projector; an affordable Ambilight 4K flatscreen from Philips; Arcam’s Solo Movie 5.1 all-in-one system; and more from LG, Humax, KEF and Naim. Whatever your budget, we’ve got you covered.
On the software side, our Playback section checks out new disc releases including X:Men: Apocalypse, The Conjuring 2 and Stanley Kubrick’s classic Paths of Glory. We also round up the best ghost story movies from The Shining to The Blair Witch Project, revisit Lucy in 4K, go fragging with Gears of War 4 and chat with new Blu-ray indie label Indicator about its first-year plans. On top of all that, we find time to round up the 23 Blu-ray soundmixes that you have to have in your collection.
Elsewhere, we chart VHS’s 40-year story from TV recording tech to digital HD champion and enjoy a sneak preview of Oppo’s debut Ultra HD Blu-ray player. We also check out a stunning Dolby Atmos/4K home cinema conversion, kick back in an HCC reader’s sports-themed movie room, give away a pair of Orbitsound soundbars and wonder whether Dolby Vision will ever actually take off…