Ultra HD Haven
Home Cinema Choice|January 2017

Formerly a garage-turned-family room, this smart home cinema conversion sports a 4K projection system, 7.1.4 speaker array, back-room bar area and a collection of legacy games consoles. HCC reader Stephen invites you to step into his pride and joy.

Stephen
Ultra HD Haven

Welcome to the AV-Holics Hall of Fame! Introduce yourself...

Hi, my name is Stephen Miles. I am 41 years old and work as a technology director.

How long have you been into home cinema, and what was the first setup you had?

I've been a fan for a long time, and as far back as I can remember I have always had a stereo system of some kind connected to my TV. My first surround setup came in around 2002 after visiting a friend (Dan Peck) and hearing how awesome a proper setup could be.

I had a 42in Panasonic flat screen TV (a 720p model) so started to hunt around on eBay for an amp and some speakers. I managed to pick up a Denon AVR-3803, a pair of KEF Coda 9s for my front speakers and a KEF Coda 80 for the centre channel. I reused a pair of Denon SC-M50s from my CD player as the rears. All in I spent about £150 and it sounded so much better than my previous stereo system. Since then I have been adding and upgrading components as I find good deals or new technology comes out.

When and why did you decide to build this new cinema room?

This story is from the January 2017 edition of Home Cinema Choice.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2017 edition of Home Cinema Choice.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HOME CINEMA CHOICEView All
AV Avenger
Home Cinema Choice

AV Avenger

You should think twice before accepting an invitation to play Resident Evil 4 with spatial audio in a haunted prison, warns Steve May

time-read
2 mins  |
May 2023
Catalogue classic Star Wars: Ep. VI - Return of the Jedi → Ultra HD Blu-ray, Disney
Home Cinema Choice

Catalogue classic Star Wars: Ep. VI - Return of the Jedi → Ultra HD Blu-ray, Disney

Forty years on from the movie's cinema release, Anton van Beek ponders what might have been if things had gone a little diff erently during the making of Return of the Jedi…

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2023
Feedback
Home Cinema Choice

Feedback

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

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2023
M&K Sound V12
Home Cinema Choice

M&K Sound V12

TIME ON TEST: Three years REVIEWER: Steve Withers

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2023
Sony 'bar demands to be upgraded
Home Cinema Choice

Sony 'bar demands to be upgraded

This well-specified Dolby Atmos soundbar may have a mid-range price tag, but you'll soon want to spend more, cautions Steve May

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2023
Short and sweet
Home Cinema Choice

Short and sweet

Marantz's compact AV receiver returns with a new look and boosted features – Jamie Biesemans slips it into his AV rig

time-read
5 mins  |
May 2023
Discreet delivery
Home Cinema Choice

Discreet delivery

A slim, stylish Scandinavian on-wall system impresses Mark Craven with its handling of the sweet stuff

time-read
5 mins  |
May 2023
One project, two rooms
Home Cinema Choice

One project, two rooms

Dan Sait reports on a custom install where a JVC PJ/ Atmos system is joined by a stylish media den

time-read
2 mins  |
May 2023
THE KING OF B RDA HOLLYWOOD
Home Cinema Choice

THE KING OF B RDA HOLLYWOOD

Three of his movies have taken over $2billon at the global box office, he's pioneered SFX and 3D technologies, and he's been to the very bottom of the Pacific Ocean. That's James Cameron by the way, not Anton van Beek

time-read
10+ mins  |
May 2023
System selector!
Home Cinema Choice

System selector!

Given three similar budgets, Mark Craven, Steve May and John Archer assemble three different AV setups focused on movies, streaming and gaming

time-read
8 mins  |
May 2023