Home Cinema Choice Magazine - February 2022

In this issue

One part 4K OLED, one part high-performance Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and one part style icon, Philips’ new 65in OLED+986 is the brand’s most premium TV. We put this flagship flatscreen through its paces in our in-depth review.

Also on the test bench this issue is Denon’s AVR-X1700H, an affordable Dolby Atmos/DTS:X receiver with futureproof connectivity and a bevy of features. Is this the best-value AVR you can buy? We also run the rule over Panasonic’s 50in JX850 Dolby Vision LED TV; Klipsch’s Cinema 600 soundbar; a floorstanding speaker package from Monitor Audio; Q Acoustics’ M20 active system; Sky Glass; Toshiba’s 50UK3163 TV; and more. Whatever your budget, we’ve got you covered.

On the software side, we check out new Blu-ray, 4K and streaming releases including No Time to Die, The Last Duel and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, plus a new ‘Deluxe Edition’ of Jackie Chan classic actioner Armour of God. We also look at the weird and wonderful world of Director’s Cuts movies, from James Cameron’s The Abyss: Special Edition to Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

Elsewhere, we report on CES 2022 and the new tech coming your way this year; check out a living room-turned-cinema room with the aid of a hidden projector; revisit an HCC reader to get the lowdown their system overhaul; and explain why loudspeakers are the heroes of any AV setup…

Plus all the usual opinions, news, disc reviews and competitions. Enjoy the show!

Arch AV rivals prep for battle in 2022

LG's CES reveals included an Atmos soundbar innovation, a 97in OLED and a wire-free lifestyle TV. Samsung countered with Mini LED upgrades and a projector aimed at Gen Z music lovers, while Sony grabbed the limelight with its A95K Quantum Dot OLED. Steve May takes it all in

7 mins

AND… CUT!

The home media boom means a film's theatrical version isn't necessarily its last. Anton van Beek takes a look at the intriguing, inspiring –and sometimes irritating – world of 'Director's Cuts'

10+ mins

Procella pro cinema

This bigscreen home theatre has been designed for luxury comfort, striking good looks and extreme performance. Daniel Sait reports

2 mins

Spot the projector

This technically accomplished project had to fit perfectly around the customer’s existing living space, says Daniel Sait

2 mins

OLED's feeling supersonic

Philips' new range-topping OLED TV introduces some much-needed class into John Archer's living room

9 mins

'For our next trick...'

In a nutshell, if Monitor Audio keeps making loudspeakers as good as this, Mark Craven will keep raving about them

7 mins

Sky through the looking glass

Sky reinvents premium pay TV with this dish-free proposition, but not without contention, reports Steve May

8 mins

Get connected

Denon's entry-level X Series AV receiver is also its most advanced in terms of HDMI connectivity. Go figure, says John Archer

7 mins

Every day brilliance

Panasonic delivers a bright-room LED TV that sports fans and gamers are going to eat up, says Steve May

7 mins

Sony PlayStation 5

THE PLAYSTATION 5, in case you've been living under a rock this past year, is Sony’s latest games console. It launched in the UK on November 19 2020, in two versions: a ‘Digital Edition’ without a disc drive, and a standard version with a disc drive. Given that the disc drive plays 4K Blu-rays as well as game discs, guess which one I went for…

5 mins

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Home Cinema Choice Magazine Description:

Since 1995 Home Cinema Choice has been the must-buy magazine for AV enthusiasts. Published thirteen times a year, each issue provides in-depth, detailed reviews of the hardware products on your shortlist – from hi-def/4K televisions and projectors to AV receivers, speakers, Blu-ray players, soundbars and more. We also travel the world seeking out the latest tech and trends, provide advice and inspiration for your own cinema project and reveal the Blu-rays and DVDs you'll want to add to your collection.