LATEST ADDITIONS

Steve May  |  Nov 29, 2012  |  0 comments

Do you want a soundbar? Or a 2.1 system with a standalone processor? Acknowledging that there’s gold in them thar TV audio upgrade hills, Panasonic has decided to attack both markets with the SC-HTB550 – a novel package that can either be configured as either soundbar with subwoofer, or a more conventional stereo speaker pair and sub. The main enclosure splits in two, you just orient accordingly.

Richard Stevenson  |  Nov 24, 2012  |  0 comments

Update: Click here for a full review of Lionsgate's The Expendables 2 Blu-ray

Adrian Justins  |  Nov 24, 2012  |  0 comments

The Bose Solo is more of a soundbox than a soundbar, having been designed by Bose to sit underneath your screen rather than in front of it. This cunning approach, where the TV stand is plonked on top of the unit, eliminates the problem of the soundbar encroaching on the screen (or the remote control receiver at the very least), which can happen with shallow stands and/or tall 'bars. From a distance the box looks like a PVR or deck, upon which one would never dream of placing a TV.

Danny Philips  |  Nov 20, 2012  |  0 comments

All-in-one systems are usually designed for maximum convenience and minimum cost, often with scant regard for sound quality. But Panasonic’s new-for-2012 SC-BTT590 is a different kettle of fish – a one-box Blu-ray system that puts the emphasis on performance with an array of high-quality audio components.

Anton van Beek  |  Nov 20, 2012  |  0 comments

Stop-motion specialist Aardman Animations has struggled to find a level of cinematic success to match that it regularly achieves on TV. In part this is down to some ill-judged forays into computer animation that have struggled to live up to the lofty heights of Pixar.

Mark Craven  |  Nov 16, 2012  |  0 comments

If you want to spruce up your home audio and give money to a good cause at the same time, then Tivoli Audio's Model 10+ BBC Children in Need DAB radio could be the answer.    Available to order online from   http://tivoliaudio.co.uk/cin/, the DAB/DAB+/FM table radio was designed by competiton winner David Hampson. It retails at £199, with £50 from each radio sold benefiting the BBC Children in Need charity. Tivoli Audio is taking no profits from sales.   The competition to find the winning fundraising design was hosted by the Today programme. The outer cover of the radio was meticulously designed to a brief inspired by New Broadcasting House at Portland Place. HCC's own effort, which tried to incorporate Children in Need mascot Pudsey's face in the speaker grille, never got passed the doodle-on-a-napkin stage.   BBC Children in Need’s vision is that every child in the UK has a 'safe, happy and secure childhood'. And you can't argue with that. The live appeal show is on BBC One HD tonight from 7.30pm.  

 

Mark Craven  |  Nov 15, 2012  |  0 comments

Marantz's brand ambassador and HCC Hall of Famer Ken Ishiwata will be demonstrating his high-end hardware at an exclusive event at Birmingham-based independent AV retailer Music Matters on December 4th.

Mark Craven  |  Nov 15, 2012  |  0 comments
  A new YouGov study on the nation’s TV habits has revealed the 'optimal' price for Smart TVs, based on the average amount people intending to purchase a connected set are willing to pay.   The figure for a 32in Smart TV is £440, while the figure for a 42in model is £550.    The You Guv survey also reports that more than 50 per cent of Brits have connected their TV sets to the internet, and that sales of Smart TVs over the next year could reach around £2.5 billion.    Says YouGov's Media Consulting Director Dan Brilot: The good news for Smart TV manufacturers is that there is a huge appetite for accessing internet services on TV sets, whether that be on-demand TV, radio, news apps, or video calling services like Skype. The bad news is that there are a lot of competing technologies out there that can be confusing to the consumer.'    'The message for manufacturers and retailers is clear,' added Brilot. 'If they can set the right price the revenue potential in the short and mid-term from Smart TVs is huge, particularly as we enter the Christmas shopping period.'   HCC wonders if TV manufacturers would consider £550 for a 42in TV 'the right price'...     
Anton van Beek  |  Nov 15, 2012  |  0 comments

A group of heavily-armed cops find themselves trapped inside a 15-storey apartment block and facing overwhelming odds when a raid on a local crime lord goes horribly wrong. And that's all the plot there is to Gareth Evans' turbo-charged movie, The Raid. That pretext leads into a feature-length orgy of violence, showcasing some of the best-choreographed, most imaginative action scenes committed to film in years. Unmissable.

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