ready to ’ware
NEW TECH YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON…
Despite the cancellation of this year’s annual IFA tech fest in Berlin due to you-know-what, there’s still plenty of new gadgetry around to spruce up your home-cinema bunker… Libby Plummer
Panasonic JX600
FROM £449.99 | OUT LATE OCT
Rolling Panasonic’s TV tech into a more affordable package, this budget 4K TV boasts HDR support for vivid colours and higher contrast. Built-in Dolby Atmos means it can deal with immersive movie soundtracks and you’ll also get all the usual apps including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Available with a 43 or 50in screen, the TV also responds to Google and Amazon Alexa voice commands.
Samsung The Terrace
FROM £3,999 | OUT NOW Samsung’s first outdoor TV, the weather-proof Terrace TV has an IP55 rating, so it’s protected against water and dust, and comes with extra waterproof cover. Available in 55, 65 and 75in screen sizes, this 4K QLED panel is wallmounted and with a clever anti-reflection screen so it’s still watchable on a sunny day. There’s also an optional weatherproof soundbar to match.
Sony HT-A9
£1,599 | OUT NOW
Described by Sony as “a new frontier of surround sound”, this space-saving system is made up of four neat little cylindrical wireless speakers and a compact control hub. Using the maker’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping tech, it measures the height and position of each speaker, then synthesises the sound waves to make up to 12 ‘phantom’ speakers from just four. The result is immersive cinematic sound, with support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Philips OLED+986
£TBC | OUT TBC OCTOBER
Philips’ latest flagship OLED TV packs a re-engineered speaker system from British audio boffins Bowers & Wilkins, along with support for immersive Dolby Atmos. The whopping 65in panel sports Philips’ cool Ambilight tech, which projects coloured lights on the wall behind your TV to match the action on screen. Bringing greater sharpness, more skin tones and better contrast, the new panel also combines HDR tech with real-time ambient light levels to automatically adjust brightness levels scene by scene.
Q Acoustics M20
£399 | OUT NOW
If you’re short on home-cinema space, this HD wireless audio system is ideal as it doubles – or triples – up as an audio system for gaming and music. Delivering sound from your TV, set-top box, games console, turntable or, if you still have one, CD player, it offers stacks of flexibility. Snazzy sculpted cabinets are designed to produce low-distortion stereo sound, and they look pretty slick, too.
Klipsch Cinema 1200
£1,449 | OUT NOW
Klipsch has been making speakers for the cinema for decades, and now it’s bringing its movie audio tech to a new series of soundbars. The top-of-the-range Cinema 1200 offers full 5.1.4 audio for a blockbuster experience and also boasts Dolby Atmos certification for all-around sound. Built-in wifi means it also works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Spotify Connect.