Buying Audio Gear in 2024: Are Hi-Fi Dealers Still RELEVANT?

Which movies have flopped hard so far this year? We look at 2024's disappointments including some surprise underperformers and ask why some films look great on paper but just don't capture the audience's interest... and others just plain suck! Plus the guys select their top ten cinema and streaming titles for the month along with the best discs to help you with your purchasing choices for this month.

This week we report back from the EI Live custom installation trade show and look at some of the interesting AV products we saw, including the return of 21:9 TVs! Plus, we say goodbye to Home Cinema Choice magazine as it closes its doors and discuss how the CI sector can get its services over to a much larger market.

Danny Tack from TP Vision joins us to discuss the Philips flagship TVs for 2024, the OLED+959 and the OLED+909. We talk picture quality, META panel, P5 AI Dual Engine processor, Game bar, Ambilight and sound upgrades.

We examine the role of bricks-and-mortar Hi-Fi dealers in 2024: are in-person demos still necessary with YouTube reviews, and do product special editions drive sales? Plus, get a preview of the Newcastle Audio Show (1st–3rd Nov 2024), featuring demos, product launches, and the chance to meet leading audio brand reps.

We share our Blu-ray picks for September 2024 plus list our top 15 favourite horror 4K Blu-rays

In our September Movies and TV podcast, we offer a Top 10 list of must-watch picks for the month. Then, we dive into our featured topic: Workprints – the elusive Holy Grail for dedicated movie fans.

Once you've got your AV space correctly set up and your display calibrated for accuracy, there's still the question of making sure your video sources are up to the task. In this Home AV podcast, we look at how to get the best from the entire video chain. We also discuss the changing nature of accessing content. Plus, we find out more about industry body CEDIA.

We bust a few myths about TV calibration on this edition of the AVForums TV, Display and Calibration podcast. For example, what qualifies as calibration… and what doesn't? What is Filmmaker Mode and do you actually need your TV calibrated if it’s accurate out of the box? Is it always best to get a professional in or can you have a go yourself? What exactly are the standards that are used? We explain the answers to these questions and more.

We cut through the many confusing options for streaming music to help you decide which path to take. From choosing a streaming service on a mobile device to investing in a dedicated hardware module, we examine the advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches, suggest some options and also examine whether there's a quality trade off for the convenience of so much music.

The team members each pick their favourites of the year taking film quality, extras and packaging into account to come up with 15 best discs to add to your physical media collection. Plus the guys select their top recommended 4K & Blu-ray releases to help you with your purchasing choices for this month.