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Software Features
High Fidelity Pure Audio: Blu-ray music, pure and simple
Martin Pipe  |  Sep 19, 2014  |  0 comments

First there was the scratchy and hissy shellac 78, rendered obsolete by the improved sound of the 'microgroove' vinyl LP in the mid-1950s. Twenty years later, we had eight-track and cassette alternatives for pre-recorded music on the move – early in-car gear, followed by Sony's Walkman revolution. Recorded music was then taken into the digital realm by CD, but beyond that not a lot has happened to the technical basics of music for most mainstream users. Sure, downloaded music is now a popular option courtesy of iTunes and its ilk, but the vast majority listen at no better than CD quality. Indeed, if you haven't opted for a lossless download format like Apple Lossless or FLAC, and stuck with compression technologies like MP3 and AAC, then it's probably worse.

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Software Features
The Blu-rays that will really test your system!
Team HCC  |  Sep 13, 2014  |  0 comments

A great demo sequence can help separate a good speaker system – or hi-def display – from a mediocre one. With that in mind, Home Cinema Choice's expert reviewers Danny Phillips, John Archer, Steve May, Richard Stevenson and Adam Rayner reveal the Blu-ray discs they use to put new AV equipment to the test…

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InterviewsSoftware Features
Strike up the banned!
Anton van Beek  |  Jul 14, 2014  |  0 comments

To celebrate the DVD release of his new documentary, Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide Part Two - Draconian Days, we caught up with filmmaker Jake West to chat about film censorship and moral panic in the UK during the James Ferman era of the British Board of Film Classification...

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InterviewsSoftware Features
Back from the dead...
Anton van Beek  |  Jun 29, 2014  |  0 comments
BFI restoration maestro Ben Thompson reveals how the 1945 Ealing Studios classic Dead of Night was brought back to life on Blu-ray...

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Software Features
The 101 Blu-rays you must own - Part 5
Anton van Beek & Mark Craven  |  Jun 27, 2014  |  0 comments

HCC's ultimate countdown of the 101 best discs around continues below with our Top 20 Blu-rays. Click Part 1 for numbers 101-81, Part 2 for numbers 80-61, Part 3 for numbers 60-41, and Part 4 for numbers 40-21.

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Software Features
The 101 Blu-rays you must own - Part 4
Anton van Beek & Mark Craven  |  Jun 26, 2014  |  0 comments

HCC's ultimate countdown of the 101 best Blu-ray discs around continues below. Click Part 1 for numbers 101-81, Part 2 for numbers 80-61, and Part 3 for numbers 60-41.

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Software Features
The 101 Blu-rays you must own - Part 3
Anton van Beek & Mark Craven  |  Jun 25, 2014  |  0 comments

HCC's ultimate countdown of the 101 best Blu-ray discs around continues below. Click Part 1 for numbers 101-81 and Part 2 for numbers 80-61.

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Software Features
The 101 Blu-rays you must own - Part 2
Anton van Beek & Mark Craven  |  Jun 24, 2014  |  0 comments

HCC's ultimate countdown of the 101 best Blu-ray discs around continues below. Click here for numbers 101-81.

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Software Features
The 101 Blu-rays you must own - Part 1
Anton van Beek & Mark Craven  |  Jun 23, 2014  |  0 comments

With movie streaming services becoming bigger and better and even TV manufacturers getting into the content-delivery game, Blu-ray is facing its biggest battle since the days of HD DVD. But if you are thinking of leaving the physical format behind, make sure your get these discs first...

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InterviewsSoftware Features
The final frontier of sound
Steve May  |  Apr 27, 2014  |  0 comments

In space no one can hear you scream. This kinda makes it difficult to construct an immersive, thrilling yet believable space-locked movie soundtrack – but that's exactly what multi-award-winning sound designer and editor Glenn Freemantle has managed with Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity.

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Software Features
Hi-res audio targets take-off
Steve May  |  Mar 22, 2014  |  0 comments

It’s not just video that is getting a resolution update. Audio has also jumped the bandwagon and is now promising an altogether sharper sonic experience. The High-Resolution Audio banner is being unfurled by a growing number of big-name brands, eager to push performance beyond the limitations of the now venerable compact disc.

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InterviewsSoftware Features
He does the monster mash
Anton van Beek  |  Dec 23, 2013  |  0 comments

Having begun his animation career at Pixar working on Toy Story and THX promos, Hal Hickel transfered to Industrial Light & Magic in order to work on the Star Wars prequels having been a fan of the franchise since childhood (he even submitted his own script for a Star Wars sequel at the age of 12 and received a polite rejection letter from producer Gary Kurtz). Since then he has worked on a variety of blockbusters including Star Wars: Episodes I and II, first three Pirates of the Caribbean films, Iron Man and Super 8. His most recent role was as animation supervisor on Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi blockbuster Pacific Rim.

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InterviewsSoftware Features
Homemade heroes
Anton van Beek  |  Dec 07, 2013  |  0 comments

Scottish comic book writer Mark Millar shot to fame a little over a decade ago with a series high profile gigs for DC Comics and Marvel including The Authority, The Ultimates, Superman: Red Son and Marvel Knights Spider-Man.

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Software Features
Blu-ray's biggest blunders
Mark Craven & Anton van Beek  |  Nov 01, 2013  |  0 comments

It's the highest-quality video format around and the basis of any home cinema system, but as Team HCC reveals, the bigwigs behind Blu-ray have occasionally dropped the ball...

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Software Features
Do you dare to press 'Play'?
Mark Craven & Anton van Beek  |  Oct 29, 2013  |  0 comments

Everyone loves a good horror movie. Well, maybe not everyone, but the longevity of the genre suggests there are plenty of us who enjoy being frightened as we fumble for our popcorn. And whether you get your thrills from haunted houses, masked stalkers, shuffling zombies or cursed videotapes, there are plenty of flicks to choose from when it comes to planning your Halloween home cinema entertainment.

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