Apologies for the inconvenience, but AVForums will be offline from 6am Thursday 21st January 2021 for a few hours while we perform a major update to our core software. See what changes are coming.
Phil Hinton (Twitter) has managed the editorial content on AVForums since 2002. With the assistance of AVForums founder Stuart Wright, he established and built the editorial section starting with DVD reviews and news. Over the last 12 years it has grown substantially to include new subject areas such as home cinema, tech and gaming along with regular podcasts and videos.
As Editor-in-chief, he is responsible for all news stories, articles, reviews, podcasts and videos produced by the site in all the subject areas.
The editorial content produced by AVForums covers all aspects of home entertainment including home cinema, technology, games and movies. In order to help with the accuracy and objectivity of AVForums reviews, Phil is also a fully qualified video calibrator.
After leaving school, Phil studied radio/TV production & journalism at college, before leaving home at 17 and working in a number of jobs. He has had a keen interest in home cinema from the early days of Pro-logic & LaserDisc. In 1998 Phil joined the Police in a career that lasted 10 years. It was during that period that he started building the editorial in his spare time and finally joined AVForums full time as Editor-in-chief in 2008. His passions include cars, home cinema, movies, music, photography & film making.
The AVForums podcast returns with news from CES. We cover the latest TV announcements from Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, LG, TCL and Hisense as they unveil new 8K & 4K OLED, Mini LED, QNED and Micro LED TVs for 2021.
LG launches brighter G1 plus 83-inch C1 OLED TVs for 2021
by Phil Hinton
LG introduces a brighter OLED panel with its G1 OLEDs and an 83-inch screen size for the C1 OLED TVs at CES 2021. There's also a new webOS smart TV system and redesigned remote control, along with a Game Optimiser Menu system...
Panasonic introduces JZ2000 Flagship OLED TV with HCX Pro AI for 2021
by Phil Hinton
AVForums attended an online briefing for the new JZ2000 flagship OLED on Wednesday where Panasonic highlighted the features, picture quality and design changes for the 2021 model. We get HDMI 2.1 features for gaming and cinematic picture quality from the Custom Pro OLED Panel.
Sony 8K Z9J and 4K A90J, A80J, X95J and X90J TVs launched
by Phil Hinton
AVForums was invited to a press briefing from Sony UK on the 4th of January where the company announced its new line-up of 8K and 4K premium Bravia XR TVs. New models have XR Cognitive Processor, Google TV and exclusive streaming service BRAVIA CORE from Sony Pictures.
This week the AVForums podcast makes an unscheduled return as Christmas is locked down in the UK, so we’re back to talk all things AV, TV, Tech, Film, streaming and more.
This week we round-up our favourite AV and Hi-Fi kit and technologies, look back at the best movies, TV shows and 4K discs of the year and look forward to what we might see in 2021.
This week Phil and Steve discuss and review the Sony VPL-VW790ES and VPL-VW590ES native 4K projectors while Ed reviews the NAD M33 streaming amplifier and Cas gives us the latest TV show and movie reviews and news...
This week we cover our Editor's Choice Awards for the best projectors and TVs of 2020 over a number of categories. Plus, Ed gives us his music choice of the week and Cas rounds-up the movie & TV show news and reviews.
We present our 2020 awards for the very best TVs of the year over a number of categories. This year has been difficult for us all, but we have also seen some excellent new TV models with some of the best picture quality we have seen yet, so let's announce the winners...
The Q80T is the replacement for last year's Q70R and has a 50-zone FALD VA panel along with a sleek design and one HDMI which can accept 2.1 features for gaming and 4K/120. With a price now under £1K for the 55-inch, it could very well be a bargain gaming and movie viewing set...
This week Ed takes us through the best Hi-Fi products of 2020, we also have an interview with Chris Mullins from Sony Professional about the latest native Sony 4K projectors, plus there's the best of the month for music, movies and TV shows.
This week Steve and Phil discuss the winners of the Best Home AV products of 2020 in our Editor's Choice Awards. Plus, Ed reviews the Bowers & Wilkins 705 Signature Loudspeakers along with Cas' round-up of the film and TV show news and reviews.
The MP-40 is the smaller venue based AV Processor from Lyngdorf with 12-channels of decoding for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Auro 3D, along with RoomPerfect calibration and full system integration. It offers exactly the same performance as the MP-60 but in a smaller package, so just how good is it?
This week we look at the next-gen gaming consoles with Rik Henderson as he gives us his AV verdicts on the Xbox Series X and PS5. Plus, Steve reviews the Samsung LSP9T Ultra-Short-Throw 4K Laser Projector and Ed looks at the JBL HDI 1600 speakers. We also have album of the week as well as film and TV reviews and news from Tom.
This week on the AVForums Podcast Phil has a review of the Samsung Q80T QLED TV and Ed looks at the Spendor Classic S4/5 speakers. Plus, we say goodbye to the original James Bond while Tom rounds-up the latest TV and film news and reviews.
Philips' 2020 flagship TV offers a stunning design, excellent image accuracy and video processing along with an Atmos speaker bar from Bowers & Wilkins. So is this the luxury TV you have been waiting on?
This week we have the full review of the Philips OLED+935 TV from Phil, Steve is looking at the LG HU70LS LED projector and Ed reviews the Audiolab 6000A Streaming Amp. Plus, we round-up the Best of the Month for music, movies and TV shows.
This week we review the Denon AVC-A110 special edition AV Amplifier as well as getting the first impressions on the Philips OLED+935 flagship TV currently in for review. Plus, Ed talks Hi-Fi reviews and news while the AVForums movie team reviews the latest films, TV shows and more...
The NAD T 778 introduces a new design concept including a large TFT touchscreen, support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X along with Dirac Live room correction and BluOS streaming. So is it any good?
This week it's an audio fest as we review the latest AV Receivers from Marantz and NAD. Phil has been testing the NAD T 778 for the last few months and is mightily impressed, while Steve has an AVForums UK exclusive look at the Marantz SR7015. Plus, Ed looks at the MKII version of the Mission LX2 speakers with Cas rounding up the film reviews and news...
We take a look at the first-ever 48-inch CX OLED TV from LG to see if it can match the 55- and 65-inch versions for image quality. Plus, is this the perfect screen size for HDMI 2.1 gaming? Let's find out...
This week we review the 48-inch version of LG's popular CX OLED TV, designed for smaller rooms and gamers. Plus, Ed looks at the Philips Fidelio X3 headphones and Mark joins us to talk next-gen consoles and more. Plus, Cas will round up the movie & TV show news and reviews.
This week we review the Sony XH95 LED LCD FALD TV along with MediaLight Flex Bias lighting and Klipsch The Fives powered loudspeakers. Plus, it's the end of the month so we cover Ed's playlist, album and vinyl favourites as well as the best 4K discs, movies and TV Shows for September 2020.
Panasonic HX800 (TX-58HX800B) 4K LED LCD TV Review
by Phil Hinton
The Panasonic TX-58HX800B is an ultra-thin edge-lit VA panel LED LCD TV with the company’s HCX processor. It supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+ with Dolby Atmos decoding and My Home Screen smart TV.
This week we review the Panasonic TX-58HX800B edge-lit LED LCD TV as well as the Sony HT-G700 soundbar. Plus, we get the best music of the week from Ed, while Cas rounds up the latest movie and TV show news and reviews.
The TCL 65C815K is a 65-inch edge-lit LED LCD TV which uses a 100Hz VA panel - is compatible with all the major HDR formats currently available - and features Freeview Play and Android TV. So is it the bargain it appears to be?
We launch our Wednesday podcast with a review of the TCL C815 TV and Denon and Huawei wireless speakers, plus, Sony announces three new native 4K HDR projectors. Ed gives us his music choice of the week and we discuss the latest film and TV show news and reviews.
The Panasonic HZ1000 has a new 2020 Pro HDR OLED panel featuring Filmmaker Mode with intelligent sensor, Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos sound, as well as Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG HDR formats.
The Sony A8 is the company's latest 4K OLED TV that has Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) and now includes X-Motion Clarity 120Hz Black Frame Insertion, IMAX Enhanced certification and Netflix Calibrated mode. So it has everything, bar the Master Series title...
This week we review the Sony A8 OLED TV, Mulan on Disney+ and we round-up the latest news from the virtual IFA show in Germany plus wrap-up with the latest movie news and reviews...
We are back from our podcast summer holiday with reviews of the Arcam AVR30, plus the LG CX, Philips OLED805, Panasonic HZ2000 and Hisense U8QF TVs, what we did on our holidays, the best of the month and more!
The LG CX is the mid-range sweet spot in the company's 2020 OLED TV line-up with Filmmaker Mode, Dolby Vision IQ and improved calibration controls. This is a review of the 55-inch screen size.
The Hisense U8QF is the company's latest range-topping 4K ULED TV. It features a 132 zone FALD backlight with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ and a new JBL sound system. So can this latest Hisense TV push the boundaries of the mid-range TV market in the UK? Let's find out...
The Panasonic HZ2000 is the company's latest flagship 4K OLED TV with a custom pro panel, Filmmaker Mode and Dolby Vision IQ. It is also expensive, so does it live up to the flagship hype? Let's find out.
Philips' latest mid-range OLED TV offers plenty of features and one of the brightest HDR performances this year from the technology. So has Philips' arrival back in the big leagues produced an outstanding OLED TV? Let's find out...
With the podcast heading for a two week summer holiday, we review the Samsung HW-Q950T soundbar, find out that Filmmaker Mode is a must-have on all TVs, get the latest AV and Hi-Fi news and ask what are the best summer holiday based movies?
LG's top-end 4K LED LCD TV for 2020 uses NanoCell technology for improved colours and uses the Alpha7 Gen3 Processor. It offers Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG along with Filmmaker Mode for image accuracy. WebOS also offers the latest apps including Disney+ and Apple TV+, so what is not to like?
The HZ1500 is a high-end OLED from Panasonic that now features a full Dolby Atmos sound system with upward-firing and soundbar speakers for 2020. It also features the new Filmmaker mode with intelligent sensing, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ and HLG.