TECH PREVIEW

Home-cinema kit to suit(case) all tastes…

Even with some of the big home-cinema brands deciding to skip this year’s Berlinbased IFA show, it offered a tantalising sneak peek at what’s coming next. Here are a few highlights for your 2023-24 wish list…

LG STANBYME GO

OUT TBC £TBC

If you’ve ever wanted to cart your TV around in a suitcase, you’re in luck. LG’s rather bizarre StanbyME Go is a 27-inch touch display that comes in a sturdy carrying case, which also houses a 20w four-channel speaker system. Designed to be used outdoors, the TV-in-a-suitcase sports LG’s webOS smart TV platform and connects to your iOS or Android device. A built-in battery gives you up to three hours of watching time (so Oppenheimer is just about possible), but you can also lay the screen flat if you fancy playing a digital board game.

EPSON EH-LS650

OUT TBC OCTOBER £2,299.99

Bring the big screen into your living room with this new short-throw laser projector. Designed with smaller spaces in mind, the catchily named LS650 can project a picture up to 120 inches, even when it’s sitting close to the wall. An easy-set-up smartphone app does all the hard work for you, and there’s also built-in Android TV and Chromecast for streaming and casting. What’s more, it has Yamaha speakers on board, so it works as a standalone smart speaker. Choose from black or white to match your decor.

SENNHEISER AMBEO SOUNDBAR MINI

OUT NOW £699

Looking for a top-notch soundbar to sit under your telly? Audio expert Sennheiser has brought its awesome Ambeo tech to a more compact gadget that also has a more wallet-friendly price tag. Packing a 250w output, the Ambeo Soundbar Mini is less than half the size of its Soundbar Plus sibling. Support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X means you can get 3D spatial sound from just the one speaker, making moviewatching more immersive without having to invest in a whole set of speakers.

SAMSUNG THE FRAME: DISNEY 100 EDITION

OUT NOW £1,999

As well as showcasing an impossibly large 98in 8K QLED TV, Samsung recently unveiled a limited-edition version of its ‘The Frame’ TV to commemorate Disney’s 100th anniversary. Acting as a piece of art when it’s not being used as a TV, The Frame gives you access to a range of famous artworks from the likes of the Louvre and the Tate to display on your wall. This particular edition offers 100 pieces of Disney artwork, including graphics from Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm. Packing a super-slim design and matte display, the TV also sports a premium silver-metal frame.

SONY HT-AX7

OUT NOW £499

This nifty little portable sound system is designed for cinematic audio anywhere. It comprises three speakers, two of which pop off from the top, and packs Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology. This clever tech creates virtual speakers at the front, rear and overhead, giving you an immersive, cinema-like sound. Bluetooth connectivity and up to 30 hours of battery life mean you can place it pretty much anywhere in your home. The speaker fabric is made from recycled bottles, so it’s ecofriendly, too.