Ultimate Guide to Home Cinema: on sale from September 6

Thinking of buying a new flatscreen TV? Or trying to make sense of the Blu-ray vs HD DVD format war? Then you need the new Ultimate Guide to Home Cinema, on sale from this Thursday, Sept 6.

It's packed with more than 250 expert verdicts on all the latest home cinema technology, including plasma and LCD TVs, DVD players and recorders, high-definition Blu-ray and HD DVD players, projectors, AV amps and receivers and some of the cutest home-cinema-in-a-box systems we've ever seen.

Just to whet your appetite, here are a few of the highlights in this issue:

  • Exclusive reviews: we're the first to test Denon's new range of AV amps and receivers, from the £350 AVR-1708 to the mighty £2000 AVR-4308. Oh, and we've got new budget DVD players from Philips and Denon too.
  • Revealed: the best TV in the world – plus our verdict on brand-new flatscreens from Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Sony, Samsung and Toshiba.
  • HD DVD vs Blu-ray: the truth about every new player on the market, including hot new models from Sony, Pioneer and Toshiba. And we put the upgraded PS3 through its paces – the result may surprise you.
  • Next-gen HDD and DVD recorders, plus Freeview PVRs that allow you to pause and rewind live TV. Never miss your favourite TV show again.
  • Best Buy projectors: how to get the real big-screen experience for less than an LCD or plasma. Projector prices just keep on tumbling, as you'll discover if you click here.
  • 5 easy steps to HDTV: our step-by-step guide to building a complete high-definition system, for the ultimate TV and video experience.
  • Seriously sexy one-box systems: home cinema doesn't have to be complicated, or bulky, as hot new contenders from Arcam, Samsung and Sony prove. Sony's diminutive DAV-IS10 delivers awesome sound from speakers barely bigger than a two pound coin.
  • Speakers with a dash of style: good-looking surround speaker systems that not only look great, but sound great too. See, you can have designer looks and class-beating performance...
  • Temptations: the world's most desirable kit, including Classé's high-end DVD player, processor and power amp, plus Panasonic's flagship 103in plasma – yours for a mere £50,000!
Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.