Articles by Steve May

Home entertainment AV specialist

Steve has been writing about AV and home cinema since the dawn of time, or more accurately, since the glory days of VHS and Betamax. He has strong opinions on the latest TV technology, Hi-Fi and Blu-ray/media players, and likes nothing better than to crank up his ludicrously powerful home theatre system to binge-watch TV shows.

Articles by: Steve May

Samsung UBD-K8500 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player review

By Steve May published 16 May 16

Samsung's first 4K Blu-ray player manages the cute trick of being both overpriced and a bit of a bargain.

Moon Neo 230HAD review

By Steve May published 5 April 16

This heavyweight headphone amp will take your desktop audio to the next level – just make sure you have cans to match.

One of the movie's most challenging 3D sequences was choreographing Gandalf and the dwarves in Bag End

Behind the scenes of The Hobbit: the special effects masters

By Steve May published 29 August 15

MOVIE WEEK Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey proved a challenge of Silmarillion proportions for the visual effects team at Weta Digital.

Why Netflix in Ultra HD will ruin TV

By Steve May published 27 August 15

Movie Week An afternoon with Kevin Spacey blows away concerns about 4K and curved TVs.

6 ways Ray Dolby changed the way the world listened

Six ways Ray Dolby changed the way the world listened

By Steve May published 26 August 15

Movie Week Audio pioneer Ray Dolby left behind a high-fidelity legacy.

Is Dolby Atmos the future of cinema sound?

By Steve May published 25 August 15

Movie Week It's the biggest change to movie audio since the advent of 5.1, but what is an object-based sound system?

Polaroid P55D600 review

By Steve May published 6 August 15

The specification may not dazzle, but this inexpensive 4K flatscreen offers crowd pleasing pixel-dense picture quality for those after a budget big-screen TV.

Finlux 55UT3EC320S review

By Steve May published 20 June 15

Finlux hopes to sway bargain hunters with its first 4K UHD curved TV, but corners have been cut in the process.

LG 65UF850V review

By Steve May published 19 June 15

This 65-inch 4K screen is packed with futuristic features – though some more obvious than others...

Technics Premium C700 Network Audio System

Technics Premium C700 review

By Steve May published 26 May 15

Technics returns with a high-end audio system that combines delicious design with a refined, detailed stereo performance.

Panasonic TX-55AX902 review

By Steve May published 28 January 15

This heavyweight 4K UHD TV from Panasonic features a full-array backlight and loads of features, but some of the basics are broken.

Sony BDP-S7200 review

By Steve May published 16 January 15

The Sony BDP-S700 offers excellent value for money and delivers top Blu-ray picture quality.

LG 55EC930V OLED review

By Steve May published 24 November 14

Recommended

LG's new second-gen OLED TV pushes 1080p performance to new heights, and tempts streamers with webOS Smart TV.

5 best CD-quality digital music services

By Steve May published 3 November 14

In Depth From streaming services to download stores, low bitrate music just doesn't cut it any more.

4K Blu-ray is finally happening as more streaming options pour forth

By Steve May published 11 September 14

May on 4K There's lots of new 4K content on the way, but will a late 2015 launch come in time to save 4K Blu-ray discs?

Why live TV and sports in 4K will not work over the internet

By Steve May published 19 August 14

May on 4K Netflix may stream happily in Ultra HD but live TV requires significantly more bandwidth.

4K TV broadcasts are on the way but there are problems ahead

By Steve May published 29 July 14

May on 4K Sync issues, bandwidth and compression just some of the problems facing 4K broadcasts in the UK.

Everything you know about 4K is wrong thanks to HDCP 2.2

By Steve May published 10 July 14

May on 4K The great 4K copy protection debacle is making a hideous mess of the Ultra HD roll-out.

Why 3D audio on Netflix will cement the internet as the home of 4K

By Steve May published 27 June 14

May on 4k Netflix's claims that 4K is the ideal format for the Internet age are sounding increasingly convincing by the day.

Sony KD-65X9005B review

By Steve May published 19 June 14

Editor's Choice

Sony brings its wedge TV design to Ultra HD and the results are nothing short of spectacular.

Panasonic TX-50AX802 review

By Steve May published 18 June 14

Recommended

This 50-inch Panasonic TV is proof that smaller screens are just as capable at presenting stunning 4K images.

Panasonic reveals its Ultra HD TV is not compatible with Netflix 4K

By Steve May published 9 June 14

May on 4K Panasonic's ultimate 4K TV uses the wrong type of chips meaning owners will miss out on Ultra HD Netflix.

Sky, BBC and 4K: is British TV turning its back on the Ultra HD revolution?

By Steve May published 22 May 14

May on 4K So will Alive 4K's critical and commercial success hasten a new broadcast era of 2160p telly? Don't bank on it.

4K streaming is leaving Blu-ray in the dirt

By Steve May published 9 May 14

May on 4K With plans for 4K Blu-ray apparently forgotten, is there any future in the physical format?

Samsung UE40H6400 review

By Steve May published 2 May 14

Samsung aims squarely for the Smart TV mainstream with its well equipped Six Series Full HD flatscreen.

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