HCA Tech Talk - News, Reviews and Opinions

HCA Media

A consumer-facing podcast hosted by industry veterans, Stuart Burgess from Immersive Cinema Rooms and Simon Gregory from Cinema Rooms. Each episode, we bring you News, Reviews, and Interviews from inside the industry covering Home Cinema, Home Theatre, and all things tech. Get involved techtalk@homecinemaalliance.co.uk

  1. LIVE @ ISE 2026 - How Procella Redesigned The P8 And Unified Screen And Sound For Real Rooms

    1D AGO

    LIVE @ ISE 2026 - How Procella Redesigned The P8 And Unified Screen And Sound For Real Rooms

    Send us a text A twentieth anniversary should feel like forward motion, not a museum tour. We brought that energy to the floor with a reborn P8, a new Uno series of sealed subwoofers, and Immersio, our approach to uniting DVLED screens with uncompromised sound. If you’ve ever wrestled with dispersion, seating distance, or the compromises of non-perforated displays, this conversation offers a practical path that trades spec chasing for room-first performance. We start with the P8’s transformation: a rear-mounted driver that hides fasteners, a Fibonacci-inspired face, and a redesigned waveguide that locks in coverage where listeners actually sit. Fewer crossover parts mean cleaner transitions, while a unified design language keeps installs tidy whether the speaker lives behind fabric or on display. From there, we dig into bass that fits the build—Uno subs sized by room volume. The U21 squeezes a 21-inch driver into a 300 mm-deep sealed cabinet with baffle walls; the 24-inch variant has the same front footprint at just 390 mm deep, and the compact U12 reaches tight spaces at 200 mm. Sealed alignment, predictable behaviour, and installer-friendly handles make placement and integration less of a gamble. Immersio rounds it out with a screen you can trust and a soundfield that doesn’t flinch. Partnering with NanoLumens, we offer premium and elite DVLED options, Aurora 23-bit processing to preserve black and grey detail, and scope aspect ratios that feel cinematic rather than corporate. With more than 350 non-perforated deployments informing the layout, we show a 7.1.4 demo room using P6-based LCRs, angled on-walls, and dual 18s to prove how the system scales in irregular spaces. Brightness is kept sensible for longevity and contrast, and pixel pitches from 0.7 to 1.2 mm map cleanly to real viewing distances, so the image disappears and the story remains. If you’re an integrator, designer, or enthusiast looking to simplify choices without sacrificing performance, this is a blueprint: dispersion tailored to distance, subwoofers sized in cubic meters, and visuals that respect audio. Subscribe for more deep dives, share with a friend who’s planning a build, and leave a review with the one upgrade you’d choose first. Learn more about Procella here - LINK Support the show

    17 min
  2. LIVE @ ISE 2026 - Inside Stealth Acoustics: Invisible Speakers, Marine‑Ready Stingrays, And Outdoor LED Theaters

    1D AGO

    LIVE @ ISE 2026 - Inside Stealth Acoustics: Invisible Speakers, Marine‑Ready Stingrays, And Outdoor LED Theaters

    Send us a text Sound that disappears, design that shines. We sit down with Jamie at the Stealth Acoustics stand to explore how invisible speakers, marine-ready Stingray models, and a turnkey outdoor LED theater reshape homes, gardens, and even superyachts without visual clutter. From kitchens that need clean lines to patios that demand weatherproof punch, the goal is simple: premium audio that blends into the build. We start with the invisible lineup—LR116, LR224, LR430—and what sets them apart: dedicated focus, two-way and four-component three-way architectures, and real-world protection via poly switches that reset after overload. Jamie shares practical installation guidance that saves time and stress: use a play saver, test with an amp before mudding, and keep plaster under two millimetres to protect clarity and high-frequency detail. Every speaker is human-tested before shipping, reducing surprises when walls close and deadlines loom. Then we head outdoors to the Stingray range. These IP68, rust-proof speakers were born in the marine world, can be mounted horizontally or vertically, and accept vinyl finishes to match brick or stone for a camouflaged look. They deliver serious fidelity while refusing to look like speakers, and they scale—from a single garden zone to a superyacht party deck. Bass lovers get the case for pairing subs, plus a tease of a new outdoor subwoofer on the way for deeper, tighter low end across larger spaces. Finally, we step up to the Patio Theater: a 114-inch, P2 pixel-pitch LED display that arrives as a near-turnkey solution. With LR430s and 30W subs on tap, brightness to fight daylight, and customisation options for audio, soundbars, and recessing, it’s a fast path to big-screen outdoor cinema. Weatherproof design extends across Stealth’s portfolio, and for UK projects, AWE handles supply, support, and shipping—from back-gate squeezes to container deliveries. If you’re designing for clean lines, durable performance, and seamless integration, this deep dive offers clear takeaways, field-tested tips, and configuration ideas. Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of architecture, audio, and experience design, and share your dream outdoor setup—we’d love to hear how you’d build it. Learn more about Stealth Acoustics here - LINK If you are an Integrator in the UK, talk to AWE Europe about your next project - LINK Support the show

    11 min
  3. Tech Talk News: Stereo Power, Minimalist Form - Lyngdorf Audio launches new stereo soundbar

    3D AGO

    Tech Talk News: Stereo Power, Minimalist Form - Lyngdorf Audio launches new stereo soundbar

    Send us a text Great sound doesn’t need to clutter your space. From the floor of ISE 2026 in Barcelona, we explore how a new passive stereo “soundbar” aims to merge hi‑fi performance with minimalist design. It looks like a sleek on‑wall bar, but the engineering reads like a serious two‑channel speaker: sealed cabinet, long‑throw woofers, soft dome tweeters, and tuning optimised for wall mounting so you gain efficiency and bass weight without the boom. We dig into what makes a passive approach different. By pairing the speaker with an external amplifier—think modern streaming amps with robust power and room calibration—you unlock cleaner headroom, better dynamics, and the freedom to upgrade over time. Boundary‑aware acoustics help the cabinet hit hard while staying controlled, and thoughtful driver choices deliver a smooth, transparent top end that keeps dialogue crisp and music alive. If you’ve been torn between floorstanding performance and a living‑room‑friendly footprint, this design makes that choice less painful. Aesthetics matter. An integrated wall mount, shallow depth, and finish options let the speaker vanish in dark theaters or complement living spaces with soft fabric grilles and rounded edges. Custom widths and colours accommodate different screen sizes and interiors, while Danish manufacturing and in‑house cabinet finishing demonstrate tight quality control. We share launch timelines, practical pairing tips, and the scenarios where one on‑wall enclosure can credibly stand in for traditional left and right speakers. Curious whether a single, slim cabinet can really deliver true stereo imaging and cinematic punch? Press play, then tell us what you’d pair it with. If you enjoy the show, follow us, share it with a friend who loves clean setups, and leave a quick review to help others find us. For more information, visit Lyngdorf Audio or contact your local Home Cinema Alliance Member Today's news story was brought to you by Surfshark. Get Surfshark for only £1.49 a month, plus three months extra free. Claim your offer on our website at HCATechTalk.com Surfshark is your perfect travel companion for ISE 2026.  Support the show

    5 min
  4. Tech Talk News: Ascendo’s 8 Pro Wedge Solves the LED Wall Audio Problem

    4D AGO

    Tech Talk News: Ascendo’s 8 Pro Wedge Solves the LED Wall Audio Problem

    Send us a text LED video walls look like the future of private cinema, but they create a thorny audio problem: no space behind the image for a true centre channel and barely any depth around the screen. We dig into Ascendo’s answer, the 8 Pro Passive LED Wedge, a shallow, coaxial-based speaker engineered to deliver reference sound where traditional enclosures simply don’t fit. From dialogue intelligibility to seamless pans, we break down how point source behaviour, controlled coverage, and smart geometry keep sound glued to the picture across multiple rows. We walk through the engineering: a coherent mid/high waveguide for timing accuracy, a horizontal D’Appolito woofer layout that adds chesty impact without bloating vertical dispersion, and a 100 x 60 pattern paired with a 12-degree wedge cabinet to direct energy toward listeners rather than the ceiling and floor. You’ll hear why this matters for rooms up to roughly 15 meters deep, how the speaker maintains clarity at scale, and what 75 Hz–20 kHz bandwidth with up to 131 dB headroom means for blockbuster dynamics and subtle dialogue. Installation is often the make-or-break moment, so we cover real-world solutions: keyhole mounts for quick hangs, V brackets for precise tilt on walls or ceilings, and a hidden bayonet option when the LED wall is already in place. We also explain the phantom centre technique using matched speakers above and below the screen—a practical way to anchor voices to the image when you cannot hide a centre behind the display. Whether you’re designing a luxury screening room, adding surrounds and heights with tight depth, or building a studio with predictable imaging, this gear offers compact size, clean cabling, and controlled coverage without compromising output. Heading to Barcelona for Integrated Systems Europe 2026? Ascendo will be demoing the 8 Pro in their luxury immersion cinema at Stand 2J500, so you can judge the coherence and impact for yourself. If you enjoyed the breakdown, follow the show, leave a quick review, and share this episode with a friend who’s planning an LED wall build. Your feedback helps us bring more deep dives like this to your queue For more information, visit Ascendo or contact your local Home Cinema Alliance Member Today's news story was brought to you by Surfshark. Get Surfshark for only £1.49 a month, plus three months extra free. Claim your offer on our website, HCA Tech Talk. Surfshark is your perfect travel companion for ISE 2026.  Support the show

    5 min
  5. Tech Talk News: Inside Artcoustic’s Spitfire Q: Line-Array Power For Private Cinemas

    4D AGO

    Tech Talk News: Inside Artcoustic’s Spitfire Q: Line-Array Power For Private Cinemas

    Send us a text Some product launches nudge the market; this one aims to reset expectations. Artcoustic’s Spitfire Q series delivers the scale and control of line arrays inside a single, elegant enclosure, designed for luxury private cinemas and pro installations where performance, predictability, and speed of deployment matter. We walk through what makes this range different, how it changes commissioning workflows, and why listeners across every row can finally share the same clarity and impact. We unpack the engineering choices behind the promise: a tightly controlled vertical driver layout, proprietary high-frequency shaping and time alignment that sculpt energy before it hits the room, and dispersion that stays wide horizontally but disciplined vertically. That combo reduces ceiling and floor reflections, sharpens dialogue intelligibility, and keeps the soundstage intact from seat to seat. Add high SPL with low distortion and real efficiency, and you get cinema-grade dynamics without pushing amps to the brink—more headroom, less stress, and a presentation that stays composed when the soundtrack goes from whisper to mayhem. From an integrator’s perspective, fewer cabinets and fewer alignment steps mean faster installs, cleaner aesthetics, and repeatable results. We map the use cases from private screening rooms to boutique commercial spaces, explaining how RP-led cinema principles guide coverage, intelligibility, and dynamic headroom. Pairing the Spitfire Q with matching subs ensures a smooth crossover, leaving dialogue crisp while the low end hits hard. Along the way, we share insights from Artcoustic’s team, who frame this as their most powerful and versatile range to date—bold words backed by thoughtful design. Ready to hear how single-enclosure precision can elevate your next cinema build? Press play, then subscribe, share with a fellow cinephile or integrator, and leave a quick review to tell us what you think. For more information, visit Artcoustic or contact your local Home Cinema Alliance Member Support the show

    4 min
  6. Tech Talk News - How Sony Plans To Light Up Bright Spaces With Smarter Bravia Screens

    JAN 30

    Tech Talk News - How Sony Plans To Light Up Bright Spaces With Smarter Bravia Screens

    Send us a text Big, bright, and built for real-world spaces—our latest Tech Talk breaks down Sony’s new Bravia BZP professional display lineup launching at ISE 2026. We unpack what actually matters in a modern commercial screen: anti-glare that tames atrium reflections, wide viewing angles that keep menus readable across the room, and AI-powered picture tuning that adapts in real time. From retail floors to conference hubs, we translate spec sheets into practical choices. We walk through the three tiers—BZ40P, BZ35P, and BZ30P—so you can match brightness and budget to your environment. Need 700 nits and the strongest non-glare for a sunlit lobby? That’s BZ40P territory. Balancing performance and value for mixed lighting? BZ35P hits the sweet spot at 500 nits. Operating in controlled rooms where cost and clarity both matter? The 400-nit BZ30P does the job. You’ll also hear why dust resistance (IP5X on selected models) matters for transport hubs and shopping centres, and how the standard 43- to 85-inch sizes fit signage walls, reception areas, and meeting rooms. Deployment and management get equal attention. Many signage apps run directly on the displays, removing external media players and simplifying installs. Built-in remote management lets IT teams monitor, update, and standardise settings at scale, while slim bezels, consistent mounts, and portrait alignment ease video wall builds. Efficiency gains—up to 31% lower power draw thanks to a new optical system and AI backlight control—cut operating costs and heat, which is crucial for dense installations. We also situate the BZP range within Sony’s broader pro lineup, including the 98-inch BZ53L and compact BZ30J and EZ20L, so you can plan a unified fleet across different sites. If you care about clear content in bright places, faster rollouts, and lower total cost of ownership, this briefing will save you time and guesswork. Follow HCA Tech Talk on YouTube for daily updates from ISE 2026, and share your biggest display challenge—we’ll tackle it in a future segment. Subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help more pros find the show. Support the show

    4 min
  7. Tech Talk News - Sonos Amp Multi: The Ultimate Solution for Integrators

    JAN 28

    Tech Talk News - Sonos Amp Multi: The Ultimate Solution for Integrators

    Send us a text Big homes, open layouts, and picky acoustics ask a lot from audio systems. We dig into Sonos Amp Multi, a pro-grade multi-channel streaming amplifier designed to give integrators more control and homeowners a seamless, reliable experience. From flexible zoning to quiet, fanless operation, we unpack how this hardware reshapes multi-room audio without adding complexity. We start with the core idea: eight amplified outputs at 125 watts each, assignable to up to four zones, with any output serving any zone. That architecture unlocks adaptive system design as projects evolve, reducing rewiring and keeping plans nimble. We explore how GaN power electronics and Class D post-filter feedback deliver crisp, controlled sound while keeping thermal behavior cool and stable over long sessions. For dense installations, we look at support for up to three Sonos architectural speakers per output and how multiple units scale cleanly across large properties. Setup and tuning get a major upgrade too. The Sonos app can trigger an audible ID chirp so techs identify units instantly in a rack, map zones, and manage sources with fewer steps. On the sonic side, ProTune introduces granular control with a 10-band parametric EQ, gain and width tweaks, and delay offset per output, plus optimized DSP profiles for Sonos architectural speakers. We share real-world scenarios where these tools correct awkward speaker placement, tame reflections in open spaces, and deliver consistent tonality from room to room. Physical design choices make life easier on-site. The 1.5U chassis pairs with a dedicated 2U rack mount that builds ventilation space into the stack, so there’s no need for extra vent panels. A flat back with recessed connectors helps the unit stand upright during install, and the eight-screw process keeps timelines predictable. We also highlight how a rack-forward layout improves cable management, serviceability, and long-term reliability, cutting down on callbacks and keeping clients happy. If you build or upgrade multi-room audio in complex homes, this conversation offers practical insights into system architecture, DSP strategy, and day-two reliability. Follow for more hands-on coverage, subscribe to get new breakdowns as they drop, and leave a review to tell us which Amp Multi feature you want us to test next. Support the show

    8 min
  8. Sonos Amp Multi Unboxed - EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK

    JAN 27

    Sonos Amp Multi Unboxed - EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK

    Send us a text A black box that cuts rack clutter, runs cooler, and scales from a cosy master suite to a sprawling estate? We sat down with Stephen to unpack the new Sonos Amp Multi, the new pro-only multi-room amplifier designed for installers who crave clean builds, flexible zoning, and dependable power without heat headaches. We start with access and why it matters: Amp Multi is available exclusively through authorised distributors, keeping support and training aligned with the pro channel. If you’re not approved, Stephen explains how to get vetted, signed, and listed on the dealer locator—the lifeline for inbound Sonos clients who can’t buy this unit on the consumer site. That visibility is a real business driver, especially when projects hinge on trusted, local expertise. Then we get hands-on. Amp Multi mounts fast with a rack faceplate and runs on modern, efficient internals that draw just 5.4 watts in mute mode. The design favours airflow and serviceability, from the perforated chassis to clearly printed PIN codes you can read without a flashlight. Setup is belt-and-suspenders simple: microphone proximity pairing, QR, join button, and PIN. For inputs and outputs, you get line-in for turntables or legacy sources, a sub out for passive subs, Ethernet for stability, and support for wireless Sonos Sub with Trueplay tuning. Power and flexibility are where it shines. You’re working with 125 watts per channel and eight speaker outputs, which you can map to four distinct rooms or combine into one large zone with many speaker pairs. That adaptability fits real installs—think a master suite with bathrooms and dressing rooms, or a commercial floor that needs even coverage. Within the 32-product Sonos home limit, this single unit helps you scale to hundreds of speakers, turning a former constraint into a practical advantage for big jobs. We also share ISE plans: frequent 15-minute training sessions, product managers and engineers on the booth, and live demos so you can see the app-based assignment logic in action. If you’ve avoided multi-room streaming because of heat, space, or rigid zoning, this is a smart moment to revisit your spec. Amp Multi respects your time, your rack space, and your client’s needs. If this helped you plan your next build, follow the show, share it with your team, and leave a quick review with what you’d power first using Amp Multi. Your feedback shapes future deep dives. Pick up some Sonos today and support the podcast 🙏🏻 https://geni.us/69d0Lm Support the show

    14 min
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About

A consumer-facing podcast hosted by industry veterans, Stuart Burgess from Immersive Cinema Rooms and Simon Gregory from Cinema Rooms. Each episode, we bring you News, Reviews, and Interviews from inside the industry covering Home Cinema, Home Theatre, and all things tech. Get involved techtalk@homecinemaalliance.co.uk

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