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The day starts with a bruise and ends with a Barco HDR jaw-drop. We catch up after two months apart, swap stories from a London to Brighton ride that raised more than £25,000 for Together for Cinema, and unpack why telling the charity’s stories on film hits harder than any spec sheet. From there we dive into an award-winning, deceptively simple media room—Amina invisible speakers, hidden subs, a clean Tudor aesthetic—and why “understated” can still blow minds.

Then we go on tour: Essential Install Live impressions, EI Live moving to the NEC with ECN Live, and a packed trip to Barco’s new experience center in Belgium. Think glassless 3D medical imaging, DCI-grade HDR in a commercial theater, and lab testing that freezes, heats, drops, and de-noises projectors until they’re mission-ready. It reframes projection as precision engineering, not nostalgia. We also get practical with Ubiquiti Wi‑Fi 7, Unifi Protect cameras and doorbells, and a case for privacy-friendly, subscription-free home security that actually integrates well.

The heart of the episode tackles the big question: super-sized TV or projector? We weigh RGB mini LED at 116 inches, LG’s 136-inch micro LED, and why OLED isn’t “over,” just challenged on size and cost. We contrast that with laser projection’s cinematic warmth, acoustic transparency, and lower eye fatigue in long sessions. Ultra short throw projectors round out the middle path—minimal room changes, ERC to real audio systems, and portability for renters. The answer isn’t a single winner; it’s matching brightness, budget, room, and habits with the right tools, then proving it with a proper demo.

If you care about home cinema performance—not just spec-chasing—this is your roadmap: real rooms, real tradeoffs, and gear that earns its place. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s planning a media room, and tell us: are you team giant TV or team projector? Your stories and demo wins might feature next time.

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