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INSIDE: ST ACK Issue 261 J ULY 2026 “Don ’ t get a ny funny ideas.” ISSUE 261 JUL ’26 jbhifi.c om.au/stack PERKS see page 5 for details S TA C K ’S UL TIMA TE AUDIO GUIDE 2026 FIND Y OUR PERFECT AIR PURIFIER FREE MAGAZ IN E YOUR TO MOVIES, TV , MUSIC, GAMING & TECH ESSENTIAL GUIDE ST ACK Issue 261 JUL Y 2026 ISSUE 261 JUL ’26 jbhifi.c om.au/stack YOUR TO MOVIES, TV , MUSIC, GAMING & TECH YOUR TO MOVIES, TV , ESSENTIAL GUIDE WIN! WIN A BOSE LIFESTYLE A BOSE LIFESTYLE ULTRA SOUND SYSTEM ULTRA SOUND SYSTEM “Don ’ t get an y funn y ideas. ” WIN WIN st261_001_FRONTcover-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_001_FRONTcover-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 6:22 pm 19/6/2026 6:22 pm -
Page contents: MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls,
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Page contents: Marvel's Wolverine,
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GAMING 6 T ake 5/Charts/Q5/Wham, bam, game exam! 8 Say Halo to m y little friend! Halo: Campaign Evolv ed inter view 10 Sync or swim! A ssassin’ s Creed Blac k Flag Resynced interview 12 Splat’ s the way I like it! Splatoon R aiders previe w 14 Squeak-easy! Mouse: P .I. for Hire Q+A 16 Get into the groov e! Rhythm Paradise Groo ve previe w 17 What’ s out this month 18-19 More big games heading our wa y in 2026 20 The Riot st uff! Sk etc h Riot Po werA A dvantage Plus wired controller inter view 22 A mouse for all seasons: Raz er Oroc hi V2 Wireless Gaming Mouse TECH 26–27 Y our guide to smarter audio shopping 28 Why open-ear headphones are cool right no w 30 What are bone conduction headphones? 32 Premium headphones f or l ux e listening 34 Sennheiser’ s new Momen t um 5 headphones 36 Sony’ s premium 1 00 0X TH E COLLEXION headphones 38 Mix and matc h: Modular s ound sy stems 40 CD play ers are making a c omebac k! 42 T urnt able cartridges: What y ou need to kno w 44 Chec k out the hot test audi o gear at JB 46 JBL ’ s ne w Live headphone range 48-50 Y our quic k guide to air purifi ers 52-54 Find your perf ect air pu rifi er 56 Oura Ring 5: Small in size, big on insights 58 Sony’ s new BRA VIA RGB T Vs 60 The ne w HONOR 600 sma rtphone series 62 Unfold the ne w HONOR M agic V6 64 Why creators will lo ve the Inst a360 Luna Ultra 66 The ne w Google Home Sp eak er brings 360° sound 68 Logitec h ’ s foldable mouse f or those on the mov e 70 Logitec h Spotlight 2 reinv e nts presenter remotes MUSIC FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 2 T ake 5/My fi rst album/ S TAC K e x c hange 3 Still Rolling: T he Rolling Ston es ’ ne w album, F oreign T ongues 5 New album: Madonna - Conf essions II 6 New albums: Ariana Grande - P et al / Charli XCX - Music, F ashion, Film 7 New album: Heated Riv alr y soundtrack 9 New album: Amy Shark - Sof t P op 10-11 What’ s out this month? 12 Vital vinyl: Lady Gaga - The Fame MOVIES & TV 14 T ak e 5/Charts/Cinema highlights/Bob J’ s Film Buf f Baf fl ers 16 Rob yn Malcolm on Pike River /ChrisHemsworth, sho w stealer in Crime 1 0 1 18 The ne xt level: Super Mario Galaxy Movie /W onder awaits! T he Magic Faraw ay T ree 20 Ret urn of the King - EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert /Akira Kurosa wa: The master who c hanged cinema 21 Bob J: T he Hunt for Red October still holds course 22 Reel classics: Ne w from Imprint Films 24 4K all the wa y 26 What’ s out this month? 28 Merc h of the month F ew games can claim to hav e c hanged the industr y . F ew er still remain as influential 25 years later . That’ s why the recent announcement of Bungie’ s Halo: Combat Evolv ed ’s return is more than a simple nostalgia play – it’ s the reviv al of a genuine gaming landmark. When Halo landed alongside Microsoft’ s original Xbox in 200 1, it didn ’ t just introduce play ers to the iconic Master Chief . It redefined what a console first-person shooter could be and put the Xbox on the map. Its cinematic stor ytelling, revolutionary controls, intelligent enemy AI, and e xpansive sci-fi world helped establish a blueprint that countless games would f ollow . F or many play ers, it was their first taste of online multiplayer obsession, LAN-party rivalry , and bloc kbuster gaming on a scale previously reserved for Hollyw ood. T wenty-fiv e years later , Halo: Combat Ev olved remains a touc hstone for game design, stor ytelling and multiplay er innovation. Its DNA can still be f ound in countless shooters released today . Re visiting the franc hise’ s origins in Halo: Campaign Evolved highlights what separatesa classic from a curiosit y . Great games don ’ t sur viv e on nostalgia alone – they endurebecause their ideas, inno v ations, and sense of w on der remain as powerful today as they w ere on da y one. Spart an, y our ne w adv ent ure a w aits! Paul Jones, Edi tor-in-ChiefWELCOM E Founder Nic Short Editor -in-Chief Paul Jones T ech Editor Scott Hocking Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Movie & TV Editor Glenn Cochrane Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie T aylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Music Consultant Mike Glynn Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones, James O’Connor Contributors Jeff Jenkins, Billy Pinnell, Bec Summer , Dan Nicholson, T rista McConville, Michael Caverzan Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence ST ACK [email protected] Disclaimer ST ACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2026 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy , completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor . By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press. Recommended for mature audiences Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accommpanied by a parent or adult guardian Parental guidance recommended Restricted to 18 and over General RATINGS GUIDE jbhifi.com.au/stack IS SUE 261 JUL 2026 CONTENTS jbhifi.com.au 4 JUL Y 2026 What are bone conduction headphones? P remium headphones f or lux e listening Sennheiser ’ s ne w Moment um 5 headphones Son y’ s premium 1 0 0 0X THE COLLEXION Mix and matc h: Modular sound sy stems CD pla y ers are making a comebac k! T urnt able cartridges: What y ou need to kno w Chec k out the hot test audio gear at JB JBL ’ s ne w Liv e headphone range Y our quic k guide to air purifi ers Find y our perf ect air purifi er Oura Ring 5: Small in siz e, big on insights Son y’ s ne w BRA VIA R GB TVs T he ne w H ONOR 60 0 smartphone series Unf old the ne w H ONOR Magic V6 Wh y creators will lo v e the Inst a360 T he ne w Google Home Speak er brings L ogitec h ’ s f oldable mouse f or those on L ogitec h Spotlight 2 rein v ents presenter S TA C K e x c hange S TA C K e x c hange S TA C K Still R olling: T he R olling Stones ’ ne w album, R e visiting the franc hise ’ s origins in Halo: Campaign Ev olv ed a classic from a curiosit y . Great games don ’ t sur viv e on nost algia alone – the y endure because their ideas, inno v ations, and sense of w onder remain as po w erful toda y as the y w ere on da y one. Spart an, y our ne w adv ent ure a w aits! Paul Jones, Editor -in-Chief st261_004_contents.-PROOFED-AFindd.indd 1 st261_004_contents.-PROOFED-AFindd.indd 1 23/6/2026 1:47 pm 23/6/2026 1:47 pm -
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Page contents: Star Fox, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2, Pokémon Pokopia, Forza Horizon 6,
JUL Y JUL Y jbhifi.com.au 6 JUL Y 2026 visit jbhifi .com.au/stack What’ s y our earliest video gaming memory? My mum buying me a PS3 and having to decide whether I wanted it to come with either Bat tlefi eld 4 or FIF A . She w as not impressed once she saw the Bat tlefi eld 4 gameplay ... I would ha ve to pic k the PS3, as I made so many memories on that console, like staying up to midnight playing Destin y with my sc hool friends. Y ou can only hav e one games console from an y era – what w ould it be and why? What hav e you been playing most lat ely? Recently I’ ve been playing Call of Duty: Blac k Ops 2 zombies again. The nostalgia from fi nishing sc hool and racing home to tr y to complete the ‘Origins ’ Easter egg is really t aking me bac k. What’ s y our all-time fa vour ite game or g ame series? Inf amous Second Sonstill holds a s pecial place in my heart as thegame that it didn’t e ven f eel like I platinumed. Creativ e director on Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced at Ubisoft PAUL FU ZAIN W ARWICK @ JB Er ina, NSW ’ s ROVING REPOR TER Str eet Fighter VIWhat’ s the best thing about w orking in games at JB? It’ s awesome interacting with people that also play the games that I enjo y and being able to share experiences with those people. At the moment, we all seem to be st uc k playing Mar , andvel Rivals ev er yone shakes their head when I tell them I pla y Moon Knight! 1 007 FIRST LIGHT 2 ST AR FOX 3 TOMODACHI LIFE: LIVING THE DREAM 4 LEGO BA TMAN: LEGACY OF THE DARK KNIGHT 5 MARVEL ’S SPIDER-MAN 2 6 POKÉMON POKOPIA 7 EA SPORTS UFC 6 8 FINAL FANT ASY VII REBIRTH 9 FORZA HORIZON 6 10 MARVEL ’S SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES JUN E 2026 BES T SELLER S BES T SELLER S at ! ! GAME EXAM ANSWERS on page 17 1. What is the Rhythm Paradise series known as in the US?2. Which Nickelodeon series, which spawned many games, starred a dopey cat and a bonkers chihuahua? 3. Who is the main protagonist in Assassin’ s Creed IV: Black Flag ? 4. What was the full title of the fi rst Mickey Mouse game on the SEGA Mega Drive? 5. T o which rhythm adventure series from the PSP is Ratatan a spiritual successor?6. What’ s the name of the shapeshifting cephalopod protagonists of the Splatoon games?7. What’ s the full name of the protagonist in Halo: Combat Evolved ?8. What was the name of the fi rst Razer gaming mouse, released in 1999? Ar e you up t o answer ing all eight of this month ’ s g ame r elated posers? What’ s y our all-time f a v our it e g ame or g ame ser ies? Inf amous Second Son a special place in m y heart as the game that it didn ’ t e v en f eel lik e I platinumed. 1 What was the fi rst game that you played? My dad bought me an Atari when I was six, and I remember playing some sort of shooting game, but I can’t remember the name of it! That was an early core memory that inspired me to get into the game industry . 2 What was the last game that you fi nished? One quirk about me is that I find it hard to finish games I love. A great game allows you to escape into a beautiful (or dreadful!) world you can’t get enough of, so I tend to slow down before I finish a game, and sometimes I end up not finishing it, and returning to it when I need an escape. I honestly can’t remember when I last finished a game. I’ve been playing all the Resident Evils in the recent years, Cyberpunk 2077 , theKingdom Come: Deliverance series,Star T rek V oyager: Across the Universe , Strange Horticulture... but I’ve never finished any of them! 3 What’ s your favourite video game/series of all time? It’ll be impossible for me to list just one, but Street Fighter is a largepart of me growing up, and I’ve been playing Street Fighter VI as well.Star Control II had a big impact on how I viewed open worldgames. I loved The Last of Us ,The Witcher , and theMass Effect series, too.4 What do you think is the most underrated video game of all time? Picking just one feels unfair! If I had to pick a recent one I’ve played, it would be Dahlia View . It’s a beautiful, stylised detective adventure, where you play an old man in a wheelchair , solving a mystery in his neighbourhood. The dark, mature tone and the unique premise of the game is just amazing to dive in. 5 What’ s the game that you most wish you’d worked on? That’ s a tough one! I would have loved to work on the Dishonored, Thief, or Deus Exfranchises. I’m a big fan of immersive sims. Thiefwas particularly inspiring for me when I was just a teen. st261_006_GAMING-Take5Q5Charts-3-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_006_GAMING-Take5Q5Charts-3-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 10:26 am 19/6/2026 10:26 am -
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It’ s 25 years since w e fi rst stepped int o the boots of Master Chief . T o celebrate, this month sees the r elease of Halo: Campaign Evolv ed , which br ings us a moder nised spin on the campaign fr om Halo’ s Xbox debut. Cr eative dir ect or Max Szlagor at Halo St udios tells us mor e. Words Bec Summer T his remake harnesses the po wer of Unreal Engine 5, bringing us an experience that is true to the original while deliv ering more – including 4K visuals, enhanced animations, re- recorded voice lines, and remastered music. Oh, and it’ s the fi rst time that a Halo game will be av ailable on PlayStation – PS5 specifi cally – too! But a new coat of paint isn ’ t the end of it, as the Halo Studios team is also adding nine weapons that didn ’ t appear until later series releases, as well as adding three whole ne w bonus prequel campaigns. Basically , the development team has taken on board 25 years of f eedbac k, with the aim to deliver the ultimate e xperience for both ne wcomers to the franc hise, and fans who ’v e been there right from the start. “It's a great time to revisit Combat Evolv ed , says Szlagor , enthusiastically . “For new pla yers, for established Halo play ers, and maybe e ven for old friends pla ying on dif ferent hardw are today , to allo w them to play together and enjo y the franc hise together again. “ Our pla yer -fi rst approac h has informed so man y decisions for the bet ter , ” he continues. “Whenever w e make a c hange, the number one thing was to be tr ue to the original game. “When we introduce ne w feat ures or make creativ e c hoices, we’ re constantly chec king in with pla yers t hrough our user research studies and o ur Halo Insider program.Their feedbac k h elps us stay grounded in what feels authentic to Halo. ” The team sa w this as a great opportunity to enhance the original, while staying true to it. “Because this is a remak e, we’ ve been able to carefully rebuild almost ev er y level and ev er y encounter with more fi delity , ” Szlagor says. “ As we ’re building the tec hnology for this game, we ’v e had to do it piece by piece, whic h included reev aluating all of the individual elements as we ’re re visiting them in the original game. ” Fans of multipla yer are in for a treat, with original split-screen play joined b y up to four -player co-op. But it’ s required some consideration of space. “Now the campaign supports up to four -player co- op, we had to think about how all the original encounters and spaces can scale to accommodate that many pla yers. F or diff erent co-op counts, we ’v e made some of the spaces larger . “W e also want to make sure w e're authentic to the encounters themselves. So, it's a balancing act between that dif fi culty tuning and, you kno w , making those encounters the right size f or the right space. ” So, the experience will be f amiliar for original fans, but the y’ll still have the e xcitement of something new around some corners. “W e learned from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary that there was still an appetite for things like bet ter w ayfi nding, navigation, and diversity in enemy encounters, ” Szlagor states. “In The Librar y specifi cally , whic h f eatures sev eral Flood encounters, we wanted to reev aluate the pacing and enhance the environmental stor ytelling. We ’v e added new lines to Guilty Spark, which guide pla yers through the lev el, and there’ s new dialogue that gives more insight into the narrativ e as it play s out. ” Ultimately , canon purists need f ear not, for Szlagor stresses that the y’ve w orked on enhancing the original stor y , rather than replacing any of it. “It was really important that we preserve the original stor y as it is, ” he underlines. “W e’ re not changing the stories, it’ s about refi ning and adding context to this moment, and other lev els like it, so play ers can st ay on trac k. ” jbhifi.com.au 8 JUL Y 2026 GAMING FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack SAY HALO TOMY LITTLE FRIEND! IF YOU L IKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE : DOOM: The Dark Ages, Battlefi eld 6, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 FORMAT: GENRE:Shooter MUL TIPLAYER: Ye s • Halo: Campaign Evolved is out Jul 29 mak e a c hange, the number one thing const antly c hec king in with pla y ers through our user researc h st udies and our Halo Insider program. T heir f eedbac k helps us st a y grounded in what f eels 2001 Halo: Combat Evolved 2004 Halo 2 2007 Halo 3 2009 Halo Wars 2009 Halo 3: ODST 2010 Halo: Reach 2011 Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary 2012 Halo 4 2013 Halo: Spartan Assault 2014 Halo: The Master Chief Collection 2015 Halo: Spartan Strike 2015 Halo 5: Guardians 2017 Halo Wars 2 2018 Halo: Fireteam Raven 2021 Halo Infi nite 2026 Halo: Campaign Evolved HALO RELEASE TIMELINE st261_008_GAMING-Halo-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_008_GAMING-Halo-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 22/6/2026 4:35 pm 22/6/2026 4:35 pm -
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Whether you w er e a f an of the pirat es, or the fr anchise itself , Black Flag remains one of the Assassin’ s Creed ser ies’ most popular entr ies. Now it r etur ns as Assassin’ s Cr eed Black Flag Resynced , r ebuilt from the gr ound up. W e c hatt ed with P aul Fu, the game ’ s cr eative dir ector at Ubisof t’ s Singapor e Studio , t o fi nd out more. Words Amy Flower W ith so many games in the series ripe for remaking, we were curious as to wh y Blac k Flag received the treatment. F u is quic k to explain. “ Blac k Flag has alwa ys had a special place in the Singapore Studio, ” he say s with a smile. “Many of us who w orked on the original still remain. Blac k Flag f elt like the right fi t, and we went f or it!” It’ s also personal for F u. “ Also, Edward’ s stor y has alway s mov ed me, and he’ s one of my fa vourite Assassins. Edw ard’ s story is a ver y relatable one. He’ s a pirate, but he’ s also just a man who wants to pro vide for his family . ” When revisiting a f an fav ourite, it can be c hallenging balancing the demands of fans with catering for modern tastes. F u tells us that they were mindful of potential pitf alls. “W e knew going in that the expectations were going to be sky high – so we pic k ed our bat tles. W e focused on keeping the core story authentic and expanded on what w e knew fans w anted – more narrative with f an-fav ourite c haracters. “W e also knew that having ne w content was important for any remak e, so we c hose to focus on expanding Edw ard’ s story , with a new end- game c hapter , as well as additional questlines with new of fi cer characters. It was a lot to do, but w e wanted to do more. ” That’ s not the full extend of the upgrades, though. “W e also expanded the nav al core systems and ov erhauled the ground combat system, ” F u continues. “The parkour community also wanted old sc hool mo ves, so we added bac k ejects, manual jumps, and other mov es into the mix. In short, we z oomed in on fan f eedbac k way bac k from 20 1 3, and from community workshops that we ran for R esynced .” While Resynced retains the classic open world of the original, play ers will discov er c hanges to how it pla ys. “The core na val gameplay has been expanded with secondar y fi re for eac h of the Jac kdaw’ s weapons. Secondary weapons w ork at dif ferent ranges, with dif ferent functions, so play ers can switc h between them depending on tactical needs in bat tle. Of fi cers, when recruited, also give y ou a naval perk, whic h provides another lay er of depth in nav al gameplay . “Ground combat has also been completely ov erhauled to become an action- advent ure experience. It's a parry-driven sy stem where ev er y move has pros and cons, and the play er will fi nd themselves needing to vary their mov es to sur vive. ” Modern tec h also means less waiting in-game. “Cities are now seamless and no longer require loading, ” beams F u. “Edward can also dive under water an ywhere, which breaks line of sight for stealth gamepla y . Plus, he’ s now able to heal, with stealth functions suc h as whistle and smoke bomb more accessible for quic k use. W e've lost count of the number of new things w e’ ve added!” These additions include ne w c haracters to meet, too, as F u explains. “Three ne w offi cers hav e been added, eac h with their own side missions f or the play er to perform. T w o new c haracters hav e also been added to the hideout, with bits of narrative f or the play er to discov er . These side missions take you to areas where y ou may not ha ve been in the original – or completely new craf ted locations. ” Ultimately , F u and his cre w hope that this remake is received w armly by fans of the original. “ Resynced w as craf ted as a lov e let ter to our fans – including ourselves! We hope that fans will lo ve returning to the Caribbean again as Edward K enwa y and that they’ll f eel our passion when they pla y the game. ” S YNC OR S W I M! IF YOU L IKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE : Skull and Bones, Like a Dragon: Pirate Y akuza in Hawaii, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection FORMAT: GENRE:Action adventure MUL TIPLAYER: No • Assassin’ s Creed Black Fl ag Resyncedi s out Jul 9• Creed Black Flag Resynced is out Jul 9 THE STORY OF ANVIL Fu tells us that Ubisoft’ s proprietary Anvil engine has been huge in bringing Resynced to life. “On top of raytracing, Resynced takes advantage of Anvil’ s micro polygon tech, allowing us to see extreme details up close, and atmosphere, fuelling our dynamic weather and time of day . Anvil allows us to push dynamism, such as destructible objects as well, adding to both realism and gameplay .” jbhifi.com.au 1 0 JUL Y 2026 GAMING FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack st261_010_GAMING-Assassin's Creed-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_010_GAMING-Assassin's Creed-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 22/6/2026 5:34 pm 22/6/2026 5:34 pm -
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Page contents: Splatoon Raiders,
It start ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splatoon has become one of Nintendo ’ s most successful new franc hises. With the ser ies' fi rst spin-of f , Splat oon Raiders , r eady to ha ve us inking big this month, we tak e a quic k look at wher e the ser ies has been, and wher e it’ s heading... Words Amy Flower IN THE BEGINNING The Nintendo people w ere hardly short on big , eminently exploitable franc hises when they launc hed the Wii U console bac k in 20 1 2. While we did see the f amous likes of Mario, Link, Kirby and more doing their st uf f in st yle on the system, some y oung blood at Nintendo had plans to introduce something new . That big ne w thing was Splatoon . While basically a classic multiplay er third-person shooter , it sw apped out the more un-Nintendo bullets and warf are realism for a cartoony fut ure Earth world of cephalopods, cute c haracters, ink, and Nerf-ish weaponry . It work ed a treat. With fun the name of the game, Splatoon ev olved from a blac k-versus- white tec h demo that f eatured box es with ink-shooting sc hnozzes rather than c haracters. Once the team had nailed the enjoyment aspect, the searc h w as on for c haracters to populate this inky new world. Af ter a brief dalliance with rabbits, the idea of squids came to the fore, of f ering a handy solution to the need for the game ’ s inhabitants to be able to hide in and glide through the seas of ink that were central to the game. When they needed to shoot, they morphed into humanoid shapes, before ret urning to their squidliness when hiding. Hello, Inklings! T AKE ONE F eaturing ev er ything from much f ascinating and super -st ylish lore to an engaging single-play er stor y mode and multiple multiplay er options, Splatoon ’ s arrival brought a palatable t ake on the shooter concept for a broader audience, and it was an instant hit. So far , so good! In time, the game saw se veral substantial content updates and special ‘Splatf est’ events, but the writing was on the w all for the Wii U. Af ter the successful launc h of the Nintendo Switc h, a Splatoon sequel was a safe bet... T AKE TWO Splatoon 2 , already in dev elopment before the console’ s launch, arriv ed soon af ter the Switc h itself , in July of 20 1 7 . A direct sequel, it st uc k with the single-play er campaign coupled with numerous multiplay er romps formula. Knowing that the y nailed it fi rst time out, this was more of an e volution of the original, adding new mo ves, weapons, and collectibles, while new modes – suc h as the wildly popular co-op- f est Salmon Run - found their w ay in. Many more themed Splatf ests also follow ed. T AKE THREE Then, in September 2022, a long-o verdue sequel arrived in Splatoon 3 . It delivered a further ev olution of all that we lov ed about the series, including new single and multiple pla yer pursuits. An array of new w eapons joined the established fa vourites, including the very cool T ri-Stringer ink bow , as we journe yed from Inktropolis to the desert-based, more post- apocalyptic Splatsville. Splatf ests returned, a new T ableturf card bat tle game gav e us thrills, and more game expanding DLC meant that Splatoon 3 continued the series ’ must-play vibe. jbhifi.com.au 12 JUL Y 2026 GAMING FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack FORMAT: GENRE:Action adventure MUL TIPLAYER: Ye s • Splatoon Raiders is out Jul 23 Splatoon IF YOU L IKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE : Super Mario Bros. Wonder - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park, de Blob, Luigi’ s Mansion 3 Chaos is set to get a fresh coat of ink in this month’ s series spin-off, Splatoon Raiders . T aking more of a story-based approach, join the action shooter madness as Inklings and Octolings dive into another wild and energetic adventure. Bulging with neon-soaked arenas packed with treasure hunts, tricked-out gear , cool mechs, and all manner of bizarre creatures, you’ll assist a trio of swashbuckling musos known as Deep Cut as their in-house mechanic. This introduces survival and raid mechanics, including making your own ship hub, plus unlocking weapon and character upgrades, as well as scavenging resources, as you go. While essentially a single player experience, four -player co-op means that friends can always join in on the inky fun. THE RAID ! It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon It star t ed with cubes and, since its ar r iv al in 20 15, Splat oon S P L A T ’S T H E W A Y I L I K E I T ! S P L A T ’S S P L A T ’S st261_012_GAMING-SplatoonRaiders-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_012_GAMING-SplatoonRaiders-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 10:35 am 19/6/2026 10:35 am -
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A v ailable at Ads_FP.indd 1 11/06/2026 3:50:32 PM -
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Classic animation style and full-on FPS action meet in the super -fun Mouse: P .I. for Hir e . As it hits ph ysical media this month, we had a c hat with Mateusz Mic halak, the CEO and co-founder of F umi Games, to peek behind the scenes of how their bab y came t o be. Words Amy Flower The fi rst-person shooter g enre w as ripe f or a 1930s, Prohibition er a-set outing – but doing it in the r ubbery animation style of the time? Br illiant! Please, tell us mor e about how the idea t o go the FPS rout e in such a humor ous style came about… The history of F umi Games is rooted in animation. W e alwa ys wanted to mak e a video game that utilised the rubber hose style of the 1 930s, and we w ere particularly inspired by the era’ s more violent classic cartoons, such as P opey e the Sailor and Bimboby Fleisc her Studios, to name some e xamples. Equally , w e are also huge fans of the FPS genre, especially boomer shooters like DOOM ,Quake , and Blood. So, w e asked ourselves at the time, “Why has nobody made a game whic h combines the two?” . This is how the initial idea for Mouse: P .I. for Hire came about, and the rest is histor y! Does wor king in black and whit e throw up an y inter esting challenges? Dev eloping a video game entirely in blac k and white is certainly challenging, particularly when using 2D sprites in a 3D world space. We needed to carefully utilise lighting, shadows, mov ement, audio, and other elements so that “readability” was as clear as possible. F or inst ance, in-game items that aren ’t interactable are t ypically obscured in shadow and “coloured” a bit darker , whereas interactable items are brighter and exhibit bouncing rubber hose mo vement. Strategic lighting and signage are also used to direct play ers through the world, and we ev en implemented a directional helper called the “Detective Br ush” , whic h directs play ers where to go next. In combat specifi cally , to help enemies stand out more they're animated in fl at 2D utilising rubber hose, whic h is juxtaposed against a 3D environment utilising a slightly dif f erent art style. W as it fun coming up with the cart oonish weapons arsenal? Do y ou have a f av ourit e? Designing all the weapons w as incredibly fun, and it’ s diffi cult to list a fav ourite! There are notable guns, like the Dev arnisher , whic h fi res balls of t urpentine that melt the skin of enemies, or ev en the Jar Head, whic h unleashes psionic wa ves that can pop their heads. Y ou nabbed voiceo ver superstar T ro y Baker to v oice the main charact er , Jack P epper . What was he lik e to w ork with? T roy B aker was f ant astic to work with. He w as someone we long had in mind f or the role, and our A ustralian publisher , PlaySide St udios, helped us to secure his inv olvement. A s soon as we heard him in the booth, w e immediately knew that he w as the perfect c hoice. Finding the voice of J ac k Pepper w as quite a collaborative process. Y es, we did hav e an idea of what we w anted - a hard-boiled, grizzled detective and w ar veteran from New Y ork who sounded like he ate a f ew too man y c heese stic ks. T roy then took the ball and ran with it, quic kly leading to the voice y ou hear in the game today . The jazzy , swingy musical accompaniment is a blast. Ho w did you go about scor ing it? W orking closely with Damian Czajka, our lead audio designer , the goal w as simple: compose music that danced around the play er's moves. T o get an authentic sound, we assembled a band with various instr uments, including saxophone, tr umpet, trombone, clarinet, grand piano, bass, and ev en drums. What do you most hope that pla yers tak e aw ay from their time with Mouse: P .I. for Hir e ? The main message that w e alway s wanted fans and play ers to t ake a way w as that Mouse: P .I. for Hire is more than just a f ancy art project. Y es, we completely understand that the initial hook for man y is the art st yle, but we also poured so muc h of ourselves into e ver y aspect of the game - it’ s a handcraf ted tale born of ink, sweat, and stubborn dreams, and we hope play ers can see that by the time the credits roll! jbhifi.com.au 14 JUL Y 2026 GAMING FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack SQUEAK-EASY! IF YOU L IKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE : Cuphead, Splatoon 3, DOOM: The Dark Ages • Mouse: P .I. for Hire is out Jul 10 • Mouse: P .I. Mouse: P .I. Mouse: P .I. FORMAT: GENRE:Shooter MUL TIPLAYER: No Where’s the cheese? We knew that Mateusz must have a favourite cheese pun from the game, and it is... “Cheese-Louise, lady! Y ou're in pieces!” st261_014_GAMING-Mouse PI for Hire-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_014_GAMING-Mouse PI for Hire-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 10:36 am 19/6/2026 10:36 am -
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Ads_FP.indd 1 11/06/2026 3:44:15 PM -
Page contents: Rhythm Paradise Groove,
Rh ythm g ame f ans, g et ready f or the r etur n of one of the genr e ’ s shining lights this month as Rh ythm P aradise Gro ove lands, unleashing a whole new w av e of weir dness for us t o pla y along with. Let’ s look back at one of Nintendo ’ s most wonderfully out-ther e ser ies ever . Words Amy Flower Surprise! It will come as no shoc k to any f an that the Rhythm P aradise series – known as Rhythm Heav en in the USA and Rhythm T engoku in Japan – w as originally orc hestrated by W arioWare creator Kazu yoshi Osaw a. So, what’ s it all about? Like those games f eaturing Mario ’ s antithesis, the Rhythm series presents a bunch of eclectic minigames, but here all of them are ke yed to keeping a specifi c rhythm. There are no scrolling note highw ays, but you ma y encounter the odd – ver y odd - bout of slapping and stomping sumo wrestlers, just to mention one famous minigame e xample. The Rh ythm series embraces c harm, simplicity , and its own unique and jo yous take on absolute weirdness, with a f ocus on timing rather than musical literacy . The start The Rh ythm franc hise made its debut in 20 06 with the Japan-only release Rh ythm T engoku on the Game Bo y Adv ance. It set the tone for all the games that follo wed. There w ere no complicated controls to master , rather pla yers simply tapped, fl ic ked, or pressed but tons in time with tunes while carrying out bizarre t asks suc h as pluc king hairs from an onion, or tr ying to keep a troop of singing monke ys on beat. The tunes F rom the beginning, Japanese music legend Tsunku, formerly of c hart-topping roc k band Sharam Q, supplied most of the joy ous and inf ectious J-pop tunes f eatured in the Rh ythm games. He was also responsible f or the original idea that spawned the series. Going global The w orld outside Japan was fi nally able to catc h the bug when Rhythm Hea ven/Rhythm Paradise released f or the Nintendo DS in 2009, follo wing its Japanese launc h in 2008. With its touchscreen, the DS w as able to introduce new rh ythmic gestures, and the game’ s quirk y humour worked just as w ell worldwide as it did in its homeland. A third hit Next up came Rh ythm Paradise F ev er for the Wii in 20 1 1 (Japan)/20 12 (the rest of the w orld). With no touchscreen, the series ret urned to but ton-only controls, and it work ed a treat. Being on console rather than handheld, it also allow ed the series to extend its tendrils into party game territor y , becoming a fi rm fa vourite at get-togethers worldwide. Number four Despite its success on the Wii, it was on ward to the 3DS in 20 1 5/20 1 6, with the release of Rhythm P aradise Megamix . As the name suggests, it took classic minigames from the series past and c hanged them up, while adding 30 new , fun outings to keep things fresh. This one had a simple narrative at tac hed, in whic h players w ere c harged with guiding a c haracter named Tibby home to Heav en W orld. And now … It’ s time for fans to rejoice, as Rh ythm Paradise Groov e is here, the fi rst new series outing in a decade, and it's bringing us a whole bunc h more of the crazy , endearing, nut t y , and alw ays boppy rh ythm minigames that we’ ve lo ved so muc h for man y years now . Single play ers will be able to gorge upon 80 of them, while there are 30 for those doing the multiplay er thing . Music legend Tsunku has once again brought the tunes. As f or the minigames themselves, w e’ll be doing ev er ything from guiding serious- faced ball creat ures through rings, to squashing drink cans, to snatc hing pieces of cake, and going the c hop in the kitc hen. So, Switc h pla yers, prepare for another outbreak of ut ter joy when Rh ythm Paradise Groov e hits this month! jbhifi.com.au 16 JUL Y 2026 GAMING FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack IF YOU L IKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE : Super Crazy Rhythm Castle, Samba de Amigo: Party Central, T aiko no T atsujin: Rhythm Festival • Rhythm Paradise Groove is out Jul 2 FORMAT: GENRE:Rhythm MUL TIPLAYER: Ye s st261_016_GAMING-Rhythm Paradise Groove-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_016_GAMING-Rhythm Paradise Groove-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 10:37 am 19/6/2026 10:37 am -
Page contents: Echoes of Aincrad,
W HA T’S OUT T HIS MONT H? No ma tter wha t style of game is your vibe, there’s sure to be something to get excited about amongst these fresh releases heading to JB this month. C oming in C oming in A UGU S T A UGU S T EDI T OR’S PICK RH Y T HM P ARADISE GROOVE RELEASE DATE: Jul 2 GENRE: Rhythm FORMAT: MUL TIPLAYER: No W e fi rst fell under the spell of Rhythm P aradise – also known as Rhythm Hea ven ov erseas - bac k in the Nintendo DS day s. Its mix of rhythm game c hallenge with bonkers minigames based on ev er yday things prov ed fi endishly addictive. We ’ d slice onions, punc h wrestlers, ev en pluck hairs – but perf ectly on the beat, of course! Adding to all this fun w as the fact that the catc h y tunes were ultimate ear worms – it was impossible to resist! Now S witc h users get to join in the fun, as Rhythm Paradise Groo ve hits, promising more wild antics that will hav e us variously bouncing fruit of f biceps, squishing drink cans, fl apping along with birds, going veggie ninja in ‘Slice N Dice Kitc hen ’ , and heaps more Complete with trac ks from rev ered Japanese musician Tsunku, if you’ ve nev er had the pleasure, then you’ re in for a wild rhythmic treat! Words Amy Flower Answer s: 1. R hythm Heav en 2. T h e Re n & Stim py Sh ow 3. Edward Kenway 4. Castle of I llus ion S tarring Mic key M ous e 5. Patap o n 6. Inkl ings 7. M as t er C hi ef P e t t y O f fi ce r Jo h n-117 8. Ra z er B o om sla n g GAME EXAM ! ! NICKELODEON E XTREME TENNIS: NEXT! RELEASE DATE: Jul 1 GENRE: Sports FORMAT: MUL TIPLAYER: Y es Nickelodeon fans say “Y ay!”, as your favourite characters bring chaos to the tennis court in this fast, family-friendly showdown. Customise your characters with hundreds of outfits and dive into easily learned couch co-op matches, unleashing wild ultimate abilities as you go. With added minigames and a narrated story mode there’ s plenty to do, as you chase trophies with stars from the worlds of SpongeBob, TMNT , and more. MOUSE: P .I. FOR HIRE RELEASE DATE: Jul 10 GENRE: Shooter FORMAT: MUL TIPLAYER: No Immerse yourself in a hardboiled detective tale in a handdrawn 1930s-inspired world, blending fast-paced FPS action with noir mystery . Guide Jack Pepper through Mouseburg’ s corrupt underbelly , battling gangs and uncovering conspiracies, while wielding crazy cartoony weapons. Conquer more than 20 levels of big band jazz-infused retro shooter action, bulging with secrets, style, and toon mayhem! MOUSE: P .I. F OR HI RE RELEASE D ATE: FORMAT : detective tale in a handdrawn ASSASSIN’S CREE D BLACK FL AG RESYNCE D RELEASE DATE: Jul 9 GENRE: Action adventure FORMAT: MUL TIPLAYER: No The legendary swashbuckling Assassin’ s Creed pirate tale roars back to life as you sail the Caribbean once again as Edward Kenway . Rebuilt combat, smoother stealth, upgraded naval battles, and a fully enhanced open world mean every raid is set to feel richer than ever . Add new storylines, returning icons, fresh allies, pets, and sea shanties to the adventure and Black Flag is now more immersive – and charming - than ever! ASSASS IN’S CREE D BL ACK F L AG RE SYNCE D RELEASE D ATE: FORMAT : The legendary swashbuckling RATATA N RELEASE DATE: Jul 16 GENRE: Rhythm action FORMAT: MUL TIPLAYER: Y es The brains behind the legendary Patapon games bring us a new rhythm-driven roguelike adventure! As the Ratatan, you’ll issue musical orders and trigger Fever Mode for frenzied power boosts as you command adorable Cobun warriors in beat based battles and crazed melees – with over 100 characters onscreen! Charming 2D animation, strategic rhythm play , and four-player multiplayer combine for toe-tapping trials. GRANBLUE FANTASY: RELINK – ENDLESS RAGNAROK RELEASE DATE: Jul 9 GENRE: Action RPG FORMAT: MUL TIPLAYER: Y es A classic returns, presenting new threats as strange ragnalia emerge, chaotic realms open, and powerful foes descend upon Zegagrande. Expanded solo and coop content introduces summons, primal bursts, master traits, new quest tiers, and The Conflux, a challenging mode filled with unpredictable trials. With fresh stories, bosses, and crossplatform multiplayer , the adventure pushes characters further than ever . SPLATOON RAIDERS RELEASE DATE: Jul 23 GENRE: Shooter FORMAT: MUL TIPLAYER: Y es The splat is back, as a wild new Splatoon adventure splashes onto Nintendo Switch 2. A spinoff from the main series, gear up with gadgets and ink-blasting weapons, adding your own custom style as you team up with the band Deep Cut, and explore the mysterious Spirhalite Islands. Y ou’ll splat Salmonids in chaotic shootouts, hunt for sweet, sweet loot, and tinker with tech as a fearless mechanic in this quirky quest. ECHOES OF AINCRAD RELEASE DATE: Jul 10 GENRE: Action RPG FORMAT: MUL TIPLAYER: No Hey , intrepid hero! A perilous ascent through the floating fortress of Aincrad awaits, where every clash demands skill and strategy , and each victory unlocks new abilities. Make your hero, tailor weapons and stats, and work with a trusted partner in realtime combat as you explore vibrant cities, hidden dungeons, and expanding regions that are filled with quests, treasures and – of course - deadly foes. awaits, where every clash demands skill and strategy , and HALO: CAMPAIGN E VOLVED RELEASE DATE: Jul 28 GENRE: Shooter FORMAT: MUL TIPLAYER: Y es This remake of the O.G. preserves the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign while adding modern features, fresh tactics, rebuilt HD visuals, updated cinematics, refined controls, and a new three-mission story featuring Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. Classic combat is expanded with extra weapons, vehicles, enemies, and replay- changing Skulls. Plus, play solo, two-player split-screen co-op, or four -player online co-op. while adding modern features, fresh tactics, rebuilt HD visuals, HALO: C AMP AIGN E VOL VE D RELEASE D ATE: FORMAT : This remake of the O.G. preserves the original MARVEL TŌKON: FIGH TING SOULS (Aug 7) BEAST OF REINC ARNATION (Aug 4) STAR W ARS ZERO COMPANY (Aug 27) GRANBLUE FANT ASY: REL INK – EN DLE SS RAGNAROK RELEASE D ATE: FORMAT : A classic returns, presenting new TENNIS: N E XT! Nintendo Switch 2. A spinoff from the main series, gear up with 17 PREVIEWS GAMING st261_017_GAMING-OutThisMonth-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 st261_017_GAMING-OutThisMonth-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 19/6/2026 10:38 am 19/6/2026 10:38 am -
Page contents: Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Silent Hill: Townfall Day One Edition,
GAMING FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack jbhifi.com.au 18 JUL Y 2026 THE BLOOD OF THE BLOOD OF D A WNW ALKER D A WNW ALKER Release da te: Sep 3 Prepare f or blood-let ting dark fantasy adventure set in 1 4th century Europe, as vampires rise from the shadows to seiz e power . W e’ll play as Coen, a newly t urned Dawnw alker who ’ s torn between two worlds while fi ghting to save his family – be it with sw ord or claws. Choices made will shape the open-world story , as we na vigate shif ting day and night abilities, and f ace decisions that push time ev er for ward. MAR VEL ’ S WOL VERINE MAR VEL ’ S WOL VERINE Release da te: Sep 15 If you lo ve Insomniac’ s Spider -Man games, then you’ll be hanging f or their t ake on Marvel’ s mighty W olverine. W e’ll be stepping into his shoes in this action advent ure, whic h will be largely based on the c haracter ’ s comic book mythology , combined with other media appearances by the Ol’ Canuc klehead. R ejoining T eam X, he helps inv estigate the disappearance of mutants. And yes, it’ll be set in the same universe as the Spide y games. FIRE EMBLEM: FIRE EMBLEM: FORTUNE’ S WEA VE FORTUNE’ S WEA VE Release da te: Sep 17 The 1 8th core entr y in the storied Fire Emblem tactical RPG series, continuing the much lo ved Three Houses story , this new adv enture will drop us in the middle of a gladiatorial ev ent known as the Heroic Games. They’ re hosted by the Divine Sov ereign, who promises wish fulfi lment to the victors, with entrants coming from all walks of lif e, all with desires and motivations that are just as varied. CONTROL RESONANT CONTROL RESONANT Release da te: Sep 24 20 1 9’ s Control was a blast, and this sequelpromises ev en more thrills – and the odd familiar f ace. Af ter years in FBC confi nement, Dylan Faden emerges into a twisted Manhat tan that’ s gripped by a paranatural crisis. T asked with stopping a reality-reshaping cosmic entity , Dylan wields growing po wers, including deadly shapeshif ting melee weapon the Aberrant, against the Hiss, the Mold, and other threats ov errunning the city . SILENT HILL: TOWNF ALL SILENT HILL: TOWNF ALL Release da te: Sep 24 Scotland, 1 996. Simon Odell answers the call of the heavily f ogbound island town of St. Amelia, to ”put things right” in this fi rst- person spin-of f entr y in Konami’ s legendar y sur vival horror series. He fi nds himself in a world of e vasion, confrontation, and t wisted puzzles that rev eal themselves as he gradually uncov ers the truth of the town – as w ell as his connection to it and its inhabitants. ONIMUSHA: ONIMUSHA: W A Y OF THE SWORD W A Y OF THE SWORD Release da te: Sep 25 Af ter 20 years, w e’re fi nally set to get our eager hands on a new instalment in Capcom’ s legendar y Onimusha series. Set during the Edoperiod, we ’ll follow samurai Miy amoto Musashi through a dark fantasy reimaging of Osaka, as he takes on rival sw ordsmen, demons, and assorted other supernatural threats. Harvest souls while engaging in swordpla y that requires skill and agility to succeed. GAMING FEA TURE jbhifi .com.au/stac k MORE BIG GAMES MORE BIG GAMES HEADING OUR W AY HEADING OUR W AY IN 2026! IN 2026! W e ’v e had some top r eleases alr eady this year , but things ar e set to g et even hot ter in the second half of 2026. Here ar e 15 titles, pr esented in r elease order , that ar e slated t o hit befor e y ear ’ s end that we ’ r e super -keen t o get our hands on… st261_018-019_GAMING-More big games 2026-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_018-019_GAMING-More big games 2026-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 23/6/2026 1:26 pm 23/6/2026 1:26 pm -
Page contents: Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, Gears of War: E-Day, Nintendo Switch Sports Resort,
FEA TURE GAMING 19 MINECRAFT DUNGEONS II MINECRAFT DUNGEONS II Release da te: Sep 29 Get ready for fresh ne w bloc k y action! Create the perf ect hero with legendar y gear – weapons, armour , and artif acts - and join up to three friends to unleash c haos, pushing your combat skills in this new Minecraf t Dungeons c hapter . J ourney through unexplored lands, bat tle hordes of mobs, clash with menacing foes, and race to stop a fi erce rising evil from ripping apart not one but two worlds. RA YMAN LEGENDS RA YMAN LEGENDS RETOLD RETOLD Release da te: Oct 1 If you thought that Ra yman Legends look ed stunning upon launc h bac k in 20 1 3, w ait until you see it now! As 30th anniversary celebrations continue for our limbless legend, this remak e will deliver updated visuals, an e xpanded stor y , new musical le vels, and up to four pla yer couc h co-op. If that’ s not enough joy , Ra yman Origins: Enhanced Edition will also be included to double the platforming fun! A CE COMBA T 8: A CE COMBA T 8: WINGS OF THEVE WINGS OF THEVE Release da te: Oct 2 Prepare to liv e out your T op Gun fantasies once again, as the combat fl ight sim series ret urns for an eighth outing. Once again budding pilots will be tasked with missions including dogfi ghting with hostiles, destroying ground targets, eliminating super weapons, and a whole lot more – and all with an ov erarc hing stor y to add to the heroic immersion! GEARS OF W AR: E-D A Y GEARS OF W AR: E-D A Y Release da te: Oct 6 Hav e you ev er wondered where it all began for Marcus F enix and Dom Santiago versus the Locust Horde? Well, w e’ll be wondering no more as we head bac k in time to the e vents of Emergence Day , 14 y ears before the original Gears of W ar kic ked of f . W e’re promised all the bug blasting action that we lo ve, built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5 for unprecedented gooey graphical goodness. ST AR W ARS: ST AR W ARS: G ALA C TIC RA CER G ALA C TIC RA CER Release da te: Oct 6 Racing has long delivered thrilling Star W ars moments, so get ready to pilot legendar y landspeeders, podracers, and speeder bikes! Set in the New R epublic era, this racing advent ure will bring modes aplent y as play ers enter the Galactic League. Solo racers get a campaign with of f-trac k adventure and arcade time trials, while multiplay er will support 1 2-play er races across classic series planets. C A STLEV ANIA: C A STLEV ANIA: BELMONT’ S CURSE BELMONT’ S CURSE Release da te: Oct 15 This y ear marks the 40th anniversar y of Castlev ania , the game so infl uential that it became half of an actual game genre along with the equally classic Metroid . T o celebrate,Konami is bringing us this old sc hool-styled side scrolling gem, whic h continues the saga in the heart of 1 499 Paris. We'll step into the boots of the daughter of vampire Hunter T revor B elmont, Rose, who ’ s armed with the tr usty family whip. NINTENDO SWITCH NINTENDO SWIT CH SPORT S RESOR T SPORT S RESOR T Release da te: Oct 22 If you’ re into simulated sports and family fun, then this one’ s for you! The latest release in Nintendo’ s Sports series packs in 12 dif f erent ev ents to get busy in – boxing, t able tennis, arc her y , tennis, volle yball, bowling, basketball, golf , thumb wrestling, skateboarding , power cruising ( W av e Race 64 revisited!), prop plane, and jump rope. Expect competition to the max at your f amily gatherings with this one! C ALL OF DUTY: C ALL OF DUTY: MODERN W ARF ARE 4 MODERN W ARF ARE 4 Release da te: Oct 23 A new confl ict erupts on the K orean Peninsula, placing play ers in the role of Private P ark, a young South Korean soldier resisting a major northern inv asion. Meanwhile, Captain Price operates of fgrid pursuing a worldending weapon... The campaign will span global cities, while multiplay er will boast 1 2 launc h maps, bring us Ballistic Authority for more authentic gunpla y , and introduce Kill Bloc k dynamic bat tlegrounds. GRAND THEFT A UT O VI GRAND THEFT A UT O VI Release da te: Nov 19 With GT A V still a top-seller 1 3 years af ter fi rst hit ting the streets, this mega follo w-up is shaping as the biggest game release of all time. W e’ re of f to the st ate of Leonida – loosely based on Florida – whic h includes our old series haunt, Vice City . We ’ll be following the criminal duo Jason Du val and Lucia Caminos in what Roc kstar are billing as ”the biggest, most immersive e volution of the Grand Thef t Auto series yet. ” Strap yourselves in! st261_018-019_GAMING-More big games 2026-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 st261_018-019_GAMING-More big games 2026-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 19/6/2026 10:38 am 19/6/2026 10:38 am -
Page contents: PowerA Advantage Plus Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S (Sketch Riot),
A lit tle while back, a contest w as r un amongst staff in JB Hi-Fi stor es t o come up with a new controller design. The result is the Sk etc h Riot P ow erA Adv antag e Plus wir ed controller , the winning designer Mic hael Br inkle y at JB Cher mside in Queensland. W e had a c hat with Mik e about the exper ience. Words Amy Flower T he obvious question w as about what it f elt like to fi nd out he’ d submit ted the winning design. It’ s fair to say that Mik e was rapt. “I was so e xcited! I couldn't believ e it, to be honest! The amazing feedbac k and support I'v e got ten since has been so amazing, I defi nitely f eel ver y luc k y and thankful. ” How ever , for a while at least, he had to hide his ex citement. “The hardest thing w as that I had to keep it a secret for about six months until it w as announced of fi cially! It was so hard going to work and not being able to tell e ver yone, especially when someone would sa y something like, ‘He y , did they e ver announce who won that controller comp yet?’” As a k een illustrator , Mike got to let l oose with one of his f a v ourite t ypes of dra wing f or his Sk etc h Riot design. “It's a ‘doodle ’ st yle dra wing that I really – I fi rst learned to draw b y copying Garfi eld comics when I was y oung . Because of this I've f avoured a v er y 'cartoony' style in my art ev er since. Since then, I studied visual art and graphic design. I'm still alwa ys learning as well, I continue to use v arious art books and online courses to further improv e my skills and to practice new tec hniques and styles. ” While he resisted the temptation to pop any hidden easter e ggsinto his design, the Sket c h Riot controller does bear his signature. “I was planning t o at one point, but I decided against it. But you ma y notice my signat ure on the bac k has a red dot for the ‘I’ , this comes from my logo that I've alw ays used, whic h is a cartoon clo wn with a red nose. It was wh y we decided to hav e the one red joy stic k, and red buttons on the bac k. ” It won ’ t come as a big surprise to learn that Mike is also a k een gamer . “I'm a big gamer , alw ays ha ve been, in fact my v er y fi rst game console was the original Donke y Kong Game & W atc h handheld, so I've been a massiv e Nintendo fan from an early age. But I lov e all gaming really , I lov e my consoles and m y gaming PC. I of ten jump around with what genre I'm into all the time. “Currently I'm going through a big retro phase by pla ying lots of old sc hool shoot 'em up and beat 'em up games. I've been re visiting old arcade classics and discov ering lots of aw esome newer released ones as w ell. ” jbhifi.com.au 20 JUL Y 2026 GAMING FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Th e RIOT STUFF Th e C O N T RO LLER Offi cially licensed by Xbox, and suitable forXbox Serie s X|S and WindowsPCs, th e Sketch Riot PowerAAdva ntage Plus wiredcont roller – never worryabo ut flat batteries again - fe atures pioneeringqui ck-twist thumbstickswith three adjustable heightsettings, as well as Hal l Effect technology tohelp make stick drift a t hing of the past.Mappable advanced gaming buttons and dual rumble motors add to any gaming experience, while a generous three-metre USB-C cable offers plenty of wiggle room for even the most hyper gamers. • The is available nowSketch Riot PowerA Advantag e Plus wired controller, exclusively at JB. lo v e making and that’s become one of m y art specialtie s.They’ re super relaxing , almost medit ativ e a s I have no goal or idea in mind when I st art , I just put pencil to paper andlet the dra wing create itself in a way . It mak es e v ery one of these drawings unique, whic h is why I wanted to do one for the compet ition as it's very different and very uniquel y me.” Not surprisingly, Mik e tells us that he’ s lo v ed drawing since a young age, but hecontin ues to study the craft. “I'v e always lo ved drawing and art lo v e making and that’ s become one of m y art specialties. T he y’ re super relaxing , almost medit ativ e as I ha v e no goal or idea in mind when I st art, I just put pencil to paper and let the dra wing create itself in a w a y . It mak es e v er y one of these dra wings unique, whic h is wh y I w anted to do one f or the competition as it's v er y dif f erent and v er y uniquely me. ” Not surprisingly , Mik e tells us that he ’ s lo v ed dra wing since a y oung age, but he continues to st udy the craf t. 20 JUL Y 2026 • • The The Sketch Riot PowerA Advantage Plus wired controller Sketch Riot PowerA Advantage Plus wired controller “I'v e alw a y s lo v ed dra wing and art A s a k een illustrator , Mik e got to let loose with one of his f a v ourite t ypes of dra wing f or his Sk etc h Riot design. his Sk etc h Riot design. “It's a ‘doodle ’ st yle dra wing that I really lo v e making and that’ s become one of m y art specialties. T he y’ re super relaxing , almost medit ativ e as I ha v e no goal or idea in mind when I st art, I just put pencil to paper and let the dra wing create itself in a w a y . It mak es e v er y one of these dra wings unique, whic h is wh y I w anted to do one f or the competition as it's v er y dif f erent and v er y uniquely me. ” Not surprisingly , Mik e tells us that he ’ s lo v ed dra wing since a y oung age, but he continues to st udy the craf t. “I'v e alw a y s lo v ed dra wing and art comes from m y logo that While he resisted the tempt ation to pop an y hidden easter eggsinto his design, the Sk etc h Riot controller does bear his “I w as planning to But y ou ma y notice the bac k has a red an y hidden easter eggsinto his design, the Sk etc h Riot controller does bear his Michael Br inkley Check out mor e of Mike ’ s wild a r t on his Instagram: mr_brinks JB EXCLUSIVE a w esome ne w er released ones as w ell. ” Chec k out mor e of Mik e ’ s wild ar t C O N T RO LLER Offi cially licensed by Xbox, and suitable for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PCs, the Sketch Riot PowerA Advantage Plus wired controller – never worry about fl at batteries again - features pioneering quick-twist thumbsticks with three adjustable height settings, as well as Hall Effect technology to help make stick drift a thing of the past. Mappable advanced gaming buttons RIOT STUFF Offi cially licensed by Xbox, and suitable for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PCs, the Sketch Riot PowerA Advantage Plus wired controller – never worry about fl at batteries again - features pioneering quick-twist thumbsticks with three adjustable height settings, as well as Hall Effect technology to help make stick drift a thing of the past. st261_020_GAMING-Sketch Riot-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_020_GAMING-Sketch Riot-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 10:44 am 19/6/2026 10:44 am -
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If you’ r e a gamer who ’ s alwa ys on the go , then the ultra- lightweight Raz er Orochi V2 P ortable Wireless Gaming Mouse could be your new f av our ite tr av elling companion. Words Amy Flower The brief Razer set about designing the Oroc hi V2 with one ke y purpose in mind, and that was to deliver top-notc h gaming perf ormance in a compact and trav el-friendly form. So light! With a mere weight of just under 60 grams (without a bat ter y), the Razer Oroc hi V2 is one of the lightest wireless gaming mice out there. While man y light weight competitors use a honey comb shell to ac hieve their lac k of hef t, The Oroc hi V2 f eatures a solid c hassis – meaning more strength, and less likelihood of gathering gunk. With this lightness and its small footprint, it’ s a doddle to t ake on the go – you can just slip it into a bac kpac k, handbag, or even a poc k et. It’ s your handy trav el companion! Shaping up Many mice are f or right- handed folk only , but the Oroc hi V2 is suitable for righties and lef ties. It supports multiple grip styles, too, so whether you pref er claw , palm, fi ngertip, or hybrid you’ll be right at home. Razer listened to community f eedbac k when refi ning its shape, whic h f eatures a taller rear hump, tapered ends, and a natural thumb groov e. Underneath All the lightness in the world would be nothing if the mouse in question didn ’t also hav e the moves to suit. The Oroc hi V2 f eat ures pure PTFE f eet to ensure that it glides smoothly across various surfaces, as w ell as off ering minimal drag for f ast fl ic ks. Making sense Under the bonnet, the Oroc hi V2 pac ks in Razer’ s 5G Adv anced Optical Sensor , whic h brings up to 1 8,0 0 0 DPI, 450 IPS trac king, and 40G acceleration to the table. These w ork in t andem with second-gen mec h anical switches that are rated for a mighty 60 million clicks, so that’ s precision and d urability sorted.Dual connectivity The Oroc hi V2 is a completely wireless mouse, and it supports both Razer HyperSpeed Wireless connectivit y and Bluetooth, of fering the ability to easily switch between high- performance gaming and po wer ef fi cient productivity . Razer’ s HyperSpeed Wireless, which uses an included USB dongle that lives inside the mouse for tra velling, brings ultralow latency performance that e ven rivals wired mice, whic h comes from a combination of an optimised data pipeline and the use of a fast radio frequency . This means a blisteringly quic k clic k latency of under 1 95 microseconds. Meanwhile, Bluetooth mode is perf ect for ev er yday use or tra vel, eliminating the need for a dongle as well as maximising bat tery life. Speaking of battery life... Needing to c harge a mouse is a drag, so the Oroc hi V2 eliminates it. Y es, it’ s battery-only , and this brings advantages to the table. The bat tery life tr uly is a st andout feat ure, as a single AA bat tery (one of which is included) can deliver up to an astonishing 1 1 00 hours of use in Bluetooth mode, and a still impressive 445 hours using HyperSpeed Wireless. That’ s a mega amount of lif e before ha ving to scrounge about for a replacement bat ter y . In a nov el move, the Oroc hi V2 supports a c hoice between either an AA or AAA bat ter y – when weight really mat ters. The two bat ter y slots are positioned to deliver balanced weight distribution, too, so no mat ter whic h wa y you go you w on’ t feel lik e you’ re struggling against an of f-balance mouse. Get it just right Razer’ s handy Synapse 3 sof tware lets users get their Oroc hi V2 just how the y like it. Six programmable but tons can be remapped, DPI stages can be adjusted, and performance set tings can be tweaked. That w ould mean nothing without the ability to store those set tings, so a single onboard memor y profi le lets them trav el with the mouse. T ake y our pick! All these great f eatures combine to make f or one super - competitive wireless gaming mouse – and it’ s also super - af fordable. All you need to do no w is make a c hoice – blac k, white, or quartz (pink)? jbhifi.com.au 22 JUL Y 2026 GAMING FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack If y ou’ r e a g amer who ’ s alw a ys on the g o , then the ultr a- A MOUSE F OR ALL SE ASONS The Razer Orochi V2 Portable Wireless Gaming Mouse is available nowit’ s a doddle to t ak e on the go – y ou can just slip it into a bac kpac k, handed f olk only , but the Oroc hi T hese w ork in t andem with second-gen mec hanical switc hes that are rated f or a might y 60 million clic ks, so that’ s precision and durabilit y sorted. “Orochi” literally translates to “big snake” in Japanese. DY K ?DY K ?st261_022_GAMING-Razer Orochi V2-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_022_GAMING-Razer Orochi V2-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 11:56 am 19/6/2026 11:56 am -
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Fr om noise cancelling and multipoint Bluet ooth to spatial audio , t oday's headphones, earbuds, and speak ers ar e pack ed with f eat ur es. But what do the y actually do , and which ones mat ter the most? T o help simplify your shopping, her e ar e ten of the most fr equently ask ed audio questions, answer ed in simple ter ms. Words Scott Hocking What type of audio product is right for me? That depends on ho w and where you listen. Earbuds are compact and great for commuting, exercise, and e ver yda y use. Over - ear headphones are ideal for long listening sessions, trav el, and bloc king out distractions. P ortable Bluetooth speakers are perf ect for sharing music at home, outdoors, or with friends. Think about where y ou'll use your audio gear most of ten and c hoose accordingly . What is noise canc elling and do I need it? Activ e Noise Cancellation (ANC) reduces unw anted bac kground noise suc h as plane engines, traf fi c, or of fi ce c hatter . It's a popular f eature for frequent fl yers, commuters, and any one who just wants to focus on their music, podcasts, or audiobooks. A quic k c hec k of headphone/earbud specs will indicate if ANC is a vailable on a particular model. Most headphones and earbuds also let you switc h ANC of f when you don't need it, helping to conser ve bat ter y lif e. What is T r ansparency or Ambient mode? T ransparency mode does the opposite of noise cancelling. It allows outside sounds to pass through so you can hear con versations, announcements, or traf fi c without removing your headphones or earbuds. It's especially useful when walking, running, trav elling , or working in busy en vironments where you need to stay a ware of what's happening around you. Open-ear headphones take this concept ev en further , allowing y ou to enjoy music while keeping y our ears completely open to the outside world. Ho w long does the battery last? Bat tery life is perhaps the most frequently asked question when shopping for audio gear , and it v aries bet ween products. How ever , most modern wireless earbuds, headphones, and portable speakers are designed to comfortably last through a day of listening, and often more. F or earbuds, the c harging case can generally store sev eral additional full c harges to signifi cantly extend total listening time before you need to rec harge it. In some cases, that can add up to day s of use bet ween c harges. Keep in mind that using f eatures lik e noise cancellation can reduce bat ter y life. Chec k f or models that support fast c harging, giving you hours of playbac k from just a short c harge when you're in a hurry . Will most audio tech w ork with my phone? Most wireless audio products use Bluetooth connectivity and will work with iPhones, Android phones, tablets, and laptops. Some models can include extra f eatures f or certain devices, but basic music playbac k and calling functions are generally av ailable a cross all majorpl atforms.Most products a lso offer c ompanionapps that let y ou customiseE Q and sounds ettings, update sof tware, adjust noise cancelling lev els, and access other optimisation f eatures. jbhifi.com.au 26 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack SMAR TER A UDIO SHOPPING y our questions answ er ed when shopping f or generally a v ailable across all major platf orms. also of f er companion apps that let y ou customise EQ and sound set tings, update sof t w are, adjust pla ybac k and calling st261_026-027_TECH-Audio – FAQs-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_026-027_TECH-Audio – FAQs-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:22 pm 19/6/2026 5:22 pm -
W hat is Bluetoothm ultipoint and doI need it?Blu etooth multipoint allows headphones orear buds to stay connected to two devicesat t he same time. For example, you could be l istening to music on your laptop andaut omatically switch to an incoming call on your ph one without having to reconnect anything . I t's a highly convenient feat ure for people wh o regularly move bet ween w ork and personal de v ices throughout the day . Simply c hec k the product’ s specs to see if it supports this function. Are earbuds, headphones, and portable speak ers durable enough for e xer cise and outdoor use? If you intend to w ear headphones or earbuds when ex ercising , or use a Bluetooth speaker for an outdoor party , the product’ s IP rating can help you understand what lev el of durabilit y is provided. The fi rst number indicates protection against dust particles, while the second measures resistance to water . The higher the number , the greater the lev el of protection. Just remember that w ater resist ant doesn't necessarily mean fully waterproof . Are headphones or earbuds comfortable enough for all- day wear? Comfort is one of the k ey considerations when c hoosing ear gear . Many earbuds include multiple ear tip sizes to help y ou fi nd the perfect fi t, while o ver -ear headphones use comfy padded ear cushions for long listening sessions. Open-ear headphone designs are becoming increasingly popular too, particularly for e xercise and outdoor use. A secu re and comf ort able fi t not only f eels bet ter but can also improv e sound qualit y and ov erall listening enjoyment. What is spatial or 360 audio and will it work with my music? Spatial audio and 360 audio are designed to create a more immersive listening e xperience by making sound f eel like it's coming from around you rather than directly from y our ears. The ef f ect can be particularly impressive for movies, liv e concerts, and supported music trac ks. Many popular streaming services now of fer compatible content, although the experience can vary depending on the ser vice, device, and headphones you're using. Are headphones or earbuds good for phone calls and video meetings? Y es. Many wireless earbuds and headphones now include built-in microphones f or calls and video conf erencing . New er and premium models can use multiple microphones and noise reduction tec h to help make y our voice sound clearer during calls, whether you're c hat ting with friends or joining a work meeting on T eams or Zoom. A UDIO JARGON BUSTER Shopping for ne w audio gear? Here are some of the more common terms y ou'll likely encounter, and what they actually mean. Beamforming microphones – T ec h that can focus on your v oice and reduce bac kground noise during calls. Dolby Atmos – An immersive audio format that mak es sound feel like it's coming from all around y ou. Driver – The component inside a headphone, earbud, or speaker that produces sound. eARC – A TV connection that allows high-quality audio to be sent to a soundbar using a single HDMI cable. EQ (Equaliser) – Lets y ou adjust sound set tings, suc h as boosting bass or enhancing vocals. Hi-Res Audio – A udio fi les that contain more det ail than standard digital audio. Lossless Audio – A udio that retains the original recording detail without any compression. Smart Speaker – A speak er with a built-in voice assistant and smart home control. Soundbar – A compact speak er designed to improv e your TV's sound. TWS (True Wireless Stereo) – Wireless earbuds with no cable connecting the lef t and right buds. A secure and comf ort able fi t not only f eels A secure and comf ort able fi t not only f eels What is B luet oo th What is B luet oo th multipoint and do I need it? Bluetooth multipoint allo ws headphones or earbuds to st a y connected to t w o de vices at the same time. F or e xample, y ou could be listening to music on y our laptop and automatically switc h to an incoming call on y our phone without ha ving to reconnect an ything . It's a highly con v enient f eat ure f or people who regularly mo v e bet w een w ork and personal de vices throughout the da y . Simply c hec k the product’ s specs to see if it supports this function. 27 FEA TURE TECH st261_026-027_TECH-Audio – FAQs-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 st261_026-027_TECH-Audio – FAQs-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 19/6/2026 10:49 am 19/6/2026 10:49 am Page contents: -
Page contents: JBL Sense Pro Premium Open-Ear Headphones (Black), Shokz OpenFit Air Open-Ear Headphones (Black), Sony LinkBuds Clip Truly Wireless Earbuds (Black),
Ho w do they work? Unlike traditional earbuds that sit inside y our ear canal, open-ear headphones rest just outside your ears. Small speak ers direct sound towards you while still allo wing external sounds to pass through naturally . Y ou can enjoy your audio while remaining aw are of conversa tions, traf fi c, announcements, or the doorb ell. Another big advantage is c omf ort. Because nothing sits inside t he ear canal, many people fi nd open-ear d esigns to be cooler and easier to wear f or long periods than traditional earbuds. New er designs can also m inimise sound leakage, keeping y our listening more private in public spaces. Why do I need the m? A wareness is the biggest draw card. Instead of const antly removing y our earbuds to hear what’ s happening around you, open-ear headphones let you stay connected to both your audio and y our surroundings. The y’re also ideal f or anyone who fi nds conv entional earbuds uncomfortable or prefers a lighter , less intr usive fi t. Man y models now include f eat u res such as multipoint Blu etooth, long batter y life, ad vanced call quality, and w ater resistance, makingth em practical ever yday he adphones rather than ani che fi tness accessory . W ho is usingth em?R unn ers and cyclists were early adopters, but open-ear headphonesha v e e xp anded beyond fi tness. Students, commuters, parents, h ybrid work ers, and offi ce staff are also embracing them for e ver yda y listening . Basically , they’re ideal f or anyone who wants bac k ground audio without completely disconnecting from the outside world. What should I look out for? Prioritise comf ort and a secure fi t that f eels natural for e xtended wear . Open-ear headphones now come in f ashionable ear -hook, clip-on, and ear -cuff styles, so there ’ s more c hoice than ev er to suit diff erent ears and activities. If calls are important, chec k f or multiple microphones and noise reduction f eatures. Most models hav e a companion app for customising your sound set tings. Bat tery life, durability , and multipoint Bluetooth are also ke y considerations. Y ou can enjo y y our audio while remaining a w are of con v ersations, traf fi c, announcements, or the doorbell. Another big adv ant age is comf ort. B ecause nothing sits inside the ear canal, man y people fi nd open-ear designs to be cooler and easier to w ear f or long periods Ne w er designs can also minimise sound leakage, k eeping y our listening more Wh y do I need them? a lighter , less intr usiv e fi t. Man y models no w include f eat ures suc h as multipoint Bluetooth, long bat ter y lif e, adv anced call qualit y , and w ater resist ance, making them practical e v er y da y headphones rather than a nic he fi tness accessor y . Who is using them? R unners and cy clists w ere early adopters, but open-ear headphones ha v e e xpanded be y ond fi tness. TOP PICKS JBL Sense Pro Premium Open-Ear Headphones JBL ’ s Sense Pro combines awareness with premium audio, keeping you connected to your surroundings, while spatial sound support creates bigger , more immersive listening. Four mics and AI-assisted noise reduction help d eliver clear calls, while adjustable ear hooksp rovide a secure all-day fit. Multipoint Bluetooth, wireless charging, app- b ased sound tweaks, IP54 water resistance,and u p to 38 hours of battery life make these a versatileo ption for work, travel, and everyday listening.Shokz OpenFit Air Open-Ear Headphones If comfort is your top priority , this model is well worth considering. The lightweight open-ear design and adjus table ear hooks will stay snug and comfortable all day l ong, whether you're working or working out. Enjoy music, podcasts, and calls while staying connected to the outside world, and get up to six hours use from a single charge, plus a total of 28 hours with the charging case. Clear call quality , personalised sound settings, and multipoint pairing add everyday convenience, while the water -resistant design protects from splashes and spills. Sony LinkBuds Clip Truly Wireless Earbuds These buds have a unique ear -cuff design that clips securely to your ear , keeping you alert to the outside world. AI-enhanced call quality , three listening modes, and app-based sound customisation can help tailor the experience to your surroundings. With multipoint Bluetooth, IPX4wate r resistance, and up to 37ho urs of battery life, these budsfi t seamlessly into everyday life.Open-ear headphones let you enjo y music, podcasts, and calls without completely t uning out the wor ld ar ound y ou. Her e’ s what you need t o know . W ords Scott Hocking OPEN YOUR E ARS jbhif i.com.au28 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Open-ear headphones can really shine Open-ear headphones keep you productive without becoming isolated. Y ou can listen to music while answering emails, hear a delivery arrive, chat with family members, keep an ear on the kids or dog, or jump straight into a work call without removing your headphones. Models that support multipoint Bluetooth allow you to stay connected to both your laptop and smartphone at the same time, without needing to reconnect. TECH FEA TURE Working from home? TRENDING TRENDING AUDIO TECH AUDIO TECH bigger , more immersive listening. deliver clear calls, while adjustable ear hooks provide a secure all-day fi t. based sound tweaks, IP54 water resistance, up to 38 hours of battery life make these a versatile option for work, travel, and everyday listening. The lightweight open-ear design and adjustable ear hooks will stay snug and comfortable all day long, whether The lightweight open-ear design and adjustable ear The lightweight open-ear design and adjustable ear hooks will stay snug and comfortable all day long, whether can help tailor the experience to your surroundings. With multipoint Bluetooth, IPX4 water resistance, and up to 37 hours of battery life, these buds fi t seamlessly into everyday life. jbhifi.com.au Enjoy music, podcasts, and calls while staying connected to can help tailor the experience to your Enjoy music, podcasts, and calls while staying connected to can help tailor the experience to your surroundings. With multipoint Bluetooth, IPX4 water resistance, and up to 37 st261_028_TECH-Audio – Open-ear headphones-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_028_TECH-Audio – Open-ear headphones-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:23 pm 19/6/2026 5:23 pm -
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Page contents: Shokz Openrun Pro 2 (Black), Shokz OpenSwim Pro Open-Ear Headphones (Black/Grey), Shokz OpenComm2 Wireless Bluetooth Open-Ear Headphones (Black),
Bone conduction headphones might look similar to man y open-ear designs, but they w or k very dif f er ently . So , what exactly is bone conduction, how does it w or k, and wh y would y ou need it in a pair of headphones? W ords Scott Hocking Ho w does bone c onduction work? Bone conduction headphone tec h lea ves your ears completely open while delivering audio through vibrations. These sound wav es trav el through your c heekbones directly to the inner ear . The result lets y ou enjoy music, podcasts, and calls while still hearing traf fi c, conv ersations, and other important sounds around you. While early bone conduction headphones focused primarily on saf ety and awareness, modern models hav e evolv ed signifi cantly , of fering bet ter sound quality , longer bat ter y lif e, clearer calls, and smarter connectivity feat ures. Why do I need them? The biggest adv ant age is situational a wareness. The y’re ideal f or activities where st aying alert mat ters, suc h as running, cycling, hiking, and walking. The y’re also a great option f or any one who dislikes traditional earbuds or fi nds ov er -ear headphones too bulk y . Because nothing sits inside y our ears, they’ re comfortable enough for all-da y wear . Many modern bone conduction headphones also include multipoint Bluetooth, companion apps, custom EQ set tings and advanced noise reduction f or calls. SOUN D TO T H E BON E jbhifi.com.au 30 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Who came up with the idea of bone conduction? The idea behind bone conduction dates back centuries. One of the earliest recorded observations came from Italian physician Girolamo Cardano in the 1500s, who noted that sound vibrations could travel through the teeth and skull to the inner ear . Composer Ludwig van Beethoven later used a similar principle to help him hear his music as his hearing deteriorated, by biting on a rod connected to his piano. Most bone conduction headphones are open-ear designs, but not all open-ear headphones use bone conduction. Many open-ear models use small speakers near the ear , while bone conduction models use vibration pads that leave the ear canal completely unobstructed. Bone conduction vs. open-ear headphones Who is using them? Sport remains the go-to for bone conduction headphones, particularly among runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who w ant to remain aw are. Swimming is another gro wing categor y . Dedicated waterproof models with onboard music storage allow y ou to leave y our phone poolside and still enjoy y our fav ourite playlists in the water . Bone conduction headphones ha ve also found ne w users in the workplace. Open-ear communication headsets are now increasingly popular with work ers who spend hours on calls but still need to hear colleagues, customers, and what’ s happening around them. What should I look out for? F or fi tness and outdoor use, prioritise a secure fi t, w ater resist ance, and long bat ter y life. S wimmers should look for fully waterproof models with built-in music storage. If work calls are y our priorit y , focus on microphone quality , noise reduction, and reliable connectivity across laptops, smartphones, and tablets. TOP PICKS Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Designed for active types, the OpenRun Pr o 2 combines bone conduction and airconduction tech to deliver fuller sound with stronger bass than earlier generations. A lightweight titanium frame pro vides a secure fit during exercise, while AI-assisted mics help keep calls clear. IP5 5 water resistance and up to 12 hoursof batt ery life make it a strong all-roundtrainin g companion.Shokz OpenSwim Pro Open-Ear Headphones Built for the pool, these headphones feature an IP68 waterproof rating and onboard MP3 storage that lets you listen underwater without relying on Bluetooth. Dual Bluetooth and MP3 modes add fl exibility out of the water too, while the secure fi t stays comfortable during swimming, running, and other activities. Shokz OpenComm2 UC Bone Conducting Bluetooth Headset with USB-C Adapter The OpenComm2 brings bone con duction tech into the workplace. An adjustable noise-cancelling boom microphone helps improve call clarity , while the lightweight open-ear design remains comfortable throughout long workdays. PC and Mac compatibility , multipoint pairing, and a dedicated wireless adapter make it a practical option for offi ce, remote, and hybrid work. with stronger bass than earlier generations. provides a secure fi t during exercise, while AI-assisted mics help keep calls clear . IP55 water resistance and up to 12 hours of battery life make it a strong all-round training companion. PICKS Designed for active types, the OpenRun Pro 2 combines bone conduction and air conduction tech to deliver fuller sound while AI-assisted mics help keep calls clear . of battery life make it a strong all-round training companion. Bluetooth Headset with The OpenComm2 brings bone conduction tech into the Bluetooth Headset with The OpenComm2 brings bone conduction tech into the TRENDING TRENDING AUDIO TECH AUDIO TECH st261_030_TECH-Audio – Bone conduction headphones-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_030_TECH-Audio – Bone conduction headphones-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 11:20 am 19/6/2026 11:20 am -
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Page contents: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Noise Cancelling Headphones Gen 2 (Driftwood Sand), Sony WH-1000XM6 Premium Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones (Black),
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Noise Cancelling Headphones Gen 2 Comfort has always been a Bose hallmark, and the QC Ultra Gen 2 takes it to another level. Premium materials, plush ear cushions, and a refi ned design make these headphones ideal for long fl ights, busy workdays, and extended listening. Flagship noise cancelling helps create quieter , more focused listening, while Bose Immer sive Audio adds greater depth and realism to music, movies, and podca sts.Personalised a udio tuning auto-adapts sound to your ears, helping bring out more detail in whatever you’re listening to. Clear call qual ity, strong battery life up to 30 hours, and seamless de vice switching roundout a premium headphone desig ned to make your listening feel special. Premium materials, plush ear cushions, and a refi ned design make these headphones ideal for long fl ights, busy workdays, and extended listening. Flagship noise cancelling helps create quieter , more focused listening, while Bose Immersive Audio adds greater depth and realism to music, Personalised audio tuning auto-adapts sound to your ears, helping bring out more detail in whatever you’re listening to. Clear call quality , strong battery life up to 30 hours, and seamless device switching round out a premium headphone designed to make your listening feel special. Flagship noise cancelling helps create quieter , more focused listening, while Bose Immersive Audio adds greater depth and realism to music, TOP PICKS Sony WH-1000XM6 Premium Noise Cancelling Ov er-Ear Headphones Sony has a reputation for luxe listening and the 1000XM6 combine exceptional noise cancelling and comfort – perfect for long days travelling, work, and entertainment. A refi ned folding design, soft-fi t materials, and spacious earcups make them easy to wear for hours at a time. Sony’ s adaptive noise cancelling intelligently resp onds to your surroundings to help keep distractions at bay . Premium sound tuning developed alongside renow ned mastering engineers delivers rich detail and impressive clarity , w hile AI- enhanced call tech helps your voice come through lou d and clear . Long battery life up to 30 hours and multipoint con nectivity complete a fl agship package. Pr emium or fl agship headphones can cost y ou more, but what ar e you act ually get ting for the higher pr ice tag? W ords Bec Summer Is it r eally worth paying more? If you spend hours eac h w eek listening or taking calls, the answer is of ten yes. As w ell as getting bet ter sound quality and noise cancellation, premium (or fl agship headphones) are designed to be more comfortable during long listening sessions, making them perf ect for commuting, travelling, working, or simply relaxing at home. Sof ter materials, premium fi nishes, larger earcups, and lighter designs can make a noticeable dif ference when y ou’re w earing them for hours at a time. What do premium headphones actually do better? Noise cancelling is one of the biggest upgrades. Flagship models can signifi cantly reduce distractions from aircraf t noise, busy of fi ces, caf és, and public transport, allowing you to properly focus on whate ver you’ re listening to. Sound quality also t akes a step up. P remium headphones are typically tuned to rev eal more detail, produce richer bass, and create a wider , more immersive soundstage that can make music, movies, and games f eel more engaging. Call quality is improved too. Advanced microphones and voice-processing tec h help your v oice cut through bac kground noise, making work calls and catc h-ups clearer wherev er you are. Who is using them? Premium headphones are no longer just f or audiophiles. F requent fl yers v alue the comfort of ef fectiv e noise cancelling on long fl ights; commuters use them to tune out busy trains and buses, while remote and hybrid w orkers rely on clear call quality for meetings and collaboration. The y're also popular with movie lov ers, gamers, and music fans seeking a more immersive experience. F or many , premium headphones become their ev er yday companion – from w ork and trav el to entert ainment and relaxation. What should I look out for? Comfort should be at the top of the list. A great pair of premium headphones should “disappear” once they’ re on your head. Bat tery life, multipoint Bluetooth, and app-based personalisation are also worth considering. Many fl agship models can switc h seamlessly between a phone and laptop, while adaptive sound set tings automatically adjust to your surroundings. Lux e LIS TENING jbhifi.com.au 32 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Buy once, enjoy for years Premium headph ones are designed for dai ly use. For frequent liste ners, the added comfo rt, performance an d fl agship features can ma ke them a worthwh ile long-term investment. TRENDING TRENDING AUDIO TECH AUDIO TECH long fl ights, busy workdays, and extended listening. Flagship noise cancelling helps create quieter , more focused listening, while Bose Immersive Audio adds greater depth and realism to music, movies, and podcasts. Personalised audio tuning auto-adapts sound to your ears, helping bring out more detail in whatever you’re listening to. Clear call quality , strong battery life up to 30 hours, and seamless device switching round out a premium headphone designed to make your listening feel special. Premium materials, plush ear cushions, and a refi ned design make these headphones ideal for long fl ights, busy workdays, and extended listening. and comfort – perfect for long days travelling, work, and entertainment. A refi ned folding design, soft-fi t materials, and spacious earcups make them easy to wear Sony’ s adaptive noise cancelling intelligently responds to your Premium sound tuning developed alongside renowned mastering engineers delivers rich detail and impressive clarity , while AI- enhanced call tech helps your voice come through loud and clear . Long battery life up to 30 hours and multipoint connectivity long fl ights, busy workdays, and extended listening. Flagship noise cancelling helps create quieter , more focused listening, while Bose Immersive Audio adds greater depth and realism to music, movies, and podcasts. Personalised audio tuning auto-adapts sound to your ears, helping bring out more detail in whatever you’re listening to. Clear call quality , strong battery life up to 30 hours, and seamless device switching round out a premium headphone designed to make your listening feel special. for years Premium headphones are designed for daily use. For frequent listeners, the added comfort, performance and fl agship features can make them a worthwhile Premium headphones are designed for daily use. For frequent listeners, performance and fl agship st261_032_TECH-Audio – Premium headphones-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_032_TECH-Audio – Premium headphones-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:24 pm 19/6/2026 5:24 pm -
Page contents: Sonos Play Portable Speaker (Black),
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Page contents: Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 Over-Ear ANC Wireless Headphones (Black),
What if your f av our ite music still had details y ou hadn’ t heard bef or e? That’ s the thinking behind the Sennheiser Momentum 5 headphones – t o br ing a mor e rev ealing, studio-inspir ed exper ience t o every day list ening. W ords Scott Hocking Hear more of what matter s The Moment um 5 headphones can help you hear more of the emotion, detail, and nuance hidden within your f avourite recordings. Inspired by the sound signat ure of Sennheiser’ s legendary HD 60 0 series studio headphones, they're t uned to reveal subtle details in recordi ngs. V ocals f eel natural, instr ume nts ha v e room to breathe, and mo vies and games can gain a greate r sense of scale. These fl agship headphones bring you closer to what the artist, produc er , and mastering engine er heard in the studio. F or m usic lo v ers they pro vide an i ncentiv e to revisit f avourite a lbums and playlists, simply t o hear things they ma y ha v e missed before. Quieter surroundings, better sound The Moment um 5 headphones introduce Sennheiser’ s most adv anced active noise cancellation yet, deliv ering up to three times bet ter noise reduction than the Momentum 4. T he result is quieter , more focused listening.T ransparency modes also allow outsidesound bac k in when needed, makingit easier to h ear announcements,con v ersatio ns, or what’s happening around y ou without removing the headphone s.A trus tedev eryday c ompa nionT he headph ones combine clear callqualit y , seaml ess device switching, and personalised sound settings through the Sennheiser Smart Control app.Whet her you’re moving between a laptop and smartphone, taking work calls, gaming, or relaxing with a playlist, these headphones fi t ef fortlessly into y our ev er yday lif e. Built for the long haul With up to 57 hours of playbac k time with ANC enabled, they’ re built for endurance. That’ s plenty for daily commuting, long-haul trav el, and potentially even a ret urn trip to New Y ork without needing a recharge. A new replaceable bat tery option also helps extend the lif e of the headphones, making them a long-term companion rather than a short-term upgrade. SENNHEISER MOMENTUM 5 jbhifi.com.au 34 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Why do music fans lo ve Sennheiser Signature Sound? While many of today’ s premium headphones offer impressive noise cancelling, smart features, and all-day comfort, many listeners still choose Sennheiser because of the way its products make music feel. The company’ s audio heritage has helped shape a sound signature that prioritises detail, balance, and realism. That’ s why the Momentum headphone series has developed a loyal following. With the Momentum 5 headphones, it’ s not just about hearing more music – it’ s about hearing more in your music.headphones, the y're t uned to re v eal subtle det ails in recordings. V ocals f eel nat ural, instr uments ha v e room to breathe, and mo vies and games can gain a greater sense of T hese fl agship headphones bring y ou closer to what the artist, producer , and mastering engineer heard in the st udio. F or music lo v ers the y pro vide an incentiv e to re visit f a v ourite albums and pla ylists, simply to hear things the y ma y ha v e T he result is quieter , more f ocused listening . T ransparency modes also allo w outside sound bac k in when needed, making it easier to hear announcements, con v ersations, or what’ s happening around y ou without remo ving the headphones. A trust ed e v ery day c ompanion T he headphones combine clear call qualit y , seamless de vice switc hing , and personalised sound set tings through the Sennheiser Smart Control app. Whether y ou’ re mo ving bet w een qualit y , seamless de vice switc hing , and personalised sound set tings through the Black White DenimH E AR W HAT YOU’VE BEEN MISS ING Sennheiser Momentum 5 vs Momentum 4 What’s ne w? The Momentum 4 were already one of the most respected premium headphones on the market, so Sennheiser has focused on refi ning the experience rather than reinventing it. The Momentum 5 introduces signifi cantly stronger active noise cancellation, clearer calls, Dolby Atmos spatial audio support with head tracking, enhanced personalisation options, and a user -replaceable battery. Upcoming support for lossless CD-quality audio and Auracast (via fi rmware updates) also helps future-proof the headphones, while battery life remains exceptional at up to 57 hours with ANC on. st261_034_TECH-Audio – Sennheiser M5-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_034_TECH-Audio – Sennheiser M5-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:24 pm 19/6/2026 5:24 pm -
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Page contents: Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black),
Son y is celebr ating 1 0 y ears of its fl agship 1 00 0X ser ies with the launch of 1 0 0 0X The ColleXion – a pr emium headphone rang e built ar ound the f eatur es that hav e made the ser ies a benc hmar k for wir eless listening. W ords Glenn Cochrane T op-ti er noise canc elling , imm ersiv e sound, and luxur y comf ort! Sony’ s 1 00 0X range has spent the last decade set ting the benc hmark f or premium li stening . Now , to celebrate t he line ’ s tenth anniv ersar y , Sony is un v eiling 1 0 0 0X The ColleX ion – a luxur y -f ocused e v olution that blends super -premium craf t smanship, immersive sound, and the smart f eatures that hav e helped defi ne the brand’ s fl agship range of headphones. Industry-leading noise canc elling No mat ter what crow ded or noisy environment you’ re in, The ColleXion continues to lead the wa y in noise cancellation – a defi ning feat ure of Sony’ s 1 000X range. P ow ered by Sony’ s HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 and Integrated P rocessor V3, the sy stem c onstantlymonitors sur roundingen vironment s and adjustsin real time to minimisedistraction s.T he tec h is designed to create a more personallistening space wheremusic and entertainmentremain fron t and centre.P r emium sound forpur e immer sionNo mat ter where y ou are, 1 0 0 0 XThe ColleXion is designed to deliver a fully immersiv e experience. Whether you’ re in the peak hour commute, headed to a game, watc hing a mo vie, or just c hilling out to music, Sony has doubled do wn on premium sound quality with bespoke drivers engineered to deliver ric h bass, detailed vocals, and clear high-frequency response. Things get e ven more cinematic, too, with the inclusion of dedicated 360 Upmix modes that expand stereo audio into a wider spatial experience, adding grander scope to music, movies, and games. Craft ed for comfort and luxury When it comes to ear gear , comf ort and luxur y mat ter just as muc h as sound qualit y . Premium materials, refi ned fi nish, and a comfort-f ocused build combine to create headphones that f eel as premium as they sound. Y ou may forget y ou’re e ven wearing them! Sony sa y that the design has been carefully calibrated for long listening sessions, with a cushioned headband, balanced fi t, and minimal side pressure helping reduce fatigue during extended w ear . That means da y-long TV and movie binges, artist catalogue playbac ks, your f avourite podcasts, and epic audiobook listens. Smart features for every day listening Moving from inside to outside, or hopping into your car? No problem! 1 000X The ColleXion is designed to fi t seamlessly into ev er yday lif e, with smart connectivity feat ures that make switc hing between devices simple. Multipoint support allows users to stay connected to multiple devices simultaneously for up to 24 hours (or 32 with noise cancelling of f), while LE A udio support helps improve wireless ef fi ciency and low -latency performance. Sony has also placed a major f ocus on call clarity , using AI-enhanced v oice isolation tec h to help voices remain clear e ven in noisy environments. In short Sony’ s 1 000X The ColleXion is a refi ned ev olution of the company’ s industr y-leading headphone range. Designed for e ver yone from commuters and fi tness enthusiasts to busy prof essionals and parents, it combines premium comfort, immersive sound, smart e ver yda y feat ures, and the noise cancelling performance the series is known f or – continuing the legacy of one of Sony’ s most recognisable premium audio lines. jbhifi.com.au 36 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack SONY ’S 1000X THE C OLLE XION Celebr ating 10 years W ords Glenn Cochrane op-tier noise cancelling , immersiv e sound, and luxur y comf ort! Son y’ s 1 0 0 0X range has spent the last decade set ting the benc hmark f or premium listening . celebrate the line ’ s tenth anniv ersar y , Son y is un v eiling 1 0 0 0X T he ColleXion – a luxur y -f ocused e v olution that blends super -premium craf tsmanship, immersiv e sound, Son y is un v eiling 1 0 0 0X that blends super -premium craf tsmanship, the sy stem const antly monitors sur rounding en vironments and adjusts in real time to minimise distractions. T he tec h is designed to create a more personal listening space where music and entert ainment remain front and centre. P r emium sound for pur e immer sion No mat ter where y ou are, 1 0 0 0X T he ColleXion is designed to deliv er a fully immersiv e W ords Glenn Cochrane T he ColleXion – a luxur y -f ocused e v olution that blends super -premium craf tsmanship, No mat ter where y ou are, 1 0 0 0X T he ColleXion the sy stem const antly monitors sur rounding en vironments and adjusts in real time to minimise distractions. music and entert ainment remain front and centre. P r emium sound for pur e immer sion Black Platinum Studio- qualit y tunes! 1000X The ColleXion can let you experience music closer to the way artists and producers intended it to sound in the studio. Sony has worked alongside professional mastering engineers to ensure these headphones reproduce music with clarity , balance, and detail. st261_036_TECH-Audio – Sony 1000X The Collexion-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_036_TECH-Audio – Sony 1000X The Collexion-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 22/6/2026 9:38 am 22/6/2026 9:38 am -
Page contents: Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Platinum),
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LG Sound Suite LG’ s Sound Suite combines the H7 Soundbar , M5 and M7 wireless speakers, and W7 wireless subwoofer into a highly customisable home audio ecosystem. At the centre is the H7 Soundbar , powered by Dolby Atmos FlexConnect technology that intelligently adapts audio to your room layout and speaker placement. The M5 and M7 speakers can be used as surround speakers for movies and gaming or as standalone music speakers elsewhere in the home, while the W7 subwoofer adds extra depth and low-end impact. T ogether , the components can be arranged in a variety of ways to suit different rooms, listening habits and entertainment styles. Building a gr eat home audio system no long er means fi lling up your loung e r oom with speak ers, or in vesting in an expensive home theatr e pac kag e from da y one. Modular sound systems ar e all about fl exibility , allo wing you t o cr eate a set up that suits your space, lif estyle, and budg et. W ords Bec Summer Why are modular audio sy stems becoming popular? Every home is diff erent. A small apartment may only need a soundbar and a speaker f or music, while a larger family home might benefi t from surround speakers, a subw oof er , and audio across multiple rooms. Modular sound systems allo w you to tailor your set up to the way y ou actually liv e, rather than a one-size-fi ts-all solution. The benefits go w ell beyond movie nights A soundbar can dramatically improv e TV dialogue and add more impact to sport and gaming. Extra speakers can create a more immersive surround sound ef f ect, while a subwoof er can add depth and scale to action movies and liv e concerts. Many modular sy stems also support multi- room audio, allowing y our music to follow y ou from the kitc hen to the living room and bey ond. Speakers can e ven work independently for music, then become part of a larger entertainment setup when it’ s time to watc h a movie. What t o look out for Ease of use is just as important as sound quality . Many sy stems can automatically adapt to room lay outs and speaker placement, removing muc h of the complexity of ten associated with home theatre systems. It’ s also worth considering how easily additional speakers, subw oofers and accessories can be added later if your needs c hange. Some ecosystems can support man y dif ferent confi gurations, making expansion simple. jbhifi.com.au 38 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Why not just buy a complete system outright? A modular sound system spreads the cost over time and allows you to prioritise the components you’ll use most. Rather than paying for an entire setup upfront, you can build your system as your budget and entertainment needs evolve. TRENDING TRENDING AUDIO TECH AUDIO TECH Build the right audio system for your home MI X MA TCH A ND Components designed to work together usually offer easier setup, simpler control, and more consistent sound. Features such as multi-room audio, wireless speaker pairing, and single app-based control also tends to work more seamlessly when everything is part of the same ecosystem. TOP PICKS Bose Lifestyle Collection This system centres around three key components: the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker , Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar , and Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer . The Ultra Speaker is a versatile all-rounder that can fi ll a bedroom, study , or living space with music. It can also be paired with a second speaker for richer stereo sound, or used as a rear surround speaker in a home theatre setup. The Ultra Soundbar brings greater clarity to TV dialogue and adds a more immersive feel to movies, sport, and gaming, while the Ultra Subwoofer delivers the kind of deep, room-fi lling bass that adds extra impact to blockbuster movies, live concerts and p arty playlists. Flexible streaming support and app-based con trol help tie the system together , whether you're listening in one room or throughout the house. Subwoofer delivers the kind of deep, room-fi lling bass that adds extra impact to blockbuster movies, live concerts and party playlists. Flexible streaming support and app-based control help tie the system together , whether you're listening in one room or This system centres around three key components: the Lifestyle Why stick with the same br and? st261_038_TECH-Audio – Modular sound systems-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_038_TECH-Audio – Modular sound systems-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 11:27 am 19/6/2026 11:27 am -
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Page contents: Denon DCD900NES CD Player with Advanced AL32 Processing Plus and USB (Black), Philips Portable MP3 CD Player, Philips Sound Machine CD Player with DAB+ Radio,
TOP PICKS Denon DCD-900NES CD Player Built for music lovers who want the best from their collection, the Denon DCD-9000NES combines premium audio performance with robust construction. Advanced AL32 Processing delivers smooth, natural sound, making it an ideal partner for a dedicated hi-fi system. It’ s also equipped with a handy USB port for music fi le playback. Philips Portable MP3 CD Player Compact, lightweight, and easy to use, this portable player supports both standard CDs and MP3 CDs. It's perfect for travel, commuting, or anyone wanting to revisit the classic portable CD experience with their favourite headphones. Philips Sound Machine CD Player with D AB+ Radio Combining CD playback, DAB+ radio, built-in speakers, and a boombox aesthetic, this versatile all-rounder is ideal for kitchens, studies, and living spaces. Simple controls and fl exible listening options make it a great everyday music co mpanion. Vin yl isn’t the only ph ysical music for mat on the comebac k trail. Y ounger g enerations ar e no w redisco ver ing CDs, and fi nding plenty to lo ve about them. W ords Glenn Cochrane T he wa y we listen to music is constantly evolving, and for years the Compact Disc w as treated like the embarrassing middle c hild of music formats. T oo modern to be "cool" like vin yl, yet too old- fashioned to compete with streaming. But quietly , and increasingly loudly , CDs are making a comebac k. And unlike nostalgia-driven vin yl collectors c hasing Fleetwood Mac reissues, this resurgence is being fuelled by a younger audience that barely gre w up with CDs in the fi rst place. What's driving the CD comeback? Part of the rene wed interest is tied to Y2K nostalgia. As early -20 00s fashion, tec hnology , and entertainment return to the spotlight, CDs hav e become a t angible connection to that era. At the same time, some listeners are experiencing streaming f atigue. While digital platforms of f er convenience, endless c hoice can be ov er whelming. CDs encourage a more deliberate listening experience, from pla ying albums front-to-bac k to exploring liner notes and artwork. Do CDs sound bett er then streamed music? It depends on your set up, but CDs still of fer advantages. Standard audio CDs deliver lossless, uncompressed sound quality without requiring subscriptions or internet access. While many streaming services now of fer lossless tiers, playbac k quality can still depend on connection speeds and set tings. F or listeners with quality speakers, headphones or hi-fi systems, CDs remain an e xcellent wa y to experience music. What are the other benef its of ph ysical music? CDs are one of the most af fordable wa ys to build a phy sical music collection. New releases are typically cheaper than vin yl, while secondhand stores of fer endless opport unities to discov er bargains. Phy sical media also creates a stronger sense of ownership. Albums become part of a personal collection rather than simply existing in a digital librar y , while art work and booklets can provide a deeper connection to the music. What do I need t o know? Bef ore buying a CD play er , consider how you'll use it. Dedicated pla yers are designed to connect to amplifi ers and speaker sy stems, while portable options off er headphone listening and on-the-go conv enience. Look f or solid build qualit y , especially if you're assembling a home audio set up. Extra f eatures suc h as Bluetooth, USB playbac k, MP3 CD support, and D AB+ radio can also add fl exibility . THE NEW CD GEN! jbhifi.com.au 40 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Cassettes are making a comeback too! CDs aren't the only format enjoying renewed interest. The humble cassette has found a niche among collectors and independent artists thanks to their retro appeal, colourful packaging, and affordability . While they can't match CD audio quality , they're proving that physical music still matters. TRENDING TRENDING AUDIO TECH AUDIO TECH Artists and labels are paying attention 40 JUL Y 2026 Combining CD playback, DAB+ listening options make it a great everyday music companion. Major artists have embraced the CD revival. T aylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and many K-pop acts regularly release collectible editions featuring exclusive artwork, bonus tracks, and alternate packaging. For artists and labels, physical media also provides a valuable revenue stream beyond streaming. st261_040_TECH-Audio – CD players-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_040_TECH-Audio – CD players-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 11:36 am 19/6/2026 11:36 am -
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Of ten, the unsung hero in y our vin yl jour ney is the cartr idge. It can mak e the diff er ence between an album sounding good and sounding outstanding. W ords Paul Jones What does a cartridge actually do? A turntable cartridge might be small, but it's one of the most important components in your record set up. Mounted at the end of the tonearm, it houses the stylus—the tiny diamond tip that rides the groov es of your records. As the stylus traces those microscopic groov es, the cartridge converts the resulting vibrations into an elect rical signal. That signal is then amplifi ed and sent to your speak ers as music. In other words, the cartridge is the crucial link between your records and what you hear . The bet ter the cartridge, the more accurately it can reproduce the information h idden in the groov e. MM and MC: What's the differenc e? Most cartridges fall into one of two categories: Moving Magnet (MM) or Mo ving Coil (MC). Moving Magnet cartridges are the most common and are found on most t urnt ables. The y're aff ordable, reliable, easy to inst all, and compatible with most phono stages. Another advantage is that the stylus can usually be replaced without c hanging the entire cartridge, making them a practical long-term c hoice. Moving Coil cartridges sit at the more specialised end of the spe ctrum. Favoured b y audiophile s, they're capable ofe xtractin g greater detail,nuance , and dynamics froma rec ord.The trade-of f is c ost. MC cartridgesare generally moree x pensive, of ten requi re a dedicatedphono pr eamp, and whenthe st ylus wears out, the wholecartridge typically needs replacing . Think of MM as the dependable dai ly driver and MC as the high-perf ormanc e sports car . F or most listeners, a quality MM cartridge is the ideal place to start. Ho w do they attach? There are two common mounting sy st ems. The most widespread is the standard h alf-inc h mount, whic h uses two screws to at tac h the cartridge to the headshell. The other is the P -mount system, found on some entry- lev el and plug-and-play turntables. A s the name suggests, it simply plugs into the tonearm, making installation quick and easy . Why upgrade y our cartridge? If you're looking to impro ve your t urnt able's sound, a cartridge upgrade can deliver one of the biggest gains without replacing the entire dec k. A bet ter cartridge can rev eal more texture in vocals, impro ve instrument separation, and create a wider , more immersiv e stereo image. High frequencies become cleaner , bass gains defi nition, and records of ten sound quieter because the stylus tracks the groo ve more accurately . It's one of those upgrades that's immediately noticeable – the moment the needle drops, your f avourite records can sound more detailed, dynamic, and alive. Choosing the right cartridge Compatibility should alway s be your starting point. Y our turntable's mounting system and tonearm c haracteristics will determine whic h cartridges are suitable. Stylus profi le also plays a major role. Conical styli are the most forgiving and af fordable, making them ideal for casual listening. Elliptical designs of fer impro ved detail and tracking perf ormance, while advanced profi les suc h as MicroLine or Shibata can retrieve ev en more information from the gro ove while t ypically of fering longer lif e span.T hi nk of them as good, better , and audi ophile-grade options.T he final wordT he best cartridge is one thatmatc hes both your equipment and y ou r expect ations. Installing a high-end Mo ving Coil cartridge on an entry-level turntable rarely makes sense, just as a serious hi-fi enthusiast may fi nd an entr y-lev el cartridge limiting. Ultimately , c hoosing the right cartridge comes down to compatibility , budget, and listening habits. Get it right and you'll unloc k more of what's already sit ting in your record collection – a ric her , more engaging sound that brings you closer to the music. Needle Kno wledge jbhifi.com.au 42 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack T o clean a stylus, gently brush from back to front using a dedicated stylus brush or cleaning gel. Avoid brushing side-to-side or toward the cartridge, as this can damage the delicate cantilever . Regular cleaning helps maintain sound quality and tracking performance. Before diamond became the standard stylus material, record players relied on steel needles that often wore out after a single play . Manufacturers experimented with sapphire, bamboo, and even cactus thorns before diamond's durability and superior performance made it the material of choice. Stylus lifespan A stylus won't last forever . Depending on its profi le and how well records are maintained, most styli deliver between 500 and 2,000 hours of playback before wear begins to affect sound quality . audiophiles, the y're capable of e xtracting greater det ail, nuance, and dynamics from a record. T he trade-of f is cost. MC cartridges are generally more e xpensiv e, of ten require a dedicated phono preamp, and when the st ylus w ears out, the whole A s the st ylus traces those microscopic groo v es, the cartridge con v erts the resulting vibrations into an electrical signal. T hat signal is then amplifi ed cartridge, the more accurately it can reproduce the inf ormation hidden in the at the more specialised end of the spectr um. F a v oured b y audiophiles, the y're capable of the st ylus w ears out, the whole groo v es, the cartridge con v erts the resulting vibrations into an electrical signal. T hat signal is then amplifi ed can reproduce the inf ormation hidden in the audiophiles, the y're capable of e xtracting greater det ail, nuance, and dynamics from a record. T he trade-of f require a dedicated phono preamp, and when the st ylus w ears out, the whole T hink of MM as the dependable daily driv er and MC as the high-perf ormance sports car . F or most listeners, a qualit y MM T here are t w o common mounting sy stems. T he most widespread is the st andard half-inc h e v en more inf ormation from the groo v e while t ypically of f ering longer lif espan. T hink of them as good, bet ter , and audiophile-grade options. The f inal w or d T he best cartridge is one that T he best cartridge is one that matc hes both y our equipment and y our e xpect ations. Inst alling a high-end Mo ving Coil cartridge on an entr y -le v el t urnt able rarely mak es sense, just as a serious Cleaning your stylus Back in the beginning st261_042_TECH-Cartridges-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_042_TECH-Cartridges-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:00 pm 19/6/2026 5:00 pm -
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Page contents: Sonos Era 100 SL Speaker (Black), JBL Bandbox Solo Compact Practice Amp and Speaker, JBL Bandbox Trio Busking Speaker,
Fr om v ersatile portable speak ers and a pr emium soundbar to smar t er wa ys to pla y and creat e, her e ’ s the audio tec h making noise r ight no w . W ords Bec Summer Gr ab the hott est A UDIO GEAR at JB! jbh ifi.com.au44 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Sonos Play Portable Speaker Sit ting between the Sonos Roam 2 and Mo ve 2, the Play deliv ers impressively pow erful sound in a compact, port able speaker . Its punc hy perf ormance comes from a mid-woof er , dual tweeters, and bass radiators, producing ric h, impactful audio that impressed us in testing. Designed for fl e xibility , it connects via Wi-Fi to your Sonos home system or Bluetooth for easy on-the-go listening. A wireless c harging base and built-in carr y loop make the Pla y extremely portable, and with an IP67 rating, it can handle poolside parties and bush trips. Bat tery life is a standout too, of fering up to 24 hours per c harge. Plus, you can pair up to f our Play speakers via Bluetooth for surround sound, or create a stereo setup o ver Wi-Fi with this versatile, all-rounder . Sonos Era 100 SL Speaker P erhaps the most af fordable option in the Sonos range, the Era 1 00 SL delivers top-tier sound without the added cost of v oice assist ant functionality . By removing the microphone, Sonos has created a more accessible entry point without compromising audio quality . Ideal for e xpanding an existing Sonos system or starting fresh, the Era 1 00 SL also works w ell with turntable setups when using a compatible adapter . F or home cinema fans it of fers an e xcellent rear speaker option f or immersive surround sound – when paired with a Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub, the results are impressive. Simple, ef fectiv e, and great value, the Era 1 00 SL is a fl e xible speaker that makes high-quality audio more at tainable for any set up. JBL Bandbox Solo JBL Bandbox Trio The JBL B andbox Solo and T rio redefi ne music practice with AI- pow ered feat ures that let you interact with your f avourite songs in real time. Stem separation isolates vocals, guitar , and drums, so y ou can mute parts, practise tric ky sections, or jump into the mix. The B andbox Solo is a compact, 1 8W unit with built-in tuner , metronome, amp models, and ef fects, making it ideal for personal practice. The T rio steps up with 1 35W output, a four -channel mix er , larger speaker sy stem, and extended bat ter y lif e up to ten hours – great for group sessions or busking. Both models support USB recording, app-based controls, and headphone use for silent practice, delivering a fl e xible, all-in-one amp. So whether you're practicing with friends or jamming solo, JBL ’ s Bandbo x series is perfect f or learning your c hords, nailing y our solos, and more. Samsung Q-series HW-Q990H 11.1.4 Channel Sound with Subwoofer & Rear Speaker[2026] Samsung’ s Q990H goes big on cinematic sound, with a mighty 1 1 .1 .4 channel set up including dedicated front, side, rear , and up-fi ring speakers, plus a punc h y subwoof er to create a truly theatre-like e xperience at home. Bass is deep and controlled, and the compact sub is easy to positi on wherev er you need it. Wirele ss Dolby Atmos support lets you enjoy immersiv e audio without messy cables, connecting seamlessly via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Smart f eatures like a v oice amplifi er keep dialogue clear , ev en in noisy rooms, while adaptive t uning ensures ev er ything sounds just right. It also pairs beautifully with compatible Samsung TVs,combining th e soundbar andTV’ s speak ers for an even bigger soundst age. jbhifi.com.au theatre-lik e e xperience at compact sub is easy to position where v er y ou need it. W ireless Smart f eat ures lik e a v oice compatible Samsung TVs, combining the soundbar and TV’ s speak ers f or an e v en bigger soundst age. JBL Bandbox Solo JBL Bandbox Trio st261_044_TECH-Audio – Product roundup-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_044_TECH-Audio – Product roundup-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 6:05 pm 19/6/2026 6:05 pm -
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Page contents: JBL Live 680NC Wireless Noise Cancelling On-ear Headphones (Black), JBL Live 780NC Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-ear Headphones (Black), JBL Live Beam 4 TWS Adaptive Noise Cancelling Earbuds (Black), JBL Live 770NC Wireless True Adaptive Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones (Black),
Equipped with T r ue Adaptiv e Noise Cancelling 2.0, JBL ’ s latest Liv e lineup is designed t o help you hear mor e of what mat ters – and less of what doesn’t. W ords Bec Summer The new JBL Liv e headphone r ange brings r efreshed designs and upgr aded noise cancelling jbhifi.com.au 46 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack JBL Liv e 680NC Wireless Noise Cancelling On-ear Headphones Best for: A lightweight all-rounder The Live 680NC is for anyone wanting quality sound without completely shutting out the world. Its refreshed on-e ar design is lightweight and compact for all-day wear , making it a practical choice for commuting, study , and everyday listening. JBL Signature Sound plus Hi-Res wired and wireless audio support brings out detail across music, podcasts, and video content, while T rue ANC 2.0 fi lters background noise f or more focused listening. Clear voice-call performance helps conversations sound na tural on the move, while Bluetooth 6.0 and multipoint connectivity make it easy to switch between devices. With up to 80 hours of battery life and a fold-fl at design, the Live 680NC is an all- rounder for those who value portability , comfort and convenience. JBL Liv e 780NC Wireless Noise Cancelling Ov er-ear Headphones Best for: Immersive listening, music lovers, travel, and work Step up to the Live 780NC if you prefer more immersive listening. The premium over -ear design surrounds your ears for better comfort during long listening sessions, while T rue ANC 2.0 helps block external distractions. JBL Spatial Sound can expand stereo content for more immersive listening, while AI-enhanced call tech helps keep your voice clear . Bluetooth 6.0 and multipoint support make it easy to move between a laptop and smartphone, and customisable sound controls let you fi ne-tune the audio to suit your tastes. Add battery life of up to 80 hours and a foldable travel- friendly design, and the Live 780NC is perfect for frequent fl yers, hybrid workers, and serious music lovers alike. JBL Liv e Beam 4 TWS ANC In-ear Headphones Best for: Commuters, gym-goers, and everyday use Ideal for anyone constantly on the move, the Live Beam 4 earbuds combine compact convenience with smart everyday functionality . The redesigned Smart Charging Case now features a larger touchscreen to control playback, adjust settings, and manage key audio options without pulling out your phone. JBL T rue ANC 2.0 keeps you in the music zone, while six microphones keep calls clear in noisy environments. Plus, Hi-Res Audio wireless support brings greater detail to music, podcasts, and videos. With up to 12 hours of battery life in the earbuds, 48 hours with the charging case, wireless charging, and an IP55 water - and dust- resistant design, the Live Beam 4 is perfect for life on the go. JBL T rue Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 is a shared feature across the new JBL Live range. Where traditional noise cancelling reduces background noise using microphones built into your headphones, JBL ’ s T rue Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 takes things further by using real-time microphone calibration to analyse your surroundings and fi lter outside noise with greater accuracy . Walking through a busy airport? It can increase noise cancelling. Sitting in a quieter offi ce? It can ease back for more natural listening. Y ou can also adjust how much outside sound you want to hear using the JBL Headphones app, giving you greater control over how you listen in different environments. Choose your colour Y our headphones can say as much about your style as your music taste. That's why the JBL Live range is available in a variety of colours. Match your headphones to your smartphone, your wardrobe, or your personal style. And look out for more colour options coming soon to JB. Clear voice-call performance helps conversations sound natural on the move, while Bluetooth 6.0 and multipoint connectivity make it easy to switch video content, while T rue ANC 2.0 fi lters background noise for Bec Summer JBL Signature Sound plus Hi-Res wired and wireless Liv e 680NC Wireless without completely shutting out the world. Its refreshed on-ear design is lightweight and compact for all-day wear , making it a Step up to the Live 780NC if you prefer more immersive listening. The premium over -ear Headphones Headphones Headphones JBL True Adaptiv e Noise Cancelling 2.0 st261_046_TECH-Audio – New JBL Live-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_046_TECH-Audio – New JBL Live-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:01 pm 19/6/2026 5:01 pm -
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A v ailable at Ads_FP.indd 1 17/06/2026 1:26:50 PM -
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Air pur ifi ers can help impro ve indoor air quality , but what should you look f or when choosing one? This simple guide r ounds up the f eatur es that mat ter , and how t o fi nd the perf ect pur ifi er for a fr esher and mor e comfor table home. Words Bec Summer Why would I need an air purifier? Many people bu y an air purifi er to help manage allergies, but they're useful f or a lot more than just beating the sneezin ’ season. Modern homes are of ten sealed tightly for bet ter energy ef fi ciency , whic h can allo w airborne particles suc h as dust, pollen, pet dander , smok e, and mould spores to linger indoors. Cooking, cleaning products, and even new furnit ure can also release pollut ants into the air . An air purifi er works quietly in the bac kground to help reduce these airborne irritants, making your home f eel fresher . Ho w does an air purifier actually work? Think of an air purifi er as a v acuum cleaner for the air . It continuously draws air into the unit, passes it through one or more fi lters, and releases cleaner air bac k into the room. This simple process repeats throughout the day , helping to reduce airborne particles ov er time. It's important to remember that air purifi ers only target particles fl oating in the air . The y won't remo ve dust that’ s already sitting on furniture or solv e an existing mould problem, but they can help reduce what y ou're breathing in. What can an air purifier remo ve from the air? With the right fi lters, an air purifi er can help reduce many of the af orementioned airborne particles commonly found in homes. If your dog sleeps indoors, f or example, a jbhifi.com.au 48 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stac k Common airborne irritants Pollen and allergens Pet dander Dust and dust mite debris Smoke particles Mould spores Cooking odours Chemical fumes and VOCs purifi er can help reduce airborne pet dander . It may also help minimise smok e particles circulating inside your home, lik e when you’v e burned the toast. Exactly what an air purifi er can capt ure depends on the fi lters inside the unit and the quality of the model. visit jbhifi .com.au/stac k Air Air Clearing the st261_048-050_TECH-Smalls – Air purifier guide-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_048-050_TECH-Smalls – Air purifier guide-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 11:58 am 19/6/2026 11:58 am -
Page contents: Philips PureProtect 2200 Series Smart Air Purifier (Silver White),
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What is CADR,and does itm atter?T h ink of CADR as as peed rating for airp urifiers. CADR stands for Clean Air Deliver y Rate and indicates h ow quickly a unit can cl ean the air in a room.T h e higher the rating,the faster it can remove particl es such as dust, smok e, and pollen.If y ou liv e in an area affected b y smok e, ha v e p ets, or simply want faster air cleaning, CADR is a useful spec to compare. jbhifi.com.au 50 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack What do all the different filters do? The fi lter is the heart of any air purifi er . Diff erent fi lter types are designed to tackle dif f erent pollutants, and many models combine sev eral for broader co verage. Of ten considered the gold standard, T rue HEP A fi lters can capt ure at leas t 99.97 per cent of particle s as small as 0.3 microns, inc luding pollen, dust, and smoke. Carbon fi lters are desi gned to t ac kle odours and gases. They're particularly useful for homes with pets, cooking smells, or smoke. Some air purifi ers can use UV -C light as an additional lay er of fi ltration alongside HEP A fi lters. Ho w do I choose the right size air purif ier? Get ting the size right is one of the most important parts of choosing an air purifi er . A unit that's too small might struggle to clean the air ef fectiv ely , while an ov ersized model could cost more than necessar y . Most manufact urers provide a recommended room size in square metres. As a general rule, it's bet ter to c hoose a purifi er that cov ers slightly more space than you need rather than one operating at its limit. F or open-plan living areas, remember to factor in connected spaces rather than measuring just one section of the room. Mini purifi ers are an ideal fi t f or bedrooms, of fi ces, desks, and small apartments. Are smart features worth paying e xtra for? The y can be, especially if you want y our air purifi er to do most of the work f or you. Many models include built-in air quality sensors that monitor conditions in real time. Colour -coded indicators can show air quality at a glance, while automatic modes adjust fan speed as conditions c hange. Some models also connect to Wi-Fi, allowing y ou to monitor air qualit y , adjust set tings, and receive fi lter replacement reminders via a smartphone app. That means less guessw ork and less fi ddling with set tings, as the purifi er can respond automatically when air quality c hanges. Do air purifiers cost a lot to run? Most modern air purifi ers are designed to be energy ef fi cient and can be lef t running throughout the da y without dramatically impacting your po wer bill. Many people lea ve them running while they sleep or whene ver they're home, so ef fi ciency can make a dif f erence over time. Some models also include sleep modes for quieter o vernight operation, while others can double as fans or heaters, making them a versatile y ear - round appliance. Features w or th looking for True HEPA filtration Carbon filters for odours Air quality sensors Auto mode Quiet or sleep mode Wi-Fi and app control Low replacement filter c osts What is CADR, and does it matt er? T hink of CADR as a speed rating f or air purifi ers. Clean Air Deliv er y R ate and indicates ho w quic kly a unit can clean the air in a room. T he higher the rating , the f aster it can remo v e particles suc h as dust, smok e, and pollen. If y ou liv e in an area af f ected b y smok e, ha v e pets, or simply w ant fi lter t ypes are designed models combine se v eral gold st andard, T r ue HEP A fi lters can capt ure at least 99.97 per cent of particles as small as 0.3 microns, including pollen, dust, and smok e. Carbon fi lters are designed to t ac kle jbhifi.com.au round appliance. Top tips for getting the best results Run your air purifier regularly , especially when you're home Keep doors and windows closed when possible Don't block airflow with furniture Clean or replace filters when recommended Choose a model that's the right size for your r oom What is CADR, What is CADR, Air Air Clearing the st261_048-050_TECH-Smalls – Air purifier guide-PROOFED-AF.indd 3 st261_048-050_TECH-Smalls – Air purifier guide-PROOFED-AF.indd 3 19/6/2026 11:58 am 19/6/2026 11:58 am -
Page contents: Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP2 De-NOx (White/Gold),
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Page contents: Winix Compact 360 5 Stage Air Purifier,
Whether you w ant cleaner air in a bedr oom, bet ter co ver age in a busy f amily home, or an all-in-one comfor t solution, ther e ’ s an air pur ifi er to suit ev ery space, lif estyle and budg et. Words Bec Summer jbhifi.com.au 52 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .co m.au/stac k Winix Compact 360 5-Stage Air Purifier Best for: Pet owners and smart homes If you’ re looking for an air purifi er that combines strong fi ltration with smart home conv enience, this one is designed to quietly improv e air quality while largely t aking care of itself . Pet-friendly filtration Homes with pets can quic kly accumulate airborne dander , hair , and odours. The Winix’ s fi ve-stage fi ltration system is designed to tackle this, along with dust, pollen, smok e, and household odours. Smarter air cleaning Built-in sensors continuously monitor air quality and auto adjust fan speed when conditions c hange. A simple LED indicator lets y ou see air quality at a glance, while app control and compatibility with Alexa and Google Home make operation easy . Quiet and low maintenance Suitable for rooms up to 59m², the Compact 360 is designed to run quietly in the bac kground. Sleep mode, low energy consumption, and fi lter replacement reminders help minimise day -to- day upk eep, making it a practical c hoice for busy households. Philips PureProtect 2200 Series Smart Air Purifier Best for: Families and large living spaces Large homes demand strong performance, and the Philips PureP rotect 220 0 series is designed to clean the air in bigger spaces while remaining remarkably quiet. Pow erful whole- room co verage With coverage of up to 1 04m² and a CADR of 400m³/h, it’ s w ell suited to open-plan living areas and larger family rooms. Its multi- lay er fi ltration system helps reduce dust, pollen, pet dander , smok e particles, and household odours. Whisper-quiet operation One of the standout feat ures is how quietly it r uns. Operating at noise lev els as low as 1 3dB, it’ s ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, and any one who loves a peaceful night’ s sleep. Designed for family life Smart air quality sensors continuously monitor conditions and auto adjust performance when needed. Its long-lif e fi lter can last up to three years, cut ting down maintenance. The Air+ app provides remote control, fi lter -life monitoring, and air quality insights, while feat ures suc h as bedtime and wak e-up routines add extra con venience for f amilies. Whether y ou w ant cleaner air in a bedr oom, bet t er co v er ag e in a visit jbhifi .com.au/stac k PERFEC T PURIF I ER Find your st261_052-054_TECH-Smalls – Air purifier roundup-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_052-054_TECH-Smalls – Air purifier roundup-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:26 pm 19/6/2026 5:26 pm -
Page contents: Levoit Core Mini Air Purifier,
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jbhifi.com.au 54 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Lev oit Core Mini Air Purifier Best for: Bedrooms, apartments, and first-time buyers Compact, af fordable and easy to use, the Le voit Core Mini prov es that cleaner air doesn ’t require a large appliance or a large budget. Perfect for personal spac es Designed for bedrooms, st udies, dorm rooms, and home of fi ces, the Core Mini fi ts comf ort ably on a bedside table, desk, or shelf. Its compact design makes it ideal f or smaller homes and apartments Clean air while you sleep A three-stage fi ltration system f eaturing a T r ue HEP A fi lter and activated carbon lay er helps reduce allergens and everyday odours. Ultra-quiet operation means it can do its thing without disturbing sleep or concentration. Simple and affordable Lo w power consumption helps k eep running costs do wn, while simple controls make it particularly appealing f or fi rst-time buy ers. A built-in aromatherap y f eature also lets you add y our fav ourite essential oils to set the mood. Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP2 De-NOx Best for: Y ear-round comfort and premium purification Dyson ’ s purifi er is designed to do muc h more than just clean the air . Combining purifi cation, heating, and cooling in a single appliance, it’ s built for year -round comfort. The fully sealed HEP A H1 3 fi ltration system works alongside Dy son ’ s De- NOx fi ltration tec h to tackle both particles and household pollutants. Three appliances in one Rather than using separate fans and heaters during the y ear , the Dyson can warm y our room during winter and provide cooling airfl ow during summer – all while continuously purifying the air . Intelligent air monitoring Adv anced sensors automatically trac k indoor air qualit y and adjust performance when required. Real-time inf o is displayed on the unit and in the MyDy son app, making it easy to monitor conditions throughout the day . Premium c omfort Add po werful airfl ow , wide 350-degree oscillation, and f eat ures such as Night Mode, v oice control support, and automatic fi lter -life notifi cations, and you’ ve got a versatile, premium purifi er for households w anting cleaner air and everyday comf ort. Choose the Winix Compact 360 if... Y ou have pets, w ant smart- home integration, and need cov erage for medium-sized rooms. Choose the Philips PureProtect 2200 if... Y ou want pow erful purifi cation for larger spaces, and ultra- quiet operation. Choose the Levoit Core Mini if... Y ou need an aff ordable purifi er for a bedroom, st udy , or apartment. Choose the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool if... Y ou want heating, cooling , and air purifi cation in a single premium appliance. Which air purifi er suits you? PERFECT PURIF I ER Find your continued st261_052-054_TECH-Smalls – Air purifier roundup-PROOFED-AF.indd 3 st261_052-054_TECH-Smalls – Air purifier roundup-PROOFED-AF.indd 3 19/6/2026 11:59 am 19/6/2026 11:59 am -
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The latest g ener ation of Oura’ s popular smart r ing takes what wor ked in the pr evious model and mak es it smaller , mor e wear able, and mor e accur ate. W ords Bec Summer Good things c ome in small pack ages Oura claims this may be the w orld’ s smallest smart ring* yet, and designed to f eel more like regular jew eller y than wearable tec h. Indeed, the all-titanium build has been updated for improv ed comfort and durability . The Oura Ring 5 is around 40% smaller than the previous generation, making it thinner , lighter and more comfortable to wear 24/7 . That might sound like a small upgrade (literally), but size mat ters when you’ re wearing the ring to bed, during work outs, at work, and when running er rands. Mor e accurate insights Oura rings already hav e a strong reput ation for wellness trac king, and this generation aims to deliver e ven more accurate readings while staying almost invisible on y our fi nger . Compared with its predecessor , the Oura Ring 5 pac ks upgraded sensors and smarter internal hardware to improv e trac king accuracy across 50+ health metrics – from activity and recovery to heart health, stress, metabolic health, and women ’ s cycles. The Oura app can turn this data into accessible insights, suc h as understanding why jbhifi.com.au 56 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Membership unlocks ev en more As with pre vious generations, the Oura Ring 5 is paired with an Oura Membership* subscription designed to help users bet ter understand long-term trends across sleep, stress, recov er y , and overall wellbeing, with new tools and insights added ov er time. Fit fi rst An Oura Ring 5 sizing kit is an essential pickup before buying to ensure the right fi t, as sizes differ from traditional rings and also previous Oura Ring generations. Choose your perfect size from eight different options and once you’ve found it, it’ s recommended to wear the sample ring for 24 hours to confi rm the best fi t. *First month of Oura Membership is free with your purchase, $9.99 AUD/mo afterwards. Offer available to new members only . Or opt for the annual prepaid option for $109.99 AUD. Membership is tied to your account via the Oura App, not your physical ring. Membership required to unlock Oura Ring's full functionality and data. you’ re waking up tired af ter eight hours in bed, or spot ting stress pat terns. Moreov er , AI-po wered guidance aims to help users dev elop healthier habits over time, while support for more than 40 apps – including fi tness and cy cle-tracking platf orms - helps the ring integrate neatly into existing routines. Bat tery life should last up to a w eek bet ween c harges, meaning you’ re less likely to miss ov ernight sleep dat a. The bottom line The Oura Ring 5 takes what’ s great about smart rings and makes it slimmer , smarter , and easier to wear e ver y day . Ultimately it shapes up as a strong upgrade for e xisting Oura users, and an appealing option for an yone wanting a discreet wellness trac k er . Black Brushed Silver Deep Rose Gold Silver StealthThe Our a Ring 5 goes small on size, big on insights *Smallest ring compared against leading smart ring competitors that were commercially available, mass-produced, and widely distributed as of Q1 2025. st261_056_TECH-Fitness – Oura Ring 5-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_056_TECH-Fitness – Oura Ring 5-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 12:00 pm 19/6/2026 12:00 pm -
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Son y ’ s new BRA VIA 9 II and BRA VIA 7 II ar e designed with T r ue RGB Mini LED displa y tec h to deliv er br ighter imag es, r ic her colours, and gr eater r ealism t o your viewing. W ords Scott Hocking Son y ’ s new BRA VIA 9 II and BRA VIA 7 II ar e designed with Sony’ s new RGB BRA V IA T Vs bring richer colour , brighter pictur e, and bigger impact jbhifi.com.au 58 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack The Picture The BRA VIA 9 II is Sony’ s fl agship 2026 TV and the go-to model for movie buffs, gamers, and sports fans who want the best picture possible. Think incredible brightness, colour , and contrast. Thanks to the T rue RGB Mini LED display , bright scenes can feel more lifelike, while darker moments reveal subtle details that can often be lost on other TVs. It’ s also built for bright living spaces, reducing refl ections and glare so the picture stays punchy during daytime viewing. Plus, a wide viewing angle keeps colours and contrast consistent. Sony’ s picture processing can also help older content look cleaner and sharper on a big screen (depending on the source quality). The sound The BRA VIA 9 II is equipped with specialised built-in speakers positioned around the screen to better match audio with the visuals. When a car races across the screen or a character speaks, the audio feels better synced to the action, creating a more cinematic vibe. The BRA VIA 9 II is also the world’ s fi rst TV to be equipped with an up-fi ring ‘beam tweeter’, adding extra audio immersion by bouncing sound off the ceiling. Gaming For gamers, support for HDMI 2.1 (4K/120fps), Dolby Vision, VRR, and ALLM helps deliver smooth, responsive action whether you’re playing solo or competing online. The picture The BRA VIA 7 II brings many of Sony’ s latest picture innovations to a wider audience. The T rue RGB Mini LED display delivers rich colour , impressive brightness, and strong contrast across movies, streaming, live sport, and gaming. Colours remain natural even when viewed from the side, so everyone won’t be fi ghting over the best seat on the couch. The TV can also adapt automatically to changing room lighting, helping maintain a sharp and cinematic image. The sound Audio gets special attention too; sound is carefully matched to the action on screen and auto-tuned to suit the room for more balanced listening. Gaming A perfect match for the PS5 console, high-end gaming features include native support for HDMI 2.1 (4K/120fps), VRR, and ALLM. Displa y: T rue RGB Mini LED Screen sizes: 65”, 75”, 85”, 115” |BRAVIA 9 II: BRAVIA 7 II: 50”, 55”, 65”, 75”,85”, 98” Resolution: 4K Ultra HDRefresh ra te: 120Hz Game sync:VRR | ALLM Smart OS:Google TV HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG Ports:4x HDMI (2x HDMI 2.1), 2x USB, 1x Ethernet/LAN Most TVs use a white backlight and fi lters to create colour on screen. T rue RGB Mini LED tech takes a different approach by using tiny red, green, and blue LEDs that can be controlled independently . The benefi t is simple: colours look richer , brighter , and more realistic. Think about a sunset scene. Instead of a broad splash of orange, you might see subtle shades of red, gold, and amber . W atching sport? T eam colours appear more vibrant. And nature documentaries can reveal the fi ne colour variations in landscapes, oceans, and wildlife. A T rue RGB Mini LED panel also helps to maintain those colours even when you’re sitting off to the side of the TV , so everyone in the room gets a great view . Sony BRA V IA 9 II The ultimate home cinema TV Sony BRA V IA 7 II Premium viewing for ev ery home SONY BRA VIA 9 II BRAVIA 7 II What’ s the difference? Choose the BRA VIA 9 II if you want Son y’ s most adv anced T rue RGB Mini LED picture quality , higher brightness, reduced refl ections, and the brand’ s most immersive built-in sound experience to date. Choose the BRA VIA 7 II if you want outstanding colour and premium picture quality in a more af fordable pac kage. vs Specs at a glance What is True RGB Mini LED ? st261_058_TECH-Visual – Sony TVs-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_058_TECH-Visual – Sony TVs-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:29 pm 19/6/2026 5:29 pm -
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Ads_FP.indd 1 15/06/2026 11:55:14 AM -
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Smartphone upgr ades can sometimes f eel incr emental, but the new HONOR 600 series delivers the kind of f eatur es you’ll act ually notice every da y . W ords Scott Hocking Po wer through your day Both the H ONOR 60 0 and 600 Pro are pac king a massive 7000mAh battery that can comfortably handle up to two day s of use. For commuters, trav ellers, and heavy users, this means more freedom and less c harging. Bright, bold and easy to see A great display can be something y ou appreciate ev er y time you unloc k your phone. The H ONOR 60 0 series sports an ultra-bright display rated at up to 8000 nits, making it easier to read messages, navigate maps, and frame photos when you’ re outdoors in bright sunlight. It can also help movies, games, and social content look vibrant wherev er you are. So, whether you’ re c hec king directions at the beac h or scrolling through holiday snaps b y the pool, clear visibility is a genuine highlight. Y our pocket-siz ed content studio Photography is a major f ocus for the HONOR 600 series. Leading the c harge is a 200MP main camera capable of capturing impressiv e det ail across a wide range of scenarios – from family gatherings and pet snaps to trav el adventures and night time cityscapes. Also onboard is a suite of AI- pow ered imaging tools designed to help users get more creative with their content. Step up to the HONOR 600 Pro and you’ll also gain a dedicated 50MP telephoto camera that’ s ideal for capt uring kids on the sports fi eld, zooming in on a liv e gig st age, or framing distant landmarks. Premium look s, ev eryday durability Both models f eature a sleek, premium fi nish and refi ned st yling . At the same time, they’ re built to handle ev er yda y life, with IP68, IP69, and IP69K-rated water and dust resistance helping protect against unexpected spills, rain, and dusty environments. HONOR 600 series Big battery , brilliant camera, built for more jbhifi.com.au 60 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Both models deliv er the essentials: a 70 00mAh battery , ultra-bright 800 0-nit display , premium design, durability , and a 200MP camera system enhanced by AI-powered creative tools. The H ONOR 60 0 is the smart c hoice for users looking for fl agship-le vel f eatures, ex cellent bat ter y lif e, and reliable everyday perf ormance. T he HONOR 60 0 Pro adds a more po werful Snapdragon processor , a dedicated 5 0MP telephoto camera for better z oom photography and portraits, plus the c onvenience of 50W wireless c harging . It’ s the model f or creators, photographers, and pow er users who want more from their smartphone. What’s the difference? HONOR 600 HONOR 600 Pro HONOR 600 HONOR 600 Pro vs B oth models deliv er the essentials: a 70 0 0mAh bat ter y , ultra-bright 80 0 0-nit displa y , con v enience of 50W wireless c harging . It’ s the model f or creators, photographers, premium design, durabilit y , and a 20 0MP camera sy stem enhanced b y AI-po w ered creativ e tools. T he H ONOR 60 0 is the smart c hoice f or users looking f or fl agship-le v el f eat ures, e x cellent bat ter y lif e, and reliable e v er y da y perf ormance. T he H ONOR 60 0 P ro adds a more po w erful Snapdragon processor , a dedicated 50MP telephoto camera f or bet ter z oom photograph y and portraits, plus the con v enience of 50W wireless c harging . It’ s the model f or creators, photographers, and po w er users who w ant more from their smartphone. Specs at a glance Displa y: 6.57” Camera: 600: Rear 200MP + 12MP , Front 50MP | 600 Pro: Rear 200MP + 12MP + 50MP telephoto, Front 50MP Processor: 600: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 | 600 Pro: Snapdragon 8 Elite Ba ttery: 7000mAh Storage: 600: 256GB, 600 Pro: 512GB Durability: IP68, IP69, IP69K Connectivity: 600: 5G, Wi-Fi, BT v5.4 | 600 Pro: 5G, Wi-Fi, BT 6.0 Colours: Orange (600 Pro only), Black, Golden White st261_060_TECH-Telco - HONOR 600-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_060_TECH-Telco - HONOR 600-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 22/6/2026 2:48 pm 22/6/2026 2:48 pm -
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Ads_FP.indd 1 22/06/2026 10:17:22 AM -
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The foldable HONOR smarMagic V6 tphone combines the best of both wor lds. F olded, it’ s slim and comfor table to car ry . Opened, it of f ers a tablet-lik e display that can transf or m the w ay y ou wor k, watc h, cr eat e, and connect. W ords Scott Hocking T wo scr eens, more possibilities The H ONOR Magic V6’ s expansiv e inner display gives y ou signifi cantly more room to reply to emails, edit documents, browse websites, and juggle multiple apps at once. It’ s equally impressive for entertainment. Movies, streaming, gaming , and video calls all benefi t from the larger screen, creating a more immersive e xperience. Catc hing up on a series during your commute, or revie wing a present ation before a meeting? The extra screen real estate makes it easy wherev er you are. Brilliant indoors, e ven better outdoors A large display is one thing. Being able to see it clearly wherev er you are is another . The Magic V6’ s dual screens are designed to remain bright, vibrant, and easy to read, ev en in direct sunlight. Colours stay punc hy , and details well defi ned. Surprisingly slim F oldable phones have of ten required compromises in size and weight; the Magic V6 takes a dif ferent approac h. Despite the big foldable display hidden inside, it’ s still incredibly slim at 8.75mm depth, lightweight at only 224g, and ver y poc ket-friendly . Indeed, the Magic V6 f eels muc h closer to a traditional smartphone than you might expect. Dependable durability HONOR has f ocused heavily on durability , ensuring the Magic V6 can withstand the demands of ev er yday use. The advanced hinge mec hanism f eels smooth and sturdy , while an anti-scratc h shield and water resistance adds extra peace of mind. Flagship photogr aphy in your pock et The Magic V6’ s adv anced camera system is designed to help capture e ver ything from landscapes and trav el memories to portraits and ev er yday moments in impressiv e det ail. P ow erful telephoto capabilities add extra fl exibility when you can ’ t physically get closer to your subject, while AI-assisted photography tools can help make e ver y shot count. Smarter way s to get things done The Magic V6 includes a range of AI-pow ered tools that can help simplify ev er yday tasks, from editing photos to organising info and managing content across the foldable displa y . These are designed to w ork quietly in the bac kground, so y ou spend less time navigating menus. In short The H ONOR Magic V6 combines a remarkably slim foldable design, large-screen v ersatilit y , solid durability , and fl agship camera performance. jbhifi.com.au 62 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack HONOR Magic V6 Big-screen freedom, pocket-sized c onv enience Pock et phone, tablet-lik e experienc e Need to check emails while reviewing a document? Watch a video while messaging friends? The Magic V6’ s expansive foldable display gives you more room for multitasking without constantly switching between apps. Specs at a glance Displa y: Front 6.52” OLED, Inner 7.95” OLED Camera: Rear 50MP + 50MP + 64MP telephoto, Front 20MP + 20MP (inner) Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Ba ttery: 6660mAh Storage: 512GB Durability: IP68 & IP69 Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 7, BT v6.0 Colours: Red, Black and White Why go foldable? A foldable phone gives you the portability of a traditional smartphone with the versatility of a tablet-like experience. Y ou get more room to work, create, and enjoy content without carrying an extra device. st261_062_TECH-Telco – HONOR Magic V6-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_062_TECH-Telco – HONOR Magic V6-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 22/6/2026 2:48 pm 22/6/2026 2:48 pm -
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Ads_FP.indd 1 17/06/2026 1:35:06 PM -
Page contents: Insta360 Luna Ultra 8K Gimbal Camera Standard Bundle (Cosmic Black),
P ac king Leica optics, built-in stabilisation, and intellig ent shooting f eatur es, the Insta360 Luna Ultra mak es it easier than ev er to capt ur e pr of essional-looking content on the mo ve. W ords Glenn Cochrane Leave the extr a gear behind There w as a time when creating smooth, prof essional-looking video meant carr ying a camera, stabiliser , extra lenses, and a bag full of accessories. The Insta360 Luna Ultra 8K Gimbal Camera c hanges that, combining advanced imaging tec h, intelligent shooting f eatures, and built-in stabilisation in a compact design ready for your next adv enture. Whether you're documenting a f amily holiday , recording your trav els, or creating content for social media, the Luna Ultra helps you shoot with confi dence. Co-engineered with Leica, the Luna Ultra combines a Leica Summicron lens with a next-generation one-inc h 8K sensor to deliv er impressive detail, ric h colour , and ex cellent clarity , helping preser ve memories with quality that stands out from everyday smartphone footage. It also performs w ell af ter dark, helping preser ve detail and colour when shooting at night or in c hallenging lighting conditions. Smooth shooting made simple What makes Luna Ultra particularly appealing is how it simplifi es the creativ e process. Its integrated three-axis gimbal continuously works to smooth out camera mo vement, helping transform handheld f oot age into polished-looking video without additional gear . F rom walking through busy city streets to fi lming scenic lookouts or f ollowing the action at a sporting ev ent, you'll enjoy steadier , more prof essional-looking results. F or solo creators, Luna Ultra introduces fl exibility of ten reser ved f or larger production setups. The industry-fi rst detac hable t wo-inc h OLED touc hscreen can be used as a remote monitor , allo wing you to view y our shot, adjust set tings, and control the camera from a distance. Shooting a trav el vlog , a cooking demo, or a fi tness t utorial? It's easier to st ay in control of your content. Mor e creative fr eedom, built in AI also play s a key role. Deep T rac k technology helps keep subjects centred and in f ocus, while rapid focusing and scene recognition w ork in the bac kground to mak e shooting more intuitive. Instead of adjusting set tings, you can just f ocus on capturing the moment as it unf olds. When it's time to get creative, Luna Ultra of fers e ven more fl e xibilit y thanks to its pro- grade telephoto lens. With up to 1 2x zoom and 6x lossless zoom, it's easier to frame distant subjects, isolate details, and experiment with dif ferent perspectiv es. Combined with Dolby Vision recording , high- frame-rate slow motion and 1 0-bit Log capture, Luna Ultra gives creators room to e xplore their style while remaining approachable f or ev er yda y users. The bottom line P ortable, powerful, and pac ked with smart f eatures, the Insta360 Luna Ultra sits comfortably between a smartphone and a dedicated camera system, deliv ering impressive results in a compact pac kage. Shoot bigger , carry less, with the Insta360 Luna Ultr a 8K Gimbal Camer a jbhifi.com.au 64 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Smooth foot age, anywhere Built-in three-axis stabilisation helps keep handheld footage looking steady and professional. Made for solo shooting The detachable OLED monitor lets you frame shots and control the camera remotely . Smarter tracking AI-powered Deep T rack technology helps keep subjects locked in and in focus. More wa ys to crea te From telephoto zoom to cinematic colour profi les and slow-motion capture, Luna Ultra gives you more ways to tell your story . The st andard bundle The Stand ard Bundle is ideal for travellers, families,and fi rst-t ime creators looking to step beyondsmartpho ne video. It delivers the full Luna Ultra 8Kcamera e xperience in a streamlined package that'sready to s hoot straight out of the box.The crea tor bundle Designed for frequent content creators, vloggers, and aspiring fi lmmakers, the Creator Bundle adds extra accessories to support a more complete shooting workfl ow . If creating content is more than an occasional hobby , this bundle helps you get even more from the Luna Ultra platform. W hichInsta360 Luna Ultr a bundle is right for you? Why creators will lo v e the Luna Ultr a is right for you? is right for you? The st and ard The Standard Bundle is ideal for travellers, families, and fi rst-time creators looking to step beyond smartphone video. It delivers the full Luna Ultra 8K camera experience in a streamlined package that's ready to shoot straight out of the box. Which Which st261_064_TECH-Cameras – Insta360 Luna-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_064_TECH-Cameras – Insta360 Luna-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 12:10 pm 19/6/2026 12:10 pm -
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Ads_FP.indd 1 17/06/2026 1:24:43 PM -
Page contents: Google Home Speaker (Porcelain),
One request , mul tiple actions Fancy a cosy evening at home? Just ask Google Home to dim compatible lights, start a playlist, and trigger other connected smart home devices with a single request. The new Google Home Speak er combines r oom- fi lling sound with smart er voice assistance and ef for tless home automation. It’ s designed to become the helpful hub of a connected home. W ords Bec Summer R oom-f illing sound, where ver y ou place it Designed with 360-degree sound, the Google Home Speaker deliv ers balanced audio in every direction, so ev er yone in the room can enjoy the same listening experience. Whether you’ re streaming a playlist during a week end barbecue, catc hing up on podcasts while cleaning, or adding back ground music when entertaining , the Home Speaker is t uned to keep music and v oices sounding clear and natural. It can ev en adjust to bac kground noise lev els automatically , helping ensure y ou don ’t miss a beat. A more helpful voic e assistant The Home Speak er introduces Gemini as your v oice assist ant, helping with ev er yday tasks in a more natural wa y . Rather than remembering specifi c commands, you can simply ask questions as you normally w ould. Need help fi nding a song, set ting reminders, organising your calendar , or getting quic k answers? J ust ask. Gemini is designed to understand more natural requests, making e ver yda y interactions f eel more conversational. Moreov er , a Google Home Premium subscription* can unloc k more advanced Gemini Live capabilities. The heart of the smart home If you already use smart lights, cameras, or other connected devices, the Google Home Speaker can bring them together in one place. Compatible devices can be controlled using simple voice commands, while automations allow multiple actions to happen at once. Instead of turning de vices on individually , you can create and set routines that help your smart home respond to your needs more intelligently . Entertainment be yond music The Google Home Speak er is designed to work seamlessly with the rest of your entertainment setup. Ask f or songs, playlists, and podcasts, create speaker groups throughout the home, or pair two Google Home Speakers with a Google TV Streamer for more immersiv e home theatre sound. Parental controls, broadcast messaging, and privacy f eatures mak e it a practical addition for families. Google Home Speak er: 360-degr ee sound meets a smar ter home jbhifi.com.au 66 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack 360° sound explained Unlike traditional speakers that sound best when you’re directly in front of them, the Google Home Speaker spreads audio evenly throughout a room. That means clear , balanced sound whether you’re cooking in the kitchen, relaxing on the couch, or hosting a house party . Designed for modern homes Made using recycled materials and wrapped in a stylish knitted fabric fi nish, the Home Speaker is designed to blend naturally into modern living spaces. Its base glows to show when it’ s listening or speaking, and there's a dedicated microphone mute switch for extra privacy . *Requires Google Home Premium subscription (sold separately). st261_066_TECH-Smart home – Google Home Speaker-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_066_TECH-Smart home – Google Home Speaker-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 23/6/2026 12:44 pm 23/6/2026 12:44 pm -
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Ads_FP.indd 1 11/06/2026 4:03:22 PM -
Page contents: Logitech Mobi Fold Mouse (Graphite),
W or k – and pla y - happens everywher e now adays. Y ou may be in a caf é, on a plane, or in a hotel, just as a f ew examples. Enter the Logit ech Mobi F old mouse, the perf ect companion for the moder n pro on the g o. W ords Bec Summer Mission statement This f oldable, poc ket-ready mouse has been designed especially for portabilit y , able to easily transform any space into a productiv e one. Af ter all, why f aff about with a trac kpad when you can ha ve the ef fi ciency and ease of a mouse? It’ s also made for ev er ybody , whether lef t- or righthanded. Ho w’s it so c ompact? It’ s there in the name – the Mobi Fold is defi ned by its inno vative f oldable design. It’ s the fi rst foldable mouse from L ogitec h, and the y’ v e gone to work to mak e it the best of its t ype out there. It weighs jus t 79 grams and has been engineered to c ollapse into an ultra-thin profi le, ready to slip int o a poc k et or small bag . Y et despite its com pact f orm, it deliv ers a full- function mouse e xperience. Less stra in Did you kno w t hat using an integrated tr ac kpad adds 22% extra muscle strain to y our mousing forear m? Logitec h does, as that’ s the result that they arriv ed at v ia their ErgoLab testing . So, if you spe nd long stretc hes working from laptops when out and about, the ergonomic advantage of having a use-an ywhere mouse is signifi cant. M or e str ength W ith the fl e xibilit y of f ered b y the Mobi F old, y ou might think that durabilit y could be an issue. Not so, as it’ s been designed to reliably sur vive the rigours of trav el, with a dust-resistant silicone sleev e and drop resilience up to 90cm. Incredibly , the f olding mechanism – whic h also turns the mouse on and of f - has been tested to withstand over 1 5 y ears of daily folding. That’ s roughly 50,000 open-and-close cycles! Power ! The Mobi F old is USB-C rec hargeable, and able to deliver up to one whole month of use on a full c harge. But what if you ha ve no c harge, and you need to get to work in a hurry? No worries, f or a one-minute quic k c harge will give you up to 22 hours of use, ensuring that you’ re nev er caught out. The nuts and bolts The Mobi F old of fers e verything that you’ d expect from a L ogitec h mouse. There are four int uitive but tons – lef t clic k, right clic k, for ward, and bac k - paired with quiet clic k tec hnology so as not to annoy others in shared or public spaces. P erformance-wise, w e’ re t alking 4K DPI, whic h ensures smooth and precise trac king across various surf aces. An integrated adaptive touc h scrolling panel of fers two modes: line-b y-line, for precision, and h yper -f ast, for long documents and webpages. Connectivity With Logitec h ’ s handy EasySwitc h, the mouse can be connected to up to three devices, eac h of whic h can be sea mlessly toggled between. So, if you jugglelapt ops, tablets, and phones, for example,get t ing connected quickly is never an issue. C u stomisationW a nt to tailor your Mobi F old to your personal w or kflow? Easy! Head into the L ogi T une app and adjust pointer speed, scrolling behaviour, and what the two programmable buttons do. S u mmarisingA v ai lable in three fashionable colours and com patible withWindows, macOS , ChromeOS, And roid, iPadOS, and Linux, the Logitec h Mobi F old is ultra-portable, durable, and designed to k eep you productive – no mat ter where lif e t ak e s you!Logitech Mobi Fold Logitech Mobi Fold jbhifi.com.au 68 JUL Y 2026 TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack seamlessly toggled bet w een. So, if y ou juggle laptops, t ablets, and phones, f or e xample, get ting connected quic kly is ne v er an issue. C ust omisation W ant to t ailor y our Mobi F old to y our personal w orkfl o w? Easy! Head into the L ogi T une app and adjust pointer speed, scrolling beha viour , and what the t w o programmable but tons do. S ummarising A v ailable in three f ashionable colours and compatible with W indo ws, macOS , ChromeOS , Android, iP adOS , and Linux, the L ogitec h Mobi Android, iP adOS , and Linux, the L ogitec h Mobi F old is ultra-port able, durable, and designed to k eep y ou productiv e – no mat ter where lif e t ak es y ou! b y its inno v ativ e f oldable design. It’ s the fi rst f oldable mouse from L ogitec h, and the y’ v e gone to w ork to mak e it the best of its t ype out It w eighs just 79 grams and has been engineered to collapse into an ultra-thin profi le, ready to slip into a poc k et or small bag . Y et despite its compact f orm, it deliv ers a full- function mouse e xperience. Less str ain Did y ou kno w that using an integrated trac kpad adds 22% e xtra muscle strain to y our mousing f orearm? L ogitec h does, as that’ s the result that the y ar riv ed at via their ErgoLab testing . So, if y ou spend long of ha ving a use-an ywhere mouse is signifi cant. f oldable mouse from L ogitec h, and the y’ v e gone to w ork to mak e it the best of its t ype out It w eighs just 79 grams and has been engineered to collapse into an ultra-thin profi le, ready to slip into a poc k et or small bag . Y et despite its compact f orm, it deliv ers a full- function mouse e xperience. Did y ou kno w that using an integrated trac kpad the y ar riv ed at via their So, if y ou spend long M or e str ength W ith the fl e xibilit y of f ered b y the Mobi F old, y ou might think that durabilit y could It’ s estimated that 583 million people globally regularly work on the go DY K ?DY K ?A mouse for those on the mo v e • The Logitech Mobi Fold mouse is available Jul 16 st261_068_TECH-Logitech Mobi Fold-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_068_TECH-Logitech Mobi Fold-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 11:38 am 19/6/2026 11:38 am -
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Ads_FP.indd 1 18/06/2026 12:40:58 PM -
Page contents: Logitech Spotlight 2 (Graphite),
Presenting… With an estimated 69 million regular presenters worldwide – many of whom report issues with anxiety , unreliable tec h, and low audience interest - the Spotlight 2 aims to reimagine what a present ation remote can be. So, it blends adv anced digit al tools, smart ergonomics, and thoughtful w ellbeing f eat ures into the one elegant de vice. Highlighting At the heart of Spotlight 2 is a suite of adv anced digit al highlighting tools, enabled through the free L ogi Options+ sof t w are. P resenters can c hoose from fi v e ef f ects – Spotlight, Logitec h ’ s new Spotlight 2 is designed for one single pur pose, and that is to assist pr esenters in commanding at tention with both confi dence and clar ity . W ords Bec Summer Magni fy, Digital P ointer , Squarelight, and Ann otate - each of which has been de signed to direct focus exactly where it’ s needed. Brilliantly , these ef f ects work s eamlessly across major software platf orms, too, including P o w erP oint, Google Slides, K e ynote, A dobe A crobat, and P rezi. Get the point If y ou still ha v e a bit of old sc hool in y ou – and there ’ s nothing wrong with that - then y ou’ll f eel right at home, as Spotlight 2 also includes a built-in ph y sical laser pointer , whic h is activ ated simply b y pressing and holding the action but ton. T he dual approac h of digit al precision plus classic laser mak es the Spotlight 2 suit able f or an y room set up or screen t ype. B r eathe! A distinctiv e f eat ure of the Spotlight 2 is the guided breathing e xperience, whic h is triggered b y a doublepress of the action but ton. B ased on the “ph y siological sigh” tec hnique (“Big breath in, lit tle extra sip in, long breath out”), it helps presenters calm any nerves and regain focus bef ore stepping up to present. Coupled with gentle haptic cues, it’ s a subtle but powerful tool for reducing prepresentation anxiety . Connecting The Spotlight 2 also brings an upgrade in connectivity . It of fers both Bluetooth and L ogi Bolt wireless options with impro ved antenna placement, so it delivers a stable connection up to 30 metres aw ay . This ensures that presenters can stay in control, ev en in large rooms or those dreaded unpredictable tech en vironments. Comfort A redesigned secure-grip body plus linear navigation but tons mak e the device both comfortable and intuitiv e to use, while the new haptic f eedbac k system deliv ers t actile confi rmation for suc h things as highlights, timers, and pow er management. Charged! The Spotlight 2’ s bat ter y performance is impressive. A full c harge should last up to three months, while USB-C quic k c harging means that a mere one-minute c harge can provide up to three hours of use. Customising The Spotlight 2 e xperience can be further customised through Logi Options+, allo wing users to tailor various but ton functions, highlight ef f e cts, haptic intensity, and timers to perf ectly suit their way of working. S u stainabilityBuil t with sustainability in mind, the Spotlight 2 is c onstructed from low-carbon aluminium and pos t-consumer recycled plastics, and it alsohou ses a replaceable batter y . Meanwhile, the pac kaging is F orest Ste wardship Council (FSC) certifi ed, ensuring that materials come from responsibly managedf ore sts.S u mmarisingA v ai lable in a choice of Graphite, Light Lilac, and San d, the Spotlight 2 combines performanceand style in a modern tool for today’s pre senters.N o matter whether you’ re in business, edu cation, consulting, or creating, it’ s designed to e voke confi dence, helping you make your pre sentations more engaging – and inspiring!TECH FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Logitech Spotlight 2 Logitech Spotlight 2 All pr esent and accounted for Magnify , Digit al P ointer , Squarelight, and Annot ate - eac h of whic h has been designed to direct f ocus e xactly where it’ s needed. seamlessly across major sof t w are An estimated 35 million presentations are made daily DY K ?DY K ?and lo w audience interest - the Spotlight 2 aims to reimagine what a present ation remote can be. 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B ased on the “ph y siological sigh” tec hnique users to t ailor v arious but ton functions, highlight ef f ects, haptic intensit y , and timers to perf ectly suit their w a y of w orking . S ust ainability Built with sust ainabilit y in mind, the Spotlight 2 is constr ucted from lo w -carbon aluminium and post-consumer recy cled plastics, and it also houses a replaceable bat ter y . Mean while, the pac kaging is F orest Ste w ardship Council (FSC) certifi ed, ensuring that materials come from responsibly managed f orests. S ummarising A v ailable in a c hoice of Graphite, Light Lilac, and Sand, the Spotlight 2 combines perf ormance and st yle in a modern tool f or toda y’ s presenters. No mat ter whether y ou’ re in business, No mat ter whether y ou’ re in business, education, consulting , or creating , it’ s designed to e v ok e confi dence, helping y ou mak e y our present ations more engaging – and inspiring! digit al tools, smart ergonomics, and seamlessly across major sof t w are platf orms, too, including P o w erP oint, Google Slides, K e ynote, A dobe A crobat, and P rezi. Get the point million presentations are made daily Highlighting At the heart of Spotlight 2 is a suite of At the heart of Spotlight 2 is a suite of adv anced digit al highlighting tools, adv anced digit al highlighting tools, enabled through the free L ogi enabled through the free L ogi Options+ sof t w are. P resenters Options+ sof t w are. P resenters can c hoose from fi v e ef f ects – Spotlight, f eel right at home, as Spotlight 2 also includes a built-in ph y sical laser pointer , whic h is activ ated simply b y pressing and holding the action but ton. T he dual approac h of digit al precision plus classic laser mak es the Spotlight 2 suit able f or an y room set up or screen t ype. room set up or screen t ype. B r eathe! A distinctiv e f eat ure of the Spotlight 2 is the guided breathing e xperience, whic Page contents:Ads_FP.indd 1 18/06/2026 2:22:59 PM Page contents:st261_Filler-page.indd 1 st261_Filler-page.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:42 pm 19/6/2026 5:42 pm Page contents:jbhifi.com.au/stack ISSUE 261 JUL ’26 WIN! INSIDE: ASSA SSIN’S CREED: BL A CK FL A G SAIL S AGAIN! MARIO’S BACK IN THE SUP ER MARIO GAL A X Y MOV IE PERKS see page 5 from front of mag for details FREE MAGAZ INE YOUR TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH YOUR TO MOVIES, TV , ESSENTIAL GUIDE see page 5 from front of mag for details WIN A BOSE LIFESTYLE A BOSE LIFESTYLE ULTRA SOUND SYSTEM ULTRA SOUND SYSTEM WIN WIN WIN st261_MUSICcover-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_MUSICcover-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:16 pm 19/6/2026 5:16 pm Page contents: hendle (180gm Transparent Violet Vinyl), I Thought The Altitude Would Make it Worth The View (Eucalyptus Green Vinyl),*Please note that bonus offers are ONL Y available online at www.jbhifi .com.au and only during the pre-order period. All offers are subject to availability , while stocks last. DICE I Thought the Altitude Would Make It Worth the View RELEASE DATE: Jul 31, 2026 SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-order online and get an art card signed by DICE! Online pre-order only , while stocks last. Offer ends 30/7/2026* PHIL JAMIESON 10CHARLIE RELEASE DATE: Aug 14, 2026 SPECIAL OFFER: Pre-order online and get a postcard signed by Phil Jamieson! Online pre-order only , while stocks last. Offer ends 13/8/2026* JB’ s BONUS OFFERS jbhifi.com.au 2 JUL Y 2026 visit jbhifi .com.au/stack EMMA PETERS @ JB Hornsby , NSW ’ s ROVING REPORTER I remember being ten years old and feeling so proud after getting an A on my piano exam. As a reward, Mum took me to Doncaster Shoppingtown and announced that I could have whatever I wanted. I made a beeline for the record shop and picked out Howzat! by Sherbet,myfi rst-ever record! They were my favourite band back then and I just loved Daryl Braithwaite’ s voice. The memoryis so vivid. I remember Linda looking at me like I was crazy . She couldn’t understandwhy I chose that as a gift when I had the run of the whole centre, and for a moment I did wonder if perhaps I should have thought more carefully .Unfortunately, I don’ t have the record anymore and it’ s been ages since I’ve listened to it. I have met Daryl since then, but I have never mentioned that his record was my fi rst ever prize! VIKA BULL # 1 MY FIRST ALBUM Where Do Y ou Come From? by Vika & Linda is out now via Mushroom In the hotseat this month is A ussie hip-hop star TRIALS , who has just r eleased his fi rst solo album. Five w ords to descr ibe yourself: Liu. Cixin. One. Body . Problem. Y our all-time f avour ite album? Hilltop Hoods – Mat ter of Time. What did your most memorable sc hool repor t say? Still counts with fi ngers. What would be y our Hard Quiz expert subject? Conspiracy theor y icebergs. If you w eren’t a hip-hop star , what would y ou be? Heavily opinionated online. Last album you bought? Birdz & F red Leone – Gira .Aside from y ourself , which musician would y ou most lik e to be? Björk. What’ s the most r idiculous item y ou’v e ever put on your r ider? Regional-specifi c tea towel plus framed photographs of the Notorious U.N.C. T roy Cassar - Daley . Y our funeral song? Cof fee Cold – Galt MacDermot. Happiness is… A Rubik’ s Cube. What’ s an ear ly , cher ished music memory? At tending my fi rst ever concert when I w as ten – T aylor S wif t’ s R ed tour in Sydne y . I think I can trace my lo ve of concerts and live music bac k to that day . ST ACK Which r ecent album do you cur r ently have on repeat? BTS - Arirang! It’s genuinely all I hav e listened to since it came out. What’ s y our all-time f avour ite album and wh y? There ’ s so man y to c hoose from! But one of my absolute fa vourites is Blue Neighbourhood by T roye Siv an. It’ s one of the fi rst albums I remember being obssessed with and loving e ver y single song on. My friends also lov ed it, so it was something I really found a community and connected to people through. Do you ha ve a vin yl collection? If so, how did it begin, and expand? I do! I think it began because my grandfather ga ve me some of his old vinyl, so I got a t urnt able (from JB actually!) and started growing m y collection with some of my f avourite albums. What do you enjo y most about wor king in music at JB? I absolutely lov e when a customer comes in and asks about one of my f avourite artists. It immediately breaks the ice, and I alwa ys lov e c hat ting about music that I love. hendle. by trials is out now via Island Records Australia JUL Y Photo credit: Daniel Hendle Rankine st261_099_MUSIC-Intro2-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_099_MUSIC-Intro2-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 12:20 pm 19/6/2026 12:20 pm Page contents:3 FEA TURE MUSIC T he Rolling Stones ’ buddies The Beatles had a song called When I’m Sixty-F our . ”Will you still need me, will you still f eed me, ” Paul McCartney sang, ”when I’m 64?” The R olling Stones st arted in London in 1 962 and, remarkably , they are still rolling – 64 years later . Mic k Jagger might ha ve famously said, ”I’ d rather be dead than sing Satisfaction when I’m45” , when he was 31 . But he’ s still fronting the Stones as he closes in on his 83rd birthday . And the band’ s new album, F oreign T ongues , f eatures a collaboration with P aul McCartney , who is a year older than Mic k. The album also f eatures Ste ve Winw ood, The Cure ’ s R obert Smith, and the Red Hot Chili P eppers ’ Chad Smith. And the record includes the band’ s final recording with drummer Charlie W at ts, who died in 2021 . That trac k is a poignant reminder of ho w luc ky we are that the Stones are still roc king . F oreign T ongues is the band’ s first release since 2023’ s Hackne y Diamonds . ”The album has a continuity from Hackne y Diamonds and it was great to be w orking in London again, and to hav e that London vibe around us, ” Keith Ric hards say s. ”It was a month of concentrated punc h. T o me, it’ s all about the enjoyment of it. I’m blessed to be able to do this and long may it last. ” The Stones pre viewed the album with the single Rough and T wisted , which the y released under the name The Coc kroac hes. The name seems apt: a coc kroac h can apparently sur vive a nuclear war . And it looks like nothing can stop the Stones. It’ s only rock ’n ’ roll, but w e still like it. Jeff Jenkins Foreign T ongues by The Rolling Stones is out Jul 10 via Universal COVER ME The Foreign T ongues cover was created by American painter Nathaniel Mary Quinn. A surrealist amalgam of the band’ s faces, it has split fans. Winner or sinner? What do you think? The Stones still speak the languag e of r ock – 64 y ears aft er they f or med. Photo credit: Peggy Sirota STILL ROLLING HOT STONES They don’t call ’em ”the greatest rock and r oll band in the world” for nothing. The Stones hav e made some of the finest albums in music history . Here are five that y ou should own: S TICKY FINGERS (1971) The band’ s fi rst studio album following the passing of co-founder Brian Jones, fans unzipped this record to discover a swag of superb songs, including Wild Horses, Can’t Y ou Hear Me Knocking (with a killer Mick T aylor guitar solo), and Dead Flowers. Fun fact: Mick Jagger wrote Brown Sugar in Australia while he was here making the movie Ned Kelly .EXILE ON MAIN S TR EET (1972) Facing a massive tax bill, the Stones were forced to fl ee the UK. They found themselves exiled in France, where they created the bulk of this double album. Fun fact: V enetta Fields – who now calls Australia home - sang backing vocals on four tracks, including T umbling Dice . ENGLAND’S NE WEST HI T MAKERS (1964) Where it all started. The Stones’ self-titled debut was retitled in the US, with the classic Not Fade Away added to the album. This was the band’ s fi rst chart-topper in Australia. Fun fact: T wo songs – Now I’ve Got a Witness and Little by Littleare credited to ”Nanker Phelge”, which was the name the band used for group compositions. T AT TOO Y OU (1981) Mick and Keith were fi ghting and didn’t want to be in the studio together , so they unlocked the vaults and dug out some gems. Start Me Up stands as one of the greatest opening tracks in rock history , while the closing cut, Waiting on a Friend , is one of the Stones’ best ballads. Fun fact: This was the last Stones album to hit number one in the US. FOR TY LICKS (2002) One of the best best-ofs of all time. The Stones celebrated their 40th anniversary with an anthology that gathered 40 of their biggest and best songs. They also added four new tracks, including the aptly titled Don’t Stop .GOT WOOD Guitarist Ronnie Wood has now been a Rolling Stone for 50 years. Ronnie fi rst toured with the band in 1975 and became an offi cial member on April 23, 1976. The album features the Stones’ take on Amy Winehouse’ s Y ou Know I’m No Good . HOT COVER st261_098_MUSIC-THE ROLLING STONES-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 st261_098_MUSIC-THE ROLLING STONES-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 19/6/2026 12:22 pm 19/6/2026 12:22 pm Page contents:Ar iana Gr ande petal petal is the upcoming eighth studio album by American singer and songwriter Ariana Grande. A vailable as a JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusive Alt Artwork CD Edition. Br ing Me the Hor izon Count Y our Blessings: Repented Count Y our Blessings: Repented is a special 20th anniversary re-recorded edition of Bring Me the Horizon’ s groundbreaking debut album, Count Y our Blessings . Am y Shar k soft pop soft pop is Amy Shark’ s fourth studio album. Written entirely by Amy , the 11 track album was produced and recorded with Dann Hume in a converted church nestled in the Welsh countryside. A vailable July 24th on CD, JB Hi-Fi Exclusive Y ellow Vinyl and Pink Vinyl. JJer ome87 The Canyon Into a cinematic world of fantastical vignettes and deep, simple humanity; dusty , Motown-influenced Americana and a curious British mind comes The Canyon . The debut solo project of alt-J frontman Joe Newman. Shania T wain Little Miss T wain Shania T wain is a five-time Grammy winner and one of music’ s most influential voices with over 100 million albums sold. Little Miss T wain is her seventh studio album featuring 12 new songs. Madonna Confessions II Madonna’ s new album, the continuation of Confessions on a Dance Floor , is a spiritual dance ritual. Char li xcx Music, Fashion, Film Charli not only moves the goalposts, she redefines what pop music can be once again. Beth Ort on The Ground Above A testament to her artistry , Beth Orton’ s new album The Ground Above is her most directand unapologetic music to date - urgent, raw , embodied and emotionally fearless. Suki W at erhouse Loveland Indie-pop storyteller Suki Waterhouse returns July 10 with new album Loveland , featuring singlesBack in Love and Tiny Raisin . The Hu Hun Folk metal band The Hu return, sharpening its fusion of traditional Mongolian instrumentation and throat singing with modern active rock production. The album features The Real Y ou , The Men, and LostSoul featuring Jonny from Nothing More. Ev a Under Fire Villainous Villainous from Eva Under Fire features the singles Awakening ,Murder Scene ,The W ords Y ou Say and the single Villainousfeaturing Maria Brink of In This Moment. The T emper T rap Sungazer The T emper T rap make a triumphant return with an anthemic new record that looks to the future as much as embodying their wildly successful past. All anchored in Dougy’ s expansive, instantly recognisable voice. Y ard A ct Y ou’re Gonna Need a Little Music Mercury Prize nominees Y ard Act return July 17 with Y ou’re Gonna Need a Little Music produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, Wolf Alice). Deep Pur ple Splat! Rather than simply preserving their legacy , Deep Purple continue to extend it, driven by the same spirit that defined their earliest work. W et Leg Moisturizer (Extended Edition) Moisturizer Deluxe is an expanded set that includes remixes, previously unreleased songs, and a handful of live recordings from Village Studios in LA. Gin Wigmor e Beautiful Mess Beautiful Mess chronicles the deepest moments of Wigmore’ s past decade – navigating love, loss, and growth. i-dle [W e made] Global K-pop superstars i-dle unveil their highly anticipated ninth mini album [W e made], embodying their bold musical direction and evolving artistry . OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 10 JB Hi-F i A U Exclusiv e Alt Artw ork CD Edition OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 31 st261_FML_V2.indd 1-2 17/06/2026 2:35:25 PM st261_097-096_FMLAd-Madonna.indd 1 st261_097-096_FMLAd-Madonna.indd 1 19/6/2026 11:48 am 19/6/2026 11:48 am Page contents: We Made - 9th Mini Album (We madver.),Ar iana Grande petal petal is the upcoming eighth studio album by American singer and songwriter Ariana Grande. Available as a JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusive Alt Artwork CD Edition. Br ing Me the Hor iz on Count Y our Blessings: Repented Count Y our Blessings: Repented is a special 20th anniversary re-recorded edition of Bring Me the Horizon’ s groundbreaking debut album, Count Y our Blessings . Am y Shar k soft pop soft pop is Amy Shark’ s fourth studio album. Written entirely by Amy , the 11 track album was produced and recorded with Dann Hume in a converted church nestled in the W elsh countryside. A vailable July 24th on CD, JB Hi-Fi Exclusive Y ellow Vinyl and Pink Vinyl. JJ er ome87 The Canyon Into a cinematic world of fantastical vignettes and deep, simple humanity; dusty , Motown-influenced Americana and a curious British mind comes The Canyon . The debut solo project of alt-J frontman Joe Newman. Shania T w ain Little Miss T wain Shania T wain is a five-time Grammy winner and one of music’ s most influential voices with over 100 million albums sold. Little Miss T wain is her seventh studio album featuring 12 new songs. Madonna Confessions II Madonna’ s new album, the continuation of Confessions on a Dance Floor , is a spiritual dance ritual. Char li x cx Music, Fashion, Film Charli not only moves the goalposts, she redefines what pop music can be once again. Beth Or t on The Ground Above A testament to her artistry , Beth Orton’ s new album The Ground Above is her most direct and unapologetic music to date - urgent, raw , embodied and emotionally fearless. Suki W at er house Loveland Indie-pop storyteller Suki W aterhouse returns July 10 with new album Loveland , featuring singles Back in Love and T iny Raisin . The Hu Hun Folk metal band The Hu return, sharpening its fusion of traditional Mongolian instrumentation and throat singing with modern active rock production. The album features The Real Y ou , The Men , and Lost Soul featuring Jonny from Nothing More. Ev a Under Fir e Villainous Villainous from Eva Under Fire features the singles A wakening , Murder Scene , The W ords Y ou Say and the single Villainous featuring Maria Brink of In This Moment. The T emper T r ap Sungazer The T emper T rap make a triumphant return with an anthemic new record that looks to the future as much as embodying their wildly successful past. All anchored in Dougy’ s expansive, instantly recognisable voice. Y ar d A ct Y ou’re Gonna Need a Little Music Mercury Prize nominees Y ard Act return July 17 with Y ou’re Gonna Need a Little Music produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, W olf Alice). Deep Pur ple Splat! Rather than simply preserving their legacy , Deep Purple continue to extend it, driven by the same spirit that defined their earliest work. W et Leg Moisturizer (Extended Edition) Moisturizer Deluxe is an expanded set that includes remixes, previously unreleased songs, and a handful of live recordings from Village Studios in LA. Gin Wigmor e Beautiful Mess Beautiful Mess chronicles the deepest moments of Wigmore’ s past decade – navigating love, loss, and growth. i-dle [We made] Global K-pop superstars i-dle unveil their highly anticipated ninth mini album [We made], embodying their bold musical direction and evolving artistry . OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 10 JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusiv e Alt Artwork CD Edition OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 31 st261_FML_V2.indd 1-2 17/06/2026 2:35:25 PM 5 I n 2005, Madonna called her tenth studio album Conf essions on a Dance Floor . A celebration of ’70s disco, ’80s electropop, and 200 0s club hits, it topped the c harts in A ustralia, the US, and UK. T wenty-one y ears later , Madonna is releasing a sequel: Conf essions II . “Bac k to the dance floor , bac k to where it all began!” she declares. Her first full-length album in sev en years, the record also sees the superstar return to W arner Music, nearly two decades af ter exiting the label. “Since the beginning, W arner Records has been a real partner with me, ” Madonna said. “I am happy to be reunited and look for ward to the fut ure, making music, doing the unexpected while us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don ’ t just hear it but we f eel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time. ” Jeff Jenkins perhaps prov oking a fe w needed conv ersations. ” F or Confessions II , Madonna is again working with English producer and D J Stuart P rice. When she announced the album, the 67 -year -old artist rev ealed the “manif esto ” that she and Price created: “W e must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies. These are things that we ’v e been doing for thousands of years – the y really are spiritual practices. Af ter all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’ s a place where you connect – with your w ounds, with your fragility . “T o rav e is an art. It’ s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people. Sound, light, and vibration/ Reshape our perceptions/ P ulling Madonna Confessions II by Madonna is out Jul 3 via Inertia T wenty -one years lat er , Madonna has mor e to conf ess. The album’ s fi rst single, Bring Y our Love , features Sabrina Carpenter . HOT COLLAB Madonna has had 12 number one albums in Australia. Only one female artist, T aylor Swift, has had more, with 14. CHART FACT CONFE SSE D T O IMPRE SS Photo credit: Rafael Pavarotti st261_097-096_FMLAd-Madonna.indd 2 st261_097-096_FMLAd-Madonna.indd 2 19/6/2026 11:48 am 19/6/2026 11:48 am Page contents:jbhifi.com.au 6 JUL Y 2026 MUSIC FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack H ow do y ou follow an album that defined an entire summer? W ell, if you’ re British superstar Charli XCX, you don ’t repeat y ourself . “So, I made an album and it’ s really diff eren t from the last one, ” the 33-year -old artist told her fans in a TikT ok video. “That is a f act... and I lov e it. And you might not. And that’ s cool. But if you do, then that’ s cute. But if you don ’ t, then that’ s tot ally OK. Because that’ s just what it is to hav e personal pref erences. ” Charli previe wed the record with the first single, Roc k Music , declaring: “I think the dance floor is dead, so now w e’ re making roc k music. ” But Charli quic kly clarified tha t she hadn’t created a conventional roc k record. “I nev er said I was making a roc k album. “I’m not gonna explain where I was coming from with Roc k Music ,” sh e continued,“but all I know is that things can be BRA T NO MORE Gr acie Abr ans Char li X CX follo ws the Brat summer with her surpr ising seventh st udio album. “So, I made an album and it’ s really dif f erent cute. But if y ou don ’ t, then But Charli quic kly clarified that she hadn ’ t created a con v entional roc k with she continued, “but all I kno w is that things can be Charli XCX has had four T op 10 albums in Australia, including two chart-toppers – 2022’ s Crash and 2024’ s Brat .CHART FACT funny , earnest, sincere, and joyful all at the same time and that’ s what I f eel about a lot of the things I make. ” Music, Fashion, Film is 30 minutes and five seconds, f eaturing 1 1 songs. The title is lif ted from Charli’ s SS26 song: “W e’re w alkin ’ on a run way that goes straight to hell/ Nothing’ s gonna save us, not music, fashion, or film. ” “F or me, it’ s fun to flip the form, ” Charli told V ogue . “W e know there ’ s gonna be people who are bothered by it, but that’ s fine. “If I’ d made another album that f elt more dance-leaning , it would hav e felt really hard, really sad. What’ s interesting for me is to bend the possibilities of what my perspective on that could be. ” Jeff Jenkins Music, Fashion, Film by Charli XCX is out Jul 24 via Inertia Music, She was born Charlotte Aitchison. Charli XCX was her name on MSN Messenger . THE NAM E GAM E The album cover , shot by Aidan Zamiri, features three icons: John Cale (music), Marc Jacobs (fashion), and Martin Scorsese (fi lm). COVER ME F LOWER POWER W hen asked to e xplain why she called her new album P etal , Ariana Grande described the record as “something that is full of lif e and growing through the crac ks of something cold and hard and c hallenging” . Y ep, despite t he pret ty title, this album sees the American superstar dig deep. “It’ s a little f eral, ” Ariana rev eals. “It’ s definitely from a place I’v e bee n maybe too sh y or polite to tap into before. “It’ s kind of about breaking up with all dif ferent kinds of negative at tac hments, whether it’ s my own monsters in m y own head, e xternal voices, things that no longer ser ve me, ” she continued. “I could be talking about one thing, sharing something , and people could use it how ever they w ant and apply it to their own lives. ” The album f ollows Ariana’ s W ic ked advent ure, whic h saw her become a star on the big screen. She say s making movies has helped her music. “ I’ve just been taking baby steps tow ards healing my relationship to music and touring, and I think my time with Glinda and with acting really helped me Ar iana Grande W e examine the Grande design of Ar iana’ s eighth st udio album. Ariana wrote Petal ’s fi rst single, Hate That I Made Y ou Love Me , with Swedish hitmakers Ilya and Max Martin. She calls it, “One of my favourite songs I’ll ever write.” HOT COLLAB and c hallenging” . Y ep, despite the a place I’ v e been ma ybe too sh y or the y w ant and apply it to their o wn liv es. ” Ariana’ s music. “I’ v e just been t aking bab y steps Ariana Grande has had fi ve number one albums in Australia, as well as the Wicked: For Good soundtrack, which also topped the charts. CHART FACT build the strength to be able to do that, ” she told Inter view magazine. “I think it just held some traumas for me bef ore, and I f eel those dissipating , and that is suc h an extraordinarily beautiful thing. ” And af ter a run of c hart- toppers, the 32-year -old st ar didn ’t f eel she had to play nice anymore. “This kind of just f eels like, f-c k it, ” she smiles. Jeff Jenkins Petal by Ariana Grande is out Jul 31 via Universal Petal by Ariana st261_095_MUSIC-ArianaGrande-CharlieXCX-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_095_MUSIC-ArianaGrande-CharlieXCX-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 12:18 pm 19/6/2026 12:18 pm Page contents: Ivy & The Big Apples (30th Anniversary Edition Red / Black Splatter Vinyl),XX FEA TURE MUSIC Albums a vailable at TOUR DA TES: DRAKE MILLIGAN Tumbleweed VIC: JUL 8 | NSW:JUL 9 | QLD: JUL 11 Jul y 8 - 11, 2026 TOUR DA TES: SPIDERB AIT Ivy & the Big Apples (30th Anniversary) QLD: JUL 4 -5 | WA: JUL 11 | NSW: JUL17 - 19, 31 | VIC: JUL 23 - 24 | SA:JUL 25 | A CT: JUL 26, 30 Jul y 4 - 26, 2026 TOUR DA TES: KARNIVOOL In Vers es WA: JUL 18 - 19 | SA: JUL 2| NSW: JUL 23 |VIC: JUL 24 | QLD: JUL 25 Jul y 18 - 25, 2026 TOUR DA TES: BRAD CO X Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions WA: JUL 17 | SA: JUL 19| NSW:JUL 24, 29 | QLD: JUL 25 Jul y 17 - 25, 2026 st261_OT_HP_4Titles.indd 1 17/06/2026 2:42:20 PM I f you’ ve seen the Canadian TV series Heated Rivalry , you’ll know that it’ s the hot test show on ice. The spicy series – whic h can be seen on HBO Max in A ustralia - tells the tale of a secret romance between two rival ice hoc k ey stars: Shane, who play s for the Montreal Metros, and Ilya, who represents the B oston Raiders. And just like Stranger T hings, Heated Rivalry has a sparkling soundtrac k. As w ell as the original score, composed by Canadian musician P eter P eter (real name: P eter Roy), the CD and vinyl release f eatures a killer collection of pop tunes, including W et Leg’ s Mangetout , W olf Parade ’ s I’ll B elieve in Anything , F eist’ s My Moon My Man, and Baxter Dur y’ s Lips .mon amour , Satine’ s C’est toi, and La Bronze’s L ’anarc hie des jours heureux . Exposure in the series sent the songs soaring to the top of the streaming c harts. Jeff Jenkins And there are two versions of t.A.T .u’ s All the Things She Said – the or iginal, which the Russian duo took to number one in A ustralia in 2003 - and a dance cov er by UK producer Harrison. The soundtrac k also f eatures se veral F renc h songs, including Dumas’ Une journée parfaite , Philippe B’ s Chelsea Things ar e hotting up with the soundtr ack to one of 2026’ s coolest shows. Heated Rivalry is based on the Game Changersbooks by Canadian author Rachel Reid, who says they “came from a place of me being angry at hockey culture and how clearly homophobicit was and is, and all the other things that made me really ashamed to be a hockey fan”. ORIGIN STORY SL AP S HO T! Heated Rivalry by various artists is out Jul 10 via Sony t.A.T .u’ s original, whic h the R ussian duo took to Heated Rivalry director Jacob T ierney wants to get Carly Rae Jepsen to do a song for the next series, while Miley Cyrus is also keen to do a song for the show . WHAT’S N E XT? st261_094_MUSIC-HeatedRivalry-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 st261_094_MUSIC-HeatedRivalry-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 19/6/2026 12:17 pm 19/6/2026 12:17 pm Page contents: Songs About Jane (Gold Vinyl) (Import), Under The Iron Sea (20th Anniversary Limited Zoetrope Vinyl) (Import), The Visitor (JB Hi-Fi AUS Exclusive Marble Colour Vinyl + Alternative Cover), philadelphia's been good to me (Vinyl), Loveland (Neon Flamingo Vinyl), Emotional Junglist (Vinyl), Live In Lithuania '25 (Deluxe Edition Vinyl), Planet Her (5th Anniversary Translucent Pale Blue Vinyl), Honey Bones (Limited Edition Picture Disc), Therapy At The Club (Midnight Blue), New Avatar (JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusive Clear Vinyl), WOR$T GIRL in AMERICA (Coke Bottle Clear Vinyl),A VAIL ABLE WHILE STOCK S L AST A T GRACIE ABRAMS Daughter from Hell HEA TED RIV ALR Y V arious Artists Soundtrack GIN WIGMORE Beautiful Mess DICE I Thought the Altitude W ould Make it W orth the View OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 31 OUT JUL 10 DOJA CA T Planet Her (Fifth Anniversary T ranslucent Pale Blue Vinyl) KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD Live in Lithuania ‘25 SUKI WA TERHOUSE Loveland OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 10 NIA ARCHIVES Emotional Junglist SLA YYYTER WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA KELELA new avatar DOPE LEMON Honey Bones FLO Therapy at the Club OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 10 JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusiv e Clear Vinyl OUT JUL 17 KURT VILE Philadelphia’ s been good to me SIENNA SPIRO Visitor KEANE Under the Iron Sea MAROON 5 Songs About Jane JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusiv e Marble Colour Vinyl + Alternative Cover OUT JUL 24 st261_FreshWax_V2.indd 1-2 17/06/2026 2:40:04 PM st261_093-092_FreshWaxAd-AmyShark.indd 1 st261_093-092_FreshWaxAd-AmyShark.indd 1 19/6/2026 11:49 am 19/6/2026 11:49 am Page contents: Beautiful Mess (Bleeding Heart Coloured Vinyl), Daughter from Hell (Vinyl), I Thought The Altitude Would Make it Worth The View (Eucalyptus Green Vinyl), Heated Rivalry (Original Series Soundtrack Montreal Vs Boston Edition Blue/Red & Black/Yellow Vinyl),A V AIL ABLE WHILE STOCK S L AST A T GRACIE ABRAMS Daughter from Hell HEA TED RIV ALRY V arious Artists Soundtrack GIN WIGMORE Beautiful Mess DICE I Thought the Altitude W ould Make it W orth the View OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 31 OUT JUL 10 DOJA CA T Planet Her (Fifth Anniversary T ranslucent Pale Blue Vinyl) KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD Live in Lithuania ‘25 SUKI W A TERHOUSE Loveland OUT JUL 10 OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 10 NIA ARCHIVES Emotional Junglist SLA YYYTER WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA KELELA new avatar DOPE LEMON Honey Bones FLO Therapy at the Club OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 10 JB Hi-F i A U Exclusiv e Clear Vin yl OUT JUL 17 KURT VILE Philadelphia’ s been good to me SIENNA SPIRO Visitor KEANE Under the Iron Sea MAROON 5 Songs About Jane JB Hi-F i A U Exclusiv e Marble Colour Vin yl + Alternativ e Co v er OUT JUL 24 st261_FreshWax_V2.indd 1-2 17/06/2026 2:40:04 PM 9 W here do you go af ter y ou’ve work ed with every member of your f avourite band? Amy Shark’ s debut album, 20 1 8’ s Lo ve Monster , f eatured a duet with Blink-1 82’ s Mark Hoppus, Psyc ho . Her second album, 2021’ s Cr y F orever , f eatured a duet with Blink’ s T ravis Barker, C’mon . And Amy completed her Blink trilogy on 2024’ s Sunday Sadness , which included My Only F riend , f eaturing T om DeLonge. So, what do you do when all y our dreams come true? W ell, if you’ re Amy Shark, y ou make a ne w album – with no co- writes and no collaborations. “I just wanted to f eel fresh again, ” the Gold Coast st ar says. Amy sa ys Sof t P op is “a completely dif ferent sound, topics I finally found the w ords and melodies for ... no drums, just the best songs I could write. ” She say s she wanted to create a “world” with the new record. She w as having her nails done one day when a group of kids came in with Labubus. A lightbulb went of f in Am y’ s head. “That could be a merc h item!” And the furry theme perf ectly suited the Sof t P op title. The record f eatures the break-up anthems The Biggest Dic k and Our Last Fight – which namec hec ks Gracie Abrams and T a ylor Swif t - as w ell as the deeply personal Child of Divorce , where Amy sings: “’Cause I come from a place of turbulence, I’m a c hild of div orce, so, of course, there’ll be things I ha ven ’t really processed yet. ” Amy made Sof t P op at an old c hurc h in W ales with her long-time producer Dann Hume who, in a previous lif e, had a band with his brothers, Evermore (their biggest hit, LON E S HARK Soft Pop by Amy Shark is out Jul 24 via Sony Am y Shark Am y Shar k delivers her fur ry four th album, Sof t P op . Amy Shark made her acting debut this year , playing an MMA fi ghter in Russell Crowe’ s Beast .ACTING UP anthems Dic k really processed y et. ” Amy’ s fi rst three albums all hit number one. CHART FACT Light Surrounding You , topped the A ustralian c harts in 2006). Amy – who t urned 40 in May - say s the record was “writ ten solely by me, produced solely by Dann Hume ” . “It just f elt so fun. ” Jeff Jenkins st261_093-092_FreshWaxAd-AmyShark.indd 2 st261_093-092_FreshWaxAd-AmyShark.indd 2 19/6/2026 11:49 am 19/6/2026 11:49 am Page contents: Boots on the Ground (Limited Colour 12in Vinyl),jbhifi.com.au 10 JUL Y 2026 MUSIC FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack EDI T OR’S PICK THE TEMPER TRAP Sungazer MUSHROOM T en years af ter their last album, and 1 8 years af ter their breakthrough bloc kbuster Sw eet Disposition , The T emper T rap return with their f ourth album, Sungazer . “B eing bac k in the studio together really f elt like coming home, ” the band say s. And you can f eel the warmth in songs like the title trac k, whic h singer Dougy Mandagi wrote about becoming a dad. “There ’ s a my ster y to you I just can ’t explain, ” he sings. “I’m rendered pow erless in your presence... my light f or you will shine fore ver . ” Mandagi’ s voice remains a thing of beauty , and Sungazer is a w elcome return. Whether it’s a vo y age of musical discover y or a sonic reacquaint ance with a f a vourite band or artist , check out these fresh releases heading to JB this month. W HA T’S OUT T HIS MONT H? MASSI VE ATTACK Boots on the Ground INERTIA They’re heading our way and they’re bringing a brand-new 12-inch single with them, a collaboration with T om Waits. Massive Attack’ s fi rst release in six years is a powerful piece about the state of the world. “This track is arriving in an atmosphere of chaos,” Massive Attack explain. “Across the Western hemisphere, state authoritarianism and the militarisation of police forces are fusing again with neo-fascist politics. Seen within the American emergency , at home and overseas, this track contains pulses of callous impulse and abandoned mind.” ADAM LAMBERT Adam ROCKET Adam is the sixth solo album for Adam Lambert. The American powerhouse digs deep on the record, which explains why it’ s self-titled and is being released via his own label. “Looking in the mirror and accepting everything about yourself – the good and the bad,” Adam explains. His fi ve previous albums have all hit the Australian T op 10, and this should be similarly successful. THE DEV IL WEARS PRADA 2 Soundtr ack UNIVERSAL The Devil Wears Prada 2 has been one of the year’ s biggest movies. Now comes the physical release of the soundtrack, which features three new tracks by Lady Gaga, as well as original songs by Sienna Spiro and Izzy Escobar . Plus contributions from Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, and Olivia Dean. MOTIONLESS IN WHI TE Decades INERTIA Motionless in White are from Scranton, Pennsylvania – the home of the American version of The Offi ce . The metalcore band marks their 20th anniversary by releasing their seventh studio album, Decades . The second single, Playing God , features a surprise special guest – Corey T aylor from Slipknot. And the record closes with a killer cover of Corey Hart’ s Sunglasses at Night .BRING M E T HE HORIZON Count Y our Blessings: Repented SONY England’ s Bring Me the Horizon have done a T aylor Swift and gone back and re-recorded their debut album, Count Y our Blessings , which was released 20 years ago. The band says the new version is a “reactivation” and “recontextualisation”, explaining they have made it “sharper , heavier , and more vital than ever”. The original album failed to chart in Australia, so a lot of people will be hearing it for the fi rst time in 2026. It rocks. FINN WOL F HARD Fire from the Hip ROCKET Canada’ s Finn W olfhard found fame playing Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things . Having been a member of the bands Calpurnia and The Aubreys, this is his second solo album. It displays a powerful indie rock sound that’ s also been shaped by a couple of classic rock albums – the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main St. and Beggars Banquet. PRINCESS NOK IA Girls ROCKET Girls is the fi fth studio album for American rapper Princess Nokia (real name: Destiny Frasqueri). “Girlhood is a spectrum, pretty is destruction,” she raps, questioning gender norms and religious institutions. She aligns herself with Laura Palmer , the key character in David Lynch’ s T win Peaks : “I’ve been through too much, babe, I feel like Laura Palmer/ I’ve been a statistic and everyone ignored me/ If I was a man, they would have coddled me, adored me.” DEEP PURPLE Splat! ROCKET Deep Purple were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ten years ago. And their 24th studio album, Splat! , shows they remain a potent force. They’ve called the album “the heaviest Deep Purple album in many years”, comparing it to the music they made between 1969 and 1973. In the lead-up to the release, the band toured Japan, where the Prime Minister Sanae T akaichi, a keen drummer , presented Ian Paice with some Japanese drumsticks, saying: “Y ou are my god.” GIN WIGMORE Beautiful Mess UNIVERSAL Gin Wigmore celebrates her 40th birthday with the release of her fi fth studio album, Beautiful Mess , her fi rst in eight years. She’ s had three chart-topping albums at home in New Zealand and is shooting for her third T op 40 entry in Australia. The title track is a dark love song, where Wigmore – with her unique rasp – sings, “Couldn’t love you more, couldn’t love you less, all I wanted was you and your beautiful mess.” SHANIA T W AIN Little Miss Tw ain UNIVERSAL Shania T wain is certainly not prolifi c. Little Miss T wain is just her seventh studio album in 33 years. The Canadian superstar has gone back to where it all began for this record, telling tales of her early days, before she got a record deal. It’ s a powerful insight into her personal journey . Indeed, Shania says the album is a love letter to her late mother , who would drive her to local bars to do her fi rst gigs. st261_091-090_MUSIC-WhatsOutThisMonth-02-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_091-090_MUSIC-WhatsOutThisMonth-02-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 12:11 pm 19/6/2026 12:11 pm Page contents: Watching Angels Mend (25th Anniversary Red Vinyl),11 FEA TURE MUSIC S inger -songwriter Mic k Huc knall has just turned 66. I mention this fact because Sim- ply Red – the band he f ormed in Manc hester , England in 1 985 - celebrate their 40th anniver - sar y with the release of this fl awless live album that comes as aD VD and Blu-ray fi lm. It’ s also av ailable as ast andalone two CD set, a two CD plus D VD and Blu-ray pac kage, and y ellow triple-vinyl. The band’ s sustained success has alwa ys hinged on Huc knall’ s stage presence, and he remains one of the most remarkable live singers ov er the past four de- cades – his profound connection with the audience is captivating. Songs include the band’ s masterpiece Holding Bac k the Y ears , their breakthrough hit Money’ s T oo Tight (To Mention), as well as If Y ou Don’ t Know Me by No w , The Right Thing, Fair - ground, and Stars, in addition to a classic cov er of a song made famous b y The Hollies, The Air That I Breathe . Radio legend Billy Pinnell presents Billy Pinnell’ s Musical Moments on Y ouT ube. W HA T’S OUT THIS MONT H? SIMPL Y RED SIMPL Y RED Holding Back the Y ears: Holding Back the Y ears: Live in Santiago Live in Santiago ROCKET ROCKET C oming in C oming in A UGU S T A UGU S T ROWENA WISE Bad Things Feel Good* (Aug 7) DON W ALKER Love Songs (Aug 7) GRACE CUMMINGS Bloodhorse! (Aug 14) BIL Y ’S PICK BIL Y ’S PICK SIENNA SPIRO Visitor UNIVERSAL This is the debut album for 20-year -old English artist Sienna Spiro, whose song Material Lover is also featured on the The Devil Wears Prada 2 soundtrack. She says, “I think my whole life I’ve felt like a visitor . I’ve always been aware of the temporary nature of things, of life, of time. And in that sense, we are all visitors. But more personally , in relationships, friendships, situations, and moments, I’ve often felt impermanent.” SUK I W ATERHOUSE Lov eland UNIVERSAL Y ou might have seen Suki Waterhouse in the music drama Daisy Jones & The Six – she played Karen Sirko, the keyboards player in the band. The English actress is also a singer , and Loveland is her third album. She saysthe record was heavily infl uenced by her relationship with fellow actor Robert Pattinson and giving birth to their daughter . “I’m talking about dreams coming true for my partner and me and also having a baby in the middle of that.” TRICKY Di erent When It’s Silent UNIVERSAL T ricky , the English musician who was born Adrian Thaws, has opened up about his 15th studio album, explaining how it was shaped by tragedy , following the passing of his 24-year -old daughter . “Emotionally, I’m saying I’m ready to start my life again,” he says. “I’m looking forward to touring. I want to record. I was emotionally paralysed. Now I’m moving again.” The album also has an Aussie connection – T ricky covers Marinade by Angus Stone’ s Dope Lemon. TYL A A*Pop SONY T yla is the “Queen of Popiano”, which is a mix of pop and the smooth South African genre amapiano. A*Pop is hersecond album and follows her Grammys success – she is the youngest African artist to win a Grammy . The second single, She Did It Again ,features Swedish star Zara Larsson. A USSIE RELEASES ALE X LLOYD Watching Angels Mend UNIVERSAL Released in 2001, Alex Lloyd’ s second solo album was his highest charter , hitting number two in Australia. It also went triple platinum and saw the Sydney singer take the title of ‘Best Male Artist’ at the ARIA Awards. Featuring his signature song, Amazing –which topped T riple J’ s Hottest 100 - Alex had planned a 20th anniversary edition of the record, but COVID got in the way . Better late than never , the 25th anniversary edition shows that this album stands as a fi ne example of poetic pop. And it’ s now available on vinyl for the fi rst time. BUDJERAH Gentleman INERTIA Budjerah Slabb, who records under just his fi rst name, is a proud Coodjinburra man who won the Michael Gudinski ‘Breakthrough Artist’ award at the 2021 ARIA Awards. His fi rst full-length album, Gentleman , finds the 24-year -old artist in fi ne form. “Chasing my dreams, I faced new challenges which helped me understand who I wanted to be,” he says. And his label boss, Warner Music’ s Dan Rosen, is rightly proud of the record, believing it will be “a defi ning moment in Australian music”, calling Budjerah “a once-in-a-generation talent”. ECC A V ANDAL Looking for People to Unfollow UNIVERSAL Ecca V andal – who came to Australia from South Africa when she was a child - has crafted a searing second album, a powerful piece of work about the modern world. “This album isn’t about fi tting in,” she notes. “It’ s about subtraction. Stripping things back to what’ s real. T aking up space in a world that constantly asks you to shrink. I’ve stopped trying to smooth out the edges.” She made the album with her producer and partner Richie Buxton in his childhood bedroom. Check out the power -packed Cruising to Self Soothe , which would have found a happy home in the post-grunge ’90s. Y ARD ACT Y ou’re Gonna Need a Little Music UNIVERSAL Y ou’re Gonna Need a Little Music is the third album for Y ard Act, who hail from Leeds in the UK. Their work is edgy indie rock, raging about the state of the world. “I see an evil genius,” James Smith sings in Redeemer . Y ep, we need a little music. ZARA LARSSON Midnight Sun: Girls Trip SONY This is a remix album of Zara Larsson’ s fi fth studio album, Midnight Sun , which topped the Swedish charts and was a T op 40 hit in Australia, the US, and UK. The new set features collabs with an all-star all-female lineup, including T yla, Shakira, PinkPantheress, Kehlani, Emilia, and Madison Beer . st261_091-090_MUSIC-WhatsOutThisMonth-02-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 st261_091-090_MUSIC-WhatsOutThisMonth-02-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 19/6/2026 12:11 pm 19/6/2026 12:11 pm Page contents: The Fame (Vinyl),jbhifi.com.au 12 JUL Y 2026 MUSIC FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack Words: Bec Summer V I N Y L V I T A L LADY GAGA T HE F AME B efore she w as an Oscar winner , stadium-fi lling superstar , and one of the most infl uential pop artists of her generation, Lady Gaga was Stef ani Germanot ta, a New Y ork musician with big ambitions and an ev en bigger vision. Released in 2008, The Fame w as the album that introduced that vision to the world and c hanged the course of pop music in the process. Arriving at a time when mainstream pop was dominated by polished c hart hits, The F ame felt fresh, bold, and impossible to ignore. Drawing on dance music, electropop, and club culture, Gaga created a sound that was both commercially irresistible and creatively adv enturous. W orking closely with producers including RedOne, she craf ted songs that combined inf ectious hooks with a larger -than-life sense of style and personalit y . The album’ s themes rev olved around celebrity , image, and the pursuit of fame. Rather than simply celebrating stardom, Gaga explored the f ant asy of becoming famous and the cult ure that surrounds it. It was a concept that resonated with audiences around the world, particularly as social media and celebrity obsession were becoming increasingly intertwined. What truly set T he Fame apart, how ever , was its remarkable collection of songs. Just Dance became a global party anthem, while P oker F ace elevated Gag a from risingst ar to worldwidephenomenon. F ollow -up singles including Lo veGame and Paparazzi demonstrated her versatility , blending c atchy pop songwriting wit h provocative visual s and memorableperformances. The success w as extraordinar y . The F ame topped c harts across the globe, earned multiple Grammy A wards and sold millions of copies worldwide. More importantly , it established Lady Gaga as a genuine cultural f orce. Her fearless embrace of fashion, perf ormance art, and individuality inspired a generation of artists who follo wed. Nearly two decades later , T he Fame remains one of the defi ning pop albums of the 21st century . Its songs continue to dominate playlists and dancefl oors, while its infl uence can still be heard throughout modern pop music. Whether revisiting a classic or discov ering it for the fi rst time, The F ame captures the moment a future icon announced herself to the world. T HE GAGA EFFEC T It’ s diffi cult to overstate the impact that The Fame hadon mainstream pop. Before Gaga, many chart stars were carefully packaged and polished. Gaga embraced theatricality , outrageous fashion, and performance art, making individuality part of the appeal. Success no longer required fi tting a mould. Her infl uence can be seen in countless artists who followed, from the bold visual identities of modern pop stars to the growing acceptance of creative risk-taking in mainstream music. She proved that commercial success and artistic ambition didn’t have to be mutually exclusive. Music videos became events, live performances became spectacles, and image became an extension of storytelling rather than simply marketing. The Fame didn’t just launch a superstar; it helped redefi ne what a pop star could be. Just Danc e The breakthrough single. Released before Gaga became a household name, it slowly gathered momentum before exploding into a worldwide smash. Pok er Face One of the defi ning pop songs of the 2000s. Its unforgettable ch orus and sleek production transformed Gaga into a global phenomenon. Lov eGame Playful, provocative, and impossible to ignore, this club anthem showcased Gaga’ s fearless approach to pop music. Papar azzi A darker and more dramatic single that revealed the artistic ambition beneath the album’ s dance-pop exterior . f amous and the cult ure that sur rounds it. It w as a concept that resonated The Fame by Lady Gaga is out now via Interscope Lady Gaga in the studio with Colby O’Donis while P ok er F ace Gaga from rising st ar to w orldwide phenomenon. v ersatilit y , blending catc h y pop songwriting with pro v ocativ e visuals and memorable One of the defi ning pop songs of the 2000s. Its unforgettable chorus T HE CHAR T TOPPING HITS st261_089_MUSIC-VitalVinyl-LadyGaga-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_089_MUSIC-VitalVinyl-LadyGaga-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 12:16 pm 19/6/2026 12:16 pm Page contents: The Best of New Order (Vinyl) (2026), Messy (Vinyl), Live At The Eventium Apollo (Vinyl), Watching Angels Mend (25th Anniversary Red Vinyl), The Secret Of Us (Yellow Vinyl), Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) (JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusive White Vinyl), minor (5 Year Anniversary) (Red Vinyl),T A YLOR SWIFT Red (T aylor’ s V ersion) T A YLOR SWIFT ALEX LLOYD W atching Angels Mend (25th Anniversary Red Vinyl) ALEX LLOYD GRACIE ABRAMS The Secret of Us GRACIE ABRAMS *While stocks last BACK IN ST OCK A T OLIVIA DEAN Messy OLIVIA DEAN OLIVIA DEAN Live at the Eventium Apollo GRACIE ABRAMS Minor (5 Y ear Anniversary) GRACIE ABRAMS GRACIE ABRAMS GRACIE ABRAMS GRACIE ABRAMS OUT JUL 10 NEW ORDER The Best of New Order (2026 Reissue) NEW ORDER DA VID BOWIE Black Star (2026 Reissue) FLEETWOOD MAC Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) FLEETWOOD MAC D E C K S B A C K O N T H E OLIVIA DEAN DA VID BOWIE OUT JUL 17 OUT JUL 24 OUT JUL 31 JB Hi-Fi AU Exclusiv e Milky White Vinyl GREA T VINYL st261_BOD_9Titles.indd 1 18/06/2026 1:46:03 PM Page contents: Speed Racer, Scream 7, Scream 7,Q1 “ Remember .......I speak German..... perf ect ”ut tered in what classic 1 961 movie? Q2 What w as the fi rst Carry On fi lm released in colour? Q3 In whic h of his fi lms does Alfred Hitchcoc k makes his cameo appearance wearing a cowbo y hat? Q4 Who pro vided the voice of the computer in John Carpenter’ s fi lm Escape from New Y ork ? Q5 Who w as the fi rst Spanish actor to win an Academ y A ward? Q6 What do the actors Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn, Sean Conner y , Ke vin Costner , and Russell Cro we all hav e in common? Q7 Who was T he Man from Laramie and TheMan Who Shot Liberty V alance ? Q8 Whic h fi lm director did Mel Brooks spoof in High Anxiety ? Q9 Whic h fi ctional c haracter has been portray ed in more than 50 f eature length fi lms? Q10 Whic h three movie actors founded the Planet Hollywood themed restaurant chain? JUNE 2026 (Issue 260) ANSWERS - A 1. The Sixth Sense A2. Memento A3. Boyhood A4. Guardian angel A5. He was possessed by the murderous spirit of the previous caretaker A6. John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) in Rambo: First Blood Part 2 A 7.Bernard Herrmann Kind Hearts and CoronetsA8. Elton JohnA9. A1 0. Coming Home (1978) Q UIZ Q UIZ Q UIZ jbhifi.com.au 14 JUL Y 2026 visit jbhifi .com.au/stack What’ s a mo vie you saw as a c hild that has left a lasting impr ession on you? Howl’ s Moving Castle ! It was the fi rst Studio Ghibli fi lm I watc hed and I f ell in lov e with the stor y and the c haracters! Howl, Sophie, Calcif er , ev en T urnip Head was fun! What’ s one of y our all-time fa vour ite fi lms, and wh y? Jim Henson ’ s Labyrinth ! It’s one of the fi rst fi lms I remember seeing with my mum and we both hold a deep lo ve for it! Plus, who doesn ’t lo ve David B owie’ s singing?! What’ s one of y our all-time fa vour ite TV ser ies, and wh y? Gotham ! I hav e alway s loved the dark er side of the Batman univ erse and feel this sho w gives an interesting insight into it. Ev en with a f ew new c haracters in volved! What hav e you been watc hing lately that you’ d recommend? Apothecar y Diaries ! I recently watc hed this anime with my housemates and w e thoroughly enjoy ed it. Maomao is suc h a fun main c haracter and the stor y caught us by surprise on sev eral occasions, whic h was fun. NY AH KENNEDY @ JB Mt Gravitt, QLD What’ s the best thing about w orking at JB? Defi nitely all the phy sical media! I love still seeing vinyl, CDs, and D VDs av ailable to collect. I know it isn ’ t everyone’ s thing, but it’ s so special to many others! Plus gro wing your collection is fun! ’ s ROVING REPOR TER JUL Y 4K UHD BE ST-SELLERS in JUNE 2026 1 SPE ED RACER 2 SCR EAM 7 3 FALL OUT: SEASO N 24 ON E BA TTL E AFTER A N OTH E R 5 ERASER (STEELBOOK) 6 A KNI GHT OF THE SEVE N KINGDO MS : S17 TH E BR I DE 8 BEN H UR 9 E.T . THE EXTRA T ERRES T RIAL 10 HARD B OI LED (STEELBOOK) BLU-RA Y BE ST-SELLERS in JUNE 2026 1 SCR EAM 7 2 FALL OUT: SEASO N 23 S H E LT E R 4 TH E BRI DE 5 FACKHAM HA LL 6 RETURN TO SILENT H ILL7 PI LLI O N 8 HOW TO MAKE A KI LLING 9 NI RVANNA THE BAN D THE SHOW THE M OVIE 10 S CA R LET DVD BE ST-SELLERS in JUNE 2026 1 SCR EAM 72 FALL OUT :SEASO N 23 S H E LT E R 4 CALL THE MI DWI FE : SER I ES 15 5 FACKHA M HALL 6 TH E BR I DE 7 WU THE RING HEIGHT S (2026 ) 8 ANAC O N DA ( 2 0 2 5) 9 SONG SUNG BLUE10 HOW TO MAKE A KI LLI NG CHARTS CHARTS 5 5 CINEMA CINEMA HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS The Odyssey The Odyssey Jul 16 Spider-Man: Spider-Man: Brand New Day Brand New Day Jul 30 Moana Moana Jul 9 Evil Dead Burn Evil Dead Burn Jul 9 Jackass: Jackass: Best and Last Best and Last Jul 9 st261_087_MOVIESTV-IntroTake5QuizCinemaHighlightsCharts-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_087_MOVIESTV-IntroTake5QuizCinemaHighlightsCharts-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:15 pm 19/6/2026 5:15 pm Page contents: GODDIT! - World Football Stars, Dash - World Football Stars Board Game, Top Trumps Original - Football Stars, Top Trumps - World Football Stars Quiz, WN1 World Football Stars Playing Cards,Ads_FP.indd 1 11/06/2026 3:56:48 PM Page contents:T his iconic stretc h of Los Angeles highwa y would prov e to be the perf ect set ting for Bart La yton’ s high- stakes heist thriller Crime 1 0 1 - where Route 1 0 1 also of fers a reliable escape route for Chris Hemsw orth ’ s elusive jew el thief , Mike Davis. A clev er double-entendre, the title also ref ers to a criminal code that emphasises discipline, patience, and precision – qualities that separate prof essional thiev es from rec kless criminals. Hemsworth immediately recognised this as an opportunity to play a c haracter far remo ved from the superhero types he’ s often kno wn for playing. “There w as something ver y dif ferent about this c haracter from what I'd play ed before, ” says Hemsw orth. “There was a strength and a masculinity to the c haracter , and a stern sort of exterior , but a huge amount of vulnerability . “He has a real sort of resistance to getting too close to people. I think he'd been hurt on many occasions and therefore dev eloped this sort of wall as a protection, as a def ense mec hanism. And I f ound that an interesting mix of emotions, and an interesting sort of personality to tr y and crac k. ” Hemsworth himself got behind the wheel for man y of the sequences, stunt coordinator Jerem y F r y ( Ford v F errari ) giving him the green light to do more onscreen driving than most lead actors. “It' s not a common situationb ecause it’s one thing if you let an actor do a fight sequence and they scre w up and get punc hed, but it’ s a whole diff erent stor y when an actor’ s in a car and t hey screw up, ” say s F r y . “So, we are e xtremely caut ious about who we putbehind the wheel, and Chris is one of those actors where if he say s he can do it, and we'v e seen him do it, I k now he will nail it.” Gill Pringle jbhifi.com.au 16 JUL Y 2026 MOVIE FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack HOL DING T H E L IN E ROBYN MALCOLM ON PIKE RI VER T he 20 1 0 Pike River mining disaster claimed 29 lives and lef t a lasting scar on Ne w Zealand. Now , the stor y of t wo women who f ought tirelessly for justice has been brought to the screen in a pow erful tribute to the men who were lost and the work ers who risk their lives ev er y day . Images of Anna Osborne and Son ya Roc khouse standing resolute at the mine entrance became emblematic of the fight for answ ers in the wake of the tragedy . In Pik e River , acclaimed Kiwi actors Melanie L ynsk ey and Rob yn Malcolm step into their shoes. F or Malcolm, the role carried personal significance long before she w as cast. “I f elt deeply at t ac hed to the stor y because I’m a South Islander and where I’m from is not far from there and I know that w orld really well, ” she explains. GENRE: Drama RUN TIME: 2h 18m GENRE: Crime thriller RUN TIME: 2h 20m See ROBYN MALCOLM at her best in:T op of the Lake, Far North, The Outpost, Rake IF YOU L IKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THES E : The Driver , Heat, Retribution, Point Break, Lethal Weapon, Baby Driver Halle Ber ry and Chris Hemsw orth Robyn Malcolm r efl ects on br inging the remar kable tr ue st ory of Anna Osbor ne and Son ya Roc khouse's fi ght for justice af ter the Pik e River mining disaster t o the screen. Chr is Hemswor th swaps her oics for heists in Cr ime 1 0 1 , a slick neo-noir thr iller that tur ns Calif ornia’ s legendary Highwa y 1 0 1 int o the ultimate geta wa y rout e. Her connection deepened through her friendship with former Council of T rade Unions president Helen K elly , portray ed in the film by Lucy Lawless. “I met Anna and Son ya at Helen Kelly’ s funeral, ” Malcolm recalls. “I dev eloped a really close relationship with Helen before she died and I remember her talking a lot about Sonya and Anna. ” As a story rooted in a specific communit y and one that helped drive landmark occupational health and saf et y reforms, Malcolm f elt strongly that the production should remain authentically New Zealand. “ An A ussie actress was lined up to be one of the women, but I think as a rollo ver from CO VID , her work bank ed up and she wasn ’t a vailable anymore, ” she say s with a laugh. “ At the time I was thinking, ‘The y can ’t cast A ustralians. It doesn ’t mat ter how brilliant the y are, they can ’t cast A ustralians in these roles. ’” Despite the emotional subject mat ter , Malcolm say s the presence of the real-life Anna and Sonya on set helped keep the cast grounded. “The y were on set all day , every day . T he y’ ve got such gr ubby senses of hu mour. They wind eac h other up non-stop. It’ s a lov e stor y bet ween the two of them and they’ re so inf ectious to hang out with. ” Like Norma Rae, S ilkwood,and NorthCo untry before it, Pike River is a stirring tribute to working people and the courage required to c hallenge pow erful institutions. Glenn Cochrane • Pike River is out Jul 1 • Pike River Her connection deepened through of T rade Unions president Helen K elly , portra y ed in the film b y Lucy La wless. “T he y w ere on set all da y , e v er y da y . T he y’ v e got suc h gr ubb y senses of humour . T he y wind eac h other up non-stop. It’ s Silkw ood, Countr y Riv er is a stir ring tribute to Riv er is a stir ring tribute to Riv er Former Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern plays herself in the fi lm, recreating a pivotal chapter in the fi ght for Pike River reform. F UN FACT Robyn Malcolm and Melanie L ynske y • Crime 101 is out Jul 29 • Crime 101 CH RIS H EMSWORT H, S HOW STE ALER IN CRIM E 101 e xterior , but a huge amount of as a protection, as a def ense driving than most lead actors. “It's not a common sit uation because it’ s one thing if y ou let an actor do a fight the y scre w up, ” sa y s F r y . cautious about who w e put Pedro Pascal was originally cast in Mark Ruffalo’ s role but had to drop out due to a scheduling confl ict. F UN FACT the sequences, st unt coordinator w e'v e seen him do it, I kno w he will nail it. ” Gill Pringle cautious about who w e put st261_085_MOVIESTV-PikeRiver-Crime101-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_085_MOVIESTV-PikeRiver-Crime101-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:15 pm 19/6/2026 5:15 pm Page contents:Ads_FP.indd 1 17/06/2026 1:17:47 PM Page contents:F ollowing the enormous success of 2023’ s The Super Mario Bros Movie , this cosmic sequel sends Mario and friends far be yond the Mushroom Kingdom on an advent ure that spans enti re galaxies. Ret urning fav ourites include Chris Prat t as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya T aylor -Jo y as Princess P eac h, Jac k Blac k as Bo wser , and Keegan-Mic hael K ey as T oad. New additions to the cast include Glen P ow ell as Fo x McCloud, Brie Larson as Rosalina, Benn y Safdie as Bowser Jr ., and Donald Glo ver as Y oshi. F or Prat t, Mario’ s enduring appeal lies in his determination. “He i s a little guy , but he nev er gives up, ” say s the actor . “No c hallenge is too big for him, and that is what makes him heroic. ” Princess P eac h also takes centre stage, embarking on a personal journey to unco ver her origins. “She is far more introspectiv e this time, ” says T a ylor -Joy . “She is searc hing for a sense of belonging and identity . ” Despite this emotional journey , P eac h remains a formidable action hero. “This film giv es her incredible action sequences, ” T aylor -Joy adds. Inspired by Nintendo ’ s belo ved Super Mario Galaxy games, the stor y sees Mario and Luigi vent ure into space af ter Bowser Jr . launc hes a galaxy-spanning quest that threatens entire worlds. Along the wa y , they encounter R osalina and her adorable Lumas, whose cosmic home becomes central to the advent ure. Meanwhile, J ac k Black’ s Bo wser continues to steal scenes. “Bo wser ’ s got rage in his bones, ” says Blac k. “But he also wants lov e. He wants respect. He wants to be seen as more than just the bad guy . ” Visually , the film embraces the sense of wonder that made the games so memorable. Colourful planets, gravity-defying action, dazzling nebulae, and imaginative new w orlds fill the screen, creating a spectacular adventure that f eels perfectly at home among Nintendo’ s most beloved creations. Gill Pringle jbhifi.com.au 18 JUL Y 2026 MOVIE FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack T H E N E XT LE VEL T H E SUPER MARIO GAL A X Y MOV I E GENRE: Family adventure RUN TIME: 1h 39m • The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is out Jul 8 The Super The Super WON DER A W AI TS! T H E MAGIC FARA W A Y TREE F or generations of readers, Enid Blyton ’ s stories hav e been a treasured part of c hildhood, and The Magic F arawa y T ree brings one of her most belov ed adventures to the big screen in a colourful family f ant asy filled with wonder and imagination. Set in the present day , the stor y follo ws Tim andPolly T hompson (Andrew Garfield and Claire F oy), who leav e cit y lif e behind and mov e their family to the countr yside af ter P olly quits her job in protest ov er unethical tec hnology practices. Their c hildren, Beth, F ran, and J oe, are far from thri lled, particularly when they disco ver their new home is a rundo wn barn without modern comforts. Everything changes when F ran, who has GENRE: Fantasy adventure RUN TIME: 1h 50m IF YOU L IKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THES E : The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Super Mario Bros. (1993) , The Angry Birds Movie, Pixels, Wreck-It RalphIF YOU L IKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THES E : Harry Potter , Paddington, Wonderwell, The Secret Garden, Malefi cent, Come Away Few animat ed fi lms hav e gener ated as much ex citement this y ear as The Super Mar io Galaxy Movie . Fr om the mak ers of P addington and Wonka comes The Magic F ara wa y T r ee , a c harming f amily adv entur e that br ings Enid Blyton's belo ved f antasy classic to lif e. Mushroom Kingdom on an adv ent ure that spans entire appeal lies in his determination. “He is a lit tle gu y , but he ne v er giv es up, ” sa y s the actor . “No Donald Glov er , Char lie Day , Chr is Pratt, Jac k Black, An ya T aylor - JoyKeeg an-Michael Ke y and Benn y Safdie. FUN FAC T: Donkey Kong and Luigi’s Mansion spin-off movies are currently in development. been mute for years, encounters a fair y named Silky (Nicola Coughlan). Invited to visit the my sterious Magic Faraw ay T ree hidden in nearby w oodland, the c hildren soon discover a magical world filled with eccentric c haracters and fantastical lands that appear at the top of the tree. A s they embark on a series of advent ures, they begin to reconnect with eac h other and rediscov er the import ance of family . Director Ben Gregor capt ures the sense of wonder that made Blyton ’ s original book so enduring. The tree itself f eels like a living c haracter , while the vibrant production design, imaginative creat ures, and enc hanting locations create a world that is both magical and inviting. The film embraces a refreshingly old-fashioned belief in the po wer of imagination, reminding audiences that advent ure can be found in the most une xpected places. New comers Delilah Bennet t-Cardy , Phoenix Laroc he, and Billie Gadsdon shine as the young leads, while a stellar supporting cast adds extra c harm. Jennif er Saunders, Rebecca F erguson, Mic hael Palin, and J essica Gunning all make memorable appearances, with Judi Denc h lending her voice to P olly’ s talking fridge. W arm, whimsical, and pac ked with heart, The Magic F arawa y T ree is a delightful family advent ure that introduces Blyton ’ s classic tale to a new generation. Gill Pringle screen in a colourful f amily f ant asy filled B eth, F ran, and J oe, are f ar from thrilled, been mute f or y ears, encounters a f air y • The MagicFaraway T ree is out Jul 29 • The Magic Faraway T ree magical w orld filled with eccentric c haracters and f ant astical lands that appear at the top FUN FAC T: T wo sequels are in development, adapting two of the three remaining books in the series. Nicola Coughlan st261_083_MOVIESTV-SuperMario-MagicFarawayTree-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_083_MOVIESTV-SuperMario-MagicFarawayTree-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:14 pm 19/6/2026 5:14 pm Page contents:Ads_FP.indd 1 17/06/2026 1:18:48 PM Page contents: Akira Kurosawa Collection,jbhifi.com.au 20 JUL Y 2026 MOVIE FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack F or decades, rumours of lost Elvis P resley concert films swirled among industr y insiders and fans alik e. As he began preparing Elvis , Luhrmann tasked researc hers with verifying their e xistence, hoping to uncov er enough ex clusive footage to incorporate into his film. He could not hav e imagined what follo wed. Deep within the W arner Bros. arc hives, hidden in a vault buried in Kansas salt mines, a treasure trov e was unco vered. Sixty-nine box es cont aining almost 60 hours of nev er -bef ore- seen footage. Additionally , his team gained access IF YOU L IKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THES E : Elvis, Amazing Grace, Amy , Piece by Piece, Dolly Parton: Here I Am Aft er his cr itically acclaimed 2022 Elvis biopic, Baz Luhrmann w asn’ t fi nished with The King. Now , follo wing an exhaustive r estor ation, he r etur ns with one of the great est concert fi lms ever capt ured. to previously unseen Super 8 film from the Graceland arc hives. Armed with an extraordinary cache of material, what first f elt like a blessing quic kly became an immense undertaking . The footage required extensiv e restoration to clean it up and bring these long-lost concert films bac k to lif e. More than just performance, the newly disco vered material rev ealed hours of bac kstage banter , rehearsal footage, and candid interactions with Elvis. Luhrmann immediately recognised the potential for something bey ond the biopic. A new project w as necessar y , and so began the meticulous process of restoring, assembling , and shaping EPiC: Elvis Presle y in Concert . Enlisting the help of Kiwi director P eter Jac kson and his team, who had recently undertaken a similar restoration with The B eatles: Get Bac k and Let It Be , Luhrmann craf ted what he describes as a f ever dream. It is a concert film unlike an y other , a personal, fly-on-the-w all experience that is as dazzling and mesmerising as it is fascinating and endearing. Ahead of the film’ s release, Baz Luhrmann released the follo wing st atement, of fering insight into the process and giving fans a personal account of what EPiC means.“What if , instead of reduxing the previous works, w e made a film that wasn't a documentar y and wasn't a concert film? What if Elvis came to you in a dreamscape, almost like a cinematic poem, and sang to y ou and told you his story in a way in whic h y ou haven ’t experienced bef ore?” The result is Elvis as ne ver seen before. Glenn Cochrane • EPi C: ElvisPresley in Concert is out Jul 1 Elvis Presle y RE TURN OF T H E K ING! EPiC: EL V IS PRE SLE Y IN CONCERT GENRE: Documentary RUN TIME: 1h 36m FUN FAC T: Whitney Houston's mother , Cissy Houston, sang backing vocals for Elvis during his legendary 1969 Las V egas residency . EPiC: Elvis Few dir ectors ha ve shaped cinema as pr ofoundly as Akira K urosa wa. THE MASTER WHO CHANGED CINEMA B orn in Tok yo in 1 91 0, he emerged as one of Japan ’ s most important fi lmmakers in the years f ollowing W orld War II, creating works that transcended language and cultural bar riers to fi nd audiences around the world. His international breakthrough came with Rashomon (1950), a groundbreaking my ster y that presented the same event through multiple confl icting perspectives. The fi lm won the Golden Lion at the V enice Film F estival and introduced many Western audiences to Japanese cinema for the fi rst time. Kurosa wa reac hed ev en greater heights with Sev en Samurai (1 954), widely regarded as one of the greatest fi lms ev er made. Its stor y of warriors def ending a village from bandits established stor ytelling and action conv entions that continue to infl uence fi lmmakers toda y . The fi lm later inspired numerous adaptations, including Hollywood western T he Magnifi cent Seven . This ne w 4K collection highlights the remarkable range of Kurosa wa’ s work. Alongside Sev en Samurai are classics suc h as Throne of Blood , a striking adaptationof Shakespeare ’ s Macbeth; T he HiddenF ortress , whic h infl uenced George Lucas’ s Star Wars ; and Y ojimbo , whose wandering samurai hero inspired Sergio Leone ’ s A Fistful of Dollars . Kurosa wa was equally adept at contemporar y dramas. High and Lo w remains a gripping police procedural and social thriller , while Ikir u is one of cinema’ s most moving e xaminations of life, purpose, and mortalit y . More than 50 y ears af ter man y of these fi lms fi rst prem iered, K urosa w a’ s w ork remains as po w erful and rele v ant as ev er , a test ament to the enduring pow er of great cinema. Glenn Cochrane Beyond his storytelling, Kurosawa revolutionised fi lmmaking through dynamic camera movement, innovative editing, and his dramatic use of weather and landscape. His infl uence can be seen in the work of directors including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and George Lucas. T oday , the term “Rashomon effect” remains part of popular culture, a testament to the fi lm’ s lasting impact. It describes the method of storytelling by which a singular event is told in contradictory terms by multiple characters. THE MASTER WHO jbhifi.com.au are classics suc h most mo ving e xaminations of lif e, purpose, More than 50 y ears af ter man y of these fi lms fi rst premiered, K urosa w a’ s w ork remains as po w erful and rele v ant as e v er , a test ament to the enduring po w er of great Glenn Cochrane remains as po w erful and rele v ant as e v er , a test ament to the Ikir u The RashOmon effect Kurosaw a ’ s influence From left, directors Irvin Kershner , Francis Ford Coppola, Akira Kurosawa, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Carroll Ballard st261_081_MOVIESTV-EPiC-Kurosawa-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_081_MOVIESTV-EPiC-Kurosawa-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:59 pm 19/6/2026 5:59 pm Page contents:T he Hunt for R ed October is an engrossing and ex citing bat tle of wits movie based on T om Clancy's best-selling 1 984 debut nov el. when nuclear war tensions between the U.S . and Soviet Union w ere high. Producer Mace Neuf eld, having purc hased the rights to the book, hawk ed it around the Hollywood studios, but none w ere interested in making a movie that had suc h complicated tec hnical jargon and political content. How ever , 18 months later Neuf eld fi nally managed to get the project of f the ground by convincing a Paramount e xecutiv e to read the nov el and see for himself how cinematic it could be. The fi lm is set in 1 984, when the Soviet Union launc hes its experimental superior Typhoon- class ballistic missile nuclear submarine, the Red October . T he prototype submarine is fi t ted with a rev olutionar y Caterpillar Drive that allows it to r un silently , making it 21 FEA TURE MOVIE Befor e Har r ison For d, Ben Affl eck, Chr is Pine, and John Kr asinski answer ed the call, Alec Baldwin w as the fi rst actor t o step into the shoes of T om Clancy's legendary CIA analyst J ack Ryan. Words Bob J virtually undetectable as a fi rst strike w eapon. V eteran commander Mark o Ramius (Sean Connery) is the most respected man in the Soviet Na v y . Having trained most of the of fi cers in the fl eet, he's now been giv en control of Red October .But Ramius doesn't follo w his orders and secretly kills the Soviet political of fi cer onboard, making it look like an accident. Now using f alse orders, he tells his crew that the y are to conduct missile drills of f the United St ates east coast. When the submarine suddenly disappears, the entire Soviet na v y mobilises to swif tly locate its whereabouts in the vast North Atlantic. The So viets now inform their American counterparts that Ramius is a madman who intends to aim nuclear missiles at New Y ork or W ashington and asks the U.S . Navy to help them trac k down and destroy R ed October . Enter CIA analyst and f ormer Marine Jac k Ry an (Alec Baldwin), who is also a specialist in marine warf are. Having previously met Ramius he now has serious doubts about the Soviet's motiv e. He tells his superior A dmiral Greer (James Earl Jones) that he belie ves Ramius is actually at tempting to def ect and bring his submarine along with him and his crew . The P entagon is understandably concerned that there is a very real threat of an at tack on the U .S. no w that the entire Russian Na v y has been deploy ed to c hase down and destroy their o wn submarine. The U.S . National Security Offi cer gives Ry an just three days to confi rm his theor y before the U.S . Navy is ordered to locate and destroy R ed October . Ryan immediately sets out to rendezvous with an aircraf t carrier to make a hazardous mid-ocean transf er onto the U.S . submarine Dallas in anat tempt to somehow contact Ramius. Director John McTiernan ( Predator and Die Hard ) hadsigned up A ustrian actor Klaus Maria Brandauer ( Nev er Say Nev er Again ) to pla y the rogue Soviet sub commander Marko Ramius, but two weeks into production Brandauer had to drop out due to a prior commitment. Ironically Sean Conner y now took on the role, needing only one day of rehearsal. T he Hunt for Red October was an instant success, with a world bo x offi ce of ov er $20 0 million and three Academy A w ard nominations, winning one for 'B est Sound Ef fects Editing'. • The Hunt for Red October is out Jul 29 THE HUNT FOR RED O CT OBER Alec Baldwin Harrison Ford Ben Affleck Chris Pine John Krasinskiconfi rm his theor y bef ore the U .S . Na v y is ordered to locate and destro y to rendezv ous with an aircraf t car rier to mak e a hazardous mid-ocean transf er onto the U .S . submarine at tempt to someho w cont act R amius. Sean Connery , Alec Baldwin, and Scott Glenn STILL HOLDS C OURSE ! T om Clancy's "Ryanverse" extends far beyond Jack Ryan. The interconnected universe includes 12 original Jack Ryan novels written by Clancy , fi ve co-authored novels, more than a dozen continuation novels by other writers, the Jack Ryan Jr . book series, the John Clark s pin-off novel and film Without Remorse , and theta ctical military video game franchise Rainbow Six.T ogether , the books, fi lms, TV series, and games have kept the Ryanverse expanding for more than 40 years. The Ry anverse is bigger than y ou think The f aces of Jack Ry an • The Hunt for Red October The Hunt for Red October The Hunt for Red October The Hunt for Red October is out Jul 29 is out Jul 29 is out Jul 29 spin-off novel and fi lm tactical military video game franchise Rainbow Six. T ogether , the books, fi lms, TV series, and games • The Hunt for Red October The Hunt for Red October The Hunt for Red October The Hunt for Red October T ogether , the books, fi lms, TV series, and games Or iginal post er ar t Or iginal post er ar t Or iginal post er ar t Or iginal post er ar t Or iginal post er ar t st261_080_MOVIESTV-BobJ-Hunt For Red October-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 st261_080_MOVIESTV-BobJ-Hunt For Red October-PROOFED-AF.indd 2 19/6/2026 5:11 pm 19/6/2026 5:11 pm Page contents: Lifeforce (Imprint Collection Limited Edition), Bronx Tale, A (Imprint Collection Limited Edition), Bound (Imprint Collection Limited Edition), Swordsman Collection, The (Imprint Collection Limited Edition) (Steelbook),jbhifi.com.au 22 JUL Y 2026 MOVIE FEA TURE visit jbhifi .com.au/stack • The new Imprint range is out on July 8 for a limited time only , while stocks last. THE SWORDSMAN COLLECTION (1990-1993) 4K UHD + Blu-ray SteelBook + Hardcover Booklet in Limited Edition Hardbox One of the defi ning wuxia franchises of the 1990s, The Swordsman Collection bringstogether Swordsman (1990),Swordsman II (1992), andSwordsman III: The East Is Red (1993) in a stunning limited edition set from Imprint Asia. Produced by the legendary T sui Hark and featuring stars including Jet Li, Brigitte Lin, and Rosamund Kwan, these action-packed fantasy adventures helped revitalise the genre for a new generation. Meticulously restored from the original 35mm negatives, the collection includes the original fi lm on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray , the sequels on Blu-ray , plus an exclusive steelbook, a 60-page hardcover booklet, and a wealth of bonus features, all housed in a premium hardbox. This month, Impr int Films is unleashing an impressiv e wa ve of r eleases. This selection of spectacular 4K Ultra HD editions r epr esents just a handful of the highlights, each deserving pr ide of place in an y collect or ’ s library . W ords Glenn Cochrane LIFEFORCE (1985) - 4K UHD + Blu-ray + Hardcover Booklet T obe Hooper’ s bonkers and delightfully surreal sci-fi horror epic Lifeforce arrives in a lavish limited edition release fromImprint Films. Adapted from Colin Wilson’ s The Space Vampires , the film follows a deep space mission that unknowingly brings alien vampires back to Earth, unleashing chaos across London. Starring Steve Railsback, Peter Firth, Frank Finlay , and Mathilda May , it remains one of the most ambitious genre fi lms of the 1980s. This collector’ s edition includes multiple cuts of the fi lm, audio commentaries, featurettes, interviews, and a wealth of physical extras. A BRONX TALE (1993) - Limited Edition 4K UHD + Blu-ray Hardbox + Hardcover Booklet Robert De Niro made an impressive directorial debut with A Bronx T ale , a coming-of-age crime drama adapted from Chazz Palminteri’ s acclaimed one-man show. Set in 1960s New Y ork, the fi lm follows a young boy torn between the values of his hardworking father and the infl uence of a charismatic local mobster . Starring De Niro and Palminteri, it remains one of the most heartfelt gangster fi lms of its era. This limited edition release features a 4K restoration, a massive 128-page hardcover booklet containing the script, and an extensive collection of bonus content, including interviews, featurettes, and archival extras. BOUND (1996) - Limited Edition 4K UHD + Blu-ray Hardbox + Hardcover Booklet Before The Matrix changed cinema forever, the Wachowskis announced themselves with the stylish and seductive neo-noir thriller Bound . Starring Jennifer Tilly , Gina Gershon, and Joe Pantoliano, the fi lm follows two lovers who hatch a daring plan to steal millions from the Mafi a and pin the crime on a dangerous mobster . Clever , suspenseful, and packed with razor -sharp twists, it remains a cult favourite nearly three decades on. This limited edition release features a stunning 4K restoration, extensive bonus content including interviews and featurettes, plus a substantial hardcover booklet fi lled with essays and production stills. SHA W -SHOCK: SHA W BRO THERS HORROR COLLECTION -V OLUME THREE: THE HEX TRILOGY (1980 - 1982) - Limited Edition Blu-ray Hardbox The Shaw-Shock series continues with The Hex T rilogy , a deliriously entertaining collection of supernatural horror from cult director Kuei Chih-Hung. Bringing together Hex (1980), Hex V ersus Witchcraft (1980) and Hex After Hex(1982), this trio of revenge-fuelled shockers blends ghost stories, black magic, grotesque gore and outrageous comedy in ways only the Shaw Brothers could deliver . Weird, wild and wonderfully unpredictable, these fi lms remain some of the studio’ s most unique genre hybrids. Presented in a limited edition 3-disc hardbox, the set includes 1080p high-defi nition transfers, Cantonese LPCM 2.0 audio, trailers and a range of bonus features, making it an essential addition for cult horror fans. V olume Four also available on July 29 st261_079_MOVIESTV-Imprint-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_079_MOVIESTV-Imprint-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 22/6/2026 1:07 pm 22/6/2026 1:07 pm Page contents: Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (Steelbook), Substitute, The, Mosquito Coast, The - Complete Series, Lonesome Dove - Mini-Series, Benny Hill Annuals Collection (1970 - 1989), Hercules - The Complete Anthology,Ads_FP.indd 1 12/06/2026 1:45:20 PM Page contents: Red Eye, Belly, Double Jeopardy, Hannibal, Wrong Turn,jbhifi.com.au 24 JUL Y 2026 4K UHD HIGHLIGHTS visit jbhifi .com.au/stack BELL Y AID A defi ning slice of late-’90s urban cinema, Belly marked the feature directing debut of acclaimed music video visionary Hype Williams. Starring hip-hop icons DMX, Nas, Method Man, and T -Boz, the crime drama initially divided critics but has since earned a devoted cult following for its striking visuals and distinctive style. This new native 2160p presentation features Dolby Vision and HDR10, complemented by immersive Dolby Atmos and Dolby T rueHD 7.1 audio. Out Jul 8 AK IRA KUROSA W A COLLECTION MADMAN Eight masterpieces from one of cinema’ s greatest visionaries arrive together in a landmark collection. Spanning human drama, Shakespearean tragedy , crime thriller , and samurai advent ure, Akira Kurosa wa’ s Ikiru ,Sev en Samurai , Throne of Blood, The Hidden Fortress , Y ojimbo , Sanjuro, High and Lo w , and Red Beardsho wcase the remarkable range of a fi lmmaker whose infl uence still shapes modern cinema. Newly restored in 4K Ultra HD , se ven fi lms f eature native 21 60p presentations with original Japanese audio, while Red B eard and seven episodes of the T oho Master works documentar y series It Is Wonderful to Create are included on Blu-ra y . Essential for cinephiles and 4K collectors alike. Out Jul 8 W ords Glenn Cochrane DOUBLE JEOP ARDY AID Arriving near the end of the great ’90s thriller boom, Double Jeopardy remains a slick, crowd-pleasing favourite that has only grown in stature over time. Directed by Australia’ s Bruce Beresford, it stars Ashley Judd, T ommy Lee Jones, and Bruce Greenwood in a twist-fi lled tale of betrayal, revenge, and justice. This 4K restoration presents the fi lm in native 2160p with Dolby Vision and HDR10, complemented by a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. Out Jul 8 HANNIBAL AID The Silence of the Lambs was a tough act to follow , but Ridley Scott rose to the challenge with one of the most outrageous fi lms of his career . This operatic thriller/ horror follows Hannibal Lecter’ s exploits while on the run in Europe, with Julianne Moore, Ray Liotta and a barely recognisable Gary Oldman co-starring. Presented in Native 4K with Dolby Vision HDR and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, it’ s never looked better . Just avoid dinner before that infamous brain-food scene. Out Jul 8 WRONG TURN UMBRELLA A highlight of the early-2000s slasher resurgence, Wrong T urn takes a simple wrong-way detour and turns it into a relentless nightmare. Starring Eliza Dushku, Desmond Harrington and Emmanuelle Chriqui, this backwoods horror classic pits a group of stranded travellers against a clan of murderous cannibals lurking in the West Virginia wilderness. Fast, brutal and packed with memorable kills, it remains a fan favourite. Presented in 2160p 4K with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, it’ s never looked or sounded more terrifying. Out Jul 8 ACE VENTURA: WHEN NATURE CALL S VIAVISION A worldwide fi rst on 4K, Ace V entura: When Nature Calls fi nds Jim Carrey pushing the character’ s cartoon chaos to new extremes. While its broader , slapstick-heavy approach marked a signifi cant shift from the original, the sequel has since earned a devoted cult following, despite Carrey’ s own reservations. Co-starring Bob Gunton and Australia’ s Bruce Spence, this new 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR10 restoration features DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Linear PCM 2.0 audio. Out Jul 8 BUT I’M A CH EERLE ADER AID A forgotten ’90s gem that was years ahead of its time, But I’m a Cheerleader turned initial controversy into enduring acclaim with its vibrant satire of conversion therapy and LGBTQ+ identity . Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuV all, RuPaul, and Cathy Moriarty lead an unforgettable cast in a fi lm whose themes remain remarkably relevant. Newly restored in 4K Ultra HD, it features a 2160p Dolby Vision presentation with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Linear PCM 2.0 audio. Out Jul 8 RED E YE AID Arguably Wes Craven’ s last great fi lm, Red Eye proves the horror maestro was just as adept at suspense as he was at scares. Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy star in this tightly wound thriller about a hotel manager caught in an assassination plot aboard a fl ight to Miami. Critically acclaimed upon release, it remains a masterclass in tension. It features a native 2160p presentation with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound. Out Jul 8 MURDER IN THE FIRST AID Often overlooked but impossible to forget, Murder in the First is a powerful true story of institutional corruption and a shocking miscarriage of justice. Christian Slater , Kevin Bacon, and Gary Oldman deliver exceptional performances in this brutal, uncompromising prison drama that will resonate with fans of The Shawshank Redemption . StudioCanal’ s immaculate restoration presents the fi lm in native 2160p with Dolby Vision and HDR10, alongside a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. Out Jul 8 July is ov erfl owing with 4K Ultr a HD releases, and ther e simply isn’ t enough room to co v er them all. Her e ’ s a selection of essential highlights to whet your appetit e, but be sur e to k eep an e ye on JB’ s websit e for man y mor e hot new ar r iv als. but be sur e t o k eep an e y e on JB’ s w ebsit e f or man y mor e hot new ar r iv als. but be sur e t o k eep an e y e on JB’ s w ebsit e f or man y mor e hot new ar r iv als. st261_077_MOVIESTV-4K-02(1)-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_077_MOVIESTV-4K-02(1)-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 22/6/2026 1:45 pm 22/6/2026 1:45 pm Page contents: Death in Paradise - Series 15, Silent Witness - Series 29,Ads_FP.indd 1 12/06/2026 1:40:10 PM Page contents: Wingman, You, Me & Tuscany, Birthright, Kill Code, Barber,jbhifi.com.au 26 JUL Y 2026 W HA T’S OUT T HIS MONT H? MOVIES & T V PREVIEWS visit jbhifi .com.au/stack This month’s lineup of new releases delivers everything from sporting comedies and zombie-fuelled chaos to plenty of surprises in between. Keep a pen hand y , AS there are more than a few titles here tha t deserve a place in y our collection. C oming in C oming in A UGU S T A UGU S T Next month, some of the year's most anticipated fi lms arrive on physical media, led by the King of Pop biopic Michael , the quirky mystery-comedyThe Sheep Detectives , and the charming British rom-com Finding Emily , alongside a stack of other must-see new releases. EDI T OR’S PICK W INGMAN MADMAN RELEASE DATE: Jul 1 GENRE: Comedy FORMATS: Blu-Ray F resh of f a major resurgence thanks to his Harland Highwa y podcast and a “Guest of the Y ear” win on Kill T ony , Canadian comedian Harland Williams returns with Wingman , a comedy he wrote and directed. Fans of his trademark absurdist humour will fi nd plenty to enjoy in this of fbeat tale of a professional wingman who hires out his ser vices to hopeless romantics desperate to meet women. Ultra-silly , self-a ware, and unapologetically weird, Wingman sitscomfortably alongside cult comedies like Dirty W ork and F reddy Got Fingered , and may w ell earn a dev oted following of its own. Words Glenn Cochrane GOAT AID RELEASE DATE: Jul 1 GENRE: Family FORMAT: 4K, Blu-ray , DVD From Sony Pictures Animation, the studio behind Spider -Man: Into the Spider-V erse and KPop Demon Hunters , comes GOA T , a fast and funny animated sports comedy bursting with energy . Set in a world where animals dominate the sporting arena, it follows an undersized young goat determined to prove he belongs amongst the greats. Packed with colourful visuals, cheeky humour , and plenty of heart, it embraces the classic underdog formula while delivering the inventive animation style Sony has become famous for . WE BURY THE DEAD Umbrella RELEASE DATE: Jul 8 GENRE: Thriller FORMAT: 4K, Blu-ray , DVD Aussie filmmaker Zak Hilditch returns to end-of- the-world storytelling with We Bury the Dead , agripping zombie thriller that feels like a spiritual companion to his breakthrough feature These Final Hours . Set in post-apocalyptic T asmania, the film stars Daisy Ridley alongside Mark Coles Smith, Brenton Thwaites, and Kym Jackson. Blending emotional drama with creeping dread, Hilditch delivers a chilling, all-consuming sensory experience that explores grief, survival, and what remains of humanity when the dead refuse to stay buried. YOU, M E & TUSC ANY AID RELEASE DATE: Jul 8 GENRE: Drama FORMAT: DVD From Marry Me andA Case of Y ou director Kat Coiro comes Y ou, Me & T uscany , a sun-drenched romantic dramedy starring Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page. When an aspiring chef impulsively heads to Italy and finds herself posing as a stranger’ s fiancée, she discovers unexpected romance, family , and a chance to rediscover her dreams. Charming, breezy , and packed with postcard-worthy scenery , this crowd-pleasing rom-com is the cinematic equivalent of a T uscan holiday . BARBER Defiant RELEASE DATE: Jul 15 GENRE: Thriller FORMAT: DVD Critically acclaimed Irish thriller Barber starsAidan Gillen ( Game of Thrones, The Wire )as V al Barber , a private investigator hired to locate a missing woman. What begins as a seemingly routine case soon draws him into a tangled web of secrets, lies, and unexpected danger . Anchored by Gillen’ s compelling performance, Barber delivers a moody, character -driven mystery steeped in noir sensibilities. Smart, atmospheric, and quietly suspenseful, it’ s a rewarding watch for fans of classic detective stories. BIRTHRIGHT Madman RELEASE DATE: Jul 8 GENRE: Thriller FORMAT: DVD A sharp, darkly funny battle of the generations, Birthright is the latest Australian thriller to blur the line between social satire and psychological horror . When family tensions erupt into a power struggle between parents and their adult children, buried resentments quickly spiral into something far more unsettling. Clever , provocative, and uncomfortably relatable, it joins the growing wave of elevated Australian genre cinema alongside T alk to Me, Birdeater , and Sissy, proving that local genre cinema continues to punch well above its weight. THE STRANGER Madman RELEASE DATE: Jul 22 GENRE:World cinema FORMAT : Blu-ray, DVD Critically acclaimed and deeply thought- provoking, The Stranger reimagines AlbertCamus’ landmark novel for a new generation. Meursault, a detached and seemingly ordinary clerk, drifts through life following his mother’ s funeral until a chance romance, a troublesome neighbour , and a fateful encounter on a sun-scorched beach alter his path forever . What follows is a gripping exploration of morality , justice, and human indifference, delivered with intelligence, tension, and haunting emotional power . K ILL CODE Eagle RELEASE DATE: Jul 8 GENRE: Sci-Fi FORMAT: DVD Boasting a heavyweight cast that includes Harvey Keitel, T yrese Gibson, Frank Grillo, Peter Stormare, and Franzi Schissler , Kill Code is a high-octane sci-fi thriller where technology , power , and paranoia collide. As a deadly conspiracy unfolds, shifting allegiances and hidden agendas push its characters to the brink. Combining futuristic intrigue with explosive action, Kill Code delivers a tense, fast-moving ride powered by a formidable ensemble and plenty of unexpected twists. MARTY SUPREME AID RELEASE DATE: Jul 29 GENRE:Drama FORMAT: 4K, Blu-ray , DVD One of the year's best films, Marty Supreme is a thrilling blend of Uncut Gems andThe Color of Money . Written and directed by Josh Safdie, the film is inspired by a true story and stars T imothée Chalamet as a cocky , ambitious table tennis prodigy determined to reach the top at any cost. Featuring a standout supporting cast including Gwyneth Paltrow , Odessa A ’zion, and Kevin O’Leary , this is a masterclass in filmmaking, packed with energy , tension, and unforgettable performances. st261_075_MOVIESTV-OutThisMonth-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_075_MOVIESTV-OutThisMonth-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 22/6/2026 1:31 pm 22/6/2026 1:31 pm Page contents: Journey Home, David Gulpilil, Couture,Ads_FP.indd 1 12/06/2026 1:39:22 PM Page contents: FIFA - 365 Adrenalyn XL 2026 World Cup Pocket Tin,THIS MONT H at jbhifi.com.au 28 JUL Y 2026 visit jbhifi .com.au/stack E XTRAS Br ing the excit ement of the W or ld Cup home with collectible cards, stick ers, and games f or football f ans of all ages. New r ealms, f amiliar leg ends, and endless possibilities a wait in the latest w av e of Magic: The Gathering releases. Goddit! W orld Football St ars Car d Game Think your football knowledge is top tier? Goddit! World Football Stars challenges players to identify famous footballers and solve quick-fi re puzzles before their opponents. Fast, competitive, and easy to learn, it’ s the perfect game for family gatherings, parties, or pre-match entertainment. Expect plenty of laughs, surprising upsets, and serious bragging rights. W orld F ootball Stars Playing Car ds A classic deck of playing cards gets a football makeover . Featuring some of the world’ s biggest football stars, this pack adds extra appeal to everything from poker and rummy to snap and solitaire. Compact, portable, and endlessly versatile, it’ s an easy way for football fans to keep the beautiful game close at hand. FIF A 365 Adr enalyn XL 2026 W orld Cup Classic Tin Collecting football cards remains one of the great fan traditions, and this FIFA 365 Adrenalyn XL Classic T in is packed with collecting potential. Featuring players from across the globe, it offers the excitement of discovering new stars, tracking down favourites, and building a dream collection. The collectible tin is a keeper too. Choose carefully as change of mind returns for T rading Cards are not accepted. This item is assorted, styles vary . Visit product listing at jbhifi .com.au for more information . Panini 2026 FIF A W orld Cup Stick er Pack The countdown to the World Cup wouldn’ t feel complete without Panini stickers. Each packet offers the chance to uncover star players, national teams, and tournament icons while working towards a complete collection. Whether you’re fi lling an album, swapping duplicates, or chasing that elusive fi nal sticker , every pack delivers a little football magic. Choose carefully as change of mind returns for T rading Cards are not accepted. This item is assorted, styles vary . Visit product listing at jbhifi .com.au for more information. This item is assorted, styles vary . Visit product listing at jbhifi .com.au for more information. PICTURES FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONL Y Marv el Super Her oes Jun 26 T wo pop culture powerhouses collide as Magic: The Gathering welcomes Marvel’ s legendary heroes to the tabletop. Featuring iconic characters from across the Marvel Universe, this set brings superhuman abilities, epic battles, and comic book storytelling into the strategic world of Magic . Whether you’re a long-time Planeswalker , a Marvel devotee, or both, there’ s plenty to get excited about. Expect powerful new cards, stunning artwork, and endless deck-building possibilities. With heroes assembling from every corner of the Marvel multiverse, this is one crossover event that’ s destined to leave a lasting impact. Reality Fr acture Oct 2 Pre-order now What happens when reality itself begins to break apart? Reality Fracture explores that question through a bold new Magic: The Gathering expansion that promises mystery , chaos, and discovery . As dimensions collide and familiar worlds are transformed, players will uncover new strategies, mechanics, and unexpected twists. The set’ s striking visual design refl ects its fractured themes, creating a collection that feels unlike anything that has come before. For collectors and competitive players alike, Reality Fracture looks set to open the door to entirely new ways to experience Magic .The Hobbit Aug 14 Pre-order now Journey back to Middle-earth with a Magic: The Gathering release inspired by J.R.R. T olkien’ s beloved adventure, The Hobbit . From BilboBaggins and Gandalf to dwarves, dragons, and unforgettable quests, the set captures the charm, danger , and wonder of one of fantasy’ s most enduring stories. Richly illustrated cards bring iconic moments to life while introducing new opportunities for deck building and collecting. Whether you’re revisiting a favourite tale or discovering it for the fi rst time, this release invites players to embark on an adventure there and back again. JUL Y 2026 st261_073_MOVIESTV-Merch-MagicGathering-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 st261_073_MOVIESTV-Merch-MagicGathering-PROOFED-AF.indd 1 19/6/2026 5:06 pm 19/6/2026 5:06 pm Page contents:A vailable at Ads_FP.indd 1 18/06/2026 1:08:56 PM
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