Extras

Philips Pronto TSU9600 Touchscreen Remote Control
$1,299, $1,899 as tested, June 2007
Philips pulled out the stops in this latest-generation Pronto touchscreen remote, adding features such as Wi-Fi communication and easy control of Escient music servers and Lutron lighting systems.
pronto.philips.com

Universal Remote Control MX-3000 Universal Remote
$999, September 2006
This "console" style handheld touchscreen remote is so highly customizable that you can even import your own graphics and digital sound files for button effects.
universalremote.com

Bose QuietComfort 3 Noise-Canceling Headphones
$349, October 2006
Though pricey for a pair of headphones, the QC3 combines cannily balanced, unfatiguing sound with excellent noise-reduction circuitry and a remarkably comfortable, lightweight on-ear design.
bose.com

Apple iPod Hi-Fi Speaker System
$349, May 2006
This one-piece, portable tabletop solution was designed with good sound in mind — and you'll hear it on every track.
apple.com

Harman Kardon TC30 Universal Remote
$299, July/August 2006
Harman wisely licensed the web-based programming capabilities and "activity-driven" operation from Harmony's award-winning remotes for this sleek spinoff.
harmankardon.com

Logitech Wireless DJ Music System
$250, December 2006
This system for streaming music from your PC to a sound system in a remote room has some limitations — even with additional receivers available through Logitech, you can still stream to only one remote zone at a time. But its low cost, simple setup, and elegant wireless remote make it the poor man's Sonos.
logitech.com

Pioneer Inno XM2go Satellite Radio
$250, June 2006
This second-generation XM2go handheld comes with fewer accessories than its predecessors but takes the design and screen interface up a notch.
www.pioneerelectronics.com

Logitech Harmony 880 Universal Remote control
$250, July/Aug 2005
This advanced model boasts a full-color LCD screen, but any Harmony remote is a good remote.
logitech.com

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Noise-Canceling Headphones
$220, May 2007
These well-built noise-canceling phones boast accurate, open, detailed sound and a price that comes in considerably below those of the popular Bose QuietComfort models.
audio-technica.com