HDTVs
Flat Panels
Pioneer Elite PRO-FHD1 1080p 50-inch Plasma$8,000, October 2006
Pioneer conquered significant engineering challenges to deliver its classic plasma perfection in a 50-inch package with 1080p resolution.
pioneerelectronics.com
Panasonic TH-50PZ700U 50-inch 1080p Plasma
$3,500, July 2007
This plasma delivers a crisp 1080p high-def picture, natural color balance, and excellent contrast and shadow detail — all at a price considerably lower than its 1080p plasma competition.
www.panasonic.com
Olevia 747i 47-inch 1080p LCD HDTV
$3,500, April 2007
Olevia, better known for its budget LCDs in the smaller sizes, pulled out the stops on this premium HDTV featuring the Silicon Optix Realta video processing chip.
www.olevia.com
Toshiba 47LZ196 47-inch 1080p LCD
$3,500, January 2007
Good picture quality coupled with one of the most extensive feature sets you'll find on a TV, including a helpful color palatte control that allows you to pick-up any color from program material for fine-tuning.
tacp.toshiba.com
JVC LT-46FN97 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV
$2,800, December 2006
This JVC earns its recommendation with unusually good rendition of colors and a highly accurate TheaterPro mode that delivers near-perfect grayscale without professional calibration.
www.jvc.com
Sony Bravia KDL-40XBR2 40-inch 1080p LCD
$2,800, November 2006
Sony's XBR series LCDs remain pricey for their class at any given size, but LCD picture quality doesn't get much better.
sonystyle.com
Vizio P50HDTV 50-inch Plasma
$1,900, December 2006
Not the pinnacle of performance, features, or build quality, but through the magic of big volume sales Vizio continues to deliver huge bang for the buck in this miracle of price erosion. For flat-panel on a budget, this is one to check out.
vizioce.com
Vizio P42HDTV 42-inch Plasma
$1,800, May 2006
With its crisp picture, natural color, and a street price closer to $1,500, this plasma bargain is hard to beat.
vizioce.com
Based on Sound & Vision's experience with the following brands and model lines, also consider these untested models:
Pioneer Elite PRO-1140HD 50-in plasma, $4,500, see related review of PRO-1130HD
Pioneer Elite PRO-930HD 43-inch plasma, $3,700, www.pioneerelectronics.com
Sony KDL46XBR2 46-in LCD, $3,500; Sony KDL52XBR2 52-in LCD, $5,000, sonystyle.com
Olevia 742i 42-in LCD, $2,999, olevia.com.
Rear-Projectors
Sony KDS-60A2000 60-inch SXRD$2,600, October 2006
Sony delivers stunning 1080p bigscreen picture quality and an extensive and sophisticated menu for fine-tuning the image in this LCoS-based rear projector, all at a bargain price compared with flat panel plasmas or LCDs of similar size. Though still available, this model was replaced last fall by the KDS-60A2020, essentially the same TV with a cosmetic upgrade.
www.sony.com
Based on Sound & Vision's experience with the following brands and model lines, also consider these untested models:
Sony KDS-60A2020 60-in SXRD rear projector, $2,900; Sony KDS-50A2020 50-in SXRD rear projector, $2,200; Sony KDS-R70XBR2 70-in SXRD rear projector, $4,500, sonystyle.com.
Front Projectors
Sim2 HT3000 1080p DLP$15,995, October 2006
This superlative single-chip 1080p DLP projector remains a viable option for cost-no-object installs, but shoppers would be wise to also check out Sim2's D80 at $9,995.
sim2usa.com
Sharp XV-Z20000 1080p DLP Front Projector
$10,000, June 2007
It's not cheap, but Sharp's top-of-the-line front projector earns its premium price tag with its rich, natural color, solid blacks, and, especially, it's amazingly crisp detail.
sharpusa.com
JVC DLA-HD1 1080p D-ILA Front Projector
$6,300, May 2007
Great picture quality with virtually no compromises at a good price makes this 1080p front pro the one to beat.
jvc.com
Sony VPL-VW50 1080p SXRD Front Projector
$5,000, January 2007
We ran into a bit of trouble with picture uniformity that required professional calibration to solve (see review), but this superb 1080p front pro (nicknamed "Pearl") still comes recommended by virtue of its amazing picture quality for the price.
sonystyle.com
Panasonic PT-AE1000U 1080p LCD Front Projector
$4,000, June 2007
Thanks to its 1080p resolution and dynamic iris that delivers good contrast and black levels, this LCD model is a great choice among value-priced front pros.
panasonic.com
InFocus Play Big IN76 720p DLP Front Projector
$2,500, May 2006
This HD projector boasts powerful light output, excellent grayscale and color reproduction, sharp detail, and a slick, sci-fi design.
www.infocus.com
Optoma HD72 DLP Front Projector
$2,000, May 2006
Its low price and great performance make the Optoma HD72 one of the great bargains in HDTV front projectors.
www.optomausa.com
Panasonic AE900U LCD Front Projector
$1,800, May 2006
The ability to deliver deep blacks and great shadow detail make this high-def LCD projector a tremendous value.
panasonic.com
Sony Bravia VPL-AW15 720p LCD Front Projector
$1,300, July 2007
If you're ready for an excellent big-screen picture at an affordable price, this projector — the latest in a long line of high-value Sony LCD models and one of three we checked out simultaneously — should be on your short list.
sonystyle.com
Panasonic AE900U LCD Front Projector
$1,300, July 2007 2006
If you’re ready for an excellent big-screen picture at an affordable price, this projector — the latest in a long line of high-value Sony LCD models and one of three we checked out simultaneously — should be on your short list.
sonystyle.com
Based on Sound & Vision's experience with the following brands and model lines, also consider these untested models:
Sim2 D80 1080p DLP front projector, $9,995, sim2usa.com.
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DVD Players/Recorders
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player
$800, May 2006
Toshiba's second-generation top-of-the-line HD DVD player offers glitch-free operation, stellar image and sound quality, and a more-or-less future-proof feature package.
tacp.toshiba.com/hddvd
Sony PlayStation 3 Game Console/Blu-ray Disc Player
$599, January 2007
In separate reports (the original three-player comparison review is here), we declared the PS3 among the best and most advanced Blu-ray movie players as well as an exciting game console.
sony.com
Oppo DV-981HD Upconverting DVD Player
$229, May 2007
Though not a true high-def disc player, superb 1080p upconversion of regular DVDs and the ability to play many disc types (including DVD-Audio and SACD) make this a great bargain.
oppodigital.com
RCA DRC8060 Upconverting DVD Player/Recorder
$220, February/March 2006
Though the DRC8060 is still available for the moment at retail, RCA recently replaced this highly capable upscaling DVD player/recorder with a model that lacks the Commercial Skip feature we loved.
www.rca.com
Based on Sound & Vision's experience with the following brands and model lines, also consider these untested models:
Denon upconverting DVD players, all models, www.usa.denon.com.
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Network A/V
Kaleidescape Movie & Music Server
$16,720 as tested, October 2006
Kaleidescape invented the video jukebox and set the bar high with its intuitive graphic interface, which now adds music storage and playback in this latest iteration.
kaleidescape.com
Crestron Adagio Entertainment System
$13,600 as tested, October 2006
Crestron, best known for its touchpanel home control systems, future-proofed its first multiroom entertainment system by building in a powerful processor that enables the addition of many Crestron options for home automation.
crestron.com
Niles Intellicontrol ICS Multiroom Audio System
$6,800 as tested, October 2006
This 6-zone/6-source system offers flexible modular construction and the incredible iRemote, a two-way wireless remote control that lets you browse all your music and control the system from the palm of your hand, from anywhere in the house.
www.intellicontrol.com
Qsonix Q100 Digital Music System
$5,495, April 2006
Quite expensive for a two-zone music server, but this system's giant touchscreen interface is so cool and engaging we can't help ourselves.
qsonix.com
Speakercraft MODE Distributed Audio System
$2,614 as tested, February/March 2007
The MZC-66 at the heart of this system represents excellent value in a 6-zone/6-source multiroom controller/amplifier. But it's the easy-to-use MODE keypad, with its knob-and-scrollwheel interface, that really sets it apart.
speakercraft.com
Russound ComPoint Intercom System
$2,056 as tested, May 2007
Not your grandpa's squawk box, this cleverly crafted and well-executed lifestyle system ties into any whole-house audio system to provide high-quality communication around the home.
russound.com
Yamaha MusicCAST
$2,000 and up, July/August 2006
A sophisticated, expandable wired or wireless multiroom audio system with Yamaha's full-featured MCX-2000 server at its core.
yamaha.com/yec
Colorado vNet Vibe Audio Distribution System
$1,690 base system, $8,790 as tested, April 2007
This cutting-edge IP-based music system boasts a beautiful and easy-to-use touchscreen interface, along with plug-and-play installation.
coloradiovnet.com
HP z556 Digital Entertainment Center
$1,500, February/March 2006
A slim profile and the ability to record three TV shows simultaneously (including one in high-def) make this Media Center PC a winner.
hp.com
Sonos Digital Music System
$1,199 (two-room system), February/March 2005
Second review: July/August 2006
Elegant, expandable system to spread music from your PC or audio gear around the house.
sonos.com
Philips WAC700/WAS700 Music Center
$999, July/August 2006
Simplicity of setup, ease of use, and slick industrial design are the hallmarks of this wireless streaming music system.
philips.com
Escient Fireball SE-80 music server
$999, October 2005
A new low price for Escient's friendly Music Manager user interface, along with wireless PDA control and other features.
www.escient.com
Olive Symphony Digital Music Server
$899, December 2005
Its lack of an onscreen TV user interface is notable, but the otherwise sophisticated Symphony excels on sound quality and features like built-in wireless streaming.
www.olive.us
Based on Sound & Vision's experience with the following brands and model lines, also consider these untested models:
HP z560/z565 Digital Entertainment Centers, $1,800/$3,000 (see related review of HP z556), hp.com
Olive Musica wireless digital music server, $899 and up; Olive Opus digital music server, $2,999 and up, www.olive.us.
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A/V Receivers & Separates
Cambridge Audio Azur 640R A/V Receiver
$1,400, May 2007 Though short on the latest video and audio processing features, for straight-up high-end sound and sheer power you can't beat this audiophile-pedigree receiver.
audioplusservices.com
Sony STR-DA5200ES 1080p A/V Receiver
$1,500, December 2006
For not much coin, Daniel Kumin reported, Sony's new flagship delivers "class-leading video processing" that upscales all video sources to 1080p, and a sophisticated graphic user interface that's "by a wide margin, the most elegant and detailed I've seen."
sonystyle.com
Anthem AVM 50 Preamp/Processor
$4,699, October 2006
A built-in high-end Gennum video processor for upscaling signals to 1080p combines with Anthem's award-winning audio quality for two state-of-the-art products in one.
anthemav.com
Anthem MCA 50 5-Channel Amplifier
$2,299, October 2006
A massively overbuilt amp that delivers five channels of clean 180-watt power, even with all channels driven simultaneously.
anthemav.com
Based on Sound & Vision's experience with the following brands and model lines, also consider these untested models:
Denon AVR-5805ci multiroom A/V receiver, $7,200 (see related review of AVR-5805), www.denon.usa.com
Yamaha RX-V2700, $1,600 (see related review of RX-V2600), yamaha.com/yec.
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Speakers & Subwoofers
Paradigm Millenia Speaker System$5,796 as tested, May 2006
Beautiful design meets high performance sound in this super slim style-statement of a speaker.
paradigm.com
Thiel PowerPoint 1.2 Ceiling Speaker
$10,750 as tested, December 2006
This astonishing system delivers true high-end sound from ceiling-mounted speakers for demanding listeners with some serious budget to work with.
thiel.com
B&W XT Series
$5,800, May 2006
Striking high-end looks combined with that classic B&W sound: exceptionally clean midrange, refined highs, and precise imaging.
bwspeakers.com
Infinity Cascade Home Theater Speaker System
$5,194 as reviewed, September 2006
Infinity designed a new flat-panel driver for these flagship audiophile speakers, but it's the stunning design and excellent sound quality that you’ll notice most.
www.infinitysystems.com
B&W CM Series Home Theater Speaker System
$4,900 as tested, June 2007
It's all about exceptional midrange transparency in this beautifully dressed music-oriented speaker system that doubles up quite nicely for home theater duty.
www.bwspeakers.com
PSB G-Design Home Theater Speaker System
$4,696 as tested, April 2007
PSB's latest redesign of its highly regarded Stratus series offers nicely finished piano-black cosmetics and natural, unfatiguing sound.
Jamo Concert C 80 Speaker System
$3,894 as tested, May 2006
Refined and balanced sound, a hefty subwoofer, and Danish good looks define this mid-priced system.
jamo.com
Revel Concerta System
$3,794, December 2005
These big, boring, rectangular boxes, which won our Editors' Choice Award in 2005, are so well built and sound so accurate and unstrained that you might not care that they're a throwback to the 1970s audiophile aesthetic.
www.revel.com
Definitive Technology Mythos and Mythos Gem
Mythos, $3,694, January 2004; Mythos Gem, $2,048, June 2005
DefTech invented the high-performance “plasma speaker” with the slim, aluminum-enclosure Mythos system, then followed up with the more affordable Mythos Gem.
definitivetech.com
KEF Q Series
$3,500 as tested, November 2006
Beautiful cabinetry and classically refined British sonics in an affordable system that should, frankly, cost more.
kef.com
Aperion Intimus 6 Series Home Theater Speakers
$2,582, July/August 2007
This system, built around Aperion's top-of-the-line towers, features all the qualities this Web-based company is known for: superb construction, conventional but well-executed design, and laid-back, unfatiguing sound. A risk-free 30-day in-home trial helps take the sting out of buying sound-unheard.
aperionaudio.com
Infinity TSS-4000/1100
$2,394, October 2005
An all-around great-sounding and good-looking on-wall/freestanding system.
infinitysystems.com
Magnepan Magneplanar MC-1
$2,250, April 2005
Thin dipole-panel speakers that deliver remarkably three-dimensional and accurate sound.
magnepan.com
Energy Take Series
$2,225, July/August 2005
Extends the high-value tradition set by the original Take 5 series in a stylish new design.
energy-speakers.com
JL Audio Fathom f112
$2,200, November 2006
Simply put, a 115-pound beast of a subwoofer that goes way low and loud but still fits in a relatively compact box.
home.jlaudio.com
Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer
$1,999, November 2006
Monstrous performance and slick design characterize this subwoofer, which we honored with one of our 2006 Editors’ Choice Awards.
www.klipsch.com
NHT Verve Home Theater Speaker System
$1,999 as tested, June 2007
NHT's take on the small, wall-mountable, flat-panel-ready packaged speaker system produces an exceptionally big sonic image for its type and offers an unusually shaped, easy-to-place subwoofer.
www.nhthifi.com
Crystal Acoustics THX-3D12
$1,999, June 2006
Unless you spring for the high-end piano black finish ($2,800), you'll sacrifice a bit of cosmetic polish. But the $2,000 budget version, with its balanced and powerful British sound, THX-certification, and hefty 12-inch subwoofer, constitute a great value.
crystalaudiovideo.com
Definitive Technology Mythos ST Loudspeakers
$1,799 each, $3,598 as tested, July/August 2007
With its powered woofer section, this audiophile-quality tower delivers highly detailed, dynamic sound in an attractively slim and tall package.
definitivetech.com
Mirage UNI-Theater
$1,700 as tested, January 2007
We got remarkable 6.1-channel sound from two of Mirage's left-center-right UNI-Theater combos (now attractively repriced at $599 each) and an Omni-S10 subwoofer.
miragespeakers.com
Aperion Intimus 532 System
$1,339, November 2005
Excellent stereo imaging, a vertical-array center speaker, a strong compact sub, and good build quality make for great value.
aperionaudio.com
Atlantic Technology System 1200
$1,280 to $1,410, November 2005
A good all-around system for movies and music that delivers AT's classic neutral sound at an affordable price.
atlantictechnology.com
Definitive Technology ProCinema 800
$1,099 as tested, November 2006
Top-mounted passive radiators in the tiny satellites extract surprising bass from this value-priced system that earned one of our 2006 Editors' Choice Awards.
definitivetech.com
Velodyne SC-10 Subwoofers and SC-1250 Amplifier
$599 / $999 / $2,197 as tested, April 2007
We mated a pair of SC-10 passive 10-inch subs with Velodyne’s 1,250-watt amp for this compact, installable, butt-kicking system.
www.velodyne.com
Yamaha YSP-800 Digital Sound Projector
$900, February/March 2006
Both smaller and cheaper than the original YSP-1 or its successor the YSP-1000, the YSP-800 delivers exceptional one-speaker surround sound for flat-panel TVs.
yamaha.com/yec
Paradigm Cinema 110C
$800, April 2005
Reviewed originally as the Cinema 110, this compact system sounds great, looks stylish, and comes with dipole surrounds — a real rarity at this price.
paradigm.com
Hsu Research VTF-3 MK 3 Turbo 12-in Powered Subwoofer
$799; without Turbocharger, $699; Turbocharger purchased separately, $199; May 2007
It's a big boy, but this monster subwoofer with attached optional port extensions was the clear winner for musicality and low-end output in a face-off of five mid-priced subs.
hsuresearch.com
Velodyne DLS-5000R 15-in Powered Subwoofer
$799, May 2007
Nice features (including an IR remote for adjusting level) combine with high output and musical bass in this surprisingly small (for its driver size) subwoofer.
velodyne.com
SVS SB12-Plus 12-in Powered Subwoofer
$699 to $799 (depending on finish), May 2007
This compact 12-incher stood out for delivering surprising performance for its size, and the on-board parametric EQ will be welcome for addressing problem rooms.
svsound.com
Outlaw Audio LFM-1EX 12-in Powered Subwoofer
$649, May 2007
Sweetly musical in the upper bass, this solid performer was a solid value as well, earning the lowest dollars-per-dB rating in a face-off of five mid-priced subs.
outlawaudio.com
HSU Research Ventriloquist V-12/STF-1
$500, October 2004
This 6.1-channel system, with its tiny satellites, patent-pending Ventriloquist center speaker, and dynamic subwoofer, plays astonshingly loud and with a musicality that represents the pinnacle of value.
hsuresearch.com
Zvox 325 Music System
$350, March 2006
It's a bit pricey, and its "pseudo surround" can't replace a true 5.1-channel system, but the 325's balanced, musical sound and low-end heft make this a highly recommendable all-in-one alternative to TV speakers.
zvoxaudio.com
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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