Klipsch Icon XF-48 active stereo speakers
$2,498 a pair, June 2008
The flagship of Klipsch's Icon line, the XF-48 boasts an all-new horn-tweeter design. It's an active full-range speaker, meaning all the necessary amplification, custom tailored to its woofers and tweeter, is contained within the speaker itself.
klipsch.com

HDTV

Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-110FD 50-inch plasma
$6,000, reviewed February/March 2008
Plasma lives! This truly Elite model reproduces blacks like no other HDTV out there.
pioneerelectronics.com

Samsung LN-T5281F 52-inch 1080p LCD
$4,500, February/March 2008
Delivers the deepest shadows of any LCD we've tested to date.
samsung.com

Mitsubishi HC6000 1080p LCD front projector
$3,995, June 2008
Ups the ante set by its HD1 predecessor with a crisp high-def picture and superb picture contrast.
mitsubishi-presentations.com

Sony XEL-1 11-inch OLED TV
$2,500, April 2008
The first OLED to hit the market defines the phrase “truly flat”: Its cabinet depth is a mere 3 millimeters.
sonystyle.com

A/V ELECTRONICS

Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-ray Disc player
$500, May 2008
Looking for a standalone Blu-ray Disc player? You'll be hard-pressed to find a $500 model that's as pretty to look at or as well equipped, or that works as smoothly, as this one. Noted reviewer Rob Sabin: “I was satisfied with the crisp, vivid look of the animation in Meet the Robinsons and the well-mixed surround effects from that disc's uncompressed PCM soundtrack.” Clean, dynamic, and sleek-looking to boot — bingo!
panasonic.com

Anthem Statement D2 A/V processor
$7,499, June 2008
Room correction makes the best A/V processor out there even better.
statement.anthemav.com

Bryston B100 SST integrated stereo amplifier
$3,895, May 2008
This amp is tonally neutral, dynamically superb, and functionally flawless.
bryston.ca

Pioneer Elite VSX-94TXH A/V receiver
$1,599, January 2008
Tons of useful features backed up by stellar A/V performance.
pioneerelectronics.com

SPEAKERS

Revel Ultima Salon2 stereo speakers
$22,000 a pair, May 2008
Yes, the cost is a budget-buster, but if you want to hear exactly what your favorite music and movies are supposed to sound like, few speakers can equal or exceed these.
revelspeakers.com

REL T1 subwoofer
$998, May 2008
With flexible input and setup options, this chameleon-like sub proves that, when it comes to bass, quality is more important than quantity.
sumikoaudio.net

Monitor Audio Platinum Series home theater speaker system
$19,600 as tested, June 2008
A high-end system built for demanding fare and capacious surroundings combines audiophile-pleasing delicacy with the dynamics necessary for large home theaters.
monitoraudiousa.com