When we poll our reviewers and begin compiling the list for our annual awards, it’s always fun to look back on the hundreds of products we’ve written about to see which ones stand out from the overcrowded field. For 2005, we isolated 16 that struck us as truly spectacular in some way, whether by virtue of their innovation, performance, or value — or in some cases, all three. This year’s honorees range in size from a wafer-thin music player to a gargantuan HDTV, and in price from $250 to $6,000. In a reflection of how our world has changed, you’ll find them in categories that include portable and networked entertainment along with traditional audio and video. And for the first time, we’ve selected a winner in each category as our best of the year.

But we didn’t just give awards for great gear. Also new this year is a Retail Innovation honor, awarded to Best Buy for its focus on customer service — something we can all get behind in an age of pushbutton shopping. And we’re proud to issue our first ever Visionary Award to Mark Cuban, the controversial and always colorful founder of HDNet, the original HDTV network.

Taken together, our award winners offer a snapshot of one of the most exciting years ever in home entertainment. Here’s hoping 2006 brings the same riches to our pages...and to your door.

Click on a link below to view an Editors' Choice Award Winner
Product of the Year and Best Video Product: Sony KDS-R50XBR1 50-inch SXRD HDTV
Best Portable: Apple iPod nano portable music player
Best Network Product: Sonos Digital Music System whole-house audio network
Best Audio Product: Denon AVR-5805 multiroom receiver
Retail Innovation Award: Best Buy
Visionary Award: Mark Cuban

Creative Zen Vision portable video player
Delphi MyFi XM2go satellite radio
HP Pavilion MD6580n 65-inch DLP HDTV
JVC Everio GZ-MG30 hard-drive camcorder
Klipsch iFi iPod speaker system
Pioneer PDP-4350HD 43-inch plasma HDTV
Pioneer VSX-815 surround receiver
Revel Concerta speaker system
Sling Media Slingbox TV extender
Sony Cineza VPL-HS51 LCD projector
Sony HDR-HC1 high-def camcorder
Yamaha YSP-1 digital sound projector

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