The following is list of my favorite home theater-related product picks for 2006. This listing is kept for archival and continued reference purposes. Although some, or many, of these products may be discontinued, they are still in use by consumers.
There are literally thousands of loudspeakers on the market, and many times the choice, despite all the technical specs, is determined by how they sound to you. If you are looking for new set of loudspeakers for your home theater, check out the uniquely designed AV Reference, A'Diva T, TR2 Powered Subwoofer from Anthony Gallo Acoustics. Despite their modest size, the Gallos are constucted well and really deliver where it counts; sound quality. For more details, check out my review.
The OPPO DV970HD is a "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". This DVD player delivers great video and audio. HDMI connectivity and upscaling enables the DV970HD to deliver an excellent picture on an HDTV. Other features, such as DVD-Audio, SACD, and Divx playback add great audio and video flexibility. If you are looking for a new DVD player, to use with a flat panel HDTV and surround sound system, you should check out the 970. For less than $200 it performs as well as many more expensive units.
The Toshiba HD-XA1 introduces consumers to high definition viewing from a disc, via the HD-DVD format. HD-DVDs and DVDs (which are upscaled) look excellent via the HDMI connection. However, it does takes about a minute to boot up and load a disc. Also, the resolution and video output settings cannot be changed while a disc is in play. The HD-XA1 is well-constructed, but some operational features need improvement. Toshiba deserves credit for being the first out the gate with High Definition DVD.
With many LCD Televisions offering 720p (1280x720 or 1366x768) native pixel resolution, an LCD monitor with (1920x1080) 1080p capability is a significant advance, especially with street price of less than $2,000. In addition to 1080p processing and input capability, the LVM-37W3 features 6 HD inputs, including 1 HDMI, 2 DVI-HDCP, 2 HD Component, and a hi-res VGA input. Note: An external tuner is required to receive standard or HDTV signals. This unit works great with HD-DVD and Blu-ray.
The Pioneer Elite VSX-82TXS is an excellent home theater value. The VSX-82TXS has extensive connection options, including direct iPOD connection, HDMI, and second zone preamp and monitor output. The VSX-82TXS also has power to spare and both excellent audio and video processing features. Also, inclusion of XM Radio capability is another bonus. For those wishing for an AV receiver that integrates extensive audio and features, backed up with great performance, then check out the VSX-82TXS.
Onkyo HT-S990 7.1 channel Home Theater System with 110x7WPC and 230-watt powered subwoofer, has power to deliver. The Receiver/Amp section includes Dolby Digital EX/DTS-ES/Pro Logic IIx decoding. THX-Certified audio processing and loudspeakers is included to insure consistent, quality, peformance and that everything in the system is both electronically and acoustically matched. Also, the HT-S990 includes XM-Satellite radio compatibility. For additional details, check out my
Product Preview.
The Helios X5000 is more than a DVD player. Not only does it deliver great video and audio via DVD upscaling, HDMI connectivity, and Wolfson Digital-to-Analog audio conversion, but innovative features, such as complete recordable DVD compatibility, DivxHD, WMV9HD, and Wired/Wireless Networking add great flexibility. If you are looking for a device that is compatible with most disc-based formats (except Blu-ray/HD-DVD) and interfaces with your home theater and PC, check out the Helios X5000.
The Mitsubishi HC3000U offers lots of useful features and solid video performance that is normally reserved for projectors in higher price ranges. With a native pixel resolution of 1280x768 (720p), the HC3000u is HD-compatible. In addition, the video quality is excellent for a projector in this class; flesh tones, overall color staturation, and contrast levels provide a very natural looking image that is hard to find in other similarly-price units currently on the market.
The Klipsch Synergy Sub10 Powered Subwoofer is not just a powerful subwoofer. The Sub 10 also delivers a clarity, tightness, and undistorted deep bass response that you find on more expensive subs. My overall impression of the Klipsch Synergy Sub10 is extremely postive and is a real five star winner. However, I would caution those that live in a second floor apartment, the downstairs neighbors will definitely take notice!
The BD-P1000 was the first Blu-ray Disc Player to reach store shelves in 2006. Blu-ray Discs can be viewed at 720p, 1080i, or 1080p resolution via an HDMI or Component video output. Other bonuses: Compatibility with most recordable DVDs and CDs. Standard DVDs are upscaled to 720p, 1080i, and 1080p via the HDMI output, and the built-in digital camera card reader can scale and display still images at 1920x1080 pixel resolution. Although BD-P1000 falls short of promises made in advance regarding Blu-ray image quality, Samsung does deserve credit for getting its player to market months before Sony, Panasonic, and Pioneer.
