Home Theater - Favorite Products Of The Year - 2007

Trying to decide which product I reviewed in 2007 deserved the top spot on this list wasn't easy. However, based on my experience with the Onkyo TX-SR875, it deserves the top spot for its excellent audio/video performance, and flexibility to function as true home theater centerpiece. This high-end receiver is THX Ultra2 Certified and offers 7.1 channel processing, HD-capable HDMI audio and video switching and video upscaling using Silicon Optix REON VX Video Processing, is XM and Sirius Radio ready, Multi-Zone capable, and iPod Dock compatible. The only thing missing may be the popcorn popper! For additional details, check out both my SHORT and FULL Reviews. Also, for a further close-up of the TX-SR875, check out my Photo Gallery.

As reported earlier this year, Pioneer announced a new breed of Plasma TV that offers a significantly increased level of performance with regards to picture quality. The new KURO sets can display true black levels, a much wider color bandwith, as well as the ability to eliminate motion blur and pixelization on fast moving objects better than any previous Plasma or LCD television. Having seen prototypes at this past CES (Consumer Electronics Show) and production models at the recent CEDIA EXPO, I was very impressed with the advancements that Pioneer has made with regards to Plasma TV technology. If you are considering a Plasma TV purchase, definitely check out the Pioneer KUROs. For more details, check out the KURO Plasma Product Page.

Introduced at the beginning of the year, the BH100, was a good first step towards solving the differences between Blu-ray and HD-DVD. However, the BH100 was not the total pancea that many consumers hoped for. The BH-100 is essentially a Blu-ray Disc Player that can also play HD-DVDs. In other words, while the BH100 provides access to all Blu-ray Disc functions, it cannot access many of the interactive menu functions on HD-DVDs (referred to as iHD). However, despite this shortcoming, the BH100 marked a landmark in the Blu-ray and HD-DVD landscape and will be followed by new new units from LG and Samsung that are sure to make an impact in 2008. For more info, check out my Short and Full Product Reviews, as well as my LG BH100 Product Profile.

The OPPO DV-980H is a feature-packed DVD player that delivers what it promises. HDMI connectivity and upscaling enables the DV980H to deliver an excellent picture on an HDTV. In addition, other features, such as SACD, DVD-Audio, and Divx playback, as well as a front mounted USB port for importing images and sound from flash drives, add great audio and video flexibility. If you are looking for a new DVD player to use with an HDTV or Video Projector, and surround sound system, make sure you check this one out. The OPPO DV-980H is an excellent DVD player, and is priced less than $170. For a more detailed look at the DV-980H, check out my Short and Full Reviews.

Although subwoofers bring realistic bass sound to the home theater environment, there is still something missing - tactile motion sensation. In the real world, when something explodes, you feel it, not just hear it; when you drive a car over a bumpy road, you feel the bumps, not just hear the result. Now you can add tactile low frequency motion experience to your own home theater with the TES100 Stereo Tactile Motion System and A300 Integrated Stereo Motion Amplifier from Crowson Technology. Affordable, easy to install and use, this product can be added to any home theater system with subwoofer or preamp outputs. For a closer look at this innovative product concept, check out my Short and Full Reviews.

Balancing style, price, and sound quality can be tough, when choosing loudspeakers. If you are looking for new set of loudspeakers for your home theater, check out the stylish, compact, and great sounding TSS Loudspeakers from Infinity. The system I reviewed consisted of a TSS 3-in-1 that housed all three front channels, two compact TSS-SAT750 satellite speakers for surrounds, and a compact TSS-SUB750 subwoofer. I really enjoyed using this system and found that it performed better that I expected, especially in a small to medium-size room. The TSS Home Theater Speaker system delivered clear sound across a wide range of frequencies and provided a well-balanced surround sound image. Find out more in my Short and Full product reviews.

The Axiom EP400 Epicenter Powered Subwoofer delivers power, clarity, tightness, and undistorted bass response despite its smaller size. I was very impressed with the extreme lower end frequencies that the EP400 was able to produce without significant drop off. Also, the controls that allow the user to tweak the EP400 performance parameters to specific room environments and listening tastes are easy to work with. The EP400 is also firmware upgradable via its built-in USB interface. The EP400 is a real compact powerhouse, which makes it a great subwoofer choice, especially for those looking for a high-performance subwoofer in a smaller room. For more details, check out my Short and Full Reviews, and an additional Close-Up Photo Gallery.

When I wrote the review on the PT-AX100U, earlier in the year, it had an MSRP of $2,999. However, now it is now priced much lower. This projector offers useful features and solid video performance that is normally reserved for projectors in higher price ranges. With a a native pixel resolution of 1280x720 (720p), the PT-AX100U is HD-compatible. In addition, the video quality is excellent for a projector in this class; flesh tones, overall color saturation, and contrast levels provide a very natural looking image that is hard to find in other similarly-price units currently on the market. This projector also has a high light output of 2,000 lumens. For a closer look, check out my Short and Full Reviews, and a Photo Closeup Profile/Review

The Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH is one of the new-generation receivers that is ready for the future by incorporating onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD surround decoding. In addition, this receiver has extensive connection capabilities, power to spare, and very flexible audio and video operation. If you are looking for a reciever that integrates flexible audio and video features, as well as delivering great audio performance that will not become "obsolete" in just a few years, then check out the VSX-91TXH. For additional details, check out both my SHORT and FULL Reviews. Also, for a further close-up look and explanation of the connections and functions of the 91TXH, check out my Photo Gallery.

Despite a modest 40WPC power output, the Harman Kardon AVR147 5.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver provides excellent sound performance in both stereo and surround sound modes. Also, with useful features, such as HDMI switching, iPod connectivity, XM Radio compatibility, and Automatic Speaker setup, the AVR-147 is a good fit for an entry-level home theater system. In addition, the AVR147 User Manual and Quick Setup Guide are one the best I have seen, with easy-to-view diagrams and easy-to-read text explanations. For more details, check out both my Full and Short Reviews and also my Harman Kardon AVR147 Photo Gallery.