Home Theater - 2008 Products of the Year

The OPPO DV-983H takes Upscaling DVD player performance to the highest level. HDMI connectivity and 720p/1080i/1080p upscaling using Anchor Bay VRS technology enables the DV983H to deliver a top-notch picture on an HDTV. In addition, other features, such as SACD and DVD-Audio playback, as well as a rear 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 that new flat panel HDTV and surround sound system, make sure you check this one out. Its $399 price tag may seem expensive, but it delivers both high-end video and audio performance. For a more details, check out my Short and Full Reviews, as well as my supplementary Photo Profile.

The Samsung BD-P1500 plays Blu-ray Discs at full 1080p/60 or 1080p/24 resolution, provides bitstream output for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD via its HDMI 1.3a output, and is fully playback compatible with standard DVDs, most recordable DVD formats, standard music CDs, and CD-Rs/RWs. Another bonus is that standard DVDs are upscaled up to 1080p via the HDMI output. The BD-P1500 adheres to Profile 1.1 (Bonus View) specifications, and is firmware upgradable (including a Profile 2.0 upgrade which is now available) via internet download. For more details, check out both my Short and Full Reviews, as well as my Photo Profile.

At an MSRP of $4,995.00, the Viewsonic Precision Pro8100 1080p LCD Video Projector bucks the trend towards sub-$3,000 1080p video projectors, but is worth the extra cash. Its 3LCD chips, native 1080p resolution, and acceptable light output provide excellent image quality, providing a very natural looking image, with none of the usual LCD artifacts, such as the screen door effect. Also, the Pro8100 comes equipped with two HDMI ver 1.3a inputs, and provides video upscaling for standard DVDs via its built-in Silicon Optix Reon-VX HQV video processor. However, the Precision Pro8100 could use a higher lumens output and easier onscreen menu navigation. For more details, check out both my Short and Full Reviews, as well as my Photo Gallery.

Home theater has certainly given us more and better options for enjoying home entertainment. However, it has also given us the clutter of remote controls. Many of us have a half-dozen, or more, remotes on the coffee table. The quest for a remote control that can do it all is the true "Holy Grail" of home theater. There are many "universal remotes" that can than replace some of the functions of your remote control collection, but the Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote Control can just about do it all and is not any larger than most single component remotes. For more details, check out my Product Review and supplementary Photo Profile.

The Paradigm DSP-3400 Powered Subwoofer delivers powerful, clear, tight, and undistorted deep bass response from the combination of its large front facing 14-inch driver, dual front ports, and 300 watts of continuous power supplied by its built-in amplifier. In addition, the DSP-3400 offers an array of controls that allow the user to tweak the performance parameters to specific room environments and listening tastes. For more details, check out my Short and Full Reviews, and also my Photo Gallery.

Honorable Subwoofer Mention: Axiom EP400 Epicenter 8-Inch Front Firing Powered Subwoofer - For more details, check out my Short and Full Reviews, and an additional Close-Up Photo Gallery.

At an MSRP of $5,999 (not including the lens), the NEC NP4001 DLP Video Projector is not for the bargain hunter, but is a great value for the home theater enthusiast. With a native pixel resolution of 1280x768 (720p), and dual lamp output of 3,600 to 4,500 lumens, this projector provides excellent image brightness and resolution, especially in large room settings. Also, features include powered focus and zoom, as well as powered horizontal and vertical lens shift. For more details, check out my my Short and Full Reviews. In addition, after reading my review, also check out even more details and close-up look at my NEC NP4001 Photo Gallery.

If you are looking for a new set of loudspeakers for your home theater, you might want to check out the stylish, and great sounding Atlantic Technology FS-4000 Front Stage Loudspeaker. This unique speaker combines all three front channel speakers (left, center, and right) into one 40-inch long housing that is attractive and can be either table or wall mounted. The design of FS4000 is intended to complement flat panel LCD and Plasma televisions and can be used alone, or combined with a subwoofer and/or a set of rear surround speakers. However, the most important thing about this loudspeaker design is that it sounds great. For more details, check out my Short and Full Reviews, and my FS-4000 Photo Gallery.

The Yamaha RX-V863 7.2 Channel Home Theater Receiver has power, up-to-date features, and an abundance of connectivity options. This receiver is rated to deliver 105 wpc, and features Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD processing. On the video side, the RX-V863 has three HDMI inputs with 1080p pass-through and analog to HDMI video conversion and upscaling. Extra bonuses include iPOD and Bluetooth connectivity, HD Radio access, as well as two subwoofer outputs (thus the .2 reference in the 7.2 channel description of the the RX-V863). To find out more on whether this receiver is worth your consideration, check out my Short and Full Reviews of the Yamaha RX-V863 7.2 Channel Home Theater Receiver, as well as a close-up physical look via my Photo Gallery.

The ZVOX Audio 425 surround sound system is one of the latest in a growing trend towards one-box surround sound solutions that are targeted to those consumers that want more than just listening to sound from cheap built-in Television speakers, but don't want the hassle, of setting up and using a multi-speaker home theater system. The ZVOX 425 is an easy-to-use system that delivers great sound, and its physical design is a great complement for use with a flat panel television. For look at the ZVOX Audio 425 Single Cabinet Surround Sound System, check out my Review and Photo Gallery.

Video projectors are making their mark in home theater as prices go down and quality goes up. The Epson MovieMate 72 is one of new class of video projectors that includes a built-in DVD player. This projector section utilizes 3LCD technology with 1280x720 (720p) native resolution. This means that all DVDs played in the projector's built-in DVD will be upscaled to 720p. In addition, this unit also has extra inputs that can accommodate a second DVD player, Blu-ray, or HD-DVD player and also has both built-in speakers and a digital audio output for connection to a home theater audio system. The MovieMate is also very easy to use, making it great for novice users. For more details, check out my Short and Full Reviews, and also my Photo Gallery.

The 42-inch Panasoic TH-42PZ85U plasma television delivers great image quality at a very reasonable price. This set features full 1920x1080 (1080p) native pixel resolution, which is rare for a 42-inch Plasma. Also, this set has an impressive 30,000:1 contrast ratio. Inputs are not a problem as there are plenty, including, HDMI, HD-Component, and VGA. Also, this set has both ATSC and QAM tuners for receiving HDTV broadcast and unscrambled HD cable, and an SD card slot for digital photo playback. One thing about the TH-42PZ85U's 42-inch screen size is that you don't need a large room to enjoy full 1080p high definition. The set is a great complement for Blu-ray Disc or Upscaling DVD players. For the price, this is a hard set to beat.

The Sony BDP-S350 offers true high-definition (720p, 1080i. 1080p) playback of Blu-ray discs, as well as up to 1080p upscaling via its HDMI outputs for standard DVD playback. In addition, the BDP-S350 can also be used to play back standard audio CDs, including CD-R/RWs. Another advanced feature of the BDP-S350 is that it complies with the Blu-ray Format Profile 1.1 (Bonus View) specifications, with built-in upgradability to Profile 2.0 (BD Live) via a firmware update. Also, for those that are Eco-conscious, the BDP-S350 offers several energy saving features, such as: 21% lower power use during playback and 43% less power use in standby mode. To find out more about the Sony BDP-S350, check out my Product Profile. and Photo Gallery.