http://www.audioholics.comWhere audio and video equipment undergoes rigorous objective and subjective tests by our staff, ensuring that marketing slogans aren't the only guidelines for your home theater choices.Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:05:00 -0000http://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2012-product-of-year2012 was yet a second strong year of economic recovery in the A/V industry. Many of the major A/V manufacturers built upon successes of past generation products with a model line refresh with either minimal or no cost increase to the consumer. Getting more performance without a cost increase is always a win in our book. This year we've also seen an array of incredibly high performance budget gear hit the mainstream from the likes of Emotiva and Pioneer. A newcomer subwoofer brand named Power Sound Audio headed up by former SVS founder Tom Vodhanel launched an incredibly high value performance line of subs. After a 10 year sabbatical, Status Acoustics, the high end division of RBH Sound, decided it was time to unleash a reference level, cost no object speaker system into the high end realm. Classé, a brand of solid reputation, warmed our hearts with their cool running, rugged line of amplifiers and Oppo once again reigned king of the hill with their new line of Universal Blu-ray players.Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:05:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2012-product-of-yearProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2012-christmas-gifts-guideI think Christmas is coming sooner and sooner each year. At least it sure feels that way. We've geared up our annual Electronics Christmas Gift Buying Guide in an effort to let you know about what we think is great and enticing in the market. It may not be largely home theater-based, but that's because this is the time of year when we branch out into other areas and just include what we think is compelling, innovative, or well... just plain bizarre. In either case we hope this electronics buying guide serves you well as you prepare for the Christmas buying frenzy.Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:30:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2012-christmas-gifts-guideProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/fathers-day-electronics-gift-guide-2012Dad doesn't need more gadgets this Father's Day, but you know he wants them. Here is our annual gift guide where we go beyond home theater to bring you the latest and greatest gadgety gizmos gifts and great products that your Dad will be sure to love... or at least like better than a tie.Interspersed you'll find some more traditional home theater recommendations as well. This year one of my friends' wives bought him a flat panel TV. Now THAT is a Father's Day gift! What are you planning to do? Look at the list below and let us know if any of it appeals to you - and tell us what you ended up buying for Dad this year.Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:40:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/fathers-day-electronics-gift-guide-2012Product Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/mothers-day-gift-guide-2012Every year I take it upon myself to educate you in the art of bringing our collective mothers into the 21st century properly. And lest you think that's going to be accomplished by brainwashing her into listening to uncompressed music on a separates system while waxing eloquent on the merits of 10 gauge lamp cord speaker cables... well, let's start a bit smaller. The larger items on our list will be there simply because they represent a way to deliver "audio-creep" into your living space in a way that is attractive to a mom, thus enabling you to get a foothold and encourage her to enjoy a little bit more of the hobby. Other items are just cool gadgets that we think she'll really enjoy. Still others are items designated for moms already well-integrated into the digital age. If you've got that kind of mom, or wife, then consider yourself fortunate!Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/mothers-day-gift-guide-2012Product Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/valentines-day-electronics-gift-guide-2012This Valentine's Day why not dazzle your loved one with a gift that will make her life easier? Or perhaps just give her a new convenience he or she never had before? or beautify the home theater room with a new accessory or connectivity device? There are numerous ways to send an electronics gift that will say "I love you" - and most of them cost far less than a diamond tennis bracelet or anniversary ring! (though we doubt this will have exactly the same level of impact on the female of the species...) Following are a few of our favorite recommendations that will impress, update, or even (heaven forbid) help your loved one feel the love - audioholics-style...Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/valentines-day-electronics-gift-guide-2012Product Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/5-media-christmas-gift-ideas-2011Media makes a casual and affordable Christmas gift. Sure, everyone wants brand new hi-fi gear, there’s nothing like receiving a new subwoofer or receiver as a Christmas gift. But those elite-level gifts are given and received among few on your list. But everyone loves receiving new disc-based or downloadable media. It’s the media we play-back on the audio/video system we’ve worked so hard to perfect that gives it its value. An unexpected sleeper-pick on Blu-ray can breathe new life into your surrounds and re-introduce the pop into your display that you may have been missing watching Netflix and over-compressed on-demand Cable TV. While we won’t claim this is a definitive list but it does contain, in no particular order, some sure winners for nearly anyone on your Christmas-list this Holiday Season. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/5-media-christmas-gift-ideas-2011Product Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2011-audioholics-poy2011 proved to be a year of economic recovery in the A/V industry. It seemed apparent to us that many of the major manufacturers came out of hiding with a slew of new and improved products to entice fellow Audioholics to upgrade their A/V systems. Velodyne, for example, saw the high-end subwoofer market passing them by and decided to revamp their entire Digital Drive line to put everyone in checkmate. Yamaha took a good thing and made it better. Sherbourn got a much-needed restructuring in management and subsequently a new series of high performance products at competitive prices were born. RBH Sound took their highly successful Signature Reference line and updated their aesthetics - birthing the SX/R series. Oppo kept doing what they do best and made it even better by producing incredibly high value, high performance Blu-ray players that do everything right. If you are contemplating an upgrade to your home theater, the following products should help you accomplish that goal of achieving sonic and visual nirvana.Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:30:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2011-audioholics-poyProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2011-christmas-gifts-guideWe love this time of year - when we bring out some of the most unusual, compelling, cute, different, or just plain interesting products across a wide swath of the consumer electronics industry. To help us sort them out, we took each product and assigned it as a thoughtful gift for him, her, "that person who has everything" - you get the idea. Many of the products here are different from that which we'd typically review, but this is the time of year we get to play and expand our horizons. The result is this Christmas Electronics Gift Guide which we hope you find enjoyable, entertaining, helpful... shop well!Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2011-christmas-gifts-guideProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2011-back-to-school-gift-guideIt's that time again. Kids are going back to school and parents are looking for the perfect items to stick in their bags to equip them for the many tasks and experiences they will face in the big beyond. While not all of the electronics we'll suggest here will be task-oriented, they will all guarantee to at least put a smile on your favorite student's face. From headphones to iPhones, we cover all of the goodies that are sure to be huge hits this back-to-school season. Without further ado, hold on to your hall passes and be sure not to miss the bus as we take you on a tour of some of the greatest gizmos hitting the shelves this year. Expect some new, and some not-so-new, but in all cases, we'll cover the best things you can purchase for little Suzie or Johnny as they head off to school or college.Tue, 26 Jul 2011 07:06:02 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2011-back-to-school-gift-guideProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/fathers-day-electronics-gift-guide-2011Every Father's Day we attempt to structure an electronics gift guide with items that will bring him into the 21st century. I mean, that's our job, right? So here it is... 2011, and this year we've got a whole host of products, ranging from the small to the large. We've attempted to hit all price points and, to keep things fair, we didn't sort this list in any particular order. If your Dad is lost in the 80s or, worse, thinks high tech is perfectly represented by that new Dell you bought him last year, well... these products should help to broaden his horizons. So without any further ado, here are our electronics picks for 2011. Here's to hoping that your Dad encounters some upgraded products that will make his life easier, bring him happiness, and tickle his fancy this Father's Day.Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:40:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/fathers-day-electronics-gift-guide-2011Product Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/mothers-day-electronics-gift-guideOK, it's Mom. We get it... she may not be all that technical - at least I know that MY Mom certainly isn't. But isn't that the point? I mean, isn't that why YOU'RE around? If you're going to lift you Mom about of the retro state she's in, then you have to know what's out there and what are the key products for this year's Mothers day. Well we're here to help bring your Mom into 2011 with style. I mean, seriously, we can help. Whether it's a new TV, or a stereo system she can actually use, Audioholics has - for years - prided itself on keeping an eye to what's hot, and what's relevant in the entire realm of consumer electronics. Hey, we may be all cables, speakers, receivers and TVs by day - but we can also tell what the good cameras, mp3 players, headphones and gadgets are as well. And while my favorite fruit may be the Apple, I can hold myself over with a Blackberry from time to time. Read on and enjoy.Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:05:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/mothers-day-electronics-gift-guideProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/valentines-day-electronics-gift-guideThis Valentine's Day why not dazzle your loved one with a gift that will make her life easier? Or perhaps just give her a new convenience he or she never had before? or beautify the home theater room with a new accessory or connectivity device? There are numerous ways to send an electronics gift that will say "I love you" - and most of them cost far less than a diamond tennis bracelet or anniversary ring! (though we doubt this will have exactly the same level of impact on the female of the species...) Following are a few of our favorite recommendations that will impress, update, or even (heaven forbid) help your loved one feel the love - audioholics-style...Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:28:20 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/valentines-day-electronics-gift-guideProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2010-audioholics-poyAlthough 2010 was kind of a grim year economically for most of us, the A/V world belted out high value products improving on last year predecessors at little to no cost added. Instead, we saw some companies refocus their entire line of product with a more audio centric emphasis rather than cramming more zones or useless DSP enhancement features that most users won't care to use. Yamaha really paved the way as a shining example of this with their Aventage line of A/V receivers. Loudspeaker companies have also raised the bar by creating a more audiophile focus on their products. Aperion Audio's new Verus line is a shining example of this. The display world was not exempt from the better successor models being released from various manufacturers such as Vizio, Toshiba, Samsung and LG.Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:25:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2010-audioholics-poyProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2010-consumer-electronics-christmas-gifts-guideEach year we put out a consumer electronics Christmas Gift Guide for our readers. This is simply a guide that takes a wide swath of products from all over the industry and compiles them here to let you know what we think is cool and new. You may see products here that we'll likely never review - that;'s because we're not just limiting the guide to home theater products. Since little Suzie may not need a new Blu-ray player (or you may not be able to afford it) we like to throw in a mix of gadgets, products and equipment that's simply interesting to us. Read on, and let us know what you think of our picks and be sure to add your own suggestions in the forum thread.Tue, 02 Nov 2010 06:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2010-consumer-electronics-christmas-gifts-guideProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2010-a-v-receiver-hot-picks2010 is proving to be a hot year for A/V receivers. We are seeing virtually all the new models armed with full HDMI 1.4a support (including 3D and audio return channel) all sprinkled with plenty of HDMI I/O's and legacy connections. Gone are some of yesterdays wimpy models to be replaced with beefed up successors offering more features and better performance without an increase in price. The higher end models are now incorporating networking features for audio streaming, top of the line video processing and 9.2 channel support to expand your surround field. The sky is the limit, or more importantly, your wallet in determining just how far you want to go. So explore our picks from the likes of Marantz, Yamaha and Denon while we get ready to conduct formal reviews of these superstars.Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:10:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2010-a-v-receiver-hot-picksProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/fathers-day-2010-gift-guideThis Father's Day it's time to tech your Dad. That's right, you know your dad is still living in the dark ages. He probably asked you within the last year how to transfer his VHS tapes to DVD, or maybe this is the first year he discovered Facebook or how to text on his cell phone. In either case you owe it to your father to give him a gadget that will stretch his horizons and bring him just a little bit closer to 2010. It doesn't have to be a robot with laser beams or a voice activated 3-D holographic digital video recorder, but at least put something into his life that will keep him from embarrassing himself (or you!) at the next family picnic. Better yet, use him as a catalyst to upgrade your whole family!Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:20:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/fathers-day-2010-gift-guideProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/mothers-day-2010-gift-guideThis Mother's Day, why not bring your beloved parent up to speed through the carefully-planned insertion of choice tech gear into their daily arsenal? We're not talking James Bond tech here, just your standard circa-2010 fare that will make your Mom the coolest one on the block and give her the ability to dazzle her friends with the brilliance of her son or daughter's choice in gifts... But now Mother's Day is coming. And this is your chance to plant a gadget into your mother's hand that is sure to level the playing field and restore dignity to the family name.Wed, 05 May 2010 18:23:52 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/mothers-day-2010-gift-guideProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2009-consumer-excellenceDespite the sluggish economy of 2009, manufacturers still managed to innovate and release new and improved products. The prestigious Audioholics Consumer Excellence (CE) Awards program recognizes the most advanced and forward-thinking products in crucial CE categories submitted for consideration by the industry's leading manufacturers. Awards are given to products which serve consumers directly and also those products which serve to improve the business and success of the custom installer. Check out this years winners here.Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2009-consumer-excellenceProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2009-product-of-year2009 was much like 2008 for consumer A/V in regards to the lack of advancement in technology as much as bringing existing technologies into more affordable platforms for greater mass appeal. It seems like every week flat panel display prices are dropping and the latest technologies of these displays trickle down to the more affordable models. LED backlit technology is finally starting to creep its way into the mainstream and traditional front projector bulbs are lasting longer and longer. A/V receivers are getting more packed with critical features such as the latest in HD Audio decoding (Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD, etc) as well as network streaming and more HDMI inputs.Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:35:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2009-product-of-yearProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/best-electronics-gifts-christmas-2009It's time again for Christmas shopping and finding that perfect gift for the special someone in your life who has everything... Well, our list this year includes many items that they are likely to not have... at least not yet. This year we invite you to peruse our list of the top 10 "Best-of" Christmas gift items that will satisfy even the most well-researched A/V enthusiast. Without further ado, here are the top 10 exciting and original Christmas gifts you can give this holiday season.Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:15:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/best-electronics-gifts-christmas-2009Product Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2008-consumer-excellence-awardsThe consumer electronics industry is awash with an influx of new products. Each year it seems that every manufacturer is on a quest to outdo all others in a race to integrate more features and advanced technologies into their products. The prestigious Consumer Excellence (CE) Awards program recognizes the most advanced and forward-thinking products in crucial CE categories. Awards are given to products which serve consumers directly and also those products which serve to improve the business and success of the custom installer. The CE Awards is a clear benchmark award for the products which will make an impact in the coming year.Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:45:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2008-consumer-excellence-awardsProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/audioholics-2008-product-awards2008 proved to be a nice incremental year for electronics, with some products managing to carve out distinction among their peers. HDMI continued to advance and televisions began to introduce 120Hz technology en masse, though we think that particular area still needs some work. Overall it was a good year for price drops and added value features. With that in mind, we selected gear in each category that really stood out via our personal experiences, reviews or demo's as well as the market trends set based on performance, features, and value.Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/audioholics-2008-product-awardsProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/best-electronics-gifts-christmas-2008What do you buy for that loved one who has everything? If your spouse or significant other is a consumer electronics, gadget, or home theater buff then hunker down and check out our list of the top 10 items that will satisfy any enthusiast at any price range. This list spans the entire price range from pauper to golden-pockets, so everyone is bound to find something that is the absolute best item of the season. Now, you may think that this is a subjective list (and you'd be right.) In our minds, however, you simply can't go wrong and you can trust us to know what's best for your loved one this Christmas season (yeah, that won't come back to haunt us later!) Without further ado, here are the top 10 Christmas gifts you can give this holiday season.Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:10:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/best-electronics-gifts-christmas-2008Product Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/audioholics-2007-product-of-the-year-awards2007 proved to be another great year of product advancements in the A/V world. With such a constant and steady fast evolution, it’s challenging to know who offers class-leading products. With that in mind, we selected gear in each category that really stood out via our personal experiences, reviews or demo's as well as the market trends set based on performance, features, and value.Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/audioholics-2007-product-of-the-year-awardsProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/best-electronics-gifts-christmas-2007What do you buy for that loved one who has everything? If your spouse or significant other is a consumer electronics, gadget, or home theater buff then hunker down and check out our list of the top 10 items that will satisfy any enthusiast at any price range. This list spans the entire price range from pauper to golden-pockets, so everyone is bound to find something that is the absolute best item of the season. Now, you may think that this is a subjective list (and you'd be right.) In our minds, however, you simply can't go wrong and you can trust us to know what's best for your loved one this Christmas season (yeah, that won't come back to haunt us later!) Without further ado, here are the top 10 Christmas gifts you can give this holiday season.Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:39:53 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/best-electronics-gifts-christmas-2007Product Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2007-consumer-excellence-awardsThe consumer electronics industry is awash with an influx of new products. Each year it seems that every manufacturer is on a quest to outdo all others in a race to integrate more features and advanced technologies into their products. The prestigious Consumer Excellence (CE) Awards program recognizes the most advanced and forward-thinking products in crucial CE categories. Awards are given to products which serve consumers directly and also those products which serve to improve the business and success of the custom installer. The CE Awards is a clear benchmark award for the products which will make an impact in the coming year.Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:45:33 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2007-consumer-excellence-awardsProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2006-audioholics-product-of-the-year-awards2006 pushed the envelope of technology on the world of home theater. 1080p became a reality, and Blu-ray and HD DVD made a soft thump on the marketplace.Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2006-audioholics-product-of-the-year-awardsProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2006-electronics-holiday-gift-guideThis has been an exciting year for electronics. For those looking to find a "techy" gift for that special someone this should be an easy buying season. With a host of new products in both the entry-level and groundbreaking high-end markets there is bound to be a little something for everyone. We filter this recommended list by price to make it easy for you to get the best recommendations for your loved ones... and even your cousin Earl - yeah the one with the comb-over.Wed, 01 Nov 2006 01:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2006-electronics-holiday-gift-guideProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2005-audioholics-product-of-the-year-awards2005 proved to be another invigorating year for the world of home theater as evident by the bleeding edge and innovative technological masterpieces put forth by many of the industry leaders. With home theater electronics progressing as rapidly as the computer industry (if not more so), it's hard to keep track and stay ahead of the game.Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2005-audioholics-product-of-the-year-awardsProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2005-electronics-holiday-gift-guideWant to buy something special for that audio or video nut in your family? The 2005 Audioholics Holiday Gift Guide will send you some excellent ideas for landing that special Christmas gift that will be enjoyed for years to come. We try to address various budgets so that no one is left out, and there is plenty of great stuff to choose from that we've seen throughout the year.Tue, 01 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2005-electronics-holiday-gift-guideProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buyhttp://www.audioholics.com/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2004-audioholics-product-of-the-year-awardsWe wanted to lead off 2005 with a nod to the products we felt deserved mention in the world of consumer electronics. Having performed numerous reviews and attended bith CEDIA and CES - the two largest trade shows for this assortment of products, we felt it necessary to promote the manufacturers whose products really excelled.Sat, 01 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0000/buying-guides/product-awards-and-gift-guides/2004-audioholics-product-of-the-year-awardsProduct Awards and Gift GuidesWhat to Buy