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CNET editors' top 100 tech products
Home entertainment
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Best HDTV plasma
Panasonic TH-50PHD8UK
We've been fans of Panasonic's "industrial" plasmas since they were first introduced, and we're not the only ones. These bare-bones, all-picture plasmas consistently top the most-popular lists of online plasma retailers because they don't make you pay for stuff you (as an enthusiast) won't use: speakers, a tuner, a gaggle of inputs, and a fancy remote. Excellent picture quality seals the deal: the TH-50PHD8UK is hands-down the best value in high-resolution 50-inch flat-panel TVs.
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Best rear-projection HDTV
Sony KDS-R60XBR1  with video
Although the Qualia 006 was the first TV sporting SXRD technology (Sony's version of LCoS), the Sony KDS-R60XBR1 is the first within the reach of consumers. It still has a relatively hefty price tag, but we were blown away by its picture quality and feature set. It earned an Editors' Choice award and is the highest-rated HDTV CNET has ever reviewed. No, it's not quite as thin as a flat panel, but with a picture this great looking, who cares if you can't mount it on the wall?
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Best budget projector
Panasonic PT-AE900U
Panasonic's relatively inexpensive PT-AE900U is a surprisingly strong performer. This three-panel LCD projector delivers true 720p HDTV resolution and can produce a good picture for the money. It has especially accurate color reproduction for an LCD projector, but its black-level performance is still relatively weak compared with that of the DLP competition. DLP models offering this resolution are significantly more expensive, however, and for the price, the Panasonic PT-AE900U is one of the best-performing front projectors we've seen this year.
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Best flat-panel LCD HDTV
Sony Bravia KDL-V40XBR1
Earlier this year, Sony changed the name of its high-end LCD TVs from Wega to Bravia and launched a marketing campaign touting the line as "The world's first television designed for men and women."
We were less than impressed with the 32-inch
entry in the series, but the sleek, 40-inch flagship KDL-V40XBR1 ($3,499) is another story altogether. It delivers the best picture quality we've seen to date in a flat-panel LCD. It's still not a plasma-worthy picture and--like most Sonys--it has a premium price tag (quite a bit more than similarly sized plasmas). But if you have your heart set on an LCD--or you just really like the look of this Sony--it might be worth the price.
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Best virtual surround HTIB
Denon S-301 with video
In addition to its drop-dead good looks, the Denon S-301 packs in pretty much every home-theater bell and whistle you could possibly want. The all-in-one system offers easy setup, creates a virtual surround effect from just two speakers, plays just about every disc format under the sun, and sounds equally superb with DVDs and CDs. But the clincher is its iPod integration: connect one using the supplied cable, and you can navigate the player's menu system on your TV screen--even if you're sitting on the sofa and using the remote. The price of the Denon S-301 may be a bit steep, but you're paying a premium for the best combination of style, sound, and features that we've seen from any HTIB to date.
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Best sub-$1,000 A/V receiver
JVC RX-D702
JVC's low profile RX-D702 stands out in a field of generic receiver designs, and its high-tech aura is more than skin deep. In addition to all the standard surround sound and amplification duties you'd get from a standard receiver, the RX-D702 includes HDMI switching and HDMI upconversion--and it's currently the least expensive receiver on the market with both. In addition to HDMI, the JVC includes a wireless USB streaming-audio solution that's unique among receivers we've tested. Its blend of features and solid sound quality make it among the most capable receivers of the year, especially at this price.
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Best DVD recorder
Pioneer DVR-533H-S with video
Pioneer gets just about everything right with the DVR-533H-S. The main attraction is a premiere for the category: dual-layer compatibility, which allows the deck to record to DVD-R DL media that holds nearly twice as much video (8.5GB) as a standard DVD-R disc. The Pioneer DVR-533H-S packs in numerous other essentials, including TV Guide's free electronic programming guide, easy-to-use menus, 30-second skip, high-speed video dubbing, impressive editing options, and a FireWire input. This Pioneer's features, thoughtful design, and overall value set it head and shoulders above just about every other DVD recorder we've tested so far.
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Best universal remote control
Logitech Harmony 880 with video
Most universal remotes can command a whole rack of gear, but they take forever to configure. That's not the case with the SST-880: a simple setup and user-friendly design make it our top remote of the year. Just connect it to the USB port of your Windows PC or Mac and answer a few simple questions on Harmony's Web site, and the remote configures itself. Great ergonomics, a color screen, and a docking station for recharging sweeten the deal.
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Best entertainment networking product
Sling Media Slingbox with video
DVRs make it easy to watch your favorite programs when you want to, but the Slingbox thinks you should be able to watch them where you want to. This small, silver box is able to digitize the programming from your cable or satellite box and stream it--in real time--to a remote PC. The Slingbox brings your home TV channels anywhere you can find a Wi-Fi hot spot, and to us, that makes it the best entertainment networking product.
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Best gaming console
Microsoft Xbox 360 with video
The only next-gen console released in 2005, the Xbox 360 has made the line between PC and console gaming a lot fuzzier. Yes, this is a console, with game controllers and A/V cables that are designed to interface with your TV--preferably of the HD variety--but Microsoft has essentially packed a high-end PC gaming rig into a relatively small box that fits into any A/V rack or cabinet. That the Xbox 360 also has a user interface that rivals TiVo's in terms of slick presentation and ease of use, plus a host of digital media and networking features, helps elevate the already-good Xbox experience to a whole new level. It's currently the best console out there, but its real competition--the PlayStation 3--is right around the corner.
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