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SOUND & IMAGE AWARDS 2007
PRODUCTS OF THE YEAR
For full reviews and listings of HIGHLY COMMENDED products in each category, get the AWARDS issue of Sound & Image
DIGITAL TV RECEIVER OF THE YEAR
Humax PVR Smart
A standard-definition twin-tuner TV receiver with 160GB hard-drive and great performance
DVD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Marantz DV6600
A player that clearly demonstrates why it’s worth spending more than the minimum on a bit of quality; it has HDMI, handles SACD and DVD Audio but above all, it’s a lovely performer with movies and music
CD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Gryphon Mikado
Not just a CD player, the Mikado is a work of art that brings great performances to life with stunning realism
DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER OF THE YEAR
Panasonic DMR-EH65
A DVD recorder with a generous 250GB hard drive and excellent versatility
PLASMA TELEVISION OF THE YEAR
Pioneer PDP-5000EX
Bringing true 1080p high definition to a 50-inch plasma; extraordinary window-like clarity and a new benchmark for image quality
LCD TELEVISION OF THE YEAR
Sony Bravia KDL40X2000
Sony brings full high-definition LCD pictures at a remarkably affordable price
HOME THEATRE PROJECTOR OF THE YEAR - UNDER $6000
InFocus IN76
Superb blacks, glorious colours and excellent brightness levels in a gorgeosuly-designed and well-priced projector
HOME THEATRE PROJECTOR OF THE YEAR - OVER $6000
Sony VPL-VW100
Sony brings true 1080p resolution to video projection at a whole new price level
AMP / RECEIVER OF THE YEAR - UNDER $1000
Denon AVR-1707
Ridiculously good value, with 7.1 channels of respectable power, high-end features and optional iPod dock priced well under a grand
AMP / RECEIVER OF THE YEAR -$1000-$2000
Marantz SR4001
A trailblazer for the future with plenty of power and HDMI at an eminently reasonable price
AMP / RECEIVER OF THE YEAR - $2000-$4000
Denon AVR-4306
Everything you could ask for in a home theatre receiver, especially in the way of overall connectivity, including HDMI — and a great sound too
AMP / RECEIVER OF THE YEAR - OVER $4000
Marantz SR9600
A dream machine, with THX Ultra2 certification ensuring tight control over movies and music
IN-WALL SPEAKER OF THE YEAR
BG Radia R-series
Bringing hi-fi sensibilities to in-wall speakers, with Planar Ribbon technology backed by conventional bass/mid cones
ACTIVE SUBWOOFER OF THE YEAR - UNDER $1000
Energy S10.3
A winner two years in a row, a sub that digs deep and delivers a wonderfully smooth performance
ACTIVE SUBWOOFER OF THE YEAR - OVER $1000
Velodyne SPL-1200R
A very simple room-matching EQ set-up combined with an awesome model from the subwoofer kings
HOME THEATRE SPEAKER SYSTEM OF THE YEAR - UNDER $3000
AAD C-3G
A speaker package combining pure, musical sound with lovely looks
HOME THEATRE SPEAKER SYSTEM OF THE YEAR - OVER $3000
Whatmough Performance Series
A superb all-round system, supported by the Impact subwoofer with its Whise technology
LOUDSPEAKERS OF THE YEAR - UNDER $2500
B&W DM603 S3
Now in its third generation, the 603s offer a solid-sounding and taut bass underpinning a lively performance that is thrilling at the price
LOUDSPEAKERS OF THE YEAR - OVER $2500
Jamo R 909
The designer of these speakers, Henrik Mortensen, thought outside of the box – literally – to create these high-end dipolar stunners
INSTALLATION OF THE YEAR
Len Wallis Audio
An extraordinary install with 22 zones of audio and video plus integrated automation that provides a fine example of a smart home in action
CUSTOM INSTALLATION PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Clipsal C-Bus Multi-room Audio
A great base from which to build a distributed music system, with control via standard Clipsal wall panels
MOST INNOVATIVE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Sonos Digital Music System
An easy and elegant modular system that not only achieves idiot-proof wireless music networking, it sounds great, and keeps adding new features all the time, including internet radio and music subscription services
JUDGES’ CHOICE
Focal.JMLab Nova Utopia Be
Even Focal's competitors sing the praises of JMLabs' latest beryllium tweeter, the icing on this design that takes loudspeaker technology and performance to the outer limits
INCAR CATEGORIES
IN-CAR HEAD UNIT OF THE YEAR
Pioneer DEH-P9850BT
A full-spec CD tuner with built-in hands-free Bluetooth, safety and performance
IN-CAR AV HEAD UNIT OF THE YEAR
JVC KD-AVX2
For making a single-DIN deck with a wide-screen with great looks and performance
IN-CAR AV PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
Eclipse AVN6000
For integrating navigation into a twin-DVD deck, to create almost a new product category in itself
IN-CAR AMPLIFICATION OF THE YEAR
Alpine PDX-4.150 / PDX-1.1000
Slimline design and covetable design – you won’t want to hide these power packs away
IN-CAR LOUDSPEAKER RANGE OF THE YEAR
Focal Utopia Beryllium
A fantastic sounding component set incorporating the company’s expertise in machining beryllium tweeters
IN-CAR SUBWOOFER OF THE YEAR
Cerwin-Vega! Stroker 15
Great performance and a cunning easy-to-replace cone assembly
IN-CAR INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
Sony MEX-1GP
A simple idea but highly effective, incorporating a 1GB MP3 player in a detachable dash that you can take home and load up
IN-CAR INSTALLATION OF THE YEAR
Alpine (Chrysler 300C)
Highlighting the possibilities of Factory Integration Technology in this finely-finished install
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