(Nov 20, 2009)
John P. Falcone
Senior Editor
While the TV is the centerpiece of any home theater, it's really just a glorified monitor. The real fun comes with picking the video sources that will plug into it. We've chosen a cross-section of some of the best home video devices to round out any home theater. But given the wide variety of home video options--from DVD to Blu-ray, video game consoles (PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii), and HDTV services (cable, satellite, fiber optic, over-the-air antenna, and Internet delivered video-on-demand)--we're providing plenty of alternatives and caveats, too. Looking for all-in-one home theater systems that deliver video and audio? Check out our choices for best home theater systems.
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LG BD390
Best-featured standalone Blu-ray player
Standalone Blu-ray players used to pale in comparison to the PS3, but the LG BD390 can go head-to-head with Sony's gaming console without making excuses. The BD390 stays a step ahead of the competition with its outstanding feature set--Netflix, YouTube, CinemaNow, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi (a first), 7.1 analog outputs, geek-friendly MKV-video file playback over USB, and 1GB of onboard memory. Even better, the BD390 is an excellent Blu-ray player, with top-notch image quality, lightning fast load times, and onboard decoding for all the high resolution audio soundtracks. The LG BD390 is our top pick for premium standalone Blu-ray players, narrowly besting the competing Samsung BD-P3600.
Price:$244.00 - $449.00 (check prices)
Filed in: Best 5 home video products
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TiVo HD (20 HD hours)
Best high-definition cable DVR
Except for a smaller hard drive and more-generic cosmetics, the TiVo HD delivers, essentially, the same feature set as the earlier Series3 model, but for a much more reasonable $300. In addition to TiVo's best-in-class interface, you'll also get a panoply of Internet and network-friendly features: Multi-Room Viewing; TiVoToGo; downloadable videos from TiVoCast and Amazon's Unbox; Internet radio; Rhapsody; podcasts; streaming of music and photos from a networked PC; and online scheduling control. In other words, the TiVo HD is a full-service network media device that runs circles around those "free" DVRs from your cable company. Have satellite instead? DirecTV subscribers should opt for the HR20, while Dish Network subscribers should go for the excellent ViP722.
Price:$199.99 - $259.99 (check prices)
Filed in: Best 5 home video products, Best DVRs
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Slingbox Solo
Best video placeshifting device
Can't spend any time away from your favorite TV shows? Slingbox is the answer to your prayers. This magic little box makes the TV signal from your cable or satellite box available anywhere you can get a broadband Internet connection--be it in another room of the house, or on the other side of the world. View and control your home TV from any broadband-enabled Windows PC or Mac, as well as many models of Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian smartphones; software for Blackberry models is slated to hit before the end of 2008, and a prototype iPhone version has been shown as well. Bottom line: the Slingbox is the traveling couch potato's best friend. (If you want HD resolution for in-home streaming, splurge instead for the
Price:$159.49 - $179.99 (check prices)
Filed in: Best 5 home video products, Best network video streamers
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Oppo BDP-83
Best-performing Blu-ray player
Videophiles don't need to spend upwards of $1,000 to get the best picture quality. The Oppo BDP-83 boasts the best Blu-ray and DVD images we've seen to date, and it also plays DVD-Audio and SACD discs. It's more expensive than the LG BD390 and lacks its extensive video streaming options, but we prefer the Oppo to high-end competitors that cost more than twice as much.
Price:$499.00 - $595.00 (check prices)
Filed in: Best 5 home video products
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Logitech Harmony One
Best universal remote for under $250
It's not a "home video" product per se, but a universal remote is a key element in any serious home theater. And the Logitech Harmony One is king of the hill. Its task-based macros are automatically programmed by the sophisticated software--choose "play DVD," for instance, and your TV and AV receiver will automatically switch to the correct inputs, while the DVD player powers on. The Harmony One controls up to 15 devices, and--while it retails for a somewhat pricey $250--it's worth every penny. (If that price is too rich for your blood, check out the Harmony One's little brother, the
Price:$199.99 - $239.95 (check prices)
Filed in: Best 5 home video products
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