- Jazz: The Defining Moments (7.21.08)
- Radiohead, Coldplay Reissued on Vinyl (7.09.08)
- High-Def Releases for the Week of July 8 (7.09.08)
- Rhapsody Embraces the Downloadable World (7.09.08)
- Playback Buyer’s Guide: Tower Speakers for Under $2k (7.02.08)
Buyers Guides
Let the experts from The Absolute Sound, Playback, and The Perfect Vision help you choose the best home entertainment products you can buy. In addition to lists of recommended products, we offer articles on how to evaluate products as you make your purchasing decisions. Just click the title to download the full article in PDF or link to Playback Magazine. (Some Buyers Guides Require Adobe Reader)
Recommendations by Product Type
Our Recommended Products list our favorites for performance and value.
TV/Displays
- NEW! Playback Magazine: Affordable 1080p Projectors Under $3500 (2008)
- How to buy an HDTV (2007)
- Guide to HDTV Programming
- How to Choose a Screen for Your Home Theater
- Where to Start When Buying a HDTV
- How to buy an HDTV (2006)
- 2006 Buyers Guide+: Flat Panels
- Understanding the Different Video-Display Technologies
- Understanding Front Projection TVs
- How to Choose a Video Display
- 2006 HD Displays over $3500
- 2005 HDTV Sets
- 2005 HDTV Displays over $5000
Speakers
- NEW! Playback Magazine: Sub-$1.5k Surround Sound Speakers (2008)
- Speakers to Go with Flat-Panel HDTVs
- The Absolute Sound Editors Choose Speakers for Themselves
- Beginner's Guide to Choosing Loudspeakers
- 2007 Buyers Guide+: Surround Speakers (under $2000)
- 2007 One Box Surround Sound Speakers
- How to Choose Home Theater Speakers
- Buyers Guide+: 2006 Speaker Systems
- What You Should Know About Choosing Loudspeakers
- What You Should Know About Loudspeakers
- 2005 Loudspeaker Systems
- 2005 Loudspeaker Systems under $5000
- 2004 Speakers and Subwoofers
- 2003 Loudspakers over $2500/pair
- 2003 Loudspeakers under $2500/pair
- 2003 Loudspeakers and Subwoofers
Receivers
Preamps/Processors
DVD/CD Players
- 2006 Portable DVD Players (7.2006)
- How to Evaluate a DVD Player (30KB)
- Buyer's Guide+: 2006 DVD Players (1253KB)
- 2005 Hi-Res Digital Sources (475KB)
- 2005 DVD Players (1138KB)
- 2004 Digital and Analog Source Components (910KB)
- 2004 DVD Players (2518KB)
- 2003 DVD Players (1161KB)
Amplifiers
- NEW! Playback Magazine: Integrated Amplifiers Under $1500 (2008)
- What You Should Know About Controllers (37KB)
- 2003 Power, Integrated and Multichannel Amplifiers (979KB)
Media Servers
Portable Media
Home Theater Systems
- How to Choose Home Theater Electronics (11.2006, 245KB)
Miscellaneous
- How to Choose Cell Phones (429KB)
- In-Depth Review of Movie Download Sites
- 6 Travel-Worthy Gadgets to Enhance Your Summer Fun
Award Winners
- Editors Choice Awards
These are the best products released that year organized by product categories, broken into subcategories of price.
Audio products:
2007
2006 (2274KB)
2005 (2201KB)
2004 (3649KB)
2003 (1392KB)
Home theater products:
2006
2005 (1369KB)
2004 (2618KB)
2003 (1841KB)
- Product of the Year Awards
They are the single best products in each category that the editors reviewed that year.
Audio products:
2006 (892KB)
2005 (725KB)
2004 (1106KB)
2003 (953KB)
Home theater products:
2006
2005 (855KB)
2004 (698KB)
2003 (549KB)
- Golden Ear/Eye Awards
These are the best products available - old or new, money no object, chosen by editors.
Audio products:
2007 (898KB)
2005 (837KB)
2004 (1145KB)
2003 (1918KB)
Home theater products:
2004 (858KB)
2003 (1017KB)
Recommended Systems
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In the News
Poll
Buyers Guides
- How to Buy an HDTV
- One Box Surround Sound Systems
- Buyers Guide: Sub-$1.5k surround speakers
- Integrated Amplifiers Under $1500
- VIDEO: About home theaters in a box
- 2007 TAS Editors Choice Awards
All documents notede with file size are in PDF format.
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