2018 Product of the Year Award Winners

gene

gene

Audioholics Master Chief
Administrator
As the year comes to a close, we recap some of the best products we reviewed from ALL categories, including: AV receivers, Preamps and Power Amps, Loudspeakers, Subwoofers, Powered speakers and even Displays.

Imagine being able to playback your precious vinyl collection and all digital sources in high resolution with enhanced room correction and bass management all in the same product. Anthem showed us the way with their STR separates. Dayton Audio proved to us that for less than the price of an exotic interconnect, you could get a pair of bookshelf speakers that can pipe good sound quality into a college dorm or small office environment. RBH Sound threw down the gauntlet with their Goliath sized speakers that produced limitless dynamics and gut wrenching bass to satisfy even the hungriest bassaholics appetite. Denon stepped up the ante with the worlds first 13.2CH does-everything AV receiver ready to play all of the latest in HD video and immersive surround sound.

Our choices this year were based on direct review or demo experience of the following products we felt really stood out among their peers for each category chosen. We took a look at a lot of great products in 2018 but the ones selected on this list really stood out to us in terms of performance, value or both. These are the products that set a trend and you'll be surprised to note one of which only costs $100!

Read: 2018 Audioholics Products of the Year

Do you agree with our list or feel it should have included other products we've covered in 2018? Please share your comments and let us know your picks for 2018.

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Danzilla31

Audioholic Spartan
And to answer you question on your review nice Santa suit by the way! I've had them for about 4 or 5 months now.

Went duals like you guys recommend. And as far as there output and capabilities. Well there's 2 spots in the room that measures well the front wall where the projector screen and L C R towers are and I found out behind my couches.

I found this out because when I dialed them in on the front wall they did something I've never had happen before. And I owned previously dual PB 2000's and had them up there no problem.

But these beasts were overloading that wall. I was actually getting too much room gain from that wall and it's an 8500 cubic feet room it's huge. And there was too much bass for me too handle.

So out came the measuring and the other great spot in the room was behind my couches in a near field effect.

So there they went and got only was the overloading the room resolved. But ohhhh Mamba Jamba! These already were tingling my whole body 12 feet away! Right behind me? Ohhhhhh diggity. The experience is out of this world.

And this is where they impressed me the most. They are sooo powerful but precise and nuanced and delicate and nimble when they are supposed to be. I worried putting them that close would overpower the rest of the system. Nope. After getting them dialed in I can't tell where the bass is coming from. It just blends perfectly with the rest of my speakers.

If you need delicate fast or excellent detail. It's got you covered. If you need it too blow you threw the wall like Micheal J Fox in back too the future? Well it will do that too. And do both on the stop of a dime. Music and movies and it's So look distortion free. Until you hear bass like this. Well you just can't know until you know. You know? Lol. And so powerful that even at -20 on both subs and -7.5 and -10.5 on the av reciever I still had to get up the other day and track down a rattling noise. It was my bedroom door rattling from over 16 feet away.

So in conclusion I'm beyond happy with these. I always wanted 4 subs but now I don't even see the need. I'm hitting 120db at the seating positions if I want without even trying. With almost perfect bass across almost every seat.

So this saves me a ton off money which I'll use this year to upgrade my 3 SVS prime towers for my front 3 to 3 SVS ultra towers I tell you what I can't wait for that day to happen!

Thanks again for all you guys do I'm so happy with how my rooms progressed this year and it's due a lot to you guys and all the friends I've made on the forums Best wishes to you guys on the holidays! I hope my review of my PB 4000's was helpful to your request and God Bless you all I'm looking forward to next year and all the fun I'm sure to have as a member on Audioholics which is my favorite site!
P.S. your rocking that Santa Hat bro! :D
 
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PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
Our choices this year were based on direct review or demo experience of the following products we felt really stood out among their peers for each category chosen.
For the Award: 13.2 CH AV Receiver, I am curious to know how you end up giving it to the AVR-X8500H if it is the only 13 channel AVR? Is it just based on it having no "peers"?
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
For the Award: 13.2 CH AV Receiver, I am curious to know how you end up giving it to the AVR-X8500H if it is the only 13 channel AVR? Is it just based on it having no "peers"?
Well, it shouldn't win if it was a POS.
 
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
Well, it shouldn't win if it was a POS.
I assumed it isn't that already, but I still have to wonder if the award was based on it being one of its kind, or there were others actually considered for the award.
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
I assumed it isn't that already, but I still have to wonder if the award was based on it being one of its kind, or there were others actually considered for the award.
Kind of like the World Series- no other countries can play?
 
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Danzilla31

Audioholic Spartan
I assumed it isn't that already, but I still have to wonder if the award was based on it being one of its kind, or there were others actually considered for the award.
Well they did stated of the selection criteria is also for products that stand out or are innovative. I'd imagine being the only fully amplified 13 channel avr and the only one that supports all 3 major surround formats currently out there makes it definetly stand out ya know?
 
gene

gene

Audioholics Master Chief
Administrator
For the Award: 13.2 CH AV Receiver, I am curious to know how you end up giving it to the AVR-X8500H if it is the only 13 channel AVR? Is it just based on it having no "peers"?
Correct, and also supporting all 3 Immersive Surround Formats. I own an SR8012 which is a great receiver. The 8500H is everything that is and more.
 
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