2010 Audioholics Product of the Year (POY) Awards

[Alex2507]

Paradigm does it right...that's about it.

Aperion use to make the Intimus 5DP (which I won) but now they appear to be unavailable. As you mentioned they are expensive which might be why they are no longer in production (low sales).

They may be good speakers - however, I would like to read a full printed review - before an award is given to the product.

I think it has been mentioned that they were barely able to get the speakers delivered in time for consideration of POY awards not leaving time for a review. Which brings me to my next point (since I rarely have a point I like to highlight the times I do). I believe manufacturers have to physically submit products for consideration so there could be many high value products out there that don't get considered.

I hope these awards generate a whole mess of sales for the winners and attract more contenders for consideration in the future. I remember the street price of last year's rec'r pick (Onk 707) going up like 30% right after the award. Maybe coincidence but I doubt it.

 

[3db]

I hope these awards generate a whole mess of sales for the winners and attract more contenders for consideration in the future. I remember the street price of last year's rec'r pick (Onk 707) going up like 30% right after the award. Maybe coincidence but I doubt it.

So what I'm hearing from you is that Audioholics isn't doing us consumers any favours. Maybe Audioholics should have POS awards and slide a few of the components we as audioholics lust after into that category for a 30% discount!! . Are ya with me?

 

[Alex2507]

So what I'm hearing from you is that Audioholics isn't doing us consumers any favours. Maybe Audioholics should have POS awards and slide a few of the components we as audioholics lust after into that category for a 30% discount!! . Are ya with me?

The price didn't jump up overnight. It took a week or two to climb so there was a window of opportunity to save. It was just for that one product from Amazon as far as I'm aware. Same thing happened with Infinity Primus speaker street prices. Once the cat was out of the bag here, the street prices climbed. That thing about having to spend to save is amended with the term 'now'. You have to spend 'now' to save.

 

[3db]

The price didn't jump up overnight. It took a week or two to climb so there was a window of opportunity to save. It was just for that one product from Amazon as far as I'm aware. Same thing happened with Infinity Primus speaker street prices. Once the cat was out of the bag here, the street prices climbed. That thing about having to spend to save is amended with the term 'now'. You have to spend 'now' to save.

I'd still rather spend money "now" at a 30% discount!!

 

[3db]

On another note, its nice to see Vizio being recommended as well as being the only NA manufacturer of displays. I realize they don't build the panel portion but at least some work is being done on this side of the ocean.

 

[GranteedEV]

On another note, its nice to see Vizio being recommended as well as being the only NA manufacturer of displays. I realize they don't build the panel portion but at least some work is being done on this side of the ocean.

Do you really feel comfortable with non japanese electronics?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

 

[digicidal]

Do you really feel comfortable with non japanese electronics?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Why not? Our cars are just as good... The Buick I had ran just as well after 2 years and 25K miles as my 14 year old civic with 300K miles on it did.

I won't hold the fact that the Buick dropped it's tranny on the freeway at 30K miles against it, so I'm sure the same fantastic quality control applies in electronics as well.

 

[KEW]

Do you really feel comfortable with non japanese electronics?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I'll trade my Marantz receiver for any current production USA built hi-fi amplifier.
Any of Mac, Carry, Levinson, Quad, Anthem, or Bryston would suffice.

 

[3db]

Do you really feel comfortable with non japanese electronics?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Not at all. But isn't nice to see jobs show up on our shores instead of being outsourced?

 

[FirstReflection]

Hey, if you like LG, then you like Vizio. Same panels (and now, unfortunately, same glossy screen surface - starting with the XVT3D models), just different bezels and software.

And you SHOULD like LG and Vizio - they are making the best Consumer LCDs out there right now. Full-array, local-dimming LED backlighting is the only way to go, IMO. All of the other LCDs produce uneven backlighting and blue or purple-tinged dark areas. Blooming is the biggest issue, but with a greater number of LED "blocks" being used, blooming has been reduced in the newest models.

My biggest concern though are those awful, super-glossy screens! Vizio's XVT series was easily my top LCD pick (and, apparently, Audioholics' as well) because they were full-array, local-dimming LED WITH a matte screen! That made them the perfect choice for a normal-to-brightly lit room. If you have a dim-to-pitch black room, then a Panasonic plasma ought to be your top choice. But under anything more than JUST-enough-to-read-a-book-by lighting, plasma starts to wash out and those inky blacks start to look grey.

Now though, with these stupid, super-glossy screens, LCD is even more useless under any amount of room lighting than plasma! I don't want to look at my screen and see nothing but my own reflection and the reflection of all my light sources as bright, distracting points of light. Maybe it's just because I'm an ugly M'er F'er so I don't enjoy looking at my own reflection, but I'd rather be able to see the content that I'm watching, thank you very much!

 

[KEW]

I wonder if there is a market for "de-glossing" screens?
Perhaps a fine sand blast or some orbital sanding at 1200 grit would do the trick!

 

[GranteedEV]

I'll trade my Marantz receiver for any current production USA built hi-fi amplifier.
Any of Mac, Carry, Levinson, Quad, Anthem, or Bryston would suffice.

But what about against Marantz Reference series?

 

[KEW]

But what about against Marantz Reference series?

Well, you've got me there, but only because I really like the look of the reference series!
I figure all of this mega-buck stuff will do a great job re: the sound, so it might as well be the best looking unit!

 

[sthayashi]

I just wanted to mention the Yamaha award. While I agree with the assessment.... well... To paraphrase a good quote from a terrible film:
If they did a 360, they'd go completely around and end up back where they started

 

[damobetta]

please help

Gener, Clint,

I own a ATI 3000 and am very happy with the power. I use an old 777ES which has served me well but it is time for an upgrade. However I do not need a pure receiver as I will not use the amplification portion of it. Could you recommend something that would pair well with my 5 Channel amp and give me the most upward mobility.

thx

 

[samsfisher]

is Onkyo Tx Nr 808 in list

 

[Patrick_Wolf]

I would use the same arguement against the Aperion speakers. I know they would be great speakers, but I think bigger things are happening in lower price brackets. The new Pioneer SP series is a far more relevant, and much more deserving of product of the year. Have you guys heard these things, they sound amazing for their price. They are the new bang for your buck leaders now that Infinity's Primus line refresh has raised their prices.

With the Pioneer speakers and Epik, Lava, and Rythmik subs, a lot more people can have terrific sounding home theaters than who were able to before. The same just isn't true for the Aperion and SVS products awarded here, at that price point there are a lot of other great choices as well.

It would be great if audioholics delved into the budget friendly, but this IS audioholics. Most people who want good sound without paying much for it probably aren't going to care enough to come here or do research anyway. They'll just take the advice of their friendly Best Buy salesman who cares more about making a big sale than selling the best product.

Some here consider $600 for a pair of bookshelves as budget, so depending on how the new Verus line stacks up they could be far more relevant than the Pioneer's SP line to the readers here. Besides that, having their floorstander and bookshelf variants costing the same price is very disconcerting. And their specs page is not working... can't say it inspires much confidence. And let's not forget the B2030P which is just as cheap and probably still better to boot.

I take weight vs. size as a more accurate scale of determining quality than other technical specs. The SP-BS41-LR being physically larger in size while being a little over 5 lbs lighter than the B2030P does not bode well. The Verus Bookshelf is only slightly larger, but it's cabinet is rounded (like the BS41) and only weighs 1.33 lbs less.

However I think it's fantastic of Pioneer to create a more mass-friendly priced product of such quality. Being a more mainstream brand they're able to reach a broader consumer base, aiding in bringing a higher level of sound quality into more homes. Which is just awesome.

 

[fragzem]

Most people who want good sound without paying much for it probably aren't going to care enough to come here or do research anyway. They'll just take the advice of their friendly Best Buy salesman who cares more about making a big sale than selling the best product.

Patrick, I'm almost offended here. Thats a pretty poor generalization. I'm on a small budget, but you infer that I must be a moron as I'd "probably" not care enough to do research.

In fact, I believe people ON a lower budget tend to do MORE research so as to get the best bang for the buck. At least, that's the train that brought me here.

 

[jostenmeat]

Patrick, I'm almost offended here. Thats a pretty poor generalization. I'm on a small budget, but you infer that I must be a moron as I'd "probably" not care enough to do research.

In fact, I believe people ON a lower budget tend to do MORE research so as to get the best bang for the buck. At least, that's the train that brought me here.

Don't get TOO offended. Looking at your respective sigs, I bet your system costs more than his does.

edit: well, hmm no sub for you yet, but still, haha.

 

[3db]

What surprises me about the speaker choice is that there was no full review done by Audioholics and yet it receives this award? How is this possible? The Yamaha and Emotiva both have had full lfledged reviews but the Aperions got a first look and yet it made it as the speaker choice of the year? Maybe they are a great speaker but from a pereceived optics point of view, it looks like adversting dollars paid for this award. I'm not saying that's the case, I'm saying the perception is certainly there. I think Audioholics staff should only select candidates that have had full reviews. That way the wrong perception can be avoided.