EISA auhinnad:European In-Car Speaker System 2009-2010 – DLS Scandinavia Series ja teised

Seadmed mis meie arust väärivad suuremat tähelepanu ja mida saab ka meie kauplusest osta.

European In-Car Head Unit 2009-2010 -> JVC KD-AVX77

European In-Car High-End Component 2009-2010 -> Pioneer DEX-P99RS

European In-Car Speaker System 2009-2010 -> DLS Scandinavia Series

European In-Car Subwoofer 2009-2010 -> Impact XT 15-11

European Navigation Device 2009-2010 -> Becker Traffic Assist Z205

European Headphone 2009-2010 -> Sennheiser HD 800

European Blu-ray Player 2009-2010 -> Pioneer BDP-LX91

European LCD-TV 2009-2010 -> Philips 46PFL9704H/12

European High-End Loudspeaker 2009-2010 -> Focal Diablo Utopia

In-Car Electronics Panel Awards 2009-2010

European In-Car Head Unit 2009-2010 -> JVC KD-AVX77

“I want it all and I want it small”: everything you could ask from a 21st-century head unit is here, despite the compact DIN format. For years, JVC fought against knobs and buttons cluttering the face plate, and finally this new unit is controlled entirely through the touch screen. And the screen itself is unique, its width allowing a split-screen mode to combine two pictures from different sources. Picture quality is very high and stable, thanks to the latest LCD TFT technology.
The KD-AVX77 DVD drive accepts discs with all types of content from movies to MP3 files, while the built-in multichannel decoder produces 5.1 sound. And of course, media sources like iPod or USB flash memory can be easily connected. With the KD-AVX77, you can always make phone calls in style: the newest Bluetooth module supports up to five mobile phones, operated from the touch screen or via a steering wheel interface.

European In-Car Navi-Media System 2009-2010 -> Kenwood DNX9240BT

Kenwood’s fully equipped all-in-one-unit offers the latest technology in terms of A/V capability, connectivity and navigation. Needless to say, it provides the full set of media functionality, and its excellent WVGA wide screen makes it a top end video component. It comes with the newest Garmin navigation software, including TMC and TMC Pro and covering most of Europe. The map display is visually attractive, full of detail but still clear and easy to read on the move, while text-to-speech guidance including street names makes driving easy and safe. The state-of-the-art Parrot Bluetooth module is capable of audio streaming from A2DP compatible devices. It can register up to five phones and even handles SMS. Of course, the DNX9240BT works perfectly with iPod and iPhone and has not one but two USB ports to accept storage devices. Finally, it offers a clever user interface and can optionally be operated with the steering wheel controls.

European In-Car High-End Component 2009-2010 -> Pioneer DEX-P99RS

Here it is! Every car audio system deserves a good head unit, but a really ambitious system needs a perfect one.  Pioneer has squeezed the fruit of all its years of experience with high-end head units into this copper-shielded single DIN chassis. The thick plexi-covered face plate gives the P99RS a classy look, which really is borne out by what’s inside. The built-in 8-channel sound processor includes a fully programmable 4-way crossover, equalization and time alignment. And the state-of-the-art CD drive and D/A converters, along with an automatic measurement system for setting initial parameters, work together to produce perfect sound. The P99RS remains an audiophile unit even while working with portable media: its USB port accepts a digital iPod connection, which means uncompromised audio quality when playing back lossless audio. All in all, this is the first-ever self-contained head unit that is truly high-end.

European In-Car Integration 2009-2010 -> Audison bit one

Integrating a top-level car audio system into a modern car can be a very difficult job. Or a fantastic adventure, if you choose an Audison bit one. Doesn’t matter what kind of head unit you have – operating with up to 8 channels, the bit one can receive high or low level signals, even when pre-equalized, or digital inputs. The bit one will combine and process these inputs to give a perfect full range linear stereo signal. Doing it this way allows Audison to use the full power of a latest-generation sound processor chip. Using a PC, you can program the bit one to control 8 channels independently, including filtering, equalization and time alignment, to give analogue or digital outputs. Whatever your head unit, whatever your car, bit one gives you the means to build the system of your dreams.

European In-Car Amplifier 2009-2010 -> Kenwood KAC-X4D

By introducing the KAC-X4D, Kenwood has given us a unit that embodies all aspects of a modern in-car amplifier. As a full range Class D amplifier, the KAC-X4D is extraordinarily efficient. And so, in spite of its tiny footprint it offers lots of power, excellent sound quality and immaculate measurements. This has been achieved by the highest quality engineering of the 21st century. A first class amplifier of modern design and impressive performance, the KAC-X4D is easy to install and use. Based on a concept that leaves no wishes unfulfilled this unit truly makes a step into the future.

European In-Car Speaker System 2009-2010 -> DLS Scandinavia Series

Scandinavia… The Swedish company gave its new top speaker range a proud name, and with good reason. Building on the technological achievements of the previous series, born in the laboratory and listening room, the system was finally honed to perfection on the 2008 competition circuit. Aimed at advanced audiophiles and car audio competitors, Scandinavia stands out in sound as well as build quality. The series provides unprecedented flexibility, comprising four different drivers sold separately, paired with custom 2- and 3-way crossovers if the system is to be run in passive mode. The Scandinavia components excel in their ability to reproduce the finest nuances in the recorded material. The Scandinavia series is all about music!

European In-Car Subwoofer 2009-2010 -> Impact XT 15-11

Power. And more power. SPL competitions are one of the most dangerous and infectious aspects of the Car Audio world, and this is where the subwoofer is king. Created specifically for such events, the XTreme Impact subwoofer really does live up to its name, overwhelmin the competition with absolutely outrageous sound pressure levels. Dual 1 ohm voice coils, three spiders, triple magnet structure, a power handling of 9000 watts per voice coil.  Designed for fast replacement of the entire moving system, the woofer is ready to compete in every kind of SPL contest and of course also in any and all unofficial challenges. Too dangerous for normal people. Never too much fun for the extreme enthusiast!

European Navigation Device 2009-2010 -> Becker Traffic Assist Z205

State your destination. You are on your way, as long as your travel companion is the Z205. This navigation device calculates the route integrating the traffic reports coming from the TMC/TMC Pro functions with your personal route preferences. All its features are designed to give a pleasant and safe drive, like Text To Speech (TTS) that announces the name of the streets and handsfree Bluetooth that allows to manage the associated phone safely. Another key feature is its lane assistant, with real representation of lanes and highway exits. 3D maps are available for major European cities and tourist destinations. Last but not least, its Micro SD card slot is the gateway to any kind of audiovisual content stored in popular formats.

Audio & Home Theater Panel Awards 2009-2010

European Audio Source 2009-2010 -> Marantz SA8003

Modern audio players face many challenges and Marantz’s SA8003 meets them all. It plays CDs and the stereo tracks of SACDs. It handles MP3, AAC or WMA files via an advanced USB port, which can even control an iPod directly. Based on the successful SA7003, the SA8003 benefits from the work of Marantz’s ‘tuning wizard’ Ken Ishiwata, who has pushed the quality up to audiophile standards. This has been achieved through various technical and mechanical upgrades, including the use of Marantz’s trademark copper-plated chassis. You will find lots of other familiar Marantz ingredients in this player, such as powerful HDAM output stages and a low-noise disc drive. So it’s no wonder that the hugely versatile SA8003, available in champagne or black, is top among the players in its class.

European Turntable 2009-2010 -> Pro-ject 6 PerspeX

Visually, the 6 PerspeX turntable is one of Pro-ject’s happiest creations, its elegant design featuring an eye-catching slab of clear acrylic for the plinth and a thick MDF platter finished off in a matt black plastic. Floating above the plinth is a composite subchassis, supported under its substantial bearing housing by a sorbothane block and at a further three peripheral points by a series of opposing magnets. The matching tonearm is a luxury version of Pro-ject’s carbon fibre arm called the 9cc Evolution. It’s possible to ‘tune’ the sound of the 6 PerspeX by using the supplied record clamp, which brings some added focus to midrange detail while tightening-up the bass register. Without the clamp, its music sounds slightly softer and lighter but also freer and arguably more natural. It looks fabulous and sounds very impressive indeed – a natural EISA winner.

European Audio Amplifier 2009-2010 -> Harman Kardon HK 990

This is no mere ‘new amplifier’ from Harman Kardon, for the HK 990 represents a root-and-branch evolution of all previous HK integrated models. Marketed as a ‘2.2-channel’ amplifier, this heavyweight performer also includes on-board DSP for bass management and a synchronising clock feed to optimise the flow of digital data from its partnering HD 990 CD player. With its own sophisticated DAC stage, the HK 990 further enhances its flexibility as the hub of a modern digital audio system. Moreover, its rated 2x150W specification is very conservative as this amplifier is capable of delivering over 200W/8ohm in practice and up to 1.5kW under dynamic conditions. Its sound is equally powerful, compelling and uncommonly detailed, creating a deep and broad soundstage populated with believable musical instruments. In short, the HK 990 is an audiophile bargain for enthusiasts, offering a lucid and highly detailed window into all recordings.

European Loudspeaker 2009-2010 -> B&W CM9

This handsome floorstanding loudspeaker offers tremendous value for money, and features B&W’s highly regarded FST midrange unit as part of a four-driver system. The woven Kevlar cone of the FST driver is swaged at its edge and rests on a ring of foamed plastic that acts in compression. This novel arrangement improves the driver’s dissipation of unwanted vibrations but limits its excursion, so the unit hands over to twin 165mm bass drivers, reflex loaded through a dimpled port, for deep and extended low frequencies. The speaker offers a healthy sensitivity but is reasonably tough to drive – weedy amplifiers need not apply! Suitably partnered, the CM9 offers a very lush sound, big and expressive with a very realistic sense of musical dynamics. It’s one of B&W’s most compelling floorstanders to date and at a price that seals its EISA commendation.

European High-End Loudspeaker 2009-2010 -> Focal Diablo Utopia

Like the other new models in the latest incarnation of Focal’s high-end Utopia series, the Diablo has a luxurious lacquer finish, with a choice of many colours. In this relatively compact two-way design, the drive units are mounted in two separate enclosures, arranged with a small angle between them and connected by an external structure. While the 165mm bass/midrange unit uses Focal’s Power Flower magnet technology, the tweeter has an inverted beryllium dome and its enclosure works as a Helmholtz resonator. The comprehensive owner’s manual is a model of clarity, with instructions on how exactly to position the speakers in a room, with recommended distances from walls. Despite its moderate dimensions, this new Focal loudspeaker manages to recreate an ample soundstage, bringing a realistic sense of scale, rhythm and joyous anticipation to the musical presentation.

European Compact System 2009-2010 -> Yamaha MCS-1330

This super-slim system comes in above Yamaha’s established PianoCraft line, and consists of a CD player, FM receiver and a pair of small but decent-sounding speakers. In spite of their small size, these units match the quality of many bigger components. The amplifier section is rated at some 60W per channel (into 6ohm) while the player handles MP3 and WMA files from CD-R or a USB stick. Of course, one of its most important features is the iPod dock offering full remote control. Also very useful are the MM phono input and the 30 FM station presets. The MSC-1330 benefits from advanced electronic parts, an excellent lab performance and a smooth, balanced and astonishingly ‘big’ sound that few would expect from such a compact combination.

European Micro System 2009-2010 -> Panasonic SC-HC3

Derived from the long audio tradition of Panasonic’s one-time sister brand, Technics, this micro audio system enhances any table or bookshelf like a piece of audio jewellery. Its slim and compact vertical design features a sliding door which opens to reveal both a CD player and an iPod docking station. Each loudspeaker includes one active drive unit, plus two passive units which increase the effective bass output of the system. The full-range active driver uses a 65mm cone made of a bamboo material. Despite the system’s small size, its sound quality is surprisingly bold and impressive. It plays CD’s, includes a radio tuner, and has an auxiliary line input which allows you to connect another source component if desired. Overall, it’s a system that’s slim in size yet big in sound.

European Headphone 2009-2010 -> Sennheiser HD 800

Here is a new top-of-the-range model from one of the world’s most renowned headphone manufacturers. The challenge was to create a large diaphragm, essential for powerful bass reproduction, while avoiding unwanted resonances which result in distortion. The solution? Instead of the usual circular shape, the diaphragm is designed as a ring, which provides a large surface area, yet minimises distortions. The sound is astonishingly clean, even at high sound pressure levels. Low resonance materials contribute to this clear reproduction and include high-quality plastic ear cups, a metal-plastic sandwich for the headband and a special high-precision gauze made of stainless steel which holds the transducers. Though the HD 800 is not a lightweight headphone it is extremely comfortable to wear. Neither is its sound exaggerated – it is just true to the original, at every frequency from the lowest bass to the highest treble.

European HT Receiver 2009-2010 -> Denon AVR-1910

It’s not easy to provide the budget-conscious home theatre enthusiast with an AV receiver that offers comprehensive feature set as well as stunning audio and video performance – but Denon’s brand-new AVR-1910 accomplishes this to perfection. It comes with decoders for all the latest HD sound formats, automatic room correction with Audyssey MultEQ, four HDMI inputs, and a powerful video section that up-converts all video sources to 1080p. Also, it is one of the first products on the market to include the Dolby’s ProLogic IIz algorithm, which adds ‘front height’ channels to further enhance the listening experience. The 7.1 channel amplifier section produces enough power even for larger cinema rooms, and delivers a crisp, controlled and dynamic sound that is equally well suited to music and movie soundtracks.

European HT System 2009-2010 -> LG HB954PB

User-friendly and stylish, the LG HB954PB is a 5.1 channel home theatre system based on a Blu-ray disc player with built-in amplifiers. Completing the package are four speakers in an attractive champagne and silver-blue finish, a dedicated center speaker and a passive subwoofer. The system combines appealing design with a balanced, detailed sound – the sonic performance was tuned by high-end audio guru Mr Mark Levinson. It also provides simple and easy installation with HDMI in/out, BD Live (Profile 2.0), full HD 1080p upscaling from DVD, a sliding docking station with iPod playback and recharge, and LG sound gallery. With the LG954PB you can experience Blu-ray in full High Definition and surround sound, for a high quality music and movie experience in your own living room.

European Digital Media Player/Server 2009-2010 -> Dvico TviX HD M-7000

Dvico’s TviX HD M-7000 offers an easy and comfortable way to play your entire media library – MP3, AVI, MKV, FLAC files and more – including family videos filmed on a digital camcorder. This player supports all current HD codecs while Dvico’s firmware updates keep you ready for future developments. It includes a built-in hard disk drive (various sizes are offered by different sellers), but it can also be connected easily to any Network Attached Storage unit. An HDMI v1.3 interface gives easy and reliable connection to any modern TV with very good video/audio quality, while legacy TVs can be connected to the player via its composite video output. And if you connect this player to an AV receiver via HDMI or S/PDIF, your media files or DVDs may be enjoyed with full multichannel sound.

European HT Loudspeaker 2009-2010 -> Monitor Audio Radius HD Series

Monitor Audio is well known for its good quality audiophile speakers and these ranges seem to provide excellent solutions for home theatre systems too. This time Monitor Audio has come up with a new version of a series made especially for home theatre, dubbed Radius HD. The line-up consists of two subwoofers and six satellite speakers, giving a wide choice of system combinations. Radius HD speakers claim an extended high frequency response thanks to their C-CAM gold dome tweeters, and offer a natural, balanced midrange, thanks to patented Metal Matrix Polymer (MMP II) bass/mid drivers. The satellite speakers are easily stand- or wall-mounted using the brackets supplied and their high-gloss finish lends an attractive look to any modern living room. Monitor Audio’s Radius HD could be the perfect solution for your high-definition home theatre experience.

European HT Subwoofer 2009-2010 -> Elac Sub 2080 D

A fully-grown subwoofer powerhouse with enough juice for even the most ambitious home theatre enthusiast, Elac’s Sub 2080 D still manages to please the eye with its stylish looks and relatively small footprint. Twin 250mm drivers are employed vertically, featuring very stiff aluminium sandwich cones, and arranged in Elac’s unique ‘push-push/pull-pull’ configuration. This allows for optimal sound dispersion from a compact enclosure. Thanks to Elac’s ‘Subwoofer Precision’ technology, which electronically minimises distortions, the 2080 D makes full use of its 500W power amplifier across an 18 to 180Hz frequency range, providing a bone-shaking home theatre experience with supreme bass control, no matter how demanding the movie.

European HT High End 2009-2010 -> Anthem Statement D2v + P5

Hailing from Canada’s Paradigm stable, this massive AV processor/power amplifier combination offers decoding for all the Dolby and DTS HD-audio formats while the modular amplifier platform is available in both two and five-channel variants, rated at a substantial 325W. Packed with useful features, the D2v processor offers no less than 8 HDMI 1.3 inputs, 2 outputs, 10 S/PDIF digital inputs and a full 10 channels of balanced analogue outputs. The latest V2 version also includes Dolby Volume together with a bespoke and powerful EQ system called Anthem Room Correction (ARC) developed from research conducted by the Canadian National Research Council. This software is run on a PC hooked into the processor via an RS232 connection. The sound of the combination is both massive in its architecture riveting in its detail, a tour-de-force of musical and movie action to power the grandest of home theatre systems.

European Best Value Blu-ray Player 2009-2010 -> LG BD390

Trying to find a cost-effective BD player that will fulfil all your needs? The LG BD390 can! Its unique appeal is based on wireless connectivity plus complete compatibility with all the standard interfaces (USB, HDMI 1080p, S-Video, YUV), and it even provides 7.1-channel analogue outputs. For the Internet, you can hook up the player with an Ethernet cable or go wireless via 802.11n Wi-Fi. You can enjoy multimedia content from your local DLNA net or PC stream, download BD-Live content, or connect to YouTube. You can also play media files from external FAT and NTFS drives. The BD390 offers comprehensive handling of compressed audio, video and photo codecs, and formats like DivX, DivX HD and even MKV. Last but not least, this extraordinary player comes at a very attractive price.

European HT Design 2009-2010 -> Samsung BD-P4600

Billed by Samsung as ‘the world’s slimmest’, the 42mm-high BD-P4600 is also the world’s first wall-mountable Blu-ray player. Its black glossy finish blends into platinum-grey to complement Samsung’s Crystal TV range, and the curvy chassis looks great when mounted vertically on its special hidden bracket below a wall-mounted flat screen. Wireless internet access is provided simply and painlessly by connecting Samsung’s accessory Wi-Fi dongle to the player’s USB 2.0 port. Alternatively, you can use a cable Ethernet connection. The BD-P4600 supports Bonus View for picture-in-picture movie extras and BD Live (BD profile 2.0) for a wealth of interactive entertainment features, with 1GB of internal storage for downloadable content. You can also stream multimedia from your PC to the BD-P4600. Finally, this sleek and effective Blu-ray player offers 1080p upscaling when playing a standard DVD disc. A genuinely innovative design with ‘must have’ visual appeal.

European HT Innovation 2009-2010 -> Philips Cinema 21:9 + BDP9100

The announcement of Philips’ Cinema 21:9 HDTV was greeted with great enthusiasm by home cinema buffs. And for a good reason, for as more BD releases are offered in their original cinematic aspects of around 2.35:1, this is the first set that gets close to offering the widescreen impact intended by the director. Philips’ 56PFL9954H, named in full, still partially scales the BD’s 1080p output to fill its 2560×1080 pixel screen but the results are both natural and compelling. Philips’ own BDP9100 Blu-ray player with subtitle-shift function is the ideal partner. This is a Profile 2.0 machine that handles Dolby and DTS HD audio formats with 1GB of internal memory to accommodate BD Live extras. Philips is the first to offer a truly cinematic widescreen experience from a TV, but you can bet others will follow!

European Video Projector 2009-2010 -> Sony BRAVIA VPL-VW85

‘Seeing is believing’ says Sony, and that has never been more true than with the new BRAVIA VPL-VW85. Using three latest generation SXRD panels with 1920×1080 pixels each, it produces smooth and crisp High Definition images. In conjunction with a revised dynamic iris control, these deliver a stunning in-picture contrast, resulting in lifelike and rich images of previously-unseen depth and clarity. Sony’s unique Motionflow algorithm offers the right mode of motion compensation for every source material and viewer’s taste, including the option to insert black frames for a really cinema-like presentation. The combination of all these technologies results in a picture performance that sets new standards in the home theatre experience.

Video Panel Awards 2009-2010

European Plasma-TV 2009-2010 -> Panasonic TX-P42V10E

Making it the best choice in the plasma arena is the TX-P42V10E’s fine balance of picture quality, functionality and up-to-date technology, and of course a competitve price. This display offers a really enjoyable cinema-like experience, with excellent contrast and natural colour, achieved with no effort from the user thanks to the THX Preset setup feature. It can give you real Full HD pictures from terrestrial broadcasts, thanks to its MPEG4-compatible tuner, while an HD satellite tuner is included too. And it can keep you ‘connected’ with VieraCast, bringing the Internet directly to the display through useful widgets, while DLNA compatibility allows access to multimedia content from the user’s network. Last but not least, the NeoPDP panel guarantees an excellent efficiency in terms of power consumption. It would be difficult indeed to find all these features elsewhere at the same price.

European HD Video Editing Solution 2009-2010 -> Sony Vegas Pro 9

At a price that’s affordable for amateur video enthusiasts, Sony’s Vegas Pro 9 gives you a full professional editing solution. It is easy to use, and at the same time covers an unlimited number of audio/video tracks and a large range of video formats, including DV, HDV and variety of AVCHD formats. Additionally Vegas Pro 9 handles professional formats like XDCAM and RED 4k. You can mix 5.1 audio, and for thorough colour grading you can extend your editing suite with an AJA break-out solution, showing the video picture on a real TV screen. The software works smoothly on a normal, powerful PC. And if price is still an issue, you can choose one of the much cheaper Vegas Movie Studio packages with limited specifications, yet sharing the same professional, but still easy, user interface.

European LCD-TV 2009-2010 -> Philips 46PFL9704H/12

Competition in the LCD display market is tough, but Philips once again offers a masterpiece for moving pictures. With its backlight now using 224 LED segments and local dimming, the 46PFL9704H/12 will amaze viewers with the deepest blacks ever, making for an impressive picture with high contrast. Thanks to Philips ‘Perfect Natural Motion’ correction system, sharpness of detail is unsurpassed even in scenes with vertical movement. Philips’ unique Setup Assistant makes it easy to find your favourite picture settings, and the set is well-prepared for online Internet use. Some useful websites are pre-installed, but after browsing the whole Internet, you can store favourite places as shortcut icons. With a USB connection or DLNA, you can bring your own media files to the screen from your PC, media server or memory card. Philips’ 46PFL9704H/12 is the most exciting entertainment centre for any home, its great picture performance complemented by Philips amazing Ambilight feature.

European Webmedia-TV 2009-2010 -> Samsung UE46B8000

European Webmedia-TV 2009-2010 -> Samsung UE46B8000
Television enters new dimensions of entertainment with Samsung’s ultra-slim UE46B8000 edge-lit LED-backlight LCD display. Today’s customers look for high grade picture quality and stylish design, but they also want the options and benefits of web services and home networks. The UE46B8000 offers it all, with easy access to Flickr, YouTube, Twitter and various news services, by wired or wireless Internet. Its USB and DLNA connectivity allows it to handle any kind of media from streaming home servers, camcorders, portable music players, and external FAT or NTFS drives, covering most sound and video formats, even in High Definition. Meanwhile, the UE46B8000’s own on-board content library offers an exciting collection of games, fitness exercises, cooking recipes, art gallery and much more.

European Best Value LCD-TV 2009-2010 -> LG 42SL8000

A great Full HD viewing experience at an affordable price – that’s what the LG 42SL8000 brings to every customer’s home. This new LCD TV convinces viewers with its natural-looking colours, amazing contrast and deep blacks. It also looks great, with its unique seamless glass-front design and concealed speakers. LG’s integrated ‘TruMotion 200 Hertz’ technology grants smooth motion reproduction on all material, including 24p sources such as Blu-ray. For home cinema enthusiasts, the 42SL8000 offers a rich choice of sophisticated options and adjustments, with practical presets reached through clear and simple menus. While the average customer will be able to set up the 42LS8000 very effectively using LG’s ‘Picture Wizard’, it’s also ISFccc Ready, for professional calibration.

European Blu-ray Player 2009-2010 -> Pioneer BDP-LX91

Beautifully finished and comprehensively equipped, Pioneer’s BDP-LX91 is one of the very first BD players with sufficient on-board processing power to decode both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. It’s also one of the first to offer a full 7.1 channel analogue output – perfect for direct connection to the multichannel analogue inputs of new and legacy AV receivers alike. Naturally, the BDP-LX91 also offers HDMI 1.3a connectivity and the full flexibility of Profile 2 BD Live functionality with its 4GB of internal memory. Powerful DSP is included, offering audio bass management and Pioneer’s own ‘adaptive bit expansion’ which interpolates BD’s native 8-bit per channel to 16-bit colour. Picture and sound quality are spectacular, being both vibrant and hugely detailed. The very brightest whites look pure, free of spurious colour and any suggestion of dynamic crushing, while the multichannel sound is amazing, the most dense acoustic imaginings depicted in seemingly intricate detail. The BDP-LX91 is the jewel in Pioneer’s AV crown.

European Best Value Blu-ray Player 2009-2010 -> LG BD390

Trying to find a cost-effective BD player that will fulfil all your needs? The LG BD390 can! Its unique appeal is based on wireless connectivity plus complete compatibility with all the standard interfaces (USB, HDMI 1080p, S-Video, YUV), and it even provides 7.1-channel analogue outputs. For the Internet, you can hook up the player with an Ethernet cable or go wireless via 802.11n Wi-Fi. You can enjoy multimedia content from your local DLNA net or PC stream, download BD-Live content, or connect to YouTube. You can also play media files from external FAT and NTFS drives. The BD390 offers comprehensive handling of compressed audio, video and photo codecs, and formats like DivX, DivX HD and even MKV. Last but not least, this extraordinary player comes at a very attractive price.

European HT Design 2009-2010 -> Samsung BD-P4600

Billed by Samsung as ‘the world’s slimmest’, the 42mm-high BD-P4600 is also the world’s first wall-mountable Blu-ray player. Its black glossy finish blends into platinum-grey to complement Samsung’s Crystal TV range, and the curvy chassis looks great when mounted vertically on its special hidden bracket below a wall-mounted flat screen. Wireless internet access is provided simply and painlessly by connecting Samsung’s accessory Wi-Fi dongle to the player’s USB 2.0 port. Alternatively, you can use a cable Ethernet connection. The BD-P4600 supports Bonus View for picture-in-picture movie extras and BD Live (BD profile 2.0) for a wealth of interactive entertainment features, with 1GB of internal storage for downloadable content. You can also stream multimedia from your PC to the BD-P4600. Finally, this sleek and effective Blu-ray player offers 1080p upscaling when playing a standard DVD disc. A genuinely innovative design with ‘must have’ visual appeal.