Last night in New York City at a preview event for the coming Consumer Electronics Show, CEA unveiled the winners and honorees of its annual Innovations Awards. The awards cover several categories, including some that don’t pertain much to Electronic House, but the winners did include many outstanding products in the video display, high-end audio and home control categories.

Some of the award-winning products we’ve seen before, such as LG’s new Ultra HD television and the Da Vinci DAC from Light Harmonics. Others are new to us, and we look forward to getting a lot closer to them at in January when CES comes to Vegas. One surprise was the news of a Samsung 85-inch Ultra HD (4K) TV, though neither CEA nor Samsung would divulge many details (or even a picture).

The judges select winners and honorees based on a defined list of criteria, including engineering qualities, function and user value, novel features, aesthetics and marketplace fit.

The Best of Innovations designation is awarded to products with the highest judges’ scores and will be featured in the Innovations Design and Engineering Awards Showcase in The Venetian at the 2013 International CES, January 8-11, 2013 in Last Vegas.

Check out the slide show for our favorites among the Innovations winners and honorees.

Grant Clauser - Technology and Web Editor, Electronic House

Grant Clauser has been covering home electronics for more than 10 years with editorial roles in several consumer and trade magazines. He's done ISF-level damage to hundreds of reviewed products and has had audio training from Home Acoustics Alliance and Sencore. He's also the author of the book The Trouble with Rivers. Follow him on Twitter @geclauser.