Electronic House announces the winners for the 2015 Products of the Year awards. The Products of the Year awards recognize the best technologies, products and services for the Electronic House.
The award submissions were reviewed by a judging panel of several credible industry leaders along with the editors of Electronic House and CE Pro who consider all aspects involved such as creativity, innovation, functionality, aesthetics and lifestyle benefits.
The following are the 2015 Products of the Year Awards in the HOME AUDIO category with the top winners in each category identified with a 2015 Winner insignia:
Audio Components, Amplifiers, Receivers, Tuners
Balanced Audio Technology VK3000-SE Integrated Amplifier
The Balanced Audio Technology VK3000-SE Integrated Amplifier combines innovative engineering with elegant design, ease of use, and extraordinary sound quality. It’s the ideal centerpiece for an ultra high-end music system. $7,995; balanced.com
Crestron HD-XSPA Surround-Sound Processor
The Crestron HD-XSPA is a powerful surround-sound processor that makes it easy and affordable to enjoy full 7.1 audio in any room as part of a whole-house A/V distribution system. $5,500; crestron.com
Integra DHC-80.6 Processor
From a solid alloy faceplate to gold-plated XLR pre-outs, the DHC-80.6 exudes audiophile quality. Triple transformers power cutting-edge processing technology for Dolby Atmos theater sound or multi-zone A/V entertainment. $3,200; integrahometheater.com
Integra DTR-70.6 Processor
Triple high-current transformers, separate processing and amp blocks, and state-of-the-art 32-bit D/A conversion combine in the magnificent DTR-70.6, the heart of the world’s ultimate Dolby Atmos home theater. $2,800; integrahometheater.com
Meridian Explorer:² DAC
The Meridian Explorer:², “the world’s first MQA-ready product,” is a portable, compact and rugged USB DAC designed to deliver best-in-class audio performance, featuring over 30 years of Meridian’s digital expertise. $299; meridian-audio.com
Pioneer Electronics Elite SC-89 AVR
The Pioneer Elite SC-89 9.2-channel A/V receiver incorporates new Dolby Atmos technology with the ability to decode and play back Dolby Atmos immersive content. It also features Class D3 amplification technology and a MCACC Pro acoustic calibration system. $3,000; pioneerelectronics.com
Acoustical Treatments
Vicoustic USA Super Bass Extreme
The Super Bass Extreme is a design forward, effective bass trap that is much more than a typical wide-band absorber. $365; vicousticusa.com
loudspeakers & soundbars
ARCHT One Speaker
The ARCHT One is an all-in-one wireless Bluetooth speaker that adapts to its environment to deliver consistent sound quality. Its multi-directional design evenly disperses sound so users can place it anywhere and enjoy sound everywhere. $599; archtaudio.com
Crestron AIR Landscape Speakers
Crestron offers a full line of high-performance landscape speakers to deliver audio to all corners of your property. These weatherproof speakers blend in wherever you put them and stay there, thanks to the extra-long 18-inch mounting stake. Offered in 4” and 6.5” sizes with available in-ground subwoofer. From $380; crestron.com
Klipsch Group Jamo Concert C 109 Speaker
Drawing on the brand’s award-winning design DNA, Jamo’s C 109 floorstanding speaker provides consumers with a new level of performance and value as it flawlessly combines premium quality with high-fidelity. $1,500–$1,750/pair; klipsch.com
NEAR IG8 In-Ground Loudspeaker
The NEAR IG8 is an 8-inch, two-way omnidirectional on- or in-ground outdoor loudspeaker that delivers the lifelike sound of high-end indoor speakers while enduring extreme environments. $859 each; nearspeakers.com
Pioneer Elite Dolby Atmos-Enabled Speaker System (SP-EFS73)
The Dolby Atmos-Enabled Pioneer Elite SP-EFS73 Floorstanding Speakers provide outstanding audio accuracy and multi-dimensional sound reproduction. $699.99; pioneerelectronics.com
Russound RSF-635 Acclaim Speaker
The Russound RSF-635 Acclaim shallow-depth, wide-dispersion speaker with NeoDrive woofer technology provides powerful audio output from a remarkably shallow design. $329 each; russound.com
SpeakerCraft AIM Series 2 Speaker
SpeakerCraft’s AIM Series 2 is the first architectural speaker series to deliver the performance of a 3-way design from a two-way speaker. From $250; speakercraft.com
SVS Prime Satellite 5.1 System
For about the price of a good soundbar, SVS delivers an immersive 5.1 home theater experience from a system that includes five Prime Satellite speakers and a powerful SB-1000 subwoofer. $999.99; svsound.com
subwoofers
Crestron Aspire In-Wall Subwoofer IWS82
Crestron’s Aspire In-Wall Subwoofers (IWS82) enhance audio distribution systems with deeper, fuller low-end stereo performance without cluttering home theaters and other entertainment spaces. $700; crestron.com
Monitor Audio In-Wall Subwoofer System
Monitor Audio’s In-Wall Subwoofer system adds deep, controlled bass to any architectural speaker system, while delivering wider retrofit possibilities, easy installation, a low-profile appearance and a price to satisfy cost-conscious homeowners. $1,250; monitoraudiousa.com
Sunfire XTEQ Subwoofer
The Sunfire XTEQ Subwoofer leverages new technologies and patents to deliver the most powerful, clearest bass from the smallest enclosure in the industry. $1,500–$2,000; sunfire.com
SVS PC-2000 Subwoofer
With a footprint measuring just 16.5 inches in diameter, the PC-2000 delivers unmatched bass performance per square-inch of floor space and comes standard with the Soundpath Subwoofer Isolation System. $799; svsound.com
multi-room audio systems
AUTONOMIC Mirage Music Player, MMS-2A
The Mirage Music Player MMS-2A blends high-resolution music playback with the luxury and convenience of whole-house entertainment from four to 96 zones, all of which can be easily controlled by Apple or Android devices. $1,995; autonomic-controls.com
BenQ treVolo
The BenQ treVolo is the world’s first electrostatic Bluetooth speaker. Designed to bring authentic audio experiences to any portable setting, the high-end speaker allows audiophiles to enjoy their favorite vocals the way they were intended to be heard. $299; benq.us
CasaTools CT-4S Music Streamer
The CT-4S Streamer supports four streams of Pandora, SiriusXM, and other services, plus local music and music from iOS devices; the streamer can be integrated with control systems from RTI, Audio Authority, ChannelVision, SpeakerCraft, NuVo, and Russound. $1,495; CasaTunes.com
Crestron 6-Zone “Plus Two” Amp
A powerful and flexible solution for mid-size home audio systems, the Crestron 6-Zone Plus Two” Amplifier (C2N-AMP-6X100) handles an impressive 12 source inputs with independent volume and levels control for each zone. Each room output is capable of 100 watts per zone or 50 watts per channel at 8 Ohms. Line-level outputs make it easy to integrate powered subwoofers, and Ethernet connectivity ensures easy integration with a Crestron automation system. $2,500; crestron.com
Crestron Network Stream Player (CEN-NSP-1)
Crestron delivers the first all-in-one solution for audio streaming. The CEN-NSP-1 Network Stream Player gives listeners a no-compromise solution for enjoying their favorite iTunes and Internet music anywhere in the home. $700; crestron.com
Definitive Technology Wireless Collection
Definitive Technology’s Wireless Collection provides audiophile-grade music everywhere in your home. The new collection allows listeners to stream and control music from smartphones, tablets, or a PC, wirelessly throughout the home, without loss of optimal audio performance. $3,395; definitivetech.com
Intrasonic Technology I600 Digital Music Distribution System
The I600 80 Watt Digital Music System with Bluetooth features a built-in iPhone/iPad dock and MP3 and USB Flashdrive connections to broadcast quality stereo music throughout the house. $499; intrasonictechnology.com
Peerless-AV PeerSound Wireless Audio System (ADS100-B)
The PeerSound is the industry’s first and only rack-mountable wireless audio transmission system with a remote antenna. $699; peerless-av.com
Polk Audio Omni Wireless Music System
Polk’s Omni is a great sounding wireless music system designed to stream all the music you love to any room in the home over Wi-Fi. $1,825; polkaudio.com
SpeakerCraft MRA-664
The new SpeakerCraft MRA-664 whole-home audio controller delivers up to six unique music sources for amazing sound in every room of the house. $2,000; speakercraft.com
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