Top Picks

Source Components

TiVo Bolt Unified Entertainment Center
(June print) TiVo keeps its world-class user interface alive with this latest UltraHD compatible, feature-packed DVR and streaming platform. $300 (500 gigabytes); $400 (1 terabyte); both include one year TiVo service. tivo.com

Samsung UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
(June print) This first-of-its-kind launch vehicle for UHD Blu-ray proved itself a capable standard-bearer at its initial $400 price and was widely selling for $200 during the holidays. $400, samsung.com

Roku Ultra Streaming Media Player
(February/March 2017 print, watch for the full review) There are other streaming players out there, but this high-power UHD-compliant box, with Roku’s simple-to-use GUI and agnostic search engine, should remind everyone who the leader is. $130, roku.com

Dish Hopper 3 Satellite DVR
(September print) Dish ups the ante again with this 16-tuner, multiroom, mega-streaming platform. $15/month, dish.com

Panasonic DMP-UB900 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
(February/March print, watch for the full review) Panasonic’s first UHD BD player takes a high-end approach, featuring extraordinary build quality, high-performance audio circuitry, and a stellar UHD or 1080p Blu-ray image. $600, panasonic.com

Sony PS-HX500 Hi-Res Audio USB Turntable
(May print) Sony melded the old with the new in this turntable, which features a built-in ripper that lets you convert your vinyl to DSD or PCM hi-res audio files. $599, sony.com