Top Picks

Source Components

Top Pick of the Year: Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
(October/November) In a year marked by the retreat of Oppo from the Ultra HD Blu-ray player scene, it was a comfort to see at least one new player arrive that actually mattered. Along with providing reference-quality video performance, the DP-UB820's flexible tone-mapping feature led reviewer Kris Deering to conclude, “For projector owners who want to watch HDR, the UB820 is the first must-own player to hit the market.” $499, panasonic.com

TiVo Bolt Vox DVR and Streamer
(April) The latest in a long line of DVRs from TiVo, the Bolt Vox distinguishes itself mainly through the addition of voice-assisted search and channel control, but an even more appealing feature may be the big green Skip button on its remote for vaulting past commercials. $200-$500 plus service plan, tivo.com