Audio/video gear Headphones

Many styles of headphones are Monster Beats

available, and they vary greatly by Dr. Dre Heartbeats
LG BD670 in price. Small, low-priced
earbud types and folding on-ear
Blu-ray players models are great replacements
for the standard models that
All the Blu-ray players we’ve tested can provide excellent HD picture come with iPods. Larger
quality from Blu-ray discs and can play DVDs and CDs. More new headphones that fit over or on
models can stream video from online services such as Netflix, and your ears are better suited for
a growing number have built-in Wi-Fi. The latest trend: 3D-capable use at home. Designs that fit
models. All models here are recommended. inside the ear canal or over your
ears create a seal that physically
Type Brand & model Price Overall score blocks some ambient noise.
Standard Samsung BD-D5700 $170 75 Noise-canceling models go a
players Panasonic DMP-BD75 100 70 step further, using electronic
LG BD630 100 70 circuitry (which requires
batteries) to reduce outside
Sony Internet TV NSZ-GT1 300 69
noise. All models here are
Type Brand & model
Sony BDP-S380 Price
110 Overall
67 score
recommended.
3D players LG BD690 300 80
LG BD670 170 78 Type Brand & model Price Overall score
LG BD650 140 77 Standard Portable
Oppo BDP-93 500 77 models Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Hi-Fi $300 80
Samsung BD-D6700 270 76 Klipsch Image X10i 330 80
Sony BDP-S780 230 74 Klipsch Image S4i 100 76
Sony BDP-S580 180 74 Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Diddybeats 150 76
Samsung BD-D5500 150 74 Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Heartbeats 70 76
Sony BDP-S480 150 72 Altec Lansing BackBeat Titanium 20 71
UHP326
Panasonic DMP-BDT210 160 71
JVC HA-FX300 55 71
Samsung BD-D7500 300 71
Sennheiser CX 400-II 45 71
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 230 71
Home/Studio
Home-theater systems Grado SR80i
Audio-Technica ATH-WS70 Solid Bass
100
120
86
76
These systems have a simpler setup than components have. They Bose AE2 150 76
usually bundle a receiver with five or seven speakers and a subwoofer.
Grado SR60i 80 76
Many include a built-in DVD or Blu-ray player, which might be a 3D
model. In most cases the Blu-ray player is Internet-enabled and can Skullcandy Roc Nation Aviator 150 71

access online content, such as streaming movies from Netflix or Vudu. Sony PIIQ Giiq MDR-PQ2 35 71
Some can connect to a home network via Wi-Fi, so you won’t have to TDK ST800 200 71
run cables to get Wireless Home/Studio
Internet access. A Sennheiser RS 180 330 80
sound bar integrates
Samsung speakers into one Noise- Portable
HT-C6500 enclosure that can canceling AKG by Harman K 390 NC 200 82

be mounted above models Panasonic RP-HC55 40 73

or below a TV. Many Audio Technica ATH-ANC23 80 64
have a separate Home/Studio
subwoofer. All Sony MDR-NC500D 230 78
models here are
Bose QuietComfort 15 300 74
recommended.
Monster Beats by Dr. Dre Studio 300 71
Type Brand & model Price Overall score
Systems Without disc player
Bose Lifestyle T20 $1,800 76
1 close-up
Denon DHT-1312BA 600 71
Onkyo HT-S3300 (HT-S3400*) 300 63
Sound bars save space
Yamaha YHT-493 (YHT-495*) 330 63
If you don’t have room for a big system,
Yamaha YHT-395 350 61
consider a sound bar to help pump up a
With Blu-ray player   TV’s sound. Scan this code with your smart
Samsung HT-C6500 (HT-D6500*) 400 76 phone to see our video on sound bars.
Sound bars Vizio VHT510 (VHT520*) 320 59 (See page 3 for details.) Or go to www.
Vizio VHT210 240 55 ConsumerReports.org/sound.
*Successor to the tested model, which may have limited availability.
54 c on s um e r r e p o rt s d e c e mb e r 2 0 1 1

54 HTIB 12-11.indd 54 10/6/11 4:50:44 PM

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