Articles: Best of the Year – The 2007 Tone Awards – 66

There has been much debating, arm wrestling, and even a few covert threats in the selection of our annual awards, and as always, it hasn’t been easy. While there are a few products that are out on their own with very few serious competitors, it’s equally true to say that most categories are extremely crowded with a level of quality that continues to amaze us.

Here at Tone we’re often challenged on the number of products we give Gold Awards and hefty ratings to, but the fact is that there are few really shonky products on the market here, and we seldom bother to check out those products that are merely ordinary. But the Tone Awards are all about those products that have risen to the very top to distinguish themselves beyond their peer products. Some of our winners this year are really high-end beasts with equally high-end prices; on the other hand, there are products that represent amazing value for hard-earned cash. So without any further ado (roll of drum)… the winners of the 2007 Tone Awards!

Best LCD TV

Sony X350A 52-inch X Series Bravia

Samsung M8 Tulip 46-inch
It’s a tie! Both of these world class TVs have set standards for how an LCD can and should look, and they are both beautiful design statements in their own right, showing the way forward from the grey rectangle school of design. The Sony X Series Bravia is reviewed on Page 75 of this issue (Tone 66), while the Samsung M8 Tulip was reviewed on page 62 of Tone 63.

Best Plasma TV

Pioneer PDP-508XG Kuro
Acclaimed worldwide as the reference in flat panel TVs and our reviewer agrees: “There is no TV available today with the Kuro’s ability to instantly mesmerize the viewer”, he gushed. Reviewed on page 62 of Tone 64.

Best Projector

JVC HD1 D-ILA
D-ILA projectors are among the best and brightest new stars in the world of projection, and the JVC HD-1 does it all at a price that is quite incredible, substantially undercutting rivals. Reviewed on page 66 of Tone 65.

Best Home Theatre Receiver

Pioneer VSX AX4ASI
Still Tone’s reference receiver until we get our hands on the latest new-generation successor, the VSX AX4ASI stunned passers-by at Tone’s Big Boys Toys stand recently with its massive volume levels, and it survived to tell the tale, despite being hammered mercilessly for three days straight. Reviewed on page 68 of Tone 55.

Best Home Theatre Source

Sony PS3
There may well be more able Blu-ray players out there, but nothing can match the PS3′s combination of brilliant HD image quality and world class gaming console. At the new price point it’s a no-brainer. And so say all of us.

Best of New Zealand

Theophany Loudspeakers
From the mind of Garth Murray comes speakers that can make grown men laugh and cry – just ask Pat Pilcher and Brett Gideon, two intrepid Tone writers who have been blown away by the magic sounds these speakers make. Theophany is going great guns overseas and flying the Kiwi flag high every step of the way.

Best Floor Standing Speakers

Thiel CS3.7
A consummate performer, balancing every aspect of the speaker maker’s art into a symphony of looks and sound to create something overwhelmingly good. Drooled over in this issue’s ‘American Beauty’ story on page 44.

Best Standmount Speakers

AAD 7001 Reference Monitors
The amazing 7001s push the boundaries of standmount speaker design, build quality, cost and weight, but they push all the right buttons with their sound. The best speakers reviewer Gary Pearce has ever had in his home. Reviewed on page 66 of Tone 63.

Best Turntable

Thorens TD2010 (with Dynavector 17D3 Cartridge)
We’ve listened to some marvellous turntables this year like the Linn LP12SE and the Simon Yorke S7, but the Thorens TD2010 delivers a sound that beguiles at a price that just doesn’t make sense to us – a real bargain. Check this out on Page 46 of this fine issue.

Best Mobile Phone

Nokia N95
Convergence, thy name is N95. Offering a bag full of kit in a pocket-sized package, the N95 is still an object of lust around the Tone office. At least until the iPhone officially shows its face round these parts… Reviewed on page 75 of Tone 60.

Best Stereo Amplifier

VTL Siegfried Monoblock Power Amps
This monster – rated at 600 watts per mono into 8 ohms – is a colossal amp at a fairly colossal price, but this amazing amplifier just can’t bvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve faulted. Discussed on Page 40 of Tone 62.

Best Camera

Canon EOS 40D
Hands-down winner: a cavvmera built to go the distance and a motor drive that will make an action photographer out of anyone. Reviewed on page 98 of the very issue you’re holding in your clammy hands.

Best Notebook

Toshiba Portégé R500
Not just another notebook, the ultra-light R500 is innovative and utterly desirable. No PC before or since has had an impact like that at Tone. Everyone loved it on first sight. Reviewed on page 75 of Tone 64.

Best iPod Speaker System

HarmAn/Kardon Go + Play
Our reviewer called it the best portable iPod speaker system on the market and we can’t argue with that. It’s gorgeous, built like a far more expensive product and sounds terrific. What more could anyone ask for? Reviewed on page 70 of Tone 63.

Best CD Player

Perreaux Silhouette SXCD
Another Kiwi product, but that’s not why we chose it. The SXCD is remarkably nicely priced for such an innovative, and brilliant-sounding, CD player. For those who like minimalist design and economic use of size, the SXCD is a godsend. Reviewed on Page 71 of Tone 63.

Best Luxury/High-End

Meridian/Ferrari F80 Music/DVD System
Amazing sound blasts forth from a stylish little unit and everyone in the room stands around looking for the hi-fi speakers. The masters of digital amplification have outdone themselves; you have to hear the F80 to believe it. To be reviewed in a forthcoming issue of Tone.

Best Console

Sony PS3
No question about it, the PS3 still rules because it does everything so damn well.

Best Camcorder

Panasonic HDC-SD1GC

Canon HV20
It’s another tie! Both of these world class camcorders are capable of changing the way you think about portable video with image quality that will astonish. The Canon HV20 was reviewed on page 71 of Tone 62, and the Panasonic HDC-SD1GC was reviewed on page 60 of Tone 59.

Worst Gadget

Philips/Swarovski Heartbeat USB Stick
The Tone Awards team argued long and hard about this one because some of us think it’s entertainingly blingy. But finally the grumpy old Ed got his way, because he’s the original talking horse, and horses are scary. The Ed thinks the idea of a jewellery-encrusted USB stick is just plain dumb.

Best Portable Music Player

iPod Touch
It’s an iPod Touch! Need we say more? Okay, if you insist. This unit takes some of the jubblies out of the forthcoming iPhone and it’s easily the most intuitive and fun to use portable media player yet to hit the market. No argument. Reviewed on page 54 of Tone 65.

Best Gaming Peripheral

Logitech G25 Racing Wheel
Putting you firmly in the driver’s seat and making driving games better than we could have ever hoped, if racing games are your thing, this is your peripheral. Reviewed on page 78 of Tone 59.