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How We Tested<br />
Video Gear<br />
DVRS We recorded<br />
two hi-def shows at<br />
once while watching<br />
a third. We also<br />
ran a spouse check<br />
to see whether nontechie<br />
users could<br />
operate the units.<br />
UNIVERSAL<br />
REMOTES After pairing<br />
the remotes with<br />
all our gear, we<br />
pressed every button<br />
to make sure<br />
each feature on our<br />
system was truly<br />
under our control.<br />
BLU-RAY AND<br />
HD DVD PLAYERS<br />
We watched hours<br />
of movies, looking<br />
for video and audio<br />
glitches, and tested<br />
the players’ connectivity<br />
options.<br />
MEDIA STREAMERS<br />
Paying close attention<br />
to ease of setup,<br />
media-format support,<br />
and inputs and<br />
outputs, we played<br />
hours of music<br />
and video.<br />
0 8 8 WIRED TEST<br />
Video Gear<br />
Accessories<br />
Build out your home theater with shelf-friendly<br />
DVD storage, music-streaming iPod docks, wideangle<br />
wall mounts, and more. —R.B.<br />
Belkin PureAV<br />
HDMI Interface<br />
Audio Video Cable<br />
$100 • belkin.com<br />
Belkin’s meaty, rugged HDMI cord<br />
delivers A/V to your TV in quadshielded,<br />
silver-plated style, but at<br />
a price that’s a little too precious.<br />
We enjoyed the same audio-visual<br />
acumen from a $20 no-brand cable.<br />
Sure, it’s not as likely to survive<br />
the cat gnawing on it, but we think<br />
that’s an $80 risk worth taking.<br />
Cables Unlimited<br />
HDMI 3 to 1 Switch<br />
With Remote<br />
$150 • cablesunlimited.com<br />
What with your TiVo, Xbox 360,<br />
Blu-ray player, and other hi-def<br />
traffic, your TV’s HDMI port<br />
is congested. This switchbox<br />
adds three more inputs, with a<br />
single-button remote that cycles<br />
between them. A couple of extra<br />
buttons to let us choose our inputs<br />
faster would have been nice.<br />
EDITORS’<br />
PICK<br />
Sanus VisionMount<br />
VMAA18<br />
$400 • sanus.com<br />
If your wall mount isn’t perfectly<br />
level, your flat-panel TV won’t be<br />
either. The VMAA18 rotates up<br />
to six degrees, meaning a botched<br />
installation won’t spoil the show.<br />
It also lets you tilt, swivel, pan, and<br />
extend your TV, all with the touch<br />
of a finger. Added bonus: This<br />
heavy-duty mount installs easily<br />
and is seemingly earthquake-proof.<br />
DLO HomeDock<br />
Deluxe<br />
$150 • dlo.com<br />
The HomeDock makes your iPod<br />
the centerpiece of your home<br />
theater, piping music and video to<br />
your TV or stereo. Hook it up, drop<br />
in your iPod, and lay back. DLO’s<br />
comfy remote and intuitive menus<br />
make for easy navigation, but<br />
output looks lo-res on big TVs.<br />
Although it functions like an Apple<br />
TV, it’s simply less fulfilling.
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