Home Theater Component of 1996
Lexicon DC-1 surround-sound processor ($1995–$4500; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.4, Winter 1996; Vol.19 No.12, December 1996)
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Acarian Alón Trio C-1 surround loudspeaker system ($3975/system; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.3, Fall 1996)
Citation Model 7.0 surround-sound processor ($3950; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.2, Summer 1996)
Denon AVP-8000 AC-3/THX surround-sound processor ($3500; reviewed by Robert Harley, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.2, Summer 1996)
Kenwood Home THX loudspeaker system ($2800/system; reviewed by Steven Stone, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.1, Spring 1996)
Marantz MA500 THX monoblock power amplifier ($300 each; reviewed by Robert Harley, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.2, Summer 1996)
Marantz RC2000 system remote control ($250; reviewed by Larry E. Ullman, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.4, Winter 1996)
Meridian 565 surround-sound processor ($3895; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt & Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.6, June 1995; Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.3, Fall 1996)
NHT VT-2 surround loudspeaker system ($3930/system; reviewed by Robert Harley, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.1, Spring 1996)
Rotel RB-985 5-channel power amplifier ($1000; reviewed by Robert Deutsch, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.1, Spring 1996)
Sound Dynamics THC surround loudspeaker system ($1780/system; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.3, Fall 1996)
Triad Gold THX loudspeaker system ($6350–$7025/system; reviewed by Steven Stone, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.2, Summer 1996) JGH enthusiastically recommended the DC-1 when he reviewed it in SGHT, and it has gained admirers on the staff wherever it has been deployed. A sonically outstanding, super-versatile surround-sound processor/control center that's user-friendly—what's not to like? JGH feels that the DC-1's matrixed surround-sound decoding sets a new quality standard—this alone would make it worthy of Home Theater Component of 1996—but the Lexicon proved equally adept at multichannel music reproduction, as you can read elsewhere in this issue. You'll be hearing more from this product.
Acarian Alón Trio C-1 surround loudspeaker system ($3975/system; reviewed by Wes Phillips, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.3, Fall 1996)
Citation Model 7.0 surround-sound processor ($3950; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.2, Summer 1996)
Denon AVP-8000 AC-3/THX surround-sound processor ($3500; reviewed by Robert Harley, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.2, Summer 1996)
Kenwood Home THX loudspeaker system ($2800/system; reviewed by Steven Stone, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.1, Spring 1996)
Marantz MA500 THX monoblock power amplifier ($300 each; reviewed by Robert Harley, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.2, Summer 1996)
Marantz RC2000 system remote control ($250; reviewed by Larry E. Ullman, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.4, Winter 1996)
Meridian 565 surround-sound processor ($3895; reviewed by J. Gordon Holt & Thomas J. Norton, Vol.18 No.6, June 1995; Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.3, Fall 1996)
NHT VT-2 surround loudspeaker system ($3930/system; reviewed by Robert Harley, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.1, Spring 1996)
Rotel RB-985 5-channel power amplifier ($1000; reviewed by Robert Deutsch, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.1, Spring 1996)
Sound Dynamics THC surround loudspeaker system ($1780/system; reviewed by Michael Fremer, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.3, Fall 1996)
Triad Gold THX loudspeaker system ($6350–$7025/system; reviewed by Steven Stone, Stereophile Guide to Home Theater, Vol.2 No.2, Summer 1996) JGH enthusiastically recommended the DC-1 when he reviewed it in SGHT, and it has gained admirers on the staff wherever it has been deployed. A sonically outstanding, super-versatile surround-sound processor/control center that's user-friendly—what's not to like? JGH feels that the DC-1's matrixed surround-sound decoding sets a new quality standard—this alone would make it worthy of Home Theater Component of 1996—but the Lexicon proved equally adept at multichannel music reproduction, as you can read elsewhere in this issue. You'll be hearing more from this product.
