What do you get when you pay top dollar for a sink or a faucet? Less money to spend on the rest of your kitchen. Our tests found that despite the hype, sink and faucet prices have little to do with performance.

For our sinks review, we compared thick stainless steel sinks to thin ones, heavy cast-iron sinks to lightweight acrylic, and chrome faucets to stainless steel and nickel models. Months of testing found that the sink manufacturer isn't as important as the material. And when it comes to faucets, exterior finish, not brand, determines durability.

As prices increase, so do choices. More money also means more elaborate claims. Elkay says its Mystic sink has "a magical quality that draws visitors into conversation and interaction." While this $1,300 to $2,100 trough-style sink makes an eye-catching second sink, your budget might need some magic to afford it.

We tested 16 top-mount, double-bowl sinks for this sinks review and 16 faucets in a variety of materials, finishes, and prices from major manufacturers including American Standard, Delta, Elkay, Grohe, Kohler, and Moen. Because sinks made of the same material performed similarly in our tests, we based our Ratings in this sinks review on materials, not brands.

HANDS-FREE AT HOME

Unlike the models you may have fumbled with in public rest rooms, Danze's Parma hands-free faucet was surprisingly easy to use. Its motion sensor is in the base of the spout and easily detected our hands and the pots we needed filled. A second wave of the hand turned off the water--no futile waving.

The faucet, which costs about $500, comes in four parts: spout, single-handle lever, separate sprayer, and electric control valve. The latter lets you select the water temperature and running time (from 5 to 45 seconds) in the hands-free mode. This control is under the sink, so changing temperature isn't that convenient. And unless you're using a battery to power the valve, the hands-free option won't work if the lights go out.