Even as new DVD technologies are arriving this year (notably, the high-definition Blu-ray and HD DVD formats), home theater electronic components manufacturer Rotel still believes that there is room for a highly sophisticated “regular” DVD player, its $1,500 flagship RDV-1092. Why is it special? It can output a 1080p signal for highest video resolution on HD monitors. And its video scaler will improve images on televisions unable to reproduce the 1080p signal. (www.rotel.com)
LED Longevity
The handsome Samsung rear projector dispenses with the expensive lightbulbs that brighten most sets of this ilk and instead employs an LED system that the company says should last 20,000 hours—more than twice the life of most bulbs. Price: $4,199. (www.samsung.com)
Eye-Catcher
The Bowers & Wilkins XT Series speaker system: Gorgeous is an understatement. These sexy, shiny units are made of extruded aluminum polished to a gleaming finish. The 5.1-channel system ($5,800) has the silky, detailed sonics common to most of this British firm's products. It'll line up neatly with just about any flat-panel video monitor. (www.bwspeakers.com)