Rockford Fosgate
The Rockford Fosgate RFX9210 car CD receiver doesn’t just play discs with MP3 files — it makes them feel at home. Its Track Access and Root keys let you select songs by assigned numbers or instantly return to the disc’s root menu. No disc handy? The tuner has 20 FM and 10 AM presets, and there’s an auxiliary input for an external source. The amplifier is rated to deliver 30 watts each to four channels, and there are three pairs of preamp outputs. The faceplate slides off at the touch of a button, and a remote control is supplied. Price: $500.
www.rockfordfosgate.com, 800-366-2349

Canton
Passive speakers starting to seem wimpy to you? Get active with Canton’s Ergo RC-A. The three-way floor-standing speaker has dual 9-inch woofers powered by a built-in 350-watt amplifier as well as a 7-inch midrange driver and a 1-inch aluminum-manganese tweeter powered by your receiver or system amplifier. Bandwidth is given as 18 Hz to 30 kHz. The bass-reflex cabinet is finished in black ash, cherry, or beech veneer and features a removable perforated-steel grille (not shown) and rounded wood corners. Height is 45 1/4 inches, and weight is 73 pounds. Price: $3,500 a pair. www.cantonusa.com, 612-706-9250

Head Wave
Drivers can’t have all the fun — now pedestrians can enjoy satellite radio, too, with Head Wave’s APR-1 satellite-antenna headgear. The receiver picks up both the Sirius and XM services, and the optional headphones can create virtual surround sound. Reception is said to be clear and free of distortion even while jogging — as long as you don’t turn east. The adjustable band in back of the helmet ensures that one size fits all, and it comes in black, graphite, and Midnight Sierra finishes. The headgear is powered by a dozen D-cell batteries and weighs only 75 pounds. A neck brace is supplied. Price: if you have to ask . . . . www.aprilfool.com, 888-UNN-REAL

JVC
The widescreen 48-inch I’Art Pro rear-projection HDTV monitor from JVC shows you can have high-def TV without high-debt prices. In addition to two wideband component-video inputs, there’s a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) connector for hooking up a digital VCR or high-def satellite receiver as well as four composite- and three S-video inputs. A built-in upconverter bumps all signals up to the set’s native 1080i (interlaced) display format. There’s also a center-channel input so the TV’s stereo speakers can function as a dual center speaker, two NTSC tuners, and a 3-D digital comb filter. Price: $2,300. www.jvc.com, 800-526-5308

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