Marantz
Watching huge high-definition images is what the 61-inch Marantz PV6111W rear-projection TV was made for. The widescreen monitor still needs an outboard digital tuner to receive HDTV signals, but that’s why it’s got wideband component-video and VGA-type RGB inputs. The set has a high-def contrast enhancer said to improve picture sharpness and can perform 2:3 pulldown to compensate for frame-rate differences between film and video. There’s a built-in analog TV tuner plus six composite- and four S-video inputs. Dimensions are 565/8 x 577/8 x 281/8 inches; weight is 298 pounds. A backlit remote control is supplied.
Price: $4,999. www.marantz.com, 630-741-0300

Rotel
If you want to hear the back surround channel in the latest 6.1-channel DVD soundtracks, Rotel’s RSP-1066 preamplifer can give you access, provided you have the watts and the speakers. The preamp can decode Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES Matrix and Discrete soundtracks, and there’s also Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6 processing for multichannel playback from stereo sources. The 6.1-channel analog input lets you hook up a DVD-Audio or Super Audio CD player, and two wideband component-video inputs let you switch easily between an HDTV tuner and a progressive-scan DVD player. The back panel has five A/V inputs and three outputs, all with composite- and S-video jacks, plus two audio-only inputs and a tape-loop connection. It also has an RS-232 control interface and outputs for a second zone. Price: $1,499. www.rotel.com, 978-664-3820

Canon
If you’ve been holding out on buying a camcorder because of the price, take a look at Canon’s Hi8 ES8400V. This budget-price cam has several useful features, like a 21/2-inch color viewscreen, image stabilization, and custom keys for saving often-used settings. Its single 1/4-inch image sensor produces a resolution of about 250,000 pixels, and automatic focus and exposure make it easier to set up shots. You can add up to ten digital effects to your videos, or switch over to Photo Mode for still pictures. The cam has 22x optical and 800x digital zooms. Dimensions are 4 x 4 x 71/8 inches, and weight is 13/4 pounds. Price: $299. www.usa.canon.com, 800-652-2666

Paradigm
Want to add some music to your backyard barbecue? Each of Paradigm’s Stylus indoor/outdoor speakers — the Stylus 100, 150, 250, 350, and CC center speaker — is both weather-resistant and magnetically shielded. The speakers pair either a 3/4- or 1-inch titanium-dome tweeter with a polypropylene-cone midrange driver ranging from 41/2 inches on the Stylus 100 to 61/2 inches on the Stylus 350. The latter’s frequency response is rated as 17 Hz to 20 kHz ±2 dB, and it measures 87/8 x 122/4 x 85/8 inches. Each speaker comes with a rust-resistant mounting bracket that lets you rotate it up to 90°. Prices: Stylus 100, 150, 250, and 350 — $249 to $549 a pair; Stylus CC, $179. www.paradigm.com, 905-632-0180

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