New Products

Sharp In debuting its first rear-projection DLP TVs, Sharp makes a distinctive style statement by giving them V-based cabinets. The 56DR650 (shown) has a 56-inch (diagonal) screen that displays images with 720 lines of resolution, matching the high-def 720p format. It has a built-in HDTV tuner, but external HD sources can connect to the set's component-video, VGA, or HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) inputs. There's also a CableCARD slot, so you can get high-def programming via cable without an external box, and the TV Guide On Screen electronic program guide is included. The relatively compact design, made possible by DLP technology, keeps the cabinet's depth to only 15 3/4 inches. Price: $3,300. sharpusa.com, 800-237-4277

PanasonicStill recording TV on tape? It might be about time to get a DVD recorder now that affordable models like Panasonic's DMR-ES10 are packed with convenient features. For starters, the versatile deck can burn every recordable-DVD format except DVD+RW, and it plays them all. Its four quality modes - XP, SP, LP, and EP - yield 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours, respectively. Economical LP recordings are said to retain 500 lines of resolution (previous models cut that number in half). Recording on DVD-RAM discs will give you most of the abilities of a hard-disk recorder, like pausing playback while recording a live program. The ES10 also plays DVD-Audio music discs. Price: $250. panasonic.com, 800-211-7262

Samsung Surround sound is great, but the cables running to the speakers in the back of the room are at best an eyesore and at worst a tripping hazard. Samsung's HT-WP40 home theater in a box cuts the cords. Its small wireless amplifier (not shown) receives signals from the DVD player/receiver up to 30 feet away via 2.4-GHz Bluetooth technology. The stereo amp is rated to deliver 134 watts into each channel - the same as the five-disc player/receiver provides to the other three speakers (the bass module has its own 130-watt amp). Efficient digital amplifiers keep the player slim (only 3 3/8 inches tall), and the system welcomes DVD-Audio discs. Price: $449. samsung.com, 800-726-7864

NOTE All prices and product information are supplied by the manufacturers. Dealer prices may vary.