New Products

Xitel You don't have to sit at your computer to enjoy Internet radio, streaming audio, and MP3 music files with Xitel's HiFi-Link interface. The 4 1/8-inch-long, 1 1/8-inch-thick cylinder connects to your PC's or Mac's USB port, and the other end connects to your music system's analog stereo inputs. After that, you're done-there's no need to install any drivers or other software. It works with any media-playing software, as the HiFi-Link's digital-to-analog converter processes the digital signal directly from the USB connection. A USB cable and a 30-foot audio cable with gold-plated connectors are included. Price: $50. www.xitel.com, 512-331-5799

BDI

Now that you have a nice big-screen TV, it deserves a stand that's equally chic. BDI's Vector line of A/V furniture aims to give your gear an attractive home for a price that won't force you to mortgage yours. The Model 9524 (shown) has a top shelf rated to support up to 325 pounds and large enough to hold a TV with a 50-inch (diagonal) screen. The stand's overall dimensions are 46 1/2 x 22 x 24 inches, with room for up to four average-size components on two adjustable tempered-glass shelves. The steel frame has cherry or black wood paneling on the front, and the wire-management system keeps cables out of sight. Price: $595. www.bdiusa.com, 800-428-2881

AVerMedia

Slide projectors-who needs 'em? No one with AVerMedia's AVerFotoplay digital photo player, which can present digital slide shows on your TV. The player's card slot accepts CompactFlash or SmartMedia cards, and it hooks up to either a composite- or S-video jack. The player can display JPEGs with up to 2,400 x 1,800 pixels of resolution, and the supplied remote control lets you scroll through menus with 16 thumbnail pictures. You can zoom, pan, or rotate photos, or just sit back and engage the auto slide-show mode. The player can even select pictures randomly. Price: $80. www.aver.com, 800-863-2332

Polk Audio

No need to hit the gym for a tight, strong bottom end when you have Polk Audio's PSW404 subwoofer. The full-figured sub has a 10-inch long-throw driver and measures 13 5/8 x 14 3/8 x 16 1/2 inches. Its rated frequency response is 35 to 160 Hz -3 dB, and the onboard amp is rated to deliver 200 watts. You can hook it up to your system through line- or speaker-level connectors, and there are controls for crossover frequency, phase, and volume. An unfiltered LFE input bypasses the adjustable crossover. The magnetically shielded sub comes in a black real-wood veneer. Price: $480. www.polkaudio.com, 800-377-7655

Meridian

Doing away with those six tangling cables that seem to go hand in hand with DVD-Audio, Meridian's Model 598 DP player transfers high-res audio signals to the Model 568.2MM surround processor via a single proprietary connection called MHR Smart Link. The hookup is made between 15-pin D-sub jacks. Progressive-scan video is delivered via a set of component BNC connectors, and there are composite- and S-video outputs, too. The 568.2MM provides full bass management for any audio signals from the Smart Link connection, and its digital signal processing (DSP) chip is said to upsample conventional audio signals to 96-kHz/24-bit resolution. It has one optical and four coaxial digital audio inputs, a composite/S-video input and output, and three balanced XLR analog outputs for the front left, right, and center channels. Prices: 598 DP, $5,695; 568.2MM, $7,745. www.meridian-audio.com, 404-344-7111

Blaupunkt

The right LCD screen for the right job: Blaupunkt offers three car monitors for viewing DVDs, videogames, TV, or navigation maps. The IVMR 7001 (shown) is a 7-inch widescreen roof-mount display that flips down and can rotate 30 degrees left or right. Headrest displays come in two sizes: 7-inch widescreen (IVMS 7001) or 55/8-inch with a 4:3 aspect ratio (IVMS 5601). An external source like a DVD player connects through the front-panel minijack, and there's a headphone jack, too. A single cable carries the A/V signal and power, simplifying installation. Images are said to be uniformly bright up to viewing angles of 120 degrees. Prices: IVMR 7001, $1,000; IVMS 7001, $850; IVMS 5601, $540. www.blaupunktusa.com, 800-950-2528.