LATEST ADDITIONS

High-end audio is the primary emphasis here at HE 2001, but home theater is getting plenty of exposure at demos put on by <A HREF="http://www.polkaudio.com">Polk Audio</A>, <A HREF="http://www.martinlogan.com">MartinLogan</A>, and other audio manufacturers who are pushing their products for surround sound. Polk's large suite&mdash;immediately next door to the show's Press Room&mdash;has been packed for the first two days, with show attendees waiting in long lines to get in. The emphasis: a new multi-channel audio system known as the Digital Solution 7200, which includes five two-way speakers, a powered subwoofer with an integral multichannel amplifier, and a tuner/processor/preamp.

The home of the future will have a "Digital Nerve Center" at its core&mdash;a center that incorporates audio, video, information, and computer functions that control the house and link it to the world outside. That's the vision of <A HREF="http://www.ce.org/"><B>Consumer Electronics Association</B></A> president Gary Shapiro and the hundreds of manufacturers who comprise his organization.

Poly-OLED. Add this new acronym to your technophile lexicon. It's short for "polymer organic light emitting diode," a type of display technology developed by Wilmington, Delaware&ndash;based <A HREF="http://www.ritekdisplay.com/in_English/index_English.htm">RiTEK Display Technology Company</A>, the beneficiary of a recent investment by <A HREF="http://www.dupont.com/displays">DuPont Displays</A>, a unit of DuPont iTechnologies of the DuPont chemical conglomerate. Poly-OLED is said to be considerably better than the traditional liquid crystal display (LCD) because of its greater brightness, better contrast, and lower manufacturing costs.

Home Entertainment 2001 arrives in New York this week for three days, May 11-13, at the Hilton Hotel & Towers. There will be more than 80 rooms stuffed with the latest high end audio and video gear, including dozens of brand new products. For more information about the show, go to the HE 2001 web site.