On the LCD side, manufacturers, such as Sharp, JVC, and Toshiba are showing LCD sets with improved contrast ratios, 120HZ screen refresh rates (wihich eliminates motion lag), more 1080p models, and much larger sreen sizes in the 47-inch and above category, in direct competition with large screen Plasma sets. With reference to screen size, Sharp has broken all records with a 108-inch prototype (pictured), which is larger than the largest Plasma set currently available.

1) Anthony Gallo Acoustics AV Reference Home Theater Loudspeakers
There are literally thousands of loudspeakers on the market, and many times the choice, despite all the technical specs, is determined by how they sound to you. If you are looking for new set of loudspeakers for your home theater, check out the uniquely designed AV Reference, A'Diva T, TR2 Powered Subwoofer from Anthony Gallo Acoustics. Despite their modest size, the Gallos are constucted well and really deliver where it counts; sound quality. For more details, check out my review.

2) OPPO Digital DV970HD DVD Player with HDMI Output and DVD-Audio/SACD Playback
The OPPO DV970HD is a "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing". This DVD player delivers great video and audio. HDMI connectivity and upscaling enables the DV970HD to deliver an excellent picture on an HDTV. Other features, such as DVD-Audio, SACD, and Divx playback add great audio and video flexibility. If you are looking for a new DVD player, to use with a flat panel HDTV and surround sound system, you should check out the 970. For less than $200 it performs as well as many more expensive units.

3) Toshiba HD-XA1 Flagship HD-DVD Player
The Toshiba HD-XA1 introduces consumers to high definition viewing from a disc, via the HD-DVD format. HD-DVDs and DVDs (which are upscaled) look excellent via the HDMI connection. However, it does takes about a minute to boot up and load a disc. Also, the resolution and video output settings cannot be changed while a disc is in play. The HD-XA1 is well-constructed, but some operational features need improvement. Toshiba deserves credit for being the first out the gate with High Definition DVD.