Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

It’s one thing to witness an HDTV under the watchful eye of the company that made it, but it’s an entirely different experience to get out on your own, with your own hand-picked sources, your own food stash and the freedom to really speak your mind. From what we’ve seen under Mitsu’s own conditions, the 65-inch LaserVue is truly a sight to behold, and even when the gurus over at TheTechLounge managed to see this thing in their own element, they were equally amazed. They wouldn’t go so far as to call it the best HDTV ever, but even when compared side-by-side with Pioneer’s heralded PRO-151FD KURO plasma, they found the laser-packed set to be superior in a few instances. The test subjects underwent a few grueling hours of Iron Man and Ice Age: Meltdown on Blu-ray, and at the end of the night, critics didn’t hesitate to recommend the set for anyone with loads of cash.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Tough luck, Mitsubishi and Funai. Big talk is all fine and dandy, but in our world, it’s the results that count. Say hello to Sharp’s AQUOS DX family, the world’s first range of LCD HDTVs to boast internal Blu-ray players. Slated to hit in 26- (LC-26DX1), 32- (LC-32DX1), 37- (LC-37DX1), 42- (LC-42DX1), 46- (LC-46DX1) and 52-inch (LC-52DX1) sizes, the whole lot will come equipped with an integrated HDTV tuner, bottom-mounted speaker and the ability to handle BD flicks sans an external deck. Of note, only the 37-inch through 52-inch sets offer Full HD 1080p resolutions (1,920 x 1,080), as the other two get stuck with “just” 1,366 x 768. Best of all, those in Japan will barely have to wait a month to see these in shops, as the entire crew is destined to ship in late November (in black and white motifs) for around ¥200,000 ($1,963) to ¥500,000 ($4,909) depending on size. As for the rest of the globe? Put on your patience caps.

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

The highly controversial (okay, maybe not so much) Scarlet series from LG is being expanded today with the introduction of the LG80. The natural step-up from the LG60 and LG70 features an undisclosed screen size (though we assume it’ll range from 42- to 65-inches) with a Full HD (1080p) resolution, 30,000:1 contrast ratio, three AV modes (for movies / video games / sports) and a USB 2.0 port for piping in photos or digital video files. You’ll also find a pair of HDMI 1.3 sockets, but the real kicker is the sound system. When powered on, two side speakers extend from the rear of the unit while working alongside the stationary center speaker and “subwoofer” to create a 3.1 system with 50-watts of output. Sure, it’s not a 3,000-watt, 7.1-channel master rig, but it’s probably decent enough for an inbuilt setup. Look for this one to ship everywhere save for the US and Europe starting later this year.

[Via Pocket-lint]

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

We’ve seen some fairly fascinating things at CEATEC this year, but this one could be the biggest game-changer of ‘em all, if you’ll allow us just one buzzword. The LED-backlit 52-incher you see above comes attached to a not-at-all convenient solar floor panel which presumably provides at least some of the energy required to power this thing. We’ve no clue how close the design is to being viable for the commercial realm, but we’d say Sharp’s definitely headed in the right direction here.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Here it is, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Pricing for Sharp’s sexiest, freshest and altogether loveliest HDTVs has arrived. As stated at CEATEC in Japan, the 65-inch LC-65XS1U-S will sell for a whopping ¥1.28 million ($12,225), while the 52-inch LC-52XS1U-S goes for ¥980,000 ($9,243). We’d expect those figures to be a touch lower whenever they come stateside, but rest assured, you’ll be breaking into the piggy bank if either of these is to be your next set.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Hitachi drug its oh-so-sexy 1.5-inch plasma to Japan after showing it off in Denver earlier this month, but what we didn’t see at CEDIA was this: a 15-millimeter thin 37-inch LCD TV. The “reference” set packed a 1,920 x 1,080 panel and a fittingly designed stand, though it won’t see mass production until “2009 or later.” Ugh, even 1-inch just seems so bloated now.

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Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

While we knew these new Sharp Aquos HDTVs were coming, we had no idea how thin and bright they were in person. Today at CEATEC 2008 Sharp officially announced its LC-65XS1U-S (65-inch) and LC-52XS1U-S (52-inch) AQUOS LCD HDTVs right at CEATEC Japan’s opening bell. The displays’ 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 1080P panel are nice and all, but we now know they measure in at a super gaunt 2.28-cm (0.9-inch) depth and are outfitted with a 2.1-channel, three-way five-speaker system that Sharp jointly developed with Pioneer. Meanwhile, Sharp boasts some serious energy savings with the new displays, promising a 26% reduction in power consumption. Expect them to hit stores in Japan October 15 in limited numbers for an undisclosed (read: ’spensive) price. Check the emaciated photos in the gallery if you’re so inclined.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Look out, tweens — Philips has a new line of LCD TVs aimed squarely at your wall / bedroom pedestal. Introduced over in Italy, the Flavors family will initially consist of a 22-, 32- and 42-inch set, the latter of which packs a 1080p panel, 30,000:1 contrast ratio, 5-millisecond response time, 500 cd/m2 brightness and a pair of HDMI ports. The concept here is pretty easy to grasp — each set comes bundled with two interchangeable frames which are reportedly held up by good ole magnetism, and if two just aren’t enough, more can certainly be ordered. Currently, Philips simply has a placeholder page up for the new crew, so we’ll just let you simmer on the prices for now: they’ll be €549 ($803), €799 ($1,168) and €1,199 ($1,754) in order of mention.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Look out, tweens — Philips has a new line of LCD TVs aimed squarely at your wall / bedroom pedestal. Introduced over in Italy, the Flavors family will initially consist of a 22-, 32- and 42-inch set, the latter of which packs a 1080p panel, 30,000:1 contrast ratio, 5-millisecond response time, 500 cd/m2 brightness and a pair of HDMI ports. The concept here is pretty easy to grasp — each set comes bundled with two interchangeable frames which are reportedly held up by good ole magnetism, and if two just aren’t enough, more can certainly be ordered. Currently, Philips simply has a placeholder page up for the new crew, so we’ll just let you simmer on the prices for now: they’ll be €549 ($803), €799 ($1,168) and €1,199 ($1,754) in order of mention.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Who says there are too many players in the HDTV realm? With current mainstays partnering up like it’s going out of style, we’ve found two firms that see something no one else does. General Electric has just announced a joint venture with Taiwan-based Tatung in which the pair plans on making two million HDTVs annually when production gets going in 2009. The two hope to capture at least 5% to 10% of the global TV market in due time, and according to Peter Weedfald, president of North America and global chief marketing officer for the JV, the resulting product will be a “premium brand” that will be “very competitive with current leadership brands.” We’ll be interested to see what all becomes of this, and hopefully we’ll have some prototypes to gawk at come CES / IFA / CEDIA 2009.

[Image courtesy of VintageTVSets]

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

On the whole, we’d say KURO plasma owners are pretty stoked about their sets. Those who’d prefer a KURO-branded LCD, however, have been waiting anxiously to hear something more from ole Pioneer for months. Thankfully, the firm has finally spoken, and while it doesn’t mention any brand / model names specifically, we can assume that those LCD HDTVs we saw emerge in Europe will be gracing US shores in mere months. During the first half of 2009, Pioneer LCD HDTVs will be loosed in North America and Asia, and unless plans change, the panels within will actually be supplied by Sharp. Might we be on the lookout for a sneak peek at CES ‘09?

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Earlier this year, we saw Sharp dish out more internet-ready LCD HDTVs than we could shake a stick at. Now, the outfit is catering to those clamoring for a GX5 model larger than 52-inches. The expansive 65-inch AQUOS LC-65GX5 steps in with a 1080p panel, 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 450 cd/m2 brightness, ARSS speaker system, 176-degree viewing angles, built-in analog / digital terrestrial tuners and a whole mess of ports including HDMI (x3), optical audio, i.LINK, composite, S-Video and DVI. As expected, the set is DLNA-compliant, and there’s a built-in IR port for anyone that still cares. Expect it next month (at least in Japan) for ¥680,000 ($6,450).

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

For the most part, Runco stays pretty quiet in the consumer realm… until CEDIA rolls around. Once again, the high-end AV company is firing on all cylinders in Denver, announcing seven new 1080p LCD / plasma displays including its largest LCD to date, the 70-inch Crystal Series CX-70DHD (pictured). Along with the new panels, the outfit is unveiling its exclusive OPAL (Optical Path Alignment) technology on select models which “delivers extreme glare reduction and enhanced contrast for high ambient light environments.” The aforesaid 70-incher (shipping mid-October for $34,995) actually comes bundled with an external DHD video controller / processor, which incorporates Runco’s Vivix II tech to “enhance all digital and NTSC content to near high-definition quality.” We’ll admit, that sounds an awful lot like something Toshiba’s got going on just a few booths over, but make of it what you will. For details on the other half dozen sets, hop on past the break.

Continue reading Runco lets it all hang out, intros seven new 1080p LCDs / plasmas at CEDIA

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Man, what a toll the loss of HD DVD has taken on Toshiba. Judging by the vast expanse of floor space at Tosh’s booth not covered with people (seriously, look for anyone in the gallery below) and the inclusion of CES-announced DVD / VHS recorders (yes, really) as premiere products, we’d say the outfit is still hurting from the outcome of the format war. In all honesty, we felt kind of sad sashaying through its installation while reading slogans like “See everything in HD (even the non-HD stuff).” We even viewed the Super Resolution Technology demonstration with an open mind, and while there’s certainly a mild difference with SRT, these sets hardly make SD signals into high-def. Grab a tissue and wander through the gallery at Engadget HD.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Hitachi’s 1.5-inch thick 50-inch plasma wasn’t exactly front and center like we had imagined, but it was there garnering stares nonetheless. Donning a glossy white finish and displaying nothing but floral arrangements, the set looked pretty good (though not great) in terms of visual quality. The design, however, was simply stunning. And just as promised, we did include the obligatory iPhone comparison, though you’ll have to account for the Belkin skin when drawing your conclusions. Give it a peek in the gallery below.

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Sony’s thunder on these sets was already felt over in Berlin, but there’s nothing quite like official verbiage saying that a 9.9-millimeter thick HDTV (and one with 240Hz technology) will be coming to the good ‘ole US of A. Alongside Blu-ray HTIBs and a pricey new BD deck, Sony’s also formally introducing the 52-inch BRAVIA KDL-52XBR7 and 40-inch BRAVIA KLV-40ZX1M here at CEDIA. The former features the eye-testing Motionflow 240Hz frame rate tech, which promises to deliver “exceptional motion detail in movies, sports and video games.” It also boasts the outfit’s BRAVIA Engine 2, an 80,000:1 contrast ratio and compatibility with BRAVIA Link expansion modules. As for Mr. Thin, it features a 1080p panel, an edge-lit wide color gamut LED backlight, a single HDMI input and support for Sony’s BRAVIA Wireless Link. Both sets should ship in December for undisclosed prices, but you can read up on the full array of specifications just after the break.

Continue reading Sony debuts 240Hz KDL-52XBR7 / 9.9mm KLV-40ZX1M LCD HDTVs for USers

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Haven’t had your fill of Sharp LCD HDTVs yet? Fret not, as said outfit is taking the wraps off of two more families at the Colorado Convention Center. The D65U / D85U LCD HDTVs all pack 1080p panels and range between 42- and 52-inches in size. The D65U line comes with five HDMI inputs, a six-millisecond response time, 176-degree viewing angles and a dedicated PC input to boot. The D85U steps it up by offering 120Hz Frame Rate Conversion and a four-millisecond response time. The sets will be in stores this fall (think October / November) for $1,599.99 and up. Per usual, the full releases are waiting after the break.

Continue reading AQUOS D65U / D85U LCD HDTVs get uncovered at CEDIA

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Though making a limited run of LCD HDTVs seems like a curious choice, Sharp is unleashing two of ‘em (again) today in Denver. The 52-inch LC-52XS1U-S and 65-inch LC-65XS1U-S both sport newly-developed 10-bit Advanced Super View (ASV) LCD panels and feature native 1080p resolutions, AQUOS Net capabilities, an RGB-LED backlight system and a dynamic contrast ratio of over 1,000,000:1. You’ll also find a super thin integrated sound system powered by a 1-bit digital amplifier, and the entire set is just one-inch thick at its thinnest part. Of note, these units come bundled with a separate AVC system set-top-box for handling inputs, though WHDI was unfortunately left out. Catch the pair this October for currently undisclosed prices, and peep the full release just after the cut.

Continue reading Limited Edition LC-52XS1U-S / LC-65XS1U-S AQUOS LCD HDTVs loosed by Sharp

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

While we new LG had a pair of DVR-packin’ plasmas lined up, nothing was officially official until now. The 42- and 50-inch PG6900 plasmas were designed to hold up to 86-hours of programming (SD, we assume) on its 160GB of internal hard drive space, and the 8-day EPG should give you a pretty decent view of what’s coming on in the near future. Additionally, you’ll find a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, Energy Star compliance, a DVB-T tuner (plus an analog tuner), three HDMI 1.3 ports, 100Hz refresh rate and integrated speakers which are said to be “invisible.” Look for these to pop up soon (at least in Europe) for $1,799 and up.

[Via Gizmag]

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Let’s be honest — it’s been quite awhile since Philips has been seen as a big-shot in the world of HDTVs. Evidently the company is aiming to change all that in just a few weeks, as a fresh rumor puts a stunning new set on display at IFA. Reportedly, the lightweight 42-inch Essence TV will boast a 38-millimeter depth and will be made for wall hanging. Regrettably, that’s all the details that have seeped out thus far, but we’ll be finding out just how much truth there is to all of this in a fortnight.

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