Sharp's new range of 1080p Aquos LCD TVs
By Ryan Block 
posted September 20th 2005 9:00AM
posted September 20th 2005 9:00AM
Looks like Sharp's gotten around to updating their line of
Aquos LCD TVs, ho hum, right? But then you find out
they're all 1080p—every last one of 'em—and the 57-incher apparently even has a 4ms refresh rate. But when you find out
the cheapest one, the 37V 37-incher, goes for ¥546,000 (about $4,900 US), and the 65V 65-incher goes for ¥1,680,000
($15,000 US), that's when you return to the 1080p waiting game, hopes crushed that you'll be able to get a name-brand
panel affordably in the near future.
[Via Akihabara News]
At CEDIA a week ago I saw a BenQ 1080 37" that the guy said would retail for $2200 US. I don't know if he was serious or what, but I was impressed. Probably the most impressive product/pricepoint at the show. Device will/might be out in February I think he said...
I going to be buying an aquos lcd soon and was wondering when sharp would update them. but these prices are nuts :( 1080p will have to wait.
I'll buy a huge LCD for ¥15,078...of course, that's not actually $15K, it's closer to... $145
BestBuy carries a Westinghouse 37" 1080p LCD for $1900 now.
Strangely, I haven't heard much (any) news about it - no reviews, etc...
Saw a 32" yesterday (720p) and it had some reeeaaaly bad artifacting though.
I assume they skimped on the image hardware...
#4-There is huge discussion of Westinghouse 37" LCD on the avscience.com forums
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=531808&page=1&pp=30&highlight=westinghouse
Any LCD over 30" had better be 1080p. That's only 1920x1080. The dot pitch of a 30" LCD with a resolution lower than that is going to be huge.
Plasmas and other technologies are different. But every large LCD should be a 1080p display.
That doesn't mean they're the best HDTV technology, though. There's still the pesky black level issue, which just will never go away. That's why we're all waiting for OLED's to mature, what with their 100,000:1 contrast ratios and whatnot.
#5 thanks!
I've been looking for that.
#1 I have to agree the 1920x1080 BenQ 37" at CEDIA was amazing. It blew the Westinghouse 37" out of the water and it will retail for around the same price. However one of their reps told me it is just a monitor and not an actual TV.
Aquos are amazing TVs and also very expensive. I saw the 65" AQUOS at CEDIA and was blown away by its picture and its cost.
Honestly, I wouldn't pay that much for the Aquos - the diff. between the Sharp & the Westy doesn't come close to justifying that price hike.
I'll be looking forward to seeing the BenQ 37" that was mentioned at CEDIA. That would be a nice little stopgap TV for me for the next 2-3 years while everyone else (plasma, LCD & SED) catch the 1080p wave. Also...by then, there should theoretically be more content to play on a 1080 screen (one hopes).
I have one of the older Aquos televisions, and they are stunning. By some distance the best LCD TV when I looked around about a year ago. And one of the only ones to offer HDCP on the DVI socket. I'll need that to get HDTV goodness from Sky+ next year...
I am in love with my Sceptre 37" X37SV-NAGA 1080p set. I picked it up for just a touch over $1900 after tax from Costco.com. It looks as good as any TVs that size that I've seen - of course SD cable looks like crap because it's SD cable, but DVDs scaled to 1080i look great. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to check out with HD yet.
Here's some lengthy discussion of the TV in AVS forums:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6083252
Hmmm...Nice, but I'll be sticking with my Samsung 50" DLP. Sure it's not 1080p, but by the time I can even get a 1080p signal, I'll be ready to trade up. And the price will be lower! YAY!
Here's the release in English
http://sharp-world.com/corporate/news/050920_1.html
Has anyone heard when the 37" 1080p Aquos is going to be released in the US?
A rep at bestbuy said something about a new model of Aquos 37" coming out as early as December. I dont see why the new model wouldnt be 37"?
Going nuts right now trying to figure out if I should get the newly lowerd price of $2199 for the 37" or wait and see what the new model is going for. But my xbox 360 is coming in a few weeks, I want my tv now!!!! =)