Sharp to ship PN-655 65-inch 1080p LCD in June

So, this isn't the first time Sharp's announced a 65-inch LCD, but in the case of the PN-655, we're willing to look the other way, since this one is full 1080p, has a 6ms response time, a 700:1 contrast ratio and 170-degree viewing angle. Sharp's good enough to tell us this is shipping in June, but so far they're mum on the price. Oh, and one thing, Sharp: you may think calling this the "world's largest professional LCD monitor" has you covered, but let's not mince words. LG's got you beat by over 30 inches -- though, of course, theirs isn't a production model. How about calling yours the "world's largest LCD monitor that well-heeled mortals can actually buy" and leaving it at that?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2006 4:54PM]

my guess is at LEAST $10k.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2006 4:57PM]

Oh, snap!

I was waiting for an LCD (i.e. not fat DSP crap) to hang on my wall which supports both 1080p and full native resolution.

Woohoo.

I just hope the price tag doesn't cause an aneurysm.

[criccio Posted Mar 16th 2006 5:53PM]

If its anything like the PN-455, it wont have HDMI. Mainly because HDMI is a consumer based connection type. And no HDMI means no HDCP, which could cause problems down the road.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2006 6:08PM]

My school has a bunch of the Sharp 45 inch 1080p sets in the library and conference rooms. The quality is amazing. You've never seen a powerpoint presentation until you've seen it at 1080p. Seriously. The quality is so good, looking at those moniters from 20 feet is like looking at your laptop screen from 2.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2006 7:54PM]

It has HDMI (and DVI-I).

(PDF)
http://www.sharpusa.com/files/tel_dow_AQUOS_Full_Line_0206.pdf

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2006 7:56PM]

OOPS! My bad: missed the "commercial product" thing. The link I posted is for the consumer line. DISREGARD! :-(

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2006 8:59PM]

#2 said:
I was waiting for an LCD (i.e. not fat DSP crap) to hang on my wall which supports both 1080p and full native resolution.

You can already get a badass 1080p LCD from Westinghouse in 37" and 42", and it supports TRUE 1080p and full native resolution.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2006 10:13PM]

The 45" sells at retail right now for $4999 last I've seen, and at one point $5999. My guess for the 65" is $14999.99, with a possibility of $19999.99. However, at 20K it's not very feasible they would put it on the main stream market for that price with plasmas becoming better than ever.

But 65" of computer monitor/video game LCD love would be just about worth it 1080p upconversion or what. Point being, I'd really like to see a true 1080P source on a 1920x1080 TV. The upconversion the Sony SXRD does is very nice, but I'm sure could look better.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2006 10:17PM]

*fixed comment to number 9*

The 45" sells at retail right now for $4999 last I've seen, and at one point $5999. My guess for the 65" is $14999.99, with a possibility of $19999.99. However, at 20K it's not very feasible they would put it on the main stream market for that price with plasmas becoming better than ever.

But 65" of computer monitor/video game LCD love would be just about worth it *heart*.

This may be to little (not hardly) to late for Sharp though with SED coming out hopefully at the end of '07 and Samsung putting out a DLP that uses fiber optic lasers instead of a bulb (no replacing after 5000 viewing hours ftw).

As far as 1080P goes, I'm a little (understatement) disappointed that the "first" mainstream 1080P source, Playstation 3, got pushed back to November. Even though HDMI doesn't support 1080P, and as far as I know PS3 won't have a firewire port (could be wrong), wasn't quite sure if the PS3 did 1080i - 1080p upconversion or what. Point being, I'd really like to see a true 1080P source on a 1920x1080 TV. The upconversion the Sony SXRD does is very nice, but I'm sure could look better.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 16th 2006 10:30PM]

Matt you can be rest assured that SED TV will be out in the fourth quarter of 2007. Toshiba or Canon stress watching the 2008 Olympics on it.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2006 5:37AM]

I'd love to even see 1080i (!) here in the UK. All the so called 'HD Ready' TVs in the shops (of which there are now tons) are all just 720P, which to my eyes is not a huge improvement on PAL.

Talking of SED, did anyone hear Dvorak's comments about it on TWIT? He thinks it'll 'never happen'. I love the guy but he's such a sceptic...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2006 8:30AM]

#8, yeah I actually forgot to mention "in that size". The reason I said 'oh snap' is because I was looking for a 1080p native lcd in exactly 65 inches!!!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2006 2:25PM]

There is a Sharp LC-65GD1E in Europe selling for �19,000!!! No HDMI, just DVI...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 17th 2006 2:46PM]

I think I would have to open up a seperate SAVINGS account to buy this thing. By the time I do, the next version will come out.