CMO's 42-inch 1080p LCD: $1,665 now in Europe, Q2 US

Look out Westinghouse and Vizio, Taiwan's Chi Mei has a new 42-inch, 1080p LCD TV looking for market share at the low-to-mid end of the big panel LCD spectrum. Shipping now in Taiwan and Europe, model DTL-742E500 is expected to make its US premier sometime in Q2 -- about the time we expect their 47-inch Quad HD LCD to ship. Their new set swaddles a Faroudja DCDi scaler and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) panel with a 1200:1 contrast ratio, 500cd/m2 brightness, 176-degree viewing angle, 6.5-ms response, and 2x HDMI inputs among a healthy collection of in and outs. Expected to pop at your local big box for right around $1,665 or less by the time it arrives.

[Via Akihabara News]

[Gil @ Feb 5th 2007 11:02AM]

Is it just me or is that a REALLY good price?

[andy @ Feb 5th 2007 11:25AM]

Well, since the vizio is bigger and less expensive, I'd say it's just you.

I like my $1330 50" plasma. It's nice. Thanks Vizio.

[Gil @ Feb 5th 2007 11:44AM]

But unless I'm mistaken the plasmas from Vizio don't support 1080p

[seth @ Feb 5th 2007 11:26AM]

hmmm the 47" Vizio (GV47LF) I just picked up at Costco is out now and cheaper ($1649.99 w/ coupon).

[Jason @ Feb 5th 2007 11:35AM]

Nice! And it seems to be *actual* 1080p resolution, too, unlike a lot of LCD TVs you see today which merely scale everything.

[TheChaz @ Feb 5th 2007 11:40AM]

1200:1 contrast ratio is laughable. Save your money - better yet, spend it where it counts. Contrast ratio is the single biggest factor that determines wether people say "wow" when they see a display. Way more important than 1080 v. 720 for this size panel.

[Chuck @ Feb 5th 2007 4:26PM]

So what IS a good contrast ratio?? I'm starting to research HDTVs and I am overwhelmed by the info. Just want to play xbox 360 games, watch a couple dvds a week, and maybe some TV.

[andy @ Feb 5th 2007 12:29PM]

Gil: "But unless I'm mistaken the plasmas from Vizio don't support 1080p"

That is correct. I was commenting on the picture quality. My 50" at 720p looks great, 1080p won't help at that size.

My other comment was that the vizio 47" LCD at 1080p is cheaper and bigger.

I should have been clearer.

[will @ Feb 5th 2007 1:07PM]

thats £850 in GBP for anyone who's interested.

[Mike Cerm @ Feb 5th 2007 12:30PM]

This is actually the company that makes the panels that you find in all Westinghouse TVs, as well as many other budget TVs and monitors.

[TheChaz @ Feb 5th 2007 8:02PM]

I'd suggest you go to a big box store and look at the different options (then order online). After doing that I decided on (among other things) a minimum contrast ratio of 5000:1. Anything under that just looked "washed out" to me. The set I ended up with is 7000:1.

[ugh @ Feb 5th 2007 8:46PM]

whoa is that Moraine Lake on the pic? Never seen it with that little water in it

[DJeneral @ Feb 9th 2007 2:26PM]

While this is certainly a great price, remember that 1080p isn't necessarily that big of a deal. At 42" you'd have to be sitting ~5ft away to really notice the difference between this set and a 720p/768p set. This is why the ISF and other calibrators weigh color accuracy, contrast ratio, color gamut, color depth, etc... much heavier than pure resolution.

As far as contrast ratios go there is a grain of salt to be taken with every contrast ratio you see published. You must know whether it is static or dynamic and what the technology is (Plasma vs. LCD vs. DLP etc). The latest Sharp D92U series advertised a 15,000:1 DYNAMIC contrast ratio, statically this is approximately 3,000:1. There is also often a difference between spec CR and the CR measured at the screen. Honestly, most new panels have excellent blacks and the best way to judge is to use your own eyes. There have been recent development that have given LCDs very deep black levels that often are as good if not better than previous generation plasmas. First decide which technology type and features are most important to you then read some reviews and see which panel looks best in your price range.

[nx6325 @ Apr 7th 2007 1:12PM]

I saw the Demo set in Singapore a few days back at Carrefour. This set is a real killer! It retails pretty expensive in Singapore for around S$3999 while I hear it costs only US$1.7K else where. I'm contemplating between this or the Philips 42" but from what I saw, it's going to give the rest of the brands a run for their money.

[Atro @ Feb 7th 2007 12:40AM]

The factories are online! Everbody shout HOORAH!
I saw an estimate that a 37" LCD will be $500 by xmas of '07. I know Vizio just released a 60" for $3000. These prices are going to get lower and lower in the next several months and the tech is going to get better.
I say that waiting until the last quarter of this year will be the best bet as most of the factories will be online and churning out inexpensive and quality displays. I love technology, it is one of the things that makes me look forward to life.
Oh yeah and 1080P is going to be more noticeable compared to 720P, its and increase of 360 lines.