We just crashed Sharp's AQUOS launch party and got a nice look at
the new AQUOS panels, along with a bit of a peek at the LEDs behind the curtain. In a lot of senses, Sharp's new panels are a collection of last generation technologies: the LEDs aren't locally dimmed, the 120Hz refresh rate falls short of the 240Hz that's been bandied about of late, and the internet services don't offer video playback or WiFi connectivity. That said, the picture is looking pretty great. Sharp credits its specialized LEDs for increasing the color gamut, and new LCD tech for improved blacks and improved brightness due to better controls and less electronics getting in the way. As for 120Hz, Sharp says that its engineers found that 240Hz introduced noise, and on a personal note we don't think we need many more Hz in our lives. There aren't really any excuses for the shortage of internet services, but we should be seeing some new stuff at CES next year. Localized dimming is also due for the next generation, but Sharp sees the next big step for LCD tech being the RGB backlight available in its
XS1 top-of-the-line set. In practice the blacks look great and the colors look great, but we'll have to sit these new sets down next to competing TVs to really get a good idea of where Sharp's at with this gen.
posted Jul 7th 2009 6:56PM
It's good to see that Sharp didn't just jump on the 240Hz bandwagon. While it "may" be possible that they couldn't get it right and therefore got video noise with 240Hz I think instead they just didn't want to throw in useless tech for the sake of doing it and just didn't want to put it in those words.
240Hz is what industry insiders call a number game. By definition, number games are meant to help sales. Any improvement in offered value is coincidental. If Sharp refuses to play the game, and given that Sharp is not big enough to change trends, I will believe their "noise" story. And wish them luck with their rather pedestrian product - no modern connectivity, no picture quality number game. Sounds more blunt than sharp.
The 120 Hz crap is marketing BS too. Yay, fake, interpolated frames!
Granted my experience with 120hz TVs are limited to one specific example in a store, but I really didn't like what I saw.
I believe the make was Samsung and it was playing a bluray of Pirated of the Caribbean. While the picture looked crisp and sharp, the motion looked awful. It was as if I was watching bog standard video footage rather than film (although I'm not aware if the movie was shot on film or digital) and the whole thing looked too "real". Almost as if I was watching interlaced footage on a tube TV.
I'm having trouble finding the words, but I know I didn't like what I saw.
Maybe the refresh rate of lesser LCDs add more motion blur, which adds to the film effect, or maybe this display TV had stupid settings like maxed sharpness in order to look 'better' to people who don't know what they're buying, or Pirates of the Caribbean was a bad example, I'm not sure.
I'm not shopping for any of these products so it doesn't really matter to be honest.
"the whole thing looked too 'real' "
Yes, that sounds like a big problem.
You'd be surprised.
There's a dramatic difference between the look of film at 24fps and most TV which is 60 fields-per-sec. Part of the appeal of cinema is the step away from reality and the feel film gives.
Looking more real =/= looking good
What you saw was not a result of 120Hz but rather interpolation which Samsung calls AutoMotionPlus and Sony call SmoothMotion, you can turn it off/low/med/high what it does is "fills in" extra scenes to reduce judder from fast motion. This gives the picture a "soap opera" effect as most people call it. If you turn it off you still get 120 Hz. My friend keeps his XBRs SM on off for normal tv/movie watching and on low on Sports seems to work for him.
yeah Grammar, you right.
The suit's taking evidence...
Hey if the Picture Quality looks great who can complain?
That is probably the first and most important thing about a television.
And if they can keep costs down without adding useless tech such as RSS feeds, or widgets etc... Who am I to complain.
I buy televisions to watch television shows and movies... not to surf the net. Which I can do if I hook up a laptop or tower...
I'm willing to check these out. Was a little disappointed with LG's newest local dimming set. Black where not that great. Samsungs look nice, but I hate that gloss.
This could be my new set.
120hz is plenty.
Samsung screens are glossy but display much better blacks (close to plasma). Just make sure you don't have any lights facing the TV and most Samsung LCDs will blow matte screened Aquos units out of the water (my older Aquos is in the basement, replaced by a 52" Samsung Series 7 - last years model).
I really don't like any of the 120hz tech. It makes everything look like a soap opera and is very distracting. Call me a TV snob, but when I'm over at my friend's house and see that soap opera effect I tell him to turn that 120hz shit off. Call me a snob, but nothing beats plasma. Kuro rules.
Remind me to invite you round to my place some time - you sound like the perfect guest...
Can not agree with you any more.
I too hate that effect. It's not 120 hz that does it. But it's the image technology that comes with the television isn't it. The motionplus or motionflow crap that each company has.
I usually set it to off if I am at some friends house.
What I find funny though is people who say they hate plasma, are buying tons of LCD's that are only turning into plasma themselves.
From the improved blacks, improved motion, etc...
Even the new LCD screens have the same "glass-glare" that plasma does.
You're a snob. Get over it.
Anyone looking for a slightly use liver?
when is CES? I'm moving in October, and because of the extra money in the pocket I'll be hooking up my first entertainment center. And when do you think it will come out after that?
What is the difference between LED and LCD anyway? Is LED a new technology? What amaze me the most is the thinness of LED TV. It is like a photo frame hanging on the wall!
LED is refering to Light Emiting Diodes, a technology that's quite old actualy, supposedly invented in the 1920's. You can find LEDs almost everywhere.
LCD is refering to Liquid Crystal Display, and is a completely different technology
until now LCDs have been using CCFL tubes (neon lamps) as backlight, but these tubes contains mercury, they are heavier, thicker and uses more energy than LED techonoly. A LED TV is still a LCD, but with LED as backlight instead of CCFLs
Why is that guy in the background trying to take my picture when ever I look at the post's picture... D:?
I wear my sunglasses at night,
my Sharp is way too bright...
What are the glasses for? If you look at a white screen for too long it'll fry your retinas?
The shades are a new strategy in the effort to get LCD televisions to display the color BLACK.
If you don't want to wear shades whilst watching your television at home, get a plasma.
Please tell me it is 3D compatible and those are shutter glasses.