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Runco announces LightStyle LS-1 DLP projector, shines 1080p on your wall for $4,000
Runco is known for some seriously high-end projectors and this is its first foray beneath the $4,000 mark in order to reach a "previously untapped" market. The company is wrong if it thinks we don't already have DLP options well below that price point, but still, lowering its entry level is no bad thing -- especially when the LS-1 delivers a 10,000:1 contrast ratio, a sophisticated calibration system with day and night memory settings, and the option to upgrade to Runco's CineGlide anamorphic lens for the perfect 2.35:1 experience. Expect to see this thing dangling from joists from August 16th. Further details in the PR after the break.
Runco's new High-Bright projectors bring LightStyle to the living room for less
If you were drooling over Runco's latest LightStyle projectors that aimed to bring the segment out of dedicated home theaters and into more well-lit rooms but couldn't quite find room in your budget for a $22k beamer, check out the new LS-HB series. Bringing 2,700 lumens of brightness and the company's usual suite of DLP tech, ISF calibration options and video processing, the LS-HB will be available in February for an unusually thrifty price of just $7,995. Adding the CineGlide option for perfect anamorphic reproduction without black bars ups the MSRP to $15,995, but really the question is, can you afford not to have it? Check out all the details in the press release after the break.
Runco stays in the plasma game with 3D-ready Vistage flat panels
We understand, you can't just put a $50k 3Dimension series projector in every room, so Runco's continuing to develop its plasma HDTV offerings with the new Vistage series. Available in 63-, 58- or 50-inch sizes, the 1.7-inch think panels also include the company's latest scaler, the DHD-LS. Unlike that projector we just mentioned, these do 3D with the addition of active shutter glasses and an IR emitter, courtesy of an add-on pack shipping early next year. We got a quick glance at the screens which promise contrast and black levels "previously unachieved in the industry" and while they did look amazing, you may not be able to decide if cashing out for between $6,000 and $10,000 for one of these screens is worthwhile -- until you find out you can outfit the back of the panel with decorations including your college logo of choice.
Runco's first 3Dimension projector uses passive glasses
The Ferrari of the projector world kicks off its version of 3D at CEDIA with the 3Dimension Series projectors which surprisingly use passive glasses instead of the battery operated active ones. The big catch of course is the price of $49,995 for the D-73 pictured above, and the fact that the glasses are proprietary and not the standard RealD glasses you've used at your local cinema. Obviously there are a wide range of inputs and controls including HDMI 1.4 (no 1.4a?) and RS-232 for the home automation fans. The D-73 starts shipping in the fourth quarter for those lucky enough to afford such luxuries and the full press release is available after the break while you wait.
Runco reveals LS-10d and LS-10i projectors to bring home theaters out of the basement
Unlike most high-end projectors designed strictly to live in nice dark dungeons, Runco's new three chip DLP, 1080p LS-10d and LS-10i projectors are built to perform in a wider range of rooms -- which is good news for penthouse dwellers lacking a basement. Both are packed with the usual proprietary picture-enhancing accoutrements and also support the firm's nifty CineGlide motorized 2.35:1 anamorphic lens solution for users who can't bear to view black bars around their image. The LS-10i sports an internal image processor, while the LS-10d ups the ante with Runco's DHD rack-mounted external video processor. That upgrade enables IR and RS-232 control as well as the ability to install the processor next to your existing HT setup -- a real boon for those not building a fresh home theater out of their old squash court. Either can also be custom painted and printed to match any decor, so there's no need to fear the gear clashing with the drapes. Release-wise, the LS-10i is coming in October for just under $22,000, while the LS-10d ships later in December for a hair below $27,000. That's way more than the sub-$10k range of other LightStyle models, but it's nothing compared to Runco's $90k+ 3D cinema projectors, so we'll quit our plebeian whining. For full details see the PR after the break.
Runco intros 3D-ready Signature Cinema projectors: $90k+, still require glasses
"Runco" and "cheap" have never, ever been used correctly in the same sentence before, but being elite apparently doesn't mean that you can just turn a blind eye to rambling bandwagons. With just about every other projection company flipping out 3D-ready alternatives, Runco has decided it best to follow suit. The company has just added a fanciful pair of PJs to its Signature Cinema line, with the SC-50d and SC-60d both offering 3D playback with support for Active3D (active shutter) or passive glassed-based solutions. The duo also packs a 3-chip system that outputs 1080p natively, and these are also the company's first projectors to include its Smart Lens system -- which offers a controllable motorized lens and iris that can be preset in memory. Hit the source links if you're interested in learning more about the Fall-bound pair, but be sure you're willing to pay upwards of $88,995 before wasting the bandwidth.
Runco's WindowWall gives you the $100,000 view you always wanted (eyes-on)
You see them, as soon as you set eyes on the gigantic, nine-panel screen. Those black lines are plainly visible. But the 46-inch Samsung panels in Runco's WindowWall have 7.33mm bezels that almost disappear from ten feet away, and when we first walked in, we actually thought they were part of the image. In a nutshell, WindowWall is a modular display system that turns entire walls into displays capable of rendering giant images across many screens, or display different media -- say, Doctor Who, LOST, FlashForward, V, Castle, 24, a couple computer screens and an episode of Firefly for good measure -- on each individual one. Making the system work in sync requires quite a bit of hardware, including a power supply unit and display controller unit for every four 1366 x 768 panels used, not to mention an upscaling box and a seriously sturdy stand (sorry, Humanscale) to hold up all that glass. The company boasts the whole system is scalable, meaning you can make it work with as few as four or as many as twenty panels and still run the entire system as a single screen at its full, gigantic native resolution. We weren't able to see these nine pumping pixels at 4098 x 2304, unfortunately, as the only content on hand was 1080p, but the footage did seem to be well synced across all nine screens. Of course, with a system like this the catch is cost -- for the nine panels, frame, reels of CAT cable and veritable server rack required to run this particular WindowWall, Runco said we should expect to pay a heartstopping $100,000. Droolworthy, to be sure, but too rich for our blood. Perhaps if the whole neighborhood chipped in, right before Super Bowl? %Gallery-89982%
Price check -- Runco's LS-3 projector within reach of mere mortals
We'll admit that sour grapes coming from the direction of our wallets usually make us look right past Runco's offerings. It's great stuff from a good company, but let's just say if you slip the Runco logo into a Rorschach test, we won't come up with "affordable." So in case you missed it in our CEDIA blitz, Runco's LS-3 LightStyle beamer carries a MSRP of $4,995 -- not cheap, but not new car kind of money that we associate with the brand, either. It's a 1080p DLP projector that packs a list of Runco tech like ConstantContrast, Vivix enhancement, Runco image processing, that all together are good for 10,000:1 contrast. If you're fortunate enough to be in the market for something like a JVC projector, consider adding the LS-3 to your audition list and call us over for some popcorn.
Runco shows up at CEDIA with loads of projectors and flat screen in tow
Following CEDIA tradition, Runco (oh yes, they were actually here) had plenty to show off, with new projectors and LCDs, apparently enough that we needed two separate rooms for the press conference. We switched rooms to experience the company's new QuantumColor LED-lit Q-750i, combining Luminus Platlight technology with its own engineering to create what it says is unsurpassed performance and unrivaled customization. Its showcased a few new color management wrinkles, customers can have a shot at making green grass pop without skewing other elements starting in November for around $15k. The company also had in store new Crystal Portfolio LCDs, some featuring its OPAL technology for outdoor situations, and a new round of LightStyle series projectors, for the kind of folks who only want to spend five or seven grand on a PJ, while the VideoXtreme line falls somewhere between that and the $100k+ crowd. Also mentioned? The company plans to keep selling its plasmas, even though a certain someone (cough, Pio) has exited the market. Peep the read links for all the details and jaw dropping prices. Read - Runco Unveils the Future of Home Theater Projection (QuantumColor) Read - Runco Introduces Five New Performance LCD Displays Read - Runco Reveals Its Most Affordable VideoXtreme Projectors Read - Runco Sets a Projector Benchmark with its LightStyle Series
Runco making it to CEDIA after all
The CEDIA picture for Runco is finally clear, and we're thankful it's good news for the longstanding high end marque and CEDIA founder. Runco will indeed be at the CEDIA show next month, with more than a dozen new products in the company's booth and two dealer training rooms in play as well. Even though we can only dream of affording Runco gear, it's good to see it will be at the show -- given the nature of its product line, CEDIA really is the best fit. Apparently, the company agrees, and is tailoring its booth activities to address dealer needs. Full PR after the break.
Crestron makes room in its CEDIA booth for Runco, Planar (update: Runco not in Crestron booth, CEDIA plans forthcoming)
Those shopping for a 100-inch VideoWall or say, a $20,000 projector will be pleased to know that Runco will be at September's CEDIA tradeshow, after all. Although the Planar/Runco presence at the custom-oriented show was in doubt, Crestron made room in its huge CEDIA booth for the brands will be at CEDIA -- which sounds like a good match to us, especially if Runco delivers on its promise to show off a new "benchmark" front projection product. No doubt it'll be something beyond our tax bracket (ditto for the Crestron gear), but we'll try to get a look at what Runco's cooking up when we go through the exhibition hall.Update: The original source article has been pulled, but a check with Crestron confirms that there is no formal CEDIA collaboration between Crestron and Runco/Planar. For its part, Runco plans to make an official announcement regarding its CEDIA plans in the next few days. Stay tuned!
Tough economy sidelines D&M Holdings, Planar at CEDIA Expo 2009
If you thought the well-to-do crowd wasn't feeling the pinch from the rotten economy, consider this -- D&M is not going to be at CEDIA Expo 2009 in a couple of months. You know, the show that features pricey, high-end custom install toys. Not being able to get our paws on the latest toys from Denon, Marantz, McIntosh, Boston Acoustics, Snell and Escient breaks our hearts, but D&M has decided to commit its resources to dealer training (and promotions, we hope); all the better to drive new customer sales. To be clear, D&M will have a presence at CEDIA, it just won't be on the Expo floor -- meetings will be by appointment only. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that similar measures won't have to be taken at CES in January. Planar (and by association, Runco) may take a similar CEDIA approach, not entirely surprising given its recent performance.
Runco sticking by plasma displays
With companies heading for the exits at chez plasma, smaller vendors -- most of whom do not have in-house plasma manufacturing -- are left in a precarious position. In what may well be the waning hours for plasma TVs, high-end brand Runco is staying in the game for one last (high margin, we imagine) round. LCDs are catching up to the image quality of even top-tier plasmas, but there's still a performance gap in areas that some consumers value. Somehow we didn't envision Runco outlasting Pioneer in the plasma game, but it's "business as usual" for Runco plasma TVs spanning the 50-inch to 103-inch range; perfect for that "secondary" TV for guests who don't want to watch what's on your $40,000 Runco VideoWall, don't you think?
Planar's fourth quarter sales slip 32-percent
Even the high end of home theater gear is feeling the pinch this year. And we don't mean the Kuro kind of high end, we mean the world of high end projector setups that really put the "theater" in "home theater." It's been a couple of years since Planar snatched up Runco in an effort to grab a piece of that rarefied air, and its Q4 2008 sales are down a whopping 32-percent compared to Q4 2007. So much for the safety at the luxe end of the market, eh? Certainly, Planar's nosedive isn't all the fault of Runco, but a look at both the exorbitant price tags on both Runco and Planar gear for specs that aren't leaps and bounds beyond the competition make it hard for anyone to justify. Unless, of course, you've got so much money that $15,000 (and up) projectors are an impulse buy that don't need any justification.
Runco ships $40k 100-inch VideoWall VW-100HD in-wall projection system
Just when we thought everyone was scaling back in order to cater to the poor, cash-strapped consumer dealing in these tough economic times, along comes Runco to help us remember that there's still a market out there for the uber-elite. The outfit's remarkable 100-inch VideoWall VW-100HD 1080p in-wall projection system is shipping just in time for that special someone on your holiday gift list, but you better be expecting something absurdly awesome in return. Not just anyone deserves a $39,995 present, you know. Full release is after the break.
CEDIA 2008 roundup
CEDIA 2008 was a whirlwind of new projectors, HDTVs and all sorts of other wares that home theater freaks just love. As always, we were here in the Mile High City covering every minute, but we completely understand if you missed anything. Just in case, we've compiled a summary of what all happened here in Denver, and make sure you head on past the break for the rest. Hands-onsHands-on: Sony shows off prototype 400-disc Blu-ray Mega ChangerHands-on with LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deckHands-on with the THX-certified QuietHome doorHands-on with Niveus Media's Denali, Rainier and Cargo media waresHands-on with Sony's SXRD BRAVIA VPL-VW70 and VPL-HW10 projectorsHands-on with Hitachi's 1.5-inch thick plasma prototypeHands-on / a look within Pioneer's Elite BDP-09FD Blu-ray playerHands-on with Toshiba's SRT REGZA HDTVs (and other old crap)Eyes-on with Sony's BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray player
Runco CEDIA 2008 booth tour
Runco's booth at CEDIA this year wasn't nearly as outlandish as SpeakerCraft's, but it definitely had an outdoor vibe to it. Curiously, all of the outfit's newly announced kit wasn't out for viewing, but the flagship 70-inch Crystal Series CX-70DHD (and its external DHD video controller / processor) was hard to miss. Now, if only affording one was as easy as browsing the gallery... %Gallery-31310%
Runco debuts 100-inch VW-100HD in-wall projection video display
While we've seen daylight-friendly front projection screens and all sorts of similar solutions to uncontrolled lighting in PJ-infused rooms, Runco's solution seems superior for those with the requisite coin. The two-piece VideoWall VW-100HD in-wall projection video display includes a lightweight 100-inch screen that can be flush-mounted within a wall alongside a VW-100HD projection system. The self-contained system includes a rear assembly less than 32-inches deep with sloping side panels to help it fit into tight nooks and crannies, and the screen itself reportedly "retains video contrast and brightness even when viewed in high amounts of ambient light." The 1080p beamer includes Runco's SuperOnyx chipset, HDMI / DVI / component / PC / S-Video / composite inputs, an RS-232 control port, Vivix II processing engine and a CinOptx lens system. You know you'd rather drop $39,995 on this rather than pick up a new C350 this November, right?
Runco announces $20,000 VideoXtreme VX-8 projector
The fun has just begun in the Mile High City for Runco, which has followed up its outlandish flat-panel announcement with a replacement to the fabled VX-2 projector. The 3-chip VideoXtreme VX-8 is squarely aimed at those with fat wallets and the word "videophile" stitched into their Ralph Lauren scarfs, evidenced by the superfluous (but very appreciated) video processing capabilities via DHD with Vivix and three SuperOnyx DMDs. Additionally, you'll find the outfit's ConstantContrast tech, which delivers frame-by-frame contrast correction, while the CorrectColor brings "complete color calibration for D65 perfection." For more technobabble on the January-bound unit, hit up the read link -- but before you waste your time, let us remind you that this will cost $19,995.
Runco lets it all hang out, intros seven new 1080p LCDs / plasmas at CEDIA
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.
