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Sharp's LC-52XS1U-S reviewed: "a cool science experiment gone awry"
We already saw the UK version of Sharp's limited edition XS1 LCD HDTV hit the review bench, but for Americans wondering if their version (that's the 52-inch LC-52XS1U-S) is any different, here's your sign. Reviewers at PC Mag were able to get the $11,999 (list price) set into the labs for testing, and while the contrast and HD detail were both lauded, the overall package just didn't warrant such a stratospheric sticker. In fact, critics asserted that the unit actually "required professional setup [read: calibration]" in order to achieve results that were even close to desirable, and while there are a lot of details behind it, we think this all-compassing quote pretty much settles things: the flagship LC-52XS1U-S is "like a cool science experiment gone awry." Steer clear, people.
LG to debut world's slimmest LED-backlit LCD TV (LH95) at CES
Not content with just making soap opera hair look like watery strands of gold, LG is also planning to trump last year's round of ultrathin LCD TVs by bringing the planet's slimmest LED-backlit LCD TV to Las Vegas. Expected to garner fingerprints from every nationality at CES 2009, the LH95 will check in at just 24.8-millimeters thick (0.976-inches) and boast a 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and the outfit's 240Hz TrueMotion Drive dejudder technology. No word on a price or release date (or panel size, oddly enough), but hopefully we'll find out more in just under a fortnight.[Via Boy Genius Report]
LG Display plans to melt eyes with Trumotion 480Hz LCD TV
Seriously, there's only so much picture improving you can do before the law of diminishing returns demands some recognition. While Sony just spent boatloads creating an over-the-top advertisement for its largely unimpressive 240Hz Motionflow technology, LG Display is laughing all the way to Vegas with its Trumotion 480Hz LCD TV. Set to debut at CES 2009, said panel will boast a four-millisecond response time and an unprecedented 480 refresh rate per second. Curiously, we're not informed of the screen size nor the resolution, so we could theoretically run into a 9-inch 320 x 240 display and be totally underwhelmed. On the real, the outfit is expected to launch the world's first Trumotion 480Hz LCD TV panel in the second half of next year, but we're just about to lay down good money that Sony or Samsung accelerates development in order to beat it to the punch. Full release is after the break.
Samsung's CES 2009 HDTV lineup leaked?
CES 2009 is literally days away, but it seems that those looking for details on any possible new HDTVs from Samsung may not have to wait to get their fill. A few postings over at AVForums has led us to believe that the outfit will be debuting a number of new sets for a litany of markets. The 2009 lineup will reportedly consist of a few new Series 3, 4, 5 and 6 panels, with the main focus being on their LED-backlit-ness. Everything should be available for purchase during the first half of next year, with sizes ranging from around 40-inches and up. Obviously, there are far too many details linked below to cover in this space, but one mention we found particularly interesting was the promised Internet@TV feature, which should effectively replace InfoLive and instead rely on those Yahoo Widgets we've been hearing about for so long. It's about to get really interesting, folks.[Via Audioholics, thanks Celle]
Sharp to unveil 32- / 42-inch Blu-ray-equipped LCD HDTVs at CES 2009
You already knew that Sharp would be gearing up to bring a pair of Blu-ray-infused LCD HDTVs to the United States next month, but did you have any idea that they would be showing their faces first in Las Vegas? Yep, according to Wired, the BD-packin' 32- / 42-inch AQUOS DX HDTVs will be shown off first at CES 2009, after which they'll quickly multiply and separate out to various retail outlets across the land. Also, we fully expect to get pricing details for the couple at the show, but that's obviously not guaranteed.[Via CDFreaks]
Sony's 9.9mm thin BRAVIA KLV-40ZX1M heads to Canada
While Sony's 9.9-millimeter KLV-40ZX1M will probably look downright chubby after CES 2009, it's still a slim piece of work by most standards. The LED-backlit 1080p screen is just about set to make the trek north, with scheduled availability in Canada this week. Just as a refresher, the set boasts a single HDMI input, 120Hz Motionflow technology, compatibility with Sony's BRAVIA Wireless Link and an optional speaker bar. The HDTV will sell for a stiff $4,199.99, so we'd suggest heading to a nearby retailer to check it out real good before breaking open the piggy bank.
Sharp's pricey 52-inch LC-52XS1E LCD HDTV gets reviewed
Sharp's 52-inch LC-52XS1E is absurdly expensive -- around £8,999 at last check in the UK -- but it's easily one of the most sophisticated, awe-inspiring sets that (lots of) money can buy. The critics over at TechRadar were able to give it a look, and while they were thoroughly impressed with pretty much every aspect, they couldn't justify the price for those not completely and utterly loaded. Words like "sensational," "stunning" and "superb" were littered throughout, and reviewers even stopped to notice that SD material still looked good on this expansive LCD. That said, we simply can't fathom a set looking good enough to make the price tag here understandable, so until the sticker starts to come back to down closer to reality, we'd probably wipe the drool from our lips and hold tight.
Sharp's 65-inch LC-65RX1M launches in UAE
The UAE may be short on HDTV content, but there's no shortage of Blu-ray material to watch. To that end, Sharp's giving those with big eyes and bigger egos a chance to indulge with the launch of its RX Series in the region. The 65-inch LC-65RX1M is first on the scene, bringing with it a 1080p panel, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, 450 nits of brightness, 12-millisecond response time and a wide assortment of ports. Oddly, there's no mention of price, but it should be available locally right now.
Panasonic's 37-inch VIERA TC-37LZ85 LCD HDTV reviewed
Panasonic's first 37-inch VIERA LCD didn't live up to the family name, or at least that's the gist of CNET's recent review of the TC-37LZ85. Sure, black levels were "relatively deep," screen uniformity was "solid" and off-angle viewing was commendable, but "being saddled with inaccurate color" caused it to fall quite sharply in the eyes of critics. More specifically, the "inaccurate grayscale" led to an evidently annoying reddish tinge, and the inability to adjust the color temperature or plug in an HTPC via VGA were just two more reasons to look elsewhere. At the end of the day, it was still deemed a "decent entry" into the smaller-screen 1080p realm, but 3 out of 5 stars just doesn't put forth the kind of satisfaction we'd like to see.
AOC takes wraps off of 22-inch LED-backlit V22 Verfino display
AOC has been slowly but surely delivering solid, cost-efficient HDTVs / displays in the run-up to CES 2009, and while the 2230Fm HD3 and 2230Fh that it'll be showcasing aren't entirely new, the V22 Verfino (pictured) definitely is. All three of the aforementioned units are part of the outfit's new Gamer Certified displays series, with the newest of the bunch packing a LED-backlit 22-inch panel (1,680 x 1,050), 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, a 2-millisecond response time and an HDMI input to boot. There's no price set just yet on the early 2009-bound screen, but judging by AOC's history, we'd wager that it'll be priced attractively. Full release and specifications are after the break.%Gallery-39759%
LCD shipments expected to skyrocket in Latin America
With DirecTV launching HD service in Latin America, we'd say it's about time its residents realized that flat-panels are the wave of the future present. According to a fresh iSuppli report, the Latin American television market is expected to make a hasty and noticeable transition between now and 2012. Reportedly, LCD TV shipments to the region are set to rise and account for over 83% of the market in under four years; meanwhile, shipments of bulky CRT sets will decline to make up around 8% of the total market. The numbers are pretty baffling when you consider that CRTs held 77.4% of the market just last year, and it's actually rather scary to think where all of those soon-to-be-unwanted sets will end up.
Toshiba's 46XV545U LCD HDTV reviewed: internal upscaling is a joke
Sympathizers were outraged that skeptics (read: us) didn't believe that Toshiba's Super Resolution Technology was anything worth writing home over, and hey, we hate to say we told you so. The outfit's 46XV545U was recently reviewed over at CNET, and critics found the internal upscaling technology to be more of a gimmick than anything. Sure, it artificially sharpened some SD content for the better, but all in all, the SRT system fell under the "bad," not the "good." Overall, the set offered up a decidedly decent experience from top to bottom, yielding a "Good" rating and three out of five stars. In other words, take your dollars elsewhere -- competition is fierce, and you're in no place to settle for less than the best in any given price range.
Sharp adds Freeview-tuning AQUOS LC-46D65E to UK range
Don't ever say Sharp ignored you, UK, because the AQUOS LC-46D65E is a fine, fine offering. The 46-inch addition to the outfit's D65 family arrives with a 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 450 nits of brightness, a six-millisecond response time, 176-degree viewing angles and a full 1080p panel. You'll also find a DVB (Freeview) tuner, three HDMI inputs and two SCART sockets, not to mention a USB terminal for loading up pictures and tunes. Best of all, it's available as we speak in pound country for around £714.99 ($1,067) on the street.
Sony's 240Hz BRAVIA KDL-52XBR7 HDTV reviewed: extra Hz not worth the $
Here it is, the review you've been waiting for. Are all those Hz worth all those dollars? If you believe CNET, the answer is "sadly, no." The 52-inch KDL-52XBR7 was all the rage upon its arrival, promising slick visuals and a dejudder processor that would wow, stun and awe. Unfortunately, it seems the set hasn't exactly lived up to expectations, as the deep black levels, accurate color temperature and color decoding, comprehensive complement of inputs and beautiful body weren't enough to overcome the breathtaking $4,200 price tag. Furthermore, the 240Hz refresh rate was found to offer "only minor improvements to picture quality," proving our fears of it being more about marketing than performance absolutely correct. Bottom line? Take your dollars elsewhere -- chances are, you won't miss the Hz.
Audioholics puts Mitsubishi's LT-46149 LCD with iSP to the test
If you're dead set on getting all your video and audio delivered from a single device, you could do worse than Mitsubishi's LT-46149 LCD and its iSP (Integrated Sound Projector) -- at least judging by the Audioholics review of the unit. The 16 beaming speakers across the bottom of the bezel proved more than just a toy and actually could be dialed in to create a real soundfield, albeit lacking in ultimate SPL output and bass. The lack of discrete input codes wasn't really solved by the automatic input selection and the backlighting could have been more even, but those problems faded away when watching movies. Some annoyance was laid at the feet of the 120Hz processing, consistent with other opinions (including our own). Keep in mind the "convenience with good performance" target for this set and hit the link for the full review.
Sharp to ship 32- / 42-inch Blu-ray-infused AQUOS HDTVs to US in January
You know those AQUOS DX panels that are likely already filtering out in Japan? Word on the street has it that two of the crew will be shipping to American soil in January. More specifically, TWICE is reporting that a 32- and 42-inch Blu-ray-infused AQUOS HDTV will be arriving in just a month, both of which will tout 1080p panels, 120Hz processing technology and a slot-loading optical drive. No prices have been set just yet, but a nice round $2,000 figure is being floated around for the big daddy.
Panasonic's FreeSat-tuning TX-37LZD81 HDTV reviewed
Panasonic's FreeSat-tuning VIERA TH-46PZ81B fared well in its recent review, and thankfully, so did the TX-37LZD81 LCD HDTV. The set, which was acquired and tested by the eyes at HDTVOrg, was highly praised in almost every area, with critics pointing out its fantastic ability to make both SD and HD content look its best. The integrated speakers weren't anything special, but it's not like you were expecting anything drastically different. We'd personally love to see that FreeSat tuner find more than a smattering of HD channels, but for those looking to pick out the ones that currently exist, this set wouldn't be a bad one to do that on.
JVC's iPod-lovin' LT-47P789 LCD HDTV gets in-depth review
It's nearly time for JVC to drop yet another iPod dock-infused HDTV on us at CES 2009 (just a guess, is all), but for those looking for the model first introduced in January 2008, here's a bit of introspective. If you'll recall, we already heard pretty positive things about the 42-inch version of this same set, but AV Revolution took things much, much deeper with its look at the 47-inch LT-47P789. We'll save the details for those who care, but the long and short of it is this: in the case of this particular unit, "neither the TV's performance nor the TeleDock implementation is as good as it could be." That said, the street price of around $1,500 isn't half bad, and while it won't put a smile on the face of a videophile, it should function just fine as an "everyday or second-room TV" for those who can't seem to escape their iPod.
Loewe hints at Blu-ray-infused LCD HDTV by 2010
While most of the big boys are in a foot race to see who can pump out a legitimate big screen OLED TV the fastest, little ole Loewe is perfectly content with LCD. According to the company's CEO, Frieder Löhrer, he watches "all of the techniques that are on the market, almost on a daily basis," but was quick to dismiss that admittedly mesmerizing laser technology implemented by Mitsubishi as being too "inefficient and ineffective." When questioned on the possibility of joining a few other select firms in producing a Blu-ray-infused HDTV, he stated that he "could not say no," and he continued on to say that "it's a technique that we foresee not for the year 2008, but [probably] for early 2010." Hey, he never said he was trying to beat everyone else to the punch, right?
JVC's DVR-packin' LT-26DE9BJ LCD HDTV gets reviewed
We're not exactly sure why we're just now beginning to see a rash of new bedroom-sized HDTVs again, but we'll go the safe route and pick "economy." At any rate, JVC's got a unique one on its hands with the LT-26DE9BJ, a 26-inch LCD TV with a 160GB hard drive built-in to handle the PVR duties. The set, which is available now in the UK, also boasts a Freeview tuner and an 8-day EPG. Under scrutiny, the tele held up fairly well, with critics finding the image quality to be "exceptionally sharp" with both SD and HD material. The recording features were also admired, but the "average black levels" kept it from receiving a wholehearted recommendation. Still, if you can manage to find this one for a deep discount (sticker is £500), you just might have a winner on your hands.
