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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.
Vizio enjoys a Black Friday bump in sales
Vizio's move to cut prices on select HDTV models in advance of Black Friday looks like it was a pretty shrewd maneuver, with the company showing 162,000 units sold in North America over last weekend. To put that in perspective, that's a sale almost every 1.5 seconds, 24-hours a day, from Friday to Sunday. The lion's share of those register checkouts were for 32-inch displays, and adding in 32 37-inch and 42-inch offerings accounts for almost all of the units; so this isn't a flood of 19-inch TVs that are finding their way into guest rooms and kitchens. Who knows if it's the new high-quality marketing message or the value-brand perception, but Vizio seems to be doing pretty well for itself, indeed.UPDATE: Wouldn't you know it, Vizio's Black Friday sales figures were actually even higher than those reported above. The 162,000 units moved were from Amtran, only one of Vizio's suppliers, and Amtran does not even provide 19, 22 or 26-inch TVs that were sold.[Via tgdaily]
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.
Micro Matic v-POD weds beer dispenser and LCD TV
It's two things that are inevitably tied to one another each Sunday -- LCD TVs and alcohol. Now, Micro Matic is bringing them together like never before, and only the most serious of in-home bartenders need apply. The v-POD comes in a couple of shapes and colors to best suit your needs, with the stainless steel Kool-Rite boasting a half-dozen taps, stereo speakers and an inbuilt 10-inch LCD. Now, if only these were available with slightly larger HDTVs and price tags nowhere near the three grand mark, we'd be talking.[Via Engadget Chinese]
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.
Samsung's 55-inch LN55A950 LCD HDTV reviewed: exceptional and expensive
You already heard CNET's opinions on the 46-inch 950 series LCD HDTV, but what if that one just isn't big enough for your ego / den? Enter the 55-inch sibling, which was recently critiqued by the gurus over at Home Theater Mag. According to the review, the LN55A950 managed to deliver black levels eerily close to those emitted by Pioneer's famed KURO line, although the off-angle viewing was deemed mediocre. For those who found a way to sit relatively close to dead-on in front of it, image quality was said to be nothing short of fantastic. In fact, these guys recommended that you not buy another LCD HDTV until you've checked this one out first, although you should probably pay attention to the $4,000+ price tag before you waste any time warming to a set that's out of reach. Bottom line? This is a marvelous LCD for those with the cash to burn, but four large is a steep price to pay for awesomeness.
Sony's BRAVIA KDL-26M4000/R LCD HDTV reviewed
With all the big screen flat-panels cluttering up the HDTV arena, one may wonder if anyone's even paying attention to consumers clamoring for LCDs that can be handled by fewer than four burly gentlemen. Sony's BRAVIA KDL-26M4000/R is one set that fits better in a bedroom than a den, with a 26-inch panel and a 1,366 x 768 resolution. The gurus over at PC World were able to take the mid-sized set for a spin, and while it found that some tweaking was necessary out of the box in order to get the best possible HD quality, things were pretty swell once calibration was over. The built-in ATSC / NTSC / ClearQAM tuner did its job admirably well, and it also did a fantastic job of making SD content look as bearable as possible. The biggest knock against it was the price, which shouldn't be surprising for anyone who follows MSRPs of Sony TVs, as critics felt most folks would be happier spending less for similar sets.
Ask Engadget HD: What should I get on Black Friday?
This glorious day only comes once per year here in the United States, so you should know we're going to harp on it 'til it's over. We've ditched the usual Ask Engadget HD routine this week in favor of sparking up conversation about shopping, so have a read below: "No surprise, Black Friday 2008 is tomorrow. I don't particularly need anything, but I'm always down for an HD-related deal. I don't have time to shuffle through all those ads -- what are the best items to get, and where do I head to get 'em?"You've seen our breakdown of HD-related sales for Black Friday, but now it's time to toss in your votes for the best deals around. We know, it's slim pickings this year, but show us what ya got in comments.Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.[Image courtesy of Sun-Sentinel]
Vizio hacks prices on select HDTVs prior to Black Friday
We've already seen that a number of retailers will be offering Vizio HDTVs on the cheap this Friday (or Black Friday, as the in-crowd calls it these days), but the company is stealing a bit of their thunder by announcing cuts from the top a few days early. Vizio's 19-inch VA19 LCD will be offered for just $199.99 at Costco through December 7th, while the 32-inch VP322 plasma (pictured) will go for $437 at Walmart starting today. There's also the 37-inch VW37 LCD HDTV for $499.99 at Costco, the 32-inch 1080p VOJ32LF LCD for $559.99 at Sears and the 42-inch 1080p VS420 for $698 at Sam's Club. If none of these sets float your boat, check out our condensed guide to Black Friday: HD style for something more to your liking.
Sony's BRAVIA EX1 / ZX1 HDTVs arrive in the UK
Wouldn't you know it? The world's slimmest LCD HDTV and one of the only wireless HDTVs have both arrived in unison in the United Kingdom. Without much fanfare, Sony has delivered the 9.9-millimeter thin KDL-40ZX1 (pictured) / KDL-52EX1 and the likely-WHDI-enabled KDL-40ZX1 / KDL-46EX1 to regions across the pond, though these beauties won't come with you relieving your wallet of some serious poundage. The KDL-40ZX1 gets going at £2,339, and it only gets wilder from there.[Thanks, Marcos]
HANNspree's 28-inch 1080p HT09 LCD HDTV comes to America for $500
Just in time for brands like Vizio, Panasonic, Sony and Sanyo to undercut it on Black Friday, HANNspree has swooped in and delivered its bedroom-sized 1080p LCD HDTV to the great lands of North America. The set, which was made available a few months prior in the UK, claims to be the planet's first 28-inch "1080p" HDTV, with a native 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, two HDMI ports, a VGA socket, integrated ATSC / NTSC / Clear QAM tuner, 3-millisecond response time, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, stereo speakers (5-watts x 2), audio in / out ports and an Energy Star 3.0 sticker for good measure. Not too shabby for $499.99, and we'd count on finding it even cheaper given the current level of competition in the sector.
Philips LED-backlit 42PFL9803H gets hands-on treatment
You knew it was coming, didn't you? Given that the LED-backlit 42PFL9803H just went on sale across the pond a few weeks back, it was only a matter of time before someone got their grubby paws around it and snapped a few photos. ElectricPig managed to do just that, and aside from giving us a look at the new set, they also stated that it was practically as good -- if not better -- that Pioneer's KURO in terms of contrast. 'Course, that's exactly what Philips was aiming for all along, but it's good to hear we've finally got some competition in the darkness space, regardless. Have a look in the read link below.
Sharp plans to cut LCD panel production by as much as 10%
Sharp hasn't cut production in its Kameyana plant since it began operating in 2004, but it's dangerously close to dialing things back a bit. As with practically every other flat-panel manufacturer out there, Sharp is feeling the pinch of the worldwide economic crisis, and as demand weakens for LCD TVs / LCD monitors, it's looking like now is an opportune time to slow things down. Purportedly, the company is considering scaling back production by as much as 10% from mid-December, though it is still expecting to reach sales of 11 million LCD TVs in the year ending March 2009.
Vizio intros 55-inch 1080p XVT HDTV, soundbar, more goodies
Chrismakwanzika has come early for anyone remotely interested in Vizio kit, and quite honestly, even for those that aren't. From the top, we've got the 55-inch VF550XVT1A, a 1080p HDTV with 120Hz Smooth Motion Video technology, a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, five HDMI inputs, SRS TruSurround HD and a $1,999 MSRP. Next up is the firm's own soundbar and wireless subwoofer kit (VSB210WS), which has finally escaped rumor purgatory to pop official. The kit sports four 3-inch speakers alongside a single 1-inch tweeter for each channel, and the long throw 6.5-inch subbie makes sure the lows are well addressed, too. Just a single cable is needed to connect the VSB210WS to any flat-panel, and just $349.99 is needed to bring it home. On deck are a trio of smaller LCDs: the 19-inch VA19 ($249.99), 22-inch VA22 ($349.99) and 26-inch VA26 ($449.99), with the middle guy becoming Vizio's smallest 1080p HDTV ever. Closing things out is the 26-inch VMM26, a 25.5-inch "multimedia monitor" with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, HDMI / USB ports, touch-activated menus and a $429.99 sticker. All but the first two products mentioned are on sale now, while the first two will be available just before your '09 Super Bowl bash.
Philips' LED-backlit 42PFL9803H on sale in UK for 2,299
If the flashy 42PFL9903D Aurea II is a bit too rich for your blood, Philips is offering you one other option before you bolt to some other brand. The LED-backlit 42PFL9803H, which was spotted (and lookin' good, might we add) at IFA earlier this year, is finally on sale across the pond. An outlay of £2,299 ($3,649) nets you a 42-inch 1080p panel with a 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and a 128-region local dimming system. Furthermore, you'll get four HDMI 1.3 ports, an Ethernet jack for streaming in media over a network and at least a small amount of bragging rights.[Via TrustedReviews]
Mitusbishi iSP LT-52149 LCD TV with integrated soundbar hands-on
No, it's not the hot new LaserVue set, but we've gotten to play with Mitsubishi's new LT-52149 120Hz LCD with integrated soundbar for a week or so now, and while we're impressed with the soundbar's simulated surround, the picture quality just isn't there on the $3,799 display. First off, we're not at all sold on the value of 120Hz dejuddering -- it makes everything look like it was shot on VHS on a soap opera set. We're totally unclear on who likes this, since we think it's pretty nasty. It does work well with sports programming, but for the most part we just left it off and didn't miss it. We also saw some gradient banding issues on HD content, and SD looked terrible, leading us to believe the built-in scaler isn't all that great -- an issue on a large 1080p set where almost everything has be scaled or deinterlaced in some way. That said, there's always a chance we didn't spend enough time tweaking settings, since Mitsu lets you get pretty deep -- we liked the PerfectColor adjustments, and the discrete brightness and backlight controls were much appreciated. Speaking of which, the backlight is one of the brightest we've ever seen, and it makes a huge impression when you first see the display -- it's incredibly vibrant. Too bad the image quality didn't hold up to harsher scrutiny -- the integrated soundbar is super easy to set up, sounds good, and would have made this set a perfect choice for rooms where traditional surround systems don't work. As it is, however, we just can't see dropping nearly four grand on a less-than-perfect picture. Check the gallery for some more hands-on shots.%Gallery-35635%
ILVE introduces VELA rangehood with built-in LCD TV
Not that we haven't seen LCD-equipped rangehoods before, but ILVE's VELA just has that art deco flair that so turns us on. All personal details aside, this here kitchen appliance was designed by Marco Valerio Agretti and features a 4-speed touch control extraction, optional automatic switch-on / speed regulation, all stainless steel construction, a light indicator for filter management and a washable anti-grease filter. Now that you've survived that snore-fest, here's the real details you're after: there's a 10-inch LCD TV built right in there, and with that comes a remote control and an RCA input / output for hooking up your cable box, a DVD player or any flavor of game console. Unfortunately, actual specifications of the TV -- as well as pricing for the entire unit -- are nowhere to be found, but it's pretty safe to assume those who have to ask probably won't be buying. [Warning: PDF read link][Via T3]
DisplaySearch director takes a stab at Black Friday HDTV prices
It's impossible to know just how accurate Paul Gagnon, DisplaySearch's director of North American TV market research, will be with his latest predictions, but we figured it prudent to pass along these figures if for nothing more than to look back and see just how right / wrong they were. With Black Friday 2008 hastily approaching, Mr. Gagnon has put out his assumptions of where prices will head on that fateful day. He reckons that a 19-inch LCD will be selling for just under two bills, while a 32-inch LCD HDTV will go for $399 to $499. For those seeking a big screen, we're hearing $799 to $999 for a 40-inch 1080p set, $599 to $699 for a 42-inch HD plasma (for realz?) and $899 to $999 for a 50-inch HD plasma. Mark 'em down folks, and make sure you're not utterly shocked if these end up being off by a buck or two (or more).[Via Home Theater Mag, image courtesy of TeamSugar]
HP exiting LCD TV biz, killing MediaSmart HDTV line?
Chalk this one up as rampant speculation for now, but word on the street has it that HP may be fixing to axe its LCD TV business and kill the MediaSmart HDTV while it's at it. In taking a step back, it's easy to see how logical this move seems -- HP has never been a giant in the LCD HDTV arena, and its MediaSmart line serves an even smaller niche. Couple those facts with plummeting LCD prices and diminishing margins, and you've got yourself a pretty strong case to hit the eject button. If all of this pans out, it'll surely hurt Microsoft's chances of getting even more TV manufacturers to sell sets with Media Center Extenders built in, but at least those still on the hunt for a MediaSmart HDTV on the cheap would have an opportunity to find just that.[Via ElectronicHouse]
