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Sony's sexy BRAVIA KDL-55XBR8 gets reviewed: amazing, but expensive
Sony's XBR6 recently pulled down some pretty high marks, but those with a little extra coin may be looking at the higher-end XBR8. CNET recently got ahold of the 55-inch KDL-55XBR8, and aside from reproducing the deepest black levels of any LCD TV they had tested, boasting best-in-class bright-room viewing and sporting a whole plethora of ports, it was just, um, alright. In other words, the beautifully designed set was an absolute marvel to look at, but the "mind-boggling" price tag and less-than-stellar off-angle performance will probably keep all but the most loaded of prospective customers at bay. The bottom line? It came "mighty close" to being the best HDTV reviewers had ever (ever!) tested, but we'll be really interested in seeing how the similarly priced LaserVue HDTV stacks up.
Audiovox exits the LCD TV business that no one knew it was in
Okay, so we're kidding. Sort of. Believe it or not, Audiovox actually was a very minor player in the LCD flat-panel industry, but no more. In an effort to counter "what is shaping up to be the worst economy in decades," CEO Patrick Lavelle decided to pull the plug on the LCD business and show 8% of his employees the way out for the final time. It's all good for the company though, because every worked-to-the-bone parent in America will be snapping up one of its Homebase Digital Message Centers.
Samsung scales back flat-screen output by 5% to fight bulging inventories
Ah, how quickly things can change in this volatile, volatile world. At the tail-end of June, Samsung seemed pretty adamant that it would be keeping its flat-panel production lines humming along as usual. Enter a tiny factor called the worldwide credit crisis, and that plan begins to look terrible. In an effort to "cope with excess inventory amid lackluster demand from global markets," Sammy has decided to lower its panel output by about 5% (which it has been doing since August, actually), though it is keeping a close eye on demand in case it needs to ramp back up in short order. Whatever happens, we're just hoping for lower prices for consumers come Black Friday (and beyond).
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LG's Scarlet LG80 1080p LCD HDTV packs 3.1 sound system
The highly controversial (okay, maybe not so much) Scarlet series from LG is being expanded today with the introduction of the LG80. The natural step-up from the LG60 and LG70 features an undisclosed screen size (though we assume it'll range from 42- to 65-inches) with a Full HD (1080p) resolution, 30,000:1 contrast ratio, three AV modes (for movies / video games / sports) and a USB 2.0 port for piping in photos or digital video files. You'll also find a pair of HDMI 1.3 sockets, but the real kicker is the sound system. When powered on, two side speakers extend from the rear of the unit while working alongside the stationary center speaker and "subwoofer" to create a 3.1 system with 50-watts of output. Sure, it's not a 3,000-watt, 7.1-channel master rig, but it's probably decent enough for an inbuilt setup. Look for this one to ship everywhere save for the US and Europe starting later this year.[Via Pocket-lint]
Sony's 52-inch BRAVIA KDL-52XBR6 gets reviewed
Sony's XBR6 series won over hearts long before they even went up for pre-order, but now that they've begun to filter out, you're probably wondering if the image quality is as stunning as the overall design. The lucky souls over at CNET were able to feast their retinas on this 52-incher for awhile, and when time came to pen the review, they had only a few negative things to say. The only knocks were the high price, intermittent color accuracy issues and below-average screen uniformity, but those downfalls were (generally) overshadowed by the accurate color temperature / decoding, bountiful array of ports and energy efficiency. Moreover, this HDTV produced the "deepest black levels of any non-LED LCD TV" it had ever tested, which is sure to thrill those who like it dark. Unfortunately, the bloated sticker ($3,699) and image quality niggles kept it from snagging a perfect review, but 4 out of 5 ain't bad.
HANNspree launches 28-inch HT09 1080p LCD HDTV
1080p on a 28-inch panel, huh? HANNspree is evidently hoping you'll find that proposal quite attractive, as its HT09 offers up just that along with two 5-watt speakers, a 3-millisecond response time, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 800:1 contrast ratio and 160-degree viewing angles. Furthermore, you'll find a pair of HDMI ports (not to mention component, composite and VGA) and a handy remote, all for £279.99 ($491). It's available now in the UK.[Via Stuff]
Sharp shows off 52-inch solar-powered LCD TV at CEATEC
We've seen some fairly fascinating things at CEATEC this year, but this one could be the biggest game-changer of 'em all, if you'll allow us just one buzzword. The LED-backlit 52-incher you see above comes attached to a not-at-all convenient solar floor panel which presumably provides at least some of the energy required to power this thing. We've no clue how close the design is to being viable for the commercial realm, but we'd say Sharp's definitely headed in the right direction here.
TEAC launches 32-inch LCDV3253HD LCD TV / DVD combo in Australia
The word "TEAC" doesn't generally bring about images of dancing HDTVs under a moonlit sky, but that very company is rolling out its own set over in Australia. The 32-inch LCDV3253HD arrives toting a built-in digital TV tuner (or analog tuner, depending on sales region), a modular DVD player, three HDMI ports and bottom-mounted speakers. It's available now for $1,299 in any color you like, so long as it's black.
JVC's iPod-friendly LT-42P789 LCD HDTV gets reviewed
JVC's iPod dock-infused LT-42P789 was announced way back when at CES 2008, but we're just now starting to see the flat-panel leak out onto the market. The cats over at E-Gear were able to house one for a review, and all in all, they were quite pleased. Image quality while watching Blu-ray Discs was exceptional, the iPod playback / UI navigation was satisfactory and the inbuilt speakers were actually not half bad. To be frank, we don't see many potential LCD HDTV buyers looking heavily at this one unless they're simply dead-set on having integrated iPod support -- but hey, if that's you, this one may be the next set you want consuming your den.
Sharp's AQUOS LC-65XS1U-S and LC-52XS1U-S HDTVs get priced
Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for. Pricing for Sharp's sexiest, freshest and altogether loveliest HDTVs has arrived. As stated at CEATEC in Japan, the 65-inch LC-65XS1U-S will sell for a whopping ¥1.28 million ($12,225), while the 52-inch LC-52XS1U-S goes for ¥980,000 ($9,243). We'd expect those figures to be a touch lower whenever they come stateside, but rest assured, you'll be breaking into the piggy bank if either of these is to be your next set.
Philips introduces Flavors LCD TVs with interchangeable frames
Look out, tweens -- Philips has a new line of LCD TVs aimed squarely at your wall / bedroom pedestal. Introduced over in Italy, the Flavors family will initially consist of a 22-, 32- and 42-inch set, the latter of which packs a 1080p panel, 30,000:1 contrast ratio, 5-millisecond response time, 500 cd/m2 brightness and a pair of HDMI ports. The concept here is pretty easy to grasp -- each set comes bundled with two interchangeable frames which are reportedly held up by good ole magnetism, and if two just aren't enough, more can certainly be ordered. Currently, Philips simply has a placeholder page up for the new crew, so we'll just let you simmer on the prices for now: they'll be €549 ($803), €799 ($1,168) and €1,199 ($1,754) in order of mention.
ViewSonic's 22-inch N2201w LCD TV packs inbuilt DVD player, TV tuner
We still haven't been able to shake the ViewSonic dragon from our memory, but we're attempting to move on with our lives by directing our attention (however briefly) to the N2201w. This so-called "3-in-1" LCD TV packs a 22-inch 1,680 x 1,050 resolution panel, a 5-millisecond response time, 1,000:1 contrast ratio and a built-in NTSC / ATSC / QAM TV tuner. You'll also find an integrated DVD player and an HDMI port, and just to prove it really is multifaceted, there's a PC input to boot. No telling if the picture quality is anything to write home about, but the $429 price tag sure is palatable.[Via CEPro]
Sharp's 46-inch AQUOS LC-46X8E gets reviewed
Sharp's 46-inch AQUOS LC-46X8E was recently acquired by the fine folks at TrustedReviews, and overall, it was just decent for the coin. If you're a bit perplexed by the model number, you should be -- this is a fairly exclusive set, currently sold only in the UK at retailer John Lewis. All that aside, performance was simply dubbed "okay." It didn't do anything particularly well, though it didn't do anything spectacularly bad, either. The sharpness, fittingly enough, was highly praised, though the lackluster handling of SD material and the appearance of a few off-kilter tones were downers. The moral of the story? The set actually proved to be a mixed-bag, albeit one that would probably be recommended for a few hundred pounds less. Do yourself a favor and dip into the full review before marching into Mr. Lewis' store and picking one up.
Akai L8 LCD TVs include DVD player, 3-in-1 card reader
Good hearin' from ya Akai -- for a minute few months there, we assumed you were just passed out cold or something. Straight from Australia, the outfit has revealed the L8 family of LCD TVs: the 19-inch L819DDVD, 22-inch L822DDVD and 42-inch L842DDFD. The latter unit gets a full-blown 1080p panel, while the other two provide a 1,440 x 900 and 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, respectively. Each set comes stocked with a built-in HD digital tuner along with HDMI / S-Video / composite / VGA inputs; the smaller two even include an integrated DVD player and a 3-in-1 card reader, though apparently the big boy is too sophisticated for those toys. Grab 'em now if you're Down Under for $599.95, $699.96 and $1,699.95 in order of mention.
Sharp's AQUOS D65 / D85 series LCD HDTVs head to Canada
Good news, Canada! Sharp's AQUOS D65 and D85 LCD HDTVs (those ones uncovered at CEDIA) are headed your way. Starting this month, the 42-, 46- and 52-inch sets will begin landing on Canadian floors, bringing with 'em 120Hz technology, a 4-millisecond response time, AQUOS LINK, five HDMI 1.3 inputs, a 1080p panel and an RS-232C input for custom installs. The whole lot ranges from $1,399.99 (LC-42D65U) to $2,499.99 (LC-52D85U), so start saving those bucks.
Pioneer to launch LCD HDTVs in North America next year
On the whole, we'd say KURO plasma owners are pretty stoked about their sets. Those who'd prefer a KURO-branded LCD, however, have been waiting anxiously to hear something more from ole Pioneer for months. Thankfully, the firm has finally spoken, and while it doesn't mention any brand / model names specifically, we can assume that those LCD HDTVs we saw emerge in Europe will be gracing US shores in mere months. During the first half of 2009, Pioneer LCD HDTVs will be loosed in North America and Asia, and unless plans change, the panels within will actually be supplied by Sharp. Might we be on the lookout for a sneak peek at CES '09?
Sharp adds 65-inch AQUOS LC-65GX5 to internet-ready lineup
Earlier this year, we saw Sharp dish out more internet-ready LCD HDTVs than we could shake a stick at. Now, the outfit is catering to those clamoring for a GX5 model larger than 52-inches. The expansive 65-inch AQUOS LC-65GX5 steps in with a 1080p panel, 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 450 cd/m2 brightness, ARSS speaker system, 176-degree viewing angles, built-in analog / digital terrestrial tuners and a whole mess of ports including HDMI (x3), optical audio, i.LINK, composite, S-Video and DVI. As expected, the set is DLNA-compliant, and there's a built-in IR port for anyone that still cares. Expect it next month (at least in Japan) for ¥680,000 ($6,450).[Via Impress]
Samsung's LED-backlit LN46A950 LCD HDTV gets reviewed
Samsung's duo of LED-backlit 9 Series LCDs looked mighty delicious on paper, and based on a recent review from CNET, it's just as succulent in real life. The 46-inch HDTV produced the deepest black levels of any LCD reviewers had ever seen, extremely accurate color and an overall feeling of excitement while watching. Further praise was bestowed upon the solid video processing, wide range of picture controls, nice port selection and the attractive design. The biggest knock on this fellow was the staggeringly high price tag ($3,199.99), but if money ain't a thang, you've probably just stumbled upon a winner.[Thanks, Nate]
Pantel intros waterproof indoor / outdoor TV consoles
We already knew that Pantel was fixin' to loose a new water-shunning "mirror" LCD HDTV this fall, but apparently that's just not enough for these guys. In addition to that, it has also introduced Q4-bound indoor / outdoor weatherproof consoles that house a 42-inch LCD HDTV, built-in lift mechanism, wireless capabilities and integrated speakers to boot. Each system is equipped with 802.11a technology to deliver audio and video sans wires up to 150-feet, though pricing details are being kept on the low. Hop on past the break for all the specifications you need (and a few you probably don't).
Philips' LED-backlit 42PFL9803 LCD HDTV gets spotted
We knew Philips' LED-backlit 42PFL9803 would be showcasing itself here soon, but for those of you unable to travel overseas in order to see it, TechRadar has provided some first hand details. Over at IFA, they were able to feast their eyes upon the stunning LCD HDTV, and results were mighty impressive. In short, they confirmed that the black levels were "phenomenally deep," and the 100Hz / 120Hz (depending on your region of the world) technology did a great job of nixing jaggies. It's tough to say whether this thing can hold a candle to the mighty KURO plasma, but based on these initial impressions, it's doing pretty darn good for an LCD. Don't take our word for it, though -- tap the read link and be your own judge.[Thanks, David]
