Digital Trends

 

On this front, there were several new satellite set-top boxes on display from DirecTV and EchoStar. (For example, the new DirecTV HD set-top box – HR21 replaces the current HR20.) Except for a new cabinet color (from silver to black), enhanced cosmetics and software tweaks though, it's pretty much like the previous HR20 model. DirecTV will also offer the HR21PRO, which is identical to the standard HR21, but doubles the hard-drive space to 500GB up from 250GB and has a special optical HDMI connector. EchoStar, on the other hand, has added the ViP722, which boosts hard-drive capacity to 350GB, adds Internet access via an Ethernet connection, and introduces an external hard-drive option.

 

 

 

In terms of displays at CEDIA, LCD flat-panel is taking over the world. Pioneer's new Kuro plasma TVs, however, looked absolutely spectacular! The Kuro panels are reportedly completely redesigned, and these 1080p beauties are among the most impressive plasma panels that I have ever seen. Note that there were also two lower-cost 1080p plasma TVs introduced by Panasonic with fewer features that weren’t quite as mind-blowing. 

 

Sony Electronics additionally unveiled two full high-definition 1080p BRAVIA front projectors (the VPL-VW200 @ $15,000 and VPL-VW60 @ $5,000) that offer the ultimate in cinema-like performance for the home theater. The new 1920 x 1080 progressive Silicon X-tal Reflective Display (SXRD) projectors feature 24p True Cinema technology. Both projectors can accept an external anamorphic lens (sold separately) that, when paired with Sony’s Anamorphic zoom mode, allows users to watch movies in their native aspect ratio of 2.35:1. 

Sony VPL-VW200

 

 

As for JVC, the company talked about its D-ILA front projector technology and LCD displays. Representatives showed a movie clip and animation of their new 1.27-in. 4K D-ILA chip that offers a screen resolution of 4,096 x 2000 for Digital Cinema venues. Needless to say, the image quality was quite impressive! JVC is also working on 8K chips, and hope to offer a home projector with a resolution of 1440p in the near future. JVC also unveiled two new D-ILA projectors (one for the pro market (the DLA-HD1) and one for the consumer market (the DLA-HD100)). Both of these new 1080p projectors will feature a native contrast ratio of 30,000:1. Impressive!  

 

JVC further showed off their new 2nd generation Clear Motion Driver II Technology for LCD TVs with a 120 frames per second (120Hz) rate, and conducted side-by-side comparison tests against Sony, Sharp and Toshiba. The end result: The JVC image quality in fast scenes was superior to the competition. Was it a fair test? I don't know. I would have to conduct it myself with Sony's top-of-the-line Bravia, Toshiba's new Regza Cinema Series and a Sharp panel to find out, but hey… it’s not exactly what I’d call an unenviable task either.

 

Toshiba also announced new REGZA LCD TVs with a Super Narrow Bezel (SNB), which is less than 1-in. wide, and will feature a 10-bit panel. These Cinema Series models also include 120Hz refresh rate, xvYCC, 14-bit video processing and dynamic backlight. Sadly, there was no mention of SED. However, there is hope that an announcement will be made at CES 2008.

 

Even though sales of MicroDisplays are down from previous years, TI announced that sales of rear projection DLP sets were up about 12% (at the expense of other technologies such as LCoS and SXRD) and will continue in that direction as long as they can bring innovation into the technology. They expect to see growth in the coming years. The latest innovation from TI was 3-D, which was first announced at IFA two weeks ago, and shown at CEDIA. Personally, it’s a little too gimmicky for me, and I don't like to wear 3-D glasses. Currently, Philips sells non-glasses-requiring 3-D LCD displays to the digital signage industry (using 42-inch panels @ $10,000 approx). If prices could come down to consumer levels, the technology would be might be viable and compelling.   

 

TI additionally previewed the new DarkChip4 DLP chipTI sees 2008 as a turning point for DLP through the elimination of the color wheel and lamp with illumination by either LED (Samsung) or laser (Mitsubishi). that offers a dynamic contrast ratio of 100,000:1, and will be used in front and rear projection models in 2008. We can expect to see a transition in 2008 away from color wheels and lamps to LED and Laser illumination for DLP models. We can also expect to see these DLP MicroDisplays continue to get slimmer. For 2008, it's expected that many rear projection DLP sets will be around 12 inches deep. TI believes that they can get the depth down to about 6 inches, which is truly impressive! It was also hinted that a major brand, who currently does not offer a rear projection DLP set, will offer DLP rear projection displays in 2008. 

 

Sharp, on the other hand, outlined its future by showing off a 10th generation glass substrate for LCD that was claimed to be the world's largest with a dimension of 112 13/64-inches by 120 5/64 inches. There can be six 57-inch panels from this glass substrate. These panels will be built at Sharp's newly announced factory for the 21^st Century at Sakai City in Osaka Prefecture. The manufacturing complex will produce LCD panels and also thin-film solar cells. Previously, Sharp introduced their new D64 Series of LCD HDTVs with a reduced depth of about 3-1/2-inches.

 

As noted above, LCDTV is now the driving force of the digital TV business, and this is expected to continue for the next several years at the expense of plasma displays and rear projection MicroDisplays. However, in terms of front projectors, displays with a resolution of 720p are still the most popular with consumers. Displays with 1080p resolutionare finally starting to take hold. Front projection TV continues to grow in popularity as more and more people want the home theater experience. In fact, I've seen several excellent examples of front projectors at CEDIA. I was especially taken by a new model from Samsung (SP-A800) that uses 1-chip 1080p DLP technology, and was designed by technology guru Joe Kane.

 

In the world of front projectors, 1080p is now the buzzword with the most inexpensive projectors costing under $3,000. More manufacturers are making anamorphic lenses available for their projectors to boot. Even companies like McIntosh now offer a 1080p projector with a motorized anamorphic lens to complement their high-end audio equipment. And since McIntosh is now under the D & M umbrella, I understand that some of the technology that's in the new Marantz projector is also in the McIntosh version as well. (Boy, talk about cross-pollination…) While DLP continues to make inroads into front projectors, 3LCD continues to lead the marketplace. Other companies that offered new projectors included Sanyo (PLV-Z2000), Mitsubishi (HC6000) and Epson.

Sanyo PLV-Z2000

 

 

In fact, Epson introduced several impressive models including their first 720p MovieTime projector (with an integrated DVD player) on a swivel base, and their impressive Ensemble HD Home Cinema System, which is a joint venture with Atlantic Technology for a complete home theater audio/video system and experience that includes all wiring and molding besides the projector and integrated 5.1 speakers. The Epson Ensemble HD Home Cinema System features an attractive contemporary design and comes with virtually everything necessary for proper installation and maximum performance – in other words, truly an "instant home theater system." 

 

The Ensemble HD Home Cinema System includes a choice of Epson PowerLite 3LCD (three-chip) high-definition multimedia projector with either true 1080p native resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) at $6,999 or a more affordably-priced 720p option at $4,999; a unique 100-inch motorized screen that quietly lowers and retracts within the unique top-mounted front-channel (Left, Center, Right) ceiling-mounted speaker system; an audio/video controller with an integrated upconverting DVD player; the aforementioned newly engineered Atlantic Technology speaker system; and a proprietary 150-watt subwoofer containing all 5.1 channels of amplification. It also includes a universal remote that controls the entire system including the motorized screen; all necessary mounting brackets; all audio, video and power cables that are needed to complete the installation while maximizing performance (including HDMI); and a unique wire management track system that hides all of the included cables from users’ sight.