Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On February - 5 - 2010ADD COMMENTS
Sony, Samsung, LG, and Toshiba all announced 3D-compatible HDTVs at this year’s CES, but Panasonic has made the most noise about the technology. The company began touting an extra dimension at last year’s CES, and this year it has finally announced a shipping date for its first 3D plasma TV. Dubbed the VT25 series, it’s expected to be released in the spring. It will be among the first 3D-capable flat-panel HDTVs available for sale in the U.S.The set will include one pair of 3D glasses–every other 3D set announced at the show, save Sony’s XBR-LX900 series, lacks included glasses. Also, like all other makers, Panasonic will employ an active LC shutter system. The right and left lens in the glasses alternately darkens and lightens, too quickly to perceive, while the TV synchronously displays the corresponding right- and left-eye-specific images. The result is a stereoscopic 3D effect that, in the case of the VT25 mated to full-resolution 3D content, preserves all 1,920×1,080 (1080p) pixels for each eye–hence Panasonic’s term “Full HD 3D.”Toshiba and Samsung have announced 2D to 3D conversion systems with their sets, which purport to create a 3D effect with standard 2D material; however, Panasonic avoids such processing tricks with the VT25. The only way to get 3D out of this TV (at least until 3D-upconverting players come along) is to mate it to a true 3D source, which means a 3D-compatible Blu-ray player playing a 3D disc, or a cable or satellite box tuned to a 3D channel. Such hardware-content combinations are nonexistent today, but given the preponderance of 3D related announcements at CES–including Panasonic’s own DMP-BDT350–they won’t be for long. We’ll take a closer look at 3D after the show, but in the meantime, Panasonic’s 3D HD Web site provides a good overview–as long as you can stomach the inevitable boosterism.
Aside from 3D, the VT25 is separated from step-down models in Panasonic’s lineup by the inclusion of Infinite Black Pro, which we assume improves upon the already excellent black level performance found on current Panasonic plasma TVs. The company lists the same 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio (for what it’s worth) for both the Pro and non-Pro versions of the feature, so we’ll have to wait for a review sample to see how black this latest Panasonic can get.
The VT25 also offers ISFccc, a protocol to help professional calibrators home in on the perfect picture, and an RS-232 port for custom installations.
Update January 8, 2010: We asked Panasonic’s rep whether the the new TVs, like the current V10 series, would include a 96Hz refresh rate, to better display native 1080p/24 content. We were told that the VT25 would have a 96Hz option, but that the new G25 and G20 models would have the same flicker-prone 48Hz refresh rate option found on the current G10 models. See the review of the Panasonic TC-PG10 series for details.
Aside from these differences, its feature set is identical to that of the company’s TC-PG25 series, so check out that write up for more information on the other features below.
Panasonic TC-PVT25 features:
3D compatible
Includes one pair of 3D glasses
Infinite Black Pro
ISFccc mode
THX certified
VieraCast interactive suite adds Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, and Fox Sports to previous content
Skype video calling
Optional Wi-Fi connection
Panasonic TC-PVT25 series models:
Panasonic Viera TC-P65VT25: 65-inch, available spring 2010, price TBD
Panasonic Viera TC-P58VT25: 58-inch, available spring 2010, price TBD
Panasonic Viera TC-P54VT25: 54-inch, available spring 2010, price TBD
Panasonic Viera TC-P50VT25: 50-inch, available spring 2010, price TBD
Source: cnet.com
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Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On February - 4 - 2010ADD COMMENTS
Vizio captured our attention with its “Via” platform of interactive applications, and while it still hasn’t shipped a Via-equipped TV–the VF552XVT should appear later this month, according to the company–Vizio has announced the imminent arrival of improved versions, which it calls the VT Pro series.
What’s different? The three-model XVT Pro series delivers that trendy buzzword, 3D, and the company claims its 3D technology, which employs Sensio XpanD shutter glasses, surpasses that of other 3D purveyors. We’ll be sure to test that claim when we can review one.
Vizio has also upped the number of zones on its local-dimming LED backlight, from 80 on the VF552XVT to 120 on the same-sized XVT Pro model, the 55-inch XVTPRO550SV. The larger, 72-inch model gets 480 zones, whereas the 47-incher gets 160 (that’s not a misprint; per Vizio’s press release it does have more zones than the larger 55-incher). More zones generally equals less blooming, although in our review of the VF551XVT (another 80-zone model) blooming was not a major problem.
The company incorporates the same extra-high refresh rate, 480Hz, that we saw announced by LG and Toshiba on their respective flagship HDTVs this year. Like those models, we expect the Vizio employs a scanning backlight in conjunction with conventional motion estimation and motion compensation technology. It sounds like a mouthful, but we don’t expect much of an improvement in motion resolution over standard 240Hz models.
In addition to built-in Wi-Fi, which is also found on the VF552XVT, the XVT Pro series has another wireless trick up its sleeve. The TV has a built-in wireless receiver that can communicate with an optional base station via a 60GHz signal, designed to minimize interference with other wireless devices and preserve the full resolution of 1080p. The station has four HDMI inputs, and when you plug your gear in it can send the picture and sound to the TV without wires. A similar optional wireless system is available on LG’s models, and we like the idea.
Notably, Vizio is the only TV maker to actually announce pricing on a 3D-compatible TV. It even went so far as to promise a release date. The company has a history of inaccuracy on both counts, but at least it’s given prospective TV shoppers something to work with. And with the 72-inch model going for $3,500, it’s given other manufacturers something to shoot for. Vizio XVT Pro features:
full-array LED backlight with local dimming
3D compatible
480Hz refresh rate
Via interactive functionality with Amazon Video on Demand, Netflix, Rhapsody, Twitter, VUDU, Yahoo TV Widgets and more
Optional-in Wi-Fi connection
Optional wireless HDMI base station
Vizio XVT Pro models:
Vizio XVTPRO720SV: 72-inch, available August 2010, $3499 MSRP
Vizio XVTPRO550SV: 55-inch, available August 2010, $2499 MSRP
Vizio XVTPRO470SV: 47-inch, available August 2010, $1999 MSRP
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Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On February - 3 - 2010ADD COMMENTS
You can’t swing a CES badge around without knocking over a LED TV this week, it seems. ViewSonic isn’t doing much to help the situation as the debuted four new LED HDTVs during the show.
First up are the 18.5-inch VT1900LED and 32-inch VT3200LED. Both are 720p, Energy Star 5.0 compliant and offer a response time of 5ms.
The 42-inch VT4200LED and 23-inch VT2300LED feature full HD 1080p panel resolution, delivering the ultimate visual experience for HD movies and Internet content. In addition, the VT4200LED delivers 120Hz operation, fast 4ms response time, and a 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
Source: cnet.com
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Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On January - 22 - 2010ADD COMMENTS
In one of the coolest unveils at the show (CES 2010), Samsung has announced the 9000 series, which is only 0.3 inches thick.
Specs are fuzzy at the moment, but what we know and a bunch more images of this incredible TV after the jump.
What we do know is that the 9000 series will be LED edge lit, 3D capable, and have built in wireless.
If the thickness of the TV didn’t impress you, the remote sure will.
Not only is it a touchscreen, it’s actually another TV. So you can watch TV while you watch TV. Or watch a different channel on the remote. Or countless other possibilities with apps from Samsung’s new App store.
No real specs or a release date yet, but a Samsung representative I spoke to did assure me it’s a real product. Coolness.
Source: hemagazine.com
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Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On December - 20 - 2009ADD COMMENTS
Philips is introducing two new models in its famous 9000 Series line, the 40PFL9704 – 46PFL9704 LED Pro HDTVs with a dynamic contrast of 5,000,000:1 for ultimate brilliant images. You want the LCD flat display with the highest contrast and most vibrant images. The LED backlight offers this by a unique local dimming of the LEDs. It generates light where it is needed in the image and keeps dark areas supremely black. The excellent dimming enabled by LEDs allows an unsurpassed dynamic contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1. For the first time images are rendered with extreme deep blacks alongside vibrantly coloured amazing bright sections.
Net TV with Wi-Fi for popular online services on your TV
Experience a rich selection of online services with Net TV. Enjoy movies, pictures, infotainment and other online content directly on your TV whenever you like. Simply connect your TV directly to your home network through either the integrated Wi-Fi wireless or Ethernet connection, and navigate to and select what you want to watch with the TV remote control. The Philips menu gives you access to popular Net TV services fitted for your TV screen. Additionally, with the DLNA certified PC network you can watch videos or access pictures stored on your computer using your TV remote control.
Enjoy a rich selection of web videos from YouTube and others
Net TV brings you a rich selection of videos from YouTube and other video websites. The videos are tailored to fit your TV screen, allowing you to sit back and enjoy online videos at an optimum quality.
Features:
200 Hz Clear LCD displays 200 scenes per second by combining advanced 100 Hz technology with scanning backlight @ 50% duty cycle.
8 days EPG, service not available in all countries
DVB-T, supported in selected countries only
DVB-C in selected countries and for selected operators only. Most up to date information is available on the type plate of the TV.
Net TV, service offering is dependent on country and subject to terms of use.
Optional Philips DVB-S module required (part no. PFS0001, only available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland)
MPEG4 HDTV reception via DVB-T and DVB-C tuner with CI+
HDTV allows you to watch TV in the best possible picture and sound quality, without an additional set-top box. Thanks to the built-in tuner that supports DVB-Terrestrial and DVB-Cable signals for both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 formats, you receive high definition TV programmes in exceptional quality. Moreover, with Common Interface Plus (CI+) you benefit from premium high definition content directly on your TV.
Source: trendynetnews.com
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Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On November - 28 - 2009ADD COMMENTS
LEDs have risen from their original occupation as humble indicator lamps to serving as the light source for some of today’s most advanced TVs. Electronics engineers prize the LED for its brightness and cool-running efficiency. Environmentalists and utility companies tout its low power consumption. Videophiles are warming to it for the performance enhancements it facilitates. And average consumers love the way it has slimmed their new TVs. In this article, we’ll explain how the LED works; how it’s used in current-model TVs (LED HDTV technology)and in the latest video projectors; and how it’s likely to be used in future displays. Of course, we can’t say exactly what the LED’s future in video will be, but we can say with a great deal of confidence that within the next 10 years, you’ll own at least one LEDbased TV — if you don’t have one already.
LED BASICS
LED is the acronym for light-emitting diode. A diode is the simplest type of semiconductor. Rather than control the flow of electrons, as a transistor does, a diode just conducts electricity in one direction and blocks it in the other. It’s made from a semiconducting material such as gallium arsenide or indium gallium nitride, combined with another substance that changes its electrical properties to suit the task at hand.
About a century ago, scientists discovered that diodes emit infrared light as an electrical current passes through them. In the 1960s, several companies developed diodes that produced visible light, and the LED was born. Early LEDs were dim and mostly limited in color to red, green, and amber. Despite these restraints, LEDs quickly replaced incandescent light bulbs for use as indicator lights, primarily because they last so much longer. Almost all LEDs have lifetimes specified in tens of thousands of hours, and some are even rated to last 100,000 hours or longer. In the 1980s and 1990s, brighter LEDs emerged, along with LEDs in white, blue, and other colors. These breakthroughs caught the attention of video engineers. As display technologies evolved away from light-emitting cathode-ray tubes toward “light valve” technologies such as LCD and DLP, engineers needed a cool-running, efficient, reliable light source. LED delivers on all three.
Interestingly, most white LEDs are actually blue LEDs coated with a yellow phosphor. Some of the photons emerging from the blue LED excite the yellow phosphor, thus producing yellow photons, which combine with the blue photons to produce white light. By fine-tuning the underlying blue LEDs’ color and the phosphor formulation, LED makers are able to deliver white light pure enough to drive high-quality video displays. In fact, white LED light is even broader in spectrum than the light from the coldcathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) used as backlights in most LCD TVs. LEDs can therefore produce a wider range of colors.
In LCD TVs that use a fullarray LED backlight, individual LEDs are arranged in rows, spaced 1 to 3 inches apart. A diffuser panel spreads the light, ensuring an even distribution to the display’s LCD panel.
LED MEETS TV
In video displays, LEDs are now used in several different ways. For the most part, they serve merely as a light source rather than as a way to reproduce individual pixels of video. But they can also produce images directly, rather than just working in tandem with other display technologies such as LCD.
For now, the video industry uses LEDs primarily as a CCFL backlight alternative for LCD panels. LED-driven LCD sets first appeared about 2 years ago, and they have since taken over much of the high-end LCD TV market. However, the cost is still high and overall market penetration is low; they currently account for only about 3 percent of total LCD TV sales.
LEDs have three general advantages over CCFLs: They’re more energy-efficient, they allow for a slimmer chassis, and they deliver a wider color gamut (or range of available colors). They can have other advantages, too, depending on how the TV is designed.
Some confusion has occurred in the labeling of these LED-driven TVs, which could fairly be called LED/LCD TVs. Samsung has heightened the confusion by labeling these displays LED TV, which most video experts consider a misleading moniker. Generally, a true LED TV is defined as one in which the pixels are formed from individual LEDs. Each pixel is self-illuminating and requires no backlight.
True LED TVs do exist — most of the large-format displays you see in ballparks and used as digital signage are made from arrays of thousands of LEDs, which are often similar to the 5-mm LEDs your local RadioShack stocks in the “dork drawers” at the back of the store. The new Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) TVs are also true LED TVs.
The “Triluminos” full-array LED backlight found in certain Sony LCD models uses separate red, green, and blue LEDs — an arrangement that can deliver an increased color gamut over a white LED array.
FULL-ARRAY LED: THE STATE OF THE ART?
LED/LCD TVs come in two basic varieties: fullarray (which some manufacturers simply refer to as backlit) and edge-lit.
In a full-array TV, LEDs are positioned directly behind the LCD panel in rows, with the LEDs typically spaced 1 to 3 inches apart. A diffuser panel between the LED array and the LCD panel spreads out the light so that the screen gets a smooth, consistent field of illumination.
This arrangement offers the potential for gigantic performance advantages. The LEDs can be dimmed individually or in small groups. This process, called “local dimming,” allows for LEDs behind the dark parts of a picture to be run at a lower intensity, so the blacks and dark grays look darker while the brighter parts of the picture stay the same. The effect is a huge increase in contrast, which has historically been a weak point for LCD TVs. (Local dimming is impossible with CCFLs because they run the entire length of the screen.) Consequently, the newest full-array LED/ LCD models match or even surpass the contrast of plasma TVs.
However, local dimming has some limitations. A large LED/LCD TV might have an array of roughly 1,000 LEDs. That means each LED backlights about 2,000 pixels in the LCD display panel on a 1080p-rez TV. Furthermore, many sets control the LEDs not individually but in blocks of perhaps five or 10 LEDs. Obviously, with so many pixels being illuminated by so few LEDs, it’s impossible to achieve precise transitions between high-brightness and low-brightness areas. This imprecision can result in an artifact called “blooming”: white halos that appear around the edges of bright onscreen objects silhouetted against a dark background — a white rocket floating through black space, for example. Manufacturers can combat blooming by increasing the number of LEDs in their sets’ backlight array, decreasing the number of LEDs in each control block, refining the drive electronics for the LEDs, and increasing the native contrast of their LCD panels. Newer full-array TVs show less of this artifact, but it still exists.
The above pictures illustrate the local dimming process at work in an LCD TV with a full-array LED backlight. Various “zones” in the LED backlight can be either dimmed or shut off completely to track brightness variations in the image. The process, which unfolds on a continuous, dynamic basis, goes far to enhance picture contrast.
Another advantage of full-array LED/LCD TVs is improved picture uniformity. Because the screen is lit by hundreds or thousands of LEDs instead of 20 or so CCFLs, you don’t see the gaps that are sometimes visible between CCFLs. (This artifact, which is often referred to as screen “clouding,” crops up regularly in our reviews of standard, non- LED-based LCD TVs.)
Most manufacturers use white LEDs in their arrays. However, for some of its LCD TVs Sony instead uses groups of four closely spaced color LEDs: two green, one red, one blue. (The green, red, and blue light combine to make white.) Sony has trademarked this technology Triluminos. The advantage is that the exact colors of red, green, and blue can be chosen independently to give a potentially wider color gamut than a TV using white LEDs. However, Triluminos is more expensive to implement than a white LED array, and other manufacturers have been able to meet or exceed the HDTV color gamut specifications using just white LEDs.
Source: soundandvisionmag.com
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Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On November - 26 - 2009ADD COMMENTS
The UN46B8000 uses LED side lighting, which means that the LEDs that create the light you see are on the sides of the TV and aim inwards. They shoot across a dimpled plastic surface that directs the light towards your eyeballs. Most laptops work on the same principle. While you concede a tiny bit in the width of the display (hardly noticeable), you gain a lot more in an almost total lack of depth. OLED, eat your heart out. (It is not, however, an “LED TV”)
Unlike other LED “backlit” displays, side lighting doesn’t let you have local dimming. You can dim the entire backlight, much like you could on older LCDs. On the flip side, you get much lower power consumption, as there are far fewer LEDs to light.
Though not Samsung’s first 240 Hz display, the UN46B8000 does represent, to me at least, a big step forward in flat-panel design. The 8000 combines stunning thin looks, lower power consumption and the latest, increased refresh technology that is sure to represent what we’ll see in many TVs in the coming years. So, sure it’s a sign of things to come, but how does it do now?
Samsung TVs have made a little chime when you turn them on. It always sounded cheap, belying the quality of the display. This finally has changed. The five-note chime now has a decent timbre and sounds quite elegant, matching the look and feel of the set.
The same thoughtfulness extends to the remote, which I will go on record as saying is the best remote to come with any consumer electronics product I can remember. For one thing, it’s RF (radio frequency), so you don’t have to aim it at the TV. You don’t even have to be in the same room. Its design complements the TV, and not only does it have a backlight, but a built-in light sensor that automatically turns on the backlight when you need it. If that weren’t enough, the 8000 comes with a second remote, a tiny egg that only does volume, channel and power. You know, for kids (and by “kids” I mean “adults”).
Like other Samsung TVs, the 8000 auto-senses when there is a device plugged into the TV, so the input menu gives you these first, making switching between sources easier. Once you see this in action, it makes you to wonder why every TV doesn’t have this feature.
Setup menus are typical Samsung, as in there are a lot of them, and they’re thorough and easy to navigate. There are plenty of options for the tweaky to tweak (read: me). If you press the Info button on the remote, it tells you the input and resolution of the incoming source and a little power meter that tells you how efficient the TV is with your current settings. Brilliant. I love the little things.
Feel free to dial back the backlight. At full bore, the 8000 puts out a toasty 90 foot-lamberts. At a backlight setting of 0, it’s a perfectly watchable 18 ft-L. Regardless of backlight setting, the contrast ratio was very punchy—among the best I’ve seen in a non-local dimming LCD. Black level, at the lowest backlight setting, was an excellent 0.002; though, if you wait a moment, it goes completely dark as the LEDs shut off. This makes the full-on/full-off contrast ratio measurement rather meaningless, as the 0 ft-L the TV is capable of putting out is never really achieved with actual video material.
Part of the issue is the Dynamic Contrast feature, which monitors the incoming video signal and decreases the backlight to match. When there’s a dark image on screen, the backlight drops, making the scene seem darker. I’m not a huge fan of this technology, but it helps a little. Occasionally you can see it working and pulsing; while it seems like you can turn it off in the menu, it’s always working a little bit. At its “off” setting, it’s not intrusive.
Color accuracy, as is typical with Samsung LCDs, was very good. Each color was a touch oversaturated, but not enough that most people would notice.
The real do-dad worth spending some time playing with is the Auto Motion Plus 240Hz. This is where you can adjust the amount of motion interpolation being done by the set to get the 24 or 60 frames-per-second video to display on this 240 Hz TV. This can range from Off, which has the TV repeat frames (including a 10:10 pulldown with 24p sources), to Smooth, which creates frames very different from those in the source.
There’s also a clever Custom option that lets you dial in the amount of Blur Reduction (always a good thing), though the additional nine steps didn’t seem to do much more than step one and the amount of Judder Reduction (personally not a fan, your mileage may vary).
I left the AMP240Hz in the Off setting, though there should be enough settings for you to find a compromise you like between motion blur and overly smooth motion interpolation. If you like the added smoothness of significant motion interpolation, the AMP240Hz set to Smooth is exactly as the name implies.
On the processing side, the UN46B8000 picks up the 3:2 sequence with 480i and 1080i sources with both HDMI and component. It also does an excellent job minimizing jagged edges on diagonal lines with DVD material, and pulling a lot of detail from SD sources. All in all, it does an excellent job on the processing side of things.
Source: hemagazine.com
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Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On November - 23 - 2009ADD COMMENTS
Want an LCD HDTV with the latest advances that costs hundreds of dollars less than comparable models? Look to Vizio and its XVT Series LED-backlit VF551XVT.
The 55-inch Vizio XVT VF551XVT (XVT stands for Extreme Vizio Technology) offers the two primary features found in today’s top-of-the-line HDTVs. There’s a full HD 1080p display utilizing the company’s proprietary 240Hz SPS (Scenes Per Second) Smooth Motion technology, along with TruLED (light-emitting diode) illumination. The full array of LED backlighting is composed of 960 tiny LEDs in clusters with local dimming. This model offers a 2,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and response time of 5 milliseconds (ms).
The LED illumination provides very consistent brightness and contrast across the entire screen. And Vizio’s Smart Dimming allows for clusters of LEDs to be turned off, which produces improved blacks and higher contrast. The 240Hz refresh rate means that the images are refreshed 240 times per second. The Smooth Motion Effect option activates Motion Estimation/Motion Compensation (ME/MC) circuitry that, in turn, helps to suppress motion judder or “stuttering” of the image when the camera pans across a scene, or if there is horizontal motion in the scene.
The VF551XVT also includes SRS TruVolume and SRS TruSurround. When the programming switches to a loud commercial or when changing channel results in a volume fluctuation, SRS TruVolume provides a comfortable and consistent sound level. The SRS TruSurround offers a pleasant surround-like effect.
A 49-button remote control is included, which is programmable and supports up to three more devices: a DVD player, a home theater system or audio amplifier, and a cable or set-top box. It even has a handy HDMI button to access satellite/cable receivers or Blu-ray players.
December will bring the VF552XVT with Vizio Internet Apps (or VIA), for the same price of $2,199. The 552 will be identical to the 551, except for the additional Internet-access utilizing a Yahoo’s Widget Engine and built-in wireless (802.11n dual-band) network capability, so you won’t need a wired connection in your family room.
The VIA feature will include Accedo Broadband, Amazon Video On Demand, Blockbuster On Demand, Flickr, Netflix, Pandora, Rhapsody, eBay, Facebook, RadioTime, Revisions3, Rallypoint Sports, Showtime, Twitter and Vudu.
It also supports Adobe Flash, and future apps will be added via firmware updates.
The remote for the 552 will have embedded Bluetooth (for easy paring of Bluetooth devices) and a sliding QWERTY keyboard hidden beneath the primary keypad. It was pretty neat and easy to operate.
So how did the VF551XVT stand up to seemingly superior TVs? Pretty darned well. I had low expectations, as I normally review top-of-the-line models from Toshiba, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Mitsubishi, Pioneer and the like. The black levels on the Vizio were good and provided better-than-average contrast for most filmed Blu-ray content such as The Dark Knight, and including the recently released Gladiator (Extended Version), The Deep, and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Extended Version).
And thanks to the 240Hz SPS feature, film judder in fast-motion scenes was negligible, especially in the opening high-speed sequence in Quantum of Solace. DISH Network’s 1080i signals from HBO’s True Blood, Fox’s Fringe, and HD-NET’s InFocus travelogues looked clean, crisp and clear, offering very little video noise.
The sound quality of the integrated 30-watt soundbar was better than many sets, though a home theater audio system is always recommended.
Is the VF551XVT the best LCD HDTV I’ve reviewed? No, but it performs admirably and it is very reasonably priced, costing hundreds of dollars less than a comparable Toshiba or over a $1,000 less for a comparable Samsung. And the 552 model adds Wi-Fi network capability and Internet access, all for a little more than $2,000, to make it a winning combination.
Source: vizio.com
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Posted by Home Theater Audio Video On November - 22 - 2009ADD COMMENTS
Last year, the LCD buzz was all about 120Hz refresh rates for smoother moving images. This year there’s 240Hz refresh rates, but the real news is that LCD TVs are going green—and improving their picture quality at the same time. Enter the brightest new TV star, LED (light emitting diode) backlighting. It’s much more energy efficient and more expensive than standard fluorescent backlighting—and it is showing up in numerous 2009 models.
There are two types of LED backlighting: edge-lit and full-array. Some sets that utilize full-array LEDs also include local dimming, which allows individual LEDs or clusters of them to turn off in dark scenes, improving black levels and detail. The only drawback is that LCD TVs using full-array LEDs are not normally ultrathin and can measure up to about 4.5 inches deep.
Toshiba Regza’s 55SV670 LED LCDTV uses the full array to light its a 55-inch 1080p LCD screen—and utilizes local dimming. With LED backlighting, the dynamic contrast of the SV670 is pumped up to whooping 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Other image enhancements include ClearScan 240Hz with a new backlight scanning technology for even smoother fast-moving images. The 240Hz quadruples the traditional progressive scan rate of 60Hz (or 60 frames a second) to 240Hz (or 240 frames per second).
Another eco-friendly feature called AutoView dims or brightens the screen according to ambient room lighting and the incoming video signal. Other key video enhancement features include CrystalCoat Contrast Enhancer with antireflective properties and Toshiba’s PixelPure 5G 14-bit internal digital video processor that provides improved overall detail. Audio is rated at 10 watts per channel and features Dolby Volume to keep volume levels consistent—as in no really loud commercials. There’s also Audyssey EQ.
Connection was easy and straight-forward. To calibrate this LCD set for optimal picture playback, I used a new Blu-ray test disk from Marvell entitled Qdeo HD Video Evaluation. The disc allows you evaluate the video processing of a particular TV, as well as to calibrate and correctly set contrast, brightness, black levels, color, sharpness, and gray scale among other video settings.
With all of these eco-friendly features and innovations, is the TV any good? With Toshiba’s SV670, I can fairly say that LCD technology is finally coming of age with a full array of features that enhance the overall image quality and clarity of the display.
Local dimming greatly enhances contrast and brings out detail in dark scenes.
The dark scenes looked accurate, with subtle variations in blackness from standard HDTV fare, most notably in the starfields of ABC’s Defying Gravity and the vibrant colors and quick cuts of USA’s Burn Notice. The very dark scenes in the newly released Blu-ray version of Watchmen (Director’s Cut) and The Dark Knight showed detail and color gradations not seen on most other LCD TVs.
And the splash of vibrant colors from Disney’s 50th Anniversary Sleeping Beauty was especially compelling. Overall, the images on the SV670 were markedly superior and uniform. if you more accurately control brightness and contrast, the images displayed will look more realistic, natural and life-like across the entire palette.
The colors displayed on the 55SV670 were exceptionally rich, and vibrant with very deep blacks (for an LCD TV) giving you the feeling and clarity of “you are there.” Black levels and contrast were several grades above other LCD HDTVs I’ve reviewed.
The beauty of LED backlighting lies not just with its eco-friendly features, but with its excellent contrast and deeper blacks that reveal more depth and detail—while providing more precise color saturation across the entire color spectrum.
If you are looking to conserve energy and still want the best possible LCD TV, you have to look at LED-backlit TVs like Toshiba’s 55SV670. It could be the best LCD the company has produced.
Source: electronichouse.com
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Sony, Samsung, LG, and Toshiba all announced 3D-compatible HDTVs at this year’s CES, but Panasonic has made the most noise about the technology. The company began touting an extra dimension at last year’s CES, and this year it has finally announced a shipping date for its first 3D plasma TV. Dubbed the VT25 series, it’s expected to be released in the spring. It will be among the first 3D-capable flat-panel HDTVs available for sale in the U.S.The set will include one pair of 3D glasses–every other 3D set announced at the show, save Sony’s XBR-LX900 series, lacks included glasses. Also, like all other makers, Panasonic will employ an active LC shutter system. The right and left lens in the glasses alternately darkens and lightens, too quickly to perceive, while the TV synchronously displays the corresponding right- and left-eye-specific images. The result is a stereoscopic 3D effect that, in the case of the VT25 mated to full-resolution 3D content, preserves all 1,920×1,080 (1080p) pixels for each eye–hence Panasonic’s term “Full HD 3D.”
Toshiba and Samsung have announced 2D to 3D conversion systems with their sets, which purport to create a 3D effect with standard 2D material; however, Panasonic avoids such processing tricks with the VT25. The only way to get 3D out of this TV (at least until 3D-upconverting players come along) is to mate it to a true 3D source, which means a 3D-compatible Blu-ray player playing a 3D disc, or a cable or satellite box tuned to a 3D channel. Such hardware-content combinations are nonexistent today, but given the preponderance of 3D related announcements at CES–including Panasonic’s own DMP-BDT350–they won’t be for long. We’ll take a closer look at 3D after the show, but in the meantime, Panasonic’s 3D HD Web site provides a good overview–as long as you can stomach the inevitable boosterism.
