HD PLASMA NEWS
If the size of your plasma screen is the new
battleground for keeping up with your neighbours then the Panasonic
TH-65PX600B is the last word, for now.
Able to display true 1080p resolution this huge display incoorporates Panasonic's continuing commitment to its Viera technology. The TH-65PX600B packs a technological punch which includes V-REAL picture processing, 3D colour management, sub pixel control, motion pattern noise reduction and video noise reduction.
A High Definition resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a contrast ratio of 5,000:1 is backed up with three HDMIs, component video inputs and pc input.High-quality sound is provided by a 3-way speaker system combining a woofer, squawker, and 5cm tweeter. SRS TruSurround XT supposedly expands the acoustic field to make virtual 5.1 channel surround effect.
Suprisingly, the TH-65PX600B doesn't overwhelm the environment its placed in, with subtle styling affording this screen a discreet (for its size) presence to any room. Of course, all of this comes at a price - expect to pay around £6,500.
Just as you thought LCDs were set to dominate the flat screen world along comes the remarkable Pioneer PDP-427XD, a 42-inch plasma screen to contend with. Pioneer has always believed that plasma screens have the potential to offer better overall performance than LCDs, especially with larger screen sizes.
The Pioneers resolution gives no hint of its outstanding performance, it will display 1080i/p formats by downscaling the source pictures, but some of the most advanced picture processing technology available produces a truly remarkable picture with better natural colours and more depth than LCD.
Driving the impressive performance is Pioneers Pureblack Panel 2 with a unique Crystal Emissive Layer forming part of the front glass panel, which reduces unwanted light emissions to create distinctive black levels to enhance contrast and definition.
The specification includes integrated Freeview , high-definition compatibility, complete connectivity, and the PDP-427XD is available with a target price of around £1500.
LG has further enhanced its reputation by winning three gongs at the prestigious electronics industry EISA awards.
EISA is the largest editorial multimedia organisation in Europe with a membership of 54 audio, video, mobile and photography magazines from 18 countries. Each year awards are presented to products that feature outstanding design, technology and features in their chosen categories and LG has a trio of acceptance speeches to write before the official ceremony on 1 September.
Most prestigious is the Best Plasma TV Award for the 42PC1RR, a 42-inch plasma TV with an integrated digital video recorder. The screen has been acclaimed for high quality performance with the convenience of a single system to take care of both watching and recording duties. It's the world's first TV with a built-in pause function that lets you stop live TV in its tracks so you can take a break to answer the phone or make a cup of tea without missing a moment of the action.
The new RH200MHS takes the Best Digital Video Recorder Award. It's a hybrid recorder that offers user-friendly functionality with the versatility of both an integrated 250GB hard drive and universal software disc compatibility, including recently added MPEG-4 recording. The stylish design is available in black or silver to perfectly compliment modern flat-screen displays.
Last but not least is the Best HT Innovation Award for technology, won by LG's AN 110, a flat, wall-mounted projector. The slim HD Ready device looks more like a contemporary piece of art than a projector. And, unlike other projectors, it can be mounted flat against a wall courtesy of two defining technologies the L-type Projector Lens and the Reverse Type TR Prism which have been hailed as a revolution in projector design.
