Audio Video News

A legendary name among high-end video companies, Faroudja isn't content to sit on its many laurels. The Silicon Valley company demonstrated several new products at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. Foremost among them is the recently introduced DVP4000 digital video processor.

The DVP4000 is a full-featured digital video processor offering HDTV "cross-conversion" technology. In other words, it can convert analog or digital 1080i HDTV to progressive 1080p, then scale its output to the native resolution of the digital display (1366 x 768 for example). The processor can also cross-convert HDTV rates of 480p and 720p, expanding HDTV compatibility for the expanding market of digital displays, including plasma monitors and DLP, LCoS and LCD projectors. The DVP4000 also offers a DVI output.

Faroudja's renowned video processing technologies, including 3:2 pull-down and DCDi deinterlacing, are claimed to "dramatically improve the color, detail and motion for all types of large-screen digital displays." The $14,995 DVP4000 has an internal DVD drive, insuring a pure digital signal path from the DVD through the processor to the display. It also supports DVD-Audio and SACD playback. The DVP4000 has a full complement of analog inputs for standard sources, such as satellite, cable and broadcast TV.

Home Theater Display Packages: Faroudja bundles video processors with D-ILA, DLP and plasma display systems that have been "Theater Optimized" by the company's engineering team for exceptional performance and simplified installation. By pre-aligning each system, Faroudja dealers can deliver very high quality images for each installation without the need to hire a video set-up expert. Among the systems introduced at CES were four new plasma packages: the FPP-42WV20, featuring a 42" screen and 852 x 480 resolution; the FPP-42HD20, with 42" screen and 1024 x 768 resolution; the FPP-50HD20, with a 50" screen and 1366 x 768 resolution; and the FPP-61HD20, with a 61" screen at 1366 x 768 resolution.

Faroudja applies custom set-up firmware to each package, and connects the processor and plasma via digital DVI. Packages are available with either the NRS-DVI or DVP1500 video processor. Each plasma package offers the newest plasma technology with improved contrast ratio and expanded set-up menu structure, plus a full four-year warranty Suggested retail prices range from $9,995 to $35,995.

Faroudja's "Projector Packages" have been upgraded to include the new FDP-DLPHD20 with 1280 x 720 resolution, a single HD2+ DLP chip, an improved sealed light engine, and optics offering a contrast ratio up to 2800:1. The FDP-DLPHD20 is also available packaged with the DVP1500 for a pure digital stream from the internal DVD drive to the display via DVI. Other projector packages include the FDP-DILA3 and FDP-DILA2. The FDP-DILA3 uses three 1400 x 1050 chips based on D-ILA technology. The package includes a custom anamorphic lens to take full advantage of the high-resolution chips and available light output, and a choice of video processors. The FDP-DILA2, with three 1365 x 1024 D-ILA chips and an anamorphic lens, is ideal for larger screen applications.

All projector packages are offered with either the DVP1500 or NRS-DVI video processor. All of Faroudja's unique display packages "deliver a state-of-the-art Home Theater experience and offer dealers and custom installers repeatable, predictable, high-performance solutions," according to a January 8 announcement. Suggested retail prices range from $12,500 to $50,995.