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With some manufacturers pushing prices down in the 60" plasma display market (see previous), Runco is pushing the performance and price edge even higher with its introduction of a new 61" diagonal widescreen plasma monitor with outboard video processor.

Runco says that its PlasmaWall PL-61cx, retailing for $32,995, combines the largest plasma monitor in the world with Runco's proprietary PFP Controller and boasts a native resolution of 1366 x 768, similar to that of the recently announced screen from NEC.

But unlike the NEC 61", the PL-61cx, which should be available in the US this month, utilizes the outboard PFP Controller equipped with Runco's proprietary ViViX technology to scale NTSC and PAL video to the native resolution of the display. Runco says that the PFP Controller's pass-through port lets signals from high-resolution sources, such as HDTV and computer graphics pass unprocessed to the panel for the most accurate image reproduction.

The Runco display also bests the NEC in the critical area of display contrast, with a claimed ratio of 1000:1, and the company says that the PL-61cx's high light output makes it suitable for all ambient light conditions. Runco emphasizes that the monitor is fully capable of reproducing any currently available HDTV format, including 720p and 1080i, via an external DTV decoder. It also has the ability to display computer resolutions ranging from VGA (640 x 480) all the way up to UXGA (1600 x 1200). Additionally, the company reports that the controller performs aspect ratio control, providing standard 4:3 (with adjustable gray bar levels to minimize burning a 4:3 image into the display), letterbox, and anamorphic formats.

Runco's Liz Pemble says, "By combining the Plasma with our PFP controller, we can provide a system to the customer that delivers the best picture quality possible. With aspect ratio control and picture settings all at the controller, the PL-61cx also provides the ultimate in ease of use and flexibility for the end user."