Audio Video News

Sharp Unveils First THX-Certified Ultra HD TV

HT Staff  |  Jun 26, 2013

Sharp Electronics today unveiled its first Ultra HD TV, the 70-inch AQUOS LC-70UD1U LED-based LCD TV, which will sell for $8,000 when it hits stores in mid-August. Hailed as the company’s “finest television ever,” the set has four times the resolution of standard high-definition and is the first Ultra HD TV to receive THX 4K certification.

The TV is said to use advanced technology to upscale any content—even YouTube videos—to Ultra HD resolution. The TV is equipped with pre-calibrated THX Movie viewing modes and passed 400 rigorous performance tests to ensure THX’s high certification standards were met.

A modern, open-base stand supports the TV’s sleek metallic black frame. The TV has a six-speaker sound system with separate midrange drivers and tweeters and a dual subwoofer system plus a Wallpaper Mode that turns the TV into a frame for photos or artwork.

The TV incorporates Sharp’s Wi-Fi-enabled SmartCentral platform that lets viewers stream video content from the Web and online services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Vudu and music from Pandora and Rhapsody Plus. The platform includes built-in social apps for sites such as Facebook, supports Skype video chatting, and has a Flash-enabled Web browser. It also has a split-screen option for browsing TV and Web programming simultaneously.

Sharp’s Beam app enables viewers to control the TV from smartphones and tablets as well as send photos, movies, and videos to its big screen.

Rounding out the LC-70UD1U’s features are four HDMI inputs that accept native 4K (3840×2160) signals and 4K photo viewing via a built-in SD-card reader and two USB ports. The 3D-capable set comes with two pairs of Bluetooth-enabled active 3D glasses.

COMMENTS
notabadname's picture
Submitted by notabadname on June 26, 2013 - 3:40pm

Smart TV features seem fairly unimportant on a THX certified TV. Shouldn't we be talking contrast ratios and local dimming? And I don't understand why an Ultra would use active glasses, when it can display full HD with crosstalk-free and battery-free passive glasses at $15/pair - but that is just my pref I guess.

And is "finest ever" considering the Elite?

Jarod's picture
Submitted by Jarod on June 26, 2013 - 11:03pm

Curious as to wether it has full local dimming like notabad said as well as how it stacks up compared to the Elites. Really cool tho.

mishuk3's picture
Submitted by mishuk3 on June 27, 2013 - 10:02am

Since it has THX certification, no doubt it went through all the testings like contrast ratio, color accuracy and such. I am betting my money that it is going to be a full local dimming as opposed to edge-lit LED. Sharp ELITE is more of an upscale branding kinda like Lexus vs Camry. I am betting, this will be better than their mildly disappointing ELITE. Glad to see other companies besides Sony bringing 4K tvs to the market, it will help in accelerating the adoption of 4K tvs. My next upgrade is definitely going to be a 4K. My four year old Sony KDL40XBR7 is rocking hard on!

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