Audio Video News

Liquid crystal displays have been around a long time, but only in the past year or so have they gotten the engineering attention they deserve---as potentially movie-quality displays.

Panasonic is one of several companies to make big progress on the LCD front. The company recently introduced two new "rear-projection" LCD screens capable of true high definition images---and big enough to allow viewing by more than one person. The 40"(diagonal) PT-40LC12 and 45" PT-45LC12 are slim, sleek, and capable of everything from static VGA displays to DVD movies and over-the-air high definition sports.

Both units feature 16:9 screens in elegant silver cabinets, suitable for custom construction in-wall mounting (the rear-projection displays are slightly under 16" deep) or for use on the floor with an optional $400 stand. When connected to an external digital television receiver, such as Panasonic's TU-HDS20, the LCD monitors can accept decoded 1080i, 720p, 480i and 480p DTV broadcasts. In PC mode, they can process and display SVGA (800 x 600) true resolution, as well as digitally expanded VGA (640 x 480) and compressed XGA (1024 X 768) data.

Legacy video hasn't been forgotten in the design of these bright, lightweight displays: a built-in progressive scan converter enhances standard NTSC television signals for sharply detailed images in 4:3 aspect ratio. Two internal tuners allow simultaneously display of two pictures, in either traditional P-I-P (picture-in-picture) or split-screen configuration---user-adjustable as to size and onscreen relationship. Both models feature built-in, surround-sound stereo speakers with Panasonic's proprietary BBE® high-definition sound processing technology, said to improve speech intelligibility and the apparent dynamic range of music.

LCD technology offers several advantages over CRTs: less bulk, lower power consumption, lower heat emission, and no misconvergence or flicker. Unlike CRT monitors, the diagonal measurement of an LCD screen is the same as its viewable area, so every inch of the screen is used to display the picture. Both new displays feature a 3D Y/C digital comb filter, which accurately separates color information from black-and-white information, and eliminates "dot crawl" and "hanging dots," both horizontally and vertically. Panasonic LCD monitors use Thin Film Transistor (TFT) technology (also known as active matrix) to improve color reproduction, eliminate ghosting and boost response speed. TFT technology also permits the displays to achieve an extraordinary brightness level of 700 - 800 cd/m2 - almost twice that of conventional CRT screens.

Scheduled for delivery this spring, model PT-40LC12 will have a suggested manufacturer's retail price (MSRP*) of $3,499.95. Model PT-45LC12 will carry an MSRP of $3,999.95.