Audio Video News

The two hottest trends in video displays are DLP projection and LCD television. Sharp Electronics Corporation is on top of both of them. On April 3, Sharp announced the retail availability of it first 30" widescreen liquid crystal television, the Aquos LC-30HV2U. The new LCD set is the first in a line of such products to debut this year.

The SharpVision "high-definition compatible" 16:9 monitor needs an external tuner to display over-the-air digital television signals, but its basic specifications are enough to whet the appetite of even the most exacting home theater fans: WXGA resolution (1280 X 768) and high-definition display capability (720p). Its 170-degree viewing angle guarantees a full, saturated picture virtually anywhere the set is installed, and its 500:1 contrast ratio means a bright picture with solid black level even in a well-lit room.

The screen is Sharp's ASV (Advanced Super View) panel with exceptional detail. ASV panels feature "Ultra-High Aperture Thin Film Transistors" (UHA TFT), a new development in LCD panel technology delivering extremely wide viewing angles and an exceptionally high contrast ratio. Like other AQUOS Liquid Crystal Televisions, the new model features “Black TFT” coating on the panel, reducing glare and heightening brightness in strong light conditions.

In use, the Aquos LC-30HV2U keeps cable clutter to a minimum thanks to an innovative separate Audio Video Computer (AVC) system that houses multiple audio, video and computer inputs and outputs. Inputs include component, S-Video and composite; a cable-ready TV tuner insures long-term compatibility with the legacy video standard. The LC-30HV2U also has detachable speakers, said to be capable of high quality performance.

The widescreen Aquos television can be mounted on a wall, on a bookshelf or almost anywhere imaginable in the home, using a detachable stand. Reliability is built into this new unit, too: the backlight illuminating the LCD panel is capable of 60,000 hours. Aquos LCD televisions are economic and eco-friendly in that they consume 60% less power than comparably sized CRT direct-view televisions. “This widescreen addition to the AQUOS line marks Sharp’s continued commitment to meeting customers’ demands and to leading the industry with the broadest line of Liquid Crystal Television models,” said Tony Favia, senior product manager, Liquid Crystal Television, Sharp Electronics Corporation. “The AQUOS widescreen models feature improved quality ASV panels, and provide today’s design-conscious consumers with the high-performance and high-style televisions they demand.” The Aquos LC-30HV2U carries a suggested retail price of $7,999.95.