Faroudja Unveils HD Display Packages
By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 10/28/2002
MINNEAPOLIS— Faroudja, the developer of home and professional video-enhancing technologies, used CEDIA to announce a series of new video display packages designed to simplify the process of matching displays to processors.
The bundles, which expand upon a previously introduced CRT-projector package, feature specially enhanced, Faroudja-branded plasma display panels, and D-ILA and DLP video projectors, each packaged with a Faroudja Native Rate Series (NRS) processor.
Faroudja acquires the displays used in the packages from the following vendors: NEC for plasma; Seleco for the DLP projector; and JVC for the D-ILA projector. Faroudja then optimizes each display for top performance when connected to its processors.
The packaged approach was designed to give installers repeatable, predictable, plug-and-play high-performance solutions for faster, more efficient installations, the company said.
In plasma, Faroudja is offering various high-definition PDP packages, combining either a 61W-inch or 42W-inch panel with Faroudja's Digital Cinema Source (NRS-DCS) processor or new Native Rate Series-DVI Digital Video (NRS-DVI) processor.
The 61W-inch PDP produces 1,365 by 768 native resolution. Features include 9x digital zoom and split-screen options. The 42W-inch PDP features 1,024 by 768 native resolution progressive scan driving and a 3x digital zoom. Connectors include a 29-pin DVI digital input and three assignable audio inputs. Suggested retails for the 61W-inch panel is $29,995 with the NRS-DVI processor, or $35,995 for the panel with the NRS-DCS package.
The NRS-DCS processor combines Faroudja video processing with an internal high-performance DVD transport.
The Faroudja D-ILA Digital Projector Package bundles a D-ILA projector that is optimized and aligned to 1,365 by 1,024 resolution; a Faroudja-customized anamorphic lens; a custom soundproofing Hush Box; and either the NRS-DCS or a Native Rate Series (NRS) processor.
Suggested retail prices for the Digital Projector Packages are $41,000 with the NRS-DCS processor, or $36,000 with the NRS processor.
Faroudja's DLP Projector uses a Seleco projector that incorporates a new TI Mustang/HD-2 widescreen DMD, with 1,280 by 720 native resolution. Faroudja adds its Directional Correlational Deinterlacing (DCDi) video processing circuitry with 3:2 pull-down to filter out artifacts and restore a film-like image. The projector offers 1,000:1 contrast, a six-segment color wheel and a long-throw-ratio zoom lens for expanded placement options. Inputs include RGBHV, HD component, S-video and RS-232 for control options.
The Faroudja DLP projector carries a $14,500 suggested retail price.
Faroudja is also selling the NRS-DVI, which is billed as an upgrade to Faroudja's NRS processor, adding DVI inputs and outputs for pass-through processing. It will ship in October at suggested retail prices of $3,995 and $4,995.
Faroudja also unveiled an NRS-DCS DVP2000, combination fixed-pixel video processor/DVD transport with full scan rate and DVI capabilities as an upgrade to the NRS-DCS.
The DVP2000 ($15,000 suggested retail) is billed as "an upgraded version" to the NRS-DCS, which combined an NRS processor with a DVD transport, DVI output and a high-end digital audio stage. The new unit adds DVI cross-conversion in addition to pass-through processing.
