IRVINE, CALIF. — Mitsubishi
Digital Electronics America
(MDEA) is looking to capitalize
on its early lead in 3D HDTV
by rolling out its 2010 lineup of
DLP rear-projection TVs with
expanded 3D capability, as well
as the expansion of the company’s
signature Immersive Sound
technology in both DLP and its
first edge-lit LED LCD TVs.
Meanwhile, Frank DeMartin,
MDEA marketing VP, told
TWICE that the company remains
committed to its Laservue
laser-based DLP rear-projection
technology and will have further
announcements on the evolution
of that system later this year.
The announced products shipping
over “the next couple of
months” include the 3D1 DLP
rear-projection TVs that encompass
seven models across three product series, and include
the 60-inch, 65-inch, 73-inch and 82-inch
screen sizes.
Select models take on the Immersive
Sound direction started in the Unisen
LCD TV line, by integrating 16-speaker
5.1-channel Dolby Digital surround
sound. Also added is Internet media
streaming capability.
The new Unisen Immersive Sound
LCD TV lineup consists of four models
across three product series, in the 46-
and new 55-inch screen sizes. The 55-
inch models replace the 52-inch models
from a year ago. As well as Diamond series,
Unisen models will see an expansion
of the Immersive Sound system including
18 speakers, up from the traditional 16.
All 2010 LCD TVs feature LED edge
lighting and will have either 16 or 18-
speaker Immersive Sound packages. The
technology produces a full surroundsound
effect without using detached surround
speaker placements.
A key new feature in many LCD and
DLP models this year is called Stream-
TV, which uses Vudu Apps technology
to provide access to IPTV features with
more than 100 different streaming applications
— including extensive libraries of
high-quality entertainment and socialmedia
content, the company said. App
service providers consist of Vudu movies,
Pandora, Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, Twitter,
the Associated Press and The New
York Times, among others.
Key models also add integrated wireless
Internet, which allows for seamless
connectivity to wireless home networks,
and Bluetooth audio streaming that wirelessly streams audio from any Bluetooth
A2DP device (such as an iPod Touch/
iPhone or BlackBerry).
The new DLP rear-projection models
represent the company’s fourth generation
with 3D-ready capability, a feature
that Mitsubishi first began showing in
DLP sets in 2007.
Mitsubishi 3D TVs in the 738 and 838
series support a side-by-side 3D signal
format, where past models supported the
checkerboard 3D format used primarily
by video games, DeMartin said. Legacy
3D-ready product and new 638 series
models will require a 3D adapter to playback
all three 3D signal format outlined
in the HDMI 1.4a spec, including topbottom
and frame packing used in new
3D Blu-ray Disc players. In all cases an
emitter and matching 3D active-shutter
glasses or DLP Link active-shutter glasses
are required for 3D viewing.
“Products will ship initially supporting
only the side-by-side 3D format internally,
but we are planning to provide additional
signal format upgrades to owners
of those products by late summer of this
year and update them to address all of
the formats of the HDMI 1.4a spec,”
DeMartin said.
DeMartin said MDEA stands by DLP
rear-projection technology as 3D rolls out
because it is optimized for large-screen
displays, and 3D TV has proven to be a
format best viewed on the largest screen
possible.
New sets will include the 60-, 65-, 73-
and 82-inch screen sizes, all offering more
affordable prices than flat-panel technologies
can approach.
This year, 738- and 838-series DLP TVs
and all Unisen LCD models will include
the aforementioned StreamTV feature.
For the first time, Diamond 838 series DLP
models will add the 16-speaker integrated
Immersive Sound system that delivers a
Dolby Digital 5.1 surround experience.
An additional new feature called Center
Channel Mode in all the Immersive
Sound TVs for the first time allows users
to switch the speakers from surround
sound to center channel-only speakers
to better integrate with a full surround
sound speaker system.
All 638-, 738- and Diamond 838-series
3D DLP Home Cinema TV models
for 2010 include 3D DLP Link; modes
such as brilliant, bright, natural and game;
Plush 1080p; three HDMI with CEC remote-
control system integration; HDMIPC
compatibility; two component/composite
video inputs; and MDEA’s 6-Color
Processor that expands color reproduction
beyond what is capable with most flat-panel
TVs, the company said.
The entry 638 series features the 60-
($1,199 suggested retail), 65- ($1,499)
and 73-inch ($1,999) screen sizes.
The step-up 738 series includes the
60-, 65- ($1,799), 73- ($2,399) and 82-
inch ($3,799) screen sizes, all of which
offer StreamTV Internet media, USB
wireless-N network adapter compatibility,
Plush 1080p 5G 12-bit video processor,
Smooth120, EdgeEnhance, Deep-
Field Imager, advanced video calibration
and universal remote control.
The Diamond 838 series includes three
3D DLP Home Cinema TVs in the
65- ($2,199), 73- ($2,799) and 82-inch
($4,499) screen sizes. In addition to all features
within the 638 and 738 series, each
Diamond model includes 16-Speaker Immersive
Sound with 32-watt total system
power, Bluetooth A2DP audio streaming,
center-channel mode, surround-channel
outputs, subwoofer output, Dark Detailer,
PerfectColor and PerfecTint.
