Toshiba has broadened its line of plasma, microdisplay rear-projection, DLP and digital direct-view TVs.
In plasma TV, Toshiba said it will carry a pair of high-definition models in the 42W-inch and 50W-inch screen sizes. Both incorporate ATSC/QAM digital tuning, dual HDMI inputs, a PC input and new cosmetics. Contrast ratios have been improved to 8,000:1 and 10,000:1, respectively. Both models, the 42HP66 and 50HP66, are shipping now at suggested retails of $2,299.99 and $3,299.99, respectively.
In microdisplay rear-projection TV, Toshiba introduced nine models, many of which offer a new cosmetic design in tandem with an advanced light engine and video processing system.
Rear-projection models range in screen sizes from 42W inches to 72W inches.
New 720p models feature Toshiba’s TALEN 5 light engine using the HD5 DLP chip and a Radiance 150-watt lamp.
All rear-projection models measuring 50W inches and larger use the company’s PixelPure Hi-Bit 12-bit digital video processing technology, and offer new compact Scoop Design cabinetry and Toshiba’s “SoundStrip” speaker system.
Top-of-the-line DLP models in the 60W-inch and larger screen sizes employ Toshiba’s XHD 1,080p TALENX light engine with Texas Instruments’ new xHD5 (1,920 by 1,080p) DMD and Toshiba’s Xtreme BLAC aperture control technology to provide, what the company said is twice the pixel resolution and twice the contrast of previous models.
New TheaterWide 720p DLP models include the 42W-inch 42HM66 ($1,699.99, June), the 50W-inch 50HM66 ($2,199.99, now) and the 56W-inch 56HM66 ($2,499.99, now).
The 42W-inch model features a compact cabinet, measuring 39.25 inches wide, smaller than Toshiba’s last 36-inch direct view model, Ramirez said.
New Cinema Series 720p DLP models include the 50W-inch 50HMX96 ($2,499.99, now) and the 56W-inch 56HMX96 ($2,799.99, June).
TheaterWide XHD 1,080p models include the 62HM196 ($3,199.99, June) and the 72W-inch 72HM196 ($4,499.99, July). Cinema Series XHD 1,080p models include the 62W-inch 62MX196 ($3,499.99, July) and the 72W-inch 72MX196 ($4,799.99, August).
Toshiba will continue to offer a broad selection of direct-view TVs in 2006, Ramirez said, including analog direct-view models, despite the fact that they must disappear in 2007 under the Federal Communications Commission’s DTV tuner mandate. Analog models will be offered in 13-inch and 19-inch non-flat screen sizes, and 14-inch, 20-inch and 24-inch flat-screen sizes.
In digital direct view, the company will offer four levels, including standard-definition 480i models in the 27-inch and 32-inch non-flat screen sizes, and the 27-inch and 32-inch flat-screen screen sizes. The 32-inch flat screen model will feature a new cabinet design.
Also added is a new category of digital widescreen CRT direct-view models, including 26W-inch and 30W-inch 16:9 models with SD resolution. In HDTV, the company will continue to offer 26W-inch and 30W-inch direct-view models.
“We will be No. 1 in the [direct-view CRT] category in 2006,” Scott Ramirez, Toshiba marketing VP, declared.
