NEW YORK — Maintaining the bigscreen
value message of its DLP TVs,
Mitsubishi formally unveiled here last
month the next iteration of its Laser-
Vue line with a larger (now 75-inch)
screen and a lower price.
The set is also the only rear-projection
TV in the market to use a laserbased
lighting source that is said to produce
deeper colors, including one of the
truest reproductions of reds available,
the company said, and anchors a lineup
of 3D-enabled DLP sets with screen
sizes ranging from 60-82 inches.
LaserVue model L75-A91 ($6,000
suggested retail), which began a very
limited rollout in May, has now ramped
up distribution to a wider range of core
Diamond-series dealers across the
country, said Max Wasinger, Mitsubishi
sales and marketing executive VP,
adding that the company will limit the
promotional hype for the set to reflect
available supply.
The new projection set features an
improved laser-based light engine,
limited IPTV functionality, a largerscreen
size and reduced price. It will
also continue to support 3D TV playback,
and is the first set to include Cinema
Color mode.
The set features a 75-inch screen size
— 10 inches larger than the previous
model — and is being introduced at a
$1,000 lower pricetag than the 65-inch
model was, said Frank DeMartin, Mitsubishi
marketing VP.
Other key features include True-
120Hz frame rate for smooth motion, a
Clear Contrast panel, 1080p resolution
with 5G 12-bit digital video processing,
six-color processor, four HDMI inputs,
Deep Color and x.v.Color support, Easy
Connect, a USB media input, wired IR
input, EdgeEnhance, DeepField Imager
and advanced video calibration.
The set consumes approximately 128
watts of power, exceeding new Energy
Star qualifications by 50 percent, Mitsubishi
said.
The new cosmetic design reduces
the width of the bottom bezel, offering
more screen area and less cabinetry.
Starting in July, Mitsubishi said it
is supporting the latest 3D playback
in all of its 3D DLP TV models available
since 2007 by offering a 3D Starter
Pack — model 3DC-1000 ($399)—
containing two pairs of active-shutter
glasses, a 3D IR emitter, a sample 3D
Blu-ray Disc from Disney, and a 3D
adapter with remote that will enable
viewing 3D from HDMI 1.4 3D signal
sources, such as 3D Blu-ray players and
multichannel TV service providers.
Mitsubishi is also now selling the 3D
adapter, model 3DA-1, as a stand-alone
for a $99 suggested retail. It will convert side-by-side, top-bottom and frame-packing
3D signal formats as prescribed by
HDMI 1.4a for display on all 3D-ready
and 3D DLP Home Cinema TVs.
The 3D adapter will support Mitsubishi
3D-ready DLP TVs shipped since
2007, as well as this year’s 638 series of
3D-ready DLP Home Cinema TVs and
new LaserVue 3D-ready TVs.
Mitsubishi said it will provide 3D
signal format upgrades for both the
738- and 838-series 3D DLP Home
Cinema TVs by late summer.
The company is also preparing to ship
in July its Diamond 265 series Immersive
Sound LCD TV line featuring the
46-inch LT-46265 ($2,499 suggested retail)
and 55-inch LT-55265 ($3,199).
The 265-series models include 18-
speaker Immersive Sound Technology,
240Hz smooth-motion frame-rate technology,
a thin depth design with blue
light accent, 1080p resolution with 5G
18-bit digital video processing, iPhone
remote-control app, audio-calibration
microphone, Perfect Color, PerfectTint
picture-adjustment systems, ISFccc advanced
video adjustments, NetCommand
and wired IR input.
Mitsubishi is also working with Polk
Audio to provide a 50watt subwoofer
— PSW-I8M ($399) — that will connect
with the Immersive system sets.
Polk will also help complete the surround
sound system package by providing
Mitsubishi with F/X wireless
surround speaker pairs for the Unisen
TVs. The add-on package, which is
slated to arrive in the August/September
time frame, will carry a $399 suggested
retail.
The Unisen sets include surround
pre-out jacks enabling the front speaker
array to be used as a center-channel
speaker in a full surround-sound
speaker setup.
Further, DeMartin said Mitsubishi
is supplying three-button demonstration
consoles that let the customer start
and stop a demo, choose from three different
audio demonstration tracks, and
raise or lower set volume.
