I've saved what I feel to be the best display device for
last. It's Sony’s new VPL-VW50 1080p projector, which will be available in October.
It was the hottest display device at CEDIA Expo 2006.
What makes the VPL-VW50 significant requires discussing a
little bit of history. Almost three years ago, I saw Sony’s Qualia 004 projector
demonstrated for the first time. Its eye-popping detail and flawless image quality were
mind-blowing, and so was its price: $30,000. This was much cheaper than
you’d expect for a projector of the 004's quality, but still out of reach for common
folks.
Last year, though, Sony introduced the VPL-VW100, which was
considered by many to be about as good as the Qualia 004, but it cost a fraction of the
price. It retailed for just $10,000, making it almost a steal.
Now, though, we have a $5000 projector that may actually be
a steal. The VPL-VW50 is a lot like the ‘100, but half the price. Finally, three
years later, Qualia-like performance is available for the common man. In fact, the
VPL-VW50 is so good that when I saw and it and learned the price I turned to Marc
Mickelson and said, “All the other projector manufacturers might as well give
up.”
* * *
In my previous two diary installments, I talked about
great-looking video displays. What I meant by "great-looking" was that they had
an impressive screen image; I had no concern for physical appearance -- casing and layout
of the controls. That changed, though, when I saw the new lineup of Aviamo flat-panel
displays from Fujitsu.
Now, you may think that there's not much a company can do
to improve the looks of a flat-panel monitor. Most simply have a black frame surrounding
the screen -- form necessarily follows function. What more can be done?
I thought the same thing until I saw the Aviamo monitors.
Their décor-friendly styling is the product of Shigeru Uchida, a top Japanese interior
designer with work in the museum collections. It's hard to put your finger on what makes
the Aviamo monitors look so good, but they do. You have to see them in person to to
appreciate their shape and lines. No other flat-panel displays that I saw look this good.
Furthermore, they aren't just available in the typical black, but also an ivory white.
Interior designers will just love them.
But the Aviamo monitors aren't just about outer appearance.
They're 1080p monitors with great-looking images and lots of features. They're a
combination of styling and performance available in 65", 50" and 37" sizes
priced at $20,000, $15,000 and $7000, respectively. Now, here's an interesting twist: the
65" and 50" units use plasma technology, while the 37-incher uses LCD. But they all
looked fantastic -- in more ways than one.
* * *
As I wrote in yesterday's entry, 1080p technology is the
hot item here at CEDIA, and no company is likely a bigger proponent of it than Texas
Instruments, which developed the technology. Just as they did last year, TI put on an
impressive display showing off DLP technology; however, I was a little disappointed this
time around, not with the actual video display, but with the program material used. Last
year TI used great scenes from Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Sin City, while this
year they used scenes from Over the Hedge and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge
of the Sith (computer-generated animation always looks good), as well as a
trailer for the upcoming Rocky Balboa. Despite the rather lame choices of material,
the visual result was quite stunning. If only I could afford a projector like the
three-chip SIM2 number we watched for use in my home theater.
Finally, I have to admit that I jumped the gun a little bit
yesterday when I said that the best video displays I'd seen at CEDIA were from Sony and
Samsung. I had yet to see what Mitsubishi was doing. Mitsubishi's Diamond-series
rear-projection DLP televisions appear to exhibit fantastic picture quality. It was bold
and punchy and seemed every bit the equal of the Samsung monitor. Their prices seem very
reasonable, too. For as little as $3000 you can get yourself a model that can be the
centerpiece of a first-rate home-theater system or, as the screen image we photographed
below shows, function as the world's clearest video-game display.
* * *
Of all the features available on video displays
today, 1080p is undoubtedly number 1, probably because it's currently the highest level of
resolution for high-definition displays. A 1080p screen display comprises 1080 pixels on
the vertical axis and 1920 pixels on the horizontal axis.
On smaller screens the difference between 720p
(still considered high definition) and 1080p is not that apparent, but on larger screens
-- 50" or greater across -- the difference is vast. In fact, once you see 1080p, you
won't want to settle for anything less. And if you're wondering if there's that much of a
difference between "i" (interlaced, such as 1080i, which is also available) and
"p" (progressive scan, 1080p, which I'm talking about here), the answer is
unequivocally "yes" -- "p" is better. That's why companies now able to
produce 1080p displays are so hot to sell the feature.
CEDIA is absolutely awash in video displays,
and the best 1080p video reproductions I've seen so far at CEDIA were from Sony and
Samsung.
The heading above this Samsung monitor says it all.
