All About the Bling
TV-maker AmTRAN, owner of the JVC TV brand, is following up on its promises from CES 2014, by beginning to ship models in their 2014 Emerald line of LED/LCD TVs. Some of the pricing has changed a bit, but most of the details are the same as previously announced. HDTV screen sizes range from 32 inches to 65 inches, with one entry-level models sporting a native 720p resolution and the rest offering full HD 1080p resolution. The new Diamond Series Ultra HD TVs details below), will be available later this year in 55-inch, 65-inch and 85-inch screen sizes.
The new Emerald line models sized 42 inches and up are "powered by Roku" which means you get a Roku streaming stick right in the box and the TV's own remote is pre-programmed to operate all of the Roku smart TV features and streaming apps. By incorporating Roku controls and streaming into their HDTVs, JVC can offer a best-of-breed Smart TV streaming platform without having to invest in any of their own smart TV development.
In a press event in New York City this week, we got to see JVC's latest HDTV models up close and personal, as well as getting a peek at the latest sample of their upcoming Diamond Series Ultra HD (4K) TV lineup. While both lines use direct LED backlights (which provide more uniform backlighting than side- or edge-lighting), only the Ultra HD line will include local dimming technology. The UHD sets will have up to 32 zones of local dimming for greater control over which areas of the screen will be lighter and which will be darker. This technique enhances contrast and improves overall black levels by selectively turning on and off the LED backlights depending on content.
Diamonds are a Girl's (or a Guy's) Best Friend
The Diamond Series UHD TVs are also powered by Roku and will come with a Roku streaming stick in the box. This little device plugs into the set's one MHL-capable HDMI input. The Roku splash screen and GUI loads up automatically when you hit the "Home" button on the TV's remote control. The remaining four HDMI inputs on the UHD sets will support HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 so you'll be able to feed your set with native 4K sources and content, where available.
For the rest of your content (DVDs, Blu-ray, standard def and high def TV broadcasts, etc.), JVC's proprietary UltraHD Upconversion processing may be the next best thing to native 4K. At the demo, JVC put on a clip from the Blu-ray "Elysium" on both the HD and Ultra HD TVs. On the Ultra HD TV, the edges were sharper, detail cleaner, colors more saturated and black levels darker than on the Emerald series HDTV. Also, the pricing of these Ultra HD models has dropped substantially since their original announcement at CES. The 65-inch model has gone down from $2499 to just $1999. Considering the relatively small price bump from the standard HD set to the Ultra HD set ($600 more in the 65-inch screen size), the improvements in picture quality for traditional HD content alone may justify the additional investment. The fact that it can display Ultra HD content in its native 4K resolution as well is a major bonus.
JVC's Emerald Series HDTV line, with screen sizes from to 28 to 65 inches, is shipping now. The Roku streaming stick is bundled with sets 42 inches and larger. Two of the smaller sets include MHL-capable HDMI jacks for use with a Roku stick, but for those ones, you'd have to purchase the streaking stick separately. The Ultra HD sets, in 55-inch, 65-inch and 85-inch screen sizes are expected to begin shipping in September. All of the Ultra HD sets come with a bundled Roku streaming stick. Both lines feature JVC's Xinema Sound 3D for richer, more extended sound than you normally find on flat panel TVs. The Emerald Series offers ClearMotion 120 Hz processing for enhanced motion processing while the Ultra HD series offer a faster 240 Hz ClearMotion processor. Also, the Ultra HD sets come with an enhanced remote control that features a full QWERTY keyboard on the bottom, making content search and discovery that much easier. Full model details are below.
2014 JVC Emerald Series TVs (HDTV):
| Model | Size | Resolution | Availability | Roku Support? | MAP |
| EM32TS | 32-inch | 720p | Now | None | $239 |
| EM32FL | 32-inch | 1080p | Now | MHL/HDMI port | $269 |
| EM39T | 39-inch | 1080p | Now | MHL/HDMI port | $329 |
| EM42FTR | 42-inch | 1080p | Now | Roku Stick Included | $429 |
| EM48FTR | 48-inch | 1080p | Now | Roku Stick Included | $549 |
| EM55FTR | 55-inch | 1080p | Now | Roku Stick Included | $729 |
| EM65FTR | 65-inch | 1080p | Now | Roku Stick Included | $1,399 |
2014 Diamond Series TVs (Ultra HDTV):
| Model | Size | Resolution | Availability | Roku Support? | MAP |
| SP55ULR | 55-inch | 4K (3840x2160) | November, 2014 | Roku Stick Included | $999 |
| DM65USR | 65-inch | 4K (3840x2160) | September, 2014 | Roku Stick Included | $1,999 |
| DM85UXR | 85-inch | 4K (3840x2160) | September, 2014 | Roku Stick Included | $7,999 |
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