Downplaying their recently launched XD-E500 upconverting DVD player, Toshiba is instead focusing on LCD flat panel TVs here at CEDIA Expo. Noting the industry's apparent growth for LCD category, and with Toshiba specifically up as much as 117.5% by some counts, they brought news of a total of 12 new models in four different series.
There's something for everyone, with a new 22-inch with the features of a 26-inch but in a sleeker form factor, aimed at replacing the bulky old 19-inch CRT as we transition to digital next year. The AV502 series has a thinner bezel and less depth, in versatile 26-to-37-inch screen sizes, and the RV525 Series is the first non-REGZA-branded Toshiba LCD with full 1080p, since that technology is now more of a commodity. Almost all of the new models have either arrived or will later this month, one in October, at prices ranging from $499.99 up to $2,799.99.
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| Toshiba's new flagship XV545 Series emphasizes upconversion and other image enhancements. |
The high-end REGZA line meanwhile will be joined by the new flagship XV545 Series, the REGZA Cinema Series with SRT, AutoView, ClearFrame and Double Skin Cabinetry, in 42-, 46-, and 52-inch sizes. SRT stands for Super Resolution Technology, built-in all-signal upscaling inside, to virtual 1080p quality, courtesy of Toshiba semiconductors. AutoView automatically assures clarity and brightness, responding to the surrounding light levels in the room. The ClearFrame 120Hz system doubles the frame rate to reduce motion blur in fast action, with a Film Stabilization Mode. ColorBurst provides a wide available color gamut. Stylistically, Double Skin puts a translucent outer skin over a textured inner layer of the cabinet for a more exotic look.
Certainly a strong emphasis is being placed on video upscaling in both Toshiba's display and source components, with the "eXtended Detail Enhancement" in their aforementioned XD-E500 DVD player, but is this technology really necessary on both ends, SRT and XDE? And are these just two fancy, trademarked names for essentially the same thing? [editor's note: yeah, I found that confusing too but Toshiba reps told me that SRT technology is done completely in-house and XDE is not, hence the different names and slightly different approaches to 1080p upscaling].
Expected Availability & Pricing of New Fall Lineup:
REGZA
Cinema Series XV545 Series
42XV545U ($1799.99 September)
46XV545U
($2299.99 September)
52XV545U ($2799.99 September)
REGZA RV535
Series
42RV535U ($1399.99 September)
46RV535U ($1799.99
September)
52RV535U ($2299.99 September)
RV525
Series
40RV525U ($1099.99 September)
46RV525U ($1599.99
October)
AV502 Series
26AV502U ($649.99
August)
32AV502U ($749.99 August)
37AV502U ($899.99
August)
AV500 Series
22AV500U ($499.99 September)
