All the way back at CES 2019, Sony showed off their modular "Crystal LED TV" system. The system is comprised of multiple individual Micro LED panels seamlessly assembled into specific screen sizes. At CEDIA Expo in Dallas this week, Sony had a 220-inch 4K version on display. And though you probably won't find one of these in stock at your local Best Buy, you can actually order this 220-inch Beast of a TV online, as long as your AMEX Unobtanium card has a suitably high limit.
Sony's 4K 220-inch Crystal LED TV is available to purchase (special order of course) at B&H Photo's web site for the low low price of $606,466.00. Yes, that's even more expensive than Christie Digital's "Eclipse" projector - a six-chip dual module DLP projector that is wowing CEDIA Expo attendees for its "OLED-like picture quality." That projector sells for the relative bargain price of $400,000.
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Like OLED, Sony's Crystal LED technology uses individual self-emissive pixels which can be turned on or off or set to any level in between. Traditional LED/LCD TVs uses backlights which can bleed around the edges of LCD pixels, causing problems with image uniformity and contrast. But this is not an issue for true MicroLED and OLED displays. MicroLED TVs can get bright but do so without sacrificing black levels and picture detail.
Which one should you buy for your home theater: the 220-inch flat panel TV or the Eclipse projector? Well, the 220-inch Crystal LED TV does offer excellent picture performance, a massive screen that is 9 feet high, 16 feet wide and over 18 feet corner to corner. It is a self-contained unit, which means you won't have to worry about installing a projector on the ceiling or in its own little projection booth at the back of your room. Although, to be honest, who doesn't want their own little projection booth?
Meanwhile, the Christie projector can project an even larger image than the Crystal LED TV, but will not quite be able to keep up with the Micro LED panel's brightness. But since most home theater rooms are light controlled, this shouldn't be too problematic. The projector can also do custom screen sizes, depending on the content. If you're watching a TV show that's in a 16:9 Widescreen aspect ratio, the projector and screen can handle that. And then when you want to expand the screen to an UltraWide CinemaScope shape for movies, the system can adjust for that as well. Of course, you'll need extra gear for that - maybe an anamorphic lens, motorized screen with custom masking, etc. But with the $206,466 you'll save over the Crystal LED display, you'll be able to afford all that. You'll even have a little left over for a surround sound system to match the picture.
No matter which way you go, you'll end up with an impressive home theater that is sure to be the talk of the town. And don't forget to invite me. I'll bring the popcorn.
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