The new Sherwood R-972 AV receiver ($1800) has the usual features expected in today’s flagships, including HDMI 1.3 and decoding for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. But it also has a unique audio processor. Many of today’s newest receivers use the Audyssey equalization system. Sherwood is going with Trinnov room compensation. Far too complex to explain in a short blog, this processor is based on a $13,000 pro unit with a design goal to “recreate the 3-dimensional soundfield of the original performance.” The Trinnov processing was outboard at the show, (the second box in the photo), but will be built into the receiver itself in production units.
Panasonic has a wide range of new plasmas—and new LCDs, as well. The PZ85 series claims a peak contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, though I’m not sure you can measure this!
The big video story at this year’s show is super slim flat panels designs. None of them will be available immediately, but they should start trickling in later in the year. Panasonic showed three samples of its design, including one that angled out to show just how skinny it is.
With this 150” (diagonal) plasma with 4K resolution, Panasonic was clearly in the running for the biggest TV award. No price yet, but rumor has it that you can only buy one if you agree to put it on your lot and build a new house around it.
Samsung prototype of a 3840x2160, or 4K LCD, was so crowded I had to grab an image around the crowd as best I could. No plans to offer it as a product, however, at least not in the near future.
Sony wasn’t the only manufacturer to show OLED displays at the show, but it was the only one actually selling them. Samsung had several 11-inch prototypes at their stand, plus a 30-incher. The 30” model is full 1080p, the 11” 1366x768 (Sony’s 11” design is standard def).
Samsung’s new model 450 plasma is said to be the first flat panel display that’s 3D-ready. The 3D image was very good, though I’m still not sure I’d want to watch many movies this way. But I suspect 3D has a big future in video games.