Tom Norton

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CEDIA 2010
Sharp Projection
Tom Norton  |  Sep 23, 2010
The new Sharp ZV2-1700 is the first new 3D projector we've officially heard about at the show, but we know it won't be the last. It's a 1-chip DLP. Like the Quattron 3D sets it comes with 2 pair of active 3D shutter glasses. These are triggered not only by a IR link, but by DLP-Link as well. The latter places invisible white frames into the image periodically to trigger the glasses, which works better than the usual IR link for larger, more widely seated audiences——more likely with a projector than with a flat panel display.
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CES 2009
Sharp Proto Not Typical
Tom Norton  |  Jan 06, 2008  |  Published: Jan 07, 2008

Sharp announced the construction of a new 10th generation LCD plant in Sakai City, Japan, a huge facility on 314 acres of land, 30 times the area of Yankee Stadium. The mother glass that this plant can handle will be 1.6 times the size of that produced in the current Kamayama plant. Each 10th gen mother glass can be cut into six 60" displays, eight 50", or fifteen 40", greatly increasing production efficiency.

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CEDIA 2009
Sharp Sharps
Tom Norton  |  Sep 11, 2009
Sharp's new Aquos LE700U lineup includes sets at 52" (LC-52LE700U, $2800), 46"(LC-46LE700U, $2200), 40" (LC-40LE700U, $1700), and 32" (LC-32LE700U, $1100). All provide instant access to customized web-based content via Aquos Net, 120Hz operation, and claim drastically reduced energy consumption (see the following blog). They also employ full LED backlighting (not sidelighting) and claim a peak contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, which sounds remarkable given that the LED backlights do not employ local dimming.
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CEDIA 2009
Sharp Watches the Watts
Tom Norton  |  Sep 11, 2009
There's a maniacal race afoot in the TV business for the lowest power consumption per inch-or the greenest set. Sharp's LE700U series is ready for the fight. The LC-52LE700U, shown here, is rated to draw 105W. In this demo, I saw it fluctuate between the roughly 98 watts shown here, on an image of average brightness, and about 150 watts. Since sets are always adjusted in show conditions for far more brightness than you'll need at home, the rating seems reasonable for normal domestic use.
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CES 2009
She Sells Sea Shells
Tom Norton  |  Jan 08, 2008

New readers won’t recognize the shell-shaped speaker on the right. It’s B&W’s Nautilus, a design that dates back years. It always was more of a tech statement piece than a readily available product, but you can still get it on special order. I think I heard $40,000/pair or so.

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Sherwood Adds HDMI 1.3
Tom Norton  |  Jan 10, 2007

The 2007 line of Sherwood Newcastle AV receivers tops out with the R-972 ($1499.95, summer). Offering 100Wx7 into 8 ohms, it also will accept all of the new audio formats directly through its HDMI 1.3 link and decode them internally (rather than relying on the player to first convert them to PCM). Internal Faroudja processing will deinterlace and/or scale all sources to 720p, 1080i, and 1080p, as directed. The unit also includes Audyssey MultEQ XT EQ.

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Sherwood AVR
Tom Norton  |  Sep 05, 2008
This new Sherwood AV receiver has all of the requisite features, plus a new type of audio processor. Trinnov processing not only performs the usual equalization options, but is said to be able to electronically shift the source of sound from the actual physical location of the speaker to elsewhere in the room.
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Sherwood AVR Part II
Tom Norton  |  Sep 05, 2008
This is the multi-point microphone provided with the new Sherwood flagship AVR (above) for setup.
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CES 2009
Sherwood Goes Its Own Way
Tom Norton  |  Jan 08, 2008

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.

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CEDIA 2009
Shifty Optoma
Tom Norton  |  Sep 14, 2009
Optoma decided to forgo its usual huge demo booth this year (there was a lot of that going around) for a more modest setup, but its new HD8600 projector kept up the excitement quotient. It offers full lens shift and three interchangeable lenses, both of them firsts for the company's projectors. It also incorporates TI's latest DarkChip3 DMD, DynamicBlack, Pixelwork's DNX MotionEngine technology, a claime4d output of 1600 ANSI Lumens, and ISFccc calibration features. The projector comes with the standard zoom lens as part of its $7499 price. Prices were not yet settled for the long and short throw zoom lens options.
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