Audio Video News

Mitsubishi showed off its creativity in three different ways at a New York press demo yesterday. Laser-backlight LCD-HDTVs were on display, along with 5.1-channel sound built into sets, and 3D for both movies and games.

LaserVue substitutes three lasers (red, green, and blue) for the fluorescent backlighting used in most LCD TVs. The demo flanked a 65-inch Laservue set with another manufacturer's 65-inch LCD and what appeared to be a Pioneer plasma (with the badge hidden). I'm no Tom Norton but I'll make two observations.

The LaserVue set was fully competitive with the black level of the plasma. And despite Mitsubishi's boast of a 200 percent color gamut and redder reds, whites were distinctly skewed to blue, possibly indicating too high a color temperature, and overall color accuracy seemed to lag both of the two mystery products. I'll be as eager as anyone to read what happens when Tom gets a LaserVue in for review and calibration. LaserVue sets will be available in the third quarter in 73- and 65-inch sizes for prices yet unannounced.

The 149 Series set shown had iSP (Integrated Sound Projector) audio. There were 16 speakers built into the bottom of the bezel plus an outboard subwoofer. Mitsubishi demoed it in comparison with an older TV in plain stereo. The surround-equipped set sounded better, though that was partly because the older stereo set had such an obvious nasal coloration. But the beam-steering circuitry really did generate a surround soundfield in the small demo room which had a variety of wall surfaces. And it could be adjusted by moving the onscreen display's magic sofa icon, as shown in the pic (see larger version).

I don't want to oversell this. The surround was a little hard and bright, and you can still do better with a decent speaker package and receiver. But for those who are both interested in flat panels and impatient with the setup challenges of speaker packages and receivers, Mitsubishi's audio solution is a very good one, certainly the best built-in TV sound I've heard. 149 Series sets will be available in 46- and 52-inch sizes, in July, starting at $3299. 148 Series sets, with sexy thin bezels, are available now in 40-, 46-, and 48-inch sizes starting at $2199.

Finally, Mitsubishi has partnered with Nvidia to create 3D for Windows Vista PC games and movies, both of which were demonstrated with an Aspen media server. All of Mitsubishi's Home Theater line (DLP) sets are 3D ready. They are available now in 60-, 65-, and 73-inch sizes at prices starting at $1799.