Mitsubishi 2005 Line Show

Designtechnica's coverage of the Mitsubishi annual line show in Orland, Florida.

Mitsubishi held their annual line show in Orlando, Florida this year on April 8, 2005, introducing thirteen all-new Digital Cable Ready (DCR) HDTV models. Mitsubishi has always been ?The Big TV Company,? and it now has a new logo this year, signaling that the company and its products are ?A Cut Above? other brands.  And, from the look of the new models, Mitsubishi may just be onto something.  The company continues to be a strong proponent of MicroDisplay HDTVs, especially DLP, and is bullish about the emerging high definition TV market.    

Mr. Max Wasinger, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, reminded all press attendees that ?the holy grail of HDTV is 1080p,? and their new line of DLP HDTV sets all include 1080p upconversion.  He added that ?If it?s DLP from Mitsubishi, its 1080p!?   He noted that Mitsubishi is now ranked number 2 (in unit sales) with a 15.3-percent market share in the projection TV market.  Wasinger further noted that Mitsubishi was also rated number 1 in Customer Satisfaction in 2004 by J.D. Powell & Associates, which is something that he is quite proud of.  So, while Mitsubishi may not be as large as Sony, RCA, or Samsung per se, it?s clearly a powerhouse of stylish technological development.

Changing gears slightly this year, Mitsubishi introduced four new entry-level 3LCD MicroDisplay HDTVs (two 52-in. and two 62-in. models), all DCR, and will be available over the summer.  Each model will have a screen resolution of 1280×720 pixels or 720p.  DCR means that each model also includes a slot for CableCARD.  Each model will also include an ATSC (over-the-air HD), NTSC (analog TV signals), and QAM (in-the-clear Cable HD) tuners integrated into the sets.  All models from the 527 and 528 Series include ?Smart Shutter,? a dynamic aperture system that improves black levels along with a larger palette of grays; ?Quick Motion,? a high speed drive system that improves LCD response rate to 8 milliseconds; and ?Plush720p,? which upconverts lower quality images to 720p resolution.  The 528 Series adds ?SharpEdge? technology, which creates clean and focused edges between objects and scene backgrounds, and a ?DeepField Imager? technology, which is a brightness/contrast optimizer for each scene.  Other standard features for all models include twin HDMI connectors, 2 Component Video (3 on the 528 Series) inputs, IEEE1394, and TV Guide Onscreen.  The 52-in. models WD-52527 ($3,199) and WD-52528 ($3,399) will be available in June and July, respectively.  The 62-in. models WD-62527 ($3,799) and WD-62528 ($3,999) will be available in July and August, respectively.

Mitsubishi WD-62527A

The MicroDisplay DLP line will cover 9 models in 2005, all featuring 1080p image quality.  There will five series of product:  the 627 Series, the 628 Series, the 727 Series, and The Diamond Line of the 827 Series and 927 Series.  All models in all series are DCR and will include twin HDMI inputs, 3 component video inputs, front IEEE 1394 with DV Decoder, rear IEEE1394 connectors, an all-digital audio output, and a 9-format Memory Card Reader, along with TV Guide Onscreen.  The 627 Series, which is comprised of a 52-in. and a 62.in. models?WD-52627 ($3,799) and WD-62527 ($4,499)?includes a high-speed video processor called ?Plush1080p,? which upconverts 1080i signals to 1080p that reportedly produce four times the resolution of traditional line doublers, and a ?Dark Detailer,? which is a dynamic aperture system that improves black levels and adds a larger palette of dark gray shades.  The 628 Series includes all of the features from the 627 Series, but also includes ?SharpEdge? technology, and the ?DeepField Imager,? both of which are switchable.  The 628 Series includes two models:  the WD-52628 (52-in. at $3,999) and WD-62628 (62-in. at $4,699).  The 627 Series and 628 Series will be available in July and August.  The 727 Series is comprised of one model, the 73-in. WD-73727 ($5,799), which includes all of the features of the 628 Series and will be available in September.

Mitsubishi WD-73827A

Both the 827 Series and the 927 Series are Diamond Series models, and are related in that they both include integrated hard-disc recording capability.   There will be two 62-in. models and two 73-in. models.  Besides including all of the features of the 628 Series, both the 827 Series and the 927 Series include dual HD Tuners (which means that you can watch one HD channel and record another from either antenna or cable?neat!), and a removable anti-glare plastic screen or shield.  The 827 Series, which is comprised of the WD-62827 ($5,799) and the WD-73827 ($7,499) models, sport high-gloss black cabinetry.  Both models feature an integrated 160GB digital video recorder (DVR), which can record/store up to 16 hours of HD programming.  The 927 Series, which is comprised of the WD-62927 ($6,299) and WD-73927 ($7,999), boosts the DVR?s capability to 25 hours of HD recording capability (250GB hard-drive), and adds a 1080p Media PC input that will complement HD Media Center PCs.  All four models will be available in September.

Mitsubishi WD-73927

Mitsubishi has not overlooked flat panel displays either, as it will be offering a total of seven high-definition seven models (3 LCD and 4 plasma TVs).  The LCD line is comprised of three 2-piece design models in 32-in., 37-in. and 42-in. screen sizes.  Both the LT-3280 (32-in. at $4,299) and the LT-3780 (37-in. at $5,299) are Digital Cable Ready, featuring CableCARD HDTVs that feature screen resolutions of 1366×768 with ?Plush Imaging,? or 720p and 1920×1080 or 1080i with ?Plush1080p,? respectively.  Both models include Mitsubishi?s new ?SuperBright? technology, which features a continuous backlighting system, reportedly providing highly uniform corner-to-corner to clarity, and ?QuickMotion,? which improves response time to 8 milliseconds.  All LCD models include TV Guide Onscreen, a 9-format Memory Card Reader, 2 HDMI inputs, IEEE1394, and a swivel stand.  The final LCD display is the LT-4260 ($8,499), which was originally introduced last year, but will finally ship in May.  Pixel resolution of this DCR-ready model is 1366×768, and it includes both HDMI and IEEE1394 inputs.  The LT-4260 features a separate media box, which fits into a special slot located on the back of the display.  This model also includes an integrated 120GB HD PVR.

Mitsubishi LT-4260

Mitsubishi is also offering four HD-Upgradeable Plasma monitors for 2005.  Models PD-5050 (50-in. at $6,499) and PD-6150 (61-in. at $11,999), which feature a silver bezel, are currently available.  Both models feature a screen resolution of 1366×768, and include Mitsubishi?s ?BrightCell? technology, which delivers a sharp, detailed picture along with bright vivid colors, and its ?MicroFilter? technology, which optimizes color accuracy.  Reportedly, the line doubler and pixel scaler have been improved for better image clarity.  All plasma monitors include ?Plush? imaging technology.  Models PD-4265 (42-in. at $4,299) and model PD-5065 (50-in. at $6,499), which feature a black bezel, will be available in September.  Besides including all of the features of the -50 Series, both -65 Series models will also include a detachable speaker stand.  The PD-4265 offers a screen resolution of 1024×768, and the PD-5065 has a screen resolution of 1365×768. 

Mitsubishi PD-5065

Rounding out the Mitsubishi line are three carryover integrated rear projection CRT digital cable ready HDTVs, the 517 Series.  It is comprised of three models:  WS-55517 (55-in.), WS-65517 (65-in.), and the WS-73-517 (73-in.).  All models feature Mitsubishi?s ?Plush Imaging? technology along with a 3D-Y/C comb filter, 480-line motion adaptive, progressive scan with 3/2 pull-down, HDMI input and IEEE1394.  The 73-in. model uses 9-in. CRTs and lenses instead of the standard 7-in. CRTs found on most rear projection CRT HDTVs.  Pricing was unavailable at presstime.

Mitsubishi WS-73517

In other Mitsubishi news, the company will no longer be offering separate line DVD players or VCRs.  Besides the stand-alone HD-6000 HDTV Receiver ($2,199), which can be matched up with the their Plasma TV monitor, the only other source component that Mitsubishi will carry over is its HS-HD2000U DVHS VCR ($549), as the company focuses on what it knows best?TV Displays.   Since the company is in the blu-ray DVD camp, we can expect to see a blu-ray high definition DVD recorder in 2006.