Sharp LCDs Get Bigger in Smaller Packages

Sharp has announced its new line of D64U Aquos high-definition LCD televisions, which manage to pack bigger screens in smaller frames than the predecessors.

Sharp has announced its new D64U line of Aquos high-definition LCD televisions, trumpeting that the new displays are "bigger and smaller at the same time." How is this possible? They manage to cram larger LCD panels into designs that are  smaller and thinner than previous Aquos models, saving space while providing a larger picture.

"Today, we set a new standard in design," said Bob Scaglione, Sharp Electronics Corporation Product and Marketing Group’s senior VP and group manager, in a release.. "With its graceful, space-saving design and full-HD resolution, Sharp’s Aquos D64U series provides the ultimate home entertainment experience with the perfect balance of style and performance."

Originally developed to cater to the needs of the space-conscious Japanese market, the D64U line intended for the U.S. market will be available in four sizes—42 inches, 46 inches, 52 inches, and 65 inches—and claim to be the thinnest flat panel TVs in the industry, some 25 percent thinner than previous Aquos models (which weren’t exactly thick slabs themselves), about 20 percent lighter, and with a thinner bezel and stealthy speaker placement which lets users cram a larger display into a smaller area—Sharp says their 42-inch D64U fits into the area normally occupied by a 40-inch flat-panel TV.

The D64Us support 1080p Full HD programming via HDMI 1.3 (one on the side, two in back), along with two component and three composite inputs (one each on the side, the remainder on the back) along with S-Video and RS-232C connectors in back.

The 42-, 46- and 52-inch models will be available in August at suggested prices of $2099.99, $2,699,99, and $3,799.99, respectively; customers angling for the 65-inch model will have to wait until September, when the company will announce pricing.