Sony Revamps LCD, Rear-Projection HD TVs

Sony Electronics has expanded its high-definition TV offerings with seven new Bravia LCD TVs and five new WEGA rear-projection models - and all but one do 1080p.

Sony Electronics has announced a flurry of updates to its Bravia LCD television line and its WEGA rear-projection televisions, adding a total of twelve new models, all supporting 1080p high definition display.

Sony’s five new Grand WEGA rear projection high-definition televisions offer screen sizes ranging fom 50 to 70 inches and feature full 1920 by 1080 resolutions based on Sony’s Silicon X-tal (Crystal) Reflective Display (SXRD) technology.

At the high end, the SXRD XBR line gains two new models, the 70inch KDS-R70XBR2 and the 60-inch DKS-R60XBR2, each offering 10,000:1 contrast ratios, integrated CableCARD slots, TV Guide onscreen program guides, two HDMI inputs, a front HDMI camcorder input, a PC input, and side speakers (which are removable on the 70-inch model). The displays use the Sony WEGA Engine HD system DRC-MFv2.5 high resolution processing technology to provide clear, detailed images from conventional NTSC sources as well as 1080i HD signals. The sets should be available in “early fall” (which we read as “October”) and will be priced at $7,800 for the 70-inch edition, $5,300 for the 60-inch edition.

The SXRD A2000 line rounds out the new rear-projection offerings with the 60-inch KDS-60A2000, the 55-inch KDS-55A2000, and 50-inch KDS-50A2000 units. The systems feature the same WEGA Engine and 0.61-inch SXRD chips featured in the higher-end XBR line, along with the 10,000:1 contrast ratio, 1080p capability, and two HDMI inputs. Also on board: a PC input and a front component input for an HDV camcorder. The A2000 units are set to ship “this summer” (which we read as “August”) at price points of $3,500 for the 50-inch edition, $4,000 for the 55-inch model, and $4,500 for the 60-inch unit.

On the LCD front, Sony announced no fewer than seven new additions to its Bravia line with sizes ranging from 40 to 46 inches with native 1920 by 1080 resolution and HDMI capability. Sony also added a 32-inch set with 1366 by 768 resolution.

The high end of the Bravia LCD line is occupied by the XBR3 series, featuring the 46-inch KDL-46XBR3 and the 40-inch KDL-40XBR3, each with 1920 by 1980 resolution, three HDMI inputs, an ATSC tuner, two HD component inputs, one S-video input, three composite inputs