Sharp's Quattron+ treads the line between 4K and 1080p

We’re fresh out of the Sharp press conference at the opening day of CES 2014, and while they may not have had the big room (or big crowds) of the LG conference, Sharp brought some noise with its well-rounded lineup of HDTVs.

The most notable new addition to Sharp’s lineup is what the company is calling its “game changer.” Dubbed the Sharp Quattron+, or Q+ for short, Sharp’s new wunderkind isn’t a 4K TV, or an HDTV per se, but something in between. The TV comes in two tiers, the UQ and SQ, which offer up to 16 million sub pixels of resolution above 1080p HD.

Pair those extra pixels with Sharp’s Quattron color reproduction that adds the yellow pixel for a billion more color shades, upscaling for HD, THX certification, and the ability to play 4K content, and you’ve got an HD TV that is “ready for the future,” without the full 4K price tag. We got a look at the Quattron Plus in the flesh, and the picture looks pretty excellent. The 4K content shown was sharp and clear, with vivid colors, reminding us of full 4K TVs we’ve seen from some of the budget crowd – not quite there, but dazzling none the less. In true Sharp fashion, the Q+ will be available in mondo sizes, including 60-, 70-, and 80-inch models, presumably for much less than what you’d pay for a 4K TV in that size.

Also buzzworthy among Sharp’s newest consumer TV models are its upgraded 4K TVs, which now offer a four-pack of the latest HDMI 2.0 inputs, HEVC (H.265) decoding for 60 fps reproduction, and a claimed “first ever” for 4K THX certification. The 4K TVs, and many of Sharp’s other new models also incorporate Sharp Smart Central, a smart TV platform with an intuitive interface that includes searching across content platforms, adaptability for user preferences, and an available app to integrate control of your tube with iOS and Android devices.

Sharp-Quatrron-Plus — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sharp’s TV series is rounded out by its entry level Aquos HD TVs, and its Aquos with Quattron sets. The company’s focus this year is on picture quality, size, design, and smart content. While that may be marketing hype, it seems evident from Sharp’s new lineup that the company is striving to deliver what people want. Whether the public agrees remains to be seen.

Other cool additions to Sharp’s 2014 showcase include its upgraded 8K TV with glasses-free 3D, as well as the company’s focus on audio with the Sharp Universal player, which is WISA certified for 96kHZ hi-res wireless audio, and plays Blu-ray and SACDs.

The 8K monster is not available for purchase, nor was it showcased at today’s conference, so we’ll have to check out the Sharp booth tomorrow to find out more. All of the rest of Sharp’s new products will be available to the public in a “matter of weeks.” Stay with us for more as we check out their latest gear in-depth from the show room floor in the coming days.

Sharp’s Quattron+ tech delivers ‘almost’ 4K TVs for the rest of us

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