HD Nation talks about the latest news with HD content and products. This week, the hosts announce that the Seiki UHD TV is not retailing for under $1000. This news was announced earlier this week and is significant for the new UHD industry. The hosts did a review of this TV a few episodes ago and they recommend looking into the device before deciding to purchase it. They also note that the TV is not really suitable for high end gaming or anything that requires a quick refresh rate. The main segment this week on the show is a review of the LG55LA7400 HDTV. The TV comes with a 55 inch screen, full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution and 3D technology. The hosts compare the TV to LG’s flagship and the only real difference is no included camera and one less HDMI port. Otherwise the image quality and performance are just as good as the flagship series. One of the best features with the TV is the newly remodeled Magic Remote control. This Wii-style remote allows a user to control the TV just by pointing and clicking. The hosts noted that the Magic Remote made setup and navigation infinitely easier and fun at the same time. Overall, the hosts were very pleased with the TV and praised several aspects like 3D, calibration, and setup. They even went on to say that this TV is probably one of the best of 2013.
The PanasonicTX-P60ZT65B is one of the new HDTVs released in the UK. It features plasma technology, full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution and a 60 inch screen size. Today, Trusted Reviews released their experience with this TV. Plasma TVs are known for their high quality images. And this TV didn’t disappoint. The image quality was one of the best that they have seen. The only minor flaw was some motion problems. The writers also complimented the TV’s Smart TV interface. They thought it provided a lot of suitable content. In the end, the final verdict was, “If you can afford a Panasonic P60ZT65 and you can get one before the limited stocks run out, you can splash your cash on one safe in the knowledge that you have bagged yourself what might turn out to be – especially if OLED fails to get its act together – the last word in ‘2K’ picture quality.”
One of the many HDTVs released this year is the SonyKD-65X9005A. This device features a 65 inch screen, UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution, and 3D technology. Today, the writers from Trusted Reviews released their review of this device. What is probably the best feature is without a doubt the UHD resolution. The writers said that the 4K images will make you drool. Equally good was the sound quality. The writers thought the sound was outstanding and didn’t have any complaints about it. They did notice a few problems though, mainly with the lack of 4K content. This makes the TV seem not worth the money at the moment. The final verdict the writers made was, “The Sony Bravia KD-65X9005A is a beautifully engineered, ultra-ambitious and actually surprisingly affordable first step into ‘mass market’ 4K Ultra waters. It’s not perfect and it’s currently waiting for the rest of the AV world to catch up, but its Triluminos-enhanced native 4K images are dazzling, and confirm that you really don’t need an 80-inch plus screen to appreciate the next-gen thrills 4K can bring.”
The PanasonicTC-L60DT60 is one of this year’s new HDTVs. It has a 60 inch screen size and full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. Today, the writers from PC Magazine released their review of this device. The writers liked the sleek design and thought it was appealing to the eyes. The TV comes with a diverse feature collection that provides a lot of content access and adjustment features. The image quality was very excellent as the writers highlighted the dark blacks and wide viewing angles. The writers did notice some crosstalk during 3D viewing though. The price of the TV was also reason for concern. The writers thought it was rather pricey and would have liked to see it drop. But in the end, the writers stated, “If you’re looking for a big-screen HDTV that offers solid performance, stylish looks, and a healthy feature set, the Panasonic TC-L55DT60 has it all, but it is a bit pricey. This LED backlit model delivers a bright, highly detailed picture in both 2D and 3D modes, and it doesn’t require much power. A few extra video ports would be nice, though. If you can live with two extra sets of 3D glasses, our Editors’ Choice for big screen mid-range HDTVs, the Panasonic TC-L55ET60, is a much better deal, offering great performance and similar features for a lower price.”
The SeikiSE50UY04 UHDTV made a lot of waves when it debuted due to its cheap retail price. When it first debuted, the TV was priced for only $1500, which is a fraction of what the other UHD displays. Today, it was revealed that that price is continuing to fall. Recently, the SE50UY04 was seen priced at around $969. The TV measures 50 inches and comes with a UHD (3480 x 2160) resolution. It comes with a diverse connection panel that includes three HDMI ports, a composite, component, s-video, and more. The reason why the TV is so cheap is because it doesn’t come with any frills like internet connectivity or 3D.
One of the top of the line HDTVs this year is the PanasonicTC-P60VT60. This plasma screen measures 60 inches, diagonally, and comes with full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution and a 6000000:1 contrast ratio. Recently, the writers from Gizmodo got the chance to take a closer look at what this TV can do. Probably the best feature about this TV is the stunning black levels. Plasma TVs have a reputation for providing some of the inkiest black levels in the industry. The writers noted that the color accuracy is also equally impressive. If the TV had one flaw it would be its performance in brightly lit rooms. They noticed a considerable amount of glare that was noticeable even on overcast days. But their final comment about the TV was, “Whether or not you want to shell out three large for the best-performing plasma we’ve seen in the past year is entirely up to you.”
One of the new branches in the HDTV industry is the OLED industry. However one of the big concerns about new TVs is the high retail prices. But according to a new survey from DisplaySearch that problem might be resolved soon. According to their findings, OLED TVs could be reducing their retail prices as early as next year. They estimate that the total manufacturing cost of a 55” OLED panel be reduced from $2454 to a little over $1500. Part of the reduction will be due to manufacturing processes becoming cheaper. Also, in order to compete with LCD and plasma displays, the OLED panels will need to have competitive prices.
One of the new TVs from Toshiba is the 39L2300U. This TV measures 39 inches and comes with full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution and LED backlighting. Today, the writers from PC Magazine released their review of this TV. Probably the most pleasant aspect is the low retail price. This makes the TV affordable for low budget consumers. One of the benefits with LED TVs is the low energy cost, which was another highlight in the review. The image quality though did have some problems. The writers noticed that the color accuracy was off and that the black levels and contrast seemed weak. But in the end, the writers stated, “The Toshiba 50L2300U isn’t a top performer and it isn’t packed with features. It is affordable, however, and gets you into a 120Hz big-screen HDTV for under a grand. It doesn’t use a lot of power and offers better than average audio output, but its out of the box color accuracy could be better and its black level performance is weak. If you’re itching for a big screen HDTV and have limited funds, this model will fill the bill, but there are better choices out there, including the Vizio E601I-A3, which offers a bigger screen and both wired and wireless Ethernet capabilities. Or, if you can live with a smaller 46-inch screen, our Editors’ Choice for budget HDTVs, the RCA LED46C45RQ, offers better color accuracy for less than half the list price of the 50L2300U.”
This week at InfoComm there are many companies displaying new products in the AV industry. The latest come from LG with several new HD displays designed for outdoor and industrial applications. The models include a the 55 inch 55WV70MS-B, the 47 inch 47WX50MF, and the 84 inch 84WS70MS-B displays. LG was happy to announce that all of these displays earned top industry awards at the conference. The details about these displays were not made widely available yet. But they will be available soon.
This week on HD Nation, the hosts first talk about the fact that there was no 4K gaming at this year’s E3 conference. The reason is because there are no 4K TVs currently on the market so there is no need to produce games or compatible game systems that share the resolution. The other big announcement the writers talk about is that cloud gaming will be coming soon to LG Smart TVs. This will allow users to play the high quality games without needing to purchase an expensive game console. Next, the hosts discuss some of the best Blu-ray movies to buy. They make some top name suggestions like Hugo, Wizard of Oz, Baraka, Avengers, Avatar, and many more. The major segment this week has the hosts discussing the best audio visual receiver (AVR) for your system. The hosts state that unless you have a hockey link size room almost any AVR will be able to accommodate a home theater needs. They state that there really is no reason why anyone would want or need 1000 watts or more to power their sound system.
