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Runco Takes Home Theater to the Xtreme With New DLP Projection System (8/7/2004)

Runco Takes Home Theater to the Xtreme With New DLP(tm) Projection System World Class Video Projector and Processor Package Hits Production Lines, Establishes the Next Level for Home Entertainment Realism

Runco International, the world leader in high-end home theater video display technology, steps into the future once again with the introduction of the Video Xtreme(tm) VX-2c Projection System. This revolutionary high definition imaging technology, with forward-thinking engineering, is the first to deliver a native 16:9, 3-chip entertainment experience to a variety of home theater environments. Packaged with the new, Next Generation ViVix II(tm) DHD(tm) Digital Controller, which features advanced digital processing and expansive connectivity, the VX-2c package sets a higher standard for home video excellence. The Video Xtreme VX-2c Projection System is now shipping worldwide.

The VX-2c breaks new ground among DLP projectors by offering a 3-chip configuration with 16:9 (1280 x 720) native resolution for home theater applications. As the first consumer projector manufacturer licensed by Texas Instruments for DLP, Runco and its engineers built on an exclusive store of experience to implement the technology in the VX-2c. The team designed the projector's optical light engine around 3 of TI's HD-2 Digital Micromirror Devices, eliminating the need for a color wheel-reducing mechanical complexity-and achieving superior clarity, color saturation, and contrast.

"The Video Xtreme VX-2c Projection System is a thrilling achievement for the Runco team and is exciting news for discriminating home theater enthusiasts," said Bob Hana, president of Runco International. "Our design approach continuously seeks to raise standards for video reproduction, and with the VX-2c System, we brought innovation to each aspect of its performance. Pairing our world-renowned projection and signal processing technology, this new video display package represents the next level in what can be expected for state-of-the-art home theater."

Using Runco's own industry-recognized Cinema Standards Measurement System (CSMS(tm)), the VX-2c achieves a light output of 1,199 Home Theater ANSI Lumens, 52.1 foot-Lamberts (2,500 ANSI Lumens), and a CSMS contrast ratio of 271:1 (3,100:1 ANSI). CSMS incorporates the respected Imaging Science Foundation's (ISF) calibration standards and measures performance in a simulated home theater environment that has been adopted by independent video technology testers and custom installers seeking to provide the finest quality picture.

In designing the VX-2c, Runco has built a projector that not only reproduces superior images but offers a new level of installation flexibility. Using Runco's smallest 3-chip chassis ever-measuring just 8-1/8" high-it puts a captivating picture where many 3-chip projectors simply can't be installed. Six lens options (five zoom lenses and one for rear screen projection) make the VX-2 highly adaptable within restrictive installations and fit for screens up to 250 inches wide. A vertical shift of 60% down and 24% up for ceiling-mounted configurations is available from all zoom lenses, and a horizontal shift from 10% to 16% depending on which lens is used.

The VX-2c is also the world's first projector to include Runco's exclusive new LiveLink(tm) technology. This technology, developed by Runco engineers, is the only existing solution today for transmitting DVI pure digital signals over long distances. Typically, high-definition digital video signals can only be transmitted through DVI cables for a few meters without losing quality, but the VX-2c allows 720P and 1080i digital signals to be sent along its DVI cable up to 75 feet without any degradation of signal quality or bandwidth.

The Video Xtreme VX-2c Projection System includes the all-new Digital High Definition(tm) (DHD) Digital Video Controller, which provides the industry's leading image processing, scaling and aspect ratio control, plus expansive connectivity to guarantee future compatibility. It individually tailors signals reaching the VX-2c from each source and its VirtualWide(tm) feature converts 4:3 images to 16:9 screens without losing any image integrity--yet requires only a single cable to connect to the VX-2c. The DHD Controller features eight inputs and field-upgradeable software that lets installers download new features on the job, guaranteeing performance always matches the most cutting-edge sources. It produces three 12V DC trigger signals to activate third party components like motorized screen lifts and drapes, features IR capability and an RS-232 interface for control via home automation systems.

www.runco.com