News

Sharp Slims Down with Titanium TVs (30/9/2004)

Sharp UK has launched its slimmest ever widescreen televisions - with a new look and colour finish - in the svelte shape of the Titanium Series Aquos LCD integrated digital TVs.

The Titanium Series combines Sharp's sixth generation LCD panel - the most technically advanced large flat screen available in the world - with stunning, angular styling, a titanium colour finish and superb build quality to produce a premium class of LCD idTVs.

Initially comprising 32" LC-32GD1E and 37" LC-37GD1E widescreen models, with the 45" LC-45GD1E TV due to be launched later this year, the range represents the ultimate in future-proof television technology, featuring an in-built digital tuner to receive Freeview broadcasts and the ability to display high definition TV (HDTV) signals where available. With Freeview's impressive growth in popularity and the prospect of HDTV being available to British homes by 2006 via digital satellite, the Titanium Series covers all the options for broadcast compatibility well into the next decade.

The TV's technical flexibility is matched by its futuristic good looks. The striking double curve of the speaker grille and distinct bevel of the screen cabinet, added to the unusual titanium finish, make a style statement quite different to other flat panel TVs on the market. Measuring a mere 70.5mm in depth, and with the LCD screen extending very close to the edges of the cabinet itself, the set is very compact, whatever screen size is chosen. The speaker unit is positioned beneath the screen to save even more space, and all the connection terminals and tuner hardware is housed in a separate AV centre to ensure the screen itself is as uncluttered by cables as possible.

The LCD itself is a true 16:9 widescreen high resolution panel, boasting an impressive 1366 x 768 pixels in the case of the LC-32GD1E and LC-37GD1E, and 1920 x 1080 pixels for the LC-45GD1E - the world's highest resolution - making them ideal for high definition TV.

All three sets deliver excellent detail from a wide range of video sources, incorporating Sharp's unique Advanced Super View (ASV) screen technology, resulting in superb contrast of 800:1 and a brightness levels of 450cd/m2 for rich, deep tones and vivid colour. In addition, Quick shoot image processing gives clean, clear reproduction of fast-moving images such as sport.

High-resolution images are complemented by equally high-resolution sound quality thanks to the Titanium Series employing 1-bit digital amplification and a highly specified speaker system. 1-bit amplification is a digital amplifier technology developed by Sharp which offers extremely high fidelity, high power audio reproduction from a compact amp, ideal for use in a flat panel TV where space is at a premium.

Coupled with a precision-cast aluminium speaker box, high quality soft dome tweeter, woofer and passive radiator, plus a stainless steel speaker net which allows up to 90% more sound to reach the viewer compared to a standard TV speaker, the soundstage is impressive from such a slim TV. The Titanium Series also offers Dolby Virtual Surround for a pseudo-surround sound experience, or the user can connect true surround sound speakers and home cinema amp to the AV centre via a digital audio output as required.

The AV centre itself houses a wide range of multimedia inputs for connection to almost any AV or PC source. These include a component input; three Scart sockets (two of which are RGB-capable); S-Video input; DVI-I input; and RS232 connector. There is even a PC card slot, allowing the user to view digital still photos on screen or record video in MPEG 4 format to a suitable storage card.

The LC-32GD1E and LC-37GD1E Titanium Series Aquos LCD idTVs are now available from leading department stores and specialist independent retailers nationwide, with the LC-45GD1E due to be launched later this year. Powerful television performance has never looked so luxurious.

www.aquos.co.uk