News

A Choice TV Range from Aquos (30/9/2004)

The way we watch television is changing rapidly. Satellite, FreeView and cable are offering the viewer a wider choice of programmes than ever before. But until recently, UK households had no choice of what they watched their favourite movies, sport or soaps on - it was a bulky Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) television set, based on technology developed over a century ago, or nothing.

Now slimline, stylish flat panel TVs offer a real alternative to the CRT television wedged into the corner of the lounge, and Sharp has developed the perfect replacement for the tired, old fashioned CRT in the shape of a new range of widescreen Aquos LCD TVs in a choice of two styles and three screen sizes.

As a world leader in LCD technology, Sharp already has the most comprehensive range of LCD TVs on the market, from 13" to 37" widescreen models, and the new Aquos 'GA' series brings the total to 13. Available in 26", 32" and 37" widescreen sizes, the TVs offer a choice of designs - the GA3 space-saving, compact model with the speaker tucked beneath the screen, or the GA4 with a more 'traditional' look, the speakers being situated either side of the LCD panel.

Both designs feature a brushed silver finish, distinctive doubly-curved speaker grilles and a minimalist stand. Unlike many large, flat panel televisions, the sets do not have a separate AV box containing the tuner and inputs, as all the circuitry and socketry is neatly built into the TV cabinet. Despite this, the LCD televisions are remarkably slim, with even the 37" models no more than 10cm in depth.

This makes the GA series ideal for wall mounting*, for the ultimate in modern TV viewing. The GA4 models, with speakers set either side of the screen, are particularly suited to this, whilst the GA3 TVs, with the speaker beneath the screen, are ideal for fitting in tighter areas such as alcoves where the consumer wants a large widescreen TV but has previously been hampered by lack of space. The LC-32GA3E 32" model, for example, is narrower than many of its 28" CRT counterparts.

All six variants incorporate Sharp's sixth generation LCD panel, which offers true 16:9 pictures and 1368 x 768 pixels for excellent picture resolution. Impressive 450cd/m2 brightness and a class-leading 800:1 contrast ratio combine with Sharp's Advanced Super View (ASV) and Black TFT technology, to give superbly bright and detailed pictures, a horizontal and vertical viewing angle of 170( and virtually no screen reflection.

In addition, Optical Picture Control automatically adjusts the brightness of the picture to take account of prevailing light conditions in the room and Quick Shoot technology ensures fast-moving images, such as sport, are displayed crisply.

Wise to possible future developments in UK broadcasting, Sharp has ensured the TVs are High Definition-ready, so they can display extra-high resolution HDTV signals where available. The TVs also features Fastext with picture-in-picture and picture-and-text functions.

Matching the exemplary picture performance is a 1-bit digital amplification and speaker set up which delivers powerful, pure sound belying the slight nature of the televisions. Whether taking advantage of the TVs' own speakers and Dolby Virtual Surround Sound capability, or hitching the screen up to a dedicated home cinema surround sound system, the result is punchy, precise audio which further enhances the visual experience.

The Aquos GA series has a wide range of inputs and outputs for full compatibility with home cinema equipment. These include a component input, three Scart sockets, S-Video input, DVI-I input and RS232 connector.

Away from the lounge, many consumers are looking for a slim, space saving second or third TV to replace an old 'portable' set. To meet this demand, Sharp has launched a new 20" Aquos LCD TV with stunning looks, first-class performance and a wide range of features. The LC-20B5E shares some styling cues with the GA series, sporting a lustrous silver finish and curved stand, but has flatter and more angular fascia and speaker grilles. The VGA (640 x 480 pixel resolution) LCD panel gives vivid, natural pictures, benefiting from ASV and Quick Shoot technology, with 450cdm2 brightness and a contrast ratio of 500:1.

The TV also includes an innovative feature in the shape of a PCMCIA card slot housed to the left of the LCD, which allows for the recording of still images onto a suitable memory card and subsequent display on the screen, and even recording and playback of up to 25 hours of MPEG4 video+. It's a simple and slick way to record everyday TV programmes without the need for a separate device such as a VCR or DVD recorder, so is ideal where space is at a premium.

The GA series and LC-20B5E Aquos LCD TVs are now available in leading department stores and independent consumer electronics retailers.

*Standard 100mm VESA wall bracket required (optional accessory).
+Using a 5GB storage card.

www.aquos.co.uk