Sharp Goes from Large to Huge with New 80-Inch HDTV

The market for TVs is welcoming what is one of the biggest displays ever made, for the consumer market that is, though there is little chance of anyone save the wealthy to actually get it.

Sharp is one of the best established suppliers of TVs in the world and, though it accounts for just a small part of its shipment volumes, the high-end HDTV market is a major reason for its fame.

Simply put, Sharp has HDTVs that are so big and boast such a high level of image quality that the Elite brand suits them like a second skin.

It was back in August that the rich were provided with the sight of 60-inch and 70-inch television sets.

Oddly enough, it is not that line that welcomes an even bigger model, of 80 inches in diagonal.

Instead, Sharp made an AQUOS LCD, dubbed LC-80LE632U and equipped with 120 Hz motion processing technology, though no mention is made of 3D.

The native resolution is, as one may expect, Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) while the dynamic contrast ratio (DCR) is of 6,000,000:1.

What's more, Sharp threw in built-in WiFi and access to apps like CinemaNow, Netflix, VUDO and the Sharp exclusive AQUOS Advantage Live online support.

In other words, the Sharp AQUOS LC-80LE632U fully qualifies as a Smart TV, even as the thickness is of less than four inches.

"Our 80-inch AQUOS TV delivers more than double the screen area of a 55-inch TV, for an amazing viewing experience," said John Herrington, president, Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America.

"It's truly like nothing else on the market. Consumers want bigger flat panel TVs for deeper, more immersive viewing experiences and that's exactly what Sharp's delivering here."

The few prospective buyers with finances strong enough to handle the $5,499.99 (4,056.33 Euro) have to wait until October. In the meantime, they can ponder ways of getting the TV through the door.