14 DAY TRIAL // Like most other major manufacturers of high-definition display solutions, Hitachi is playing on both fronts, namely it's developing both LCDs and plasma displays. After you've seen what its LCDs are all about, it's time to take a look into the PDP segment, where the Japanese company has some pretty interesting surprises in store for us.
One of the main announcements made by Hitachi at CEDIA is related to an addition to the UltraThin "1.5" family. What we're talking about here is a 50-inch plasma HDTV that shares the same features (design-wise) with the other products from the series mentioned above, including the 1.5-inch depth. In fact, it represents one of the world’s thinnest products of this type, at approximately one-third the depth of other plasma displays.
Besides this ultra-thin model, Hitachi has also brought to CEDIA its entire new line-up for 2008. All of these HDTVs sport an attractive external casing (high gloss Japan black and high gloss crystal frames with manual swivel stands or unique remote controlled power swivel stands), as well equally advanced image processing features. However, the choice of sizes is rather limited, namely just 42-inch and 50-inch.
It's also very important to mention that these devices feature UltraBlack Panels with a boxed cell structure that produces darker blacks, while the new PictureMaster VI digital video processor features the second generation of Hitachi’s Reel60 technology, which eliminates "judder." Furthermore, all the PDPs come equipped with a new feature called Cinema48, for film enthusiasts. By working exclusively with 24p HDMI inputs, Cinema48 provides viewers with the same visual timing and feeling that they experience in movie theaters.
Hitachi's PDPs are divided into four different series, A, S, V and X. Out of the products showcased at CEDIA, three belong to the A-Series ( P42A202, P50A202, P50A402) and are priced at $1,399 and $1,599, respectively, with three others divided between the S-Series (50-inch P50S602, selling for $2,199), V-Series (50-inch P50V702, priced at $2,499) and the X-Series (P50X902, with a MAP of $3,199).
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