14 DAY TRIAL // The term professional display isn't exactly limited to professional monitors, even though they can't be classified as TVs either. The latest pair of products released by Panasonic make that much clear, and then some.
The company has introduced two new LED-backlit LCDs, with screen sizes of 84 inches and 98 inches, respectively.
Called TH-98LQ70 and TH-84LQ70, they both feature the UHD resolution (Ultra High Definition), 3840 x 2160 pixels.
They also have a protective glass panel and a rugged aluminum frame, which ensures that they last for a long time, whether they are used as monitors or as in-store displays, or in whatever other role.
Sure, they aren't rugged enough to, say, survive being bashed with a baseball bat by a world-class weightlifter, but the two displays should be able to shrug off accidental and even some purposeful strikes. Assuming the one doing the striking isn't overly strong.
That said, Panasonic followed the SLOT3.0 architecture when it created the LQ70 series of LCDs. It provides "easy interface changes to match various applications."
What's more, the LQ70 displays have screw holes similar to those on large-format plasma displays, making sure they can be installed quickly and without any extra cost being incurred for whatever reason.
That's how Panasonic put it anyhow. We're more interested in the image enhancement technology that converts Full HD and other sources to 4K quality.
It's not the same as having actual 4K streams to show, but better than looking at a blocky, jagged image. On 84-inch and 98-inch screens, the edges of objects might really look less than streamlined when the resolution is of, say, HD.
Years from now, imagery may come to consider 4K resolution the default streaming quality, but until then, we'll have to make do with upscaling.
Panasonic intends for the 98-inch TH-98LQ70 and 84-inch TH-84LQ70 4K displays to be used in retail, rental and staging, design and simulation, command and control, etc. Digital signage will be their most common role, but corporations with a penchant for image creation will find them useful for work as well.
Sales of the Panasonic 98-inch TH-98LQ70 and 84-inch TH-84LQ70 will only start in September though, and we won't know the prices before then.
"We are receiving a growing demand of inquiries from our customers for high resolution workflow and display solutions, ranging from broadcast and industrial production to retail signage and event staging," said Art Rankin, senior director of professional AV technologies, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America.
"With the introduction of our LQ70 Series of 4K displays, we're providing unmatched image quality in a slim yet ruggedized form factor to guarantee reliable, uninterrupted use by a wide variety of businesses, organizations and government agencies."