14 DAY TRIAL // Sharp's CES 2011 presence has been a pretty consistent one, as they've managed to come up with quite a few noteworthy products, including the one you'll read about as follows, namely the company's first Professional LCD Monitor with LED backlighting. Designed specifically for video wall applications and featuring a slim profile (just over 1/8th of an inch (4.1mm) at the left side/top and 1/11th of an inch (2.4mm) at the right side/bottom of the panel), the PN-V601 also offers a 60-inch diagonal size, plus HD resolution and a full array LED backlight of 700 cd/m2.
Beside enabling the creating of video walls measuring 13' x 7' with the use of just 9 monitors, the PN-V601 has a full complement of input and output connectors to display all types of content, including an HDMI input, PC input, stereo audio input and an RS-232C input.
It also supports the addition of an optional PN-ZB02 expansion board that adds DVI-D input/output, Component video BNC input, BNC composite video input, S-Video input, two additional stereo audio inputs, stereo speaker outputs (10W x 2), and a RJ-45 LAN control port.
“As digital signage and display applications continue to evolve, customers are looking for more energy-efficient products and thinner bezel designs that enable nearly seamless images to be displayed in large video wall configurations,” said Ed McLaughlin, president, Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America.
“The introduction of this ultra-slim bezel, LED-backlit LCD monitor rounds out our comprehensive line of professional displays and offers superior image quality and improved compatibility to serve the needs of the commercial market. The large 60-inch class monitor allows larger size video walls to be created utilizing fewer LCD panels, resulting in increased energy efficiency and lower operating costs,” concluded Mr. McLaughlin.
Despite touting some lower overall operating costs, the truth of the matter is that the PN-V601 is quite an expensive display solution, selling for somewhere in the vicinity of $15,500.