HDTV


HDTV programming may be scarce, but the plethora of HDTV products is almost daunting. Some units come with the ATSC decoder that decodes all 18 different broadcast modes (HDTV and STV), while other units are only HDTV-ready, requiring a stand-alone decoder. All such units can be expected to carry a range of A/V connections, including component video inputs. Here is a small sampling of the HDTV products ready for the next generation of television:

Sharp makes stepping up to HDTV pretty simple with the 64LHP5000 ($8,995), a 64-inch widescreen rear projector equipped with multiple tuners and ATSC decoder. The dual-NTSC tuners enable broadcast or cable reception with multiple viewing abilities. HDTV resolution of 1080I is native in the 64HP5000, so all formats are upconverted to the higher resolution. All non-DTV sources are line-doubled to 480p. If you’re not yet ready to go with the whole enchilada, the HDTV-ready alternative is the 64LHP4000 ($6495) that can be combined with a separate decoder such as the Sharp’s TU-TV1000 (1,995) at a later date.

Pioneer is ready to roll with two reference HDTV rear projectors in the Elite line of products. Both the Pro-510HD (53" diagonal screen) and the Pro-610HD (58" diagonal screen) are widescreen sets with dual NTSC tuners that allow split-screen and multiple channel displays. The exclusive IP converter uses progressive conversion to boost NTSC signals from sources such as DVD, LD and DSS. First it doubles the interlaced signal to 640 x 480, then it doubles the information content vertically and horizontally, resulting in an increase in signal density. The expansion slot allows the separate SH-D07 HDTV tuner pack to be added at any time. The Pro-510HD retails for $6,300, while the larger screen on the Pro-610HD raises the price by a thousand bucks.

When it comes to HDTV, Toshiba has a great lineup. The Theaterwide HD Series (widescreen) delivers up the 65-inch DW65X91 ($8,499) and 56-inch DW56X91 ($6,999), which incorporate the HDTV tuner as well as dual NTSC tuners. Three HDTV-ready units, the TW65X81 ($6,499), TW56X81 ($4,999) and TW40X81 ($2,999), all require the DST-300 ($999) HDTV set-top box for full DTV operation. If for some reason you don’t want a widescreen (16:9) TV, there are three HDTV-Ready rear projectors in the CinemaSeries, ranging in size and price from 61 inches ($3,599) to 50 inches (2,999). Finally, Toshiba is currently shipping a direct-view HDTV-ready set, the CN36X81, which sells for $2,199 and is upgradable to full HDTV with the DST-300. Like all Toshiba HDTV products, the CN36X81 includes ColorStream HD component video inputs.

Philips introduces the only 34-inch integrated direct-view HDTV, the flat-screen 34PH9915, with progressive scan line doubling and built-in Dolby Digital decoder, for any size home theater. On the other side of the spectrum there is the 64-inch, fully-integrated HDTV, the 64PH9905 rear projector, that features 15-point conversion and the unpopular V-chip for screening out unwanted programming. It will sell for $9990.

Panasonic delivers the first HDTV to display 720p native sources without upconverting to 1080I in the PT-56WXF95 ($5,999). It must still be paired with a HDTV set-top box such as the TU-DST51 ($1,099) for full HDTV compatibility, but the monitor itself is capable of displaying a 720p (progressive scan) image. The set also upconverts or "line-doubles" conventional NTSC analog signals to 480p. The two-tuner, Picture-in-Picture feature allows an expanded view of two channels simultaneously and features four display modes to accommodate 4:3 images.