 Marantz
Marantz’s new PD1050D, priced at $20,999, adds a new level of performance to the 50-inch plasma market. This unit is priced a few thousand dollars above the 4298 42-inch plasma and has a fantastic picture on HDTV sources. The Dolphins-Raiders NFL playoff game was so resolute that you could see in detail how each segment of the field in Oakland was mowed in a different direction.
 Marantz showed their VP8100 DLP projector, which was even smaller physically than the Davis unit (see below.) The VP8100 outputs a strong 1024x768 picture for $12,499. It also comes in a handful of colors. Marantz also has a less resolute DLP projector for $8,999 that provides an 800x600 picture.
A plasma for the people? Enter the Marantz LC 1500, a 15-inch plasma TV priced at $2,000. Availability was unknown, but it sure drew a crowd.
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 Fujitsu
Fujitsu was the first company to make a splash with plasma a few years ago and now they’re back with the super-thin new PDS 4222, priced at $14,000. The PDS 4222 boasts a 1024x1024 picture and is very diminutive at three inches deep.
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  Proceed
PMDT showed the $1,500 Proceed Video Procesor which is a card upgrade to the PMDT DVD-Video player that uses DVDO line doulbling to fill in the scan lines on tradional video sources with 480p resolution. Better yet, is the face that the PVP acuatully takes video inputs from other sources unlike other high end Progressive DVD-V players. Spring availibility. |
 Faroudja
The Native Rate Series processor is specifically designed to optimize fixed-installation digital LCD, DLP and plasma displays. When an NR Series processor is ordered, the unit is customized for the specified scan rate determined for each customer's display. The processor is optimized for that scan rate, and includes six different fine-tune adjustments for the Bandwidth Expansion circuit. Scan rates can be optimized for resolutions of 640 x 480p, 800 x 600, 852 x 490, 1024 x 768, 1024 x 1024, and 1280 x 768 pixels. The video sources is upconverted to match each display's native resolution.
The NR Series processor includes adaptive comb filtering, cross-color suppression, 10-bit processing, two-line time-base correction, and chroma bandwidth expansion—all for color processing; as well as advanced 3/2 film logic and advanced edit detection to handle film motion processing. The patented DCDi™ provides accurate, artifact-free deinterlacing of original video material; and rate-optimized luma bandwidth expansion for superb detail processing. The processor also features built-in aspect ratio control.
Rear-panel connections include a special HDTV input and standard component, S-video, and composite inputs. RGB/YPrPb and component outputs maximize flexibility, and the unit can be controlled with an included infrared remote, or from a computer via the RS-232 serial port.
The Native Rate Series Processor/Scalers will be available in the first quarter of 2001, at a suggested retail price under $5,000.
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 Davis
Norwegian DLP projector made by a not very well known (yet) OEM video manufacturer. This tiny DLP projector uses a TI chip and is one of the physically smallest we’ve seen to date. Davis also reportedly makes DLP units for Runco.
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 Sony
Sony showed a 40-inch WEGA 4x3 set for those looking to make a big statement with a tube set before they move to HDTV. There is no price yet for the 40-inch WEGA, but it is expected this year. This TV is HUGE!
The future of recordable HDTV was shown with Sony’s DVR-Blue, which uses a multi-layer DVD disc and a blue laser to store over two-and-a-half hours of HDTV content. Move over, TiVo. This technology looked nearly identical to the HDTV signal. However, it is a few years away from being ready for consumers.
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 Madrigal Imaging
Madrigal Imaging showed their 9 inch CRT projector on a small 16x9 screen with dramatic results. The details of the water explosions on the U571 DVD were impressive but nothing in comparison to the recorded HDTV performance of Billy Joel on PBS. You could actually see the lines on Joel's face even through the makeup. |
 Runco
Runco International introduced the PlasmaWall PL-42cx, a new generation of Plasma display with black levels and contrast ratios that reportedly exceed CRT levels. This 42 inch plasma is a moderate 4 inches deep and has a retail price of $15,995.
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 Loewe
Loewe displayed their new Anaconda 30-inch 16:9 HDTV monitor ($3,600). The built-in scaler features 3:2 pulldown and defeatable scan velocity modulation. The model on display had a high gloss black finish, in keeping with Loewe’s tradition of aesthetically pleasing designs.
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